Misty's Bio:

Misty Megia (@MistyMegia)I'm a CEO and Creative Producer Director of the ToP Speaker program for executives. As a Creative Director I help high achieving speakers with curating and topic ideation, develop outstanding delivery techniques, build their personal branding and support all stages of the final production. I bring over 25+ years in representing companies and organizations globally and 20+ years as a professional actor and director. I love helping women find the power and confidence in their voice and watching it unlock their career potential. 

In the corporate environment, on top of being a spokesperson, I was a business strategist extraordinaire. I have driven success for multiple companies across various industries including hardware manufacturing, software developers, green energy, education and more. My 25 years' experience includes market strategy, project management, public speaking, corporate branding and channel marketing. In my theatre life I am a performer, director and choreographer in professional theatre with 100+ productions in my portfolio.  

My powerful methods have positioned me as a leader in my field. I have helped businesses create new revenue streams, develop their brands, streamline operations and bring a fresh eye to the company. Most recently, she led a global team at Intuit as the Global Head of the ProAdvisor Program and Education Strategy. Through this role, I established a global presence for our ProAdvisor community and help set standards for international education delivery.  

I have been honored with various awards including, after three short years working with the accounting profession, recognition as one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting by CPA Practice Advisor. I also earned a spot as “One to Watch” on the Top 100 Influencers In Accounting in 2020.

Misty's Links:

Website:

mistymegia.com

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mistymegia/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/mistymegia

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/misty-megia-3a634a2/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/misty.schachtellmegia

Recap:

The timing of this is perfect because of COVID. So many people are finding themselves being forced to pivot. Suddenly dropped into a new working environment, or losing their jobs, they find themselves (smartly) looking to start their own thing.  

Misty says to me - failing in public is even scarier - everyone can see your failures. When you have the courage and take risks, it helps everyone else.  And in hindsight you're just like, "ok" that wasn't so bad.  

The show must go on - on the stage of life, when you make a mistake, make it part of it. Act like that is exactly what was supposed to happen. This won't ALWAYS work as Misty explains, but in most cases it will.  

The answer - improvise!   Skip a verse if you have to!  

Facially and body language wise don't let it show that you made a mistake. Then you can work on it later, but in the moment - the show must go on.  

Misty went through several pivots, from The Sleeter Group to CPA Academy, to Tsheets, which got bought by Intuit, and now she runs her own company called, "The Theater of Marketing."  

When the news broke that The Sleeter Group was being sold, of course everyone was shocked.  The Sleeter Group filled a unique space that still hasn't been filled - a completely agnostic organization that could vet apps.   No one left the company. Everyone worked together to go out on the best note possible.

This is called, "class."   They cared about the community.  What made the Sleeter Conference so special? It had "heart." They wanted to figure out what would create the best possible experience for the attendee.  

Misty's biggest pivot arguably was from Intuit to doing her own thing.  

Initially she launched the Theater of Public Speaking. Theater of Marketing is a "sub" of that.  

Leaving Intuit was "terrifying."  

Alison Ball who was still with Intuit at the time said, "make sure you're running TOWARDS something, and not away from something.  

At Intuit Misty had an amazing and unique opportunity to have global influence working with some incredible people.  So why leave?  

Something was missing.  A mentor had Misty do this "chart" based on what would the "perfect job" look like? What would be all of the components that would make up that job? After Misty did this exercise she realized this job doesn't exist.  

So she created it.  

Homework Exercise 1 for the listeners...  

Do this. Write down the components of what your perfect job would look like. From day to day tasks to more generally what kind of stuff do you like spending your time doing?  

1. Write down everything you love and would like in your day and your job.
2. Write down what your perfect day looks like

Listen to Misty's answers on these. Start at #25:00.  

"It's not just the tactical things, but also the feelings that I want to have."  

Include everything - Family, brunch, exercise, take Fridays off...  

"I'm going to love every day" Misty says!  

Homework Exercise 2 for the listeners...  

Thinking about making a change? A Major one? Ask yourself questions along these lines..  

Write the negative thoughts in column A, then write the positive one right next to it  

• What if I don't succeed? / What if I do?
• What if I'm not financially stable? / What do I need to feel financially stable?  

 The other important thing that helps - that we all NEED?...  

Community  

So make sure you surround yourself with good people.

The kind of people who lift you up and support and encourage you.  

You have to inject yourself into the community. It will not just come to you. You have to build it.  

Donna Duncan from Intuit asked Misty to teach a theater class at an event in Canada. This was the first clue that this was what Misty had to do.

Even the sound engineer chased after her to tell her what a great presentation it was.  

This is how Misty learned that this was a skill that would be useful to people - and that she could teach it.  

Search your experience for your version of this. Maybe you missed the clues?

Look for them, and keep looking for them and remember that these clues - your inspiration can come from anywhere.  

Have I told you about the first time I jumped off the high diving board?

Go to #38:00.  

The way to overcome your fears is to face them, and place yourself in a position where there is no turning back.  

You have to do what it takes to get that confidence to cut the cord and just do what needs to be done so that you wind up doing what you love.  

Then you can say, "I'm going to love every day."

Then you can say, "I love every day."  

And stop testing. If you spend all of your time testing you will never move forward.

Push through the fear, stop testing, and jump off the high board.