Twins Talk it Up Podcast

Episode 91: Managing Conflict & Difficult Conversations

What does the incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars have to do with this episode? Being able to manage conflict and have difficult conversations is a skill and an expectation for those in positions of influence in every organization. We are so pleased to have our friend Eric Williamson join Twins Talk it Up to speak to this very topic. Eric Williamson is a Business Coach, Speaker, Conflict Resolution Consultant and the Author of ‘How to Work with Jerks: Getting Stuff Done with People you Can’t Stand.’We ask Eric to share his thoughts about that incident during the Oscars, being in control of your emotions and the importance of cultivating a healthy organizational culture. Every organization needs to be proactive with their training and in their expectations, especially when it comes to managing conflict and with difficult conversations.He also trains on applying his LUV Principle, which stands for Listen, Understand and Validate. Also, listen for Eric’s 3-Step process designed for working with jerks and dealing with conflict:Step 1: Assess the situation.Step 2: Analyze the situation.Step 3: Act.To learn more about Eric and his book, ‘How to Work with Jerks: Getting Stuff Done with People you Can’t Stand’, visit https://tailoredtrainingsolutions.com/Support and Follow us by Sponsoring, Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 90: Entrepreneurial Success in Government Contracting

Congratulations are in order for our next guest, Jasson Walker, Jr. The Founder and CEO of cFocus Software, a $10M in Revenue Company located in the Washington DC region was featured in Microsoft’s Black Partner Growth Initiative Black History Month 2022 Campaign. Jasson joined Twins Talk it Up to share about his entrepreneurial journey within the Tech and Government Contracting space. We touch on how his ATO as a Service™ helps to automate FISMA, RMF, and FedRAMP compliance and reporting. We dive into some of the partnerships he has, including Microsoft (Gold-Certified), Black Channel Partner Alliance (BCPA) and AppMeetup. We ask Jasson to share his best tips for winning contracts with the Federal Government. Jasson mentions two keys for success:-Cultivating relationships with Decision Makers-Ability to write and articulate your value proposition with ProposalsHe also adds that working with the government is all about 'risk-management' and with bringing in the best talent who align with your vision. Acknowledging strengths and placing leadership on the right seats on the bus lead to success. Jasson echoes what we’ve been hearing from other entrepreneurs we’ve had on the program, in that you must be willing to let go, have repeatable processes, and scale with the right leaders. He did not become an entrepreneur to gain freedom as much as he did to gain flexibility. To learn more about Jasson and cFocus Software, visit https://cfocussoftware.com/Support and Follow us by Sponsoring, Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 89: Live Up to Your Name

The name of your organization can be a major contributing factor in its perception and growth. There are companies whose names have reflected their brand perfectly - including Apple, Starbucks and Google. It's essential that the name is unique, authentic, memorable, and enduring, so it resonates with your target audience. Even more important, is if that name represents the heart of the organization and of its leadership.We are pleased to be joined by an entrepreneur who has been experiencing incredible success, and who has been living up to the name of his business. Abe Lazar is the Owner and President of Honest Abe Home Services, located in Greater Baltimore Maryland. They believe in and stay by their slogan, “We live up to our name.”We ask Abe what some of his best tips are and what have been some of the lessons learned in growing his company. He shares his thoughts on mistakes leaders can make including:Not understanding that you can choose your clients.Not knowing your numbers.Not being solid about your business model.Not building proper processes and protocols.Not thinking long-term.We also touch on the significance of building customer loyalty, understanding human psychology, leveraging your network, and why you should protect your work-life balance. Abe stated, "I want my technicians, not to have to live to work. I want them to work, so they can live and then go home and have a normal life." To learn more about Honest Abe Home Services, especially if you are in Central Maryland, visit http://honestabeplumbing.com/Support and Follow us by Sponsoring, Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 88: Open-Ended Success

Great sales questions can provide insight into your buyer’s world. Open-ended questions are designed to qualify and discover, and they can build both rapport and uncover pain. Great questions ultimately help sales professionals secure more deals. If you don't engage and ask the right questions, you are less likely to understand the challenges you need to help solve. But there's also an art to asking great questions. In this episode, we address the value and wisdom behind asking open-ended questions. You will differentiate yourself by applying the skill of intentional listening, learning to ask the right open-ended questions and when you keep quiet. Silence can be a great tool as prospects tend to feel the need to respond. A good rule of thumb is to have your prospect or client speak 70 - 75% of the time. It's amazing how a simple question such as, "what does success look like for you" will do. Open-ended sales questions are those with no definitive answer, and are aimed at prompting a longer or more insightful response from the prospect. What are some open-ended questions that have helped you to keep buyers engaged and close more sales? Support and Follow us by Sponsoring, Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 87: Mentally Healthy Leaders

According to research by Bupa Global, it was revealed that 64% of senior business leaders have suffered from mental health conditions including anxiety, stress, and depression.There is a real need for more business leaders to normalize conversations around mental health. The health pandemic has confirmed this need, especially as more organizations grapple to balance a hybrid and remote workforce with demands for greater efficiency and increased profits. We are fortunate to have our friend Dr. Stephanie J. Wong join Twins Talk it Up to speak about developing a culture of communication and complete health, to dispel common myths around mental health, and on the importance of incorporating coping strategies. Dr. Wong is a licensed clinical psychologist, entrepreneur, and founder and host of the award-winning, Color of Success podcast. In addition to her own experiences, Dr. Wong quotes from Dr. Samantha Broadman’s book, ‘Everday Vitality: Turning Stress into Strength’, and how a driven professional can find strength within their stress. Dr. Wong believes that you can best manage your stress by assessing your values, inviting transparent conversations with your leadership teams, and by assessing how your management style is impacting your employees.We ask her to share some of her own coping strategies & outlets. Her hobbies include podcasting and karaoke, the pastime favorite for many professionals within the Asian business community. She believes that it is important that every leader finds and does what will bring them great joy. On a side note, do not get her started talking about which KPop group is the best. It is our hope that this conversation with Dr. Wong will provide some education and inspiration to better understand mental health and how to manage mental health in the workplace. To learn more about Dr. Stephanie J. Wong, visit https://www.drstephaniejwong.com/Support and Follow us by Sponsoring, Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 86: Leverage Training to Create Stickiness

How can an MSP create stickiness with their clients? How can they take advantage of hybrid and remote work models? How can they benefit from an increased need for flexible and specialized training? We are thrilled to have our next guests from ClipTraining on to share how their platform helps to strengthen and keep clients more engaged while increasing profits. Tim Duggan is the Co-Founder and CEO, and Carl Bauman is the CRO at ClipTraining, an eLearning platform providing cloud-based training resources across a variety of Microsoft Office 365 applications. They are uniquely positioned to become a value add for MSPs who are looking to address and solve another need for training that their customers specifically have. We ask Tim and Carl to share how an MSP can leverage ClipTraining to increase stickiness, increase margins and grow their organizations. Some of the benefits of their MSP Partner program include:Access to a library with over 5,000 task-based learning sessions.Support onboarding trainingAccess to training for their own (internal) employees.Take advantage of Microsoft’s co-op funds.Simple deploymentWhite label and personalization of training videos with MSPs own logo.Badges, reward system to encourage learning.Premium content, including HR training and cybersecurity awareness.Ability to load and deploy customized video content.Free webinar on the third Thursday of each month.In addition to those benefits, which MSP wouldn’t welcome reduced help-desk service calls, freeing up their teams to concentrate on higher revenue generating activities? Danny's own company AppMeetup is also a user of the Clip Training Platform. ClipTraining will work with you to see if you qualify for co-op funds and our listeners can benefit from three months of free ClipTraining. For a demo or more information about ClipTraining, visit https://www.cliptraining.com/Support and Follow us by Sponsoring, Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 85: Rethink Servant Leadership

Is it time to rethink what servant leadership is? It is more than just a leadership philosophy; it is the heart of a leader demonstrated with a depth of caring to truly serve, listen to, teach, and even share power. They believe in helping and developing others to achieve their very best. We welcome our friend Tre Wright, CEO of One Cube Up to share personally why this approach has benefited him throughout his career. In addition to owning his own organization, Tre is an Executive Coach, Speaker and Engineer within the Aerospace industry. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and operates as a Senior Systems Integration Business Analyst for Lockheed Martin.We appreciate Tre sharing his leadership journey with us and how he continues to emphasize the importance of serving. He learned from one of his mentors that “leadership is about influence” and that by empowering others, your organization can exceed their goals. He also provides a tip for those looking to get promoted, help your leaders achieve their goals. Helping others including your leaders achieve their objectives, will ultimately help you to achieve your own aspirations. To learn more about Tre and his company, visit onecubeup.comTre will make his eBook available for our listening audience, and is giving a discount to his membership site. Support and Follow us by Sponsoring, Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 84: Cybersecurity Mindset and Profit

Cybersecurity should be a topic of conversation every organization has, beginning with their technology teams and any retained managed service provider (MSP). We are pleased to be joined by our friend and highly sought-after speaker, trainer and author, Jennifer Bleam. Jennifer is a member of the CompTIA emerging Tech Council and is the Founder and CEO of MSP Sales Revolution, where she helps MSP’s grow and scale their business by adding cybersecurity and best practices to their current tech stack.We ask Jennifer to touch on how she helps her clients position their services, and why they cannot shy away from addressing FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt). She dispels the notion that security is only a concern for large enterprises and not SMBs. Jennifer touches on:The psychology of selling and how we tend to buy with emotion and not logic.Every MSP business needs a cyber security offering. The importance of training, including the use of quarterly reviews and network auditsPower of journaling and self-talkHer 3-Step Process based on the book, Gap Selling, by Keenan. The First Step is to Reveal the Gap, followed by Feel the Gap and then finally Heal the Gap.For more information about Jennifer and her soon to be released book entitled, 'Simplified Cybersecurity Sales for MSPs’, visit https://mspsalesrevolution.com/Support and Follow us by Sponsoring, Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 83: Finding Money, Finding your Passion

The pandemic created significant disruptions around the world, impacting many sectors including higher education. We are fortunate to have our friend and educational professional Stephen Ampersand join the program to speak to this and to share about his own experience as an entrepreneur. Stephen has served in several roles throughout his career, specifically within enrollment management and student affairs. He started Turn the Tassel Consulting Group, a private college planning and advising firm to help students and families navigate educational concerns. Steve shares about factors that have impacted enrollment, and why he specifically started his own organization. He reflected back to his own life story and discovered his Why. This laid the foundation for his passion and mission. Steve is a strong believer in mentorship, regardless of which industry you are in. We can all benefit from having an outside perspective and guiding voice.Steve even takes a moment to share his own value proposition and elevator pitch. He says that he has yet to be turned down when he mentions saving students 50% on their college expenses. We would certainly take him up on that offer. To learn more about Steve and how he helps his clients "keep costs down and finish on time", visit turnthetasselconsulting.com or look for T3CG on YouTube.Support and Follow us by Sponsoring, Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 82: The Great Resignation, The Great Opportunity

What is the 'great resignation' and what are the opportunities professionals are pursuing? We invite Joyce Johnson to share insight into this era and what leaders are doing to invest in their top talent. Joyce is an author, podcaster, business coach as well as the Founder and CEO of Why Sales Network.The Covid-19 Health Pandemic was among the many factors that triggered masses to leave their jobs. Many began to re-think where, how, and why they are working the jobs they had. This awakening created a drive for quality of life and work life balance; it created a demand for talent. Joyce shares what both professionals and organizations are discovering during this period. She speaks about the value of relationships in selling and how the difference between contact and contract is the r, and that the letter r represents relationships. Training topics such as managing a sales force, empathy, and communication are essential to supporting professionals within their organizations. You will not consistently hit targets without having engaged employees. Joyce touched on lessons learned from watching an NFL Playoff game. She stated that ’thirteen seconds can change your life', and on how preparation breeds success. Know your playbook and you will win the game. Invest in yourself as a leader. Invest in your people. Learn from other voices. Joyce constantly says, 'get up, show up, follow up'. To learn more about Joyce and to get a free copy of one of her e-books, visit whysalesnetwork.com/Support and Follow us by Sponsoring, Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp