Category Archives: Creating Community

400 Friends and No One to Call: Breaking through Isolation and Building Community

Relationships, Change, Communication, Creating Community, , ,

Feeling alone and isolated during the coronavirus pandemic and stay at home orders? While social media enables us to make connections with more people than ever before, social isolation is a growing epidemic in the United States. During the pandemic, these feelings of isolation can be exasperated, with feelings of fear and overwhelm taking over. As it turns out, we can have hundreds of “friends” on social media without having any meaningful connections whatsoever.

In episode 84 of Fresh Tracks, author Val Walker shares a two-step process to breaking through isolation, even in this time of self-isolation and the covid-19 pandemic. In environments where we find ourselves struggling to fit-in and hoping to find “our people”, Val provides tips for creating community and lasting connections that add depth, purpose and caring to your life, even while staying safe at home.

Show Notes:
3:45 – Val’s painful discovery of isolation and the shame behind it
8:50 – The difference between isolation and loneliness
11:30 – The one thing we all have in common right now
15:25 – Recognizing it’s time to create Fresh Tracks in your relationships
21:15 – Suggestions on how to begin reaching out
27:05 – The value in creating your tribe rather than finding it
30:50 – Using your five callings to create community

400 Friends and No One to Call: Breaking through Isolation and Building CommunityVal Walker is the author of 400 Friends and No One to Call: Breaking through Isolation and Building Community, which is a book about breaking out of isolation and building friendships, community, and a sense of belonging. Reaching isolated and disadvantaged communities for twenty-four years, she has organized and led support groups, outreach initiatives, and training programs for people living with serious illness, disability, grief, and trauma.

Val’s is a contributing blogger for Psychology Today and her articles and interviews have appeared in publications such as TIME, AARP, Whole Living, Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping, Coping with Cancer, Boston Globe Magazine, Chicago Tribune, McClean’s (Canada).
Learn more at www.ValWalkerAuthor.com

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Harnessing the Natural Laws of Relationships with Jason Lauritsen

Relationships, Communication, Creating Community, Leadership, Sales, , , ,

In episode 77 of Fresh Tracks I speak with Jason Lauritsen about Social Gravity and the Natural Laws of Relationships. We start by discussing the role intentionality plays in relationships and how that is different than manipulation. There is great power in setting an intention when building new relationships and Jason shares with us how to set intentions and give us examples of good intentions vs bad intentions.

Jason shares his number one way to build strong relationships as well as the number one mistake people make when meeting others that sabotages their ability to connect in an authentic way. The truth is that relationships develop one person at a time and taking the time to choose your relationships one by one, rather than accelerating it in a mass setting, is a key to achieving your goals in business and in life. Finally Jason discusses the concept of social capital, which is the value that we have access to in our lives because of the relationships we have with others.

Show Notes:

5:35 – The role intentionality plays in relationships
12:30 – Your peer group and the role in plays in your growth
16:50 – What to do if you don’t have a natural connection with people in key roles professionally
20:45 – 2 Tips for building strong relationships when you are shy
26:10 – What is social capital and how do you build it?
27:45 – Common mistakes to avoid when building intentional relationships
32:00 – How to extend social media relationships into the real world
36:00 – The impact of social gravity

About Jason Lauritsen
Harnessing the Natural Laws of Relationships with Jason LauritsenJason Lauritsen a keynote speaker, author and advisor. He is an employee engagement and workplace culture expert who will challenge you to think differently.
A former corporate Human Resources executive, Jason has dedicated his career to helping leaders build organizations that are good for both people and profits.
Most recently, he led the research team for Quantum Workplace’s Best Places to Work program where he has studied the employee experience at thousands of companies to understand what the best workplaces in the world do differently than the rest.
Jason is the co-author of the book, Social Gravity: Harnessing the Natural Laws of Relationships. Connect with Jason at www.JasonLauritsen.com.

Living Life with Passion and Helping Others

Purpose, Change, Creating Community, , ,

In episode 58 of Fresh Tracks I speak with entrepreneur Carey Smolensky about passion. What started as a DJ company in High School has evolved into a family of companies in the entertainment industry which Carey spearheads! While Carey is leading several companies, acting and pursuing other interests he enjoys, he shares his belief that you CAN do many things and be successful. He feels that as long as you are focusing on one thing at a time you are not multi-tasking. Carey’s passion as a recording artist, DJ, author, event producer, working actor, philanthropist and demonstrates how it is possible to create Fresh Tracks repeatedly in your life.

Have an idea you would like to pursue but have been putting it off? Carey shares that everyone has the tools to do what they set out to do. It may not be at the level of someone that’s done 10,000 hours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t participate! Carey tells us that sometimes just getting started is the hardest part in pursuing your passion.

Show Notes

2:45 – Carey’s high school business that set him on the path he is on today
6:00 – Knowing when it’s time to cut Fresh Tracks and entering the zone of realization
10:20 – Knowing the difference between ‘squirrel’ syndrome and stepping into your next adventure
13:05 – Why living your life with passion is so important
15:45 – The number one reason most people don’t follow their passion
20:00 – How to ignite passion in your own life. Particularly if you don’t have a passion
23:05 – Why failure is an integral part of success
27:15 – Success looks amazing because you’ve never seen path.

About Carey Smolensky

Living Life with Passion and Helping OthersCarey Smolensky is a man who truly cares about making a difference in the lives of others. A Husband, Father, dynamic Businessman and Entrepreneur, Carey Smolensky began his family of companies while in high school. A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. Carey has received numerous local, national, and international awards for entertainment and event production. Through Carey’s events, collaboration with top thought leaders, and partnerships with impactful businesses and charities, Carey has impacted the lives of countless people. He believes that evolution is the key to innovation and is constantly evolving both personally and professionally to continually live his life with passion.

Carey is a founding board member of Front Row Foundation, an organization that sponsors recipients who are battling life-threatening illnesses by bringing them to the live event of their dreams in the “Front Row” and Founder of A Warmer Winter, supported by Carey Smolensky Productions, providing food, clothing and hugs to Chicago’s homeless community. Carey focuses on helping others in everything he does. He lives every day with passion, and positively impacts the lives of anyone who crosses his path.

Free Offering:

-$350 discount code for attending The Passion Summit (May 7-8, 2018)

www.ThePassionSummit.com use promo code: FRESHTRACKS


Episode 014 – How to Create a Super Engaged Online Community

Creating Community, Marketing, , , , , , , ,

In episode 14 of Fresh Tracks, Jordana Jaffe shares her secrets to starting and growing a thriving and engaged Facebook group. Jordana explains how Facebook groups can be an awesome way to create a private and safe community for your tribe to share with each other and participate in a vulnerable way. Jordana compares Facebook groups to creating a virtual home where people are invited in (versus a traditional Facebook page everyone can see and join), and provides tips to create a space for support and collaboration among members

Jordana’s active Facebook group, Gena + Jordana & Your Magical Business, has grown to over 2600 people in less than six months! Engagement, direction and setting boundaries are the big takeaways. Her frustration with the limits of Facebook pages and the coziness of creating a closed group are what inspired her passion to create her own Facebook community. Learn about Jordana’s go-first principle and it’s effectiveness in creating dialogue, openness and vulnerability in her group in this week’s episode of Fresh Tracks!

1:28 – How Jordana’s desire to gather community started her journey as a Facebook group leader.
4:10 – Why creating a cozy space for folks to share is not a cookie cutter approach for everyone
6:28 – Ideas for getting your Facebook group engaged and participating
9:01 – How to know if starting a Facebook group is the right tool for you
12:39 – The important role of providing direction and invitation in Facebook groups
17:29 – Three steps to be super clear on before you invite anyone to your group
19:15 – The most important thing to do when you first start your group
22:18 – Getting started no-no’s

About Jordana Jaffe

Jordanna Jaffe HSJordana Jaffe teaches women entrepreneurs who are introverts or homebodies how to create their own super engaged FB group so that they can grow their own online community and get clients without spending money and while staying at home in their cozy PJs. As a fellow introvert and homebody, Jordana totally understands how people can feel angsty and uncomfortable when it comes to offline networking and making small talk. Once she found a solution and an alternative, she felt inspired to teach everyone else who were interested how to do the same thing.

You can join Jordana’s own community here: bit.ly/youaremagical