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How does the Roaring 20s’ Speakeasy Influence the Roaring 2020s?

March 9, 2021 by Matt Schlegel Leave a Comment

Themes from the Roaring 20s run right through to our Roaring 2020s.   Authors Kimberly Layne, Clare Price, Sam Cibrone and I share our thoughts on the importance of the Speakeasy both then and now, highlighting the importance of staying connected, running a business in adverse times, finding joy and happiness, and making memories.

Meet the Authors

Kimberly Layne is author of Connections Change Everything and principal at the Kimberly Connection Company: https://www.kimberly-layne.com  Kimberly coaches and consults with Leaders and Organizations who desire to upskill their leadership and organization with the necessary soft skills that drive positive relationships that increase retention, engagement and profitability in our virtual, disconnected, and dynamic world. It is proven, strong connections build better business results! Find Connections Change Everything here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947480936/  or get your personally signed copy at https://www.kimberly-layne.com/resources

Clare Price is author of Make Remote Work and principal of Octain Growth: www.octaingrowth.com Make Remote Work is for everyone who is looking to reinvent their business for our new remote economy. Find Make Remote Work here: https://www.octaingrowth.com/ebook1/

Sam Cibrone the small business myth-buster debunks these myths about small business startups and growth.  His book:  Cracking the Startup Code: 5 Myths to Starting or Growing a Small Business focuses on the mindset needed to start or grow a business, the core values needed for growth and he uses real life examples from 5 small businesses he owned in his 23 years of owning small businesses. Free copy of the book on Sam’s website: http://www.samcibronebusinesscoaching.com

Matt Schlegel is author of Teamwork 9.0—Successful Workgroup Problem Solving Using the Enneagram and principal at Schlegel Consulting: www.evolutionaryteams.com Teamwork 9.0 cracks the code for turbo charged team creativity and extraordinary team effectiveness. Find Teamwork 9.0 here:  https://www.amazon.com/Teamwork-9-0-Successful-Workgroup-Enneagram/dp/1733478809

 

Video Transcript

[Kimberly Layne]

I like the sultry secretive nature of the Speakeasy. They defied the law, had unlimited hours, and proliferated anywhere and everywhere… including covert locations such as stank basements, intimate back rooms, and unofficial store locations.

Interestingly enough, people flocked to these hideaways. Why? because as natural human beings we seek pleasure, enjoyment, celebration, and community! (especially during hard times). Most likely the Speakeasy and its alcohol was fortified by a wealthy owner, and its party goers were the poor.  For the first time in American history, rich and poor patrons illegally drank together. It did not stop there, in some cases even racial barriers were broken down, and African Americans and whites in unison indulged outside of the law, and celebrated life and community.

I believe when natural ability is to come together in community and in celebration especially in challenging times, is denied, we will find avenues even, if illegal, in order to meet our huma needs for human connection.  We will dissolve differences, and absolve judgment of race, and socio and economic status. Why? Because At the end of the day we are all humans craving connection.

As we move forward in our celebration of our roaring 20’s I challenge you to dissolve manufactured barriers of interaction and to establish easy pathways to human connection. WE all are craving connection!  It is something we all are craving!.

[Matt Schlegel]

That’s fantastic, Kimberly.

Let me share a story.

It was towards the end of the day, and a co-worker came into my office completely exasperated.  She started listing off all the challenges that she was facing on her project.  After listening a while, I suggested that we head over to a bar, have beer, and talk things through. She stared at me in amazement before saying, “okay.”  We got over there and had a long conversation about all the issues.

That was twenty years ago, and my co-worker, now friend, still brings up this story.  For her, it was exactly the thing that she needed at that moment, to disconnect from the problems for a while and reflect on them objectively.  For me, it highlights the value of building relationships with co-workers both inside and out of the workplace.  A change of scenery broadens our perspectives.  And a drink can certainly help us into more open conversations.  It does help us to Speak. Easily.

What do you think, Sam?

[Sam Cibrone]

Thank you, Matt.

The Roaring 20s Speakeasys teach us many lessons about business to apply to the Roaring 2020s.  The interesting thing is that they demonstrate many characteristics on Entrepreneurship.  For example, Speakeasys were places that understood the concept of taking risks.  As you know Alcohol was prohibited so selling a was dangerous.  As businesses we must take risks to be successful. Secondly, Speakeasys demonstrate the ability to meet a want or need of the consumer. In those days, it provided alcohol and more importantly socialization.  Currently, businesses must focus on the constantly changing needs of customers.  The Speakeasys teach us many lessons about the culture of the Roaring 20s which correlate to the Roaring 2020s.  We learned that taking risks is vital for progress.  In addition, we learned that you must solve a want or need of the customer.  So, when we reflect back on the Speakeasys, let’s remember those lessons, so that we can have a great Roaring 2021!!!

[Clare Price]

When I see pictures of the Speakeasys of the Roaring 20s, I see joy, exuberance and just plain fun. Ok. Maybe a little bit too much fun. Speakeasies have something to say to business owners today as we start to recover from our pandemic prohibitions. That is, how can you do more for your customers? How can you bring them joy? For one of my manufacturing clients it was literally searching the globe to source materials a vendor needed to make custom packaging for a virtual trade show event. In true Speakeasy fashion, let’s all find ways to bring joy into the lives of our customers and employees.

 

Filed Under: Leadership, Video

Celebrating Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

March 6, 2021 by Matt Schlegel Leave a Comment

For Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, I am celebrating the amazing lives of Helen Keller and her teacher and lifelong companion Anne Sullivan.

[Transcript]

When I was in grade school, Helen Keller fascinated me.  I can’t tell you how many times I read my Scholastic book of her story.  Reflecting back on that fascination, I am sure it has to do with my being an Enneagram Type 6.  I could imagine and empathize with how it must have been for her to navigate the world in complete darkness… in complete silence… with the two senses I most rely on being completely inaccessible. These thoughts truly terrified my young self….  And yet, her story is so inspiring… even obligating.  Everything that she was able to overcome, everything that she was able to accomplish.  If young Helen Keller could do all that, then certainly my privileged, able self is obligated to put in the effort to be my best.  Helen Keller gave me courage to be my best self.

March is Developmental Disability Awareness month.

And here I would like to acknowledge another important person in Helen Keller’s journey, Anne Sullivan, her teacher and life-long companion. Sullivan patiently nurtured Keller to become a prolific author and activist touring the world to help those with disabilities.  Both Sullivan and Keller recognized the potential of all humans to fully contribute given right support.

The movie Crip Camp was released last year telling the story of the fight for the American’s with Disabilities Act. I  strongly recommend you watch this inspirational story.  I hope that you, like I, come away feeling a sense of pride for how that law has extended civil rights to those with disabilities. And I close with the words of one of Helen Keller’s inspirational figures, Mahatma Gandhi who said, “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”

Thanks for listening.

Crip Camp Documentary:

https://www.netflix.com/title/81001496

Helen Keller essay on Mahatma Gandhi:

https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK02-B224-F05-008

 

 

Filed Under: Diversity, Video

Celebrating Frederick Douglass for Black History Month

February 5, 2021 by Matt Schlegel Leave a Comment

For Black History Month, I am celebrating the amazing life of Frederick Douglass.

Here is a link to the rendition of Frederick Douglass’ “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?”  speech that inspired me to study Douglass more:

https://youtu.be/O0baE_CtU08

Here is the transcript of my video:

I am an avid podcast listener which is how I came to hear James Earl Jones’ rendition of Frederick Douglass’ speech entitled, “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?”

While the title alone is provocative, the speech itself is stunning and eye opening.

For instance: “Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here to-day? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence?”

Douglass presented a new perspective for me, one that is certainly as important as any other perspective or meaning attributable to that day.

Frederick Douglass was Born a slave in Maryland in 1818.

He started to learn to read at age 12 despite the wishes of his master

He escaped NY 1838, at age 20yo, but lived in fear of being captured.

He left for Great Britain in 1845 (27 y.o.) where he saw and experienced a society with no segregation by race – it’s possible!

Resolved to create such a society in America, he returned in 1847 to fight for abolition.

He started the first abolitionist newspaper, the North Star, and continued writing.

During the civil war, he conferred with Lincoln on the participation of African Americans in the army.

After the war, he conferred with Andrew Johnson on Suffrage.

The 10 years after the war, the Reconstruction era, was a period of great progress for African Americans.

Douglass continued the fight for voting rights, while using his newspaper to document this era of progress.

Notably, in 1872, at age 54, Douglass was the first African American nominated for Vice President of the US —  our current VP follows in his footsteps.

Regrettably, during Reconstruction there arose the backlash in the south that led to the passing of Jim Crow laws.

He died in 1895, the year before the supreme court ruled on Plessy vs. Ferguson, the “separate but equal law.”

Born as a slave in Antebellum South, Escaping Slavery, Fighting for Abolition, living through the  Civil War, Reconstruction, and then the Southern backlash leading to Jim Crow—we  have Frederick Douglass’ powerful words to memorialize this monumental period in American history from the perspective of the African American experience.

Please join me in celebrating black history month and Frederick Douglass’ prolific contributions.

Listen to his moving speech and explore Douglass’ history and writings.

In closing, I will leave you with Frederick Douglass’ own words. I found this quote particularly poignant now amidst recent calls for “unity.”

“I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.”

Filed Under: Diversity, Video

The Roaring 2020s: History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme.

January 12, 2021 by Matt Schlegel Leave a Comment

The Roaring 2020s are certainly starting with a roar! History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.  I join three authors as we reflect on the Roaring 20s that were the 1920s, how much has changed since that decade, and how much seems the same.

Meet the Authors

Kimberly Layne is author of Connections Change Everything and principal at the Kimberly Connection Company: https://www.kimberly-layne.com

Working with Leaders who want to build stronger connections with their teams, and Sales teams who want to build more trust with their clients. It is proven, strong connections build better business results!

Find Connections Change Everything here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947480936/

 

Clare Price is author of Make Remote Work and principal of Octain Growth: www.octaingrowth.com

Make Remote Work is for everyone who is looking to reinvent their business for our new remote economy.

Find Make Remote Work here:

https://www.octaingrowth.com/ebook1/

 

Patricia Watkins is author of Land and Expand and Managing Partner at More Sales Advisors: https://moresalesadvisors.com/

Land and Expand shares with CXO’s and sales executives, within companies of all sizes, in all industries, how to increase their sales most effectively.

Find Land and Expand here:

https://land-and-expand.com/

 

Matt Schlegel is author of Teamwork 9.0—Successful Workgroup Problem Solving Using the Enneagram and principal at Schlegel Consulting: www.evolutionaryteams.com

Teamwork 9.0 cracks the code for turbo charged team creativity and extraordinary team effectiveness.

Find Teamwork 9.0 here:

https://www.amazon.com/Teamwork-9-0-Successful-Workgroup-Enneagram/dp/1733478809

 

Time stamps

Matt Schlegel—Strengthening teams through technology 0:00

Clare Price—Embrace new experiences 1:13

Patricia Watkins—Generous appreciation 2:30

Kimberly Layne—Building connections with in-person connections 3:38

Video Transcript

The decade that we remember as the Roaring 20s, the 1920s, is known for vibrance, hope, and celebration.  Innovations in electricity, telecommunications and transportation were booming.  The world was becoming smaller as these technologies brought us all closer together. We had just lived through World War I and the Spanish Flu Pandemic, and people were ready to put those behind them and embrace the future with excitement and enthusiasm.  Importantly, people were craving a sense of community. The technologies of the day helped to build community and strengthen team bonds.

They say, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.”

As we work through our global pandemic and see light at the end of the tunnel, we again look to the upcoming decade, our roaring 20s, with anticipation of enthusiastic team building as we leverage OUR new technologies.

Thank you, Matt.

Clare, how are you going to CELEBRATE your Roaring Twenties?

Thank you Kimberly! Hey guys did you know that the 1920s was a time when people celebrated life by embracing new experiences –like the Charleston and Speakeasys and by embracing new technologies. Technologies like the first Instant Camera, Jukebox and the big one – television were all developed in the 1920s. In our roaring 2020s, we can celebrate by embracing new experiences too. As business owners we can choose to embrace our digital transformation. Yes, it was thrust on us by the need for remote work and online shopping. Let’s take it as an opportunity to make remote work by building a digital first future. And let’s all celebrate with a stronger, more resilient business in 2021. Back to you Kimberly.

Thank you, Clare.

Patty, how are you going to celebrate your Roaring Twenties?

This is an exciting time for all of us.

The key in 2021 is to celebrate success, big things and small, as we keep moving the needle forward.  Many of my clients had their best year yet, and they all attribute it to being customer-focused during the pandemic!  Zooming has proven to be an effective tool.  We can collaborate better, more often, we have more immediate access to people, we can make things happen faster and we can all celebrate success virtually, faster than ever before.

Someone recently commented on how I send thank you cards and gifts, and noted they found that unique. I found out recently my brother sends out 10 Thank You Cards a week to clients, colleagues and employees, and has for decades.  I think we should all embrace that.

Celebrate your success and thank those around you.  Turn your 2021 into the roaring 20s!  I can’t wait to have our best year yet!

Thank you, Patty.

I love that 1920’s had a spirit of new hope and new possibilities. There was a sense of joy and celebration.  For example, for the first time ever, with shortened work weeks, and the affordability of a car, most American’s were able to experience the joy of a vacation. Woo-hoo! Hard work was able to be paused and celebrated,

I like to think stepping into 2021, we have a bit of extra time on our hands to celebrate. With most of us not commuting to an office, what positive things are you going to pause and celebrate?  Some of my clients are choosing to fill this time to do a family puzzle that is laid out on a card table and provides constant access to community, fun, and a shared project. Others, because we are mostly working from home and we are now more accessible, are picking up the phone, for a more emotional and personal connection. Studies show that when we take the time to connect truly personally, and emotionally, not digitally interact, we are happier people at home and at work!   I challenge you, what new possibility of connection are you going to fill your extra time with and Celebrate in 2021?

Let’s toast to this year the beginning of our Roaring Twenties. Strengthening teams, embrace new experiences, show appreciation, choosing emotional connection not digital interaction.

Let’s toast to the new Roaring 20s—cheers!

Filed Under: Team Effectiveness, Video

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