Everyone wants everything faster. It's a recurring theme in our culture, and if associations are going to keep up, responsiveness and speed will be the coin of the realm.We're joined this week on Six Degrees of Associations, presented by Big Red M, by prolific author, speaker, branding and marketing thought leader, business-growth expert, and world‑renowned tequila influencer Jay Baer, who brings his passion and wisdom to the show alongside host Lucas McCann, Big Red M CEO and serial entrepreneur.As Jay points out, consumers are telling us that speed is as important as price — but are you running your association that way? It's obvious many associations are either unaware of this or have grown complacent about their standing in the marketplace. We also learn from Jay that responsiveness is the key to unlocking what so many associations are seeking: member retention and loyalty.In the age of AI, the human touch will be what stands out. Once efficiency gains become a red‑ocean commodity through AI, Jay predicts, those who return to the human touch will gain the lasting competitive advantage.Jay’s Website: https://www.jaybaer.com/ “The Time to Win: How to Exceed Your Customers’ Need for Speed”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9NYKWK9?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420 About the Tequila Report: https://www.tequilareport.com/ Follow Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaybaer/ Jay on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JayBaer

Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, CEO of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a renowned association executive and purpose-focused leader, joins the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast this week, presented by Big Red M.

Dr. Harris has reached what many might call the pinnacle of the association profession, serving as the CEO of multiple large-scale, globally recognized non-profit organizations, and she has done it all as a self-proclaimed introvert — something she discusses at length in this compelling conversation.

She offers plenty of pearls of wisdom for those in our association industry who want to excel in leadership and management but feel uncomfortable engaging in crucial relationship-building activities like networking and socializing to make deeper connections.Learn more about the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: https://www.eatright.org/More about Big Red M: https://bigredm.com/

New York Times bestselling author and business-philosophy and leadership expert Mark Sanborn is our distinguished guest on this week’s edition of the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast, hosted by Lucas McCann and presented by Big Red M. In addition to his writing, Mark is a prolific and highly sought-after speaker who is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Cavett Award, the highest honor from the National Speakers Association.Mark knows the business of associations inside and out, as you’ll hear in this interview. He’s spoken to many associations in his illustrious career and served as volunteer president of the National Speakers Association in 2004.He joined High Point University’s Access to Innovators program in 2019 as Leadership Expert in Residence. [Previous podcast guest Scott McKain is also a member of this prestigious program.] Mark also serves as president of Sanborn & Associates. The interview kicks off with an exploration of the four principles from The Fred Factor (the book for which Mark is best known). These principles impact every aspect of any business:1. Everyone makes a difference. It’s just a matter of what kind of difference you want to make, and it’s important to be intentional about it.

2. You can add value to anything you do, and it does not necessarily have to cost you a nickel.

3. It’s all built on relationships. [Associations: pay attention — it’s not just the quantity of members but the quality of relationships members have with the association and with one another. “Numbers and data are less powerful than relationship capital,” and that’s always a challenge to address, as Mark tells us.]

4. You’ve got to reinvent yourself every day. You have to keep things fresh.Ready to learn more?

Get The Fred Factor here: https://www.amazon.com/Fred-Factor-Passion-Ordinary-Extraordinary/dp/0385513518

Visit Mark’s website here: https://marksanborn.com/

As a prolific business author and speaker (having delivered over 2,000 presentations in 36 countries) who is a member of both the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame and the Sales & Marketing Hall of Fame, Scott McKain is also an "associations guy."

He joins the Six Degrees of Associations Podcast this week, presented by Big Red M, to discuss what works and what doesn’t in today’s world of associations and business, along with reflections on what he’s learned in his decorated career that’s included writing some of the best business books of the past few decades.You can check out all of Scott’s books referenced in today’s episode here: https://scottmckain.com/bestselling-business-books/ As Scott discusses with our host, Lucas McCann, we can all learn from the traditional three-act story arc when solving the challenges of our members, as Scott elaborates in this interview (which reminds us to stop skipping Act 2)!Scott also brings to our attention his passion for seeking "reverse mentorships," where someone much younger mentors you on how they see the world. This can lead to better connections, understanding, and a greater overall culture to be a part of, regardless of the mission of your workplace. In addition to his writing and speaking, he currently serves as "Corporate Educator in Residence" at High Point University.

Visit Scott McKain's Website: https://scottmckain.com/Learn more about Big Red M: https://bigredm.com/

A calm, measured approach to dealing with the avalanche of change that keeps hitting us all these days is a top priority and listeners of the 6 Degrees of Associations Podcast this week, as presented by Big Red M and hosted by Lucas McCann, are in for a treat.

Randy Pennington, author of Results Rule and a longtime friend and consultant to the association community, is our guest for an episode aimed at anyone facing the challenges of leadership, mental and emotional wellness, and the anxiety of how and when to respond to change. Randy is the CEO and founder of the Pennington Performance Group. The bottom line from Randy is that change is hard, but ultimately how you choose to respond to it…ends up defining you.

• You can learn more about Big Red M here: https://bigredm.com/
• Learn more about the Pennington Performance Group here: https://www.penningtongroup.com/
• See Results Rule on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Results-Rule-Build-Culture-Competition/dp/0471782742

What goes into a great personal brand, along with the reputation that may follow you throughout your entire career, is the same thing that makes someone a great salesperson: delivering on your word. And being consistent. It really is that simple. For someone with an illustrious career in and around the association world, our guest this week on the Six Degrees of Association Podcast, presented by Big Red M, David DuBois, has been a pioneer in building a brand in our industry. Relationships, an emphasis on building friendships over business, authenticity, and emotional intelligence are the timeless hallmarks of David’s personal brand, and he discusses this at length in his fantastic conversation with host Lucas McCann. He retired as President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) at the end of 2023 and has been the head of DuBois Group, LLC, ever since. (Special shout-out to our friend David Grindle for nominating David DuBois as a guest!)

More about David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-dubois-956bb2352/

Learn more about Big Red M: https://www.bigredm.com/

How can your association avoid the common pitfalls that lead to a poor relationship with association management? How do you even know if one is needed for your organization? Where do you start?Admittedly, it's not uncommon for folks who are lifelong industry employees to not fully understand what an Association Management Company (AMC) does.

Well, we’re aiming to end that confusion this week on the 6 Degrees of Association Podcast, presented by Big Red M, with our special pinch-hitting guest host, Casey Callanan of Clear Contender Media, who has been producing this show for the last several years.

Our guest is Linda Caradine-Poinsett, who is not only a longtime industry veteran and association executive but also the current Chief Strategy Officer at the Association Management Center of Schaumburg, Illinois.

She is an ideal thought leader— as you'll see from this discussion— to guide us through this important topic of the association management industry and what makes it so valuable (or potentially harmful if you don’t find the right fit).

About Big Red M: https://bigredm.com/

About Association Management Center: https://connect2amc.com/

How can you best communicate your value as an association during a time of intense competition for your dollar, time, and attention? It takes experience, authenticity, and knowing how to read the room to effectively serve your members and build lasting trust. All of these themes and much more are explored in depth on our show this week with our guest, David Grindle, President and CEO of the International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE). Join us for this latest installment of Six Degrees of Associations, presented by Big Red M and hosted by Lucas McCann!Fun Fact: As mentioned in the closing moments of this podcast, David appeared on Jeopardy! on an episode that aired March 8th , 2000, according to the fine folks at the TV Database: https://thetvdb.com/series/jeopardy/episodes/4950962 Learn MoreAbout Big Red M: https://bigredm.com/ About the International Association of Fairs & Expositions: https://fairsandexpos.com/