Cy Wakeman is a dynamic international keynote speaker, drama researcher, New York Times best-selling author and trainer who has spent more than 20 years cultivating a revolutionary approach to leadership. Grounded in reality, Wakeman’s philosophy teaches people how to turn excuses into results and transform unhappy employees into accountable, successful members of the workforce. Through her prolific work with companies such as Bayer, New York Presbyterian, National Institutes of Health, Hallmark, Verizon Wireless, TD Ameritrade and Wells Fargo, Wakeman has helped eliminate tired, impersonal management techniques in favor of a reality-based revolution.

An expert blogger on FastCompany.com, Forbes.com and The Huffington Post, Wakeman’s ideas have been featured on the TODAY Show, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Insider, The Daily Muse, Success.com, and SHRM.com. She’s written three books, Reality-Based Leadership: Ditch the Drama, Restore Sanity to the Workplace, and Turn Excuses into Results, The Reality-Based Rules of the Workplace: Know What Boosts Your Value, Kills Your Chances, and Will Make You Happier, and No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement, and Drive Big Results.

In this episode, Cy and Karen discuss:

• Cy’s journey to success
• Cy’s business development
• Cy’s commitment to get leads
• Cy’s strategies
• How Cy connects to build and grow

Key Takeaways and Actionable Success Principles:

• When you consult to sell, focus on the facts and reality to bypass the potential drama
• Most of the stress we feel isn’t from our reality but from the story we make up about reality
• Commitment is the first step in accountability and that means the willingness to do whatever it takes without expectations on the outcome
• If you can provide value and content for others, people will want to come to you because you’ll be the expert
• Try making the effort to say “yes” more to become a bigger part of your clients’ lives and strengthen their loyalty