This is My Silver Lining - How Can I Help? Serial Connector Susan McPherson on Nurturing Our Relationships to Create a Constellation of Connections

How Can I Help? Serial Connector Susan McPherson on Nurturing Our Relationships to Create a Constellation of Connections

10/30/22 • 46 min

After the tragic loss of her mother in a fire set by an arsonist in 1986 at the Dupont Plaza Hotel in Puerto Rico, Susan McPherson committed herself to applying the lessons she learned from her parents about the importance of meaningfully connecting with others by offering to help. In this episode, we speak with Susan about overcoming our fears of networking through the “Gather, Ask, Do” method, which she describes in her book, The Lost Art of Connecting, and which was named a Best Business Book of 2021 by Soundview Magazine.

Susan begins from the premise that we are always learning and that meaningfully connecting with others is far more rewarding if we start by asking, “how can I help?” rather than “what can you do for me?” From Susan’s perspective, a simple change in mindset can move us out of the “what’s in it for me?” type of transactional networking, to one of meaningful engagement. Not only does this develop deeper relationships, but it drives business results, breeds innovation and creativity, and most importantly, serves as an engine for greater happiness and longevity.

Episode Links and Resources:
The Lost Art of Connecting
Susan McPherson
McPherson Strategies
Dupont Hotel Fire - Article

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Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.
Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.

Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing.

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.

Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.

Episode Links and Resources:
The Lost Art of Connecting
Susan McPherson
McPherson Strategies
Dupont Hotel Fire - Article

Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.
Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.

Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing.

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.

Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.

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undefined - I’m the Lucky One: Award-Winning Teacher, Jessica Baldizon, on Helping Her Students Recognize The Superpower of Speaking More than One Language

I’m the Lucky One: Award-Winning Teacher, Jessica Baldizon, on Helping Her Students Recognize The Superpower of Speaking More than One Language

Jessica Baldizon understands the superpower of speaking more than one language. She teaches English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at Cesar Batalla Elementary School in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the second-largest preK thru 8 school in Connecticut. Her students include many immigrants and refugees from around the world.

Like many of her students' parents, Jessica’s mother, father, and her maternal grandparents came to the U.S. as refugees; her family fled the war in Nicaragua in 1984. Jessica has first-hand experience as a cultural and language broker in her own family. Her background and experiences growing up have allowed Jessica to help her students hone this amazing asset as they help their family navigate new spaces.

Many of Jessica’s students come into school with worries and stresses that have to be addressed before teaching and learning can happen. Before all else, she focuses on helping her students feel a sense of security and belonging.

Jessica challenges the resource constraints of the status quo by leveraging technology and calling on community to ensure that her students have plenty of books to share with one another, uniform shirts that fit, and the pencils, pens and paint sets they need to create with and learn. Check out her Donors Choose page HERE (and link below) to see some of her current and past requests.

As we discuss, she is rarely idle - in addition to her daily teaching, Jessica leads both an active after-school program called HOPE club, as well as a summer writing camp, called Ubuntu Academy, through the Connecticut Writing Project with her fiancé, also a teacher in the Bridgeport school system.

It was no surprise to us to learn that Jessica received the 2022 Bridgeport Public Education Fund Inspiration Award for Outstanding Teaching earlier this year. Every day she is a difference-maker, preparing her students to create the world they want to live in.

Episode Links and Resources:
Jessica’s DonorsChoose Page
Connecticut Writer’s Program- Ubuntu Academy
“Where Language is No Barrier,” Sacred Heart University Magazine Feature About Jessica Baldizon
2022 Inspiration Award for Outstanding Teaching

Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.
Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.

Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing.

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.

Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.

Next Episode

Enjoy the Journey: Nicole Johnson on Why Adopting a Baby with Down’s Syndrome Was the Best Decision She and Her Family Have Ever Made

After suffering multiple miscarriages, and delivering two healthy baby boys, Nicole and her husband knew that their family was not yet complete. When they decided to open their hearts and their home to the possibility of adopting a third child, they did not realize that deciding to adopt was only the beginning of the journey.

Nicole, Joe, and their two young children waited with excited anticipation for that phone call notifying them that a baby was available for adoption. That call finally came 15 months later, when they were told that a baby with Down’s Syndrome was available for adoption.

Nicole and her husband searched their souls and knew that this was the baby they had been waiting for. Listen to Nicole’s journey of learning and loving and the challenges and rewards of raising their beautiful daughter, Mary Rose.

Episode Links:
Check out Nicole’s Blog: http://www.nicolejenniferjohnson.com/

Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing!
Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.
Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.
© 2022 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing.

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.

Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.