Cathy Erway on Being Confident by Standing Behind What You Write

In Chapter 10 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, author and food writer Cathy Erway answers "What Role Does Confidence Play in the Work That You Do?" Erway shares how being confident as a writer means publishing your own words and standing behind what you write. As an experienced freelance writer, Erway learns to be confident about writing knowing that once something is published it cannot be taken down like a blog entry.

Cathy Erway is an author, food writer, freelance copywriter, radio show host and teacher focused on healthy food advocacy. Her second book, "The Food of Taiwan: Recipes From the Beautiful Island" is a cookbook featuring Taiwanese recipes ranging from homestyle dishes to street food favorites. Her first book, "The Art of Eating In" developed from her blog "Not Eating Out in New York".  Erway earned a BA in creative writing from Emerson College. 

Phil McKenzie on How Brooklyn Builds Character and Confidence

In Chapter 5 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Phil McKenzie answers "What is Your Comfort Zone and What Do You Do to Break Free of Living in It?" McKenzie shares how growing up in Brooklyn during the 1970s and 1980s taught him to adapt and be comfortable in new situations. He takes this Brooklyn mindset with him wherever he goes and shares how it helps him appreciate diversity and connect with people in new places all over the world.

Philip L. McKenzie is the Founder of Influencer Conference, a global content platform that brings together tastemakers in the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology to discuss influencer culture. Previously, he led an influencer marketing agency and was an equities trader at Goldman, Sachs & Co. He earned an MBA from Duke University and a BBA from Howard University.

Phil McKenzie: Why High Confidence is Key to Entrepreneurial Success

In Chapter 13 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Phil McKenzie answers "What Role Does Confidence Play in the Work That You Do?" McKenzie notes confidence is everything. When selling his ideas to potential clients and partners, McKenzie notes being highly confident in what you are doing and why you are doing it is essential to influence others to understand you and commit to you. That confidence can take you over the top and go from having others appreciate what you do to having others want to be part of what you do.

Philip L. McKenzie is the Founder of Influencer Conference, a global content platform that brings together tastemakers in the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology to discuss influencer culture. Previously, he led an influencer marketing agency and was an equities trader at Goldman, Sachs & Co. He earned an MBA from Duke University and a BBA from Howard University.

Phil McKenzie on When to Stop Comparing Yourself to Peers

In Chapter 14 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Phil McKenzie answers "What Role Does Living Up to the Expectations of Others Play into the Way You Live?" As an entrepreneur, McKenzie pushes himself to stay away from peer comparisons because those comparisons are rarely apples to apples with the same circumstances. His approach performance assessment and motivation is more individual and stems from his days running track in college at Howard University.

Philip L. McKenzie is the Founder of Influencer Conference, a global content platform that brings together tastemakers in the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology to discuss influencer culture. Previously, he led an influencer marketing agency and was an equities trader at Goldman, Sachs & Co. He earned an MBA from Duke University and a BBA from Howard University.

Mike Germano on Taking a Company From Basement to Boardroom

In Chapter 10 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "Reflecting Back, What Do You See As the Defining Stages of Your Entrepreneurial Journey?" Germano shares what he learned from starting a digital media company in a basement through growing Carrot Creative into a social media agency leader and selling the business to VICE Media. He discusses failures, including having a Middle East office expansion not work out, and successes, building a team and now, as an entrepreneur who sold a business, to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Mike Germano on Being Comfortable in Uncomfortable Situations

In Chapter 17 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "How Have You Learned to Be More Comfortable in Uncomfortable Situations?" Germano shares how getting comfortable being uncomfortable is something he embraces. Knowing others may see this scenario as a negative thing, Germano sees it as an opportunity where he can be at his best. He cites Robert Duvall's character Lt. Bill Kilgore from Apocalypse Now, who embraced discomfort enough to surf amidst a firefight.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Mike Germano on Identifying Sources of Strength and Struggle

In Chapter 21 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "At This Moment in Time, What Are the Sources of Strength and Struggle in Your Life?" Germano shares how his wife provides him the support he needs to succeed professionally and how time spent with his son makes him stronger. He also shares his struggle with wanting to please everybody and worrying about too many outsider requests can cause him to lose focus.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Jullien Gordon on Building Advanced Public Speaking Skills

In Chapter 15 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "How Are You Improving Your Public Speaking Skills as You Gain Experience?" After taking storytelling classes and comedy classes to improve public speaking skills, Gordon improves more by researching his audience before speaking to them. By understanding audience experience, values, needs and expectations, Gordon can tailor a presentation, speech or talk that best resonates with listeners.

Jullien Gordon is a business coach and consultant to organizations, individuals and teams who want to increase performance, motivation, engagement and retention. Gordon is also a public speaker on career planning for colleges, conferences, and corporations. He earned a BA from UCLA and MBA and M. Ed degrees from Stanford University. 

Jullien Gordon on Identifying Sources of Strength and Struggle

In Chapter 19 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "At This Moment in Time, What Are the Sources of Strength and Struggle in Your Life?" As an expecting father, Gordon shares how his wife is a source of strength for both business and family. Gordon struggles with the isolation and loneliness of entrepreneurship. He looks to how thought leaders such as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Jay-Z have benefitted from the power of two. He turns his attention to finding a business partner who can provide accountability and motivation to raise his game and bring out his best.

Jullien Gordon is a business coach and consultant to organizations, individuals and teams who want to increase performance, motivation, engagement and retention. Gordon is also a public speaker on career planning for colleges, conferences, and corporations. He earned a BA from UCLA and MBA and M. Ed degrees from Stanford University. 

Hammans Stallings: What It Means to Contribute at Work Each Day

In Chapter 7 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, strategist and management consultant Hammans Stallings answers "On a Daily Basis, What Does It Mean to Contribute in the Work That You Do?" Stallings shares how he makes a contribution at work by synthesizing what he has learned about solving difficult problems on past projects and repurposing them to solve current problems on his team. He finds it joyful and motivating to solve problems he is uniquely qualified to solve based on his job experience.

Hammans Stallings is a Principal Strategist at frog design. Previously Stallings worked in strategy at Dell and investment banking at Stephens. He earned an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, a MS in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas and a BA in Economics and Psychology from the University of Virginia.

Hammans Stallings on How to Turn Lack of Confidence into a Strength

In Chapter 14 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, strategist and management consultant Hammans Stallings answers "What Role Does Confidence Play in the Work That You Do?" Stallings shares how it is important not only to possess confidence but also to be familiar and comfortable with areas where you lack confidence. Rather that masking these areas, Stallings embraces this and uses it to study and learn from others.

Hammans Stallings is a Principal Strategist at frog design. Previously Stallings worked in strategy at Dell and investment banking at Stephens. He earned an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, a MS in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas and a BA in Economics and Psychology from the University of Virginia.

Matt Curtis on Living Up to the Expectations You Set For Yourself

In Chapter 9 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Matt Curtis answers "What Role Does Living Up to the Expectations of Others Play into the Way You Live?" Curtis shares how he learns to shed the burden of living up to the expectations of others and shift it to a positive way of living up to the expectations he sets for himself. He finds doing this turns out to make others more happy, too, as their intentions were always for him to be good, honest and true to himself.

Matt Curtis is the director of government relations at HomeAway Inc. Previously he was deputy to Austin mayors Lee Leffingwell and Will Wynn. He has represented the City of Austin at the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities. In 2011, Curtis joined the Harvard Kennedy School Urban Policy Advisory Board to work on national best practices facing American cities. He earned his bachelor's degree in radio, television and film from the University of North Texas. 

Matt Curtis on How Great Advocates Can Advance Your Career

In Chapter 12 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Matt Curtis answers "What Role Have Advocate and Sponsor Relatioships Played in Your Development?" Curtis shares how he has been fortunate to have not only great friends and mentors but also great advocates. He finds advocates help by taking initiative to open doors for opportunities that might otherwise be closed. This type of sponsor relationship boosts Curtis' confidence and fuels his desire to pay it forward and give back as an advocate.

Matt Curtis is the director of government relations at HomeAway Inc. Previously he was deputy to Austin mayors Lee Leffingwell and Will Wynn. He has represented the City of Austin at the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities. In 2011, Curtis joined the Harvard Kennedy School Urban Policy Advisory Board to work on national best practices facing American cities. He earned his bachelor's degree in radio, television and film from the University of North Texas. 

Audrey French on Overcoming Self-Doubt to Live a More Fulfilled Life

In Chapter 15 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "What Role Do Habits and Routines Play into Your Pursuit of Living a More Fulfilled Life?" French shares how she has used neurolinguistic programming techniques to identify subconscious behaviors and shed negative ones and use positive ones. She pushes herself to get over issues of doubting herself when making decisions and appreciating that as a new mother she will make mistakes and be able to correct them over time.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm she helped grow to #144 on the 2010 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies and then sell to General Catalyst Partners. She graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Audrey French on Why Not to Fear Confrontation

In Chapter 18 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "What Has Experience Taught You About How to Better Manage Confrontation?" French shares how she has overcome a fear of confrontation by not taking emotional outbursts from others, especially anger, personally.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm she helped grow to #144 on the 2010 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies and then sell to General Catalyst Partners. She graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Audrey French on How to Get More Comfortable With Negotiation

In Chapter 19 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "How Are You Using Negotiation Skills in Your Life?" French shares how she has a lot in common with many other women in that she has not been comfortable with the win-lose concept of negotiation. As she negotiates more by selling a condo, buying a house, selling a car and setting a consulting pay rate, she finds seeking win-win negotiation scenarios mae her feel better about negotiating.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm she helped grow to #144 on the 2010 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies and then sell to General Catalyst Partners. She graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Courtney Spence on How to Tailor a Growth Plan That Fits Your Business

In Chapter 14 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, nonprofit CEO Courtney Spence answers "As Executive Director, How Do You Decide What Time Horizon to Focus on in Work?" Spence shares how working in a fast-changing creative space requires her to keep time horizons short for business planning. She notes how it benefits her organization to stay nimble and quick to adapt to changing technology such as website platforms. She also finds this nimble approach feeds into helping her evolve her business model to embrace higher value projects to support employee salaries and benefits.

Courtney Spence is founder and CEO of Students of the World, a nonprofit empowering a diverse network of student and emerging filmmakers to apply storytelling skills in purposeful work. She is also the Founder and CEO of CSpence group, a creative agency building millennial-focused content and programs for brands. Spence earned a BA from Duke University. 

Hattie Elliot on How Building a Business is Like Raising a Child

In Chapter 9 of 15 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "How Are the Stakes Increasing as You Invest Another Year Building Your Own Company?" As a small business owner, Elliot finds raising a small business is like raising a child. In the early infancy stages, she is more forgiving of wrinkles but as it matures, she is less forgiving and more focused on a plan. She learns to embrace getting older and becoming more confident and assured in her approach to raising the business.

Hattie Grace Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, a social networking company that creates destination events and experiences to forge lasting personal and professional connections across its young professional members. Elliot graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.