We had the good fortune of connecting with Bernadette McClelland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bernadette, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I am such a big believer in taking a combination of small steps and quantum leaps in both our lives and our businesses. Basically what that means is thinking of an outcome that is scary and leaning into an “Uncertainty….come get me!” mindset.

Risk-taking has played a huge role in my life and business.

*It is what enabled me to leave NZ and move to Australia in my teenage years vs live in the same suburb I had lived in for 18 years.
* It prompted my husband and I to invest in my development so I could launch a business when we were bankrupt vs living a linear life of getting a job on a set wage.
* It is what catapulted us to be granted a Green card in our 60’s, sell our belongings and move to the USA with no job and yet still thrive with business and relationships.

Risk is crucial to growth. And growth is what we all want in order to live a life worth living – if not, we shrivel up and simply exist.

And ‘A’int nobody got time for that!’

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I wear two hats… one as a sales leadership consultant ensuring businesses build their revenue and profits through the sales function of their business.

I am also a keynote speaker who ensures businesses, associations, franchises, CEOs and leaders become the #1 choice of their prospects, differentiate themselves in a very busy, noisy and competitive environment and dominate their market.

Whilst anyone can teach skills around business development, and anyone can address mindset, without the ability to leverage strategic stories most salespeople can’t elevate their connections, deepen their conversations or accelerate their pipeline conversions impacting the results of the leader and the profitability of the company.

The journey has not been linear – it has had its ups and downs and no doubt, will continue to have those. What has changed is that I have adjusted my expectations of outcomes and relationships.

Taking giant leaps means we need to also make sure we’re not spending 80% of our time doing things that are holding us back or hanging with people and/or clients that hold us back and sometimes that has meant making decisions that are scary.

Having worked with Anthony Robbins as his Master Coach for Asia Pacific and now being one of Harvard’s MBA coaches for the sales component of the MBA program, as well as being granted a Green Card based on being an ‘alien of exceptional ability in my field of sales leadership’ are definitely wonderful parts of my journey I will never take for granted.

I guess, in summary, the lessons learned are to think of a goal you want and that scares you and distill it to the basic few outcomes and activities and simply do it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We have had family from Australia stay with us and we love to take them to Red Rocks and then ice-cream in Morrison. We’ve been to Evergreen for ‘real coffee’ (Australian standards) at Bivouac and of course Breckenridge and Aspen are definite mini road-trips.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband, best friend, soulmate, biggest supporter and overall good guy, Tim McClelland, has supported me and my ideas since we met 31 years ago. His belief in me is stronger than my belief in myself sometimes – proof that we are all a work in progress and should never settle or believe we have ever ‘made it’.

Website: www.BernadetteMcClelland.com. www.3RedFolders.com

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/bernadettemcclelland

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrk6IyVUrgr2xdB2fM1GAOQ

Image Credits
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