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Nanci Creedon, Dog Behavourist, on Doggie Day Care, Dog Psychology & Always learning! EP018 May 20, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, I talk with Nanci Creedon who is Irelands leading dog behaviour expert. She is a regular contributor to the RTÉ Today show, radio and print media and an award winning entrepreneur. We recorded the show in her Doggie Day Care center just outside Cork City and, as you’ll hear, it’s quite a busy place! The barking in the background adds great atmosphere to the show however!
Nanci has always been crazy about dogs but didn't see a possible career in this in her early years. When she finished her zoology degree, she set up a Dog walking and Pet Grooming business. The success here lead her to taking the big leap of faith and opening the Doggie Day Care in 2010 at the wise old age of 24! Since then she’s been working and studying non-stop and the business has gone from strength to strength. In 2013, She became the first certified Dog Behaviourist in Ireland and, also in 2013, Nanci opened Creedon’s college as well where she looks to share her knowable and experience to others that with to gain the Qualifications, the Knowledge and the Confidence to become employable, or self-employable, in the pet care industry.
Nanci certainly has an attitude where she doesn’t hold back, dives in and makes things work. She shares lessons she learned from setting up her own business, dealing with people, and learning on the fly in a sink or swim situation. We touch on the fear (which Nanci doesn’t seem to have), mistakes made and learning from these, opening new branches, decision making, ideas for the future and not holding back.
Nanci talks about her passion for learning and teaching, her plans for world domination and her plans to be president of Ireland one day. You heard it here first!!
For all you dog owners, Nanci shares lots of 1% Better tips for the dogs so definitely worth listen to and taking notes. We talk about the psychology of Dogs, and go into details on how dogs act and react to stressful events, the impact of cortisol on dogs after a scary incident, how you can bring them back to reduced stress level, the amygdala in the dog’s brain, fight or flight, and lots more. We talk about the 7 Dog years to 1 Human year myth as well as the challenge teaching an old dog new tricks!!
Thanks Nanci for the great high energy show. It was a really enjoyable conversation.
For more details on Nanci and the Doggie Day Care services she offers, check out the below links:
Website - www.nancicreedon.ie
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/nancicreedondogbehaviourist/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/NanciCreedon_DB

Eoin Tynan, from St.Mel's Brewing Company, on Craft Beers, Growing a Business & Raisins! - EP017 May 19, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, I talk with Eoin Tynan, who is the MD of St. Mel’s Brewing Company. Who, along with his co-founder, Liam Hanlon, set up the Company.
St. Mel’s Brewing company produce Craft beers and very tasty ones at that. Liam is a brew master by training and brought his biotech skills and Eoin brought this business skills to the table. They set up in October 2013 and started to produce May 2014 and with first sales June 2014.
When Liam provided liquid refreshments at Eoin’s wedding, they started to think about doing this seriously. From there, they started put the plan in place and things started to take shape.
We go into details about setting up the company. Juggling the day jobs, getting funding, and proving to investors that this a serious proposal. It worked and the started production in 2014.
We talked about building the business, distribution, creating new flavours, and marketing the beer. Since them, they’ve gone from strength to strength since them to the point at which now they’re selling Beer to US and Europe.
We touch on the size of the craft beer market in Ireland, how it’s grown, first big breaks, the process, and lots more great conversation around the future of industry and challenges with the big beer companies. We even manage to talk about Longford Town v Athlone Town FC at one point!
I know there is a huge interest in Craft beer in Ireland, and everyone have their ideas where this came from, so I tried to ask some questions that I hear on the street.
It was great catching up with Eoin and learning about their journey so far. Great to see the Entrepreneurial spirit alive and well in Longford.
During the conversation, we sampled all 8 of St. Mel’s beers purely from a research perspective. A great selection of Craft beers on offer from IPAs, to larger, to Brown ales, and more. I’m obviously biased being from Longford and a big fan of Craft beers, but they do make a great product.
It was the first podcast recording where I had a small audience so thanks to Myles and Mike for creating the atmosphere of a live show! And for your excellent pouring skills during the conversation.
Thanks Eoin for the time & for the beers!!
Enjoy the show!

David Saunders on Beating Cancer, Resilience and Amputee Football! - EP016 May 13, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, I talk with David Saunders. David is from Kerry, teaches in Cork and is a member of the Irish Amputee Football Team. He also is starting to give motivational talks on his journey, resilience and mental health.
In our conversation, David talks about his life growing up in Kerry and his interest in all sports as young boy. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with bone cancer in his ankle which lead to an amputation. Only a year later, the cancer returned in the lower leg and a further amputation was needed. David talks through these extremely tough challenges and how he managed to beat cancer, stay positive, develop resilience and became stronger for it.
We talk about his work as a teacher and how he’s bringing mindfulness into class. We also go into details on how David got involved with the Irish Amputee National team, how the game is played, and hopes for the upcoming European championships in Turkey. We also chat about David recently starting to give talks on his own story and linking this to resilience, motivation and developing the discussion on mental health that is growing in Ireland. This is timely as it’s May and Mental Health awareness month.
If you’d like to connect with David to get involved in the Irish Amputee Football team or learn more about his story, you can reach out to him in the following ways:
Email: youngsaunders@yahoo.ie
Twitter: @DavidSaunder82
Website: http://www.irishamputeefootballassociation.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=irish%20amputee%20footbal%20association
Twitter: @IrishAmpFootball
Thanks for listening.

Project Management VoxPop @ PMI Ireland National Conference - EP015 May 10, 2017

Show notes

Oh yes, it's back by popular demand!!! The 1% Better VoxPop!!
After making its debut a couple of weeks ago, and (for the most part) being well received, it’s coming back for another airing (literally). This time round, we’re going full Project Management style with the show....and combining it with the 1% Better theme!!
I recorded this show during the PMI Ireland National Conference at the Aviva Stadium on May 4th 2017. This was an action packed conference with a great selection of speakers and over 350 attendees.
Project Management is something I think we all do in one way or another. We all plan a bit, take and manage risks, create To-Do lists and ultimately want to get value or benefits from what we do with our time & resources (sorry for all the PM lingo). So, to prove this, I asked a random selection of the guests a 1% Better question relating to Project Management!!
After much consideration and debate (with myself), the question I landed on asks to what one (or two things) do you (the guest) do from the world of Project Management that you bring into your day to day personal life that adds a little bit of value, organises the chaos and makes things 1% better! This was a bit of fun but it was interesting to hear the responses…some very similar and some quite different.
Overall it was a great day, lots of learnings from it and I was more than happy to do some 1% Better podcasting during the event for the PMI Ireland. As a member of the PMI-Ireland committee, I was playing a dual role but happy do so.
To learn a bit more about the PMI Ireland Chapter, go to the site here - https://pmi-ireland.org/
I hope you enjoy the PMI Ireland Vox Pop. If you do, please leave a rating or comment on iTunes or on the site (http://robofthegreen.ie/contact/)
Have a great day/weekend,
Rob

Helfi Star - Life as a Clairaudient, 3 tips to live by, and a visit from George Michael! - EP014 May 07, 2017

Show notes

This is an episode of firsts for the 1% Better Podcast. It's the first conversation I've recorded with a Psychic Medium and Clairaudient. It's the first show I've recorded over Skype as Helfi is based in LA (sound quality is pretty good which is great as it opens up a whole new world of guests). It's a first for interviewing a guest as a result of an Instagram follow and, last but not least, it's the first time I've talked to anyone that talked with George Michael (while he's been living or dead). Needless to say, this was a fascinating hour long conversation.
During the conversation, we talk about how Helfi started to become aware of these 'gifts' from a young age. How her Mother and Grandmother had similar skills. We discuss her life growing up in Paris and initially working as a Journalist and a TV producer in France.
Around the age of 18, she started to read tarots cards and from there she started to tap further into the tools she had. She felt from then this was her destiny and purpose and she could help people with this. As she became more in tune with her purpose, she decided to pursue this full-time. This lead to her move to LA, and since then, she has grown her career and skills and helped clients from many different areas.
We talk about the movie Ghost, seeing into the future and the past, predicting the new French President (as I'm releasing this, Macron has just been named French President as Helfi predicted 2 weeks ago when we recorded the conversation), visits from George Michael, Patrick Swayze, her diet, fears, intuition, exercise, the challenges of being a psychic with respect to relationships, and so much more….we really got a lot into this hour.
Helfi also shared some tips that you can follow, advice on good and bad numbers to use….3 things to reach your goals!
This was a fascinating hour for me. It’s probably a bit like marmite. You will like it or not. I know which side I’m on and I’m very appreciative to Helfi for her time, openness, story and the short reading we did at the end. September is going to be a big month for me by the sounds of things and big rewards coming to me in the next 6 months. I’m looking forward to that.
Please check out Helfi's website - http://www.helfistar.com/ and the services she offers there.
She also posts updates daily on Instagram and can be found here - Helfi_Star
As always, I'd love to hear back on what you thought of this one. Certainly another take on being 1% better!
Thanks,
Rob

Lisa Fallon on Football Analysis, Making Decisions, and 1500 VHS Tapes! - EP013 May 01, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, I have an awesome conversation with Lisa Fallon. Lisa is the first team analyst for Cork City Football Club & the Northern Ireland National Team. She is also the Business Development Manager for Cork City FC and she also creates motivational videos for both sides in her 'spare time’!
I joke with Lisa at the start of the show that her twitter account can’t fit in all the roles she’s playing in her professional life. It’s true. She is one busy lady that is very passionate about what she does.
During our conversation we talk about:
Lisa's burning passion for football from a very young age. Football was part of her family from her earliest memory.
A big turning point, at the young age of 12, was when she watched the Liverpool v Arsenal 89 League decider with the Irish team and reminisces about talking with Frank Stapleton and Tony Cascarino during the gate.
Only a year later, she managed to win a competition to conduct an interview with Frank Stapleton via a radio competition and this only further contributed to her passion for the game.
From there, Lisa talks through her first job as a runner on sports stadium, moving to university in the UK, gaining and valuing her independence, and getting in to sports reporting while in the UK.
After college, she play professionally for a while still in the UK but after a period of time, she had a gut feeling it was time to return to home.
After moving back to Dublin, she applied took a role in Independent News and Media and worked here for over 3 years. This gave her a break in radio.
Lisa was watching games all her life, over 1500 VHS tapes, that she watched constantly, over and over. This, unconsciously, was developing Lisa’s analytical skills for the game.
In 2006, Lisa did her first coaching badge. After writing a piece for a sports website, about opponents (PAOK Salonika) of Shamrock Rovers in the UEFA cup in the coming week, she was contacted by their then Manager, Michael O’Neill. From there, things took off as Lisa explains.
Lisa gives a very open and honest account of her ambition, passion, love for football from such a young age. This love affair has continued right through. Football is the constant in her life as her Grandad reminded her when she was around 18 years of age and this has stuck with her.
We discuss her good habits, how she makes decisions, using gut and experience,
I know Lisa doesn’t give too many radio/podcast interviews especially none this long and in-depth so thanks to her for agreeing to do this. It was a great conversation and one I hope gives you a great insight into Lisa, her role and what makes her tick.
Please reach out to me if you have any feedback on rob@robofthegreen.ie
Share the episode on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or any of the popular social media sites.
Thanks again to Lisa for her time in recording the show.
Enjoy the podcast,
Rob

Nashville VoxPop - 1% Better Words of Wisdom - EP012 Apr 27, 2017

Show notes

Hi all & happy Friday\Weekend!!
In this new spin off/pilot show of the 1% Better Podcast, I’ve decided to hit the streets of cities I visit and ask the locals what their 1% Better tip or advice would be to make you, the listeners, at least 1% Better. Over the coming week/months, when I visit a new city, I hope to capture the responses from the local folks to see if there are common trends and patterns that emerge and have a lot of fun while doing it.
In this first edition of the VoxPoP show, I hit the streets and the bars (mainly bars) of Nashville with my two good friends and co-hosts for the day, Cormac Breslin (credited with naming 'robofthegreen') and Stacey Knox (a natural with the mic).
Over the couple of days recording, we asked the good folks of Nashville what their one tip or piece of advice would be to the listeners that they could apply or take onboard to make themselves 1% Better.
I’m hope you’ll enjoy this *fun* short episode of the show where we get a very good a mixture of advice from many happy people enjoying the sunshine, music and fun of Nashville.
If you like this episode, please let me know as I have a lot more content from our on street interviews from Nashville that I could share in another short episode in the coming weeks.
I would like to thank Cormac and Stacey for their assistance and the folks in Nashville for being such good fun on the days. Hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did recording it.
Also, just a quick note to say I have a bunch of new 1-1 interviews coming up with some really great guests that are taking the show to the next level for sure. Next one will be out on Monday.
All the very best,
Rob (ofthegreen)

Fabio Grassi (Executive Coach & Facilitator at IMI) on Independent Thinking, A JEM & Avatar! EP011 Apr 22, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, I have a conversation with Fabio Grassi. Fabio is an executive coach and teacher at the IMI and also runs his own companies, CoreIdeas and Geode, where he aims to Inspire meaningful change.
I think Fabio is one of the most interesting guys I’ve met in a long while and hearing his story and advice in recording this podcast only cemented this view.
He’s been a musician, an engineer, a chef, an officer in the Italian Army and touches on all of this during our conversation. All of these experiences in his journey provided valuable learnings as he explains.
He always had a passion for teaching, something ignited by the movie Dead Poets Society in the 80’s, and when he started working for IBM in the late 90’s, this desire resurface and it became very clear to Fabio that it was what he wanted to do. Within a year, he made this happen and his real educational journey started to move forward. He set his goal and his determination and drive made this happen.
This happened again for Fabio in 2006 when he moved to the IMI and started out his journey as a trainer and coach. Now he’s doing something that’s relevant, important and key to his need and want as a coach. As he explains, it’s challenging and exciting day by day. He’s finding enjoyment in helping others fulfil their purpose and meaning. Every person is different and Fabio enjoys this variety in the role. He shared his key tip which is a JEM. You have to listen to get the full meaning. ☺
Thank you Fabio so much for your time.
One point to note, Fabio and I both talk fast so you may want to run this show at half speed to catch everything ☺
Please connect with Fabio via LinkedIn (HTLM not supported on Soundcloud :(
The two books Fabio recommended were:
Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston seagull
Carly Jameson – The nibble theory and the kernel of power (humanity)

Maria Kidney on setting up a Charity, Travelling and the man with the golden tooth! - EP010 Apr 16, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, I talk with Maria Kidney, the co-founder of Brighter Communities Worldwide (originally called Friends of Londiani) about her own journey.
Maria first travelled to Kenya in 2000 to climb mountains, and after a mugging incident in Nairobi she sought refuge in the Kenya Girl Guide Association. There she was inspired by the community development work done, and promised to return to Kenya again.
Maria has held multiple roles in Brighter Communities Worldwide since 2002 including Chairperson, Board Member, Project Leader for volunteer groups, Trainer of volunteer groups and Project Leaders.
We talk about early influences in school growing up in Cobh, the key takeaway from transition year in school that have stood to her later in life, studying Commerce in UCC and working in IT thereafter. She mentions learnings from Commerce and Management accounting that helped directly in setting up the Charity. Maria also reflects very fondly about her time on the J1 in the US.
In 2006 Maria was awarded the Junior Chamber of Commerce International Total Outstanding Young Person (TOYP) of the Year Award; and the Vodafone Passion of the World Around Us Award. In 2010 Maria was awarded the Cobh Person of the Year Award.
Enjoy the show :)

Pat Lucey (CEO of ASPIRA) on Business, Project Management and the Berlin Wall! - EP009 Apr 07, 2017

Show notes

In this show, I talk with Pat Lucey, CEO of ASPIRA and Vice President of PMI Ireland Chapter. I’ve known Pat for a few years via the PMI Ireland Chapter and I targeted him early as I knew he'd have a great story. I was right. :)
During the conversation, Pat shares his story that started in Patricks Well in Limerick, where he worked in his father’s petrol\gas station, before moving to University to study electrical engineering, after having to give up on his dream of being an astronaut when growing up!
He talks about his part in the Berlin wall coming down while working in Germany in his first big role out of college. After returning to Ireland, he talks about his time in Motorola working with brick like Car phones before making a move into Project Management (by accident). After 17 years with Motorola, Pat explains, he took a chance and started up a business with a few colleagues becoming an 'accidental entrepreneur'.
Now, almost 10 years later, ASPIRA is still going strong and has sold software to every corner of the world. Pat certainly learned lots of lessons along the way and was happy to share these during our conversation.
Thanks again to Pat for his time and great story....Pat - sorry for the delay in releasing it to the world...it was worth the wait!
Enjoy,
Rob

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