In this episode of UCYP, Megan and Tim have an Uphill Conversation with Katie Leckenbusch on her career and journey in the arts. From college to arts to corporate and back again, there is extreme value in engaging with the arts.

Show Notes: 

• Katie’s current role in the Greenville arts community and her advocacy for the arts in general
• Katie’s journey from environmental science to theatre
• How non-profit + theatre skills can transfer well to traditional occupations
• Working in the arts, you are dealing with deadlines, differing personalities and learning how to work effectively as a team
• How realizing the waste involved in event marketing impacted Katie
• Overall Katie wants her career to create a “net positive”
• Striving for success vs. significance
• Skills assessment testing and how Katie’s father’s vocation impacted her life and career journey
• Realizing that there are always compromises in life
• Value in putting on theatre that is thought-provoking, impactful and that creates conversation
• Warehouse Theatre Forums provide a panel of experts on the topic that the show is dealing with and that is relevant
• Local and Regional Theatre vs. Broadway + Nationally-Renowned productions
• Arts as an economic driver in communities
• Challenges + benefits of the phenomenal arts community in Greenville

Guest Bio: Katie Leckenbusch is a native South Dakotan who fell in love with the true “South” and put down roots with her husband, Matt, and two fantastic kids. After working with corporate clients on event marketing platforms, and many performing arts and cultural organizations in the area she completed a Master in Arts Administration from Winthrop University. Over the past 6 seasons with The Warehouse Theatre has had the honor to celebrate the theatre’s 40th anniversary, the creation of the Harriet Wyche Endowment, and participation in Leadership Greenville (Class 41), while fostering lasting relationships with Warehouse donors, patrons, and partners. As, potentially, the only fundraiser in the area who can also weld, she still loves to assist backstage.

Connect with Katie:

• Website: www.warehousetheatre.com
• Email: katie@warehousetheatre.com

Resources: 

• Clemson University
• University of Minnesota
• The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
• God’s Country, Steven Dietz
• Clybourne Park, Bruce Norris
• Jonathan Parker Episode 65

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by permission):

The post 19: YP Perspective – Finding Value + Vocation in the Arts appeared first on Uphill Conversations.

In this episode of UCYP, Tim and Megan have an Uphill Conversation with Tyler Harris on his early journey of self discovery, strength in vulnerability + waging war on personal change.

Show Notes:

• Putting value out into the world via social media
• Mentors can breathe life back into you
• “Just an ordinary guy trying to do extraordinary things by putting in the extra work”
• Your life can be turned upside down in an instant
• Emotional and mental impact of finding yourself alone – no distractions, no noise
• Taking ownership rather than playing the victim in your own life
• What if instead of focusing on accolades + things we focused on being an exceptional human beings?
• Why Tyler is building something with no expectation of financial gain
• Adversity + transformation vs. transaction
• Desire to help others experience difficult life challenges sooner
• Difference between motivation (external) + inspiration (internal)
• Comeback of vulnerability and recognizing it as a strength: “The rise of the real”
• Tendency to compare ourselves and our successes and struggles to others and placing higher value on greater struggles
• Tyler’s mentality of running from negativity
• Need to evaluate the things + people you allow into your life
• Instead of focusing on passion, ask: “Are you chasing hustle or are you chasing your gifts?”
• Make a decision on how you are going to choose to live today
• Tyler’s advice to YPs: have patience + stop trying to play catch up

Guest Bio: In the last 3 years, Tyler Harris has gone from unemployed to $700k/year by waging war on personal change.  In that same time, he got married, had his first child, and started a church.  He is the National Coordinator of a life insurance company that serves our nation’s heroes- First Responders.  A year ago, Tyler began documenting his life on social media as a way to “pay it forward” and provide value with zero expectation of anything in return.  in 12 months, he has taken his social media presence from zero to a weekly reach of 50million people.  Tyler spends 200+ nights one the road each year, but enjoys living in downtown Greenville, SC.

Check Tim + Megan out on Tyler’s vlog “The Daily Bread” episode #11.

Connect with Tyler

• Facebook: tylerharrispage
• Instagram: @tylerharrispage
• Facebook: motivationkings
• Instagram: @motivationkings
• Facebook: saleswolvespodcast
• iTunes: sales-wolves-podcast

Resources

• Jonathan Parker Episode UCYP 14 – What Type of Vocal Art are you Creating?
• Greg Centineo Uphill Conversations Episode 62 – Living a Life by Design
• Mask of Masculinity, Lewis Howes
• Eric Thomas – “ET, The Hip Hop Preacher”

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by...

In this episode of UCYP, Tim + Megan have an Uphill Conversation with two young professional attorneys, George Campbell and Jordan Teague, who are not your typical counselors, advisors and advocates. Hear how they left behind the big firms to build something of their own.

Show Notes:

• Benefit of having real word, practical business experience in the legal field
• “Not every legal problem has a legal solution”
• Value of having very different but complementary skill sets
• Recognizing gaps in the market led to starting their own firm
• Importance of being able to communicate and facilitate so that people from different backgrounds and with different skills can understand one another
• Use someone else’s underestimation of you to your advantage
• Misconceptions and fears around engaging an attorney
• Misconception that attorneys are going to nickel-and-dime you
• Best way to build a law practice is to gain your clients trust
• Changing value propositions to be based more on knowledge and expertise than on production or hours
• Not ideal to be in a situation where you are having to convince a client that your services are valuable
• Importance of pursuing understanding of the value that different professionals offer, especially those outside of your area of expertise
• Common pitfalls for YPs and businesses starting out
• Value of creating strong relationships with others
• George believes an attorney’s greatest calling is to be a counselor, advisor and an advocate – to make the world a better place, specifically in the area of truth

Guest Bios:

Jordan Teague Jordan received her B.A., magna cum laude, in Mathematics-Economics from Furman University, and her J.D. from Vanderbilt University. Jordan began her legal career at Burr & Forman in Birmingham, Alabama, serving Fortune 500 clients in the financial services industry.  She has experience in civil litigation and regulatory compliance.  She also has a passion for merging her understanding of law and technology to help her clients become more effective and efficient.  Jordan is a member in good standing of the Alabama Bar.Full bio here

George Campbell George was born in Greenville, South Carolina and found a passion for the Law at an early age.  He earned a degree in Spanish from Furman University, and obtained his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law, where he was the inaugural Blackstock Scholar and the Chairman of the Moot Court Executive Board. Full bio here

Connect with George and Jordan:

• Website: campbellteague.com
• Jordan LinkedIn: in/jordanteague/
• Jordan Twitter: @jordanteague
• Jordan Instagram: @jordanteague
• George LinkedIn: in/gacjr/
• George Instagram: @gacjr1
• George Twitter: @gacjr1

Resources:

• The Focus Planner, Michael Hyatt
• UCYP Episode #9 – Nicole Cendrowski

On the episode of UCYP, Mary Willson joins Megan + Tim for a conversation on the changing landscape of media + journalism, elevating the community voice and hard work.

Show Notes

• Innovation in digital media news through content curation: personalized media made for the busy person
• Need for media to be collaborative, to elevate the community voice through creating conversation
• Importance of media being unbiased and objective
• The changing landscape of media + journalism
• Still great value in longform journalism in print + digital media, including podcasts
• Opinion pieces in media to start a conversation towards change
• Finding balance in differing generational approaches to journalism
• Accessibility to resources is so much greater now, but there are still “analog” skills and experiences that add incredible value
• Challenge of not losing oneself (identity + individuality) in an overly-connected world +culture of consumption
• Many younger YPs have never known true boredom due to easy accessibility to technology – i.e. social media, smart phones, etc.
• Maintaining quality listening in a rapid-fire, sound-byte world
• When you contribute, lead with quality + authenticity, not ego
• Be intentional as you build your personal brand on social
• Know your passion and put in the necessary hard work to align your career and purpose
• Discovering your identity, setting goals, staying humble and mentoring others

Guest Bio – Mary Willson was on the founding team of GVLtoday, and has served as a producer and engagement editor. She’s launching AVLtoday in February 2018, and is excited to bring innovative media to Asheville. She moved to Greenville in April 2016 after graduating from Colorado State University in 2015 with a degree in communication studies and sociology. Before moving, she worked as a digital producer for the Fort Collins Coloradoan (part of the USAtoday network), working with social media strategy and multimedia projects. Before that, she worked as a freelance music writer, hosted a radio show, and interned at a local NPR station, an alt. weekly, and a handful of non-profits. She is in Leadership Greenville class of 44 and volunteers at Greenville Literacy Association.

Mary Willson’s Uphill Words of Wisdom

Connect with Mary

• LinkedIn –/in/marywillson/
• Website – AVLToday
• Facebook – Facebook.com/mary.diane.5
• Twitter – @mary_willson
• Instagram – @mar_willson

Resources

• GVLToday
• Longform

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by permission):

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Megan and Tim have an Uphill Conversation on dreams – why people have trouble identifying their dreams and determine if the dream you’re pursuing is truly your own.

Show Notes: 

• 4 reasons people why people have trouble identifying their dreams
• Comfort can be something that stops us from pursuing our dreams
• Having courage and confidence to go after your dream
• When someone else owns your dream v. you owning your dream
• It can be difficult to realize that you aren’t where you’re meant to be; to change direction and to do it without fear
• “Whatever you think, be sure it is what you think; whatever you want, be sure that it is what you want; whatever you feel, be sure that it is what you feel.” – T.S. Eliot
• Steps to take ownership of your dreams:
  • Be willing to bet on yourself
  • Lead your life instead of accepting your life
  • Love what you do and do what you love
  • Don’t compare yourself or your dream to others
  • Believe in your vision for the future even when others don’t understand you
  
  
• You need to make the right decisions and manage those decisions
• Begin with the end in mind, be intentional
• Allow yourself to shift
• Just because you can do something, or that you’re good at something, doesn’t mean that it’s what your ultimately meant to do
• You need both talent and passion to truly achieve your potential
• “I can’t give you my passion, but I can show it to you.”
• What someone else thinks about you is none of your business
• If you need to daily talk others into your dream, it might be an indication that this relationship isn’t meant to be
• No matter your age, you can still make the changes necessary to pursue your dream

Resources:

• UCYP Jonathan Parker Episode #14
• Put Your Dream to the Test, John C. Maxwell

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by permission):

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Listen as we discuss vocal art and the power of our words in this great conversation with Jonathan Parker. He believes there is artwork in curiosity, asking great questions, listening and sharing.

Show Notes:

• We are all artists + conversations are our artwork
• What would happen, how could we change the world, if we took our words more seriously?
• Curiosity is the canvas of all of our artwork
• We must define what we believe about ourselves and stay accountable to those beliefs.
• Our lives are filled with others telling us what we believe – we end up being “counterfeit artists.”
• We are not defined by our work. The work exists because of us.
• Self-reflection can be scary. One must grow in self-awareness: seek to understand why they do the things they do
• You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with – are these the right people?
• Prescribed authenticity versus true authenticity
• Everyone desires the opportunity to communicate + the respect to be heard (no matter your age, gender, race or heritage)
• Important for YPs to create margin (space + time) to discover what they truly want, what they believe, not what you were raised to want and believe.
• Social media is a powerful tool but gives a false impression of connection and conversation
• Need to shift from actively responding to actively listening
• Millennials grow up being told what they should be, then come to a point where they are lost – they’ve never stopped to think what they WANT to be, themselves
• No conversation is a throwaway – people remember you based on every individual interaction
• Don’t miss the opportunity to refine your art, to constantly improve

Guest Bio: Jonathan Parker is a creative thought-leader and influencer who has a captivating story about why the Art of the Conversation became important to him. Originally from New England, Jonathan did not speak until almost five years old; and then became an adult who is known for engaging conversations and powerful public speaking. His own journey led him to research and value the incredible power of intentional conversations resulting in a compelling training around this topic that he takes to businesses and nonprofit organizations with great success.

Connect with Jonathan:

• LinkedIn: jonathanrparker
• Facebook: @artoftheconversation
• Twitter: @createvocalart ‏
• Email: artoftheconversation@gmail.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n94qN28vHKE&t=26s
• Instagram: @hymnsandhops
• Facebook: @hymnsandhops
• Website:  gospelontap.com

Resources:

• Fellowship Greenville
• Diversity & Inclusion Summit

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by permission):

Matthew Rollins joins us for an Uphill Conversation on his journey from playing the game of baseball to his current life as an entrepreneur and underdog in a very established industry.

Show Notes:

• Matthew’s journey from athlete to entrepreneur
• At some point the game will tell you “it’s enough”
• Intentionality and time it takes to discover your passion
• Evaluating opportunities and choosing the path your life will take
• Anchor Bat Company’s focus on quality and design
• Story behind the meaning of “Anchor” in the company name
• “We’ll make a bat for anyone, but we’re not for everyone.”
• Bravery and grit it takes to follow your heart instead of your ego – and to stick with it when times are tough
• Learning the ins and outs of a very specific industry with strong, established competitors
• Power in owning your decisions + your circumstance
• Underdogs and self-belief
• Joys and challenges of working with family
• What it feels like to see your product in action
• Unexpected ways your product can positively impact the lives of others
• Your life will be tough, but it’s all worth it – so keep fighting

Connect with Matthew:

• Website: anchorbatco.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/anchorbatco/
• Twitter: @anchorbatco
• Instagram: @anchorbatco

Guest Bio – Matthew Rollins was a four-year starter for North Greenville University, playing centerfield and hitting leadoff the majority of his college career. After his time at NGU, he had the rare opportunity to play professionally. Though the majors never came calling, Matthew’s love for the game couldn’t deter his involvement in athletics somehow, some way. His work experience includes time with a performance research facility where he trained hundreds of professional and Division I athletes, members of U.S. Special Forces and first responders. But as the company and Matthew’s responsibilities grew, he found himself missing the baseball community, and understood a comeback was inevitable.

Resources:

• John Smoltz
• Darren Holmes
• Nolan Ryan
• Rudy (Notre Dame)

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by permission):

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William Timmons joins us for an Uphill Conversation on his journey as a prosecutor, entrepreneur, and South Carolina State Senator. At 33 years of age, he is committed to fixing what’s broken in Columbia, SC.

Show Notes:

• William’s entrepreneurial endeavors: Swamp Rabbit Crossfit + Soul Yoga
• William’s journey to become a Senator at 32 years old
• Frustrated by inaction in the Senate, William decided to run for office to try and fix it – “Everything I do in my life, I go all in.”
• Shocked by the ineffectiveness of the legislation in South Carolina
• Desire to discuss issues that are most important and relevant – those that affect to peoples’ lives
• Issues in Washington can impact peoples’ lives – freedom and safety
• Problem is that the loudest voices are heard and often repeated
• Need to stop thinking in terms of right and left, but need to think about how we move the country forward
• Benefits of having a self-funded campaign – ability to do what he thinks is the right thing without conflict of interest
• Surprising moments in his first year as Senator: how people have forgotten the difference between right and wrong
• Stay grounded by remembering why you’re doing what you’re doing and that it’s for the right reasons
• Make better use of your time by creating processes that streamline your life – proximity
• Remember to slow down and be intentional in how you live your life

Connect with William: 

• Website: votetimmons.com
• Business website: www.timmonsllc.com
• Email: WilliamTimmons@SCSenate.gov
• Soul Yoga: SoulYogaStudio.com
• Swamp Rabbit Cross Fit: SwampRabbitCrossFit.com

Guest Bio – William Timmons is a Republican State Senator who works as an attorney and entrepreneur in Greenville. William previously served as a prosecutor in the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s office. He currently owns and operates Swamp Rabbit CrossFit, Soul Yoga, and Timmons & Company. While in the Senate, William focuses his time on economic development, ethics reform, and term limits. Learn more at votetimmons.com. 

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by permission):

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