Michael Burton shares how vulnerability and authenticity have helped him build successful teams and trusted relationships. He discusses the importance of storytelling for consultants and emphasizes gradual progress through consistency and small wins.

April and Michael also explore building confidence through preparation, goal-setting, and embracing challenges both professionally and personally.

Michael is an entrepreneur with a passion for building and scaling professional services businesses. He has over two decades of experience in the industry and has held recent leadership positions at ExactTarget, Salesforce, and Lev.

In 2016, Michael joined Lev and quickly grew the company into the top global Salesforce consultancy for marketers. In less than four years, he took the company to a high eight-figure enterprise valuation through a successful acquisition by global strategic integrator, Cognizant.

Michael is now the CEO and co-founder of Stitch, a Braze consulting partner. Stitch is a rapidly growing company that is helping brands of all sizes engage their customers through Braze.

3 Key Learnings:

1. Share your authentic story and point of view to build credibility and connections with clients and colleagues.
2. Focus on consistency through small daily wins rather than only big successes to achieve gradual, sustainable progress.
3. Set intentional goals and push yourself outside your comfort zone to build self-confidence over time through practice and experience.

3 Benefits of Listening to this Episode:

1. It provides tangible strategies for building trust with clients through vulnerability, authentic storytelling, and focusing on their needs from day one. This can help professionals strengthen relationships and win more business.
2. Listeners learn approaches for developing self-confidence and public speaking abilities over time through goal-setting, preparation, and pushing outside their comfort zone. This is useful for career growth.
3. The emphasis on consistency, small wins, and embracing challenges both professionally and personally provides perspective that can help professionals combat stress and stay motivated long-term. This focus on well-being and gradual progress is applicable for many areas of life.

Resources:

• Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldburton
• Check out Stitch: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stitchcx/posts/?feedView=all and https://www.stitch.cx/

In this episode, April Rust interviews Bradley Rice, founder of Talent Stacker, about his journey in the Salesforce ecosystem and lessons learned in building a successful career and business. Bradley discusses overcoming self-doubt, lifestyle design principles, and how to align your work with your values for long-term success and fulfillment.

Key Learnings:

• Tough decisions lead to an easier life through compounding benefits over time in areas like health, finances, relationships, and career success.
• Design your life around a few core values and activities rather than societal expectations of success. Focus on quality time with family and meaningful work.
• Overcoming self-doubt is an ongoing process; surrounding yourself with a supportive community helps sustain success.

Reasons to Listen:

• Gain career inspiration and guidance from Bradley's story of breaking into and thriving in the Salesforce industry.
• Learn practical lifestyle design tips to find fulfillment and balance in your work.
• Discover free mentorship resources through Talent Stacker to advance your Salesforce career.

Learn more about Bradley Rice and Talent Stacker:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradforce/
• Website: https://www.talentstacker.com/now - free 5 day challenge
• Trailblazer Mentorship: https://trailblazermentorship.com/
• Podcast: https://talentstacker.com/ts-salesforce-for-everyone-podcast

In this episode, April Rust and guest Alec Dorner explore the concept that what drains your cup might also be able to fill it. We explore using mindset tips and tools to set healthy boundaries with your work.

Alec is a proud husband and father of a one and a half year old (and new baby boy on the way!) He's also the creator of Flow Analyzer, a Salesforce AppExchange product that scans flows for violations of best practices. He’s also the founder of Force for Change, a 100% pro-bono consulting firm on a mission to help Nonprofits free up time and capital by leveraging the power of Salesforce.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alec-dorner

Website: forceforchangeconsulting.com

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/alecdorner

Flow Analyzer: https://appexchange.salesforce.com/appxListingDetail?listingId=a0N3u00000QvsN2EAJ