Your Three Think Tankers are taking this week off to spend some quality time relaxing, hanging with the family and getting in some travel but we didn’t want to leave you with radio silence.

We are sharing some of our favorite things this holiday season in the hopes of spreading some holiday cheer in the flavor of women empowering women.

Check out what we’re reading and listening to while we’re checking out for the holiday break.

Audrea

I’m listening to: Battle Tactics for Your Sexist Workplace

If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to just complain. You want to take action. You want to change, grow, shift. This is the PERFECT podcast for that since it’s all about tactics you can take today. I love the message of empowerment. I love the sarcasm. I love the banter between Eula Scott Bynoe and Jeannie Yandel.  I love how they’re supporting women and calling out sexism in the workplace.

I’m reading: The More of Less by Joshua Becker and Rising Strong by Brene Brown

I’m traveling in New Zealand over my holiday break (in a camper van!) and I am using that time to reset and refocus for the year. My goal is to start 2019 refreshed and refocused. I want to learn how to let go of the stuff I don’t need and I’ll be living in a camper van so the More of Less book is perfect timing. Also, I have been working this year on getting comfortable in discomfort and who better to explore that with than the queen of vulnerability, Brene Brown.

I’m not quite finished with these but I’m loving them so far!

Julie

I’m listening to: Business Wars by Wondry, Glambition Radio with Ali Brown, The Goal Digger Podcast by Jenna Kutcher

If you geek out learning from other entrepreneurs, then these are some of my favorite go-to podcasts. Let’s highlight my favorite…

I was recently turned on to Business Wars, created by Wondry, one of the largest podcast publishers in the U.S. Here’s the show’s official description:

Netflix vs. HBO. Nike vs. Adidas. Business is war. Sometimes the prize is your wallet, or your attention. Sometimes, it’s just the fun of beating the other guy. The outcome of these battles shapes what we buy and how we live.

Business Wars gives you the unauthorized, real story of what drives these companies and their leaders, inventors, investors, and executives to new heights — or to ruin. Hosted by David Brown, former anchor of Marketplace. From Wondery, the network behind Dirty John and American History Tellers.

This fall, episode 74 introduced the show on legal wars. Here’s a snippet:

Here on Business Wars, we give you play-by-plays of epic business battles that have not only changed the companies involved, but in many cases changed the course of history itself.

Hooked yet? If you love history, controversy, and learning from big moves (and big mistakes), then this show is for you.

I’m reading:  When I say no, I feel guilty by Manuel J. Smith, Ph.D., Persuasive Business Proposals by Tom Sant

I’ll be the first to admit that my book reading has slowed to a lackluster speed. Ahem, next to nothing in the last few months, aside from the books I read for our monthly book club. Flipping pages is one of the first things I stop making time for when life gets busy, even though I love reading.

These two books were gifted to me by another entrepreneur after a conversation about growing my business in 2019. I may have mentioned that I struggle with saying no (to everything from volunteering on Boards to adding on extra client work when my team is already slammed and I’m working around the clock). And while I love meeting with new prospective clients, writing proposals is one of the least favorite things I do for mConnexions. So both of these books are at the top of my list to read in the new year. 

Sidenote shout-out to shorter reads: articles, fortunately, are a much different story for me than books. Once a newsie, always a newsie, as we said in TV news, and I love to spend time reading on a variety of topics every day. Some of my go-to sources include Forbes, Inc, Entrepreneur, AdWeek, Tech Crunch, Business Insider, and more. I’d love to hear your bookmarked sources for reading on leadership, entrepreneurship, and all things marketing.

Kathryn

I’m listening to: Becoming by Michelle Obama, and Measure What Matters; How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs

I am listening to six books currently on and off. The two I am most actively going back to each week right now are Becoming and Measure What Matters. Michelle Obama takes you back to Chicago during her childhood, the wisdom her parents imparted on her, what shaped her, and what she dealt with as First Lady. It’s humorous and inspiring. I am also finding myself very frustrated for her as I listen to her read her book.

Measure What Matters is by venture capitalist, John Doerr. He reveals how the goal-setting system of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) helped tech giants from Intel to Google achieve explosive growth — and how it can help other organizations thrive. Like mine, hopefully!

I’m reading: Betsy Bosom’s Baby Book by Lucy Libido & Betsy Bosom

I am having a baby in 2019, so I’ve been reading this book on and off all year as I prepared to be pregnant, and now that I am pregnant. “Lucy” and “Betsy” researched many of your favorite essential oils and how they impact both mom and baby. I’ve had to stop taking allergy drugs and migraine drugs — and these oils have helped me tremendously. The authors explain what oils are safe for use while pregnant… because so many drugs are not safe for mom and baby.

But let’s not stop here. What are you listening to? What are you reading? Share in the comments and let us know what else we should be checking out while we’re checking out.

 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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Photo of Audrea Fink Audrea Fink

What can I say? I love working with incredibly smart humans. I love to look at the big picture, build out a strategy, and only then dive into the tactics.

Photo of Julie Holton Julie Holton

A storyteller at heart, Julie Holton is the Owner and Principal Strategist at mConnexions, a full-service marketing and communications agency that focuses on developing digital marketing solutions for clients. Julie leads a team of digital marketers, website developers, writers, designers, brand strategists, …

A storyteller at heart, Julie Holton is the Owner and Principal Strategist at mConnexions, a full-service marketing and communications agency that focuses on developing digital marketing solutions for clients. Julie leads a team of digital marketers, website developers, writers, designers, brand strategists,  and creatives.

Whether it be through digital platforms or traditional marketing, Julie’s strengths have always been tied to building connections. Before launching mConnexions in 2017, Julie led the strategic marketing directives for a mid-sized law firm of nearly 50 attorneys practicing 70+ areas of law at three offices across Michigan. She currently continues to serve on the editorial committee for the Legal Marketing Association’s Strategies magazine.

Prior to working in marketing, Julie spent more than ten years working in top television newsrooms across the country, as an Emmy award-winning writer, producer, and executive producer. Julie worked with her news teams to develop digital and social media strategies – even before social media sites began to peak in popularity.

Julie also has a passion for her community, working closely with several non-profits. Most notably, she sits on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Alzheimer’s Association, Michigan Chapter, she serves as the Media Coordinator for Grit, Glam & Guts, and as an Advisory Board member of ePIFany Now.

More on mConnexions

At mConnexions, we believe that strong relationships are the foundation for building a successful business. These connections are so important, that we put it right in our name: Marketing Connections. With strategic branding, digital marketing, and content creation at its core, mConnexions builds, implements, and manages custom strategies for businesses. Learn more at mConnexions.com.

Photo of Kathryn Janicek Kathryn Janicek

Kathryn Janicek is a sought-after media and public speaking expert training entrepreneurs and corporate executives around the world. Click HERE to book a complimentary consultation with Kathryn.

Kathryn is a three-time Emmy Award-winning television executive producer and spent 20-years creating engaging content and…

Kathryn Janicek is a sought-after media and public speaking expert training entrepreneurs and corporate executives around the world. Click HERE to book a complimentary consultation with Kathryn.

Kathryn is a three-time Emmy Award-winning television executive producer and spent 20-years creating engaging content and coaching teams of anchors, reporters, producers and writers in newsrooms across the country.

She has extensive crisis communications experience including overseeing all international, national and local media when the 35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River.

She also helped brands like WGN and NBC (LA, NY & Chicago) launch their social media brands. She now helps run marketing and content for a west coast news operation.

As a media and public speaking trainer — she also teaches the CEOs of companies how to TELL their story and reach the most customers on social media, in mainstream media and on stage.

Kathryn is an engaging professional public speaker who travels the country making presentations and training large audiences.