The Invisible Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘business challenges’

Your Invisible Mentor: Michael McCleary

Company: Live Unconditional

Website: http://www.mikemccleary.com/

I conduct these interviews as much for myself as I do for you. I learn so much from these highly accomplished individuals. I was moved by portions of Michael’s interview and I am sure you will too. The interviewees are usually asked the same questions.  I liked his response to how mentors influenced his life “What most people don’t realize is that they have mentors around them all the time and they probably don’t realize it.  Our friends, family, employers, co-workers, writers, God.  They are all there influencing us every day, in ways we often don’t understand or grasp.”

What are your thoughts?

Avil Beckford: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Michael McCleary: I tell extraordinary stories for a living.  It’s the best career I’ve ever had.  What do I mean by telling stories? Well I own a video production/new media/web company about 2 hours north of Detroit, MI. Recently, I also had the opportunity to finish my first feature length documentary, An Anything But Ordinary Journey, with my business partner Casey Turner in October of 2009. I spent over 4 years on the project, interviewing people across the US and Canada on the meaning of success.  So whether it’s making films, or serving clients through our business, it’s all about sharing extraordinary stories with the world and that is extremely satisfying.

Avil Beckford: What’s a typical day like for you?

Michael McCleary: That’s a good question. It really varies and that’s what I love about what I do. Some days I’m on the road filming a project or meeting with current or future clients. Other days it is making sure everything is being taken care of in the office or spending time brainstorming and editing projects with Casey. I’m also primarily responsible for graphic design and web design in our company so that may also keep me in the office. Everything we do however is custom designed for our clients, and we ensure that their brand shows through, the benefit for me is I get out of the office a lot to film, photograph, etc. I also do my best to take time to workout regularly and of course there is always family time.

Avil Beckford: How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?

Michael McCleary: I find projects I love to do. I’m fascinated by different people, thoughts, locations and industries, so this career is perfect for me. Things are always different and on the move and that is something that keeps me motivated. The recent completion of this film has also provided an additional level of motivation. I’ve seen and talked with people who have had a life changing experience after watching our film. They are now taking a more proactive role in shaping the life they want.  How can you not be motivated to know that what you are doing is making people’s lives better?

Avil Beckford: If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?

Michael McCleary: There are some things I would do differently, but on the other hand, my life experiences have made me who I am today.  That may sound like a cop-out, but it’s true.  If I had to pick a few “somethings” that I would give advice for others to do or do differently, I’d recommend taking school more seriously.  I did fine in university, but was by no means the top of my class.  I was always active in various clubs and organizations.  I sometimes let schoolwork slip and I realize how important that is now, simply learning the discipline to create good work habits early.

Avil Beckford: What’s the most important business (or other) discovery you’ve made in the past year?

Michael McCleary: I’m good enough and have something unique to share with the world.  I’ve always looked at other companies and been somewhat envious.  I’ve also looked at other individuals the same way.  I’d look at myself and have a bit of a complex on whether I looked good enough, or was smart enough, or wise enough.  I realize now I have a fascinating story, and a unique set of skills that many people would kill for.  I know I can hang with the big boys now, and that was the biggest thing I had to realize.

Avil Beckford: What’s one of the biggest advances in your industry over the past five years?

Michael McCleary: Digital technology for not only recording video/film, but also editing and storage.  Technology has come so far that it has evened the playing field much more in regards to the quality of an image you can capture compared to those with much more expensive equipment.  It has put pressure on the income you can generate from clients because anyone with decent equipment is out there promising the world.  Can they necessarily deliver it, no.  This also places an additional burden of proof on producers that we can offer something unique for our clients, and a much more experienced understanding of their needs.

Avil Beckford: What are the three threats to your business, your success, and how are you handling them?

Michael McCleary: As I noted before, 1. The introduction of quality cameras at near consumer prices.  2. Powerful video editing software is now available for virtually any computer that can allow any consumer to create powerful videos.  3. The downturn in the US and particularly the Michigan economy has also made finding new projects more difficult.  What we have found with problems 1 and 2 is to demonstrate the quality we bring to a project and also to demonstrate to potential clients that making their own video that will get consumers to buy their product is not all that easy.  We’ve attacked our third problem by diversifying and doing more projects outside of Michigan in Canada, Florida and others.

Avil Beckford: What’s unique about the service that you provide?

Michael McCleary: We take the time to understand our client, their needs, mission and their branding. By doing that, all of our web, graphic design and video work looks professional and like them.  It exudes their organization.  We don’t just make a video for a video’s sake, but to share their extraordinary story.  All companies have a story, and that’s what clients want to know.

In regards to our recent foray into filmmaking and mine into speaking, we have a unique vision of success.  Instead of interviewing people that most everyone knows, I chose unknown people, like your neighbors, who also have fascinating, compelling, extraordinary stories and outlooks on life to share.  Through the creation of our company and this film, I’ve come to realize success is much more than the tangible value we often assign to it.

Avil Beckford: What do you observe most people in your field doing badly that you think you do well?

Michael McCleary: Getting a message across and making it stick.  In our industry I often find people will spend a lot of money for a video that doesn’t tell the viewer anything related to the message they were trying to send, or doesn’t encourage consumers why they should purchase the product or service.  It’s one thing to make a flashy, pretty, even artistic video, it’s another to create something that is effective and encourages a buying decision.

Avil Beckford: Describe a major business (or other) challenge you had and how you resolved it.

Michael McCleary: When I got into this industry I didn’t have the experience or funding to do things the right way on my own.  So I found others who had that experience and were open to finding unique ways to partner.  I’ve found that if you really want to do something but don’t have a lot of your needs (whether that is money, experience, etc.), I encourage others to do it anyway.  Take meaningful steps towards what it is you want to accomplish and resources will show up in strange ways.  But you have to take daily steps of faith and persevere even when times look impossible.

Avil Beckford: What lessons did you learn in the process?

Michael McCleary: I’ve learned success is much more than your bank account or big things.  Success is the little things we get right every day.  It’s about following through and finishing what you start.  It’s about relationships and time with loved ones.  It’s about finding that happy place inside each one of us, a place where you know that if you checked out of this life tomorrow, you are proud of what you have accomplished so far.

Avil Beckford: Tell me about your big break and who gave you.

Michael McCleary: I’ve had a lot of big breaks.  There are three that stick out to me.  My first was in 9th grade my coach selecting me for the 9th grade basketball team.  I was probably the least talented or skilled of anyone who tried out, but I worked harder than all of them.  I’d never made a team before, I’d always been cut, but I had persevered, every summer shooting baskets all summer long and going to camps.  When I finally made that team, it showed me that hard work really was rewarded.  I’ve never forgotten that.

The second had to be meeting my mentor Kandee G during the interview process for my film.  She gave me my first opportunity to work in the speaking business and an inside understanding of the industry I never could have without her help.

The Third was our first video client, Cooperative Elevator Company.  They took a chance on a new company and a pair of kids in their 20’s to create a high quality video with a decent budget who had little in regards to a portfolio.  I’ll always be thankful to them for believing in us.

Avil Beckford: Describe one of your biggest failures. What lessons did you learn, and how did it contribute to a greater success?

Michael McCleary: I pissed off and lost a pretty important client.  I over committed and took on a part of the project I even knew at the time I shouldn’t.  But I always love to tell a client we can do anything, and we virtually always deliver.  This time wasn’t the case, and I blew future jobs from the company.  I learned never to over-promise, and more importantly, keep to areas of the project you know best.  There is nothing wrong with stretching and doing something you don’t always do, but of all things, don’t over-promise in an area that is not your strong suit.

Avil Beckford: What has been your biggest disappointment in your life – and what are you doing to prevent its reoccurrence?

Michael McCleary: I really try not to get overly disappointed and just live life’s dance.  There certainly times I do get disappointed and when I do, I like to take time to analyze where I made a mistake and how not to do it again.  Then I let it go, life’s not worth getting an ulcer over, we have too many blessings in our lives.  Even if it’s just to be thankful for breathing, that means we are alive and have an opportunity to make future days better.

Avil Beckford: What’s one of the toughest decisions you’ve had to make and how did it impact your life?

Michael McCleary: The decision to quit the corporate merry-go-round.  I was very unhappy with my life because I felt my life had little meaning and purpose.  I knew I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing.  On the other hand it was quite scary to give up that guaranteed paycheck every two weeks.  Leaving and starting my own business has been one of the best decisions of my life after I got over my fear.

Avil Beckford: What are three events that helped to shape your life?

Michael McCleary: 1.Getting married and having three kids.  Nothing really prepares you for that.  I’ve been blessed, even when times aren’t always perfect.  2. Starting my company, Beacon Media.  I’ve learned so much from being my own boss and found some of the things I’ve been searching for in life.  3. Taking the time to make this documentary film and sticking with it.  4 years is a long time on one project, but I made a commitment to not start another pet project until this one was done.  That sense of discipline had a profound impact on my life along with everything I learned from the process of interviewing 20 extraordinary individuals. I liked this response about mentors “What most people don’t realize is that they have mentors around them all the time and they probably don’t realize it.  Our friends, family, employers, co-workers, writers, God.  They are all there influencing us every day, in ways we often don’t understand or grasp.

Avil Beckford: What’s an accomplishment that you are proudest of?

Michael McCleary: I could say my children, but I think in the end, right now, I’m proudest of this film.  It really is an expression and culmination of everything I’ve learned so far in my life (including lessons learned from my children).  It has had a positive effect on virtually everyone who has seen it.  Can I ask for anything more?

Avil Beckford: How did mentors influence your life?

Michael McCleary: Immensely.  I’ve learned mentors are one of, if not the most important factor for finding a measure of success in life.  What most people don’t realize is that they have mentors around them all the time and they probably don’t realize it.  Our friends, family, employers, co-workers, writers, God.  They are all there influencing us every day, in ways we often don’t understand or grasp.

Avil Beckford: What’s one core message you received from your mentors?

Michael McCleary: Every day is a valuable gift from God.  If you aren’t doing what brings you joy in your life right now, you better start looking for it.

We are not promised a tomorrow, only a “right now”.  So pursue your dreams and passions now before you don’t wake up one day and it’s too late.

Avil Beckford: Which resources (books, movies, training etc.) did your mentors recommend to you?

Michael McCleary: Some good books I can think of off the bat (in no particular order), How to Win Friends and Influence People, Think and Grow Rich, The Bible, Now Boarding: Next Stop Your Remarkable Life and so many more…

Avil Beckford: As an Invisible Mentor, what is one piece of advice that you would give to readers?

Michael McCleary: Find your passion and purpose.  I believe we were all empowered with a gift to give to the world.  I’d like to emphasize the words gift and give.  When we give of ourselves and our talents freely to others, amazing things occur.  This doesn’t mean what you always do is free, but find ways to give back.  It not only makes you feel good but also those you affect.  When you wrap the concept of giving around what it is you have a passion for, you find moments of joy that are truly amazing and almost unexplainable.  If you don’t feel you have found a purpose or passion, begin that search now!

How can you apply Michael’s interview? Which aspects resonated with you?

Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please comment. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the left side) by email or RSS Feed.

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Interview With Sandra Miller

In an effort to provide you with information to help you to become the best YOU, I have been revisiting work that I had done previously for my newsletter to allow new readers to benefit from that premium content. We can learn from the people around us. For the interview below, which I conducted over two years ago, I interviewed Sandra Miller, my neighbour at the time. I remember we were having dinner in a Greek restaurant, and Toronto Mayor, David Miller (no relation to Sandra) was having a quick meal before he went to an event. After his meal, he went to every table and greeted everyone. I thought that was quite nice. It is interesting that I should remember that encounter now, though it has nothing to do with the interview below.

I particularly liked this interview because it is so human. Many times we try to do the right thing, we do our homework, yet things do not always work out the way we intended. Instead of beating up ourselves, let’s view the experience as lessons learned.

Avil: Describe a challenge that you had and how you resolved it.

Sandra: I finished my Masters degree in leadership and training and wanted to use my education in the workplace. I had worked for a government agency for a very long time and now wanted to experience another work environment in the not-for-profit sector.

I accepted an offer within a company that I thought I knew, one I thought would be a good fit for me. Not too long into the process I realized that I had misjudged some of the attributes of that company. And what’s interesting is that specializing in leadership and training should have made me more aware of what was presented to me. Some of your other needs often cloud your perceptions no matter how diligent you are when making a decision. My new employer had financial security, and appeared to have opportunities for me, and they came looking for me, which made me feel good.

Previously, I had worked with the company on various projects, but in that context I was an outsider. The CEO said all the right things; we talked about opportunities and my education, and how I could be a change agent, which was what I was really looking for. I had important networks within the sector that the organization was aligned with, and in the public sector where they would receive funding, and I thought that I could leverage those alliances. I made assumptions about the organization’s culture based on my prior interactions with them.

After I joined the organization, I realized that a number of their practices were contrary to my values. It was a company managed by fear and retribution, and not the place I thought; I thought they ran like a “well oiled machine Because of confident empowered employees and found out that it ran that way because of fear and punishment. People were not given the opportunity to learn and grow in the organization. My leadership style and values give people opportunities to learn and grow, and be comfortable in their work environment, which reaps higher productivity and loyalty to a company, and allows a more joyful day-to-day experience.

As you grow older, you start to realize what you really value, what you are willing to, and not willing to tolerate, what you will not sign your name to and what action you are not willing to take. The staff was paralyzed by fear of the leadership, yet the staff actually had all sorts of new ideas. I didn’t realize before coming into the job that I was the fourth person to sit in that chair in about five years so it really didn’t make any difference what I tried to do.

Resolution: After four to five months, I knew that I had made an error in judgment. In planning my go forward position, my first resolution was to continue to perform in my style. I ran the risk of not fitting in with the leadership team, not being successful, and being performance managed. To me, being true to myself was my sole purpose the entire time. And, being true to myself, I decided to perform at a certain level and treat my staff in a way that I believed to be positive, provided them with opportunities, and listened to their suggestions for change and where possible implement them.

As I continued to become stronger and more comfortable with myself in what I believed to be true, my staff started to perform at a higher level and also liked me as a boss. They were more forthcoming with their thoughts and concerns. At the same time I was alienating myself from the leadership, which was a very tight knit group, and the sole decision-makers within the organization. My team was functioning a lot better and was happier, which was perceived as causing grief within the organization. The leadership team sabotaged my success, and the situation started to have a personal impact on me.

A year into the experience I realized that everything I was hired to do I wasn’t allowed to do, and the general management and philosophy around the treatment of people were contrary to my own beliefs, and contrary to an environment where I could personally excel, make a tangible difference, and come in to work every day with a smile on my face.

In a situation like this, you have to be reflective and think about your well-being, your mental and physical health, and you have to make a personal decision even though you’d like to stay for the team. I don’t like to quit or fail. I knew that I still had a number of years to work, and I didn’t see myself here in this environment, so either they were going to pull the plug, or I was going to pull the plug. How do I prepare to protect myself, to look for a new role, and how do you I protect my staff so they are not damaged after I leave?

I started to talk with other CEOs within the system where I was most known in, looking for somewhere else to land, looking for a role that would be more in keeping with the education and the passion and the interests that I have. A place where I would continue to learn and grow, and be able to execute my ideas. Before I completed that process I was released from the company.

I was fortunate, within a short time after my release one of my contacts had a position that was a good fit for my skills. Other corporate contacts provided tremendous support and all my friends and family were extremely supportive. I say I was fortunate because I believe many of life experiences are timing, they come to us to teach us more about ourselves and the company that we keep.

My new role and the organization that I work for is a very good fit for my style, skills, passion and personal need to continue to learn and grow. Within the same short four months that it took previously to identify an untenable situation, I can say that within a much shorter period of time I recognized that this company lives its values, has the respect of individuals and delivers on its hiring promises. It is a place where I can live my values.

Avil: What lessons did you learn in the process?

Sandra: Lessons Learned

1. Ask precise questions during the process because you should be interviewing your prospective employers just as much as they are interviewing you; listen for responses that go “clang” with your values: challenge your assumptions
2. It’s important so see if the culture that the organization is selling is actually the culture that exists within
3. I learned the importance at looking at the turnover rate for the position that I am interviewing for – had I done this, I would have seen the red flag
4. I learned about the importance of looking at the longevity of the leadership, how many years they’ve been leading the company, and with that how they remain familiar with the educational and research environment that’s out there
5. I have always kept my networks strong, building and nurturing my relationships, and while going through this difficult process, I realized just how important my actions were. Because my networks were so strong, my reputation stood apart from the company that I was working for

Avil: In your opinion, what is the formula for success?

Sandra: The formula for success when looking for a job is to research your prospective employer extensively and not act too quickly when making a decision. You need to really understand yourself because the more you understand yourself, the more likely you’ll make a better match between you and your future employer. Question why you are going to make a move in your career, and what you want out of it. Look at not just financial security, but also at how the experience you’ll acquire will be beneficial to you.

Invest in your network and alliances. True connections are based on individual relationships that transcend employer relationships.

If you were in Sandra’s situation, what would you have done differently

Excerpt April/May 2007 Ambeck Edge

Photo credit: Creative Commons Lincense, Photo of Toronto Mayor David Miller by Bahman via Flickr

Interview With Jim Love, Partner, Performance Advantage

This interview was first published in the November 2006issue of my newsletter Ambeck Edge, but learning from the mistakes of thers is important so that we do not have to make those same mistakes.

Avil Beckford: Describe a business challenge you had and how you resolved it?

Jim Love: The key challenge for me was to grow the business beyond just me, and an idea. This is a huge challenge for entrepreneurs.

Resolution: I made many mistakes. One mistake was panicking and saying that I had to bring other people into the business. I didn’t handle this process as well as I could have, and one classic example was bringing in salespeople who couldn’t or didn’t sell. I expanded too rapidly and hired people who I shouldn’t have. I did all the right things to resolve the challenge, but I didn’t do them well. The renaming of the company from True North to Performance Advantage reflected a crisis point that we hit and I had to fix that. Now I have expanded much more cautiously with much more deliberateness. I have two partners in the business and we have a selection of consultants. We were more rigorous in the selection process.

A key thing, which helped me, was to take my own advice, the advice that I give to my clients. I did a plan and looked at some of the metrics in my business. I looked at where we wanted to go and that took me a long time to complete, which gave me a newfound respect for why some companies do not want to do strategic planning. In the planning I looked at what types of people and revenue we wanted to attract, and how they fit together. Now I know what I want, and I am aware of what offers to take and which to leave on the table.

AB: What lessons did you learn in the process?

JL: Lessons Learned:

1. It’s important to understand how your business runs at every level – from the strategic to the operational
2. Know what you’re passionate about, know what you can do that can beat the world, and know what metrics drive your business. The better I got at doing this, the better I became at solving crises and not just the challenge I talked about
3. Business success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent discipline. You have to work in pursuit of your goal
4. You have to plan for strategic success and follow the plan. Stop worrying about the attributes that you don’t have and start exploiting the things that you do well, recognizing the places where you don’t want to go
5. Be able to be true to your moral compass

AB: In your opinion, what is the formula for success?

JL: “To thine own self be true” by William Shakespeare sums up the formula for success. To me, it is to know who you are, what you want, what you are passionate about, take the time to plan for it and celebrate milestones along the way, and NEVER deviate from your moral compass.

Excerpt November 2006 Ambeck Edge

Interview With Alison Duke, Writer, Producer & Director, Goldelox Productions

This interview was first presented in the October 2006 issue of my newsletter Ambeck Edge

 Challenge: The business of filmmaking is very subjective. My clients are community-based organizations, government agencies and corporate businesses. They hire me to make films and videos for their companies in the form of short documentaries, Public Services Announcements and/or corporate videos. When I’m offered a contract to make “something,” usually there isn’t a script attached. Usually it’s just a concept. The only concrete things attached to it are the budget for the film and a delivery date. They may or may not have a research file on the subject available for me, or know the precise audience who the film is for. In addition to not having a script readily available, most of my clients didn’t go to film school so they don’t have the appropriate film grammar to explain what they want in the film or the film’s look or style.

A major problem working this way was that most people did not understand how much time and effort goes into producing films. Because TV, and Hollywood make moviemaking look easy, people have skewed ideas what things really cost. Yet when it comes to visuals, everyone has this uncanny way of knowing what they like (and what they don’t like) when they see it. An obvious business challenge working this way, was knowing what the client really wants, which means getting into the client’s head and figuring out what they want me to deliver without spending too much time and money so the production can arrive on budget and on schedule.

 Resolution: I educate the client about what it will take to make their film. Once attached to the job, I book a show and tell with the client. A show and tell is a creative meeting where I show segments from my previous work that may represent the feel and style of their project. For completely new ideas or concept, I present sketches, animations samples and even audio clips of what I have in mind for this new work. I’ll go over the cost of producing these audio/visuals and also talk about the overall challenges of creating particular visuals or audio for our timelines. Once the client approves the ideas they want, I give them a production contract. In this contract, I incorporate as much details about the creative, including responsibilities and timelines. I also affix a budget and payment schedule so that payments are released as we achieve creative milestones such as script approval, subject selection and so on. I go off and write the script.

 I don’t start the actual filming until they sign off on the script. When the production is in progress, things always change and it is very easy to get sidetracked in creative conversations. When the situation is clearly defined on paper people are more able to anchor back to the overall objective and director of the job.

 Lessons Learned

1.  Establishing a creative work environment with my client takes work. I can’t assume that it is just going to happen, I have to nurture it. The environment must have balance though, with a clearly defined hierarchy of who has the final say because it is easy to give in to ideas and try to satisfy the whims of everyone involved in the project
2. Creating this type of work environment enhances the overall execution and workflow of the project.
3. You can actually do more damage to your reputation as a creative person by working on projects, which lack overall vision, execution strategies or adequate support systems to help you deliver. When I started out doing this I did a lot of different things. I am very selective in what I do now

Formula for Success

Understanding my client’s needs, providing good service and being passionate about what I am doing is key. I love filming and I try as hard as I can to keep abreast with technology and trends. I read a lot of film books, magazines and web sites, and I also do a lot of research for each job so I am as prepared as possible. The bottom line is that I love learning about what I do. I feel that when I know more I am better able to give my clients products they can use for a long time.

Excerpt: Ambeck Edge October 2006

Further Readings

Internet Movie Database (IMDb) Alison Duke
Hear the Story