How to Own Working From Home: The Pandemic Edition

Once there was a wiry, rambunctious, inquisitive little boy who longed to do well in all his endeavors, big and small. But he kept falling short because he was incapable of keeping a single thought in his head for longer than a fleeting moment. Hyper and disorganized, he was the quintessential ADHD poster child. Also an overcomer, that little boy managed to find a way to completely turn things around for himself. He went to college, graduated with honors, ran six successful businesses, and eventually became an accomplished corporate trainer, speaker, author, and business coach. Based on his own experience figuring out how to make it in a focus-driven world with an attention deficit, Chris based his success on a simple philosophy: Before you teach, you must first do. By do, he meant getting hands-on and neck-deep. By his late 20s, he was a General Manager of a respected leadership school, working with organizations like Capital One, Altria, and Merck. On the surface, he ran the company. But he was forever under the watchful eyes of four extremely capable mentors: A 30-year veteran HR director for the corporate giant Bell Atlantic (now Verizon), a 25-year master level trainer for the AMA (American Management Association), a former military officer with a Ph.D. in teaching theory and notable expertise in the field of adult learning, and a life coach who was also a certified mediator. Under their tutelage, Chris spent 10 years learning the ropes and applying them first-hand. Then, he decided it was time to venture out and start his own firm. Were you expecting success straight out the gate? Think again! By year two, Chris had already faced multiple operational snags that had cost him tens of thousands of dollars. Then, the recession hit. He lost most of his clients and was eventually forced to fold his business. Demoralized and despondent, he found himself working for a few not-so-great-fit organizations just to pay the bills. On top of it all, he survived a life-threatening accident only to discover his health was in decline. Things pretty much sucked for a while. Leveraging his own inner grit and the help of a new mentor, Chris spent several years clawing his way back onto his feet, becoming a voracious reader and mastering a new set of skills along the way. In time, he and his mentor decided to start a company together. They named it RefuseOrdinary, LLC, and soon began teaching integrity-based sales strategies and productivity principles to firms and organizations across the US. The new business also gave Chris a chance to make an important, aligned choice to go completely remote and become a full-time WFH entrepreneur and dad. With a new sense of drive and purpose and finally surrounded by like-minded professionals, Chris' accomplishments began to mount. He helped launch several other successful business ventures and even wound up in SUCCESS Magazine (along with his awesome wife) in 2016. Now, he spends his time working with clients remotely, volunteering at his local Chamber of Commerce, helping his daughter distance-learn, and speaking (virtually, of course) at various venues and colleges. Aside from building businesses and skyrocketing sales, what does Chris really enjoy? Hiking, mountain biking, camping, skiing, you name it-as long as it's outside and with his family, he's in. But he knows the cherished moments spent fishing with his daughter, on a quiet dock along a riverbank with Granddad silently smiling his approval, are what really make it all worthwhile.

Bunny Young, MA, LPC is the founder of a Better Place Consulting. After recognizing the dissatisfaction in organizations and employees to help professionals make the most of their business and personal life, Bunny has made it her business to DEFY negative trends and help people and businesses turn that around. Her approach has empowered cultures of organizations nationwide, resulting in improved revenue, productivity, morale, employee retention and quality of life. Bunny is able to quickly connect with people, open their minds to possibilities, help them uncover their purpose, and develop plans and goals. She is brutally direct with an amazingly big heart. She is also a proud Army wife, mother of two beautiful and spunky daughters, has an incredible service dog, several fur babies, a non-profit for service dogs and a retired stuntwoman. Whether giving a keynote, hosting a workshop, or facilitating her specialty equine professional development retreats, she brings passion to every aspect of her world.

Do you ever wonder what's going on in the minds of others? What secrets, hopes, and dreams are hiding there? Writer and editor Erin Leigh believes those dreams deep inside us deserve to be shared with the world. And what better way to bring those dreams to life than through the art of written language, which exists to be read and shared? As an entrepreneur herself, Erin loves the challenge of finding just the right way to express her clients' brilliance, support their intentions, and bring home their message. As one grateful client shared, "I thought what I wrote was good. Now, it still sounds like me, but it's so much better. It's like you were in my head. You knew exactly what I meant!" Seeing the entrepreneurs, small business owners, and companies with whom she works shine brighter is Erin's motivation; she strives to honor her client's voice in every project. She believes that by lifting them up, they can, in turn, uplift others, who can also impact those around them, eventually elevating us all. She especially enjoys working with spiritual entrepreneurs and those committed to making a difference in the world. When she's not leveraging her linguistic and perfectionistic tendencies to her clients' advantage through writing and editing, you're likely to find Erin reading Harry Potter, swinging on monkey bars, and spending time with her husband, Kev.