0 (2s):
Boom shake

1 (3s):
The room, fire nation. JLD here with an audio master class on putting your best foot forward to drop these Value Bombs. I have brought to Mary Kyle on the mic. She is a senior Technology Recruiter at first national bank of Omaha where she leads efforts for technology hiring strategy, recruiting and coaching students. I've also brought Martie Cordaro on the mic. He is the president of Omaha Storm Chasers and Union Omaha He was previously the Baseball America Minor League Executive of the Year and PCL Executive of the Year and fire nation. Today, we are talking about a networking and the best strategy is even when you have little to no experience, we can talk about being overwhelmed when it comes to over-committing in how you can avoid that in how you can differentiate yourself in today's difficult and competitive markets and fire nation will be dropping a lot of other Value Bombs.

1 (55s):
As soon as we get back from thinking our Sponsors, if you have a world class business education in mind for your high school students than you should have, Heider College a business at Creighton university in mind to, to experience, Heider go to business.creighton.edu. Looking for a business coach who has helped to thousands of entrepreneurs, just like you to increase our profitability by an average of 104% per year, all for less money than it would cost to hire a full-time at minimum wage employee. Schedule your free consultation today with Clay Clark at thrivetimeshow.com/fire, thrivetimeshow.com/fire Mary Martie say what's up to fire nation and Mary lets start with you because I know you have something interesting to share about yourself that most people don't know.

0 (1m 45s):
Yes John thanks for the invite. Today its funny in that email is I received in preparation they're was a mention of B ready to share something that no one knows about you. So I kinda sweated that a little bit in today and I came up with something that most folks don't know. In fact, I'm not even sure my husband knows, but gosh, right. At a high school, I was during some traveling and having a really good time. And I actually, it was on a couple of talk shows. So like back in 1993, I was on Ricky Lake and I was on Geraldo.

1 (2m 27s):
Those were the two biggest shows in the early nineties. Like how does your husband not know about this?

0 (2m 33s):
Yeah, well I was dating it. I think this shows that the topics were like girls that like bad boys and boys and the girls that li you know, that kind of just ridiculousness. So, you know, certainly have grown since then. I'm not a fan of bad boys anymore, but yeah, those were, you know, even pre like Jerry Springer days. So funny you bring it up Jerry

1 (3m 0s):
Springer, because when you were talking about that, that brought up my memories of my spring break in 2002, when I was a junior in college, I was on Springer break in Jamaica. It was a crazy experience. I don't talk about a much either for obvious reasons, but a talk shows yet. Those are the one thing that you know, that it needs to stay in the past because today's episode fire nation is about putting your best foot forward. That's Forward at not backward or in the past. And I want to stay with you Mary right now. And I want to hear about when you first started your career, what was your dream job and how did you brand yourself?

0 (3m 38s):
Okay, so it's interesting. I don't know that early on, I had a dream job. I was very people oriented and sales in doing Technology. So I was able to kind of fall into a roll with a T and T and did some large enterprise telecom sales for them. And then from there through technology and relationships, I'm just kind of happenstance. I got into technical recruiting and it was like the perfect blend of relationships, sales, and Technology. So just all kind of came together.

0 (4m 18s):
And it's interesting because as my kids are, you know, finishing high school in, in college, that's the advice I give them, like, figure out what you're passionate about and just start investigating different opportunities in that space.

1 (4m 34s):
Back in the day you had a dream job, what was that dream job and how you brand yourself in order to get your first foot in that door?

2 (4m 43s):
Yeah. Well, I think I have several dream jobs and so it's hard to pigeon hole one and I for a while. I want it to be a rock musician, which I did play drums professionally for a number of years. I also want it to be a, a, a majorly general manager because I grew up, I played baseball growing up. I played through high school and I was going to be a baseball coach. So I would say that neither of my dream jobs really have a lot to do with what I do now. But you know, what I'm doing now is President of, of two professional sports organizations won the AAA, a affiliated for the Kansas city Royals in the Omaha Storm Chasers. And the other is an independent professional soccer team called Union Omaha.

2 (5m 26s):
Those are dream jobs that as I got in to professional sports in 1999, of those, those were jobs that I could envision myself getting to. I just never, you know, you never know how long it's gonna take are where it's going to be, what path it's going to be with. We went around the country as in my family and myself, but a lot of different things Martie

1 (5m 47s):
Want to stay with you here, because it just seems to me with all that you've accomplished and the jobs that you have acquired, and the fact that you know, that you were the Baseball America, Minor the executive of the year, as well as the PCL executive of the year. I mean, you must be pretty good at networking and it's super important to be able to network, but it freaks a lot of people out. So for those people that are listening, like what advice would you have for people who are nervous when they're trying to network mostly just due to lack of experience, what would you say to them? I'm sorry,

2 (6m 18s):
Somewhat of a nervous networker, believe it or not. If there is a room full of people, ah, I have sales people on our staff that can go in and just, they, they, they get business cards, they get connections, you know, they make connections on LinkedIn, whatever it may be myself, I'm much more relationship based and working with the existing relationships and partners that I have to then network amongst others. So those are two different ways to go about it. And my suggestion always to our staff, whether they are in sales or not everybody in professional sports, especially at the minor league level is a sales person. Even our CFO, you know, even the person, you know, that is, that is, that is doing the invoices.

2 (7m 1s):
So I always tell people, you know, be a celebrity of influence in your sphere and, and in the, in the world that you will live in. So for me, it is find what your comfortable with building relationships and how your, your comfortable with that and, and go forth that way. But don't sit in the corner, don't sit behind the desk and wonder who is going to be my next relationship or who is going to be my next contact. You do, you have to make it happen. So,

1 (7m 28s):
Oh, I love that phrase. Fire nation, be a celebrity, have influence in your sphere of like, don't get overwhelmed and stressed out the needed to be the celebrity of influence everywhere. This is in your sphere, whatever that niche or vertical that you are actually in. So Mary same question to you. What would you add to what Marty just shared?

0 (7m 46s):
The first thing that I would say is people do feel nervous with things that are new, or maybe it's out of their kind of comfort zone embrace that everyone is nervous about different things. I'm nervous sometimes when I'm in a room or speaking with, with folks that I haven't spoken to use that to your advantage challenge yourself, asked people to help you with introductions, to, to meet people within different organizations or at events, but embrace it, embrace it, know that it's natural, it's normal. Everyone has some nervous energy and just push yourself,

1 (8m 26s):
Want to stay with you for this next question to hear. And Mary because literally being overwhelmed is common. I mean, people are overwhelmed, they're stressed out. There's so many things going on. And when we're talking to students, you know, they had to divide their time with classes, with commitments, with leadership roles, with internships. How did they do all of these things? Like what would you recommend to today's students that are really looking to kind of get pieces of all of these PI's, but not over commit, not become overwhelmed? Or what would your recommendation to be?

0 (8m 56s):
I would, Map out a plan may be over 12 to 24 months so that you can focus on what you want to accomplish during that time. And then kind of parse that out because you can't be in Toastmasters, have an internship. I have a part-time job, be on a committee, you know, and be a full time student. So determined, what is it, a priority and go after that and then make sure that, that kind of time commitment measures up with the expectations of that group or that internship and so on and be ready to say, Hey, the timing's off. Can we reconnect, you know, next semester? Or do you know, do you have any opportunities available during the summer?

0 (9m 38s):
So I think that the big and most important thing is you don't have to say yes to everything, but decide what your priorities are. Map out a plan, follow the plan and asked for help. I love that idea.

1 (9m 49s):
Do you have prioritizing fire nation? That's so critical. And there was a phrase that I actually do live by, is that when you say yes to one thing you're saying no to everything else that you could possibly be doing while your doing whatever it is that yes was. So think about that. That makes every more, yes. That much more important, that much more valuable. And you're going to prioritize and say yes to what matters. And you have to say no to what doesn't because if it's not a heck, yes, it's a, now it has to be in today's world. So Martie what would you add to this?

2 (10m 21s):
I agree. I mean, be intentional with what you're doing, you know, be in or out, whether it's perspective, entrance into our world of professional sports staff members that we have here, you know, it's, it's something that's a critically, it's critically important to make sure that you're intentional with, with what you're doing, because you're right. If you say, if you say no to something that means you are saying yes, and you need to be all into what you're saying. Yes.

1 (10m 47s):
Wise words from wise individuals. And if you think these Value Bombs or even close to being done, you have another thing coming after the break. We'll watch out more. Value headed your way. If you have a student in high school, then chances are, you're already thinking about college. And if you have a world class business education in mind that I'm excited to tell you about the Heider college of business at Creighton university Heider is a true innovator with business education. For a changing world, they offer a customizable curriculum, tailored to each individual student's personal and professional interests, including innovative majors like FinTech in business intelligence and analytics. They also offer unique tracks and specializations like social entrepreneurship and pre health science.

1 (11m 28s):
Plus Heider offers unique hands on learning opportunities at like the Creighton Business symposium, the largest student run business conference in the country. In fact, the Creighton business symposium students are responsible for coordinating the thought leaders and content. You are listening to Today with the 99% success rate, meaning 99% of Heider students are employed or accepted into graduate or professional school within six months of graduation and faculty experts who bring their real world business experience into the every single day Heider is here to help your students succeed to experience. Heider go to business.creighton.edu that's business.creighton.edu. Looking for a business coach who has helped thousands of entrepreneurs, just like you to increase their profitability by an average of a 104% per year, all for less money that would cost a hire a full time minimum wage employee fire nation meet Clay Clark Clay has been coaching businesses just like yours at since 2006.

1 (12m 25s):
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1 (13m 19s):
That thrivetimeshow.com/fire Mary Martie. We are back in. So I wanna stay with you here in Martie. You're kind of on a roll right now. And I think this was a great question for you because again, you're the Baseball America Minor League executive of the year PCL executive of the year. You don't get those awards. You don't achieve those achievements without differentiating yourself. And it's a competitive market out there. I mean, it doesn't matter what niche wood industry or vertical you're in, we're talking there's competition, especially when the prices were the So. How can people differentiate themselves in today's competitive market? And you could even maybe move forward with this Martie a little bit and share some things that you look for when you're hiring people in ways that you've seen them successfully differentiate themselves,

2 (14m 7s):
Or for people that have already done some community service, people that have a passion in that could be something that personal and close to you, whether you have your family has had some social issues or you've had health issues in your family, or it's just been something, whether it's high school or college that you have become engaged in and the community from a not-for-profit perspective, that's something that we do look for because that, that shows a sense of community pride, empathy, sympathy, all of the words. And I think that that does separate out because sometimes when we're looking for internships or sometimes when we're doing internships, that's all of that we're focusing on or not really wide scoping it at all.

2 (14m 51s):
We look for people that have maybe not had direct sales experience, but have they had customer service experience? Have they worked at a cash register, have somewhere a at a university, you know, did they get experience and their athletic department or the theater department's box office selling tickets or something, as basic as that, those, those interactions really matter when you're talking about someone who can a carry on a conversation, which hopefully is going to lead to developing a relationship. So in Martie

1 (15m 20s):
I was talking fire nation is something that came up for me is why wouldn't you look into the core values of the business that you're interested in applying too. Like if you did that for Martie, you'd find out, Hey, they put a high value on customer service. So maybe you emphasize that and really make sure to bring that up. Hey, they put a high value on volunteering in your community and community service. Why don't you highlight that or make sure that you're patting your stats so to speak in that area. So some great feedback there for Martie Mary what are your thoughts?

0 (15m 49s):
Personal branding is so important and that branding starts in college with your reputation, how your peers perceive you, your professors, any academic achievements, volunteering and so on. So work on that personal brand and remember that every interaction you you have, whether it's positive or negative will impact your personal brand to Marty's point community service, volunteering, really showing your character and giving of yourself is very important. That is something that will stand out on a resume and reflect at your character.

0 (16m 31s):
So build your personal brand, keep it in mind, have integrity and go wide, go wide with your network. So Mary,

1 (16m 39s):
Well, let's talk about your school experience. I mean, I know you're like me, that was decades ago. I mean, it's been a while since I've been in school, but I can still look back and I can just think of some skills that I picked up during my college experience. You know, during my time at Providence college in Rhode Island, that's helped me time and time again, as I've gone forward in different avenues, what would you say is the most, or at least one of the most valuable skills that you learn in school that helped you throughout your career?

0 (17m 11s):
Great question. Really two things pop up first is being able to become more involved in campus life outside of just the classes. So again, the volunteering I was in a sorority, I helped with different functions for games and so on. So just being able to be available, expanding my network while I was at school. And then also getting involved in Toastmasters Toastmasters is a tremendous organization to help people with public speaking. And I find that most folks don't really get excited about public speaking or

2 (17m 52s):
In a group like Toastmasters. It is time well spent and its a great way to invest in yourself and also invest in your skills.

1 (18m 0s):
There's almost no meaningful job that will not be enhanced fire nation by being a better speaker by being a better communicator, by being comfortable talking and presenting in front of other individuals. Like we all get nervous on some levels when we're in front of people speaking. But guess what? The more you do it, the more you realize that, Hey, I can do this. So Martie same question to you, a valuable, if not the most valuable skill that you learn in school that helped you through

2 (18m 29s):
And be able to multitask with the right things. You know, we talked earlier about, you know, when you say yes, you were saying no to a lot of things, but being able to go to school, hold down a job, participate in some of the things that Mary mentioned earlier, whether it's a fraternity sorority, whether it's inter-murals or your, maybe you are a scholarship athlete. In my case, what I was going through College I was at a kid, it was just me and my oldest son now Gavin and I had to navigate being a single dad working a part-time job, going to school full-time. And then I also started my, my professional career.

2 (19m 10s):
If you will. I worked for the Baseball program at Louisiana tech for the three years while I was finishing my marketing degrees. So you don't have to be a single parent to do that, but you know, what's important to you is that the community service is, you know, is, you know, it is faith important to you. It is intermural sports, Toastmasters, community volunteering. So many things don't do them just to put 'em on a resume, do them to completion. So make sure you are not overloading a, but when you know, when you're going through that, learning how to multitask for me is really what helped get me set because that's really what we do in a matter of like Baseball we wear so many darn hats. Umm, you know, that really was a great, great training ground for me.

2 (19m 50s):
And I didn't even know that it was happening at the time. But looking back that was absolutely number one. Martie hindsight.

1 (19m 56s):
It is 2020. And knowing that we can look back and say, Oh man, I really wish I knew this. I wish I did that. What is some specific advice that you wish you knew back when you were in college that would have really helped you when you started looking for work? Post-college

2 (20m 14s):
I think I probably would've started networking earlier. I did send out letters and those listening, yes. We use to use the post office for everything. And I sent letters to every major league club and a lot of minor league clubs. And I would have done that earlier and I would have followed up with phone calls. It wouldn't have thought it would not have just been sending letters. So it would've been a honing, my networking skills and doing it in an earlier in an earlier timeframe would have probably been the thing that I would have gone back and done over. What about you, Mary? I definitely would

0 (20m 49s):
Have started networking earlier. Probably also try to take advantage of internship opportunities. I never interned while I was in college every summer, I was just excited to have a few months off and not do really anything. So I'm looking back. I think I missed out on some opportunities that could have helped kind of propel my career, but I would say internships, networking early, figure out what companies you're interested in and see, you know, who, you know, that maybe works there or you're if your parents, you know, I have friends that work there and so on, but just to really start kind of identifying industry companies and those sorts of things before you're out of college, you can learn about them, follow them on online and try to get a foot in the door.

1 (21m 44s):
We are going to come to you after Mary answers this final question. So definitely take your time, get prepared for it, but Mary lets put you on the spot here for a second. You've shared a lot of knowledge. You shared a lot of value in this interview. What's the one thing you wanna make sure the listeners really walk away with from everything that you and Marty have shared

0 (22m 4s):
Prioritizing their personal roadmap, prioritizing what they want to accomplish while they're in school in terms of mastering that education and also having internship opportunities or volunteer opportunities and so on. So I would say really, you know, getting out that 24 a month calendar, breaking it up by semester, deciding what's important for you to get done during those semesters and then figuring out the way to make that happen. Going back to that, knowing when to say yes to opportunities and also knowing that you're going to have to say no to some Martie.

2 (22m 43s):
I want to think of like, so I won't be redundant. I agree with everything you said, I'm going to go way off the path here. You know, we live in a polarizing time. We live in a fast food society. We want everything right now. And then when we want it, we want it our way. And we don't want anyone else to, to be able to tell us or to discuss with us, you know, how things may or may not be. So I just urge those that are out there. Don't get caught up in that. Sometimes things take a little time and it's okay if it's not an immediate gratification, but more importantly, we need to remember that we need to be able to discuss things.

2 (23m 24s):
And I think that goes back to relationships right now. You're your fear, whether it's a sports team or whether it's politics or whether it's the virus you're right or you're wrong. But the reality is that that's not really true. There are a common discussion points that we should all be having. And when you're out and when you're starting to get out in your career, you need to remember that because you can really find individuals that you can discuss things with and you don't want to get on the side of right or wrong because you may be missing out on a lot of the big world. That's out here,

1 (24m 0s):
Fire nation, you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. And you've been hanging out with M K M C and J L D today. So keep up that heat. And if you head over to eofire.com and type it Mary in Martie, that's M a R T I E in the search bar. The show, this page will pop-up with everything we talked about today, links to them, to their company is how you can follow up with them and everything that we chatted about. Mary Martie thank you for sharing your truth, your knowledge you are Value with fire nation today. For that we salute you and will catch you on the flip side. Thank you. John thanks. John Hey fire nation today's Value Bombs content was brought to you by Creighton and Mary and Martie are you ready to rock your very own Podcast well, check out our free podcast in chorus and because I teach you how to create and launch your own podcast for free free Podcastcourse.com, I'll catch you there or I'll catch you on the flip side.

1 (24m 59s):
If you have a world class business education in mind for your high school students than you should have Heider College a business at Creighton university in mind to, to experience, Heider go to business.creighton.edu, looking for a business coach who has helped thousands of entrepreneurs. It just like you to increase their profitability by an average of 104% per year, all for less money than it would cost a hire a full time at minimum wage employee. Schedule your free consultation today with Clay Clark at thrivetimeshow.com/fire, thrivetimeshow.com/fire.