The PLAYdates Archive

One Year Anniversary!

Reconnect and Dream What’s Next

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 01/20/22, 5:30p-6:30p (CDT)

Our first PLAYdate happened on 01/07/21. Now, one year, and (what will be) 29 successful PLAYdates later, what do we want for our community?

Whether you only joined a few times or were here since the beginning. Here is a chance to reconnect and discuss what the future of PLAYdaes look like.

Aside from the fun and reminiscing, we’ll post this question:

What role can this community play in supporting people to freely become their Full Selves amid our current reality?

The Colour of Culture

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 12/16, 5:30p-6:30p (CDT)

Have you noticed the word "Culture" comes up a lot in our day-to-day conversations? Following Peter Drucker's quote, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

Culture has gained a lot of spotlight and has found its way on the list of modern buzzwords. Buzzwords are great so long we don't lose their core essence. Let's take a mindful moment and de-buzz Culture and see what we find out.

Let’s take a moment to stop and de-buzz and explore the word Culture.

What do you think is the colour of Culture?

Our Speaker

Brad Kewalramani has spent 10+ years in Talent & Culture, starting his career in staffing for experiential marketing campaigns for technology companies, from there moving into recruiting for roles across multiple talent verticals in the real estate and construction industry and then accounting and finance with Robert Half.

In his last role with Office Coffee Solutions serving as Director, Strategic Partnerships, he devoted himself to assisting companies with their efforts in creating engaging work environments to support their culture goals. He is now on a mission to assist organizations in nurturing culture mindful workplaces to enable performance and mental well-being.

Follow us at Culture Mindful on Instagram.

The Leadership of YOU!

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 12/02, 5:30p-6:30p (CDT)

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." Very few actually take on this work for themselves. 

We often focus on what we want to accomplish and rarely ponder who we intend to BE. We go about our days living out the stories and patterns we adopted in our youth with little to no consideration of evolving our being.

 What if we created a road map for not just what we want to accomplish but who we want to BE in the world?

In this session, we'll look at the makeup of our BEing as we go about our lives and work. Andy will help you finally make a declaration of who you intend to BE in the world. 

Our Speaker

Andy Hite Coaching, LLC, one of the top Coaching firms in Chicago, according to Expertise.com, is a boutique life and executive leadership coaching practice on a mission to help motivated individuals and organizations tap their infinite, innate potential to create whatever they dream up. In essence, I help powerful people remember how powerful they are by challenging their thinking and evoking their inner wisdom.

Employee Engagement…We’ve Forgotten the Main Ingredient

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 11/18, 5:30p-6:30p (CDT)

Organizations and leaders invest a significant amount of time and resources trying to “engage” employees. It seems that all of those efforts are fruitless. What if we challenge the way we think about engagement… who ultimately owns it, how we assess it, and how it’s cultivated? During our time together we will explore unorthodox ways to foster and maintain an environment where people are inspired to come to work every day and contribute the best of themselves.

Breakout question: In the employer/employee relationship, who ultimately owns employee engagement?

Our Speaker

Laticia (Tish) Thompson is the Founder and Chief Legacy Partner of Legacy Blueprint, LLC. A management consulting firm that teaches people how to play in the sandbox respectfully and productively with each other. She is known for driving change in organizations that stick and creating a learning experience that’s fun, thought-provoking, and capitalizes on the knowledge in the room. Tish is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Business Psychology and her dissertation topic is “Fostering High Levels of Employee Engagement in Healthcare Settings In VUCA Environments.”

Beyond the Nonexistent Box

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 11/04, 5:30p-6:30p (CDT)

We often hear about “thinking outside of the box”. The thing is...there is no box. What we call our boxes are really just our limiting thoughts, beliefs, and biases about the world and/or our circumstances. In this conversation, let’s explore how to think beyond this in order to create a life that we currently can’t even imagine. 

Breakout question: Tell us about a moment where you thought outside of the box. How did the change in your perspective impact your outcome?

Our Speaker

Tou Ger Lee is a personal transformation coach. He supports highly ambitious individuals and organizations to become EVEN better versions of themselves in order to accomplish their unmet goals. Having trained through one of the finest coaches training programs in the world, Tou Ger’s approach is one that provides both profound insight and practical action steps, because insight + action = transformation.

Energy Leadership

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 10/21, 5:30p-6:30p (CDT)

Energy Leadership is the most effective style of leadership unique to you, and one that positively influences both yourself and those with whom you interact.

You are a leader in every area of your life, whether you are a parent, student, teacher, manager, or entrepreneur. How skillfully you lead depends on how well you identify and shift your own energies to better serve your professional and personal relationships.

These energy levels represent the filters from your own experiences, values, and assumptions, through which you see the world. Each level impacts how you show up in different situations.

Some of these filters can be limiting and others can expand what we see. Increasing the level of consciousness at which you’re operating is the key to unlocking your leadership potential.

Which energetic level do you find yourself resonating the most in your professional life and in your personal life?

Our Speaker

Vicki Roan is an executive and leadership coach based in NYC. She has previously also built and led high-performing teams of people at fast-growing technology companies globally. Her experience as a coach provides her with the tools necessary to coach and train leaders and help them reach their true potential. The concepts she will discuss contain her interpretation of and are based on the copyrighted work of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), where she received her training.

Money Messages

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 10/07, 5:30p-6:30p (CDT)

“We don’t talk about money.” “Never spend your principal.” “A penny saved is a penny earned.” “Family finances are a man’s job.” These are just some of the messages that you may have heard as a child.

Messages about money, whether they came to us directly or indirectly, inform our attitudes and behaviors about money. They inform our relationship with money and play a role in our financial decision for good or bad.

Understanding and recognizing when they come into play can enable us to make stronger more intentional financial decisions in our lives. We will discuss some of the more common messages, where they came from and how they play into our decisions.

What is one money message you can identify and when did that first show up in your life? How did that message play into some of your financial decisions?

Our Speaker

Kristine Wexler grew up in the Midwest to hard-working parents.  Early on, they taught her the value of a dollar and that savings provided a level of security and freedom.  Today, as a wealth advisor, her goal is to provide the same values to her clients.

Want to thank Kristine for speaking? She says: “Spend some time thinking about your money messages, where they came from, how they show up for you, and where they may hold you back from making the right financial decision. If you are struggling with this exercise, give me a call.”

The Three Cs of Self-Improvement:

Clarity, Continuity, and Co-Humanity

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 9/23, 5:30p-6:30p (CDT)

It’s called “Self-Help,” so why doesn’t it?

We’re going to talk about three questions you should ask of any podcast, blog, guru, online class, weekend retreat, or any other advice you’re trusting with your mental real estate:

1. Could I explain this to a 3rd grader?

2. Does it jive with what I believe?

3. Will this help others, too?

To shed light on these questions, Matt will share the fundamental principles of the PLAY Polarities’ approach to improving oneself and others: Clarity, Continuity, and Co-Humanity.

Our Speaker

Matt Elwell is the Founder and CEO of PLAY Polarities™️. Matt has been working at the intersection of Learning & Development and Improv Comedy for 20 years. In the era of COVID, Matt attempted to synthesis everything he had learned from those disciplines and developed the PLAY Polarities™️ Model For Co-Human Excellence, which underlies all our work.

Want to learn more about our one simple framework for all self-improvement? Check out our upcoming class!

Managing During “The Great Resignation”

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 09/09, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

Employees are leaving at record speeds to find better opportunities. Are employers ready? Join Gaadeh Abouarabi in exploring the causes behind the Great Resignation and learning how to manage its effects to create a stronger workforce in the long run.

Is your organization safe during the Great Resignation? What's your approach to keeping your team fulfilled in their jobs?

Our Speaker:

Gaadeh Abouarabi is a Human Resources Professional. She is a University of Michigan-Dearborn graduate with a Human Resource Management and Information Systems Management dual degree. She has many campus involvements including being the President for the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). Gaadeh strives to make a positive impact in human resources. She enjoys connecting with other individuals in the HR community.

Cultivating Fulfillment

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 8/19, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

Cultivate career fulfillment in your current role. Learn to level up by looking within. Uncover a deeper meaning behind your everyday tasks with practical tools, and understand how to appreciate what’s right in front of you.

What’s one thing you can do today to make your current work more fulfilling?

Our Speaker:

Diana Patel is a leadership coach, speaker, and strategic development partner at Continuing Education Productions, an employee training company with the mission to create cohesive high-performance organizations.

Want to thank Diana for speaking? Share Diana's latest LinkedIn post!

Valuing your Personal Story

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 8/5, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

There are various reasons to share your personal story – interviews, presentations, mentoring. But the prospect of what to share and knowing how to do it is daunting. But one of the biggest obstacles is valuing your own story and knowing it can serve as a guiding light for others

What do you need to feel more comfortable in sharing the personal stories that others may learn from?

Our Speaker:

Hadiya Nuriddin has two decades of experience in learning strategy, instructional design, eLearning development, and facilitation. She worked in corporate learning before founding Duets Learning. She speaks at events and industry conferences and travels teaching courses for the Association for Talent Development (ATD). Hadiya holds an MEd in curriculum studies, an MA in writing, and the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) designation. She is the author of the book StoryTraining: Selecting and Shaping Stories That Connect.

The Habit of Starting: Reviving and Building a Business

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 7/22, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

Tackle the insurmountable and challenge your brain to visit (or revisit) even your most daunting goals. In this PLAYdate, Courtney will share lessons and actionable tips from her experience transforming an improv entertainment and team building company struggling to find its footing, into one of the leading improv companies in Boston. Courtney recently shared some of her experiences as an AAPI entrepreneur in this recent article for Inc. Magazine.

What is a small action in your everyday life you can leverage to practice the habit of starting?

Our Speaker:

Courtney Pong is a longtime improviser and coach who started in the Bay Area with CSz Worldwide. She now owns and runs the CSz Boston location, as well as their brick and mortar location The Rozzie Square Theater. Today she still performs ComedySportz while growing her practice of corporate training using applied improv.

Leading with Impact and Inclusion

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 7/8, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

Social justice is on the minds of many after a year of viral exposure to deeply rooted, long-lasting racial violence, divide, and trauma. Individuals and organizations alike are thinking about their roles in leading positive change. Regardless of where you sit in an organization, what job title you hold in your company, or how much power you hold, you can make a difference in leading with impact and inclusion. Join us to find out how!

What can you start doing to lead with impact and inclusion?

Our Speaker:

By day, Lotus Buckner is a tech-savvy Human Resources and Talent Executive and by night, she is the founder and CEO of LB Talent Solutions where she offers customized career coaching services and speaking engagements. She is also the host of #RealPeople #RealTalk, a virtual roundtable series on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as a 2020 Notable HR Leader, Lotus has spoken to local, national, and international audiences on leadership, DEI, recruitment and talent acquisition, employee experience, and organizational development.

Want to thank Lotus for speaking? Follow Lotus on LinkedIn to keep up with and register for events she’ll be speaking at in the future.

Pronouncing the “B” in LGBTQIA+: Bisexual Inclusion at Work

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 6/24, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

June is Pride Month which promotes LGBTQIA+ acceptance, representation, and inclusion. But how often do you hear about the “B,” for bisexuals? For this PLAYdate, Matt and Sarah will share their experience of being bisexual at work and the larger issue of “invisible differences.” How do you create inclusion when you “can’t tell” if someone is different? Matt and Sarah will also try to honor adjacent orientations like pansexuality, polysexuality, and omnisexuality. Please join us!

What’s an “invisible difference” you have (or friends / loved ones have) that could use more sensitivity at work?

Our Speaker:

Sarah Murphy is a bisexual icon from Chicago, IL. Sarah works in financial tech customer support but is currently applying to Masters of Counseling programs around the city. These days you can find her streaming on Twitch (@that6foot1girl) or hanging out with her cat, Ruth.

Matt Elwell is the founder of PLAYpolarities.com and PLAYdates and doesn’t usually put the word “bisexual” in his bio. He uses Applied Improvisation to help teach the PLAY Polarities™️ Model for Co-Human Excellence, a unified, holistic approach to improving yourself, your team, and your world.

Want to thank Sarah and Matt for presenting?
Reflect on how you socialize with work friends. Do you usually assume someone with a partner of a different gender is straight? Or that someone with a partner of the same gender is gay or lesbian? How can you create space for invisible differences?

Harmony: A Choral Singer’s Perspective on Collaboration

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 6/10, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

Harmony. It's what turns a contribution into a collaboration, a monologue into a movement, and a solo into a symphony.  The invitation is to recognize the harmonies at PLAY in your world... and to celebrate the individual voices that ornament the journey.

What is one example of a time when two or more voices came together, in any capacity, and genuinely moved you?

Our Speaker:

Erich Kurschat is a choral singer with Chicago Chorale and the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, a credited actor on IMDB, an occasional backup singer for Josh Groban, and a 2-time Chicago marathoner. He also builds HR community, helps individuals and organizations leverage the DiSC personality assessment, and believes in the power of meaningful connection to shape lives and transform careers.

Want to thank Erich for speaking? Erich says: “Pay it forward. Create harmony. Contribute your voice and invite the voices of others.”

Navigating Fear

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 5/27, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

What does FEAR mean to you? According to Merriam-Webster, fear is an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. The interesting thing about FEAR is the emotion is very real to YOU and YOU are the only one that can overcome the fear that you are experiencing. You have options on how to proceed: understand it, acknowledge it, validate it, and make a decision about it.

How are you navigating fear?

Our Speaker:

Kashaun Parker: I've dedicated my professional career to leading and serving others. After spending nearly 20 years of working to help others discover their unique talents and passions in life I decided it was time to practice my own message. I took the career jump that I encouraged so many others to take and in October of 2020, I decided to pursue my passion for helping and coaching others and launched Next Step Forward Coaching and Consulting where I help clients uncover their unique potential and go after their true passions.

Want to thank Kashaun for speaking? Connect with Kashaun on LinkedIn!

Creating a Better Version of Yourself: The Daily Actions that Create Huge Results

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 5/13, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

Have you ever had a goal, and you started and quit before you accomplished what you set off to accomplish? Have you tried many times to create habits that better serve you and failed? Have you heard the myth that it takes 21 days to create a habit? What if I told you that I found the answer to accomplishing your goals, and it’s a lot easier than you think? I’m going to share my story of how I went from NOT being a reader to reading 500 books in 8 years!

What habit would you want to add into your life that would positively impact your life for the better over the next 10 years?

Our Speaker:

Jeff Lord loves the personal growth and development industry and was very fortunate to have had many amazing mentors and coaches in his life that have shaped him into the person he is today. He is a father of 4 amazing children and will be married to his beautiful wife for 12 years this August. Jeff has been in relationship sales for over 20 years, he is a Senior Account Executive with Triantan CCC where he helps businesses with their technology, he is a coach and an aspiring author & podcaster, he is the Co-Founder of the Shared Connections Networking Group where he connects great people from all around the world with a focus on building relationships.

Want to thank Jeff for speaking? Connect with me on LinkedIn, and share with me what habits you would like to add into your life that will positively impact your life.

Body Language and How it Impacts Leadership Presence

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 4/29, 5:30p-6:30p (CDT)

According to Dr. Mehrabian, a UCLA psychology professor, up to 93 percent of communication is non-verbal! Yet, we tend to focus on the 7 percent of communication- the actual content and words of a message. By becoming more self aware of our own nonverbal cues that we send off to others, we can become much more successful and confident in our everyday social interactions.

What are some actionable steps you can take to improve and work on your body language going forward? What are you hoping to achieve by implementing these new tactics?

Our Speaker:

Sarah Hevrdejs is a Training & Development professional and certified Body Language Trainer. She has her Masters in Human Resources from DePaul University, and interned as a Social Psychology Research Assistant for 3 years at University of Wisconsin Madison in the Communication & Psychology departments. During her time at Madison, she assisted with experiments focusing on smiles, facial expressions, and elements of persuasion. She believes that by learning and understanding the importance of body language, you can become a more confident and persuasive individual in life.

Want to thank Sarah for speaking? Connect with her on LinkedIn.

From Team Building to Team Development

REGISTER HERE: TUESDAY, 4/20, 12:00p-1:00p (CDT)

Done right, team building can transform how a team functions. Team members get permission to redefine, improve, and deepen their relationships during these engaging, highly interactive events.

So why do people hate them?

After delivering improv-based team building events since 2003, our speaker now focuses on what happens after their team building event. How do they integrate the new appreciation and behaviors into their day-to-day work?

In this session, Matt will explain Team Development as a “booster rocket” for team building: a structured mix of soft-skills training, small group coaching, manager mentoring, and change management. We’ll discuss:

What do you wish was different about the team building events your organization does? What can you do about it?

Our Speaker

Matt Elwell is the Founder and CEO of PLAY Polarities™️. Matt has been working at the intersection of Learning & Development and Improv Comedy for 20 years. In the era of COVID, Matt attempted to synthesis everything he had learned from those disciplines and developed the PLAY Polarities™️ Model For Co-Human Excellence, which underlies all our work.

Want to thank Matt for speaking? Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Celebrating Tiny Wins for Big Changes

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 4/15, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

We’ve all been told that good habits are the key to lasting success and change, but you may wonder if there’s a key to good habits? There is, and, surprisingly enough, it’s celebrating your tiny wins.

In this PLAYdate, we’ll examine why celebrating your tiny successes matters so much and how we can actually use this method as a form of self-care. And then we’ll come up with some practical ways you too can benefit from this research, no matter what you’re doing.

What do you think keeps you from celebrating your tiny wins?

Our Speaker:

Garrett Spatz is an instructor at College of DuPage who has taught courses on music and culture since 2014. He received his Masters in ethnomusicology from Bowling Green State University with a focus on American popular music, identity, and social movements. He is strongly interested in the science and theory of how people learn and develop and the principles of instructional design for higher education and corporate settings. Additionally, he is an avid cook, writer, and tai chi practitioner.

Socrates' Backpack: How to Spark Interest in Your Business with Everyone You Meet

REGISTER HERE: TUESDAY, 4/6, 12:00p-1:00p (CST)

What if you could magnetize your business and get people to say, "Tell me more about what you do" on a regular basis? You can. It's relatively easy if you borrow a page from Socrates who was the master of conversational dynamics. Throw in a little modern-day science and you've got the recipe for standing out from the competition and becoming irresistible to your clients and prospects.

Our Speaker

In 2004 our speaker Steve Hughes accepted a dare to do 5 minutes of stand-up comedy. That decision to say “yes” set him on an unexpected journey to a career in professional speaking and improv comedy. Steve has delivered over 1,000 paid presentations to Fortune 500 companies, national associations, leading universities, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Businessweek, and on NPR. He lives in St. Louis, MO with his wife and their two well-behaved daughters. 

Want to thank Steve for speaking? Get your free copy of Steve’s report: "Psyching Yourself Up for Your Big Moment" and join thousands of your peers who benefit from his monthly e-tips.

Changing the Way You Listen to Your Mind

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 4/1, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

Have you ever noticed that your mind never stops talking to you? It tells you all the things you need to get done when you are in the shower. It screams all the tasks you didn’t get done in the day when you are about to go to bed. It even whispers things you are supposed to worry about when you are talking to a friend. That’s right, it’s always saying something. Are you interested in finding ways to stop the chatter? We’ll unpack ways to change the way you listen to your mind and emotions.

Our Speaker

Zuica Donev is a licensed counselor, coach, and workshop facilitator. She helps individuals and teams quickly personalize their learning, understand and work better together. She designs development programs that embed skills for self-coaching, and self-awareness so participants can apply these to future challenges, opportunities, and career growth.

Leadership: A Hero’s Journey

REGISTER HERE: TUESDAY, 3/23, 12:00p-1:00p (CST)

On this adventure called life, you’re the heroine of your own story. Join Megan Robinson as she takes you through the classic “Hero's Journey” and applies it to her leadership story. Prepare yourself for the steps, challenges and opportunities that lie ahead because it’s not a matter if, but when you will need to become a leader.

What is/was your "call to adventure"? What calls did you not answer? What thresholds have you crossed in your professional career?

Our Speaker

Forging her way through the business jungle, Megan Robinson’s path is a unique combination of experience in Fortune 500 companies, advertising agencies, and entrepreneurial endeavors. With first-hand experience navigating the leadership challenge, Megan gives back to her team, community, and the business world at large through sharing and building self-leadership skills.

Finding Your Networking Niche: Is That Even a Thing? One Introvert's Quest to Find Out

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 3/18, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

If you would have told me four years ago that I would now be advising and speaking about networking, I would have replied with, "HA!"  Today, I'm excited to share my story with some topics for thought and discussion, including connecting others through "intros that stick" and giving AND getting authentically as a networker. 

How do YOU receive help/compliments? How can thinking intentionally about being receptive help you improve your networking skills and strategy?

Our Speaker

Kristi Harreld has spent most of her life learning, studying, and teaching others how to learn.  She counts former squirrelly elementary students, world-renowned orthopedic surgeons (some who are also a bit squirrelly), and a UFC fighter (who was in no way squirrelly) among the many she has helped learn and love to learn.  Kristi enjoys cultivating relationships and processes that support greater connection and understanding between people, ideas, and new ways of being.

Want to thank Kristi for speaking? Intentionally consider how you might engage in the “economy of generosity.” (More at the PLAYdate!)

Spice-up Your Webinars with Gaminar.net

REGISTER HERE: TUESDAY, 3/9, 12:00p-1:00p (CST)

SPECIAL EVENT: Somehow the shift from face-to-face sessions to webinars has left most of us empty-handed with tools to engage our audience. We believe it's imperative to react quickly and get equipped to this new world of instructor-led learning journeys that will definitely use webinars as the primary communication platform.

How can we facilitators that know and master the power of experiential learning still be relevant in the webinar world?

Our Speaker

Fernando Mendes was born in Portugal 44 years ago. Studied Business and traveled and lived in different countries. He is now living in Dubai and is the CEO of gaminar.net. 

Started working for Tracy International in 1999 as a Facilitator and got hooked into the incredible world of experiential-based learning. if in February 2020 anyone would ask him to run a zoom session his answer would probably be "Zoom what???". In July 2020, after one-too-many disaster attempts of deploying games and learning activities in webinars, he decided to create a proper toolbox that would make the facilitator's life much easier, and that's, in a nutshell, how gaminar.net started.

He has 2 kids, one wife, and no pets. Loves football (actually soccer), traveling, wine, conversations, and everything still to be unveiled.

Want to thank Fernando for speaking? Sign-up at http://gaminar.net/ and use Promo Code: GAM25 to get 25 free credits (25 usd worth).

Authenticity in “3G”

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 3/4, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

Have you ever been “too smart for your own good?” Success may come to the creative and persuasive, but those same people can accidentally persuade themselves into bad behavior. How many strong companies have been wrecked by smart people saying, “we just need to cut corners this one time?”

In this PLAYdate, Matt will share insights based on his article, Authenticity: Getting Practical and Tactical with “3G.” How do we confront our ability to rationalize and ensure we are being our best selves? We listen to our “Gods, Guts, and Guides.”

Our Speaker

Matt Elwell is the Founder and CEO of PLAY Polarities™️. Matt has been working at the intersection of Learning & Development and Improv Comedy for 20 years. In the era of COVID, Matt attempted to synthesis everything he had learned from those disciplines and developed the PLAY Polarities™️ Model For Co-Human Excellence, which underlies all our work.

Want to thank Matt for speaking? Like, leave a comment, and share his LinkedIn article with your own network!

Earning Attention

REGISTER HERE: TUESDAY, 2/23, 12:00p-1:00p (CST) (Special Noon Hour!)

Can we as individuals and business owners earn our audiences limited attention? A common misconception is that our ability to pay attention to things is shrinking but we forget how much is vying for it. We’ll talk about what attention actually is and how we can earn it by providing value.

Who is someone you follow who has earned your attention? What can you learn from them?

Our Speaker:

Frank Konrath is a transmedia producer, filmmaker, and storyteller.  Alongside his brother, he creates story worlds for Streaming Series and brands; growing and keeping their audiences engaged through multiform content.  He’s on an educational crusade on how to build and sustain attention for brands of all industries.

Want to thank Frank for speaking? Listen to his podcast!

Harnessing the Power of Crisis to Create and Transform

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 2/18, 5:30p-6:30p

We move through life, often living the same day or year over and over again - both the good and bad - until we are hit by a crisis, or series of crises. Suddenly, all those patterns and expectations are knocked to pieces. We can’t put off doing SOMETHING! We’ve been told crises are negative - something to be avoided. Yet, the majority of reinvention and success stories have some crisis or failure that the person or business adapted to or overcame. We will discuss the power of crises to overcome our status quo and how we can create that breakthrough power without waiting for the push of a crisis.

Our Speaker:

Lisa Schuller is a certified professional coach, career strategist, and midlife transformation expert. During her career as a Human Resources leader and in her decade of coaching experience, she has seen first-hand the impact of years spent tolerating soul-sucking work which is toxic or mind-numbing, and which can leave the individual feeling empty and hopeless. This led to her passion for Midlife transformations and decision to found Verdantu Coaching (vur-dnt-U]. She helps professionals and small business owners to identify what they can do to make this the Prime of their life and the dawn of even greater success and fulfillment.

Practical, Professional Gratitude

REGISTER HERE: TUESDAY, 2/09, 12:00p-1:00p (CST) (Special Noon Hour!)

How can we spread happiness to others and increase our own happiness?  One word, Gratitude.  Gratitude activates regions in the brain associated with the neurotransmitter dopamine and pathways to the “happy” center of the brain.  The more regularly and often the brain is exposed to gratitude, the more regular and automatic these neural pathways become.

In this PLAYdate, let's look at some practical ways to practice professional gratitude and recognize the impact of others.

Our Speaker:

Alex Downey is an established facilitator of training, specializing in sales, enablement, professional coaching, adult learning, instructional design, onboarding, virtual instructor-led training (VILT), technology, and performance improvement.  Alex’s positive and optimistic attitude in addition to her passion for training exudes in every session that she hosts and makes for a very welcoming experience to the company.

Finding Innovation in Limitations

REGISTER HERE: THURSDAY, 2/04, 5:30p-6:30p (CST)

How did René Redzepi turn Noma, a small restaurant located in a warehouse in Copenhagen, into the single most influential high-end restaurant of the last decade, creating an entirely new movement in fine dining? Limitations.

In this PLAYdate, let’s look at what some of those limitations were and how Redzepi used them to make himself, and his business, more innovative, creative, and influential.

Then, we can explore ways that we too can reframe our limitations into the means for greater innovation.

Our Speaker:

Garrett Spatz is an instructor at College of DuPage who has taught courses on music and culture since 2014. He received his Masters in ethnomusicology from Bowling Green State University with a focus on American popular music, identity, and social movements. He is strongly interested in the science and theory of how people learn and develop and the principles of instructional design for higher education and corporate settings. Additionally, he is an avid cook, writer, and tai chi practitioner.