Self Smarter

In this episode of Self Smarter, Dan’l and Megan celebrate the podcast’s 100th episode! Hear heartfelt reflections recapping the last two years and receive messages of gratitude to you – the listeners.  Learn about what’s next for the Self Smarter podcast and on the horizon for Dan’l and Megan. In today’s music moment, Dan’l and Megan share their aspirations for supporting live music in 2024.  Sho...

In today’s episode of Self Smarter, Dan’l and Megan dive into a crucial aspect of leadership – coaching versus fixing. As leaders, sometimes it is easier and quicker to step in and fix problems ourselves... but that can cause a lack of growth and other potential challenges in the person you’re leading. There’s a delicate balance leaders must work towards to empower our teams and foster independent...

Do you worry about what people think of you? As leaders, the desire to be well-regarded and liked by others is a very common trait. The truth is, we aren’t always going to be able to make everyone happy all the time. In today’s episode of Self Smarter, Dan’l and Megan share how to find a balance between being considerate of other people’s opinions while maintaining one’s authentic leadership style...

The turn of a new year is the perfect time for leaders to reflect and consider what went well in the past year (or what didn’t) and use that information to plan for the year ahead. In today’s episode of Self Smarter, Dan’l and Megan have a candid conversation and share what they learned from 2023, and where their heads will be focused in the year ahead. Knowing each year is rich with both triumphs...

Today on the Self Smarter podcast, we are back with a popular episode where we talked about a very important generation that is expected to make up approximately 25% of the workforce by 2025, Gen Z. In this episode, Megan is joined by two very special guests from the DMA Solutions team – Hena Husain and Halle Caroline Cheatham. They will share what it’s like being and working alongside Gen Z, and...

As we kick off 2024, we wanted to remind you of a conversation where Dan’l and Megan talk about common traits of successful leaders. When you think of a leader, what characteristics come to your mind?  We recommend you reflect on the type of leader you’ve been in 2023, the traits you’re taking with you into the new year… and perhaps the traits you’re planning on leaving behind. In today’s music mo...

Some strengths you naturally possess, others you work to hone over time. In today’s episode of Self Smarter, we are resharing an episode that you may have overlooked…all about utilizing your strengths! Dan’l and Megan discuss how you can not only identify your strengths but also how you can hone them and invest in them to best serve yourself and others. What better way to prepare for the new year...

There’s no time like the present to start working on you! In today’s episode of Self Smarter, we are reintroducing a topic that isn’t discussed as much as it should be. How are you showing up as a leader? How are you coming across to the people around you? Listen to Dan’l and Megan’s advice on how to show up and earn people’s respect instead of demanding it. In today’s music moment, hear more abou...

We are saying goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024! To get us ready, we are re-sharing one of our most popular episodes on the podcast – the one about gaslighting. As we prepare for the new year, let’s commit to being better, more helpful leaders, and doing so knowing what gaslighting is and reflecting on ourselves to make sure we’re avoiding this form of manipulation. Dan’l and Megan dissect this to...

It is a best practice of ours to look forward at the year ahead to get our arms around the business, development, and leadership landscape to prepare smarter. In today’s episode of Self Smarter, Mackenzie McLeod is back and joins Megan in a conversation highlighting trends leaders can expect to see in 2024. In today’s music moment, Megan talks about her experience attending the U2 concert at the S...

On today’s episode of Self Smarter, Dan’l and Megan are joined by their friend, Mollie Garza, a current New Yorker, native Texan, and first-generation Latina American sales and business development executive with over 12 years of experience in the marketing and advertising industry. Mollie shares her impressive background, what she’s learned most about leadership while working for two Fortune 500...

For this episode of Self Smarter, we are mixing it up and reintroducing a hot topic that’s still relevant today – work-life balance. As much as we wish the idea of this concept would go away, the feeling is here to stay. Listen back to what Dan’l and Megan had to say about the damn truth behind this notion, and ways leaders can get their arms around it by reframing their mind and restructuring con...

Today on the Self Smarter podcast, Megan is joined by Mackenzie McLeod and Hannah Wadley to talk about the realities of coming back to work after having a baby. The two of them open up and get real, honest, and vulnerable about the highs and lows of being a working mom, and share the tools they have implemented to be successful in this new walk of life. Megan, Mackenzie and Hannah share their advi...

In today’s episode of Self Smarter, we are joined by a very accomplished guest, Founder of Bobi Media, Sarah Hill, who is a fellow Texan and marketer, current New Yorker and thriving CEO. Sarah discusses her jaw dropping career journey, and how her early discipline in education kickstarted her ambitions to get her to where she is today. Tune into this special episode to hear Sarah open up and shar...

In this episode of Self Smarter, we hone in on the leaders who lead other leaders (can you say that five times fast?). This topic is important, because there is a real responsibility that comes into play, as it’s a complex, yet rewarding, part of the leadership journey. When you lead a leader, you aren’t just accountable for the success of the person you’re leading, but also for the people he or s...

Today on the Self Smarter podcast, we talk about a very important generation that is expected to make up approximately 25% of the workforce by 2025, Gen Z. In this week’s episode, Megan is joined by two very special guests from the DMA Solutions team – Hena Husain and Halle Caroline Cheatham. They share what it’s like being and working alongside Gen Z, and how their experiences working in today’s...

We are re-elevating one of our most listened to and sought after episode on the Enneagram as we enter the end of 2023. In this special episode, Dan’l and Megan dive into each Enneagram type and explain how educating yourself on this beneficial tool will further develop you and your team’s EQ in the workplace. Walk away with the know-how to put this resource into practice and hear firsthand how the...

Leadership is more complex and demanding than ever before and as a result, coaching has emerged as an essential tool for leaders. We believe coaching can significantly enhance leaders’ effectiveness and the overall success of teams and organizations. What we know for sure is, coaching is an investment in leadership excellence, and its importance cannot be overstated. Tune in to this week’s Self Sm...

Oftentimes, management and leadership are used interchangeably, but the truth is, they are very different. While both roles are crucial for success, they serve distinct purposes and require different skill sets. In this episode of Self Smarter, Dan’l and Megan define the two and examine the real fundamental differences. Tune in to hear how these two arts complement each other and why both are vita...

The ability to really listen is one of the most important traits of a good leader. Self Smarter leaders should be committed to using every opportunity to hone and strengthen this skill. Improving your listening abilities is an intentional and gradual process, but if you put in the work, you will strengthen relationships with the people in your life. We hope you reflect on this episode to determine...

Wings are one of the most intriguing elements of the Enneagram personality system. In part two, we walk through each of the wings and dig deeper into what makes you, YOU! Wings offer a kaleidoscope of personality variations, adding layers to the core types. Like we discussed in Episode #79, understanding your core type and wing combination can illuminate the intricacies of your behaviors, motivati...

In this two-part series, we talk about everyone’s favorite personality assessment, the Enneagram. We center the focus specifically on the Enneagram Type wings which play a critical role as they influence and complement your dominant type. In part one, we share just why your wings are so important to fully understand, and what makes them make you so incredibly special. In today’s music moment, Dan’...

For today’s episode of Self Smarter, we are re-sharing a fan favorite, a story about armor, agility and acceptance from Dan’l. We intend for this episode to validate us and you because the truth is, life isn’t perfect.  Oftentimes we must hit a low point before we can see the lessons we’re learning.  As Dolly Parton famously says, “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” In today...

Self Smarter is heating things up! We originally started this journey because there was a need for “real talk” about leadership. After a year and a half of podcasting, we realized that we could take this work a step further by offering services that fit this need. In today’s episode of Self Smarter, we will divulge what’s new at Self Smarter to include new services and resources for leaders! In to...

For today’s episode of Self Smarter, we are re-sharing one of our most popular episodes in hopes you listen to it again with a fresh perspective. This topic is so relevant in one’s self smarter journey, as fears are real and conflict is hard. Tune in for validation and reassurance on how to communicate more effectively and take actionable steps to overcome the fear of conflict. In today’s music mo...