Archive 2: 2017

475: The 5AM Miracle and the Free Time Formula: Focus on What Matters Most, Amplify Your Productivity, and Remain Flexible to Avoid Burnout with Jeff Sanders

January 10, 2018

Jeff Sanders is a keynote speaker, author of The 5 AM Miracle, and host of The 5 AM Miracle Podcast.

Jeff's latest book, The Free-Time Formula, launches in February 2018 and you can learn more at JeffSanders.com.

Quotes:

“The goal is figuring out what is ideal for you—what that balance looks like and how to make it happen.” – Jeff Sanders

“If you have a routine that's the same for more than a couple of weeks, I intentionally change it because I need that sense of freshness and newness to keep me more interested in my routine.” – Jeff Sanders

“Busyness does not equate to results. Most of the time, busyness just leads to overwhelm and stress, making you feel better even though nothing actually got accomplished.” – Jeff Sanders

Takeaways:

08:44 Early morning hours are the most powerful for focusing on your most important projects without distractions.

14:05 Morning routines should be flexible and adaptable to your current life goals and seasons.

17:11 Accountability and multiple systems can help you stick to productive morning habits.

26:32 Self-awareness and weekly reviews help prevent burnout and improve personal productivity.

34:10 Cutting unnecessary tasks from your calendar creates space for meaningful work and personal time.

Resources

The 5 A.M. Miracle: Dominate Your Day Before Breakfast (Amazon Book)
The Free-Time Formula: Finding Happiness, Focus, and Productivity No Matter How Busy You Are (Amazon Book)
The 5 AM Miracle Podcast (Podcast)
Jeff Sanders (Official Website)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:27 — 36.1MB) | Embed

474: Moments of Adversity: Take Risks, Be Relatable, and Adopt a Growth Mindset with Dr. James Kelley

January 9, 2018

Dr. James Kelley is of the book: The Crucible's Gift: 5 lessons from authentic leaders who thrive in adversity. The book unpacks the journey a leader takes to become more authentic, starting with their crucible.

James teaches, writes, and produces is bi-weekly podcast Executives After Hours. The podcast is predicated on interviewing executives about their personal journey. The show's motto: "I care about who you are, not what you do, because what you do defines who you are."

If you want to learn more Dr. Kelley's talk on authentic leadership, inspirational or corporate wellness strategies, please email at james@drjameskelley.com for your next event.

Quotes:

“Don't let fear conquer you—conquer fear. It's okay to be scared; what matters most is what you do with that fear.” – Dr. James Kelley

“Most people listen to talk, but if you actually listen compassionately with the intent to listen, so much can happen in those moments.” – Dr. James Kelley

“Too often, people use their crucible with a victim mentality instead of an opportunity mentality. Those who use it as an opportunity—I'm telling you—grab those people, hold on to them, and learn from them.” – Dr. James Kelley

Takeaways:

07:40 Stepping out of your comfort zone and experiencing different cultures can dramatically expand your worldview and personal growth.

15:56 Mirroring body language and focusing on the other person helps build stronger, more genuine connections in conversations.

17:24 Listening with true intent and compassion creates deeper, more meaningful interactions with others.

19:01 Fear is a natural emotion, but it shouldn't prevent you from taking risks and pursuing personal development.

27:55 Adversity can be a powerful catalyst for personal transformation if you choose to learn from it instead of being defined by it.

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:38 — 29.0MB) | Embed

473: Work Less and Make More: Track Your Time, Delegate, and Tidy-Up Your Super Fast Business with James Schramko

January 8, 2018

James Schramko is an internet marketer and business coach who has helped over 2,000 students create and maintain six, seven and eight-figure businesses.

He's grown his coaching communities into multi-million dollar businesses that fund a lifestyle he loves. Running his businesses with an input of just hours a week, he finds ample time to surf, spend time with family and friends, watch movies and travel. The keys to such idyllic living are what he shares inside his two paid communities, SilverCircle and SuperFastBusiness.

James talks with us about his best productivity (and simplicity) secrets, easy ways to make money and find the low hanging fruit in your business. 80/20 isn't enough, you must go for 64/4!

Quotes:

“Stop worrying about how and start focusing on who.” – James Schramko

“If you could drop 80% of the things you're doing, you could still end up with 80% of the results you're getting right now.” – James Schramko

“I made a promise to myself that I will always be able to innovate and navigate around change, because that is the constant I face when I'm in business for myself.” – James Schramko

Takeaways:

11:59 4% of your business efforts can generate 64% of your total results, making it crucial to focus on your most productive activities.

17:19 Tracking time and evaluating business assets helps entrepreneurs make rational decisions about which projects to keep, sell, or eliminate.

28:46 Simplifying your business and reducing unnecessary tasks can lead to increased profitability and personal satisfaction.

30:06 Stop worrying about "how" to do things and start focusing on finding the right "who" to help you accomplish your business goals.

34:26 Building a successful business is about finding an offer that converts and scaling it, rather than creating multiple mediocre offerings.

Resources

Super Fast Business (Website)
Silver Circle Business Mentoring (Website)
Work Less, Make More (Book)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:48 — 35.5MB) | Embed

472: Book Launch Genesis: Move the Needle, Build an Online Army to Run a Bestseller Campaign, and Discover the Secrets to Daily Podcast Content with Erica Glessing

January 4, 2018

Erica Glessing is the CEO of Happy Publishing, she is a master of happiness and creative expression. She's has published 325+ authors to #1 bestseller status (and counting) and runs the company Happy Publishing to give light-bringers a bigger voice on the planet.

Quotes:

“Reawaken that thing you liked about it when you first got excited, because you can—and if you don't, you're just going to get more and more jaded.” – Erica Glessing

“You have to look at: What do I want to get out of it? What's it going to contribute to me? And then, how can I make sure it makes money for me?” – Erica Glessing

“Don't be afraid to ask. Use language that's clear, and don't be afraid to ask people to listen, to subscribe, or to buy the book.” – Erica Glessing

Takeaways:

05:21 Creating a podcast with daily content requires clear themes and strategic planning for each day of the week.

08:26 Building an online audience works best through guest interviews who actively promote the show to their own networks.

18:29 When launching a book or podcast, focus on getting close to the top ranking and push even harder when you're near number one.

36:16 Networking and having generative conversations are more effective for business growth than hiding in your workspace and hoping for results.

42:50 Reignite the original passion that first motivated you to start your project to avoid burnout and maintain enthusiasm.

Resources

Happy Publishing (Website)
The Erica Glessing Show (8-minute Daily Podcast)
Erica Glessing (Amazon)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:52 — 42.0MB) | Embed

471: Optimize Conversions, Get the Word Out, and Talk to Your Customers to Find Objections, Ideas, and Clients with Merchant Account Wizard Dr. Glenn Livingston

January 3, 2018

Dr. Glenn Livingston, a clinical psychologist was the long time CEO of two major dollar consulting firms which have sold more than $30,000,000 in services to Fortune 500 companies like Kraft, Nabisco, Novartis, American Express, Whirlpool, Panasonic, Lipton, Bausch & Lomb, and many more. You may have seen or hear his work, research, and/or theories in major periodicals such as The New York Times, Crain's NY Business, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Sun Times, ABC/CBS/Bloomberg radio... and more!

In recent years Dr. Livingston built and sold a 21 person online advertising agency and turned to teaching small businesses to leverage the tools and techniques used by big industry.

Quotes:

“If you have something that genuinely improves people's lives, it's actually more unethical not to market it than to market it.” – Dr. Glenn Livingston

“You can't wait for something to happen. You have to make it happen.” – Dr. Glenn Livingston

“All the money you'll ever make will come from other people, so if you want to make more money, you have to talk to more people.” – Dr. Glenn Livingston

Takeaways:

03:02 Proactively managing merchant accounts can save significant money and prevent unexpected business disruptions.

06:21 Business growth requires continuous communication with service providers and customers.

12:35 Direct customer interaction provides invaluable insights for improving marketing and product offerings.

13:49 Customer service isn't just a cost center, but a potential sales enhancement opportunity.

22:22 Conversion optimization hinges on clearly defining the problem, making a strong promise, and providing specific proof.

Resources

Merchant Account Wizard (Reduce Merchant Fees)
Glenn Livingston (Official Site)
Never Binge Again (Site)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:28 — 25.2MB) | Embed

470: You Become What You Focus On: Words, Thoughts, Vibrations, The Law of Attraction and Neurolinguistic Programming with Michael Losier

January 2, 2018

Michael Losier is the author of the best-selling books Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't, and Law of Connection: The Science of Using NLP to Create Ideal Personal and Professional Relationships.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:13 — 28.6MB) | Embed

Michael caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey, who interviewed him four times on her Soul Series™ radio show on Sirius/XM satellite radio. Michael went on to enjoy a year-long run hosting his own radio show on Oprah & Friends radio.

Michael's third book, Your Life's Purpose: Uncover What Really Fulfills You, helps the reader and student get more clarity about their life's purpose AND most importantly, what they need to be experiencing to live their life's purpose. His YouTube videos have millions of views, and his new live weekly Internet show, Hang Out With Michael, allows him to connect with fans of Law of Attraction in an exciting way.

Quotes:

“The law of attraction isn't responding to your dream board; it's responding to how you feel about your dream board.” – Michael Losier

“Every time you use the words don't, not, and no, you're thinking about what you don't want, and when you think about what you don't want, it causes you to send the vibration of what you don't want.” – Michael Losier

“Whenever we use the words coincidence, serendipity, synchronicity, fate, karma, or luck, we're really describing evidence of the law of attraction.” – Michael Losier

Takeaways:

01:00 Your thoughts and feelings create your reality, and you are responsible for both positive and negative outcomes in your life.

10:54 Avoid using negative words like "don't," "not," and "no" as they inadvertently draw attention to what you don't want.

22:55 Frame your desires as being "in the process of attracting" rather than claiming you already have something you don't.

26:43 You become what you focus on, so choose to create an upward spiral of positive thinking and outcomes.

30:22 Remember the core principle: "I get what I vibrate, not always what I want."

Resources

Michael Losier (Official Site)
Michael J. Losier (Facebook)
Hang Out with Michael (Weekly Show)
Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't (Book)
Law of Connection: The Science of Using NLP to Create Ideal Personal and Professional Relationships (Book)
Your Life's Purpose: Uncover What Really Fulfills You (Book)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:13 — 28.6MB) | Embed

469: Build a Complete Marketing System, Think Differently, Plan Your Business, Focus, and Implement with Diane Conklin

January 1, 2018

Diane Conklin is an internationally known author, entrepreneur, coach, consultant, marketing and business strategist, implementation specialist and speaker.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:37 — 30.8MB) | Embed

Diane is a direct response marketing expert who specializes in showing business owners how to integrate their online and offline marketing strategies, media and message, to get maximum results from their marketing dollars. Diane also shows entrepreneurs and small business owners how to outperform their competition by measuring their marketing, and strategically use multi-media campaigns to stand alone in their marketplace, as the go-to provider for their products and services.

She's the founder of Complete Marketing Systems, Diane and has been involved in numerous campaigns grossing over $1,000,000.00 several times in her career and routinely helps people grow businesses to 6 figures, and beyond, in short periods of time, several times in as little as 90 days.

Quotes:

“Free is the most expensive thing that you're doing in your business.” – Diane Conklin

“Stop comparing your behind the scenes real to everyone else's highlight reel.” – Diane Conklin

“It's not what's the best, it's what's the best for me.” – Diane Conklin

Takeaways:

02:51 Avoid comparing your behind-the-scenes struggles to other entrepreneurs' highlight reels on social media.

05:11 Your time has a monetary value, so calculate the return on energy before spending hours on free tasks.

18:26 Choose business mentors who have proven longevity and have successfully rebuilt after setbacks.

23:17 Implement a daily practice of writing down your completed tasks to track real business progress.

23:58 Always start with the end goal in mind and backward plan your business strategies.

Resources

Complete Marketing Systems (Website)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:37 — 30.8MB) | Embed

468: Reverse-Engineer Success: Meetups, Cold Calling, and Deal Flow with Alex Berman

December 29, 2017

Alex Berman is the Founder and President of Experiment 27. Alex is responsible for generating over $6.5 million in B2B sales and over $35+ million in leads for his clients. He also creates weekly videos to help agency owners grow their business and bring in more revenue teaching them how to optimize B2B sales cycles and put inbound marketing strategies in place. He's also a former director of marketing at the 60-person, three time INC 5000 agency in NYC.

Quotes:

“I think most of the testing should take place on other people's dime, and the easiest way to do that is by having a day job first.” – Alex Berman

“The biggest thing that caused us to succeed is that we picked a niche. We do marketing services for other digital agencies—we help other agencies grow.” – Alex Berman

“Just because we have those strengths doesn't mean that is what's actually going to grow our business.” – Alex Berman

Takeaways:

02:21 Picking a specific niche can dramatically improve business growth and focus.

07:07 Break down sales goals into concrete, actionable metrics to create a clear path to success.

17:32 Follow up quickly and personally after networking events, writing notes on business cards to remember key details.

22:05 During sales discovery calls, ask diagnostic questions to understand client needs instead of presenting generic case studies.

28:31 Hire people who are passionate about specific roles rather than trying to do everything yourself.

Resources

Experiment27: Drive Leads to Your Digital Agency (Website)
B2B Sales Training (YouTube Video)
How to Talk to Anyone (Book)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:08 — 30.3MB) | Embed

467: Master the Art of Closing the Sale to Get More Clients and Referrals with Benjamin Brown

December 28, 2017

Benjamin Brown is a father of two young children and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. He has over 23 years of experience in the sales field from multiple positions from sale reps to sales management.

A Best Selling Author, Ben's book, Master the Art of Closing the Sale: The Game-Changing 10-Step Sales Process for Getting More Clients and Referrals. His popular sales blog, now at 360SalesConsulting.com, focuses on giving great tips and advice for sales people world wide.

Quotes:

“Sales is a skill. If you acquire that skill, I could take anybody off the street, even a homeless person, and you could generate money with that skill.” – Benjamin Brown

“In sales, you're either getting better or worse every day. If you haven't practiced it—which is the key—you need to give people the ability to actually practice their skill one-on-one before they practice on their clients.” – Benjamin Brown

“Most businesses that are serious about sales and don't need marketing get most of their business through referrals.” – Benjamin Brown

Takeaways:

02:31 Sales is a skill that requires consistent practice and proper training, much like learning a martial art.

14:02 Never assume anything during a sales call; always ask specific questions to qualify leads.

32:09 Generating referrals can boost business growth by 20-40% without additional marketing costs.

40:43 Silence after asking for a sale is powerful - resist the urge to keep talking.

42:17 The key to successful sales is understanding emotional triggers and connecting with potential clients personally.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:30 — 42.6MB) | Embed

466: Better Relationships, Better Business: Reinvent Yourself in 30 Days (By Being a Nice Guy) and Strengthen Your Personal Connections with Doug Sandler

December 27, 2017

Doug Sandler is an entrepreneur and industry leader. His book, Nice Guys Finish First is a #1 ranked Amazon Best Seller.

As a podcast host of The Nice Guys, Doug has interviewed Gary V, Arianna Huffington, Dan Harris from Good Morning America, Ron Klain, White House Chief of Staff and dozens of celebs. Doug is a nationally recognized speaker, writer, and founder of TurnKey Podcast Company, providing podcast production, editing and launch services.

Doug has a lot of great advice about how to have a better business by having better relationships. He believes in the "simple stuff" such as showing up, returning phone calls, and texts. Doug is a fan of "catching people doing something right." He has a "24 seconds" concept where you can change your life by sending two text messages a day.

Quotes:

“If you return your phone calls, return your text messages, show up on time or early for your appointments, stop overpromising and underdelivering, and start to actually exceed expectations, you will succeed no matter what business you're in.” – Doug Sandler

“The difference between successful and unsuccessful people in life is the strength of the relationships they have.” – Doug Sandler

“You want people to always leave your company feeling better about themselves than they did before they met you.” – Doug Sandler

Takeaways:

02:37 Simple daily habits like returning calls, sending texts, and being punctual can dramatically improve business relationships.

04:22 Success isn't about complicated strategies, but consistent, kind communication with people in your network.

09:28 Building genuine connections means catching people doing things right and making them feel appreciated.

30:26 Podcasting can be a powerful business development tool when you carefully select guests who might become potential clients.

36:05 Micro-targeting your audience and engaging your community are critical for podcast and business success.

Visit: Turnkey Podcasting

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:42 — 36.4MB) | Embed

465: Launch a Successful Coaching Business, Increase Your Monthly Income and Streamline Your Productivity with Coach Marc Mawhinney

December 26, 2017

Marc Mawhinney is a lifelong entrepreneur and business coach specializing in helping other coaches build successful businesses. Based in eastern Canada, he runs multiple coaching programs and platforms, including the Natural Born Coaches podcast and the Coaching Jungle Facebook group. Mark also publishes a print newsletter called Secret Coach Club and offers group and one-on-one coaching services for coaches looking to grow their businesses. He has extensive experience transitioning entrepreneurs from nine-to-five jobs into full-time coaching and is known for helping coaches increase their fees and develop effective business strategies.

Marc stops by to talk to us about how to take daily consistent action, stay consistent, batch your tasks, always be offering, get a clear idea of who you're serving, and sell coaching via discovery calls.

Quotes:

“Don't try to do things that you hate or you're just not going to stick with it.” – Marc Mawhinney

“People don't value what they get for free. And I absolutely hate seeing coaches say, ‘I'm going to coach for free for a while just to get experience.’” – Marc Mawhinney

“The more you charge, the more committed and invested the clients are in the relationship. They'll do more of the work and treat it more seriously.” – Marc Mawhinney

Takeaways:

04:40 Consistent content creation requires patience and commitment, with results often emerging weeks or months after initial efforts.

16:39 Building a coaching business while maintaining a day job helps develop critical time management skills and reduces financial pressure.

27:10 Coaching niches can be incredibly specific and unique, with opportunities in almost any area of expertise.

30:52 Increasing coaching fees is a simple process that can be done quickly and often leads to more serious, committed clients.

33:51 Treating your coaching business like a real professional venture, not a hobby, is crucial for long-term success.

Visit Marc Mawhinney's NaturalBornCoaches.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:48 — 33.7MB) | Embed

464: Procrastinators Are People Too: How to Be Productive, Calm, Congruent, Anxiety-Free and Happy with Dr. Mary Lamia

December 22, 2017

Mary Lamia is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst who practices in Marin County, California. Additionally, she is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley. Her career-long passion to convey an understanding of emotions to the public is exemplified by her writing and media work.

She is the author of five books, including a recent publication, "What Motivates Getting Things Done: Procrastination, Emotions, and Success" and blogs for Psychology Today, Therapy Today, and Thrive Global websites.

Quotes:

“Our emotions motivate everything we do. They influence the style we have that drives us to get things done.” – Dr. Mary Lamia

“Emotions are designed to help us pay attention, and they motivate us to act—to do something.” – Dr. Mary Lamia

“When we look only at behavior without exploring the emotions that motivate it, we overlook the significant influences that create differences among people.” – Dr. Mary Lamia

Takeaways:

01:09 Procrastination isn't a weakness, but a valid motivational style that can lead to success.

06:03 Emotions are the primary driver behind how people complete tasks and achieve goals.

09:52 Understanding your personal emotional motivation style can reduce self-criticism and improve productivity.

19:33 Success is defined by meeting deadlines and producing high-quality work, not by when tasks are started.

21:32 Creating artificial deadlines through personal commitments can help deadline-driven individuals stay motivated.

Resources

What Motivates Getting Things Done (Book)
Dr. Mary Lamia (Official Site)
Mary Lamia (LinkedIn)
Mary Lamia (Twitter)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:36 — 26.2MB) | Embed

463: Plan with Purpose: Build An Amazing Lifestyle For You and Your Family Without Sacrificing Time, Money, or Fulfillment with Tom Sylvester

December 21, 2017

Tom Sylvester is a business strategist and firm believer in Lean Startup. He enjoys helping new entrepreneurs validate their ideas and follow proven principles when it comes to starting and scaling a successful business.

Additionally, Tom helps entrepreneurs navigate the personal journey that comes with being an entrepreneur, from overcoming mindset blocks, ramping up their productivity, growing as a person and becoming a great leader in their life and business.

Quotes:

“A lot of people build businesses backwards. They spend all their time creating the product, and then, when they go to sell it, they haven't actually done the market research to make sure it's something customers want.” – Tom Sylvester

“Let's spend the least amount of time and money early on, and really make sure that we understand who our customers are. Then, we give them the simplest solution that will work for them.” – Tom Sylvester

“We build successful businesses, but we make sure they actually support the life we're looking to build.” – Tom Sylvester

Takeaways:

02:06 Validate business ideas through minimal investment and customer feedback before full-scale development.

07:18 Design business goals that directly support your personal life objectives, not the other way around.

16:19 Break down big goals into smaller, measurable weekly and daily tasks to maintain consistent progress.

22:13 Focus on momentum and overall progress rather than getting discouraged by small goal shortfalls.

26:17 Use regular check-ins and accountability systems to track progress and make timely adjustments.

Plan With Purpose (free course on goal setting)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:17 — 26.8MB) | Embed

462: The Art of Persistence: Grow Your Business By Leaps and Bounds, Find the Bottleneck, and Course Correct Your Way to Entrepreneurial Success with Sarah Shaw

December 20, 2017

Sarah Shaw is an entrepreneur, innovator and designer.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:15 — 28.6MB) | Embed

From her two decades worth of experience in both Hollywood and fashion, Sarah has built a treasure trove of secrets for connecting with influencers and getting publicity in order to grow her companies quickly.

She's appeared in the pages of InStyle, Oprah, People, Lucky, ELLE, WWD, and Marie Claire magazines, appeared on Extra and E! Entertainment, and has be interviewed for Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com and American Express' OPEN Forum.

Sarah is now the Founder & CEO of Sarah Shaw Consulting, where she teaches online entrepreneurs of all stripes how launch, market and sell their products and services. Sarah's newest program will show you how to connect with influencers, get the publicity you've always dreamed of and use it to get massive exposure grow quickly grow your business.

Quotes:

“The linchpin of being an entrepreneur is the ability to pivot. A lot of entrepreneurs don't have that ability, and it becomes almost impossible to be an entrepreneur if you can't pivot on a dime.” – Sarah Shaw

“There aren't many truly new and innovative ideas anymore. A lot of people who create patents are building on existing ones—just improving on what already exists.” – Sarah Shaw

“Everything is solvable. There's always a workaround—you just keep going until you've exhausted every single possibility.” – Sarah Shaw

Takeaways:

07:49 Successful entrepreneurs can pivot quickly and adjust their strategies when initial plans aren't working.

11:21 Don't get stuck behind fears like needing perfect patents or business plans - just start and move fast.

18:34 The first attempt at a business idea is rarely the final product, so take action and learn from each step.

25:21 Skills learned in one career can unexpectedly help you succeed in future entrepreneurial efforts.

27:18 Building a business isn't always easy, but it can be fun if you approach challenges with the right mindset.

Celebrity Confidential: Get Celebrities to Promote Your Business

(use coupon code ROBERTP to claim your 50% discount)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:15 — 28.6MB) | Embed

461: Your Retirement Game Plan and the American Dream Revisited: How to Plan for the Future and Pursue Your Ultimate Passion with Gary Sirak

December 18, 2017

Gary Sirak has been helping other people achieve their American Dream for the last 35 years. He is President of Sirak Financial Services in Canton, OH, a company founded by his father, Stan Sirak in 1957. The company will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year.

Gary has written two books, the first, If Your Money Talked ... What Secrets Would It Tell? This book is about personal finance and the most common mistakes people make with their money. So many people make the same mistakes again and again with their money that Gary decided to do something about it. The second, The American Dream Revisited: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Results, is a deeply personal topic for Gary. While it’s true it was a serendipitous conversation at a coffee shop that spurred him on to write it, the ideas and beliefs of the book have been with him for his entire life.

Quotes:

“If people don't have purpose, if they don't have something they are really motivated to do, they become very lazy, and they also develop some health issues that seem to crop up quickly.” – Gary Sirak

“Everybody says, ‘Oh, the American Dream is this,’ but I disagree. It's whatever you want it to be.” – Gary Sirak

“Your dreams change as you mature, get older, have larger families, the kids move out of the house, or your business changes.” – Gary Sirak

Takeaways:

04:40 Having a clear retirement plan goes far beyond just managing money - it's about creating purpose and meaningful daily activities.

07:58 Successful retirement involves reconnecting with passions and interests you loved when you were younger, not just starting random new activities.

10:20 Without a sense of purpose, retirees risk serious health decline and potentially shortened life expectancy.

16:22 Creating a new daily routine is critical when transitioning from work life to retirement, just like adapting to any major life change.

23:58 Refusing to quit and staying relentless in pursuing your goals is a key trait of people who successfully achieve their personal dreams.

Resources

Gary Sirak: The American Dream Revisited (Official Site)
Sirak Financial Services (Site)
The American Dream Revisited (Book)
If Your Money Talked (Book)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:30 — 26.1MB) | Embed

460: Get Into the Coaching, Growth and Learning Mindset and Become Emotionally Intelligent with Caroline Stokes

December 15, 2017

Caroline Stokes is founder of FORWARD - an executive headhunting + coaching firm for innovation leaders AND The Emotionally Intelligent Recruiter, designed to help evolve recruiters in the AI age.

Caroline started her career in consumer entertainment and technology marketing, brand and PR and decided it was the brain behind human decision making on company evolution that was more inspiring. She explains what we need to know about being emotionally intelligent, be productive in an optimal environment, and tap into your emotional responses in a timely manner.

Quotes:

“When you have to change, adapt, or shift your beliefs or the way your brain operates, it's a painful process, because all of a sudden, you realize that what you were doing actually wasn't very good.” – Caroline Stokes

“If they have a brain, they have emotional intelligence—if they want to develop themselves, they are able to adapt, grow, thrive, and be more successful.” – Caroline Stokes

“It's not necessarily about who has good emotional intelligence and who doesn't—it's really about being able to tap into your emotional responses in a very timely manner.” – Caroline Stokes

Takeaways:

02:58 Emotional intelligence is a skill everyone can develop, not a fixed trait you're born with.

04:44 Understanding and managing your emotional responses can dramatically improve professional relationships and performance.

10:02 Recruiters need more than just tech skills - they need strong emotional intelligence to succeed in the AI age.

19:10 Having a growth mindset and curiosity are critical for personal and professional development.

20:39 Personal growth requires weekly commitment, feedback, and coaching, similar to working out at a gym.

Resources

The Emotionally Intelligent Recruiter (Free Download, 70 Tips For Recruiters)
FORWARD (Executive Headhunting and Coaching Firm)
Caroline Stokes (Twitter)
Caroline Stokes (LinkedIn)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:49 — 23.6MB) | Embed

459: Grow a Huge Following on Social Media Through Consistent Customer-First Edutainment with Jasmine Star

December 14, 2017

Jasmine Star is a photographer and business strategist from Newport Beach, California. She dropped out of law school to pursue her dreams.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:19 — 26.8MB) | Embed

Jasmine tells us how to get noticed on social media and how to sell with edutainment without being "salesy" ... content creation ideas (i.e. books you're reading), how to find time for social every day, and how Jasmine used social media to sell a $25/month monthly subscription "template" service.

After she built an internationally recognized and award-winning business, she began consulting with entrepreneurs how they could use social media to grow their businesses. She's amassed over 600,000 followers on all of her social platforms and believes others can do the same to grow their business and pursue their passion.

Quotes:

“I never aim to be popular or cool. I aim to live my best life.” – Jasmine Star

“If you don't know where you're going, you're never going to be thankful when you arrive.” – Jasmine Star

“A brand is a series of memories, expectations, and stories that, when connected, make a consumer choose one business over another.” – Jasmine Star

Takeaways:

04:40 Building a successful business requires aligning your passion with practical strategies for making money.

11:20 Social media marketing is about providing value through educational and entertaining content, not just selling products.

20:50 Consistent daily effort and resilience are more important to business success than any single breakthrough moment.

22:15 Treat social media like a garden that needs daily tending to grow your business effectively.

26:43 Start small by connecting with brands and creators through micro-commitments and free resources before investing.

Resources

Social Curator: Captions and Images Curated For Your Feed (Monthly Membership)
Insta180: Grow Your Business (Instagram)
Jasmine Star (Official Site)
Jasmine Star (Instagram)
Jasmine Star (Facebook)
Jasmine Star (YouTube)
Jasmine Star (Twitter)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:19 — 26.8MB) | Embed

458: Productivity, Influence, and Leadership: Become a Better Communicator and Storyteller By Showing Vulnerability, Imagery and Authenticity with Colin Boyd

December 13, 2017

Colin Boyd from helps business owners become more influential. He loves to help them discover new levels of confidence and skill in how they communicate their ideas on any stage or platform.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:22 — 32.4MB) | Embed

Colin talks to us today about what caused him to recently move his business from Australia to California, how to develop your signature story including these three components:

vulnerability (challenge, difficult situation)
tension (growing challenge, drama)
victory

Whether you need to get in front of a client and pitch your product, speak at a conference or engage your followers on social media his strategies will help you do this.

Colin is a Certified speaking professional with the National speakers Association, qualified Performance Coach with the International Coaching Federation, Certified Trainer, NLP practitioner and also holds a Commerce Degree, Executive Coaching diploma and EDISC Behavioral certification.

The real reason he is qualified to help you is because he has done the journey with himself and thousands of clients around the world to go from fear and confusion to confidence and clarity when it come to presenting ideas persuasively.

Quotes:

“Your internal state, or the default emotion you experience in life, will be the defining factor in what you create in your life.” – Colin Boyd

“Average people value activity more than thinking. Exceptional people value thinking more than activity.” – Colin Boyd

“All of us have a next level of potential, a next level of income and influence that is already ours, but we are just holding ourselves back.” – Colin Boyd

Takeaways:

04:40 Your internal emotional state directly shapes your external reality and business success.

11:10 Exceptional people prioritize strategic thinking over mere activity and task completion.

17:40 Powerful storytelling requires vulnerability, tension, and a clear victory narrative that connects emotionally with the audience.

22:15 Most people have untapped potential they're holding back due to limiting self-narratives.

27:15 Effective stories become more compelling when they include specific sensory details and involve interactions with other people.

Resources

Colin Boyd (Official Site)
Signature Story Template (Free PDF Template, How To Craft Your Presentation)
Daily Output Booster (Free Download, Cheatsheet To Make Your Day More Productive)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:22 — 32.4MB) | Embed

457: Why Most Membership Sites Fail, and How to Create the Passive Income Money Site of Your Dreams

December 11, 2017

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:39 — 40.9MB) | Embed

456: How to Become a TEDx Stage Speaker and Get Over 1 Million Views with Elena Herdieckerhoff

December 8, 2017

Elena Herdieckerhoff is an ambassador for highly sensitive people (HSPs), Business Mentor for sensitive entrepreneurs and Motivational Speaker. She's on a mission to help spread positive awareness and inspiration for highly sensitive people around the world.

Elena's delivered a powerful speech on the TEDx Paris stage and generated over 1 million views on YouTube. We talk with Elena today about how she was able to land that TEDx gig, what TEDx is and what they want, how she planned and rehearsed, delivered and built up the snowball to make her presentation go viral.

Quotes:

“Every single person has at least one topic they know a lot about and really care about.” – Elena Herdieckerhoff

“For a winning TEDx talk, people don't want a perfect speaker. They want someone who's deeply passionate, excited, enthusiastic, and loves what they're talking about.” – Elena Herdieckerhoff

“Something will not go viral just by driving traffic to it; it will only pick up virality because people are genuinely moved by your message.” – Elena Herdieckerhoff

Takeaways:

05:41 Crafting a powerful TEDx talk requires a burning mission, deep expertise, and a unique angle that can change minds.

27:09 Memorizing your entire script allows you to connect authentically with your audience and deliver a more natural, passionate presentation.

31:29 Aggressive marketing within the first 24-48 hours of your talk going live is critical to jumpstarting potential virality.

34:42 A successful TEDx talk can open significant professional doors and create global impact beyond traditional speaking opportunities.

39:17 The real power of a TEDx talk lies in its potential to touch individual lives and spread meaningful ideas.

Resources

Elena's TEDx Talk (YouTube, 1.3 Million Views)
Journey To TEDx Speaker Coaching (Website)
Entreprincess (Official Site)
Elena (LinkedIn)
Elena (Twitter)
TedX Event Page and Elena's bio (Site)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:39 — 36.3MB) | Embed

455: Speak Your Ideal Customer’s Secret Language, Rise Above the Noise, and Make Your Business Irresistible with Jeffrey Shaw

December 6, 2017

Jeffrey Shaw the host of the popular business podcast Creative Warriors, a nationally acclaimed keynote speaker, a business coach for entrepreneurs.

He's the author of the forthcoming book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer’s Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible. Having a keen eye isn’t just for what one sees, but also for what one senses. Having been one of the most sought after portrait photographers in the U.S. for more than three decades, Jeffrey Shaw, a.k.a. the Lingo Guy, uses this honed intuition to attract and maintain specific markets by speaking their Secret Language.

Quotes:

“What creates the tightest bond in business is when people feel like you really get them. If you feel like somebody gets you, it supersedes price.” – Jeffrey Shaw

“Good marketing has to compel people and draw them forward. The idea of self-identifying questions is posing a question in your marketing that completes a thought process in your ideal customer's head.” – Jeffrey Shaw

“Pricing creates perception, and any business can position itself anywhere in the market they choose based on pricing and the perception it gives.” – Jeffrey Shaw

Takeaways:

03:14 Your business should speak directly to your ideal customer's heart, not just their demographics.

10:25 The style and look of your brand instantly tells customers whether they belong or not.

19:02 Pricing isn't just about numbers - it creates a powerful perception of your business's value.

26:45 Create marketing questions that complete your ideal customer's unspoken thought process.

33:54 Build your business by first understanding who you are and then finding customers who would love what you offer.

Resources

LINGO (Book)
Jeffrey Shaw (Official Site)
Creative Warriors (Podcast)
Jeffrey Shaw (Twitter)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:32 — 36.2MB) | Embed

454: Whoa, Wow, Hmmm, Yes: Get Out of Your Own Way and Just Listen to Become a Mesmerizing, Purposeful, Agendaless Influencer with Dr. Mark Goulston

December 5, 2017

Dr. Mark Goulston stops by to help us all get out of our own way. We need to live to be of service and have conversations with neither a memory NOR an agenda. Mark is one of the world's foremost experts on empathic listening and how you can use that to increase your influence, marketing and get through to anyone.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:37 — 39.0MB) | Embed

He's the author of seven books with his book, "Just Listen," becoming the top book on listening in the world. He provides workshops, one on one coaching and consulting and keynotes around the world. Dr. Mark joins us to tell us the secret formula that Elon Musk and Steve Jobs followed to create fanatical customers, clients and investors. It comes down to the four step unconscious formula:

Whoa: "I can't believe what I'm seeing"
Wow: "That's amazing"
Hmmm: "This is too good not to use"
Yes: "I can see where we can use it"

If you'd like to be a mesmerizing influencer, be remembered (by being different), get into the mind of your prospects, and stay ultra-relevant, then you'll want to tune-in to today's show.

Quotes:

“The purest form of communication is to listen without memory or desire.” – Dr. Mark Goulston

“Be more interested than interesting, be more fascinated than fascinating.” – Dr. Mark Goulston

“If you want to increase user experience, you need to provide something that's relevant to them—not something you love but no one is going to buy.” – Dr. Mark Goulston

Takeaways:

03:17 Trust is built by showing genuine interest in others without pushing an agenda.

20:41 Listening deeply means understanding people's emotions and unspoken needs, not just their words.

23:46 Creating content that sparks curiosity requires being spontaneous and responsive to your audience.

32:52 Successful communication happens when you help people feel truly understood.

41:09 Asking open-ended questions and encouraging people to share more can create powerful engagement.

Resources

Just Listen (Book)
Dr. Mark Goulston's books (Amazon)
The Goulston Group (Discover How To Be More Compelling)
Prison Letters with Dr. Mark Goulston (Podcast)
Mark Goulston (Twitter)
Mark Goulston (LinkedIn)
Steve Jobs as Told By Mark Goulston (Youtube Video)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:37 — 39.0MB) | Embed

453: Heatmaps, Scrollmaps, Analytics, User Testing, A/B Testing and Troubleshooting: Increase Your E-Commerce Website Profits with Conversion Consultant Nick Disabato

December 4, 2017

Nick Disabato is a designer & writer. He runs Draft, a small consultancy that focuses on research-driven A/B testing for online stores.

We talk with Nick about his strategy when it comes to improving the conversions of e-commerce storefronts, from Google Analytics, heatmaps, scrollmaps, behavior, user testing and vocalization. Your website's conversion rate might be low due to a factor you've never considered, such a slow load time, lack of mobile-first design, or the terms on your site (e.g. "shipping" or "trial").

Quotes:

“The whole point of optimization is to keep what works and throw away what doesn't.” – Nick Disabato

“You want the takeaways. You want to know what to do, because I don't just watch videos for a living—I watch videos in order to make design decisions.” – Nick Disabato

“If everything is stripped away except trying to create a positive economic impact for the business, you're going to focus on that really quickly.” – Nick Disabato

Takeaways:

09:13 Successful optimization isn't about quick fixes, but about understanding user motivations and throwing away bad ideas while keeping good ones.

14:22 Technical cleanup can dramatically improve website performance, potentially increasing revenue without running a single AB test.

20:37 Mobile traffic requires a completely different design approach, focusing on touch states, responsive design, and user-specific experiences.

26:11 Effective AB testing goes far beyond changing button colors - it requires deep research and understanding of customer objections and motivations.

27:59 A true consultant focuses on creating economic impact, not just running tests, and is willing to fire themselves if they can't deliver value.

Resources

Draft Revise (Analytics Tear-Down And Service)
Drafts Letters (Newsletter)
Cadence & Slang (Book About Interaction Design)
Nick Disabato (Official Site)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:43 — 28.1MB) | Embed

452: Find Your Passion, Grow a Podcast, and Monetize It Using the Speaker Platform with Podcaster Rob Greenlee

December 1, 2017

Rob Greenlee has been podcasting for over 13 years and is the head of Partnerships at Spreaker.com and BlogTalkRadio.com.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:29 — 38.9MB) | Embed

He's a 2017 Inductee into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame, Is former EVP/CTO at PodcastOne.com in Beverly Hills, CA and former Content and Business Manager, Podcasts/TV at Microsoft’s Xbox Live and Zune. He currently hosts the SpreakerLiveShow.com podcast, Weds at 3pm PST and co-hosts NewMediaShow.com/live Live Sat at 9am PST/Noon EST.

We talk today about why you should use the Speaker platform for podcasting, its unique features (Skype recording, mobile app, live shows, easy migration and more), the essentials of podcasting (name, format, how it fits into your life, where you'll podcast physically, format and topic ideas), how to grow your podcast traffic (social media, tell-a-friend, organic search optimization, podcast guesting, TV, and guest blog posts) as well as how to monetize your podcast (affiliate links and monetization tools).

Quotes:

“Podcasting is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to think long term. If you want to be successful in podcasting, you need to think long term.” – Rob Greenlee

“Sometimes the audience of your show is more knowledgeable than the host. Getting feedback, questions, and contributions from the audience fuels the show and makes it better.” – Rob Greenlee

“Podcasting is, at its core, a technology-related medium. It's built on the same principles the World Wide Web was built on—it's about sharing.” – Rob Greenlee

Takeaways:

08:41 Building audience connection matters more than chasing quick listener numbers or perfect production.

13:26 Podcasting success comes from consistent passion and long-term commitment to your chosen topic.

16:37 Choose a podcast format and recording approach that genuinely fits your lifestyle and schedule.

28:20 Start monetizing early by using affiliate programs, even if earnings are small, to practice ad integration.

35:12 Podcasting grows through word-of-mouth sharing and authentic storytelling, not just marketing tactics.

Resources

Spreaker (Site)
Blog Talk Radio (Website)
Speaker Live Show (Website)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:29 — 38.9MB) | Embed

451: Visually Promote Your Business Using Photos, Videos and Live Streaming with Smartphone Marketing Guru Tabitha Carro

November 30, 2017

Tabitha Carro is the Smartphone Marketing Guru! She taught for 13 years as an elementary teacher while running her own curriculum design business. Her present passion is exploring how to visually promote businesses through an iPhone.

In May of 2016, she created the Smartphone Marketing School, a blog and membership site, to share her iPhone design techniques with fellow business owners. Through her course content, members are learning how to create professional videos, product photos, and social media designs without the need for camera equipment, desktop software, or outsourcing design work.

Quotes:

“People love to see people. I had my husband come on for no other reason than he's more of a tech buff than me, and it just makes it more entertaining when you have more human elements in your Facebook Live.” – Tabitha Carro

“Learn to do it on your phone, and you'll be able to keep up because you always have your phone with you. You can instantly create things in seconds and push them out.” – Tabitha Carro

“It's really about stopping people in their feed, grabbing their attention and then getting them to click.” – Tabitha Carro

Takeaways:

01:23 Modern smartphones are powerful enough to create professional-quality visual marketing content without expensive camera equipment.

11:34 Strategic giveaways can boost audience engagement by offering physical items directly related to your business niche.

19:09 Building a consistent photo and video library allows entrepreneurs to quickly repurpose content across multiple marketing platforms.

25:22 Mobile apps have evolved to provide complex editing capabilities that rival traditional desktop software, making content creation more accessible.

33:36 Focus on creating content and connecting with people rather than getting stuck on technical perfection or expensive equipment requirements.

Resources

Tabitha Carro (Official Site)
Tabitha's Courses (Site)
Google Photos (Store Images Into Your Library)
Gleam (Run Social Media Competitions)
A Color Story (Basic Image Editing)
SnapSeed on iTunes and Google Play
DesignLab Studio (Graphics Editor)
Adobe SparkPost (Social Media Image Editor)
Quik (video editing app)
VideoShop (Use In Conjunction With GIFShare)
InShot on iTunes and Google Play
iMovie (app)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:13 — 37.7MB) | Embed

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