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What can YOU do for the International Day of Peace?

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If you see someone

falling behind, walk

beside them.  If you

see someone being

ignored, find a way to

include them.  Always

remind people of

their worth.  One

small act could mean

the world to them.

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BEHUMAN. It’s the only way to get ahead in business today.

Competition today is fiercer than ever. It seems that every job candidate is flashing a world-class resume and every business competitor is the absolute best at what they do. Add to that a worldwide pandemic shutting down business you never thought would go away while others are having trouble spring up in their place, and your competition just got that much more fierce.

Ryan Foland has a message for your audience, however: Don’t. Be. Fooled. and Don’t. Be. Discouraged. People exaggerate out of desperation. By revealing stories off ailures, setbacks, and personal flaws without shame or fear, you exhibit greater self-confidence than your competition. You cultivate connections with serious, smart people, and you build loyalty that lasts.

Ditch the Act shows how to present your humanness―imperfect and flawed but honest, resilient, and willing to learn―in strategic ways to achieve clear, defined goals. It provides an actionable program for building an authentic, long-lasting personal brand, explaining why exposure is important and how it cultivates more durable connections than any polished persona can.

By creating a personal brand that’s honest and authentic and that reveals personal struggles, you’ll build stronger, longer-lasting relationships―and achieve greater success.

Career sand businesses based on authenticity and truth aren’t just more rewarding than those founded on hyperbole and the “hard sell.” Because they’re founded on durable, robust relationships, they’re rock-solid―and better withstand business uncertainty and tough times.

Ditch the act, be real―and jump ahead of the competition before they even know you are there.

On your program, Ryan can discuss:

• His background as a personal branding expert.
• The importance of exposure to cultivate connections and grow personal brand loyalty far better than any polished persona.
• Defining lessons that can teach the value of truth, candor, and clarity when it comes to building a personal brand.
• How a brand can more easily and clearly share their story by ditching the act and removing the masks that prevent the consumer from seeing the “real you”. 
• How fear can be a precise guide and a key component in brand building. 
• How a new brand can bridge the gap between themselves and the people they want to emulate effectively.
• What opportunities for brand building exist during the pandemic that did not exist prior?

Praise For DITCH THE ACT

“Ditch the Act will change your perspective on why telling your story can open doors to unimaginable opportunities–that have always been right in front of you, you just weren’t letting them in.”

―Tiffani Bova, Keynote Speaker, Growth and Innovation Evangelist at Salesforce, and bestselling author of Growth IQ

“We think people only want to hear about our successes. We think that’s where our credibility will come from. And in that false assumption we leave one of our greatest powers untapped. Ryan and Leonard have it just right in this book. You’ll never think of your attempts to influence the same way again.”

―Greg McKeown, New York Times bestselling author of Essentialism

“Whether you’re building a new business, reinventing yourself, or trying to stand out at work . . . when you tap into the power ofyour authentic self, you become unstoppable at achieving your life’s true potential.”

―Dorie Clark, Duke University Fuqua School of Business adjunct professor, Harvard Business Review contributor and author of Stand Out, Reinventing You and Entrepreneurial You

“As much as we want to put on a brave and glorious image, not providing hardship makes us serve fewer people. Ditch the Act is one of the few books that makes me become a better leader, business owner, and person by knowing my true journey is the one that mustbe told. This is a must-read book for anyone that wants to connect more with their customers, loved ones, and themselves.”

―Kim Orlesky, author of Sell More. Faster and President, KO Advantage Group

“Ditch the Act is an honest and engaging conversation built to challenge you, your perceptions, and your ability to value imperfection in a seemingly perfect world. It’s time to rethink the roles of perception and failure, and Ditch the Act couldn’t come at a better time.”

―Matt Prince, Senior Manager Public Relations and Brand Experience, at Taco Bell

“Ditch the Act is the clear and compelling playbook I didn’t know I needed–an easy read that models vulnerability at its finest, while offering practical guidance for how to accelerate personal brand-building.”

―Tara Jaye Frank, Keynote Speaker, Leadership Consultant, and former VP Hallmark Cards

“Ditch the Act shows that the time is NOW to expose our own humanity to achieve not just success, but LONGSTANDING IMPACT. When I coach individuals to tap into that humanity, they gain a surefire foundation to achieve their full potential.”

―Dr. Aviva Legatt, The Ivy League Executive Coach; Author of Get Real and Get In; Forbes Contributor; and Affiliated Faculty: University of Pennsylvania/The Wharton School.

“At Zoom, we know the power of human to human connection. In a world where there is more digital connection than ever before, a reminder to be more human when on digital platforms is highly valuable. In Ditch the Act, Foland and Kim dive deep into how to showcase your real and whole self, both online and offline, in a way that builds trust by being truthful.” ―Eric Yuan, founder and CEO, Zoom

“As a chief marketing officer who specializes in inbound marketing, I see Ditch the Act as not only a practical guide, but quite tactical as well, to not only take an individual and turn them into the face of a brand, but to rally large teams at companies to do the same. I will be implementing these practices at my company with all our employees.”

―Ryan Bonnici, chief marketing officer at G2, former Hub spot, Salesforce and Microsoft

“Being vulnerable is essential to innovation, but very few know how to actually do it in an authentic way. Ditch the Act is the most comprehensive guide I’ve seen that provides a step-by-step actionable plan on how to get started now.”

―Josh Linkner, five-time tech entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and founder/former CEO of Detroit Venture Partners

“In Ditch the Act, Leonard and Ryan teach readers how to turn their biggest weaknesses into their greatest strengths. They show you how transparency and vulnerability can make you stronger, not weaker, and how you can go from fearful to fearless. They provide an easy-to-implement guide that includes highly effective exercises that help you cut through the nonsense and noise and establish a bold and honest brand.”

―Jonathan Alpert, Psychotherapist, performance coach and author of Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days

“Many people look great on paper, but few know how to translate that to real relatability. In fact, the more success you find, the more unrelatable you can become (without even realizing it). We live in a world where people crave authenticity. Ditch the Act shows you how to be more comfort- able with yourself, and shows the value in sharing the struggles that built your success. Doing so helps others see themselves in your story, and that is what creates real connection

What is Good News For Ryan Foland?, go to: http://goodnewsplanet.com/what-is-good-news-for-ryan-foland/

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“Roots-heavy, post-punk music that reinvents the conventions of country music
with a CBGB’s-meets-Grand Ole Opry feel.” -Crawdaddy

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Excerpt from The ABC’s of Homeschooling

By Laura Ann Huber

My husband and I don’t always see things eye to eye. We have had many disagreements and arguments, mostly because I have what I like to call “Momma Bear Syndrome.” Momma Bear Syndrome is an instinctive, unthinking act to defend the cubs at all costs. If Poppa Bear disciplines more harshly than Momma Bear deems appropriate the claws come out, and Momma Bear is on the attack. Watch Out! This can cause confusion and disruption in the den. Parents must quietly go behind doors if this happens and talk about what is wrong or right. Try to find middle ground. Sticking together is very important. Sometimes it’s hard because men and women see things so differently. Once a decision is made, go out and talk to the kids together. If a punishment is needed now is the time to explain it to the child. Let them see you are now on the same page. You must stick together, or your children and the outside world will—wear you down.

Our decision to homeschool our children was not made overnight, nor was it blissfully blessed by both of us at first. The idea was first introduced to us when my husband met a colleague’s son, named Josh. The boy seemed so bright and out-going, able to speak and talk to adults better than any other child my husband knew. Every day he would come home from work bragging about Josh and the fact that his mother homeschooled him. I was really intrigued, but in my own small thinking brain the thought that I could homeschool my children never occurred to me.

When it was time to sign our oldest child up for kindergarten I was having a very difficult time. He was still so little and young; I just couldn’t imagine sending him off into a world that didn’t include me or his family. I prayed and prayed about it without my husband knowing how I was feeling. The year I was supposed to sign Keith up for kindergarten happened to be 1999. On Tuesday, April 20, 1999, the unthinkable happened in a high school named Columbine. Two high school seniors went on a murderous rampage, killing thirteen students. It sickened every parent in America and frightened every student who heard of the horrific event. My heart had been telling me for quite some time I should homeschool Keith, but being inundated with the culture and society we live in I just didn’t feel I was qualified. I felt that he needed to go to school. Even after the tragedy, I still thought it best that he attend school. After all, that’s what everyone else was doing.

But my spirit would not let the issue rest. I lay in bed every night praying for an answer. Finally, I expressed my feelings to my husband, “You are always coming home and talking about how well rounded and what a great kid Josh is. I thought maybe I should homeschool Keith.” His answer echoed my own feelings of self-doubt and he said, “But you’re not a teacher. Josh’s mom is a licensed teacher.” Sad and dejected I decided to sign Keith up for kindergarten.

I made arrangements to talk to some kindergarten teachers and visit some classrooms. First I would be going to the public school, and then to the private Catholic school I had attended as a child. Since my nephew, Ethan, was in first grade and attended the public school I would be visiting, I decided it would be fun if I could take him to school that morning. We started off around eight. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining brilliantly, and I couldn’t help noticing he would really rather be playing outside. He took me in through the front doors of the school into what I perceived as total pandemonium. Having attended a Catholic school all my life, I had never witnessed children running from here to there in the hallways. I put it aside because Ethan was excited about me purchasing a mechanical pencil for him to use that day. After visiting with a kindergarten teacher, I was more confused than ever. I told her I had been considering homeschooling and asked her opinion, expecting her to convince me sending my children to school was the best thing for them. She answered me honestly saying, “If you can homeschool, your children will be better off. My sister homeschools her children. She offers them way more than any teacher could.” This was a lot to consider.

Next it was off to my old alma mater. Here the children were treated totally the opposite of what I had witnessed at the public school. Discipline ruled as the kids walked out of church in quiet lines like little soldiers. Neither school was what I wanted for my children.

Perplexed and confused I went to a store before going home. As I was making my purchase the woman behind the counter asked me in a shocked voice, “Have you heard about the bomb threat at

Brookville Elementary School?” All I could see was my precious, little blond headed, blue-eyed nephew whom I had just dropped off less than an hour ago. My heart aching and my stomach churning, I longed to go back into the school and pick him up and take him back to his safe home, but this was not in my authority. I had no right to do that. Only his parents could. I did, however, have a say about my own children.

That afternoon I called a neighbor who homeschools her children. She is not a licensed teacher and her children were learning just like everyone else’s children. It could be done. I approached my husband that night about how I was feeling. The shootings. The threats of bombings. The pandemonium. The discipline. The words of the kindergarten teacher. He took a long deep breath and said he would think about it. We were both unsure, but we both agreed that no matter what we decided to do, we would stick together on our decision. Supporting each other through thick and thin.

Finally we both agreed that we would give homeschooling a try, at least through Keith’s first year of kindergarten. After that, each year we would re-evaluate making sure we were doing the right thing. Back in 1999 if you were homeschooling your child many people questioned your motives and the well-being of the child. Some people were supportive, some were not. One thing is for sure, when you decide to homeschool your children, many people become experts in giving advice on raising them, even if their kids didn’t turn out to be successful well-rounded adults, they now know what is best for yours. Even if a person doesn’t have any kids, some still think they know what’s best for yours.

That happened to me a lot back then. I took most of the flack because I am the children’s primary care giver, and my husband is the bread winner. He always seemed to be at work or in another room when people questioned me. Sometimes I felt as if I had to defend my position like Grant defending the Union. But my husband, Bryon, always had my back, and if someone would sneak in from the left flank when my defenses were down—he was on guard and there to protect me. Once a close friend of Bryon’s was questioning me about homeschooling after Bryon went out of the room. He was getting madder and madder at the fact that we weren’t sending Keith to school; not now and not any time in the near future. Neither of us knew that Bryon could hear his every word. I was feeling overwhelmed and was really getting upset, when Bryon came in like the knight in shining armor he always is for me. He sat down banging his fist on the table and saying, in a rather commanding voice, “If anyone has anything to say about our decision to homeschool, they need to come to me and I will answer any questions they may have.” No one questioned us much after that. Everyone knew we had made a decision and were sticking together and sticking to it. This meant more to me than words can say. It gave me confidence in myself, our decision, and our marriage.

Each of us is a different individual raised in different home environments with a variety of discipline techniques and belief systems. When you marry and have a family you must take the best from both sides and leave the rest rumbling behind, creating new values and new ideas. George Washington once said, “I have always considered marriage as the most interesting event of one’s life, the foundation of happiness or misery.” Keep a loving and respectful open mind toward your spouse’s views and opinions.

Encourage him to do the same for you and you’re most likely to experience happiness and not misery. The country music song by Diamond Rio, Meet in the Middle, tells us how to stick together and avoid arguments. It goes like this, “I’d start walking your way, you’d start walking mine. We’d meet in the middle ‘neath that old Georgia pine.” Sometimes, it’s not quite the middle where we have to meet. Sometimes one spouse has to walk a lot farther than the other. Once a decision is made, stand by your spouse. Be proud of each other. Your family will be much stronger and you’ll create a home that no one can divide.

Laura Ann Huber is the author of The ABC’s of Homeschooling and the proud parent of three children.More information about their adventures can be found at: www.laurahuber.com.

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