Time and again, as you go through nearly 200 episodes of Fine Is a 4-Letter Word, you’ll find stories from guests who found themselves disconnected from what’s supposed to be a connected world.
Your circle of close friends you see all the time – your “besties”? Go back two years and tell me how many of them are the same people.
Your avid following on social media who hang on your every post? Delete your account and I bet maybe two of them even try to reach out somewhere else.
Sometimes being disconnected is a lonely place to be. Other times, it gives you the advantage of not being indoctrinated into other people’s beliefs.
It could also mean your tribe is quietly forming behind you as you go through this journey called life – as Margaret Rogers discovered when her own journey became a giant a-ha moment.
The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, her parents’ cultural way of showing Love was to make sure she had the Security that came with providing for her basic needs. She wanted for little materially, but the rest was up to her. Her parents told her two things: “We want you to be happy, healthy, and have a steady job” and “Money’s easy to spend and very difficult to make”.
In school, she was the only Asian girl in class. There weren’t the thriving, nuclear Asian communities that exist in almost every city today. In college, taking an engineering class filled almost entirely with white men, her professor interrupted his lecture and singled out the woman, asking her, “do you understand?” for no particular reason at all.
Graduating with degrees in both electrical engineering and computer science, Margaret easily got a job during the dot-com boom. But then the bubble burst. She decided she really wanted to do “consulting” with only a vague notion of what that is. So she said “if you’re laying people off, pick me” and started her own firm.
This was all turning out just fine. Really. But Fine is a 4-Letter Word, as Margaret found out after another company acquired hers and she became an executive there. When it hit her that the acquirer had bought the company’s technical skill but abandoned the culture she had built, she felt like she’d let down the team she’d nurtured and assured she’d take good care of.
So, who had Margaret’s back now?
You’ll discover that in a moment. You’ll hear her story about the power of mentorship that began when she hired her first employee and recognized how that changed her own life forever. You’ll also see how everybody from her Taiwanese grandmother to so many she’s met along the way have come together behind her like a posse. Like she’s Wonder Woman and they’re her Avengers.
Listen all the way through as it will hit you right at the end.
Margaret’s hype song is “Let’s Get It Started” by The Black Eyed Peas.
Resources:
Invitation from Lori:Â
This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.
Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.
Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun” team-building events.
But let’s be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.
That’s where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter – reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!
If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let’s chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.
Because when people feel heard, they engage.
When they engage, they perform.
And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.
And now that we’ve talked a little business between you and me, let’s talk some business with Margaret. Wait – is she balancing an old-school checkbook?
