What's Your "And"?

Bill Casey, the Deputy CEO at MGO, talks about his passion for music and car restoration. He shares memories of learning the guitar in high school and playing in various bands, emphasizing the importance of practice to stay proficient. Bill discusses his experience performing live many times in Chicago, highlighting the need for preparedness and teamwork in both music and work environments. He also talks about the significance of having hobbies for relaxation and creativity, seeing them as therapeutic ways to balance life's stresses. Further, Bill underscores the value of understanding colleagues' personal interests to build better communication and relationships in the workplace. Throughout the episode, he notes the importance of recognizing employees’ broader capabilities beyond their job roles.

Episode Highlights

· Engaging in personal hobbies like music and car restoration can foster relaxation, creativity, and better team dynamics. · Regular practice is essential for maintaining proficiency in any skill, whether it's playing guitar or delivering work presentations. · Providing and receiving constructive feedback in a positive manner is key to improving performance, be it in a band or at work. · Recognizing employees as more than their job roles and valuing their broader capabilities can enhance workplace culture and decision-making.

Malony Bartush, Director of HR Communications at Pentex Energy, delves into her passion for running and its impact on her professional life. She shares an inspiring anecdote about her running group’s extraordinary camaraderie, including a heartfelt story of members running extra miles for others who can't run that day.

Malony discusses how this supportive mindset permeates her HR role, helping foster a motivated workplace culture. She highlights her popular "Mile-A-Day Challenge," an initiative that has extended to over 200 participants, promoting perseverance and mental strength.

Additionally, Malony emphasizes the importance of authenticity and personal interests in enhancing both individual job satisfaction and organizational culture. Join us to hear Malony’s insights on balancing professional dedication with an enriching personal life.

Episode Highlights

· Her running group offers a strong sense of community and support, with members encouraging each other to achieve personal goals.

· The perseverance and drive from running translate into Malony's HR role, aiding her during challenging times.

· At Pentex Energy, a culture of support and encouragement for sharing personal interests leads to better productivity and job satisfaction.

· This personal Mile-A-Day Challenge has grown to over 200 participants, highlighting the mental and physical benefits of consistent effort.

· Embracing one's true self and hobbies leads to better workplace connections and overall satisfaction.

In this episode of "What's Your 'And'?," John Garrett welcomes Rick Goodmay, the Director of Client Relations at ICM Colorado. Rick shares how his passion for smoking meat and cheese serves as his creative outlet and how it fosters community both in his personal life and at work. Inspired by a coworker, he got into the art of smoking to enjoy and share larger quantities of delicious food. Rick emphasizes the importance of understanding the interests of coworkers and clients to build stronger relationships. He recounts heartwarming stories from his Italian upbringing that highlight the significance of food in bringing people together. Rick continues to spread joy and connection through his culinary talents, even making a point to smoke food with others at the office.

Episode Highlights

• Utilizing hobbies to build relationships: Rick emphasized how his interest in smoking meats and cheeses helped him connect with coworkers and clients, fostering a sense of community.
• Keeping traditions alive: Rick highlighted the importance of continuing family traditions, such as cooking and sharing meals, which play a significant role in his life and personal identity.
• Cold smoking: Rick shared his technique of cold smoking, a method for smoking cheeses without melting them, adding a unique skill set to his hobby.
• Workplace culture: Rick spoke about the supportive and family-like culture at his workplace, stressing the importance of genuine care and check-ins among colleagues for a safer, more cohesive environment.
• Importance of sharing your passions: Rick encouraged listeners to share their passions with others, noting that even if some people aren't interested, there will always be others who are, and these shared interests can build meaningful connections.

Adam Shay, a former accounting firm owner now coaching business founders through his company Share the Knowledge, joins the show to discuss his passion for mountain activities. Adam shares his journey of discovering a love for the mountains during his college years in Virginia, which blossomed into regular trips for hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding. He enjoys visiting places like the mountains of North Carolina, Virginia, and often makes trips out west to locations such as Colorado and Montana. Adam emphasizes how these outdoor experiences help him relax, find peace, and even spark creative ideas due to a clear mind away from work. As he transitioned to sharing more personal aspects of his life, the conversations with clients and team members became more meaningful, strengthening business relationships. Through these experiences, Adam underscores the importance of integrating personal interests into professional life for both personal fulfillment and to foster deeper connections in business.

Episode Highlights

· Adam enjoys mountain time, describing his trips to North Carolina, Virginia, and the western United States, finding peace and clarity away from work. · Sharing personal interests and passions helps deepen business relationships, moving them from transactional to more personal connections. · Adam posts about his personal interests on LinkedIn to build connections that bridge the gap between personal and professional life. · He believes in the importance of showing interest in people as individuals, beyond their professional roles, to develop deeper relationships. · Adam emphasizes the value of having passions outside of work, encouraging self-reflection and finding interests that bring joy, as these can contribute positively to one's personal and professional life.

Eric Kamont, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Industrial Metaverse at Microsoft, discusses the transformative power of integrating personal passions into professional environments. Eric shares how using personal interests as icebreakers has strengthened his connections in both work and while running youth programs. He reflects on losing 115 pounds, achieving a black belt in martial arts, and completing 85 Spartan Races, illustrating his mental fortitude and perseverance. Eric highlights the importance of understanding colleagues on a deeper level and fostering diverse, passion-driven teams. He also digs into the positive impact of a supportive work culture that encourages employees to live their fullest lives. Additionally, Eric emphasizes the value of being change agents within organizations and connecting with others over shared outside-of-work interests.

Episode Highlights

· Sharing personal passions can serve as effective icebreakers in both work and social settings, facilitating deeper connections and networking.

· Embracing and sharing personal interests can positively influence work culture and relationships, creating lasting connections and a supportive environment.

· The mental strength developed through personal challenges, such as Spartan racing, can translate into tackling difficult projects and achieving professional success.

· Having a diverse team with varied strengths, such as mental endurance and creativity, is crucial for excelling in the workplace.

· Organizations should create a supportive environment that encourages employees to share and pursue their passions, leading to better well-being, productivity, and profitability.