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Ꮆeorge Rivera

@georgejrivera

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Transforming How Leaders Deliver High-Stakes Presentations
Storyteller & Speaker Coach
Owner @ny_chiliswaterbikes

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#lightningmachine⚡️ #ny by @georgejrivera

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3 months ago

Knickfully joyous 🙏🏽🙏🏽#knicksforever by @georgejrivera

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4 months ago

I got it.

I used to think my worth was something I had to earn through burnout. Once I realized my worth was innate—and my skills were the commodity—everything changed.

A few years back I went into a re-negotiation of my existing contract rate and asked for a number that shattered the industry standard for a clinician in my line of work.

But the win wasn’t the check. The win was realizing I didn’t have to shrink to fit the room.

3 steps I used to shift my mindset:

1- Identify the disconnect: Are you paid for your time, or your impact? Shift your focus to impact.

2- Silence the inner critic: Your mistakes do not detract from your worthiness.

3- Practice the ask:
Practice stating your price/salary requirement until you can say it without your voice or your thoughts shaking.

Your worth is innate. Your salary is negotiable. Know the difference.

Today I will continue building using this method for my professional coaching, L&D, and speaking business. The sky will be the limit.

What’s your worth?

Let’s take this journey together.

#Mindset #Motivation #Negotiation #Worth #CareerDevelopment by @georgejrivera

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10 months ago

Got Kids? 👀

For years, schools quietly ran on:
“The teacher is always right.”

But if we’re serious about being student-centered, we have to be family-centered too.

Back in the early 2000s, during middle school conferences, I’d put a list of questions on my desk—not for parents to answer, but to invite partnership:

“What does your child get excited about at home?”
“What strengths do you wish more teachers noticed?”
“What gets in the way of homework at home?”
“How do you prefer I communicate with you?”

And I’d invite parents to ask me things like:
“What is my child doing well that we can celebrate?”
“Where is my child struggling, and how can we help at home?”
“If my child falls behind, what will our plan be—together?”

Here’s the truth: about 1 in 3 parents don’t feel confident helping their child with school.

Shifting from “teacher first” to “partnership first” doesn’t weaken our role—it multiplies our impact.

Got kids? Great. Now let’s make sure we’ve also got partners.
#parentsaspartners #teacherfollowteachers #kids by @georgejrivera

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10 months ago

How do you recharge? Or do you?

Every week, at least 3-4 times, I make it a point to step away from screens and reconnect with nature to recharge, reflect, and recalibrate.

Sometimes that looks like a quiet walk, other times it’s sitting on a park bench recording voice notes into my story file. Other times, simply noticing the sky on an late night walk. Those small, consistent moments outside act like a reset button for my mind and nervous system, especially after high-output days.

This isn’t just “nice to do” – it’s evidence-based. A growing body of research shows that spending time in nature is linked to lower stress, better mood, and improved cognitive function, including attention and working memory. Even short, regular exposure (as little as about 120 minutes per week in total) has been associated with better overall health and wellbeing.

Just 10 minutes walking after eating is amzing for health benefits.

In a world that constantly asks us to do more, I’ve found that one of the most strategic things I can do for my performance and mental health is to intentionally step outside, slow down, and let nature do its work.

How do you build nature into your weekly routine to recharge, reflect, and recalibrate?
#goodvibetribe #mentalhealth #nystateofmind by @georgejrivera

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10 months ago

Welcome to Philly!

First person camera/shooter mode 📸😮‍💨
It’s a Chiliboats thing…
#sunsetandchill coming soon..

#fyp #gamer #firstpersonview #chiliboats #waterbikes #trending #philly #viral #fun #bikeboats #nj #pa #ny #nc #tristate #thingstodoinphilly #visitphilly #tiktok #ig taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @georgejrivera

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a year ago

Do your meetings suck?

Are they inefficient and overloaded with info?

Do they seem to drag on with no true outcomes?

Maybe your meetings are ok. Could they be doing too much in one sitting?

In today’s fast-paced business environment, many organizations struggle with ineffective meetings that drown teams in unnecessary information.

A game-changing strategy to combat this issue is the use of pre-board meeting notes. As Frederick Wilkinson highlights, “This process created a domino effect: because board members were more informed about what was going on in the company before their meetings, they were much more focused and productive when they did get together.”

Companies utilizing pre-meeting notes report a 30% increase in meeting productivity compared to those relying solely on traditional agendas.

Implementing pre-board meeting notes offers several advantages that can significantly improve meeting efficiency.

•Key Performance Indicators: Including crucial data points that highlight the company’s current performance—such as sales figures, market trends, and customer feedback—helps ensure all members are aligned on the business’s state.

•Action Items from Previous Meetings: Recapping decisions made and tasks assigned in prior meetings provides context and continuity, keeping everyone accountable and focused on progress. (Delivered at least a week before scheduled meeting).

•Strategic Discussion Points: Outlining specific topics to be discussed, including potential challenges and growth opportunities, ensures attendees are prepared to contribute meaningfully.

When I implemented pre-board meeting notes with my team this last year, the results were remarkable. By providing detailed insights and context ahead of time, we entered the meeting fully aligned, resulting in a 40% reduction in meeting time and significantly more actionable decisions. The times I didn’t- a huge waste of everyone’s time and production.

Just showing up and calling a meeting with an agenda is not going to cut it anymore!

#Productivity #MeetingEfficiency #Leadership #Communication #BusinessStrategy #TimeManagement #TeamCollaboration by @georgejrivera

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a year ago

“Keeping it real” or another favorite- “being authentic,” may be hurting you because 93% of communication is nonverbal.

During a recent virtual meeting, I noticed that by amping up my facial expressions and leaning in while discussing key points, my teammates reacted with more enthusiasm. Incorporating gestures and maintaining eye contact with the camera helped foster connection, while closing distracting tabs kept me focused on everyone’s cues.

Here are five strategies to enhance your nonverbal communication in virtual meetings:

1-Mind Your Facial Expressions: Amp up your smiles and reactions on camera! Your enthusiasm should shine through to engage your audience.

2-Create Movement with Your Body: Lean in or shift slightly when discussing key points—it keeps attention sharp.

3-Incorporate Gestures Intentionally: Use your hands to emphasize your message, but make sure they stay within the camera view!

4-Practice Active Listening Cues: Maintain eye contact with the camera to show you’re engaged—your audience will feel the connection.

5-Avoid Multitasking: Close those distracting tabs and silence notifications. Focus is key to reading everyone’s nonverbal cues effectively.

Communicate boldly, both virtually and in person!

Let the default way of communicating nonverbally go, it does takes time and repetition.

#NonverbalCommunication #VirtualMeetings #leadership #publicspeaking taken in New York, New York by @georgejrivera

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a year ago

Respect My Time: Do You Really Need a Zoom Meeting?

3 Quick Criteria to Decide

In an era of back-to-back virtual calls, many meetings feel more like time traps than productive sessions. Before sending that next invite, ask yourself: does this actually need to be a Zoom meeting? Here’s how to decide by evaluating complexity, urgency, and the number of people involved.

1. How Complex Is the Topic?
Reserve Zoom for collaborative sessions or discussions requiring visuals, like brainstorming or strategic planning. For straightforward updates—like a deadline shift—an email or phone call will do.

2. How Time-Sensitive Is It?
Zoom setup takes time. For immediate issues, such as quick approvals or clarifications, a phone call or email is faster. Fun fact: excessive meetings account for $37 billion in wasted productivity annually [citation:1][citation:2].

3. Who Needs to Be Involved?
Zoom is great for large groups, ensuring engagement and input. But for one-on-one conversations, stick to a phone call or concise email to save time.

Overusing Zoom According to the Journal of Applied Psychology, meetings exceeding 25 minutes for minor topics increase cognitive fatigue, with 49% of participants reporting heightened stress. An overload of such meetings can derail focus and reduce team morale.

My “This Could Have Been a Phone Call” Moment
One Friday morning, I was pulled into a Zoom meeting labeled “Quick Team Update.” After 30 minutes of small talk and “catching up,” the groundbreaking message was: “We need to come up with a plan.” It was an hour I’ll never get back—all for something a two-minute phone call could’ve accomplished.

Pro Tip: Efficiency Over Habit
Before scheduling a Zoom meeting, ask:
Is it complex?
Is it urgent?
How many people need to be involved?

Thoughtful planning respects time and helps avoid the dreaded “Zoom fatigue.”

#WorkSmart #ZoomEtiquette #EfficiencyMatters #MeetingProductivity #RemoteWork by @georgejrivera

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a year ago

From Stage Fright to Screen Fright

Move over, stage fright—there’s a new contender called “screen fright” and it’s crashing Zoom calls everywhere! If you’ve ever stepped on stage with sweaty palms, you’ll feel right at home sweating in front of your webcam. According to a fresh 2024 AnxietyHub study, 68% of professionals say they feel just as anxious speaking on camera as they do in person. And get this: 30% admit they’ve given Shakespearean performances while still on mute—proving once and for all that the greatest audience is the one that can’t hear you.

But why are we like this? Thank our brains! They’re wired to care about other people’s opinions. That ancient lizard brain assumes any slip-up could mean social exile (nowadays, just viral LinkedIn embarrassment). Adrenaline kicks in, words get jumbled, and suddenly even “Good morning” sounds like you’re narrating a disaster.

My grand entrance to virtual presenting started with a bang—“Can everyone see my screen?” I bravely shared my grocery list with 75 Board of Education teachers and leaders. #CarrotsAreEssential. It’s now a running joke to check my tabs before every meeting.

Remember: You don’t need to be fearless—you just need to do one tiny thing braver than your nerves. Even if it’s just unmuting yourself!

#StageFright #PublicSpeaking #ScreenFright #ProfessionalGrowth by @georgejrivera

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a year ago

🔋 Want to Radiate Energy on Camera?

Read Your Own! 💥

Before every big meeting, I set aside 5 minutes to do a quick “energy check-in.” I record a short 10–30 second video or snap a pre-meeting photo of myself on camera. This simple habit lets me see exactly how I’m showing up—helping me catch any tension in my face, posture, or voice well before I go live.

Scientific Fact:
Studies show that mirror neurons in our brains fire both when we act and when we observe ourselves acting. This self-awareness rewires our neural pathways for more authentic, confident communication. In fact, research at Harvard found that self-viewing helps professionals spot and adjust micro-expressions and posture, which directly impact how others perceive our presence and leadership.

A Quote I Love:
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” — Anaïs Nin

A Quick Story:
Last month, I logged onto a high-stakes Zoom call just minutes after getting off a stressful phone conversation. I felt tense and “out of sorts,” but before hitting ‘Join,’ I quickly recorded a 30-second test video. Watching it back, my closed body language, clipped tone, and lack of warmth were obvious. With just five deep breaths, a bigger smile, and a reset of my shoulders, I transformed my presence for the real meeting—AND the feedback was night and day. One teammate said, “Wow, you always bring the energy, no matter what!”

Takeaway:
If you want to command attention, lead with warmth, and create impact—check your own energy on camera first. Self-reflection isn’t vanity, it’s leadership.

What’s your best “reset” trick before going live? Let’s share tips! 👇✨

#OnCameraConfidence #ExecutivePresence #VirtualLeadership #RadiateEnergy #remoteworking by @georgejrivera

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a year ago

🎥 Turn your camera On! 🎥

Ever wonder what you communicate by simply turning your camera on in virtual meetings? Studies show that video presence increases participant engagement by up to 50%. As Brené Brown says, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of connection and the path to the feeling of worthiness.” I still remember how shy I felt on those early Zoom days turning my camera on—but it made each conversation feel more human. Challenge yourself to show up—your PRESENCE matters!

#VirtualPresence #Leadership #RemoteWork #ProfessionalGrowth taken in New York, New York by @georgejrivera

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a year ago