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Unleash the power of inclusivity

Unleashing the Power of Inclusivity | Dr. Will Ramey
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Unleash the power of inclusivity

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

This week we delve into the invaluable concept of inclusivity and its profound impact on team success. We share powerful ways leaders can set the conditions for inclusivity to flourish in their team. Let’s dive in!

Who is on the team matters:

The right people, in the right place, doing the right things together, can move mountains. I’ve worked on a variety of teams throughout my career. One of the common denominators of teams that I have enjoyed leading has been a diverse team composition. Being surrounded by people that see the world differently, approach problem solving differently, and who challenge me to think differently, makes for a high growth and highly satisfying experience.

According to research by Josh Bersin, more diversity equals more innovation. In his research, companies that ranked as more inclusive were 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders in their market, and 1.8 times more likely to be change-ready.

Understanding Inclusivity:

Inclusivity is the cornerstone of team success, enabling diverse perspectives, talents, and experiences to converge. When individuals from various backgrounds and walks of life come together, they form a potent cocktail of creativity, innovation, and problem-solving prowess. The true beauty lies in the realization that our individual strengths are amplified when we embrace and celebrate our differences.

Breaking Down Barriers:

Leaders play a pivotal role in setting the stage for inclusivity to flourish within their teams. They must actively dismantle barriers, whether visible or invisible, that hinder collaboration and prevent the full participation of team members. By cultivating an environment of psychological safety (Model Psychological Safety), leaders empower individuals to speak up, share their unique insights, and challenge the status quo without fear of judgment or retribution.

Embracing Diversity:

A crucial step in fostering inclusivity is recognizing and valuing the diversity that each team member brings to the table. Diversity encompasses a broad range of dimensions, including race, gender, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic background, and more. Leaders must actively seek out and embrace this diversity, understanding that it unlocks a wealth of perspectives and approaches that can propel the team towards unprecedented success.

Active Listening and Empathy:

Leaders must develop and demonstrate active listening skills, striving to understand the experiences, needs, and challenges faced by their team members. By empathizing with diverse perspectives, leaders build trust and demonstrate a genuine commitment to inclusivity. This empathy creates a safe space for individuals to express themselves and fosters a culture of respect and understanding.

Fostering Collaboration:

Collaboration lies at the heart of inclusivity. Leaders must foster an environment that encourages open communication, cooperation, and the exchange of ideas. Creating opportunities for team members to work together on diverse projects not only strengthens bonds but also fosters a sense of shared purpose. By celebrating both individual and collective achievements, leaders reinforce the importance of inclusivity as an integral aspect of the team’s fabric.

Continuous Learning and Growth:

Leaders must promote continuous learning and growth within their teams, encouraging individuals to expand their knowledge and embrace new perspectives. By investing in training and development programs that address unconscious biases and promote cultural awareness, leaders equip team members with the tools to navigate the challenges that arise from diverse perspectives. These initiatives also demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and reinforce the value placed on inclusivity.

Conclusion:

Inclusivity is not merely a buzzword but a fundamental principle that unlocks the full potential of teams. By embracing diversity, fostering collaboration, and creating a culture of empathy and respect, leaders can set the conditions for inclusivity to thrive. Through the power of inclusivity, teams can overcome challenges, ignite innovation, and achieve remarkable outcomes that surpass expectations. I encourage you to embark on this journey of inclusivity, for it is a pathway to a brighter future, both personally and professionally.

Looking for a personal coach to help you strengthen your self-awareness and navigate leading people? Let’s talk! Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

Interested in having me facilitate a leadership or team development workshop for your organization? Reach out or checkout my website: Will Ramey Leadership & Team Dynamic Workshop

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NBA Finals

NBA Finals Preview and Prediction
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NBA Finals

By Spencer Ripchik

Here we are—the NBA Finals.

After a long and short Western and Eastern Conference Finals, there are just two teams that remain, the Denver Nuggets and the long shot Miami Heat.

The Eastern Conference Finals was the more exciting of the two but didn’t look it after the first three games.

Miami won the first three games in dominant fashion. The next three games were a different story. The Boston Celtics won three straight forcing Game 7. If the Celtics won, it would’ve been the first team to come back down 3-0. 

But, there still hasn’t been a team to come back down 3-0 as the Heat moved on.

The Nuggets made quick work of the Los Angeles Lakers and beat them in four games, giving Denver a week-plus rest to prepare for the Championship.

It’s the No. 1-seeded Nuggets against the No. 8-seeded Heat to see who will be crowned NBA Champions.

NBA Finals

The better team on paper is the Denver Nuggets. 

The Nuggets have the best player left in center Nikola Jokić, who leads the team in points, rebounds, blocks and assists per game, averaging a triple-double.

The Lakers had no answer for Jokić. He led the team in scoring in half the games and had 30-plus points in those games.

He’s a problem for teams without a solid big man. Los Angeles had Anthony Davis, but he couldn’t do anything to stop Jokić.

When the Lakers focused too much on Jokić, they got beat out on the perimeter and by Denver’s other stars.

Guard Jamal Murray is also averaging over 20 points per game this season and had his best series in the Playoffs against the Lakers.

He had over 20 points in all four games and over 30 points in three of them. He’s a problem too.

Then if those two are heavily guarded, Denver has another star Michael Porter Jr., who has great vision and can shoot, too.

He didn’t put up the massive numbers like the other two Nuggets’ stars in the Eastern Conference Finals, but he didn’t need to since his teammates were racking up the points.

If there’s one team that can handle a Big 3, it’s the team Denver is playing against, the Miami Heat.

The Heat dealt with the No. 1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, who were loaded with stars, and the Celtics, who have one of the best Big 3’s in the league with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart.

Miami’s been doubted series in and series out, but it has come out on top every time and it’s thanks to the chemistry the team has built up since the Heat’s appearance in the 2020 NBA Championship.

The squad is led by Jimmy Butler, who might be having the best playoffs out of any player. Butler led the team in scoring in five of the seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals and dropped 28 in Game 7 against the Celtics.

He’s been finding the basket with ease and in the final couple of games of the series didn’t need to do all the work.

Players like Duncan Robinson and Gabe Vincent have stepped up to support on the offensive end.

This series is going to come down to whether or not the Heat can stop Jokić. Jokić has been really good in the paint and Miami does have a player to stop him, Bam Adebayo.

At 6-foot-9, he’s undersized, so he could have trouble stopping the bigger Jokić, which might be the reason why the Nuggets take the series.

However, the Heat have been doubted the whole Playoffs and the person who has been the go-to guy when the team has been doubted is Butler. The man who makes something out of nothing.

With that being said, Jokić is too big of a problem for the Heat to stop and even if they do, they have a bunch of other players that can score at a high rate.

Prediction: Nuggets in 6

Do you have a sports story you want me to share? Or do have suggestions on any sports-related content you want to see OnTheStacks? Tweet me @RipchikSpencer

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Smashing Your Goals

Smashing Your Goals as a Leader | Dr. Will Ramey
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Smashing Your Goals

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Understanding who you want to become and putting a system in place helps you achieve your leadership goals. We share three steps to take so you can make sustainable and continuous growth as a leader to get the outcomes you desire. Let’s get into it!

Jumpstart Your Goals

When is the best time to start…NOW! It’s not a new year, it’s not a major milestone. However, you’ve got goals you want to accomplish. You have something you want to overcome. Focus on that feeling of optimism. It’s always the right time to refresh, restart, or reimage yourself. It’s a fantastic time to jumpstart, set goals, and build or break habits. The time is now! Whether your goals are professional or personal here are three pieces of the puzzle that will help you achieve whatever outcome you set for yourself.

Let’s think of this as an equation:
Who I Want to Be + My Habit System = My Desired Outcome

1. Start with the End in Mind

Identifying a goal or objective you want to achieve is great but don’t forget, it is actually the result or outcome you are looking for. It comes at the end of the equation. Take time to visualize your outcome. Picture yourself at the end, having achieved your goal.

Who is around you? How do you feel? Now walk it back in time – What steps did you take to get there? How long did you take to get there? Visualization is a powerful tool when it comes to future oriented achievement. It allows you to see yourself succeeding.

2. Understand WHO you are becoming

Let’s move to the left side of that equation. It’s not just the result but the journey to get you there. It’s imperative to understand what achieving this goal means to who you are trying to become. Who do you want to become by the end of this journey? What is important for you to feel? What is important to you about achieving this outcome? Who do you need to show up as?

Identifying a clear concise outcome is great, what will keep you moving towards that goal is being highly self-aware of the tie it has to who you are becoming in the process. To dive deep and tap into the true importance of your desired outcome, you can practice a little “self-coaching”.

Try this reflective writing process. Write out and answer these questions:
What is the outcome I’m trying to achieve? What happens if I’m able to achieve this outcome? Who is impacted? How will achieving my goal change who I am?  Who do I want to become along the way?

The goal is the outcome – making it personal and being self-aware of who you want to become by achieving the goal is powerful. It gives your goal more purpose beyond the surface level of accomplishment.

3. The Habit System

The last piece of the equation is putting a system in place for change. The system you put in place will lead you to your desired result. Think about it from the wide world of sports. The outcome is to Win. To win you must score the most points. To score points you must have a process in place… The process can be thought of as your how. Different goals require different systems. Systems will bring about the change you seek, through your habits. Understanding the habit loop will help you put the best system in place for achieving your goal.

Take the outcome you want and break it down into manageable achievable steps. What’s the first step you can take? What resources do you need? How will you be accountable? When will you start? Now we are ready to enter the Habit Loop.

The Loop

According to James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits, the habit loop starts with a 1. cue that triggers a 2. craving, which motivates a 3. response, which provides a 4. reward, which satisfies the craving and, ultimately, becomes associated with the cue. Together, these four steps form a neurological feedback loop that allows you to create automatic habits.

Ultimately – You want to make good habits fun and attractive and you want to break bad habits by making them unattractive and invisible.

Remember to celebrate the small wins along the path. Small wins or setbacks have a multiplying impact over the long term. Build your positive momentum.

Looking forward to seeing you achieve your professional and personal goals!
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

Looking for a personal coach to help you strengthen your self-awareness and navigate leading people? Let’s talk! Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

Interested in having me facilitate a leadership or team development workshop for your organization? Reach out or checkout my website: Will Ramey Leadership & Team Dynamic Workshop

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Mental Health and Leadership

The Power of Mental Health in Leadership | Dr. Will Ramey
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Mental Health and Leadership
Research backed approaches to leadership and team dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Mastering the Mind: The Power of Mental Health in Leadership

May is mental health awareness month. As leaders we are stewards of well-being at work. Our actions contribute to the work environment for our teams. We must also understand how to safeguard our own mental health to be at our best. This week we take time to explore how leaders can strengthen and protect their mental health and promote a positive environment for their team. Let’s dive in.

Leading the way for Mental Health

I’ve stumbled at leading by example for positive mental health practices. I thought I could box everything up, bury myself in work and as time moved on so would I. Not true! Focusing on action and hitting the gym had short term positive results. In the long run, it was costing me. I didn’t learn how to clear my head, acknowledge my thoughts, and understand what was happening to move on in a positive way. That all changed when I started practicing mindfulness and learning how to be a coach. I would focus on physical well-being (doing) or accomplishing whatever was next on my list (doing). What I was avoiding was feeling, emotion, and acknowledging my thoughts (being). I was a human doing, not a human being. As a leader, and for the good of my team, I needed to balance doing and being.

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of modern business, it is essential for us to recognize that our greatest asset lies within ourselves and our teams. By fostering a positive mental health environment, we can unleash our full potential, drive innovation, and inspire those around us to reach new heights. So, let us explore the importance of mental health and discover how we can safeguard our own well-being while nurturing the thriving minds of our teams.

The Leader’s Mental Well-being

As leaders, we are the catalysts for progress and change. However, this responsibility can sometimes come at a cost to our mental well-being. The pressures of decision-making, high expectations, and constant demands can lead to stress, burnout, and even emotional exhaustion. Therefore, it is paramount that we prioritize our own mental health to ensure our long-term effectiveness as leaders.

Self-awareness: The foundation of mental health lies in self-awareness. By recognizing and acknowledging our emotions, strengths, and weaknesses, we can better navigate the challenges we face. Embrace mindfulness practices, such as meditation and reflection, to cultivate a deeper understanding of your own mental state. How to Practice Mindfulness

Self-care: Treat yourself with kindness and caring, as you would for anyone on your team. Prioritize self-care activities that replenish your energy, such as exercise, hobbies, and spending quality time with loved ones. Remember, when your cup is full, you have more to offer those around you.

Seek support: Leaders are not immune to struggles. Don’t hesitate to reach out for support from mentors, coaches, or mental health professionals. By creating a support network, you can gain valuable insights, guidance, and a safe space to share your challenges.

Creating a Positive Mental Health Team Environment

Leadership involves fostering an environment where team members can flourish. When we prioritize the mental health of our teams, we create a foundation for success and create a space where innovation and collaboration thrive.

Open communication: Encourage a culture of open dialogue where team members feel safe to discuss their mental health concerns. Regular check-ins and one-on-one meetings can provide an avenue for support and ensure that individuals feel seen, heard, and valued.

Normalize self-care: Lead by example and openly prioritize self-care activities. Encourage your team to take breaks, practice mindfulness, and engage in activities that promote their well-being. When self-care is seen as a valuable practice, it permeates the entire organization.

Promote work-life balance: Recognize that employees have lives outside of work and encourage a healthy balance between work and personal life. Flexible schedules, remote work options, and time off for personal matters can help reduce stress and improve overall mental health.

Training and resources: Invest in mental health training and provide resources for your team. Offer workshops on stress management, resilience, and emotional intelligence. Consider partnering with mental health professionals to provide counseling services or employee assistance programs.

Lead the Way

In the pursuit of excellence and progress, let us not overlook the significance of mental health. As leaders, we have a responsibility to prioritize our own well-being while creating an environment that fosters the mental health of our teams. By practicing self-awareness, self-care, and seeking support, we fortify our own minds. Simultaneously, by encouraging open communication, promoting self-care, and providing resources, we empower our teams to unleash their full potential.

Remember, the strength of a team lies in the well-being of its individual members. When we prioritize mental health, we create a culture of resilience, empathy, and collaboration. Together, we can overcome challenges, adapt to change, and achieve extraordinary results.

As leaders, we have the power to shape the narrative around mental health and create an environment where mental well-being is valued, supported, and nurtured. In this fast-paced and ever-evolving world, mental health has emerged as a critical factor in both personal and professional success. The positive impact of prioritizing mental health goes beyond the individual level—it ripples through entire organizations, driving productivity, engagement, and overall well-being.

Looking for a personal coach to help you strengthen your self-awareness and navigate leading people? Let’s talk! Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

Interested in having me facilitate a leadership or team development workshop for your organization? Reach out or checkout my website: Will Ramey Leadership & Team Dynamic Workshop

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Portable Sauna

Sweat Tent Portable Sauna: Unboxing & Review
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My journey with the Sweat Tent portable sauna has been nothing short of transformative. This innovative portable sauna product has redefined my approach to relaxation and well-being.

Its exceptional portability, coupled with the myriad of health benefits it offers, has made it an indispensable part of my life now!

If you’re seeking a way to unwind, rejuvenate, and experience the remarkable benefits of sauna therapy anytime and anywhere, the Sweat Tent portable sauna is the ultimate solution. Embrace the portability, cherish the tranquility, and unlock a world of wellness with this extraordinary backyard portable sauna!

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If you watched the video above and you’re already convinced about the Sweat Tent, tap the link below to get yours! If you want to learn more before deciding to make a purchase, keep reading below. 👇🏼

🔥🔥 Sweat Tent: Tap Here to Get $100 OFF your purchase by using code OTS at Checkout! 🔥🔥

Embracing Portability and Convenience:

The moment my Sweat Tent arrived, I eagerly unwrapped it, ready to embark on my personal well-being journey.

As I carefully unfolded and assembled the tent, I marveled at its thoughtful design. Made from durable materials, the Sweat Tent felt sturdy and built to withstand outdoor elements.

Its lightweight nature and compact size made it a breeze to transport and set up in my preferred location, which in my case, was my backyard.

portable sauna

The Sweat Tent Experience:

Stepping into the portable sauna, I instantly felt a sense of calming and relaxation. The spacious interior accommodated me comfortably, allowing me to stretch out and fully unwind.

It comfortably fits up to 3 adults. You can probably squeeze 4, but it’ll be a bit tight.

The breathable fabric ensured adequate airflow, preventing any stuffiness and creating a pleasant environment.

The Sweat Tent’s wood-fire stove provided consistent and intense heat, promoting relaxation and easing muscle tension.

Health Benefits and Wellness:

The Sweat Tent’s portability not only granted me relaxation but also delivered numerous health benefits I’ve been seeking.

Sauna sessions have long been revered for their detoxifying properties, increased blood circulation, and alleviation of muscle soreness.

As I indulged in regular Sweat Tent sessions, I noticed my body and mind reaping the rewards almost instantly.

A World of Possibilities:

The Sweat Tent’s portability and versatility opened up a world of possibilities.

It became my sanctuary for relaxation, no matter where I found myself. Whether I craved solitude amidst nature or wanted to share the experience with friends or family, the Sweat Tent has become a constant companion.

You can literally take it anywhere, depending on your local municipality rules for backyard fires or burns of course.

What is the Tent Made of? Does it Release any Harmful Chemicals?!

The Sweat Tent is made of Oxford 210D Nylon that is rated to 300°F, meaning it will not melt or leach chemicals at 200°F (the approximate highest temperature the sauna will go). The tent windows are made of a high-temperature performance TPU.

The Sweat Tent went through testing using the highest quality, USA NIST calibrated equipment on the market from Forensics Detectors. The test results show that when the Sweat Tent is heated to 200°F there are zero concentrations of CO or VOCs present in the air.

The Price Tag

Of course you’re wondering about the price! At first you may think $1199.00 is a big price tag, but it’s actually very affordable compared to its competitors. And if you’re on the fence about it, you won’t find a better product at this price point anywhere else.

You can even finance the purchase for either 6 or 12 months with a shop now, pay later option at checkout.

The $1199.00 price includes everything you need to start sweating:

  • Insulated portable sauna tent
  • Stainless steel wood-burning stove
  • Rock basket
  • Sauna rocks
  • Thermometer
  • Fire poker
  • Heat-resistant gloves

*The cedar bench, bucket & ladle do cost extra as mentioned in my video unboxing and review above, but are well worth the additional cost to complete the Sweat Tent experience!

portable sauna

Peace of Mind

Every Sweat Tent comes with a 1 year manufacturer warranty out of the box.

They also have a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If you’re not 100% satisfied with your Sweat Tent, you have 30 days to return it for a full refund.

Final Thoughts

Overall, my experience with the Sweat Tent was nothing short of remarkable.

Its exceptional design, ease of use, and ability to provide a relaxing and rejuvenating escape in the comfort of my own backyard made it an absolute game-changer in my wellness routine.

The Sweat Tent exceeded my expectations, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a convenient and portable sauna experience, at the most affordable price on the market.

portable sauna

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Leader's Self-Awareness

A Look in the Mirror: Leader’s Self-awareness | Dr. Will Ramey
A Look in the Mirror: Leader’s Self-awareness | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks
Leader's Self-Awareness
Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

In order to lead others, you have to be able to lead yourself. I’m not talking about management and organizational skills. I am talking about knowing who you are, how you show up, and what impact you are having on others. This is self-awareness and it is a sub-dimension of emotional intelligence. Here we share what it is, why it’s important to leadership, and how to develop yours over time.

Who’s looking back in your mirror?

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, how can I be the best leader of them all? If only it were that easy. Developing self-awareness requires you to be open, acknowledge what you are not good at, then deciding to act. Self-awareness is only the first part of practicing good leadership, deciding to take steps to improve is the next.

I have found myself standing at this crossroads several times in my career. When someone holds that mirror up to me, I have a decision to make a) be thankful and absorb the feedback I’m receiving then do nothing, b) be thankful and absorb the feedback I’m receiving then choose to make a change, c) engage in a defensive conversation about my behavior and give 15 different excuses as to why I did what I did… I can admit at times I’ve chosen all three. What I find most beneficial is option a) and/or b). Being grateful for the feedback that someone shared so that I can increase self-awareness is always a good option.

As a leader, you have a responsibility to guide and inspire your team. But in order to be an effective leader, you need to first understand and improve yourself. That’s where self-awareness and self-improvement come in.

Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Self-improvement is the process of taking steps to become a better version of yourself. In leadership, both self-awareness and self-improvement are crucial for success. Let’s take a closer look at why.

Raise your awareness to connect with your team

Self-awareness is an essential component of effective leadership. Here are just a few reasons why:

  1. Better decision-making: Leaders who are self-aware are better able to make decisions that align with their values, goals, and strengths.
  2. Improved communication: Self-aware leaders are better able to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and expectations to their team members.
  3. Increased emotional intelligence: Self-awareness is a key component of emotional intelligence, which is critical for effective leadership.
  4. Stronger relationships: Self-aware leaders are better able to build strong relationships with their team members, creating a positive and supportive work environment.

With this awareness comes the choice to act. As you start to develop awareness and piece together how your actions have impact on your team, now you have a choice. Are you getting the most out of your team? Are you effectively leading your team through influence, communication, and relationships? If not, it’s time for self-improvement.

Improve yourself – improve your team

Here are benefits you’ll get out of continuously development of your leadership abilities:

  1. Continuous learning: Leaders who are committed to self-improvement are always seeking to learn and grow, which can help them stay ahead of the curve in their industry.
  2. Improved skills: Self-improvement can help leaders develop new skills and improve existing ones, making them more effective at their job.
  3. Better adaptability: Self-improvement can help leaders become more adaptable and flexible, which is essential in today’s rapidly changing business environment.
  4. Increased resilience: Leaders who prioritize self-improvement are better able to bounce back from setbacks and challenges, making them more effective in the long run.

How to Develop Self-Awareness and Self-Improvement as a Leader

So how can you develop self-awareness and self-improvement as a leader? Here are some tips:

  • Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness practices like meditation and deep breathing can help you become more self-aware and present in the moment. (For more on this subject: How Mindfulness Helps You Lead | Dr. Will Ramey)
  • Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from your team members, colleagues, and mentors on your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Reflect on your values and goals: Take time to reflect on your core values and long-term goals, and think about how your actions align with them. (For more on this subject: Leaders – Make Time to Reflect | Dr. Will Ramey)
  • Develop a growth mindset: Adopt a growth mindset and embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement.
  • Set goals: Set specific, measurable goals for improving your skills and abilities, and track your progress over time.

By developing self-awareness and committing to self-improvement, you can become the best leader you can be. By understanding yourself and continuously improving, you can inspire and guide your team towards success. So why not start today? Not sure how to get started and want to explore the benefits of getting a personal coach? Reach out to me. Let’s work together to help you unlock your potential and reach your goals.

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Let’s continue the conversation. Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

Interested in having me facilitate a leadership or team development workshop for your organization? Reach out or checkout my website: Will Ramey Leadership & Team Dynamic Workshop

Check out my OnTheStacks Podcast episode here: 

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nba conference finals preview and predictions

NBA West and Eastern Conference Finals Preview and Predictions
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nba conference finals preview and predictions

By Spencer Ripchik

Then there were four. This NBA Playoffs has been pretty crazy with the No. 1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks losing in the first round and the slow-starting Los Angeles Lakers still in it.

The Boston Celtics battled back against the Philadelphia 76ers, taking the No. 3 seed to seven games where forward Jayson Tatum dropped a historic 51 points.

The longshot in the playoffs the Miami Heat who knocked off the Bucks in the first round, are still striving after beating the New York Knicks in the second round.

The No. 1 seed in the West, the Denver Nuggets, is still chugging along after besting the star-loaded Pheonix Suns.

With the second round over, it now just leaves the Western and Eastern Conference Finals, which is a replica of the 2020 Final Four teams in the Bubble.

That year the Lakers raised the trophy, but this year, they aren’t the favorite to win the Championship.

There are just a handful of games left in the playoff and soon there will be just two teams left, representing the West and the East.

Western Conference Finals

The No. 1-seeded Nuggets vs. the No. 7-seeded Lakers. Despite the large gap in seedings, this could be the more competitive of the two series.

Los Angeles sports the No. 7 seed, but it hasn’t been playing like it at all as of late after taking down Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

After becoming the all-time scoring leader in the regular season, LeBron James is hunting for his fifth NBA Championship and he has a good shot at it.

In the first series against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Lakers had a different leading scorer in all six games, but against the Warriors, they turned to James and the other star Anthony Davis.

Davis’ health is the biggest question mark, already getting banged up a couple of times in the playoffs, but when he’s healthy he makes Los Angeles a tough team to stop.

Denver is kind of a one-man show with two-time back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic leading the team in scoring and rebounds on most nights.

However, the Nuggets do have a lot of young guys who can shoot, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.

Both teams have depth and an arsenal of players that can score. The Nuggets have a better roster than the Lakers and have played better all season, but Denver doesn’t have LeBron James.

If anyone can take a No. 7 seed to the Championship, that started the season really bad, it’s LeBron James. However, James is going to need some help. 

Davis is the difference maker in this series. If he’s healthy, the Lakers are going to be really tough to beat, but if he goes down, Denver will be in the Championship.

Los Angeles in 6

Eastern Conference Finals

The Boston Celtics escaped the 76ers on the back of Tatum after they rode the back of Marcus Smart in game 6.

After defeating Philadelphia, the Celtics became the favorites to win the title and rightfully so. 

Boston is the most complete team left with Tatum, Smart and Jaylen Brown making up the core.

Tatum’s been the go-to guy all season for the Celtics, leading them in points, rebounds and assists per game and he’s going to have to be on his A-game against the hot Heat.

Miami has the lowest odds to win the title, but it’s been grinding out series behind one of the best players left in the playoffs, Jimmy Butler.

Butler took over against the Bucks in the first round and played really well against the Knicks in the second round.

However, Miami isn’t as complete as the Celtics. The Heat has been banged up this playoff and lost Tyler Herro after he broke two of his fingers against Milwaukee.

To pair with Butler, the Heat have Bam Adebayo, but Butler has been most of Miami’s offense. He’s been the team’s leading scorer in 10 out of the Heat’s 11 playoff games and there is a high chance that he is the series leading scorer, but that might not be enough.

The Celtics don’t need Tatum to ball out every game like Miami needs Butler, too. Boston has Smart and Brown who can put up numbers and support Tatum, whereas Butler doesn’t have the big-name stars to carry if needed.

If the Celtics can stop Butler, then it’s going to be the Heat on a plane to Cancún in a couple of days.

Celtics in 5

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Emotional Intelligence and Leadership

Emotional Intelligence in Leadership | Dr. Will Ramey
Emotional Intelligence in Leadership | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks
Emotional Intelligence and Leadership
Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

As a leader, you are expected to inspire and guide your team towards success. But what sets the most effective leaders apart from the rest? According to research, one key factor is emotional intelligence. Here we share what it is, why it’s important to leadership, and how to develop yours over time.

Something unique about my career path is that I have never actually performed the tasks or been in the role of the teams’ I’ve led. I’ve never had the technical expertise or requisite knowledge to be considered a subject matter expert. What I do believe has set me apart when leading teams is my focus on people. I realized the need to develop and grow my emotional intelligence. Doing so enables me to connect and build relationships with my team so we can communicate, remove roadblocks, and build a shared understanding of goals and objectives for performance, without requiring a high degree of technical expertise.

Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is the ability to recognize and regulate your own emotions, as well as understand and respond to the emotions of others. While IQ and technical skills are certainly important, studies show that EQ may be an even stronger predictor of leadership success.

So why does EQ matter in leadership, and how can you develop this important skill set? Let’s take a closer look.

Understanding Emotional Intelligence

EQ has five key components: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Let’s break these down:

  1. Self-awareness: This involves understanding your own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses, and how they impact your behavior and decisions.
  2. Self-regulation: This involves managing your own emotions and impulses in a constructive way, rather than letting them control you.
  3. Motivation: This involves having a strong drive to achieve goals and a positive outlook on the future.
  4. Empathy: This involves understanding and responding to the emotions of others, and being able to see things from their perspective.
  5. Social skills: This involves building strong relationships and networks, and being able to communicate effectively with others.

Each of these components is important for effective leadership. Leaders who are self-aware, emotionally stable, motivated, empathetic, and skilled at communication are better able to inspire and motivate their teams, resolve conflicts, and navigate challenging situations.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

So why does emotional intelligence matter in leadership? There are several reasons:

  1. Better communication: Leaders with high emotional intelligence are able to communicate clearly and effectively with their teams, building trust and rapport.
  2. Stronger relationships: Leaders with high emotional intelligence are able to build strong relationships with their team members, creating a positive and supportive work environment.
  3. Improved decision-making: Leaders with high emotional intelligence are able to regulate their own emotions and make decisions based on reason, rather than being swayed by emotions.
  4. More effective conflict resolution: Leaders with high emotional intelligence are able to understand and respond to the emotions of others, making them more effective at resolving conflicts and negotiating solutions.
  5. Increased team performance: Leaders with high emotional intelligence are able to motivate and inspire their teams, leading to higher levels of engagement, productivity, and overall performance.

Developing Emotional Intelligence

The good news is that emotional intelligence can be developed, even if you don’t naturally possess all of the components. Here are some strategies for developing your emotional intelligence:

  1. Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness practices like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga can help you become more aware of your own emotions and better able to regulate them. (See my article: How Mindfulness Helps You Lead)
  2. Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from others on your emotional intelligence and be open to constructive criticism.
  3. Practice empathy: Put yourself in the shoes of others and try to understand their perspective and emotions.
  4. Build relationships: Make an effort to build strong relationships with your team members, and work on your communication and social skills.
  5. Set goals: Set goals for improving your emotional intelligence and track your progress over time.

By developing your emotional intelligence, you can become a more effective leader and inspire your team to achieve great things. So why not take the first step today?

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Impact of Emotional Displays

Emotional Displays with Purpose | Dr. Will Ramey
Emotional Displays with Purpose | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks
Impact of Emotional Displays
Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Have you ever thought about how your emotional displays impact your team’s behavior? Well, it turns out that your emotions play a significant role in your followers’ organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). We share how to put your emotional intelligence into action and impact your team’s willingness to take on tasks outside of their job description.

Your Team is Watching

About seven years ago I finally came to a realization. I always knew and learned that how you behave as a leader matters. It makes a difference in your day. Fundamentally I understood that when you hold a formal leadership position in an organization, you have an inherent responsibility to model positive behavior. We all understand that, comprehend it, but what does it look like, how can you practice it, and put your emotional displays to work. Early in my leadership journey I would wear my emotions on my sleeve. All of the positive emotion and negative emotion would come out and be on display. I’d go home exhausted. The amount of pivots in my day, the ups and downs wore on me. Gaining an understanding of how my emotional displays, both positive and negative, impacted my team opened my eyes. Learning to harness my emotions and engage my emotional intelligence, has helped me, as well as, my team become more effective and go above and beyond.

What is OCB?

If you’re not familiar with the term, organizational citizenship behavior, or OCB, refers to the discretionary actions that employees take to improve the overall effectiveness of their workplace. These actions mean going beyond what is expected from the job description and can include things like helping coworkers, volunteering for tasks, and offering constructive feedback. These behaviors lead to positive team dynamics and can impact team effectiveness and performance over time.

A study published in The Leadership Quarterly found that when leaders express positive emotions, such as joy or pride, their followers are more likely to engage in OCB. On the other hand, negative emotions like anger or frustration can decrease OCB. The findings also suggest that the level of emotional contagion (i.e., the degree to which followers “catch” their leader’s emotions) effects the relationship between leaders’ emotional displays and followers’ OCB.

Link between Leader’s emotions and OCB

  • Leaders’ emotional displays have a significant impact on their followers’ organizational citizenship behavior.
  • Positive emotions expressed by leaders have a more significant impact on followers’ OCB than negative emotions.
  • Emotional contagion mediates the relationship between leaders’ emotional displays and followers’ OCB.

We often underestimate the power of emotions and how they can shape our team’s behavior. As leaders, we need to be more self-aware of how our emotions can impact our team. By expressing more positive emotions, being mindful of negative emotions, and leading by example, we can create a more positive and productive work environment for our team.

Displaying Positive Emotions

What can you do to be more purposeful and display positive emotions as a leader?

Here are some tips:

  1. Express positive emotions: As a leader, you set the tone for your team’s emotions. So, when you’re feeling happy or proud, share that with your team! Celebrate successes and show gratitude for hard work. This will encourage your team to engage in positive behaviors.
  2. Be mindful of negative emotions: Of course, as a leader, you’re not going to be happy all the time. But when you’re feeling angry or frustrated, try to be mindful of how you’re expressing those emotions. Instead of lashing out, take a deep breath and consider how you can express your emotions in a constructive way.
  3. Lead by example: Finally, remember that your team is looking to you for guidance. If you want your team to engage in positive behaviors, you need to lead by example. Show your team what it means to be a positive, productive member of the organization.
  4. Practice Mindfulness: To find out how and the benefits to you and your team read my article: How Mindfulness Helps You Lead | Dr. Will Ramey | OnTheStacks

Like it or not, as a leader, your emotions play a crucial role in shaping your team’s behavior. By expressing positive emotions, being mindful of negative emotions, and leading by example, you can encourage your team to engage in positive organizational citizenship behavior. So, let’s spread positivity and make our organizations even better!

Reference: “How leaders’ emotional displays shape followers’ organizational citizenship behavior” by Lukas F. Koning and Gerben A. Van Kleef published in The Leadership Quarterly 2015

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Connecting with your Team

Connecting with your Team | Dr. Will Ramey
Connecting with your Team | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks

Connecting with your Team

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Connecting with your team can be complex as a leader. Here we share ideas on how to build those connections and strengthen team dynamics over time.

The Complexity of Connection

As a team leader, building strong connections with your team members is essential to creating a positive and productive work environment. When your team members feel connected to you, they are more likely to trust you, communicate openly with you, and work collaboratively with their peers. However, connecting with your team members can be complicated. How do build genuine relationships without compromising your ability to soundly manage performance?

Early on in my leadership career I was taught to get to know your team, take a genuine interest in their lives, understand what motivates them, and learn everyone by name. As a Lieutenant in the Army, I made it part of my daily routine to get out and talk with my Soldiers where they were working. I found out who was married, who had kids, where people were from, etc. The difficulty came with balancing that with assigning tasks, making disciplinary recommendations, and correcting performance. How could I not become biased or allow someone’s personal situation to sway my judgement. The easy answer would be to swing the other direction. Put up walls. Keep people at double-arms distance. However, if this happens you become unapproachable. How do you lead when your team doesn’t feel comfortable bringing up concerns or issues?

Finding the Balance

To strike a balance in the work environment you can reflect on your communication rhythm. When do you communicate, where do you communicate, how do you communicate, and what is the purpose of your communication. When you make intentional decisions about communication with the intent to connect to your team you can start to build bonds and balance driving for results. Think about the routines you have when you communicate. Start-up meetings, do you mix the daily goals with the opportunities to recognize your team or acknowledge an anniversary, birthday, etc? Conversations in the workspace, do you take time to check in and encourage your team members to share their concerns or teach your something about their role? Formal feedback conversations, do you deliver balanced feedback on performance and share opportunities for professional development?

Here are some tips on building strong connections with your team

  1. Get to know your team members personally: Take the time to learn about your team members’ interests, hobbies, and aspirations. Knowing what makes them tick can help you understand them better and show that you care about them as individuals.
  2. Be approachable and available: Make sure your team members know that they can come to you with any questions, concerns, or ideas. Create an open-door policy, get out of your office, and encourage your team members to reach out to you when they need support or guidance.
  3. Show appreciation and recognition: Make sure you acknowledge your team members’ hard work and achievements. Celebrate milestones, acknowledge team members who go above and beyond, and show your gratitude for their efforts.
  4. Communicate clearly and effectively: Communication is key to building strong connections with your team members. Make sure you are clear and concise in your messaging and encourage your team members to do the same. Listen actively, ask questions, and be open to feedback.
  5. Lead by example: As a team leader, you set the tone for the team. If you want your team members to be respectful, collaborative, and communicative, you need to model those behaviors yourself.
  6. Invest in professional development: Show your team members that you care about their growth and development by investing in training and development opportunities. This can help your team members develop new skills and expertise, which can lead to more meaningful and rewarding work.
  7. Encourage teamwork and collaboration: Encourage your team members to work together and collaborate on projects. This can help build trust, foster creativity, and create a sense of camaraderie.

The Power of Connection

Research has found support for the power of connection between team leaders and team members. One study found that employees who had a positive relationship with their supervisor were more likely to report job satisfaction and higher levels of engagement. Another study found that employees who had a positive relationship with their supervisor had higher levels of organizational citizenship behaviors, such as helping coworkers and going above and beyond their job duties. This can lead to increased productivity and improved job performance. In addition, research has shown that positive relationships between supervisors and their subordinates can lead to reduced turnover rates. One study found that employees who had a positive relationship with their supervisor were less likely to leave the organization.

Overall, there is ample research to support the notion that positive relationships between leaders and their team members can have significant positive outcomes for employee satisfaction and business performance. As a team leader, investing in these relationships is not only the right thing to do for your employees, but it can also have a positive impact on the success of your organization.

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Balance Relationships and Results

Balancing Relationships and Results | Dr. Will Ramey
Balancing Relationships and Results | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks
Balance Relationships and Results
Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Balancing Relationships and Results: Leaders need to get positive results without sacrificing relationships with your team. This can feel like walking a high wire without a net. We share numerous ways to finding that balance so you can achieve results and maintain strong relationships with your team.

Leadership is a People Business

We all know that leadership is a people business. We’ve heard great thought leaders like Simon Sinek share his perspective that when you focus on people, the numbers will come. That can be easier said than done for some in leadership positions.

My first job out of the military was with a Fortune 50 company working in their distribution channel. I thought I had this whole leadership thing all figured out. Know the objective goals, understand processes, motivate my team to smash those goals, and all is right in the world. TOO EASY! Soon, I had the top performing team in my department. My boss took me for a developmental walkaround, and he began asking me about my relationships with my team and my peers. I remember thinking to myself – what does that matter at all? Have you seen my numbers?! It wasn’t until a few years later that I truly grasped what he was trying to get me to understand.

Finding the Balance

Leadership is about balancing relationships and results. On one hand, a leader must be able to build strong relationships with team members in order to create a positive and productive work environment. On the other hand, a leader must also be able to deliver results by setting and achieving goals. If you favor relationships, you may avoid having difficult conversations. If you favor results, you may not be connected enough to get the best out of your team.

The key to balancing relationships and results is to understand that they are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are closely linked and dependent on one another. Strong relationships with team members can lead to better communication, increased trust and collaboration, and ultimately better results.

For a deeper dive into understanding how to balance relationships and results I recommend a book by my good friend and colleague Mark Stevens: The Square and the Triangle


Mark Stevens The Square and the Triangle

Leadership Tips

Here are some ways to balance relationships and results when leading your team:

  • Communicate effectively: Regularly communicate with team members to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Go see your team where they work and encourage team members to voice any concerns or issues.
  • Show appreciation: Show appreciation for your team members’ hard work and contributions. Recognize and reward their achievements and provide constructive feedback on areas where they can improve.
  • Build trust: Build trust by being reliable and consistent. Keep your promises and be transparent in your decision-making. Share the why behind decisions and seek out team members input when possible.
  • Encourage teamwork: Encourage teamwork by fostering collaboration and cooperation among team members. Hold team-building activities and create opportunities for team members to work together to achieve common goals.

By following these tips, you can effectively balance relationships and results when leading your team. Remember that strong relationships lead to better results and a positive work environment, and that both are important for the success of your team and your organization.

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Psychological Safety in Remote Teams

Psychological Safety in Remote Teams | Dr. Will Ramey
Psychological Safety in Remote Teams | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks
Psychological Safety in Remote Teams

How to build psychological safety into remote teams

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

The future of work is changing and that includes the work environment itself. Remote teams have increased, and leaders need to instill psychological safety within their remote teams, just like their face-to-face teams. I share three tips of how to use technology to create psychological safety within your remote team so you can maintain high performance and cohesion.

Developing Psychological Safety in Remote Teams

Do you feel disconnected from your remote team? Are you struggling to build trust and communication among team members who are not physically together? It’s time to stop ignoring the challenges of remote teams and start fostering psychological safety.

Building psychological safety in remote teams can be challenging due to the lack of face-to-face interaction and isolation. However, leaders who use technology to facilitate communication and collaboration and create a sense of connection and community among team members can foster psychological safety and build a high-performing remote team.

For a deep dive check out “Hybrid: A Guide for Successfully Leading On-Site and Remote Teams” by Travis Hearne. I connected with Travis through a mutual friend. Travis is a nine-year USMC veteran and CEO of Titanium Leadership. We both share the desire to equip leaders, with the skills and abilities they need to lead well and be successful no matter if their team is in person, remote, or a hybrid.

How to Cultivate Psychological Safety in Remote Teams

Making your team comfortable with taking risks and feeling safe to be creative is a daunting challenge when they all work under one roof. It is possible to shape a psychologically safe remote work environment. Most of us were thrust into leading remote or hybrid teams within the past three years. It was a struggle for me at first because I enjoyed the spontaneous collisions and moments of levity throughout the day with my team. We adapted quickly to insert social moments on top of our business communication cadence when we switched to a hybrid environment.

Here are three tips to get you started:

  1. Use video conferencing, instant messaging, and real time collaborative tools to facilitate communication and collaboration among remote team members. These tools allow for real-time interaction and can help create a sense of connection.
  2.  Create a sense of community by scheduling regular team-building activities and virtual social events. Making time and encouraging remote team workers to connect for a virtual coffee allows them to get to know one another and build trust.
  3. Address isolation and feelings of disconnection by encouraging team members to take breaks, step away from their screens, and engage in activities that promote mental and physical well-being. A team that is healthy and well-rested is more likely to be productive and engaged.

Adapting to the Future of Work

It’s time to adapt and overcome the challenge of working with a remote team. By using technology, building a sense of connection and community, and addressing isolation, you can create a high-performing remote team.

Remember that developing psychological safety in remote teams is an ongoing process that requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to adapt and change. The use of technology can help but it’s also important to understand that it can’t replace human interaction and the importance of addressing isolation.

Let’s continue the conversation. Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

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Modeling Psychological Safety

Modeling Psychological Safety | Dr. Will Ramey
Modeling Psychological Safety | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks
Modeling Psychological Safety

Modeling Psychological Safety

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Leading by example includes acknowledging that you are not perfect. Leaders that build inclusion and model psychological safety will set the conditions for psychological safety to emerge within their team. I share one of my own bouts with perfectionism and share three ways you can start to model psychological safety for your team. Let’s jump in!

Perfection can be the enemy

We have all heard a variation of the quote “perfectionism is the enemy of…progress, good, creativity.” I personally like Mark Twain’s summation, “Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.” Perfectionism can drive you to achieve great accomplishments, but it can also paralyze progress for you and your team.

The world of work is changing, so must how we lead. A leader cannot be an omnipotent being that has all the answers all the time. Believe me, you will burn yourself out and ruin relationships striving for perfection. Early in my career I thought I needed all the answers before I could lead. During a training exercise when I was learning to lead in the Army, we were on our objective. I was put in charge of the operation. Things were going well. We were on our objective a little longer than planned. I wanted to ensure everything was done just right! Then the simulated artillery fire came in. The scenario started to change, and I wasn’t prepared for it. Perfectionism drove me to feel the need to have everything done right. I wasn’t listening to my team or accepting their ideas on trying different approaches. Our team got stuck on the objective, we couldn’t adapt quickly because I thought I needed to complete the first mission perfectly…or so I thought.

I realized then what I really needed was to access the collective knowledge of my team. I needed to have relationships with my team members and understand their needs. We needed to be able to continuously try, assess, adjust, and execute. If my team was only moving forward once something was completed perfectly, we would fail.  Embracing this idea meant I needed to take down the façade of perfection and model psychological safety.

How to Model Psychological Safety

Leaders who model psychological safety in their own behavior create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. By being vulnerable, showing empathy, and actively listening to team members, leaders can build trust, open communication, and create an environment where everyone feels heard.

But how do you model psychological safety in your own behavior? Here are three tips to get you started:

  1. Be a role model for your team by being open and transparent in your own behavior. Share your own vulnerabilities and mistakes and show that it’s okay to not have all the answers.
  2. Show empathy and actively listen to your team members to create a sense of trust and understanding. When team members feel that their ideas and concerns are being heard, they will be more likely to share them.
  3. Encourage feedback by being out and about with your team. Be curious and open to learning from them, then actively seek out feedback from your team members. Show your team that you value their input and are willing to make changes based on their feedback.

For a deeper dive into creating psychological safety check out the book The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy C. Edmondson

the fearless organization

It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress

You don’t need to be perfect. Start modeling psychological safety in your team. By being a role model for openness, empathy, and feedback, you’ll create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, leading to increased engagement, reduced turnover, and improved team performance.

Remember that leading by example and modeling psychological safety is not only beneficial for your team, but also for you. You can open yourself up to learn and grow from the feedback and ideas of the team.

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Bo Nickal

Bo Nickal Predicts Outcome of His July 8th Fight
Bo Nickal Predicts Outcome of His July 8th Fight 1920 1080 OnTheStacks

Bo Nickal

Bo Nickal predicts the outcome of his next fight against Tresean Gore on July 8th, saying, “there’s no way this guy gets out of the first round with me.”

Bo Nickal went on to say that a first round finish will be consistent throughout his career going forward.

And in an even bolder statement, Bo Nickal says, he doesn’t think “anybody even has what it takes to make it more than 5 minutes with me” (in the Octagon).

These comments came during a 98-minute Exclusive conversation that Bo Nickal had with OnTheStacks Podcast host, Bill Corcoran Jr. on Wednesday March 29th. (recorded March 24th)

This was Bo Nickal’s first in-depth interview since his UFC debut win on March 4th against Jamie Pickett.

Bo Nickal is the hottest prospect the UFC has seen in its 30 year history!

Watch the full episode below on our YouTube Channel.

Bo Nickal EXCLUSIVE: Faith, Family, Fighting, & Unfinished Business | Ep.152

Even after an illustrious wrestling career at Penn State University, where he was a 3x National Champion for the renowned Nittany Lions wrestling program, Bo Nickal says he has unfinished business. He recently amassed global recognition following his March 4th Pay-Per-View victory against Jamie Pickett.

You’ve seen Bo on mat and in the Octagon, but this is a version of Bo you haven’t seen. In this 98-minute exclusive interview with OnTheStacks, Bo speaks openly about his family life and upbringing, the role faith plays in his life, and the transition from a winning career on the mat to a promising future in the Octagon as a top rated fighter in the UFC.

Watch YouTube

Listen Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Official Press Release of Ep.152 on the OnTheStacks Podcast with Bo Nickal: Tap here

Episode Timestamps

  • 0:00 — Bo Nickal Intro
  • 8:11 — Jake Paul & Betr
  • 12:12 — Building a Supportive Team
  • 17:58 — Bo Nickal’s Upbringing & Family
  • 34:19 — Conversation on Faith
  • 57:04 — Martial Arts
  • 1:05:54 — Taking Risks & Learning From Failure
  • 1:20:11 — Unfinished Business
  • 1:43:48 — Bo Nickal’s July 8th Fight Prediction vs. Tresean Gore
  • 1:45:08 — Bo Nickal, Thank You, Social Media, YouTube, Spotify & Apple

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final 4 predictions

Final Four Preview and Predictions
Final Four Preview and Predictions 800 600 OnTheStacks

final four predictions

By Spencer Ripchik

Final Four Preview and Predictions: The NCAA Tournament has been nothing but chaos and the Final Four shows it.

A 4-seed, two 5-seeds and a 9-seed make up this year’s Final Four teams, which is completely different compared to last year’s Final Four, which was filled with Blue Bloods.

The highest seed left is No. 4 UConn, who’s been one of the hottest teams in the NCAA Tournament, knocking off Gonzaga by a whopping 28 points in the Elite Eight.

If this NCAA Tournament has shown anything it’s that the numbers next to a team’s name doesn’t matter. No. 1 Purdue was upset in the first round by No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson, so anything can happen.

The longshot this weekend is No. 9 FAU, who takes on No. 5 San Diego State. UConn takes on No. 5 Miami for its bid to the National Championship game.

There were once 68 teams, after Saturday, there will be just two remaining. What two will they be?

No. 4 UConn vs. No. 5 Miami

No. 4 UConn has been on a hot streak, winning every game in the NCAA Tournament by more than 10 points.

The Huskies are led by their one-two punch in junior forward Adama Sanogo and sophomore guard Jordan Hawkins. 

Sanogo and Hawkins average over 15 points each and Hawkins played a big role in UConn’s dominant win over No. 3 Gonzaga in the Elite Eight.

UConn coach Dan Hurley’s plays have been on another level in the NCAA Tournament and are one of the main reasons why UConn’s offense clicks.

The supporting cast of Sanogo and Hawkins is also really strong. Guards Tristen Newton and Andre Jackson Jr. can make plays to help the attack for the Huskies.

The Huskies’ offense is hot, but a hotter offense is who they play, Miami.

Miami made a run in the NCAA Tournament a year ago as a 10-seed, making the Elite Eight, and most of the players on that squad came back for this run.

Guard play is the Hurricanes’ specialty, and Miami has a trio of them, junior Isaiah Wong, senior Jordan Miller and sophomore Nijel Pack.

Wong, the lead guy last year, has the same role in 2023. He leads the team averaging 16.2 points per game.

With both teams having strong offenses, it is going to come down to who can create the most stops and the Huskies have the edge.

UConn has held every NCAA Tournament team to under 65 points, including No. 2 Texas, who puts up 78 points per game. 

However, it’s not going to be an easy task with the shooters Miami has. If the Hurricanes can outshoot UConn from deep, it could be Miami headed to the National Championship.

Overall, though, UConn’s the more balanced squad, so the Huskies will be the one in the Championship.

Prediction

UConn 76, Miami 71

No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 9 FAU

No. 9 FAU, the low team on the totem pole but still in the Final Four, comes out of the chaotic East that had No. 1 Purdue lose in the first round.

On their path to the Final Four, the Owls knocked off No. 4 Tennesee, and a Lil Baby “Low Down” powered No. 3 Kansas State in the final minutes.

No. 5 San Diego State has a strong NCAA Tournament resume too, beating No. 1 Alabama by a couple of scores and edging out No. 6 Creighton. 

The Aztecs have been besting teams with their defense and physicality under the rim. San Diego State has one of the best defenders in the nation playing the 5, senior Nathan Mensah.

At 6-foot-10, 230 pounds, Mensah is a force in the paint and leads the team with 1.7 blocks per game.

Mensah holds down the fort in the paint and junior guard Lamont Butler guards out by the perimeter. Butler locks up the shifty guards and posts a team-best 1.5 steals per game.

Out on the perimeter and in the paint, San Diego State’s defense is hard to crack, but FAU has the firepower offensively to put an end to the Aztecs’ run potentially. 

The firepower has come from sophomore guard Johnell Davis. Davis is the Owls’ playmaker. He leads the team in scoring and in steals per game. 

Davis has a flurry of players around him, too. Freshman Nicholas Boyd averages 8.9 points per game and comes off the bench. The depth of the team is their biggest strength.

The depth is going to have to unload on San Diego State’s defense, though. The Aztecs’ physicallty and defense might shake up the Owls.

There has never been a seed higher than an 8-seed, and that’s not going to happen this year.

Prediction

San Diego State 68, FAU 60

Do you have a sports story you want me to share? Or do have suggestions on any sports-related content you want to see OnTheStacks? Tweet me @RipchikSpencer

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Bo Nickal

Bo Nickal EXCLUSIVE: Faith, Family, Fighting, & Unfinished Business | Ep.152
Bo Nickal EXCLUSIVE: Faith, Family, Fighting, & Unfinished Business | Ep.152 1920 1080 OnTheStacks

Bo Nickal EXCLUSIVE: Faith, Family, Fighting, & Unfinished Business | Ep.152

This week’s OnTheStacks guest in the blu door studio is the 4-0, undefeated rising star of the UFC, Bo Nickal.

Even after an illustrious wrestling career at Penn State University, where he was a 3x National Champion for the renowned Nittany Lions wrestling program, Bo Nickal says he has unfinished business. He recently amassed global recognition following his March 4th Pay-Per-View victory against Jamie Pickett.

You’ve seen Bo on mat and in the Octagon, but this is a version of Bo you haven’t seen. In this 98-minute exclusive interview with OnTheStacks, Bo speaks openly about his family life and upbringing, the role faith plays in his life, and the transition from a winning career on the mat to a promising future in the Octagon as a top rated fighter in the UFC.

Bo Nickal EXCLUSIVE: Faith, Family, Fighting, & Unfinished Business | Ep.152

Bo Nickal

Official Press Release of Ep.152 with Bo Nickal: Tap here

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Timestamps

  • 0:00 — Bo Nickal Intro
  • 8:11 — Jake Paul & Betr
  • 12:12 — Building a Supportive Team
  • 17:58 — Bo Nickal’s Upbringing & Family
  • 34:19 — Conversation on Faith
  • 57:04 — Martial Arts
  • 1:05:54 — Taking Risks & Learning From Failure
  • 1:20:11 — Unfinished Business
  • 1:43:48 — Bo Nickal’s July 8th Fight Prediction vs. Tresean Gore
  • 1:45:08 — Bo Nickal, Thank You, Social Media, YouTube, Spotify & Apple

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Building Team Psychological Safety

Building Team Psychological Safety | Dr. Will Ramey
Building Team Psychological Safety | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks
Building Team Psychological Safety

Building Team Psychological Safety, with Dr. Will Ramey

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Helping your team feel psychologically safe at work leads to creative solutions, richer connection within your team and helps take the pressure off you to have all the answers. I share the trap leaders can fall into, what psychological safety is, and how to encourage it within your team. Let’s get into it!

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The “Expert” Leader Trap

Team leaders sometimes feel that they need to have all the answers. Do you find yourself thinking that if you don’t have the best idea, your team members may not view you as “the leader”. Do you ever feel threatened by the talent and brilliance of the members of your team? You’re not alone. Often times, leaders believe they need to know everything, have all the answers, and be the best at everything. As we continue to work in fast paced ever changing work environments, we need to adapt how we lead.

I made this mistake early on in my leadership career. If I wasn’t the resident expert I wouldn’t be truly respected as a leader. It did have positive benefits. I consumed massive amounts of information. I learned new processes quickly. The downside was, I was not as connected to my team and did not give them space to bring up their ideas. They were not growing, and I was the reason why.

If you want the most creative solutions, the most innovative ideas, and the biggest buy in from your team, you must open up and embrace a different approach to leading. You’ve got an entire team that thinks differently, has a variety of perspectives and experiences that they bring to work. Leverage the collective power of your team by building trust with psychological safety.

What is Psychological Safety?

Amy Edmondson, an Organizational Behavior Scientist and expert in psychological safety has helped shape the definition. Psychological safety is a shared belief held amongst team members that they are safe to take risks and will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. When team members feel safe to share their thoughts, they are more likely to voice concerns, share new ideas, and engage at work. This leads to better decision-making, increased creativity and improved team performance.

Think about it. Did you ever have a good idea but felt shy about bringing it up? Maybe you watched as a someone you worked with tried something new, failed, then got ridiculed. How likely are you to try something new or bring up your idea in a work environment like that?

I led teams in the U.S. Army, we needed creative solutions, and sometimes we needed them fast. I relied heavily on the insights and ideas from my team members. The best ideas come from those closest to the problems. Therefore, I had to lead by creating a space where we were willing to try new ideas and continually refine them in order to learn and grow.

For a deeper dive into creating psychological safety check out the book The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy C. Edmondson

the fearless organization

How to Encourage Team Psychological Safety

How do you create a culture of trust and psychological safety in your team?

Check out these three tips to get you started:

  1. Encourage open communication by creating channels where team members can share their ideas, thoughts, and concerns without fear of punishment. This can be done through regular team meetings, virtual suggestion boxes or one-on-one conversations.
  2. Create a culture of trust by being transparent, honest and fair in your interactions with team members. When team members see that you are trustworthy, they will be more likely to trust one another.
  3. Lead by example by being open to feedback and being willing to admit when you’re wrong or when you don’t know something. If team members see that you are willing to be curious, learn, and admit your mistakes, they will be open up too.

It’s time to embrace your team’s ideas and start building trust with psychological safety. By creating a culture where team members feel safe to share their thoughts, you’ll be amazed at the new ideas, perspectives and solutions that will come to the surface.

As a leader, it’s important to remember that creating a culture of trust and psychological safety is an ongoing process that requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to adapt and change.

Want to continue the conversation? Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

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Framework for Difficult Conversations | Dr. Will Ramey
Framework for Difficult Conversations | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks

Communication Framework

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Doctor

Having communication frameworks for difficult conversations with your team members allows you to be confident, calm, and focused. We give you a model to effectively address behaviors and drive high performance. Let’s get into it!

The Impact of Conversations

As a team leader take a moment to think about how many people you interact with every day…

Your list is probably very diverse with internal or external personnel at every level of an organization. You must be able to shape your message with precision and clarity depending on your audience. Depending on the situation you will need to frame your conversation accordingly. Every opportunity that you can converse and communicate with your team is an opportunity to connect and influence.

Balancing Relationship and Performance

Time and again studies show that relationships with their boss is a source of stress for team members. This stress can lead to poor performance amongst other negative outcomes. As a leader how we communicate makes an impact on the relationships with our team members. Having strong relationships with team members and being able to communicate expectations clearly is something great team leaders understand. After coaching over a dozen leaders this past year there was a common roadblock that kept popping up regarding communication that was causing hesitation and stress for these team leaders. These team leaders did not know how to hold a difficult conversation with a sub-par performer on their team. They knew they were working around these sub-par performers. They knew they should be addressing the performance for the overall good of the team.

These team leaders were in a position to drive positive change. They were high performers promoted based on their past performance and future potential. They were not ones to shy away from a challenge. However, when it came to having a clear, open, candid conversation with someone on their team that wasn’t performing well, these leaders were uncomfortable and avoiding the situation because they didn’t have the knowledge or experience to prepare, sit down, listen, and shoot straight about what needed done to correct the situation.

Let me share a communication framework that worked for these leaders. It will work for you to successfully speak with your team members about poor performance and shed some of that stress you’re carrying around with you.

The DESC Model

When preparing for a conversation with a team member that isn’t hitting the mark refer to the DESC model. This model provides you an opportunity to shape your thoughts, communicate the facts, and share with the person what you are observing, what impact it has, what you want to see going forward, and what happens if the performance isn’t corrected. This model is concise and allows for fact-based communication.

1. DESCRIBE: Share what is happening or what someone is doing that causes a problem. State facts only. No opinions. No disapproval. Just facts. Speak in terms of “I” statements.

2. EFFECT: What effect or impact does this situation have on the organization or on you personally.

3. SOLUTION or SUGGESTIONS: What exactly would you like to have change? What does right look like? Be specific.

4. CONSEQUENCES: Share what good things will happen if this change is made and/or what bad things will happen if this change is not made.

Prior to the conversation, write out the DESC model and fill in your points. Take time to go over the conversation using the DESC model in sequence, so you are as prepared as possible.

Benefits of DESC

Using a framework for difficult conversations allows you to collect your thoughts and communicate with brevity and clarity. Being able to have a complete conversation will ensure that you are doing everything you can to help your team member recover and get back on track. As a team leader, sticking to a framework will also keep the conversation focused on the matter at hand. You will feel more confident and deliver an impactful message while maintaining a positive relationship.

I’ve used and shared this framework with dozens of leaders. It works. Communication and how we show up makes a huge difference in our work environment. Leverage every opportunity you can as a leader to positively influence your team, even if that means having the tough conversations. It may not feel any better, but it will get easier as you prepare and use the DESC Model.

Reach out to connect on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

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ncaa march madness upset

First Round NCAA March Madness Upsets & Recap
First Round NCAA March Madness Upsets & Recap 800 600 OnTheStacks

ncaa march madness

By Spencer Ripchik

Selection Sunday is in the past, which means March Madness is in full swing

The college basketball season has been very chaotic with no true No. 1 team emerging. No. 1 Alabama is listed as the No. 1 overall team in the bracket but looked rocky at points in the season.

There has only been one No. 1 seed to lose in the most chaotic part of the bracket, the first round. The Crimson Tide, who played Texas A&M CC, were alright.

However, there are a bunch of other teams that are on upset watch in the first round with some of the picks from yesterday coming to fruition.

Here are a couple of upsets to take a look at before Day 2 of action tips off plus some of the upset picks recapped.

No. 11 Providence over No. 6 Kentucky

Two teams that have been up and down all season. No. 11 Providence and No. 6 Kentucky.

At the start of 2023, the Wildcats were on the bubble but found their stride toward the end of the season. Kentucky was upset by Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament and could be on upset watch again.

Providence has had a rough stretch of games and has lost four of its last five, so the Friars are in need of a bounce back game.

The Friars have two big wins over Marquette early in the season, so they are very capable of beating big teams. 

Providence plays on the back of Kentucky transfer forward Bryce Hopkins, who averages 16.1 points per game, so it’s a matchup against his former team.

Kentucky has been losing early in the NCAA Tournament the past couple of years and it could happen again.

No. 12 Drake over No. 5 Miami (FL)

The ACC has been all over the place this season and No. 5 Miami is one of the reasons why. 

The Hurricanes had the best record in the ACC this season but didn’t play well in the ACC Tournament, losing to Duke.

The reason why is Miami’s defense. The Hurricanes have no problem scoring but can tend to have a problem defending the rim.

The Hurricanes allow almost as many points as they put up and let up 72.1 points per game.

Drake is not a team to sleep on. Sophomore guard Tucker DeVries is an offensive weapon and almost shoots 40% from deep.

The Bulldogs are another hot team in the NCAA and have a ranked win earlier in the season over Mississippi State.

Miami also might not be entirely healthy with sophomore forward Norchad Omier’s health in question. If he’s not good to go, then Drake can strike against a shaky Miami defense.

No. 12 VCU over No. 5 St. Mary’s

St. Mary’s had a solid start at the beginning of the season with big wins over Gonzaga and San Diego State, but the past couple of games haven’t been kind to the Gaels.

Randy Bennett’s squad lost twice to Gonzaga at the end of the season and an odd loss to Loyola Marymount.

Like in the West Coast Conference finals, St. Mary’s can crack under pressure and did so in 2022 too, losing to UCLA in the second round.

VCU has been rolling and won the Atlantic 10 this year. The Rams’ bread and butter is their defense.

They allow just 62.9 points per game, which is the 23rd-best in the NCAA. St. Mary’s defense is also solid, so it should be a defensive battle. 

VCU and St. Mary’s average the same points per game, but the Rams are one of the best teams in the NCAA at forcing turnovers.

When the Gaels have lost this year it’s been because they cough the ball up. 

This should be one of the best No. 12-No. 5 games of the Tournament, but VCU could have the edge because of its ability to force turnovers and that St. Mary’s isn’t great in big games.

No. 13 Furman over No. 4 Virginia

Furman is one of the hottest teams in the NCAA Tournament of late, winning 14 of its last 15 games this season.

The Paladins are led by their guards and especially senior Mike Bothwell, who leads the team with 18 points per game. With him are junior Marcus Foster and sophomore J.P. Pegues, who both average over 10 points per game.

The offense is rounded out by senior forward Jalen Slawson to give Furman a senior one-two punch.

Virginia has been up and down this season with its methodical offense. The Cavaliers’ slow-paced offense makes them win if it’s a low-scoring game.

Furman averages the 11th-most points per game, so if this is a battle of offenses, the Paladins have more firepower.

What Happened?

This one was hit right on the money. With the clock winding down, Furman’s J.P. Pegues nailed a 3-pointer to give the Paladins the lead, which was the triple that picked up the win.

Senior forward Jalen Slawson led Furman with 19 points in the 68-67 upset victory.

The game was back-and-forth and the difference maker was the Paladins’ 3-point shooting. Virginia led in almost every stat but shot 16.7% from deep compared to Furman’s 35.7%. The Paladins knocked down 10 3-pointers in the win.

The Cavaliers’ struggles in the NCAA Tournament continue as they now have a 1-3 record against 13-seeds and up since 2018.

No. 12 Charleston over No. 5 San Diego State

A No. 12 seed over a No. 5 seed. There’s usually one of those every year and this could be the 2023 version.

No. 12 Charleston is hot off a CAA Championship and is 31-3 on the season. The competition the Cougars have faced off against hasn’t been great, but coach Pat Kelsey has his squad on a 10-game win streak.

The Cougars average 80.8 points per game, which is the 15th most in the NCAA, and it comes from a variety of scorers. Five Cougars average over 10 points per game.

San Diego State won the Mountain West over Utah State and is currently 27-6 on the season. However, the Aztecs’ losses are all in big games and the first round is a big game.

San Diego State lost to Arizona by 17, St. Mary’s and also lost to Arkansas. The other three losses are to other schools in the Mountain West.

The Aztecs have the defense, but the offense is lacking with only one player over double digits. If San Diego State can’t stop the Charleston offense then the Aztecs could be in trouble.

What Happened?

This one was close, but San Diego State held on, winning 63-57 to move on to the second round.

Charleston had the lead toward the end of the game and was looking like it had some momentum. However, the Aztecs made some big shots toward the end of the game, and when they were fouled, they made their free throws.

San Diego State was led by senior guard Matt Bradley, who finished with 17 points on 7-for-15 shooting.

The Aztecs face off against Furman on Saturday.

Do you have a sports story you want me to share? Or do have suggestions on any sports-related content you want to see OnTheStacks? Tweet me @RipchikSpencer

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visual management

Visual Management for Leaders | Dr. Will Ramey
Visual Management for Leaders | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks

visual management

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Visual Management: Making your tasks visible, knowing what needs started, and what’s in process pays dividends when it comes to where you are spending your time, effort, and energy. We provide how to get started with a simple and effective approach to visual management of your tasks. Let’s get into it!

The Time Vortex

Team leaders get pulled in a hundred different directions throughout the day. One conversation sparks another conversation which leads to a new task that requires a phone call which turns into…wait…what was I planning to do today?

As a team leader your responsibility increases as does your span of control. You are no longer an individual contributor. What doesn’t increase is the amount of time you have to get things done. Your team needs your time. Your peers need your time. YOU need your time. How can you keep track of your priorities, know what you and your team are working on, and when to celebrate accomplishments? Let me introduce you to the “To-Do, Doing, Done” board.

The To-Do, Doing, Done board operates on the Kanban principle. This principle is aimed to do work just-in-time and reduce waste. It is a visual management tool used to identify what works needs to be done. This simple and effective visual management tool can be applied to your priority task list to reduce wasted energy and cognitive load from continuously switching tasks, trying to recall what needs started, what is in process, and what is done. Make work visible, limit the amount of work in progress, and celebrate the wins when work gets done.

Get Started with Your Board

You can get started with something as simple as a whiteboard with sticky notes or go high tech with the use of an app. Whatever method you choose must be easy for you to access, be clear with what is in what column and be visible to you throughout your day. I prefer high touch/low tech solutions. For this approach you will need a pad of sticky notes, a marker or pen, and a board that you can write on.

1. Divide your board into three columns labeled: To-Do, Doing, Done

2. Determine the time span that you want your board to represent. To get started it can represent a daily board. If it’s not too overwhelming you can set your board up as a weekly board. This means that the tasks in your To-Do column should be able to move through the Do and to the Done column by the end of your week.

3. On the sticky pads write down your tasks, one per sticky. Ensure your tasks are clear and concise. They should be single steps. If you have a big project, break the tasks down into a single step.

4. Review your tasks. Write down an estimate of how long the task should take to complete. Determine how many of these tasks you can tackle based on the time range of your board.

5. Stick all your notes on the board in the To-Do column based on their priority.

6. Move the first couple over to the Doing column and get busy!

7. When you complete a task move it from Doing to Done. Them pull the next task over from To-Do into the Doing column.

8. Repeat until all your tasks are in the Done column.

There are a number of customizations you can make. You can color code your sticky notes based on the Eisenhower Matrix priority list. Learn more about how to use the Eisenhower Matrix here: Eisenhower Matrix for Prioritizing Tasks 

You can use this board for tasks that you assign to team members too. Be sure to write the person you assigned the task to on the sticky note. As you move through this process you will add new tasks to your To-Do column and archive the completed tasks from you Done column.

Benefits of the Board

As a team leader you can use the tasks in the done column as a way to celebrate the accomplishments of your team. You can also add a column called “Reflect”. These would represent completed tasks that you want to circle back to your team on so you can learn more; What went well? What needs to change? Being a team leader can take a toll on you. There never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done and spend time with your team.

The good news is that putting systems in place to make what you are working on visual you will have the benefit of focus and control. This system helps to eliminate distractions. By making team tasks visible you can engage with your team through follow ups and collaboration. It also provides a visual reminder of what you are doing and contributing to help push your team forward and meet the organizations goals. Now, get out there and get started!

Interested in learning how to reclaim control of your time and feel less stressed when you look at your calendar? Check out my virtual course Prioritize & Execute – Leadership Development

Reach out to connect on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

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How to Prioritize your leadership tasks

How to Prioritize Your Leadership Tasks | Dr. Will Ramey
How to Prioritize Your Leadership Tasks | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks

How to Prioritize your leadership tasks

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Leaders know that if everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority. We share how to prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance so you can clear your head, control your day, focus on impactful tasks, delegate, and successfully lead your team. Let’s jump in!

The Fog of Your Day

In the chaos of your day as a team leader it may feel like everything is time sensitive and everything is an emergency. This feeling contributes to a fuzzy view of where to place focus and spend your time. The constant calls, unplanned pop-ins, and displacement of other people’s tasks onto your lap can envelope you like a thick fog rolling across the road. When that happens, you can’t see clearly. How then do you determine what to prioritize, what can wait, and what just doesn’t really need to be done at all?

As a team leader in the U.S. Army, I was taught how to quickly discern between urgent, non-urgent, important, and unimportant tasks. I had to be able to pause, assess, take in information, and move out in a direction to execute and accomplish our team’s objectives. Time was always our most limited resource, we had to spend it wisely. Let me share with you a simple and effective system you can use to help you cut through the fog and see where to clearly spend your time.

The Eisenhower Matrix

Take a moment to look at your work calendar. What is it that you need to do today? With a variety of different tasks and the needs of your team competing for your time and attention how do you decide what to do when? Try applying the principles of the matrix. The Eisenhower Matrix is a quadrant that separates tasks based on urgency and importance.

The “Do” Quadrant: Urgent and Important

These tasks are most urgent and most important for you to do today. These should be tasks that require your direct attention, will have the biggest impact, and need done first. These tasks should be placed in your most productive part of your day where you can focus without disruption.

The “Decide” Quadrant: Not Urgent but Important

These tasks need to get done, but not right now. Making time for strategic planning, responding to emails or phone calls, professional development, and getting out to see your team. These types of task help achieve your long-term goals, require your skillsets or authority, but are not time sensitive.

The “Delegate” Quadrant: Urgent but Not Important

These tasks need to get done but are not critically important. Routine tasks such as last-minute meeting requests, data entry, presentation chart preparation etc. Take time to ask yourself, “Do I need to be the one doing this task?” If the tasks don’t require your specific skill sets, they are candidates for delegation. Take the opportunity to grow and develop your team members and give them autonomy in completing these tasks.

The “Delete” Quadrant: Not Urgent and Not Important

These are the distraction tasks. These are the tasks that are leftover that may not need to be done at all. Do you really need that additional pre-brief? Do you need to approve a status update on a project or attend the update meeting? Instead, could you extend trust and encourage your team to move forward without your presence because you clearly communicated intent.

Adapt the Matrix to Your Style

There is a ton of information on how to get the most out of this matrix. The truth is you need to adapt it to your needs and style. Some team leaders may want to do this at the start and close of every day. Others may want to color-code the quads to get a visual of the most important and urgent tasks. Team leaders may be successful doing this at the open and close of their week. Find what works for you. Start by looking at your daily or weekly calendar of tasks. Place those tasks in the quads and move out. This doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective, sometimes “high touch” and “low tech” options work the best.

Make the time to determine what YOU will DO. DECIDE when to schedule tasks that YOU need to do later. DELEGATE tasks that need done now but can be executed by your team. DELETE the tasks that distract you from focusing on what has the most impact. Become effective with this technique and the fog will lift so you feel clear and confident while you move your team forward.

Interested in learning how to prioritize and execute to feel less stressed when you lead your team? Check out my program with Maven: Prioritize and Execute to Focus on Meaningful Work

Reach out to connect on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

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BOBBY ARVON

BOBBY ARVON | An OnTheStacks ORIGINAL
BOBBY ARVON | An OnTheStacks ORIGINAL 800 600 OnTheStacks

OnTheStacks went backstage with Scranton native and Billboard Hot 100 recording artist, Bobby Arvon to capture exclusive behind the scenes content from the December 4th 2022 live performance of The Bobby Arvon Show with Marko Marcinko & the “Emmy Award” nominated Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band featuring special guest performer Lorenzo Medico.

  • 0:00 — Trailer
  • 0:24 — Rehearsal
  • 1:36 — Pre-Show Backstage
  • 3:39 — Bobby Takes the Stage
  • 6:49 — Lorenzo Medico Performs
  • 8:51 — Bobby Talks to Bill Corcoran Jr. Post-Show

Early in Bobby’s music career he was told by an agent that he didn’t have a recording voice. He later went on to become a Billboard Hot 100 recording artist, leading to many TV appearances, notably Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, The Merv Griffin Show, and more! You may also recognize Bobby’s voice from the lead on the theme song of one of the most popular American television sitcoms, “Happy Days.”

BOBBY ARVON

Bobby had been wanting to get back to his Scranton Pennsylvania roots and perform a show in his hometown. Through a mutual friend, Bobby met Lorenzo, who owns ARTIC Entertainment. As a performer himself, Lorenzo connected the dots between Bobby and fellow Scranton native, Marko Marcinko, to put together this live show at the Kirby Center for the Creative Arts in Kingston Pennsylvania.

This was Lorenzo’s first live production with his company, ARTIC Entertainment. Short for Art in community, his company is focused on promoting, producing, and cultivating the film, live music, and theater arts industry in Northeast Pennsylvania.

This video is an OnTheStacks Original and was shot and edited by OnTheStacks Director of Production, Eric Curtis

Bobby Arvon

Lorzeno Medico (left), Owner of ARTIC Entertainment, Singer/Songwriter Bobby Arvon (middle), and Bill Corcoran Jr. (right), Founder & CEO of OnTheStacks. Photo by Darren Elias.

A few days prior to the December 2022 performance, Bill Corcoran Jr. interviewed both Bobby Arvon and Lorenzo Medico in Ep.136 of the OnTheStacks Podcast. You can watch the full episode here:

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young professional conference Wilkes-Barre

Dr. Will Ramey Chosen as Keynote Speaker for 2023 Young Professionals Conference
Dr. Will Ramey Chosen as Keynote Speaker for 2023 Young Professionals Conference 800 600 OnTheStacks

young professional conference Wilkes-Barre

The Young Professionals Council selected Dr. Will Ramey to be their Keynote Speaker for their 5th Annual Conference on Wednesday, March 22nd from 8:30am-3:30pm at the THINK Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

This day-long Young Professionals Conference is geared towards developing Northeastern Pennsylvania’s talented professionals and features speakers from the region between the ages of 20-45.

The theme of the 2023 Young Professionals Conference is “The Future of NEPA” and will feature two tracks of breakout sessions with topics like wellness, personal finance, leadership development, innovation, and getting involved in our community!

Dr. Ramey be speaking about The Collaborative Edge: Embracing Shared Leadership in a New Era of Teamwork.

Grow your network, make time for professional development, and build community with the vibrant and driven group of young professionals.

For more information about the 2023 Young Professionals Conference or to register, tap here!

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The Big Rock Theory: What Really Matters

The Big Rock Theory: What Really Matters | Dr. Will Ramey
The Big Rock Theory: What Really Matters | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks

The Big Rock Theory: What Really Matters

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Applying the Big Rock Theory to how you approach leadership leads to less feeling of overwhelm, a higher sense of control, and more time being spent on what matters most. We share how to sort through the big rocks, the pebbles, and the sand at work so you can maximize your day as a leader and be the best for your team. Let’s get into it!

Where Did My Time Go?

As a team leader have you ever asked yourself “Where did my day go?” or “What on earth did I accomplish today?” After asking yourself that question the feeling of frustration or disappointment tends to wash over you. Not completing tasks or accomplishing what we set out to accomplish in our day can lead to feelings of frustration and inferiority. This feeling cues our follow-on behavior. What do leaders tend do…roll up our sleeves to work harder, which typically means longer hours, working through breaks, or taking work home.

None of these solutions are optimal. What is a team leader to do? Take a step back and breathe for a moment. Leaders should take time to look at their day, identify what is most important, and know where to place their efforts for maximum impact. How can leaders identify what is most important to least important?

The Big Rock Theory

As the story goes, a time management expert was speaking to a group of new team leaders. He stood in front of the group and pulled out a large mason-jar and set it down on the podium. He produced about a dozen rocks and placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the group said, “Yes.” Then he said, “Really?”

He reached behind the podium and pulled out a bucket of pebbles. He dumped them in and shook the jar, so the pebbles worked their way into the space between the rocks. Again, he asked the group, “Is the jar full?” By this time the leaders began to understand. “I don’t think so,” one of them answered. “Good!” he replied.

He reached behind the podium for a bucket of sand and started dumping the sand in the jar. It went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the pebbles. “Is this jar full?”, He asked. “No!”, the leaders shouted. “Good.”, he said. He grabbed a pitcher of water and poured it in until the jar was filled to the brim.

He looked at the group and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One leader raised their hand and said, “No matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!” “No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point. The truth is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

Identify Your Big Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand

1. Identify what the ‘big rocks’ are. Performance conversations? Recognition for a team member? Presentation to the CEO? Ask yourself – What absolutely must get done today that is impactful and meaningful? What does your team need from you today? Where does your team need YOU most today?

2. What are those pebbles? These are the tasks that you need to get done but are less urgent and less important than your big rocks. Think about administrative functions. Actions that are necessary to keep the team moving but aren’t necessarily making big impacts or overly time sensitive. Are these tasks that could be delegated to your team members? Or maybe they need done but it can wait until the end of the day.

3. Where is the sand? These tasks are the least important and least urgent but tend to be time detractors. Do I really need to reply to this email right now? Does this article that was just forwarded need read immediately? These are the tasks that can either be scheduled for later, delegated to someone else, or maybe even deleted from doing at all.

The hidden benefits of identifying your big rocks

1. The feeling of overwhelm will go down as you funnel down where you are spending your time.

2. Your sense of purpose will increase knowing you are prioritizing work where you have the most impact for your team.

3. You will have more time for connecting with your team as you begin to make a habit of prioritizing your tasks day to day, week to week, and month to month.

I learned this approach as a young Lieutenant in the Army leading a team of 114 Soldiers responsible for maintenance operations, both in garrison and deployed to Iraq. I needed awareness of what was going on, but everything could not be a priority for me. If everything was a priority and waited for me, it would bottleneck. Instead, I needed to understand where to spend my time and where to take risks, delegate, and schedule tasks accordingly.

I doubled down and put this method to work when I became a Senior Leader of larger teams. Time is a finite resource. As a team leader you have more demands on your time, especially as your team grows in size and responsibility. Prepare yourself to overcome the stress and challenge of time management as a team leader.

Remember to put the BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all. Stay focused. The next article will explain just how to prioritize tasks once you identified the big rocks and pebbles that need done.

Interested in learning how to reclaim control of your time and feel less stressed when you look at your calendar? Join my waitlist for my upcoming program: Prioritize and Execute to Focus on Meaningful Work by Dr. Will Ramey (maven.com)

Reach out to connect on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

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Reviewing the 3 Big NBA Trades One Week Later

Reviewing the 3 Big NBA Trades One Week Later
Reviewing the 3 Big NBA Trades One Week Later 800 600 OnTheStacks

Reviewing the 3 Big NBA Trades One Week Later

By Spencer Ripchik

The NBA trade deadline is now a week past and a couple of players have been getting accustomed to their new homes.

The three biggest trades were Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns, Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers bolstered up its lineup with several trades.

A week has passed and some of the new faces have already started to make an impact while others may take some time to get used to their new surroundings.

The All-Star break is here, so in the meantime, here is the breakdown of how these couple of trades have gone so far.

Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks

Point guard Kyrie Irving was a problem as soon as he arrived to play for the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.

In 2020, Irving refused to get the coronavirus vaccine, which was the only way he could play in most NBA stadiums around the country. His refusal to get the vaccine made him miss half the games that season.

Then, Irving made a comment about antisemitism, which led to the Nets suspending him, causing him to miss eight games.

The Nets and Irving had enough, so Irving was sent off to Dallas to play with star Luka Dončić, who at the beginning of the season looked like the clear MVP.

Before the trade, the Mavericks were in the middle of the pack in the West even with Dončić averaging over 30 points per game.

Dallas was hoping putting a star beside Dončić would make the team NBA Title contenders and so far it’s been a mixed bag.

Irving has played really well in the four games since he arrived in Dallas. In the four games, he’s led the team in scoring every game with a high of 36 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In the four games, Dallas went 2-2 and lost to the Timberwolves, split with the Sacramento Kings and beat the Los Angeles Clippers.

Three of those teams are ahead of the Mavericks in the standings, so winning two of four helps their playoff seeding.

The Mavericks played the Denver Nuggets for their last game before the All-Star break, but Irving didn’t play because he was dealing with a back injury. Dallas lost to the No. 1 Nuggets 118-109.

The Irving trade is going to be something to monitor for the rest of the season, but right now, Irving has played well when he’s played, but Dallas went 2-2 since he joined the squad.

Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

The biggest trade before the deadline was the dealing of the last member of the Big 3 on the Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant, who was traded to the Suns.

Durant requested a trade in early January, but nothing was made out of it until the morning of the trade deadline when he was sent to the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns have a bunch of stars like Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul and now they’ve added one of the best players in the NBA to the star list.

With the previous three, Phoenix made it to the conference semi-finals in 2022 and then to the Finals in 2021.

The problem is the Suns have struggled to get over the hump.

Before trading for Durant, Phoenix was already a top 5 team in the West chasing down the Denver Nuggets, the Sacramento Kings and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Durant may be the piece that gets the Suns over the hump if he plays.

He hasn’t played with Phoenix yet because Durant has been dealing with a knee injury that has sidelined him since Jan. 8.

Durant is expected to be back after the All-Star break.

Since Durant hasn’t taken the floor yet for the Suns, it’s hard to tell if this will be a fit for him, but looking at the roster, Phoenix is one of the most stacked teams in the West and potentially the whole NBA.

Before the trade, the Suns had 16-1 odds to win the NBA Championship. After, they went down to 6-1, which is tied for the highest odds with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Los Angeles Lakers Several Trades

For most of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers have been just trying to make the play-in tournament and were one of the bottom teams in the West.

It seems the Lakers had higher aspirations than just making the play-in tournament and want to make a push for the Finals.

Los Angeles was one of the teams in the running to land Irving and when it missed out, Rob Pelinka decided to call every number in the phone book.

The Lakers reacquired D’Angelo Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team trade, sending away Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz.

In the trade, they also received Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt.

Los Angeles also traded away Thomas Bryant, who requested a trade, to the Denver Nuggets and in return received Davon Reed and draft capital.

The Lakers quickly replaced Bryant with Mo Bomba, acquiring him from the Orlando Magic, and sent away Patrick Beverley.

Since all the trades, the Lakers have won two of three against two of the teams they are competing against for the final play-in tournament spot, the Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Pelicans.

LeBron James isn’t getting any younger, despite still playing the same as he did five years ago, so the Lakers needed to do something once they missed out on Irving.

Pelinka made a couple of moves that gives Los Angeles a shot at making the play-in tournament, which allows the Lakers to compete in the playoffs.

They still have a long way to go if they want to win another NBA Championship but have some pieces that make it more likely than it did before the trade deadline.

Do you have a sports story you want me to share? Or do have suggestions on any sports-related content you want to see OnTheStacks? Tweet me @RipchikSpencer

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Leadership and Time Management

Leadership and Time Management | Dr. Will Ramey
Leadership and Time Management | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Understanding and mastering time management can have big benefits such as lower stress, executing impactful work, and being able to give more of yourself to your team. I share my personal breaking point that led me to learn the research about time interpretation and how to apply it to my workday. Let’s jump in!

The Background

In 2016 I was working in one of the most demanding leadership positions I’ve ever held. It wasn’t the complexity; I enjoy challenges. It wasn’t the level of responsibility; I’ve led teams in combat being responsible for lives of Soldiers.

I had just joined the Senior Leadership Team working in the top tier of a three-tiered organizational structure and was responsible for a team of 300+ people. We were responsible for customer expectation management and production planning for $500M+ revenue generating business.

What got to me were the demands on my time. I moved up a level in the organizational hierarchy and put high performance expectations on myself. This drove me to shift how I approached managing my time.

I wanted to prove that I deserved to be leading at this level and exceed all expectations of my boss and my colleagues. I wanted to be the best leader possible for my team. Needless to say, the “40 hour” week was an illusion. Getting to work early and staying late became the norm. I gave my time to my team as best I could. I pushed off taking care of my individual responsibilities to lunch breaks, or end of shift, or the early morning hours. I’m a high achiever. I wasn’t afraid of the long hours or the complex challenges that came with the job. Then – I hit the wall!

Bad Habits Creep In

With the technology today, I found myself building some bad habits. I’d check my email right before going to sleep. This led to tossing and turning most nights. Checking my email from my smartphone in my driveway before I walked inside was another bad habit. What started as reading in the driveway inevitably led to me checking my email walking into the kitchen while greeting my family. Trying to multi-task by reading email and hearing about my kids’ day at school was a failure. It was sending out so many horrible signals de-prioritizing my family.

After standing in my kitchen for 10 minutes and reading my emails one night I was asked “Are you home yet?”. Feeling frustrated and oblivious I snapped, “I’ve been home for at least 10 minutes.” To which I was met with a unanimous, “Have you though?!” It hit like a ton of bricks. The phone got put inside the drawer so it wouldn’t be a distraction anymore that night. I got the message loud and clear. Work was creeping into my home and NOT in a good way. I was not getting restful sleep. I was carrying a work-mode mindset into my home life and couldn’t shut it off. Boundaries needed set quickly.

What example was I setting for the junior leaders in my team?  I tell my team all the time, family comes first. Prioritize time with friends and family. I needed to change, and it started with learning more about time at work. I needed to reclaim control of my time at work.

The Science of Time Interpretation

There is science behind the objective and subjective interpretation of time at work. Researcher Dr. Abbie Shipp focuses on the psychological experience of time at work. One of the concepts she brings to light is how the objective and subjective interpretation of time is intertwined. Team leaders, especially new leaders want to be efficient.

We use our calendars to drive our day. Meetings are set in 30- or 60-minute increments. Deadlines at placed at the end of the week or the month. The workday starts at 8am and ends at 5pm. Our lunch break is 30 minutes at noon. We move from task to task to task. The subjective interpretation teaches us to look at the meaning of how we spend time and to be event focused. This is the secret… knowing the difference between subjective and objective measures of time.

Reclaiming Control of your Time

1. I took a step back to view not just what I needed to complete during my day but what was important to me about it. What did a successful day/week/month look like and feel like. I developed an opening and closing routine for my day to set boundaries and feel the start and end of a successful day.

2. I took a deep dive into deadlines so that I can meet the expectations and feel synchronized with my team. This also allowed me the opportunity to give my team members more autonomy and opportunity to own tasks.

3. I made my workload visible to see what was in process and what was accomplished to celebrate the wins with my team.

4. I took intentional time to refresh when it felt right vs when the clock said I should be breaking.

BREAKTHROUGH!!

I felt better about what I was accomplishing and… had more time to spend with my team. I was refreshed and capable of crushing it without the feeling of being rundown by the end of the day or week. Best of all, because I understood the importance of where my time was going and what I was accomplishing I could shut off and leave work at work.

There is much more to the story on how I did this. In my upcoming articles I will share with you three approaches proven to help you reclaim your time and shed the stress of stepping into that team leader position.

Interested in learning how to reclaim control of your time and feel less stressed when you look at your calendar? Check out my course: Prioritize and Execute to Focus on Meaningful Work by Dr. Will Ramey (maven.com)

Reach out to connect on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

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Stay ahead of stress with proactive coping

Stay Ahead of Stress with Proactive Coping | Dr. Will Ramey
Stay Ahead of Stress with Proactive Coping | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Practicing proactive coping as a leader can have major benefits including reduced stress, increased resilience, improved performance, and better overall mental health. We cover all the details including ways to identify stressors, seek support, and set boundaries. Let’s get into it!

Leading is Stressful – Stay Ahead of It

As a leader, it’s important to have the ability to cope with the challenges and stressors that come with the job. Deadlines, complex tasks, lack of resources, attrition, conflict, the list goes on and on. These stressors are known knowns. One effective way to reduce the impact is through proactive coping, which involves taking steps to prevent or mitigate potential stressors before they occur.

Benefits of Proactive Coping

Increased resilience: Proactive coping can also help you build resilience, which is the ability to bounce back from adversity. By taking proactive steps to prepare for and cope with stressors, you can become better equipped to handle challenges that come your way. Remember when leading, how quickly and how high you bounce back from setbacks will trickle down through your team.

Improved performance: Proactive coping can have a positive impact on your performance as a leader. By reducing the amount of stress you experience, you can improve your focus and decision-making abilities, which can lead to better results for your team. Taking the initiative to gather resources in anticipation of stressors gives you and your team the edge when challenges arise.

Better relationships: Proactive coping can also improve your relationships with others. When you’re able to effectively cope with and stay ahead of stress, you’re less likely to take out your frustration on others, which can lead to better communication and more positive interactions. Leaders pivot from conversation to conversation throughout the day. Being able to cope with stressors ensures your ability to handle negative emotions and not displace them on others.

Practicing Proactive Coping

Identifying potential stressors: Take some time to think about what stressors you might encounter in your role as a leader. Write them down, then develop strategies to prevent or mitigate them. Developing mitigation strategies prior to stressors occurring helps you feel more confident and prepared.

Seeking support: Reach out to others for support when you need it. Having a supportive network of colleagues, friends, and family can help you cope with stress and challenges more effectively.

Setting boundaries: It’s important to set boundaries to ensure that you have time to recharge and take care of yourself. Make sure to set clear limits on your availability and that you prioritize self-care.

By practicing proactive coping, you can improve your own mental health and resilience, and set a positive example for your team to lead them through challenges more effectively.

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SEO Strategy

Leveraging AI to Optimize Your SEO Strategy
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SEO Strategy

One or more links below contain an affiliate link, which if you make a purchase, we will earn a commission that helps us keep the mics on!

The digital marketing landscape is constantly changing, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for marketers and SEO strategists to keep up. Fortunately, there’s a new tool on the block that promises to make life easier. Introducing Jasper, an AI-driven platform that helps you optimize your content and track the performance of your SEO strategies. Let’s take a closer look at how this powerful tool can help you succeed in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

What Does Jasper Do?

At its core, Jasper uses advanced AI technology to help writers create content that is both SEO optimized and engaging. It leverages natural language processing (NLP) and predictive analysis to offer personalized recommendations tailored to each article. This includes keyword optimization suggestions as well as recommended topics that will perform better than others in search engine results pages (SERPs). Additionally, it can analyze competitor content to identify opportunities for improvement, helping you stay ahead in the race for organic visibility.

Benefits of Using Jasper for Content Creation

Using Jasper comes with a number of benefits, including improved accuracy and efficiency when creating content for blog posts and webpages. It also gives you access to real-time data about how your content is performing in SERPs so that you can quickly adjust your strategy if needed. Finally, it allows you to easily track user engagement with your content so that you can measure ROI more accurately.

Final Thoughts

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, staying ahead of the competition requires leveraging technology such as AI and machine learning whenever possible. That’s where Jasper comes in—it offers powerful tools designed specifically for marketers who want to get the most out of their SEO strategies while optimizing their content creation process at the same time.

With its comprehensive suite of features, integrated analytics dashboard, and intuitive interface, Jasper is sure to become an invaluable asset for any digital marketer looking to boost their website’s organic visibility.

Scale your content 10X Faster with Jasper, your AI writing assistant! Try Jasper for FREE – Click Here!

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Times Leader Best of the Best

OnTheStacks: Finalist for Times Leader Best of the Best!
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OnTheStacks is a finalist for the Times Leader Best of the Best Awards 🏆 in TWO categories: Video Production 🎥 AND Social Media Page! 📲

You can VOTE DAILY ✅ Voting is open until 2/24 at 11:59 pm. Video Production can be found under the Arts & Entertainment category and Social Media Page can be found under the media category.

Vote OnTheStacks for the Times Leader Best of the Best!

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Times Leader Best of the Best

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Super bowl 2023 picks stats and predictions

Super Bowl LVII Picks, Stats, & Predictions
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By Spencer Ripchik

The Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. The Super Bowl is set to declare who the best team in the league is.

The Eagles dominated the San Fransisco 49ers in a 31-7 win in the NFC Championship and the Chiefs won on a walk-off field goal to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 for the AFC Championship.

This is the first meeting in the Super Bowl between the two teams and there are a bunch of storylines like the two Kelce brothers playing against each other and Andy Reid and Nick Sirianni coaching against their former teams.

The biggest storyline, though, is who will have the edge and take home the Lombardi Trophy.

Super Bowl 2023

The Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl for the second time in the last four years and the Eagles are in the Super Bowl for the second time in the last six years.

Led by Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs are still cooking with one of the best offenses in the league. Without Tyreek Hill, Mahomes won the MVP, and his stats back up the potential accolade. He led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns with his primary target being tight end Travis Kelce, who has racked up 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Kansas City’s offense does most of its damage through the air, but it can run behind its running back by committee with Jerick McKinnon and rookie Isiah Pacheco.

The Chiefs’ strength is Mahomes and its offense, but their defense is nothing to shrug your shoulders over.

Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones was one of the nominees for Defensive Player of the Year and had 15.5 sacks this season.

To help Jones out, defensive end Frank Clark has been the defensive star for the Chiefs in the postseason and has 2.5 sacks in two games, which is the fourth-most.

With Jones and Clark, Kansas City doesn’t have a problem getting to the quarterback, but where the Chiefs have struggled is in the secondary.

The Chiefs are middle of the road when it comes to passing yards allowed on the season, which could be a problem, especially against an offense like the Eagles.

Kansas City could be starting two rookie corners Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson if L’Jarius Sneed isn’t cleared from his concussion, so there is some inexperience in the secondary.

Philadelphia is a run-heavy team and has run the ball with ease in the postseason because the Eagles have one of if not the best offensive lines in the league.

The Eagles have a running back by committee approach, too, but the lead back is Miles Sanders while running backs Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott comes in from time to time.

The Chiefs’ defense hasn’t been too shabby at stopping the run and has done better than the Eagles this season, but Kansas City hasn’t quite faced a rushing attack like the Eagles.

To make Philadelphia’s rushing attack even better, the Eagles have MVP runner-up Jalen Hurts, who can break off for a big rush if he’s out in space.

Hurts was a wildcard this season, but it is clear the Eagles might’ve found their guy for the foreseeable future.

The third-year quarterback has just gotten better and better.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has received a lot of criticism for some of the moves he’s made as general manager, like passing on Justin Jefferson for Jalen Reagor, but over the past couple of years, he’s constructed one of the best teams to come out of Philadephia in a long time.

One of the major moves he made was giving Hurts elite receiver A.J. Brown and he fit right into Philadelphia’s scheme. 

Brown, second-year receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert are a three-headed monster in the passing game.

Smith has succeeded in the postseason with all the attention on Brown, so the Chiefs’ young secondary is going to have its hands full.

On the defensive side of the ball, Philadelphia just gets better. 

Linebacker Haason Reddick has been one of the best linebackers in the league this season and leads in sacks this postseason.

Philadelphia’s defense led the league in sacks in the regular season, so Mahomes is not going to have too much time to work.

The Eagles’ secondary might be its biggest strength. Cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry have been two of the best corners and are a major part of why the Eagles have allowed the least amount of yards through the air.

The Chiefs have a slightly better offense than the Eagles because of what Mahomes is able to do, but Philadelphia’s defense is clearly better than Kansas City’s.

Kansas City’s only chance in this game is that Mahomes balls out and pieces apart a tough Eagles defense.

Philadelphia is a much more well-rounded team on defense and offense, and that is why the Eagles will raise the Lombardi Trophy this year.

Philadelphia 31, Kansas City 27

Do you have a sports story you want me to share? Or do have suggestions on any sports-related content you want to see OnTheStacks? Tweet me @RipchikSpencer

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5 books every entrepreneur must read

5 Books Every Entrepreneur Must Read in 2023
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Gain new perspective, stay informed, improve skills, and reflect with these 5 books every entrepreneur must read!

These books can provide entrepreneurs with new ideas and perspectives on business, innovation, and leadership that they may not have considered before. This can help broaden your thinking and approach challenges in unique and creative ways.

While some of these books aren’t new, we found great value in each one and wanted to share with you!

Here are the 5 Books Every Entrepreneur Must Read in 2023:

1. The Magic of Thinking Big – Dr. David J. Schwartz:

5 books every entrepreneur must read

 

2. Who Not How – Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy:

 

5 books every entrepreneur must read

3. Blue Ocean Shift – W. Chan Kim | Renee Mauborgne:

 

5 books every entrepreneur must read

4. Start with Why – Simon Sinek:

 

5 books every entrepreneur must read

 

5. Never Finished – David Goggins:

 

5 books every entrepreneur must read

Jump start your 2023 with these 5 Books Every Entrepreneur Must Read!
  1. The Magic of Thinking Big
  2. Who Not How
  3. Blue Ocean Shift
  4. Start with Why
  5. Never Finished
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How Mindfulness Helps You Lead

How Mindfulness Helps You Lead | Dr. Will Ramey
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Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Research supports that practicing mindfulness as a leader has unique benefits including higher focus, staying present in the moment, and increased emotional intelligence. We cover all this and how to practice mindfulness by breathing, body scanning, actively listening, and taking breaks. Let’s dive in!

What is Mindfulness?

The research and conversation around well-being and mindfulness in the workplace has definitely increased the past few years. At first, I was skeptical. I don’t have time to sit and breathe, let me power through. How is this really going to help me be a better leader? I hit a breaking point in my career. I wasn’t showing up as my best. My flash to bang on becoming irritated at work was pretty short. I knew I needed to make a change. I gave mindfulness a shot. It was eye-opening. Something so simple is so very effective.

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing one’s attention to the present moment in a non-judgmental way. It has gained a lot of attention in recent years for its potential to improve mental health and overall well-being. But mindfulness can also be a powerful tool for leaders.

Whether you’re looking to improve your self-awareness, handle stress more effectively, build stronger relationships, or set a positive example for your team, mindfulness is worth considering as a leadership tool.

Connection to Leadership

The connection between mindfulness and leadership has been researched and written about by various experts in the fields of psychology and business. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that mindfulness can have a positive impact on leadership skills, such as self-awareness, decision-making, communication, and conflict resolution.

For example, a study published in the Journal of Business Ethics found that mindfulness training can improve leaders’ ability to manage stress and make more ethical decisions. Another study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that mindfulness can improve leaders’ emotional intelligence, which is a key factor in effective leadership.

Benefits for Leaders

By taking a few minutes each day to focus on the present moment, leaders can gain a better understanding of their own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This self-awareness can help leaders make better decisions and communicate more effectively with their team.

Mindfulness can also help leaders handle stress and difficult situations more effectively. When faced with a challenging situation, it’s easy to get caught up in our own thoughts and become reactive. But mindfulness encourages us to take a step back, take a deep breath, and approach the situation with a clear and level head. This can help leaders make better decisions and find creative solutions to problems.

Benefits for your Team

In addition, mindfulness can help leaders build stronger relationships with their team. When we’re present and attentive in the moment, we’re able to really listen to others and show genuine interest in what they have to say. This can help build trust and create a positive work environment.

Finally, mindfulness can help leaders model good behavior for their team. When leaders practice mindfulness, they’re setting an example for their team to follow. This can create a culture of mindfulness in the workplace, which can have a ripple effect on the overall well-being and productivity of the team.

Practicing Mindfulness at Work

Leaders are inundated with distractions throughout the day: the ping of an incoming email or message, the knock on the door of a team member, the ring of the phone with a call, etc. All of these stimuli contribute to lack of focus and can take you away from the present moment. Here are five ways to practice mindfulness at work. They have worked wonders for me!

  1. Focus on your breath – Schedule time in your day to run through a short breathing practice. You can do a simple box breathing (in for 4sec, hold for 4sec, out for 4sec, hold for 4sec). Do six to eight rounds of this. Start by simply focusing on your breath. Take in the positive and exhale the negative.
  2. Body Scan – At the start and middle of your day take a few short moments to pay attention to how your body is feeling. Start at the top of your head, working your way down your neck, shoulders, back, and legs. Notice where you are holding tension and let it go.
  3. Actively Listen – When you have that phone call or are speaking with your team members or colleagues be fully present. Eliminate distractions and fully engage in the conversation. Listen to what is being said, how it’s being said, and why it’s being said. Being fully present will show that you are truly connected to your team.
  4. Take your Breaks – Get up, get away from the desk, and move! Whenever possible get outside. Immerse yourself in something else. Be aware of your environment. Pay attention to the thoughts coming to mind but, make sure you step away for a few minutes so you can come back sharp and ready.
  5. Practice Gratitude – When you closeout your workday find a win, thank a team member for something that went well, jot down what you accomplished today. Taking steps to deliberately seek out the positive from your day will allow you to be in the moment

Being Mindful as a Leader

In the fast paced highly competitive world of work it is easy to get stuck in the chaos. Practicing mindfulness does not take long to do, but leaders have to remember to do it. If you make time to practice mindfulness you will show up focused and present carrying less stress for your team. Isn’t that what you want to best serve your team? I can’t wait to hear your positive results about how communication, collaboration, creativity and overall well-being have improved!

If you are interested in taking a deep dive into proven practices, such as mindfulness, to help you overcome stress and reframe your mindset to lead at your best, pick up a copy of Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari.

Tap the Photo or link below to grab a copy of Ashish’s Hardwired for Happiness book!

Hardwired for Happiness - Ashish Kothari

Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life: Ashish Kothari

Reach out to connect on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

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NFL awards

NFL Awards Predictions
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NFL Honors 2023

By Spencer Ripchik

The NFL season is coming to a close with just the Super Bowl left, and that means the NFL award season is upon us.

This season has been filled with younger talent showing out with some of the greats like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers slowly passing the torch to the newcomers.

There are some debates for some awards, but a lot of them have clear winners this year.

Here are my NFL awards for the 2022 season.

MVP: Patrick Mahomes, quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs

At the start of the season, fans and analysts questioned how well the Kansas City Chiefs would do after trading away one of their best offensive weapons, Tyreek Hill, in the offseason.

The Chiefs did pretty well without Hill, getting the No. 1 seed in the AFC and are now Super Bowl bound. A large part of that was because of their quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

A lot of people have Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts penciled in for the MVP, but he missed the last couple of games with an injury, so it’s hard to pick him over Mahomes.

Mahomes, without Hill, led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns this regular season, making him have some of the best stats as a quarterback.

The MVP, like the Heisman, has turned into a quarterback award and Mahomes was one of the best quarterbacks through all 17 games this season, so he fits the bill for MVP.

Mahomes did throw 11 interceptions this season, but he also threw the ball the third most in the NFL, so the interceptions, in a pass-heavy offense, were bound to come.

The sixth-year player has highlight after highlight and has the stats, too, making him the league’s Most Valuable Player this year.

Comeback Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey, running back, San Francisco 49ers

The Comeback Player of the Year is probably one of the most controversial awards every year because nobody really knows what the metrics are. Is it the most improved player over the year or a player who came back from injury and played really well?

Like last year, the Comeback Player of the Year is going to go to a player who was injured and came back, and that’s why the award will go to San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.

There is an argument that if it goes to an injured player it should go to New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, but Barkley only has the rushing stats, not total touchdowns and yards.

McCaffrey was ahead of Barkley in touchdowns and all-purpose yards.

The midseason acquisition McCaffrey fitted in well with the 49ers’ heavy rushing offense.

Fresh off the injury, McCaffrey is back to being one of the best all-around running backs in the NFL.

Offensive Player of the Year: Justin Jefferson, wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings

In his third year in the NFL, Justin Jefferson was one of the best players in the NFL and if the MVP award wasn’t heavily given to a quarterback, Jefferson would have a real shot at that award, too.

Jefferson had the most receiving yards in the NFL and 100 more receiving yards than Tyeek Hill, who had the second-most.

He made some big-time plays all season and had one of the best catches in the overtime thriller against the Buffalo Bills in Week 10.

Jefferson broke Randy Moss’ Vikings receiving yard record in just his third season, too.

The only offensive players better than Jefferson was the quarterbacks, so this award goes to him.

Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Bosa, defensive end, San Fransico 49ers

This award is one of the more difficult ones to give out because it’s a close race between San Fransico 49ers’ defensive end Nick Bosa and Dallas Cowboys’ linebacker Micah Parsons.

Parsons was the clear frontrunner at the start of the season, but Bosa was the main piece of one of the best defenses in the league.

Bosa was one of the best at finding the quarterback in 2022 and led the league with a career-high 18.5 sacks, which was 2.5 more than anybody else.

The fourth-year player out of Ohio State continues to get better and better and this year, now that he was fully healthy, he was able to show out.

With the number of sacks he racked up, Bosa claimed this year’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Brock Purdy, quarterback, San Fransico 49ers

The Offensive Rookie of the Year is a tough one because there wasn’t really a player that stood out all year, but in the last seven games of the regular season Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy emerged.

The last pick in the draft, Purdy started the last six games of the regular season and didn’t lose a single one.

He came in as the third-string quarterback and did his job. He didn’t have to do too much because of how good the team around him was, but he rarely made mistakes.

Purdy threw for 13 touchdowns in the last six games and threw for 1,308 yards. He only threw three interceptions in those last six games, too.

With no rookie truly standing out on the offensive end, Purdy’s late-season surge was enough to make him win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Sauce Gardner, cornerback, New York Jets

There were a couple of solid defensive rookies this season, especially at the corner position. 

One of those rookie corners was New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, who has transitioned to the NFL extremely well and is already one of the best corners in the league.

A smooth transition like that is not an easy thing to do, but Gardner looks like he was ready for the NFL right out of college.

Gardner had two interceptions and led the league in pass breakups as a rookie. He also only allowed one touchdown in Week 12 against the Cleveland Browns in 17 games.

The sheer dominance at one of the toughest positions in the league makes Gardner this year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Coach of the Year: Brian Daboll, New York Giants

The New York Giants finished the 2021 season 4-13 with the worst record in the NFC East. 

In the offseason, the Giants signed just two free agents and one of them was a backup quarterback. Their highest-paid offensive player only had six catches for 81 yards in the regular season.

Yet, first-year head coach Brian Daboll managed to turn that 4-13 New York team that made almost no offseason moves into a playoff team. A playoff team that won a playoff game, too.

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson did turn the worst team in the NFL into a playoff-winning team, but the Jaguars were much more aggressive in free agency and had more talent than the Giants.

Daboll changed things around with the offense and made quarterback Daniel Jones look like a potential franchise quarterback.

Jones, after the Giants drafted him with the sixth-overall pick in 2019, looked like he was going to be on his way out after this year.

However, Jones had a career year in just one year under Daboll, which completely shifted the narrative in New York.

Daboll turned a 4-13 team that was pretty much the same roster into a playoff team, making him the Coach of the Year.

Do you have a sports story you want me to share? Or do have suggestions on any sports related content you want to see OnTheStacks? Tweet me @RipchikSpencer

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Leaders make time to reflect

Leaders – Make Time to Reflect | Dr. Will Ramey
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Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Doctor

Making time for reflection in your day as a leader has enormous impact on how you show up and only takes a few moments. We cover different ways to incorporate reflection and how to include your team in the process for improved communication and performance. Let’s get started!

Take a Pause for the Cause

As a leader, it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily tasks and responsibilities. But taking the time to reflect on your actions and decisions is essential for personal and professional growth. I catch myself coming into work and diving right in. Or during a lively conversation, I’ll respond quickly without much thought, sometimes cutting people short. Leading teams in the Army taught me that an 80% solution on time is better than a 100% solution too late. I have a MEGA bias for action. It’s what keeps me driven. One task done, BOOM, onto the next. During a recent conversation with a fantastic leader (and an ol’ Army buddy of mine), I was reminded of how critical reflection is as a people leader. I’ve discovered that making time to reflect regularly offers balance and often, better results.

Reflection allows you to pause and think about what you have done, what you could have done differently, and what you have learned from your experiences. It helps you to identify patterns in your behavior and thought processes, and to determine what works and what doesn’t.

Incorporating Reflection

I’ve been practicing mindfulness and building reflection into my daily and weekly routine for about three years. It is a game changer. There are a number of ways to approach reflection as a leader. I’ll share what works for me. Adapt these practices to what works for you. Take the premise and intent and adjust it to suit your needs.

  1. Open your day with 10-15 minutes of meditation. The practice contributes to your well-being while reducing stress and improving focus.
  2. Deliberately schedule 5 or 10 minutes between meetings to jot down notes about how it went and how you felt during and after the meeting. These don’t have to be lengthy notes. Bullet points will work.
  3. Make time for a mid-day mindful breathing routine. Take 2-3 minutes to cycle through box breathing (4×4) or 4-7-8. This will allow for decompression and reset.
  4. Close your day with intentionally reviewing the notes you jotted down. Ask yourself what went well, what didn’t, what emotions did you experience, and what you will do differently.
  5. Optional evening meditation for 10-15 minutes. This practice can help you unwind, shed stress, and sleep better.

Seeking Feedback for Reflection

By reflecting on your behaviors and the impact you have on those around you, you can develop a greater understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. This self-awareness can help you to become a more effective leader by allowing you to adapt your style to fit different situations and individuals. To maximize this, you can also take in perspectives from your team. This will take some courage, persistence, and thick skin.

Incorporate feedback into your team closeout routines or conversations. Ask your team members to share their input on if they feel supported by you or what would they prefer you do more of or less of when leading the team.

By actively seeking and incorporating team member feedback into your reflection you are helping to create a learning and growth environment. Creating this environment for your team can lead to increased productivity, improved communication, and a greater sense of fulfillment among team members.

The Power of Reflection

Ultimately, the power of reflection lies in its ability to help you grow as a leader and create a positive impact on those around you. Please don’t underestimate the value of taking the time to pause and reflect on your experiences and actions. It can make all the difference in your leadership journey. Center yourself, see yourself, continuously improve yourself so you can be at the best for your team.

Interested in working with a coach to gain more self-awareness and help you achieve your goals? Check out my website About – Leadership Development (empowerthepack.com)

Reach out to connect on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

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NFL Championship Sunday Preview & Predictions

2023 NFL Championship Sunday Preview & Predictions
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NFL Championship Sunday Preview & Predictions

By Spencer Ripchik

There are just four teams remaining after the Divisional Round. The two No. 1 seeds: The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles and the outliers: The No. 2 San Francisco 49ers and the No. 4 Cincinnati Bengals.

The Chiefs and the Bengals are squaring off once again in the AFC Championship after Cincinnati headed on the road to Buffalo and knocked off the Buffalo Bills. Kansas City defended its home turf, knocking off the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Eagles looked like the most dominant team on the weekend, rolling the New York Giants while the 49ers won a close one against the Dallas Cowboys.

With the Divisional Round in the rearview mirror, there are just two more games until the Super Bowl. 

The Chiefs vs. the Bengals and the Eagles vs the 49ers.

NFC Championship

The San Francisco 49ers come into Championship Sunday riding a 12-game win streak with undefeated third-string rookie quarterback Brock Purdy at the helm.

Purdy heads to Lincoln Financial Field for the first time in his career and he is going to face one of the best defenses in the NFL.

The Philadelphia Eagles have allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL this season and have wrapped up the quarterback the most times in 2022 with 70 sacks.

The Eagles have created a strong secondary with Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay leading the way and offseason acquired corner James Bradberry.

Moving down to their linebackers, the Eagles have Pro Bowlers in that department, too. Haason Reddick is having a career year and leads the sack machine of the Eagles with 16 sacks.

The Eagles are loaded with Pro Bowlers and have a quarterback that’s an MVP finalist, heading into awards season.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts has taken a major step forward and wasn’t hindered by his injury against the New York Giants in the Divisional Round. Hurts went 16-for-24, throwing for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the second playoff appearance of his career.

Hurts didn’t run much, but he didn’t need to. The Eagles torched the Giants’ defense with their run game, rushing for 268 yards.

Against the 49ers, Hurts’ legs will have to have more of an impact because San Francisco has one of the best defensive fronts in the game spearheaded by Defensive Player of the Year finalist Nick Bosa.

The 49ers’ offense is the same Kyle Shanahan ground-and-pound offense that sets up the play action, and now, they have Christian McCaffrey, one of the best running backs in the league, running behind a strong offensive line.

It will be interesting to see how well the Eagles deal with the run-heavy attack because they’ve struggled to stop the rush this season.

The biggest factor in the game, though, will be how well Purdy deals with playing in one of the toughest stadiums to play in at Lincoln Financial Field.

Will the lights be too bright for the rookie?

My prediction:

Philadelphia 24, San Francisco 20

AFC Championship

The Kansas City Chiefs against the Cincinnati Bengals. Some deja vu.

The Bengals and the Chiefs are squaring off in their second-straight AFC Championship and second-straight AFC Championship in Arrowhead Stadium.

Last time, the Chiefs got off to a hot start, but Comeback Player of the Year, quarterback Joe Burrow led his squad on an 18-point comeback to beat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Burrow’s had Mahomes’ number and has won all three of their meetings. Burrow has already beaten the Chiefs earlier in the season 27-24, but that game was at home not on the road.


The biggest storyline heading into Sunday’s fourth meeting between the two is Mahomes isn’t at full strength after he suffered a high ankle sprain.

Mahomes has been practicing and is expected to play, but his ankle will definitely be something to watch for on Sunday.

The rest of the Chiefs’ offense has flowed through tight end Travis Kelce and an assortment of receivers in the post-Tyreek Hill era.

The Kansas City offense has the highest-scoring offense in the NFL even without Hill, but the Bengals also have a high-powered offense.

Cincinnati is led by Burrow and his trio of receivers in Ja’marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, which is a similar offense to the Super Bowl squad last year.

This year, the Bengals’ offensive line has done better at protecting Burrow, an issue in the 2021 season. Cincinnati was the third most sacked team in 2021 and now moved out of the top 10.

The Bengals have the better defense allowing only 13 points per game while the Chiefs allow 20, but this game is going to come down to which offense has more firepower on Sunday.

If Mahomes is fully healthy, it is going to be hard to pick against the No. 1 seeded Chiefs, but if he’s not, the Bengals are the no-brainer pick.

My prediction: 

Cincinnati 28, Kansas City 23

Do you have a sports story you want me to share? Or do have suggestions on any sports related content you want to see OnTheStacks? Tweet me @RipchikSpencer

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Spencer Ripchik Joins OnTheStacks as Sports Blogger

Spencer Ripchik Joins OnTheStacks as Sports Blogger
Spencer Ripchik Joins OnTheStacks as Sports Blogger 800 600 OnTheStacks

OnTheStacks is expanding into other fields of content, and with that, we’re excited to announce that Spencer Ripchik is joining the OnTheStacks team as a sports blogger!

You’ve trusted OnTheStacks for the last four years as your source in the world of entrepreneurship and business, and we hope to gain that same trust with you, but this time on the field; see what we did there?!

Who is Spencer Ripchik?

Spencer Ripchik

Hey I’m Spencer! I’m a native of Saratoga Springs, New York. Currently, I’m a junior at Penn State University where I major in print and digital journalism.

I’m excited to come on as a blogger for OnTheStacks where I will write sports-related content each week. Some of the sports I’ll cover are the NFL, NBA, College Football and College Basketball.

I’ve covered a lot of exciting sporting events at Penn State working for the Daily Collegian, including Penn State Football’s recent 35-21 Rose Bowl win over Utah.

I’ve also written for The Saratoga Special and the Penn State CommRadio.

If you have suggestions on any sports related content you want to see OnTheStacks, tweet me @RipchikSpencer

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Happiness and Leadership

Happiness and Leadership | Dr. Will Ramey
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Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Happiness at work pays dividends for leaders and teams in the form of improved communication, decision-making, and ultimately productivity. We share the connection between happiness and leadership and how leaders can invite in more happiness through practicing gratitude, giving recognition, and reflective positive writing. Let’s get to it!

One or more links below may contain an affiliate link, which if you make a purchase, we might earn a commission that helps us keep the mics on!

The Slippery Slope

You’re leading a team, working long hours, solving complex problems, and then you hit the slump. Resource cuts, people moving on, and you get passed over for that promotion. We’ve all probably been there at some point in time, I know I have. Your happiness tank at work is on empty and now it’s coming out in negative ways. You become short with your team members, your give o’shiz meter is pegged, and you begin to spiral only seeing the negative.

I’ve hit that wall at work where I find myself just going through the motions, not giving my 100% best, and I began to question myself. You’re not alone and the good news is by engaging in a little positive psychology you can turn this around quickly.

The Link between Happiness and Leadership

Studies have shown that happiness at work not only raises engagement and satisfaction levels but business outcomes such as productivity and task accuracy increase too. Leaders have such an impact on how their team operates. Happy leaders, setting the conditions for happy team members will yield positive productive results. Happy leaders are more effective because of the effect on various aspects of leadership, such as decision-making, communication, and motivation.

Think about the jobs you’ve held and the teams you’ve led where you’ve been the happiest. I am willing to bet, they’ve been the most rewarding experiences. For me, it was when I was leading my crew as a Space Operations Officer. We were cohesive, built strong bonds, laughed at work, and knocked it out of the park!

Happiness Comes from Within

Holding a variety of leadership positions in my career has been rewarding and stressful. Some days were definitely tougher than others. I found myself on the verge of burnout, yet some positions, like my Space Crew, were energy giving. I needed to learn why and discovered that happiness comes from within. It takes practice.

Reflecting on the link between happiness and leadership recently led me to a conversation with Ashish Kothari, Founder of The Happiness Squad. Ashish is on a mission to launch a happiness revolution touching a billion+ lives over the next 20 years and help people live with more joy, health, love and meaning. Our conversation reminded me that leaders can find meaning in their work and avoid the downward spiral by incorporating small habits in their day.

If you are interested in taking a deep dive into proven practices to help you overcome stress and reframe your mindset to lead at your best, pick up a copy of Hardwired for Happiness. Read on to see how happiness impacts leadership and three simple steps to improve your happiness at work.

Tap the Photo or link below to grab a copy of Ashish’s Hardwired for Happiness book!

Hardwired for Happiness - Ashish Kothari

Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life: Ashish Kothari

Impact on Decision Making

One of the main ways that happiness impacts leadership is through decision-making. Happy leaders tend to be more confident and optimistic, which allows them to make better decisions. They are less likely to be swayed by fear or uncertainty, and they tend to be more resilient in the face of challenges.

Additionally, happy leaders are better able to see the big picture and take a strategic view of a situation, which allows them to make more informed decisions. Leading my Space Crew was challenging, and the work was highly technical. We heavily relied on each other to make complex decisions and creatively solve problems. The camaraderie we built paid us back during execution of our job.

Impact on Communication

Another way that happiness impacts leadership is through communication. Happy leaders tend to be more approachable and easier to talk to, which helps them to build stronger relationships with their team members. They are more likely to be able to establish trust and rapport with others, which allows them to communicate more effectively.

Additionally, happy leaders are better able to empathize with others, which helps them to understand the perspectives of their team members and to provide more effective guidance and support. My Space Crew was very junior. Most of them were fresh out of the schoolhouse and this was their first assignment. We made time to do fun team building activities together both on and off duty. We built bonds through positive experiences, and it led to higher trust and clearer communication during our operations.

Impact on Inspiration

Lastly, happiness also plays a role in inspiration. Happy leaders tend to be more energized and engaged, which allows them to inspire their team members. When a leader is happy, the whole team seems to be more productive, more innovative, and more committed to the goals of the organization. Happy leaders lead by example and their positive attitude towards their work and their team creates a more positive work environment that in turn, leads to a more engaged and inspired team. This is explained by social learning theory and trickle-down effects.

Simply put, team leaders can set the tone for the day. Knowing this, I did my best to show up each and every day to set an uplifting tone, checking in on my crew, finding the positive, and starting the day on a positive note no matter what challenges lay ahead.

How to Improve Your Happiness

Happiness comes from within. Self-awareness and connection to your inner voice are important aspects of improving happiness. Here are three effective practices that leaders can use to improve their happiness and in turn, their leadership.

  • Writing down three new things you are grateful for each day
  • Taking 3-5 mins to focus on your breath throughout the day
  • At the close of the day writing two emails giving recognition to a team member or peer

I cherish the time I spent with my Space Crew. It was one of the happiest leadership experiences I’ve had in my career. Happiness and leadership are closely connected, and the more happiness a leader experiences, the more happiness their team can experience. Let’s spark that change and watch what happens.

Reach out to me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

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Be Consistent Instead of Perfect

Be Consistent Instead of Perfect
Be Consistent Instead of Perfect 800 600 OnTheStacks

Be consistent instead of perfect with whatever it is you’re trying to achieve! Consistency is the key to achieving your goals, both big and small.

Perfectionism is a trait that many entrepreneurs, (especially high performers) possess and struggle with, including myself sometimes. We often strive for perfection in our work and projects, but the best course of action is to always prioritize consistency over perfection.

Here’s a look at why being consistent instead of perfect can help you succeed as an entrepreneur.

One or more links below may contain an affiliate link, which if you make a purchase, we might earn a commission that helps us keep the mics on!

The Pursuit of Perfection Can Lead to Procrastination

Perfectionism can lead to procrastination for many entrepreneurs because they are so focused on making sure everything is perfect that they don’t take any action. This is especially true when it comes to launching new products or services, or starting any other type of project. When entrepreneurs become paralyzed by the desire to make something perfect, they never end up taking the necessary steps towards completion.

Consistency Creates Quality Results

When entrepreneurs focus on being consistent instead of striving for perfection, they will be able to produce quality results in a much shorter amount of time. This is because consistency allows them to stay focused on the task at hand and take small steps towards completion rather than trying to do it all at once with a “perfect” outcome in mind. By being consistent, you will be able to get more done in less time and still achieve satisfactory results. Consistency is what separates the good from the great!

be consistent instead of perfect

Taking Action Is Key

Being consistent means taking action and not letting perfectionism stand in your way. Entrepreneurs should have an idea of what their desired outcome looks like but should also be willing to recognize when it’s time to move on from a project and begin working on something else. Consistent action leads to progress and encourages entrepreneurs to keep moving forward even if things aren’t perfect every step of the way.

Consistency > Perfectionism

It’s important for entrepreneurs to remember that there’s no such thing as “perfect”— it’s all about action, progress, improvement, and consistency over time.

Focusing too much on perfectionism can lead to procrastination and missed deadlines, while focusing on consistency can help you get more done in less time and have better results overall. Be willing to take action even if things aren’t perfect every step of the way; that’s how you’ll achieve success!

Be consistent instead of perfect!

In Ep,006 of the OTS Aftershow, Co-H0sts Bill Corcoran Jr. and Jerry Rizzo talk about Consistency. Watch here:

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Dr. Will Ramey joins OnTheStacks

Dr. Will Ramey Joins the OnTheStacks Team of Bloggers
Dr. Will Ramey Joins the OnTheStacks Team of Bloggers 800 600 OnTheStacks

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

We’re excited to officially announce that Dr. Will Ramey, a Leadership Expert in building high performance teams through a “Shared Leadership” method, has joined the OnTheStacks Team of bloggers to share his expertise, knowledge, and experiences to help you be the best leader for your team.

Here’s a little blurb from the Leadership Doc himself about what you can expect going forward!

Who is Dr. Will Ramey?

Dr. Will Ramey

Dr. Will Ramey – The Scholarly Leadership Practitioner. I am here to help you and your team achieve success together.

You may recognize my name and some of these leadership concepts from Ep.128 of the #OnTheStacks Podcast.

I have had the privilege of leading teams with combined experiences serving as a U.S. Army Officer, a group leader for a Fortune 50 Company, and leading at the Director level for the Department of Defense. I’ve led a variety of teams from maintenance and distribution to city management and space control. Yes, space, the final frontier where I earned the little-known Army Space Badge.

My favorite aspect of leadership has been helping others grow & reach their full potential so that teams achieve success together. I’ve been a student of leadership and organizational behavior for most of my career. This intrigue led me to study and learn about the relationship of leaders and teams at the doctoral level of academia. I’ve researched leaders and teams receiving my Doctorate from Drexel University.

I currently serve as the CXO of Shared Leadership, LLC, a full spectrum leadership and team development solutions company. I get the opportunity to work with amazing individuals and teams to positively impact their lives by improving work environments.

Why am I here?

When it comes to leadership & team building, I’ve had my fair share of struggles and triumphs. I’ve felt everything from overwhelm and exhaustion to pride and exhilaration. I’ve had the privilege of leading people in a variety of environments and industries. Leading people, developing team dynamics, and achieving high performance can feel like a solo rollercoaster ride at times. Not anymore!

Leadership can no longer only be thought of as a top-down directive approach to getting people to execute tasks based on one person’s position. Leadership can be a social interactive process that occurs between people, regardless of position, however, we still need appointed team leaders who are competent and have upstanding character. These team leaders bring the best out of their teams.

The world of work is changing and how we lead will change with it. You don’t have to carry the burden of leadership on your own. Share the responsibilities with your team regardless. The good news is, you are not alone, and this is where I come in.

What is Our Mission?

At Shared Leadership, LLC we are on a mission to spark positive change in workplace culture. We help teams reframe the top-down leadership model and elevate team dynamics so leadership can be shared, and performance goes up!

We believe that you don’t need a title to lead, and that everyone has the ability to contribute, influence, and share in ownership of outcomes. When teams share in leadership, they are more creative, committed, satisfied, and outperform the competition.

Now this mission also includes sharing these tactics, techniques, and tips with you here on the OnTheStacks blog.

Learn to reshape your mindset and strengthen your abilities to constructively lead and shape a positive, psychologically safe work environment. Gain a fresh perspective on team dynamics and processes to elevate performance. Contribute to an up-beat, optimistic work environment where challenges are welcomed, and objectives are achieved.

I’ve researched leadership behaviors and team dynamics in organizations. I bring the latest science from the field of organizational behavior, leadership, and team dynamics to provide evidence-based solutions for you.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwilliamramey/

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OnTheStacks: Goodpods Team Pick

OnTheStacks is a Goodpods App “Team Pick”
OnTheStacks is a Goodpods App “Team Pick” 1280 720 OnTheStacks

The OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr. was just added to the Goodpod’s “Team Picks” podcast list on their app and website.

Often referred to as the “Goodreads for podcasts,” Goodpods is an award winning, free podcast player and podcast discovery app that doubles as a social media network where podcast hosts, listeners, influencers, and friends can see which podcasts they’re currently listening to, make recommendations to each other, and engage in realtime with comments, likes, and ratings.

OnTheStacks - Goodpods Team Pick

Subscribe to The OnTheStacks Podcast on the Goodpods app!

Download the Goodpods app now and start listening, sharing, and engaging with your friends and favorite podcasters.

What is the OnTheStacks Podcast?

The OnTheStacks with Bill Corcoran Jr., is a weekly audio and video podcast that dives deep into the mindset of highly successful and driven entrepreneurs and business owners. We have unscripted and authentic conversations around business, life, purpose, and more!

At the beginning of 2023 we updated our podcast cover art, show description, and we have a new slogan too!

OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr mockupOnTheStacks Updated (2023) Show Description:

The OnTheStacks Podcast hosted by Bill Corcoran Jr. features deep dive conversations into the mindset of high performing individuals and what makes them unstoppable even when the odds are stacked against them! Listen and learn from entrepreneurs, creative thinkers, change-makers, and up-and-comers that go beyond passion to find their purpose and achieve their goals. This podcast will transform your mindset to unlock your full potential!

New slogan: Real Talk on Purpose.

Real Talk on Purpose has a dual meaning.

  1. We have real conversations on purpose. Meaning, we purposely keep the conversations unscripted and authentic.
  2. We have real conversations on purpose. Meaning, we have conversations about your purpose.
If you find value and enjoy our content, smash that YouTube Subscribe button here:

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10 ways to increase live stream views in 2023

10 Ways To Increase Live Stream Views 2023
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10 ways to increase live stream views in 2023

In a world with an average human attention span of 8 seconds, content creators are always looking for ways to increase live stream views. Attention is the name of the game now more so than ever!

Whether you’re a podcaster, gamer, entrepreneur, business coach, influencer, or a sports or media company, live streaming is a great way to build better rapport and engage with your audience.

As a fellow content creator, we created this List of Top 10 Ways To Increase Live Stream Views. While these 10 don’t go in any priority order, the first one on the list may be the most important, at least in our eyes!

One or more links below may contain an affiliate link. If you make a purchase we may get a small commission that helps us to keep producing valuable content like this!

1. Use a Dedicated Live Streaming Service
Use a live streaming service like StreamYard or Restream that allows you to broadcast live content to multiple streaming channels simultaneously. With just one StreamYard or Restream account, you can choose from over 30 platforms to stream to at once, including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Twitch and other popular platforms.

2. Use Keywords
When you are creating your live stream, be sure to use keywords that will help people find your stream. For example, if you are live streaming a gaming session, use keywords such as “live stream,” “gaming,” “twitch,” or “YouTube gaming.”

3. Create Engaging Content
Your live stream should be engaging and entertaining if you want people to stick around and watch. No one wants to watch a boring live stream, so make sure you have something interesting to say or do. You could play games, show off your skills, or even just have a conversation with your viewers.

4. Use Visual Elements
In addition to using engaging content, you should also use visual elements in your live stream to capture people’s attention. This could include using graphics, overlays, or even just having a well-designed background.

5. Promote Your Stream
Once you have created your live stream, be sure to promote it on social media and other online channels. This will help increase the visibility of your stream and attract more viewers.

6. Collaborate With Other Streamers
Collaborating with other streamers is a great way to increase the reach of your live stream. You can collaborate by cross-promoting each other’s streams, guest-starring on each other’s streams, or even just talking about each other’s streams on social media.

7. Host Giveaways & Contests
People love free stuff, so hosting giveaways and contests is a great way to increase viewer engagement and attract new viewers. You could give away game codes, merchandise, or even just simple prizes like gift cards. Just be sure to promote your giveaway or contest ahead of time so people know when and where to tune in.

8. Use Live Chat Features
Most live streaming platforms come with built-in chat features that allow viewers to interact with each other in real-time. Be sure to take advantage of these features by monitoring the chat and responding to viewer questions or comments. This will help create a more interactive and engaging experience for everyone involved.

9. Schedule Your Streams
If you want people to consistently tune in to your live streams, it helps to have a set schedule that they can follow. Let your viewers know when you’ll be going live ahead of time so they can mark the date and time in their calendars. You could even send out reminders via social media or email before each scheduled stream begins.

10. Share Your Live Stream to Groups on Social Media
Are you part of industry specific groups on Facebook or LinkedIn? As soon as you start live streaming on Facebook and/or LinkedIn, share your live stream post to those groups you’re part of.

Ready to increase your live stream views? Get a 14 Day FREE trial. Try for FREE here: StreamYard – No credit card required!
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OnTheStacks Top 20 Better Business Podcast - Amazon Music

OnTheStacks Makes Amazon Music Top 20 “Better Business” Podcast List
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OnTheStacks Top 20 Better Business Podcast - Amazon Music

Just a few days into 2023, the OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr. made the Top 20 “Better Business” podcast list on Amazon Music.

Business podcasts are an increasingly popular resource for entrepreneurs and business professionals looking to stay up to date on the latest business trends. By listening to the top business podcasts, business professionals can hear from successful entrepreneurs, creative thinkers, up-and-comers, and business leaders to gain new insights into best businesses practices that could help their own business grow.

OnTheStacks Top 20 Better Business Podcast

OnTheStacks with Bill Corcoran Jr., is a weekly audio and video podcast that dives deep into the mindset of highly successful and driven entrepreneurs and business owners. We have unscripted and authentic conversations around business, life, purpose, and more!

Generating high ratings, listens, and views, OnTheStacks features helpful interviews with some of the top names in the business and entrepreneurship world. Through storytelling, Bill and his guests provide valuable business advice, a little bit of entertainment, and inspiration to help business owners and entrepreneurs keep moving the needle forward not just in business, but in life too.

There is something for everyone on the OnTheStacks Podcast; it’s a must-listen for anyone interested in advancing their knowledge in topics such as entrepreneurship, business, and self-improvement.

Watch the latest OnTheStacks episode about Creating your Own Destiny through Creative Entrepreneurship:

Or listen to the audio only version on your favorite podcast platform!

For 2023 we updated our podcast cover art, show description, and we have a new slogan too!

OnTheStacks Updated (2023) Show Description:

The OnTheStacks Podcast hosted by Bill Corcoran Jr. features deep dive conversations into the mindset of high performing individuals and what makes them unstoppable even when the odds are stacked against them! Listen and learn from entrepreneurs, creative thinkers, change-makers, and up-and-comers that go beyond passion to find their purpose and achieve their goals. This podcast will transform your mindset to unlock your full potential!

New slogan: Real Talk on Purpose.

Real Talk on Purpose has a dual meaning.

  1. We have real conversations on purpose. Meaning, we purposely keep the conversations unscripted and authentic.
  2. We have real conversations on purpose. Meaning, we have conversations about your purpose.
If you find value and enjoy our content, smash that YouTube Subscribe button here:

OnTheStacks YouTube Channel

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OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr

OnTheStacks Podcast Brand Refresh
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OnTheStacks Podcast Brand Refresh

We updated the OnTheStacks Podcast (with Bill Corcoran Jr.) cover art and show description for 2023 + we have a new slogan. Here are all the details!

Why the Brand Refresh?

We wanted to better align our image with the deep dive mindset and purpose conversations we’ve been having lately and ones that will continue throughout 2023 and beyond.

New slogan: Real Talk on Purpose.

Real Talk on Purpose has a dual meaning.

  1. We have real conversations on purpose. Meaning, we purposely keep the conversations unscripted and genuinely authentic.
  2. We have real conversations on purpose. Meaning, we have conversations about your purpose.

2023 Updated Show Description:

The OnTheStacks Podcast hosted by Bill Corcoran Jr. features deep dive conversations into the mindset of high performing individuals and what makes them unstoppable even when the odds are stacked against them! Listen and learn from entrepreneurs, creative thinkers, change-makers, and up-and-comers that go beyond passion to find their purpose and achieve their goals. This podcast will transform your mindset to unlock your full potential!

OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr mockup👩🏻‍🎨 Cover Design by @rae_z_dazzle 🙌🏼

🧠 Shout out to @jimmytmartin and @jerryrizzopod for helping develop the slogan. 🙏🏼

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Keep Moving Forward | Mindset
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Keep Moving Forward | Mindset

I checked ✅ a lot of boxes in 2022! Many of which, I never imagined could happen, even just 1 year ago.

Everyone always asks me how I manage to do it all. And honestly, most days I wonder that myself too.

This may sound like a paradox, but follow me through.

I’m usually very critical of my work and I rarely celebrate wins. I constantly wonder how I could do better tomorrow or next week. But I get right back to work and keep moving forward.

Not knowing how I do it, mixed with the mindset that you’re always just one decision, one person, one meeting, one DM, one anything away from changing your life, keeps me going in hopes that one day, I’ll have the answer.

If you’ve made it this far on this post, check out my Top 22 Moments of 2022 in Ep.140 of the OnTheStacks Podcast here:

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10 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Avoid Anxiety and Depression

10 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Avoid Anxiety and Depression
10 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Avoid Anxiety and Depression 800 600 OnTheStacks

10 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Avoid Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health conditions in the world. And for entrepreneurs, they can be especially debilitating. They can lead to indecision and a lack of productivity, both of which can be fatal for a business.

But there are ways to avoid these conditions, or at least minimize their effects. Here are 10 tips for entrepreneurs to avoid anxiety and depression:

1. Stay organized: Take control of your time and tasks, set a daily agenda for yourself and stick to it. This will help you stay focused on the important things and reduce stress levels.

2. Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep is one of the biggest contributors to anxiety and depression, so make sure that you get an adequate amount of rest.

3. Exercise: Regular exercise has been proven to reduce stress, and is also beneficial for mental health. Exercise helps to release endorphins which are mood-elevating chemicals in our brains.

4. Avoid multitasking: Trying to do too many things at once can lead to burnout and increased levels of stress. Focus on one task at a time, and take breaks when needed.

5. Take time off: Don’t forget to give yourself some downtime to relax and unwind after a long day of work.

6. Connect with others: Try to stay connected with family, friends and other entrepreneurs who understand the pressures of running a business.

7. Eat healthy meals: Eating well is important for your physical and mental health. Make sure to plan out your meals in advance and make time for nutritious snacks throughout the day.

8. Be mindful: Mindfulness practices have been shown to reduce stress levels and improve wellbeing, so try to take time each day to focus on your thoughts and feelings.

9. Practice self-care: Take time for yourself every week to do something that you enjoy, such as a hobby or activity. This will help to reduce stress levels and boost mood.

10. Seek help if needed: If anxiety and depression become overwhelming, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. There are many resources such as counseling, support groups and medication that can help.

Remember to take care of your mental health! Anxiety and depression don’t have to be a part of being an entrepreneur. With these tips, you can reduce their effects and stay happier and healthier while running your business!

How to Conquer Anxiety/Depression, and Build back Confidence | Ep.138: #OnTheStacks in the blu door studio with Alyssa Kashuda, Yoga Instructor and Co-Owner of The Salt Barre.

Here’s some topics covered in this episode to help Entrepreneurs Avoid Anxiety and Depression:

✅ How Alyssa Overcame Anxiety/Depression and Found Success in Entrepreneurship
✅ Building Confidence
✅ The Power of Gratitude & Journaling
✅ Benefits of Breathing Exercises for Anxiety/Depression
✅ The Rewards of being an Entrepreneur

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

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The Mindset of an Entrepreneur

The Mindset of an Entrepreneur
The Mindset of an Entrepreneur 800 600 OnTheStacks

The Mindset of an Entrepreneur

Being an entrepreneur can be a challenging but rewarding experience. It takes dedication, passion, and a certain mindset to make it in the entrepreneurial world. So what is that mindset? What sets the successful entrepreneur apart from others? Let’s take a look at some of the most important characteristics of the entrepreneurial mindset.

Passion & Drive:

A successful entrepreneur needs to have passion and drive. They must be passionate about their business and its mission and they need to be driven to succeed. This means having a strong work ethic and being willing to put in long hours when necessary. It also means having the ambition and determination required to keep pushing forward even when things get tough. Passion and drive are essential for entrepreneurs who want to succeed in their field.

Risk-Taking Ability: Entrepreneurs need to be comfortable taking risks if they want to succeed in their venture. Taking risks can be difficult because there is always a chance that things won’t go as planned, but risk-taking is necessary for success in business. Being able to assess potential risks and make decisions based on these assessments is essential for any entrepreneur who wants to maximize their chances of success.

Passion vs. Obsession:

This is an interesting conversation regarding the mindset of entrepreneur that I love to discuss. Everything starts with passion, but I think the difference in some of the most successful entrepreneurs is their ability to turn a passion into an obsession. And for the record, we’re talking about a healthy obsession.

For example, once you become obsessed with the process and your goals, you don’t need to be “motivated” to continue striving forward. Success then becomes a habit. You don’t need a pat on the back for your efforts and achievements. You continue to stay the course whether it’s one or one million people clapping for you. Once you reach this point, you will know that you’ve adapted the mindset of an entrepreneur.

Creativity & Innovation:

Successful entrepreneurs know how to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions for their business problems. They understand that there is always room for improvement and are constantly looking for ways to innovate and stay ahead of the competition. Creative problem-solving is one of the most important traits an entrepreneur should have if they want their venture to thrive in today’s competitive market.

What does this mean for you as an Entrepreneur or aspiring Entrepreneur?

The entrepreneurial mindset is complex but essential for anyone who wants to succeed as an entrepreneur. Having passion, drive, risk-taking ability, creativity, and innovation are all key aspects of this mindset that successful entrepreneurs possess in spades.

Taking that passion and turning it into an obsession is key. If you’re looking to start your own business or are already running one, it’s important that you cultivate these traits within yourself if you want your venture to succeed!

Want to learn how to adapt the mindset of an entrepreneur?

Watch Ep.137 of the OnTheStacks Podcast to learn more about the mindset of an entrepreneur:

If you find value and enjoy our content, smash that YouTube Subscribe button here:

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Go Getters Podcast Bill Corcoran Jr.

#OnTheStacks Podcast Host Bill Corcoran Jr. Featured on The Go Getters Podcast – Ep.032
#OnTheStacks Podcast Host Bill Corcoran Jr. Featured on The Go Getters Podcast – Ep.032 1284 704 OnTheStacks

#OnTheStacks Host Bill Corcoran Jr. Featured on The Go Getters Podcast

#OnTheStacks Podcast Host Bill Corcoran Jr. was recently featured as a guest on The Go Getters Podcast – Ep.032.

Passion vs. Obsession

How #OnTheStacks got started and where we’re going.

Plus much more!

Since its inception in 2020, the #OnTheStacks podcast has ranked in the top 2% of podcasts worldwide, with thousands of listeners in 34 countries, reaching all 7 continents.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/w2wOaIxaAAI

You can also stream the audio only version on your favorite podcast platform.

Like, comment, and subscribe to The Go Getters Podcast!

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#OnTheStacks is a Podcast & Digital Media company. Since 2019, we’ve aimed to inspire, educate, and entertain the NEPA region by sharing the stories and experiences of the most passionate entrepreneurs and community leaders.

The #OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr. is ranked in the top 2% of Podcasts Worldwide.

It is listened to in 34 Countries and on all 7 Continents! A new episode is released every Wednesday on YouTube and on all major audio podcast platforms!

► Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/OnTheStacksPodcast

If you believe in our mission & want to support our show, subscribe to our Patreon account for FREE MERCH + EXCLUSIVE content on Patreon ONLY!

► Subscribe to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/OnTheStacksPodcast

THANK YOU for your SUPPORT!!

Check out some of the latest #OnTheStacks Podcast episodes here.
Subscribe & Listen to the #OnTheStacks Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Stitcher.
Bobby Arvon

Bobby Arvon Returns Home for Live Show
Bobby Arvon Returns Home for Live Show 1920 2560 OnTheStacks

Scranton native and Billboard Hot 100 recording artist, Bobby Arvon, performed Sunday evening at the Kirby Center for the Creative Arts at Wyoming Seminary with Marko Marcinko and the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band featuring special guest, Lorenzo Medico.

Early in Bobby Arvon’s music career he was told by an agent that he didn’t have a recording voice.

As a singer/songwriter, he later went on to become a Billboard Hot 100 recording artist, leading to many TV appearances, notably Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, The Merv Griffin Show and more.

You may also recognize Bobby’s voice from the lead on the theme song of one of the most popular American television sitcoms, “Happy Days.”

Wanting to get back to his Scranton Pennsylvania roots, Bobby met Lorenzo through a mutual friend, Jeff Piazza, who owns The Fort Cafe in Forty Fort, PA.

Jeff is a “Happy Days” enthusiast and is a friend/fan of Bobby and his music.

When Bobby told Jeff he wanted to perform a show in his hometown of Scranton, Jeff connected Bobby with Lorenzo, whom owns ARTIC Entertainment.

Bobby Arvon

Lorzeno Medico (left), Owner of ARTIC Entertainment, Singer/Songwriter Bobby Arvon (middle), and Bill Corcoran Jr. (right), Founder & CEO of OnTheStacks. Photo by Darren Elias.

Short for Art in community, Lorenzo’s company is focused on promoting, producing and cultivating the film, live music, and theater arts industry in Northeast Pennsylvania.

As a performer, entrepreneur, and owner of ARTIC Entertainment, Lorenzo found a way to connect the dots between Bobby and fellow Scranton native, Marko Marcinko, to put together a live, one night only show, titled “Bobby Arvon with Marko Marcinko & the SJF Big Band featuring Lorenzo Medico.”

The show held last night at the Kirby Center for the Creative Arts at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston PA was Lorenzo’s first live production with his company, ARTIC Entertainment.

Earlier this week, OnTheStacks Podcast host Bill Corcoran Jr. interviewed Bobby Arvon and Lorenzo Medico on the popular podcast.

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OnTheStacks is a Podcast & Digital Media company. Since 2019, we’ve aimed to inspire, educate, and entertain the NEPA region by sharing the stories and experiences of the most passionate entrepreneurs and community leaders.

The OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr. is ranked in the top 2% of Podcasts Worldwide.

It is listened to in 34 Countries and on all 7 Continents! A new episode is released every Wednesday on YouTube and on all major audio podcast platforms!

► Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/OnTheStacksPodcast

► Subscribe to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/OnTheStacksPodcast

THANK YOU for your SUPPORT!!

Check out some of the latest OnTheStacks Podcast episodes here.
Subscribe & Listen to the #OnTheStacks Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Stitcher.

New Show ALERT! The (LIVE) OTS Aftershow
New Show ALERT! The (LIVE) OTS Aftershow 500 500 OnTheStacks

New Show ALERT! The (LIVE) OTS Aftershow

We just launched a NEW show! The OTS Aftershow, will be a LIVE show co-hosted by Bill Corcoran Jr. and Jerry Rizzo.

Catch up Bill & Jerry every Thursday on Instagram LIVE at 9pm.

We’ll be chatting about some behind the scenes content from recent #OnTheStacks Podcast episodes, bringing on special guests, and who knows what else!!

Hope to see you there!

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#OnTheStacks is a Podcast & Digital Media company. Since 2019, we’ve aimed to inspire, educate, and entertain the NEPA region by sharing the stories and experiences of the most passionate entrepreneurs and community leaders.

The #OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr. is ranked in the top 2% of Podcasts Worldwide.

It is listened to in 34 Countries and on all 7 Continents! A new episode is released every Wednesday on YouTube and on all major audio podcast platforms!

► Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/OnTheStacksPodcast

If you believe in our mission & want to support our show, subscribe to our Patreon account for FREE MERCH + EXCLUSIVE content on Patreon ONLY!

► Subscribe to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/OnTheStacksPodcast

THANK YOU for your SUPPORT!!

Check out some of the latest #OnTheStacks Podcast episodes here.
Subscribe & Listen to the #OnTheStacks Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Stitcher.

#OnTheStacks Podcast Host Bill Corcoran Jr. Featured on The People of Penn State Podcast
#OnTheStacks Podcast Host Bill Corcoran Jr. Featured on The People of Penn State Podcast 1080 1080 OnTheStacks

#OnTheStacks Host Bill Corcoran Jr. Featured on The People of Penn State Podcast

#OnTheStacks Podcast Host Bill Corcoran Jr. was recently featured as a guest on The People of Penn State Podcast hosted by Penn State Alumni Association CEO, Paul J. Clifford.

Alumnus Bill Corcoran Jr. ’11, is the Founder and Host of the #OnTheStacks Podcast.

Since its inception in 2020, the podcast has ranked in the top 2% of podcasts worldwide, with thousands of listeners in 34 countries, reaching all seven continents.

Bill is an outside the box thinker and creator, always willing to try new things and stand out from the crowd. He is passionate about writing, branding, social media, and helping small businesses build their brand and reputation through engaging online content.

He joins us for episode 25 of The People of Penn State for an engaging conversation on the origins of #OnTheStacks, the growth and expansion of his show, a recent partnership with the Times Leader Media Group, and much more.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/ZZaKd_KhI0I

You can also stream the audio only version on your favorite podcast platform.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

#OnTheStacks is a Podcast & Digital Media company. Since 2019, we’ve aimed to inspire, educate, and entertain the NEPA region by sharing the stories and experiences of the most passionate entrepreneurs and community leaders.

The #OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr. is ranked in the top 2% of Podcasts Worldwide.

It is listened to in 34 Countries and on 7 out of 7 Continents! A new episode is released every Wednesday on YouTube and on all major audio podcast platforms!

► Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/OnTheStacksPodcast

If you believe in our mission & want to support our show, subscribe to our Patreon account for FREE MERCH + EXCLUSIVE content on Patreon ONLY!

► Subscribe to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/OnTheStacksPodcast

THANK YOU for your SUPPORT!!

Check out some of the latest #OnTheStacks Podcast episodes here.
Subscribe & Listen to the #OnTheStacks Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Stitcher.

We Moved! Check the new #OnTheStacks HQ!
We Moved! Check the new #OnTheStacks HQ! 1000 1200 OnTheStacks

Move Day!

We MOVED! The #OnTheStacks Podcast is expanding, so we moved the blu door studio to a building we purchased in Kingston, Pennsylvania, that will serve as our new HQ, recoding studio, and office space.

Check out some of the behind the scenes from the day of the move. Our video editor and show producer, Eric Curtis AKA ETP, assisted during the move and new set up!

Read more about the expansion in this Times Leaders article: https://www.timesleader.com/news/1566840/a-new-home-for-onthestacks

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

#OnTheStacks is a Podcast & Digital Media company. Since 2019, we’ve aimed to inspire, educate, and entertain the NEPA region by sharing the stories and experiences of the most passionate entrepreneurs and community leaders.

The #OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr. is ranked in the top 2% of Podcasts Worldwide.

It is listened to in 34 Countries and on all 7 Continents! A new episode is released every Wednesday on YouTube and on all major audio podcast platforms!

► Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/OnTheStacksPodcast

If you believe in our mission & want to support our show, subscribe to our Patreon account for FREE MERCH + EXCLUSIVE content on Patreon ONLY!

► Subscribe to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/OnTheStacksPodcast

THANK YOU for your SUPPORT!!

Check out some of the latest #OnTheStacks Podcast episodes here.
Subscribe & Listen to the #OnTheStacks Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Stitcher.
Bill Corcoran Jr. - The Daily Creator

#OnTheStacks Podcast Host Bill Corcoran Jr. Featured on The Daily Creator Podcast
#OnTheStacks Podcast Host Bill Corcoran Jr. Featured on The Daily Creator Podcast 1284 1265 OnTheStacks

#OnTheStacks Host Bill Corcoran Jr. Featured on The Daily Creator Podcast

#OnTheStacks Podcast Host Bill Corcoran Jr. was recently featured as a guest on The Daily Creator Podcast with Eric Farber.

It’s hard to think of an original idea and even harder to sustained it over time.

“On The Stacks Podcast” is an example of a successful brand based on the Creator Economy.

The idea began as a goofy way of self-promotion in social media by its host Bill Corcoran Jr. But there’s so much more to this story.

Bill is part of a family business called Corcoran Printing in Pennsylvania. Its name might sound familiar thanks to the mention in a popular series known as “The Office”.

Bill became known in his hometown posting a series of photos of him on top of different types of paper stacks with funny captions. For a year people asked him to replicate this type of scene to post on their Instagram with similar marketing purposes as he once did.

Over time, the idea evolved into a podcast where people could tell stories and share their experiences without a filter, an organic conversation between passionate business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders in the region.

Listen to Eric Farber discuss how Bill’s idea became one of the 2% most listen globally podcast. Here’s how Bill Corcoran built “On The Stacks”.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/rw6ZAC9wNt0

You can also stream the audio only version on your favorite podcast platform.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

#OnTheStacks is a Podcast & Digital Media company. Since 2019, we’ve aimed to inspire, educate, and entertain the NEPA region by sharing the stories and experiences of the most passionate entrepreneurs and community leaders.

The #OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr. is ranked in the top 2% of Podcasts Worldwide.

It is listened to in 34 Countries and on 7 out of 7 Continents! A new episode is released every Wednesday on YouTube and on all major audio podcast platforms!

► Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/OnTheStacksPodcast

If you believe in our mission & want to support our show, subscribe to our Patreon account for FREE MERCH + EXCLUSIVE content on Patreon ONLY!

► Subscribe to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/OnTheStacksPodcast

THANK YOU for your SUPPORT!!

Check out some of the latest #OnTheStacks Podcast episodes here.
Subscribe & Listen to the #OnTheStacks Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Stitcher.
bill corcoran jr

#OnTheStacks Expansion/New Studio Location
#OnTheStacks Expansion/New Studio Location 2560 1920 OnTheStacks

#OnTheStacks Expansion/New Studio Location

We recently announced a major expansion for the #OnTheStacks Podcast with the purchase of a 735-square-foot corner property building at 474 Schuyler Ave., Kingston Pennsylvania.

The building will serve as the new headquarters and podcast studio for the #OnTheStacks Podcast.

We plan to be up and running in the new studio space by mid September.

bill corcoran jr

Read more about the expansion in this Times Leaders article: https://www.timesleader.com/news/1566840/a-new-home-for-onthestacks

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

#OnTheStacks is a Podcast & Digital Media company. Since 2019, we’ve aimed to inspire, educate, and entertain the NEPA region by sharing the stories and experiences of the most passionate entrepreneurs and community leaders.

The #OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr. is ranked in the top 2% of Podcasts Worldwide.

It is listened to in 34 Countries and on 7 out of 7 Continents! A new episode is released every Wednesday on YouTube and on all major audio podcast platforms!

► Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/OnTheStacksPodcast

If you believe in our mission & want to support our show, subscribe to our Patreon account for FREE MERCH + EXCLUSIVE content on Patreon ONLY!

► Subscribe to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/OnTheStacksPodcast

THANK YOU for your SUPPORT!!

Check out some of the latest #OnTheStacks Podcast episodes here.
Subscribe & Listen to the #OnTheStacks Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Stitcher.
#OnTheStacks x Times Leader Media Group Cover Photo

#OnTheStacks Podcast Partners with Times Leader Media Group
#OnTheStacks Podcast Partners with Times Leader Media Group 800 600 OnTheStacks

#OnTheStacks Podcast Partners with Times Leader Media Group

We recently partnered with the Times Leader Media Group on a major distribution/streaming deal.

The Times Leader will be hosting the #OnTheStacks Podcast on a dedicated page on their website at timesleader.com/onthestacks.

You can still watch full video episodes of the #OnTheStacks Podcast on YouTube and the audio only version of the show can still be streamed on all major podcast platforms.

This partnership is an additional streaming platform for the #OnTheStacks Podcast.

To read the full story about the partnership and how #OnTheStacks go started over 3 years ago, follow this link: https://www.timesleader.com/news/1562807/onthestacks-is-now-on-timesleader-com

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#OnTheStacks is a Podcast & Digital Media company. Since 2019, we’ve aimed to inspire, educate, and entertain the NEPA region by sharing the stories and experiences of the most passionate entrepreneurs and community leaders.

The #OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr. is ranked in the top 2% of Podcasts Worldwide.

It is listened to in 34 Countries and on 7 out of 7 Continents! A new episode is released every Wednesday on YouTube and on all major audio podcast platforms!

► Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/OnTheStacksPodcast

If you believe in our mission & want to support our show, subscribe to our Patreon account for FREE MERCH + EXCLUSIVE content on Patreon ONLY!

► Subscribe to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/OnTheStacksPodcast

THANK YOU for your SUPPORT!!

Check out some of the latest #OnTheStacks Podcast episodes here.
Subscribe & Listen to the #OnTheStacks Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Stitcher.
Dominic DeLuca

Penn State Linebacker Teams Up with the #OnTheStacks Podcast as First Official Sponsored Athlete
Penn State Linebacker Teams Up with the #OnTheStacks Podcast as First Official Sponsored Athlete 800 600 OnTheStacks

Penn State Linebacker Teams Up with the #OnTheStacks Podcast as First Official Sponsored Athlete

WE ARE….proud to announce that we’ve teamed up with Penn State Linebacker and NEPA Native, Dominic DeLuca as our first Official Sponsored Athlete.

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#OnTheStacks is a Podcast & Digital Media company. Since 2019, we’ve aimed to inspire, educate, and entertain the NEPA region by sharing the stories and experiences of the most passionate entrepreneurs and community leaders.

The #OnTheStacks Podcast with Bill Corcoran Jr. is ranked in the top 2% of Podcasts Worldwide.

It is listened to in 34 Countries and on 7 out of 7 Continents! A new episode is released every Wednesday on YouTube and on all major audio podcast platforms!

► Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/OnTheStacksPodcast

If you believe in our mission & want to support our show, subscribe to our Patreon account for FREE MERCH + EXCLUSIVE content on Patreon ONLY!

► Subscribe to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/OnTheStacksPodcast

THANK YOU for your SUPPORT!!

Check out some of the latest #OnTheStacks Podcast episodes here.
Subscribe & Listen to the #OnTheStacks Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Stitcher.
570 day

2nd Annual #570Day Highlights NEPA on May 7
2nd Annual #570Day Highlights NEPA on May 7 800 600 OnTheStacks

2nd Annual #570Day Highlights NEPA on May 7

570 DayFrom Press Release:

Northeast Pennsylvania packs a whole lot into one corner of the state. Last year’s inaugural #570Day was proof as residents, businesses and organizations spent the day flooding social media with photos and videos of some of the best people and places in the region.

#570Day is back again this year! On Saturday, May 7, 2022, event organi