Leading Innovation From Inside One of the Industry's Oldest Institutions | Always Lifting Episode 13

The Culture Mistakes That Drive Talent Away | Always Lifting Episode 15

Today's guest is Lisa Ryan, founder of Grategy, certified speaking professional, and author of Gear Up for Greatness and the upcoming The Smart Plant: Aligning AI, Automation & People. Lisa has spent 15 years helping manufacturing and industrial leaders build cultures where people actually want to stay. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:57 – Lisa's career story: from executive recruiting to Grategy 04:03 – Why Grategy was born on October 12, 2010 05:12 – Why gratitude is NOT a soft skill 07:56 – The 6 Gears of Gratitude framework 11:09 – Why people are your most important (and most difficult) asset 12:16 – What leaders unintentionally do to disengage their teams 14:40 – The comment that cost a company their best employee 16:49 – The 3-5% problem: why you're punishing your best people 18:27 – How to be authentic without crossing the line 20:01 – Bob from Miller Textile: a real-world retention success story 23:43 – Lisa's new book: The Smart Plant 25:22 – What AI is quietly removing from your organization 28:02 – Why human judgment needs to be in your company's infrastructure 30:35 – The "two-column test" for automation decisions 36:06 – The one practice Lisa recommends above all else 37:19 – How gratitude saved Lisa's business during the pandemic 43:39 – What's lifting Lisa right now 🔗 Connect with Lisa: 📌 Website: https://lisaryanspeaks.com 📌 Speaking & Topics: https://lisaryanspeaks.com/speaking/topics/ 📌 Book Manufacturing Engagement (free copy): https://lisaryanspeaks.com 📌 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asklisaryan/ 📌 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mygrategy 📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaRyanSpeaker 📌 Connect with Karen & Always Lifting: 🌐 https://www.karennorheim.com/ 📱   / karennorheim   Subscribe for more episodes and remember to always lift.

The Most Valuable Resource You're Giving Away | Always Lifting Episode 14

Today's guest is Maura Thomas: attention management expert, TEDx speaker, and author of multiple books on personal productivity. Maura's work has been a genuine gamechanger for Karen personally and this conversation will show you why. Maura makes the case that time management is the wrong goal. The real question is: where is your attention going? ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00:00 – Introduction to Maura Nevel Thomas 00:01:10 – Shifting from time to attention management 00:02:30 – How smartphones changed our mental presence 00:04:30 – Focus on allocation versus time quantity 00:05:22 – The myth of multitasking and cognitive switching 00:06:53 – Redefining productivity as achieving significant results 00:08:40 – Techniques for reclaiming your attention 00:11:45 – Breaking the dopamine addiction from notifications 00:15:20 – Creating a single-tasking household 00:17:53 – Habit change and environmental design at home 00:20:20 – The link between attention and health 00:21:40 – Impact of technology on sleep and exercise 00:24:54 – Organizational attention management and leadership 00:26:40 – The struggle for intentionality and reflection 00:33:50 – Reducing workplace pings and notification fatigue 00:36:40 – Optimizing 21st-century communication assembly lines 00:38:26 –Future outlook and the "tech lash" movement 00:40:10 – Reclaiming social skills and creative imagination 00:46:40 – Final thoughts If you've ever left work thinking I was busy all day and got nothing done then this episode is for you. 🔗 Connect with Maura: 📌 Website: https://www.maurathomas.com 📌 Speaking & Training: https://www.maurathomas.com/keynote-speaker/ 📌 Books: https://www.maurathomas.com/books/ 📌 Free Productivity Assessment: https://www.maurathomas.com/productivity-assessment/ 📌 Connect with Karen & Always Lifting: 🌐 https://www.karennorheim.com/ 📱 https://www.linkedin.com/in/karennorheim/ Subscribe for more episodes and remember to always lift.

Leading Innovation From Inside One of the Industry's Oldest Institutions | Always Lifting Episode 13

In this episode of the Always Lifting Podcast, host Karen Norheim sits down with Rachel Zepernick, General Manager at Thomas (ThomasNet.com), the 128-year-old trusted platform for connecting North American manufacturing suppliers and buyers. From that front-row seat, Rachel sees the trends shaping manufacturing before most people even feel them. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:58 – What is Thomas and its 128-year history 03:20 – Rachel's career journey: from consulting to manufacturing 11:28 – Manufacturing's image problem & the skills gap 15:04 – Women in manufacturing: where we are & where we need to go 19:34 – High school to factory floor: changing the pipeline 25:17 – Automation trends: what the survey data shows 27:17 – "It's not AI taking your job…" 31:57 – Supply chain resiliency & reshoring 34:09 – Leadership evolution & Rachel's hacks 40:24 – Remote & hybrid leadership tips 42:15 – What excites Rachel about manufacturing's future 44:25 – Legos, family time & unplugging Whether you're leading a manufacturing company, recruiting for one, or trying to understand where the industry is headed, this conversation is packed with real data, real stories, and real strategies. Rachel Zepernick's LinkedIn Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-zepernick 📌 Connect with Karen & Always Lifting: 🌐 https://www.karennorheim.com/ 📱 https://www.linkedin.com/in/karennorheim/ Subscribe for more episodes and remember to always lift.

It's Time to CEO Your Health | Always Lifting Ep. 12

Today’s guest is Krisna Hanks: Director of Employee Wellness at Ovadia Heart Health, co-owner of Square One Wellness, author, international executive coach, and metabolic health expert. We talk about what it means to “CEO your health” and why leaders must make wellness the priority. In this episode, we discuss: • What metabolic health really means and why it matters beyond weight • Krishna’s personal health transformation and paradigm shift • Why leaders often neglect wellness and how to change that before crisis hits • The ripple effect of prioritizing health in workplaces and families • Rethinking workplace wellness through performance and metabolic health Krisna’s expertise is a powerful reminder that health is not separate from leadership. When we prioritize our metabolic health, we elevate our performance, our impact, and the lives of those around us. Investing in your health is one of the most strategic leadership decisions you can make. Krisna Hanks LinkedIn Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisnahanks/ Square 1 Wellness Health Coaching  https://www.square1wellness.com/ Ovadia Heart Health Wellness Programs  https://ovadiahearthealth.com/wellness/ Link to Employee Wellness White Papers  https://ovadiahearthealth.com/whitepaper/ Subscribe for more episodes and remember to always lift.

Lifting Others Through Laundry | Always Lifting Ep. 11

Today’s guests are Ally and MC, lifelong friends, moms, and co-founders of Lessen the Loads, a service that helps families (and more) offload laundry and clutter so they can get time back for what matters most. Topics Discussed:  - How a real-life “overwhelmed mom” moment sparked the business - Going from lab partners to business partners and why their friendship works - Building a flexible, well-paid work opportunity for moms in the community - How the business expanded beyond families to seniors and local businesses - Early challenges, trial-and-error lessons, and their mantra: “Say yes, figure it out later” - Creating culture with a remote contractor team through appreciation and support - The unexpected things found in laundry (yes, it gets wild) - The bigger message: outsourcing without guilt and choosing services over stuff See links below for more info about Lesson Loads!  Learn more about Lesson Loads and their services https://lessentheloads.com/ Follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lessen.the.loads/ Follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lessentheloads Connect with them info@lessentheloads.com