Business

639: Enhance Performance and Efficiency In Your Organization Using Assessments, Scoring, and Software with Natasha Davis

May 15, 2019

Natasha Davis, is a Registered Nurse, Branding Strategist and Corporate Trainer. As a certified expert in email & social media marketing and branding, she thrives on fixing problems and eliminating frustrations for companies and their executives. Over the past 15 years, Natasha has worked with several companies and professionals to assist them in enhancing their business potential, brand equity, brand loyalty, cash flow, customer satisfaction and marketing strategy through the power of impactful branding. Because she uncomplicates the most complicates aspects in business, her clients affectionately refer to her as "The Chief Visionary" Natasha has the ability to quickly identify issues, find solutions, get results and improve outcomes.

Quotes

“Duplicity is ultimately waste, and waste has no return on investment at all—never.” - Natasha Davis

“If you don't have customers, you don't have a business. And if you have unhappy customers, you're not going to have a business for long.” - Natasha Davis

“I don't want to take anyone's money if they don't get what they want. We work very hard to serve people, and that's really important.” - Natasha Davis

Takeaways

04:55 Solving internal problems is often more important than seeking new customers when facing business challenges.

16:15 Small inefficiencies in daily work processes can accumulate to significant financial waste over time.

22:16 Creating a successful business solution requires extensive testing, user feedback, and a phased rollout approach.

25:49 Consultants should focus on providing clear, immediate value and reducing client uncertainty about their services.

29:15 Effective business relationships are like matchmaking - both parties must determine if they are a good fit for each other.

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:16 — 27.9MB) | Embed

630: LaunchPad Co-Working Spaces in Newark, Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans: Move Your Business into a Distraction-Free, Productive Environment with Chris Schultz and Anne Driscoll

March 27, 2019

Today, we're talking about co-working spaces with Anne Driscoll (President & COO) and Chris Schultz (CEO) of Launch Pad. Co-working is a great solution for you if you're looking for a more professional appearance, to achieve more focus, productivity, networking, and inspiration. Plus, we cover many aspects of co-working you've probably overlooked. Example: co-working space networks, rentable conference rooms (and podcasting booths), as well as trial periods and multiple packages. Tune in and discover what you need to know about co-working.

Quotes:

“No matter what phase of entrepreneurship you're in, you're trying to make it happen. And we all are, at some level, trying to be a bit bigger than we are.”

“Community is one of the best drivers of principles and guidelines. We use our community to help draft principles, shape operating activities, and guide good behavior.”

“At the end of the day, if you're serious about your work, find a place where you can be serious and feel a sense of belonging. There's nothing lonelier than trying to hustle every single day alone. Having a community of like-minded folks facing the same challenges makes it easier.”

Takeaways:

02:57 Co-working spaces provide a professional environment that helps entrepreneurs stay motivated and focused.

03:33 Working from home can lead to distractions and reduced productivity, making co-working spaces an attractive alternative.

05:19 Networking and community support are crucial benefits of co-working spaces for business growth.

08:02 Flexible membership options allow entrepreneurs to scale their workspace as their business evolves.

15:11 Overcoming imposter syndrome is easier in a supportive, inclusive community environment.

21:20 Successful entrepreneurs take a long-term view when investing in their professional environment.

Resources

Launch Pad (co-working workspace & community)
Launch Pad (Twitter)
Proximity.space (co-working software)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:46 — 23.8MB) | Embed

609: Make the Leap into Entrepreneurship, Narrow Focus, and Find the Right Partner with Business Plan Answer Man David Brown

October 29, 2018

Dave Brown is a leader in business planning. His message is designed to help entrepreneurs understand the need of a business plan and remove the fear and pain of writing the plan. An in-demand speaker and consultant who have helped many clients write their business plan to meet the requirements of lenders and operate their business. Sharing his 25+ years’ experience owning and operating a business he saves entrepreneurs time and money.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:38 — 68.0MB) | Embed

His first book From the Bottom Up: The Ultimate Guide for Business Planning to Profitability is a step-by-step guide for writing a business plan in a no nonsense format. His second book, Journeys to Success: 21 empowering stories inspired by the success principles of Napoleon Hill released in March of 2016 became an international bestseller on its release. Both books have received stunning reviews from a wide range of leaders in the business, marketing and sales.

His work has been featured on Blog Talk Radio, Bold Radio, Partners in Success, Journey to Success Radio Network and others.

Quotes:

“He came to me and we partnered up on this particular business. I'm the guy behind the scenes, doing the books and all this stuff. He's the high energy guy out in the field, drumming up business for us. It's a perfect fit.” – David Brown

“The biggest thing is, when it comes to market, they don't want to narrow their focus down to a couple of real tight pockets. They want to be all to everybody.” - David Brown

“Find somebody that you can ask questions on and guide you through the process.” - David Brown

Takeaways:

06:13 Starting a business requires understanding your true motivation and being prepared to invest significant time and effort.

16:08 Find a business partner who complements your skills, covering areas where you're less proficient to create a balanced entrepreneurial team.

22:42 Narrow your business focus to a specific market segment instead of trying to serve everyone, which increases marketing effectiveness and potential success.

25:01 Always seek guidance from a mentor who can provide experienced insights and help you avoid common entrepreneurial pitfalls.

26:34 Create a comprehensive checklist to systematically track and complete essential business startup tasks.

Resources

David L. Brown: The Business Plan Answer Man (Official Site)
497: Create a Simple Strategy to Hit Goals and Make Important Decisions with Business Plan Answer Man David Brown (Previous Podcast Appearance)
From the Bottom Up: The Ultimate Guide for Business Planning to Profitability (Book)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:38 — 68.0MB) | Embed

582: Niche Down and Play Bigger: Evangelize and Redesign the Problem, Market Differently, and Master Category Design with Christopher Lochhead

August 9, 2018

Christopher Lochhead, author of Play Bigger (and now, Niche Down) is THE person to listen to if you're looking for the courage to stand out (in your life and business) using what's called "category design."

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:12 — 34.1MB) | Embed

If you'd like to become LEGENDARY by carving out your own category -- in the same way Apple, 5 Hour Energy, CarMax, Goldiblocks, and The World's First Arcade Bar (Barcade) did -- then you'll need to market AND redesign the problem you're solving so you can't be compared to anyone else.

Teach the world to think in a different (NOT better) way!

Quotes:

“Legendary entrepreneurs are intuitive category designers. They realize that the way they're going to be successful is actually not marketing a product and its features, but marketing a problem and a point of view about why that problem matters.” – Christopher Lochhead

“Legends don't want to be compared to anyone else. They want everyone that comes after them to be compared to them. They want to break and take new ground.” - Christopher Lochhead

“The number one problem in business today is failure to niche down or set a different way. Nobody buys a solution without a problem.” - Christopher Lochhead

Takeaways:

03:24 The most impactful innovators don't compete in existing markets - they create entirely new ones by reimagining problems.

05:46 Stop trying to be better than competitors. Create a unique market category that solves problems differently.

12:03 Successful entrepreneurs evangelize a problem, not just sell a solution. They teach people to see challenges from a new perspective.

29:28 Niching down isn't just for big companies. Small businesses and individuals can carve out specialized spaces by focusing on specific problems.

35:30 Your unique difference is your greatest strength. Have the courage to stand out and create your own path.

Resources

Legends and Losers (Podcast)
Niche Down: How To Become Legendary By Being Different (Book)
Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets (Book)
Christopher Lochhead (LinkedIn)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:12 — 34.1MB) | Embed

569: Build Wealth Through Franchise Opportunities and Replace Your Income with Mariel Miller

July 17, 2018

Mariel Miller has 27 years experience in the franchise sector. She uses her rich background to provide franchise-related advice and coaching to potential entrepreneurs and educates them on thoroughly vetting franchise opportunities through her firm The Franchise Advisor. Her in-depth coaching is free of charge for the curious to the serious candidate. Popular with those seeking semi-passive, scalable and quality of life opportunities, she expertly guides clients through a personal yet efficient discovery process, education and franchise search.

Quotes:

“The worst thing, I believe, is living with regrets and reaching a point where you say, ‘If only I had paid attention to that.” – Mariel Miller

“Ninety percent of the time, people end up in a business they would never have uncovered or considered on their own, something they might have avoided or overlooked entirely.” - Mariel Miller

“Franchising is only a way to get somewhere. We need to know where you're looking to go.” - Mariel Miller

Takeaways:

01:35 Franchising offers a faster, more supported path to business ownership compared to starting from scratch.

04:43 Franchising can be financially accessible, with investment ranges from $75,000 to $750,000 and often requiring only 10-30% cash injection.

14:08 Successful franchise exploration requires understanding personal goals, lifestyle preferences, and potential income expectations.

28:11 The franchise selection process is methodical, involving personal assessment, objective research, and careful validation of business potential.

32:34 Franchise opportunities exist in over 70 different economic categories, far beyond traditional food and retail sectors.

Resources

Contact Mariel directly: mariel@thefranchiseadvisor.com
Phone number: 732-298-0900
The Franchise Advisor (Official Site)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:22 — 36.1MB) | Embed

564: Task and Project Management Using Asana, PipeDrive and Slack with Business Productivity Consultant Paul Minors

July 11, 2018

Paul Minors has a lot to say about productivity, business, self-improvement, automation, optimising your time and income to live life on your own terms. He’s a “virtual consultant” and helps businesses setup and use tools like Asana, MailChimp, Pipedrive and Zapier. He's here to explain how to transition from an unorganized "slap-dash" email-based system into a tool like Asana, how to train your team to use it AND roll it out.

Quotes:

“When you have too many projects, it becomes much harder to track who is doing what, as you need to check more places.” – Paul Minors

“You’ll never have everything—like the structure or details—perfect from the start, so you might need to let things evolve as you go.” - Paul Minors

“Business productivity and efficiency increase when communication is integrated directly with the work that needs to be done.” - Paul Minors

Takeaways:

01:30 Communication should be tied directly to specific work tasks to improve overall business efficiency.

03:36 Rolling out new software requires a strategic plan, not just dumping tools on a team without guidance.

10:58 Project management tools like Asana can replace email communication, creating clear accountability and transparency.

18:05 Having an internal "tool champion" can help teams successfully adopt and use new productivity software.

24:14 Sales CRM tools like Pipedrive help businesses track lead conversion rates and understand their sales process more effectively.

Resources

Paul Minors (Official site, Asana/PipeDrive/Zapier/MailChimp Consultant)
Asana (Task Tracker)
PipeDrive (Customer Relationship Management System for Sales)
MailChimp (Email Marketing Platform)
Zapier (Workflow Automation)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:06 — 24.9MB) | Embed

554: Master Your Customer Avatar, Scale Internal Processes, Scale an Agency, and Make Sales on Amazon Merch with Penji Founder Johnathan Grzybowski

June 11, 2018

Johnathan Grzybowski is the founder of Penji, an on-demand design service that gives marketing teams quality design at an affordable monthly cost. Penji uses the "service as a service" or "all you can eat" model -- which means you can get an UNLIMITED number of graphic designs for everything from social graphics to Amazon Merch designs for one monthly fee.

Quotes:

“If you're not able to speak their language, then you're not going to be able to sell to them.” – Johnathan Grzybowski

“Getting that data is so critical. It's monumental to the way that you should be building your business today.” - Johnathan Grzybowski

“Instead of copying them, find your own way to make their story or their experiences your own.” - Johnathan Grzybowski

Takeaways:

06:29 Unlimited design services can solve real business problems by providing flexible, quick graphic design solutions without the traditional hiring headaches.

13:05 Knowing your customer avatar deeply is more important than surface-level copying of market trends or competitors.

24:41 Successful entrepreneurs must be willing to forget past methods and pivot quickly to solve emerging market needs.

27:58 Seek advice from curated, high-quality sources like books and reputable podcasts instead of relying on low-quality online forum discussions.

31:37 Building a business can simultaneously solve customer problems and create social impact by providing job opportunities to local communities.

Resources

Penji: Unlimited Graphic Design, Unlimited Revisions, One Flat Monthly Rate (Official Site)
Johnathan Grzybowski (LinkedIn)
Johnathan Grzybowski (YouTube)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:48 — 31.0MB) | Embed

549: Respectology: Separate Your Business From Your Competition and Beef Up Your Customer Support Interactions with Brian Baker

May 30, 2018

Brian Baker from Respectology is a motivational speaker -- more accurately, a social & emotional intelligence training coach. He's based in the Sacramento area and provides corporate training to help business run with civility, manners, courtesy, and respect. He helps to "debug the system" in your business.

Quotes:

“It's really about improving relationships and improving the world one interaction at a time.” – Brian Baker

“If you can get people within the company to treat folks like guests and not like customers, that kicks the experience level up a great deal.” - Brian Baker

“You can help individuals get better. You can't necessarily change them. But one of the things that you can do to help performance get better is that you can begin to change the environment.” - Brian Baker

Takeaways:

04:30 Treating customers like guests instead of transactions can dramatically improve business relationships.

08:44 Ongoing coaching after training ensures that learned skills become permanent workplace behavior.

20:32 Companies often set objectives that accidentally undermine their primary business goals, requiring external perspective to identify and correct.

25:29 Internal employee interactions directly reflect and predict external customer experiences.

27:03 Civility and respect are critical productivity tools that can differentiate a business from its competitors.

Resources

Brian's phone number: 916-834-0292
Respectology (Official Site)
TedX AT&T Talk from Brian Baker: Manners and Civility (Youtube)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:07 — 27.6MB) | Embed

540: Customer Relationship Management Tools, Artificial Intelligence, Work-Purpose Alignment, and Workflow Automation with Scott Gellatly

May 9, 2018

Scott Gellatly is a former slave to his own business. Since systemising his company using Podio, he’s created both freedom and a lifestyle for himself and his family. Along the way, Bollo Empire, his former company, became a top Podio education and development agency.

He's here to talk about how to digital transform our businesses using workflow automation, customer relationship management systems, and artificial intelligence.

Quotes:

“Humans will always want to buy from humans. There's no such thing as B to B or B to C, only B to P. People want to buy from people.” – Scott Gellatly

“The definition of work fundamentally has to change. It means that the sort of jobs we're used to expecting after school will change.” - Scott Gellatly

“We need to look at how we're going to transition people and upskill them to live a higher, best purpose, and how we're going to compensate them.” - Scott Gellatly

Takeaways:

01:41 Automation will free workers from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on more creative and strategic roles.

03:44 The future of work involves aligning technology with human purpose and potential.

12:01 Small businesses must adapt to technological changes or risk becoming obsolete.

15:45 Choosing the right CRM system depends on your specific business type and relationship with customers.

20:38 Data-driven decision-making is crucial for business growth and efficiency.

Resources

Scale My Empire (Official Site)
Scott Gellatly (LinkedIn)
Scott Gellatly (Twitter)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:46 — 22.8MB) | Embed

527: Innovate, Strategize, Believe, and Implement: Provide a New Solution to Tired Customers with Fitness Business Coach Ryan Ketchum

April 9, 2018

Ryan Ketchum is passionate about helping people change their bodies and change their lives. He has coached hundreds of fitness professionals and trained with thousands of clients. In addition to serving as the Executive Director of Fitness Revolution, he is also a recognized thought-leader and speaker in the fitness business. Ryan experimented his fitness & nutrition regime on himself after graduating college and became a finalist in the Precision Nutrition challenge by dropping from 330 to 220 lbs in 18 months.

Quotes:

“For most trainers and fitness business owners, they end up being martyrs of the industry. They get into it because they love it, have a passion for it, and want to help people.” – Ryan Ketchum

“You've got to be able to understand who your customer is. You have to understand what they want, and you must clearly communicate why you're different.” - Ryan Ketchum

“At the end of the day, it's all about solving a pain or problem for someone. If we can clearly communicate how we do that, we can stand out easily.” - Ryan Ketchum

Takeaways:

07:05 Give yourself space to think clearly and create a strategic business plan, stepping away from the daily grind.

11:42 Recognize that successful businesses adapt quickly and focus on delivering what customers truly want, not just selling a generic service.

16:13 Understand your ideal customer deeply and communicate why your business solves their specific problems uniquely.

19:23 Overcome business growth obstacles by addressing three key challenges: understanding unknown problems, learning implementation skills, and fixing negative mindset beliefs.

22:12 Build a business that allows you to produce results through other people, not just yourself, to scale and grow effectively.

Resources

Fitness Revolution (Official Site)
Elite Fitness and Performance Summit (Site)
Ryan Ketchum (LinkedIn)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:05 — 23.0MB) | Embed

525: Become Number One: Proof of Concept, Objection-Driven Offers, and Premium Services with Growth Advisor Carl Gould

April 4, 2018

Carl Gould is a business growth expert, mentor and entrepreneur. He built three multi-million dollar businesses by age 40, has mentored the launch of over 5,000 businesses, and has trained and certified over 7,000 business coaches in 35 countries. Carl has written 3 best-selling books on business strategy and growth (Blueprint for Success, The 7 Stages of Small Business Success, and most recently Biz Dev Done Right). Gould regularly appeared on the home improvement reality TV show “ThisHouseToo”, and each week he co-hosts “Quit and Get Rich” on iHeart® radio. He is the MC for EO Nerve, and Facilitator of Breakthrough the Barriers and the Firewalk Experience. Carl is married with three children and is a member of EO New Jersey.

Quotes:

“Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should be doing it.” – Carl Gould

“When you're clear about what the goals of your business are, the path you take will illuminate for you.” – Carl Gould

“When your nose is down in implementation, you can't always see the horizon.” – Carl Gould

Takeaways:

01:59 Addressing customer pain points directly can set your business apart from competitors.

05:27 Businesses must constantly innovate to avoid stagnation and stay competitive in the market.

15:16 Offering a premium service with strong guarantees can significantly boost business success.

22:36 Entrepreneurs should aim to be number one in their niche, not just the biggest.

24:07 Delegation and scalability are crucial for long-term business growth.

Resources

Carl Gould (Official Site)
7 Stage Advisors (Site)
Biz Dev Done Right (Book)
The 7 Stages of Small-Business Success: From Startup to Seven Figures in Three Years or Less (Book)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:00 — 26.6MB) | Embed

520: Groundhog Day is an Event, Not a Business Strategy: Embrace Minimalism, Become Goal-Obsessed, Understand Your Customers, and Stand Out from the Crowd with Adam Hommey

March 27, 2018

Adam Hommey, Founder and Creator of The Business Creators' Institute™, helps you Emancipate the POWER of INFORMATION™ and WIN at the Game of Business and Marketing™ so you spend less time editing and maintaining - and more time educating your audience and monetizing your business. He is the host of the wildly popular Business Creators' Radio Show and have spoken around the country at events including the Dream Business Academy and Advanced Marketing Minds.

For years, Adam has been the "secret weapon" in the arsenal of dozens of internet marketers, executive marketing solution providers, and professional service providers such as attorneys, accountants, medical professionals, and the like.

In November 2016, Adam was a featured contributor in the international Amazon best-seller, Journeys to Success, The Millennial Edition. His much-anticipated new book, Groundhog Day is an Event, Not a Business Strategy, unearths the issues burrowed beneath the surface of your business in six areas - success mindset, converting prospects, team building, customer acquisition, persuasive language, and streamlining your operations, so you, as an entrepreneur and business creator, can grow your business and thrive at the intersection of your brilliance and passion!

Quotes:

“We are the product of our education, background, experiences, and what we've gone through in life. Nobody has had the same combination of those things as we have.” – Adam Hommey

“People don't buy a drill because they want to drill a hole. They buy a drill because they want to build something.” – Adam Hommey

“What's most important is not what people say they want or need; it's what gets them to respond in the way we want them to respond.” – Adam Hommey

Takeaways:

04:40 Small imperfections in business can actually grab customer attention and lead to unexpected success.

20:49 Breaking free from internal fears and conformity helps entrepreneurs stand out and create unique marketing strategies.

33:39 Understanding your customer's deeper motivations matters more than what they say they want.

41:22 Taking action and making direct contact with prospects is crucial for business growth.

46:36 Your unique personality and quirks can be powerful marketing tools when embraced authentically.

Claim Your Copy of: Groundhog Day is An Event, Not a Business Strategy

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:20 — 45.2MB) | Embed

510: Copyright Basics and Mistakes: Think Ahead, Protect Your Intellectual Property, and Be Proactive with Barbara Ingrassia

March 2, 2018

Barbara Ingrassia from Manage Copyright is a Certified Copyright Manager, Speaker and Trainer. She has a passion for raising awareness of the role of copyright in our daily lives. We are all Consumers and Creators of copyright-protected works, and understanding some copyright basics can help us achieve our goals and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Quotes:

“Copyright exists when you have something original, an original work that exhibits some creativity and is fixed in a tangible medium.” – Barbara Ingrassia

“We need to assume that anything is protected by copyright until we can determine otherwise.” – Barbara Ingrassia

“Just because it was there for us to see doesn't mean we can take it and use it, which seems kind of counterintuitive, but that's the way copyright works.” – Barbara Ingrassia

Takeaways:

03:45 Copyright protection starts automatically when you create an original work fixed in a tangible medium.

16:09 Just because content is easy to copy online doesn't mean it's legal to use without permission.

18:06 Always assume internet content is copyrighted until you can prove otherwise.

21:03 Registering valuable creative works with the US Copyright Office provides additional legal protection.

21:56 Social media platforms like Facebook have complex terms that grant them broad rights to use your content.

Resources

10 Biggest Copyright Mistakes e-book (Free E-Book)
Manage Copyright (Official Site)
Barbara Ingrassia (LinkedIn)
Barbara Ingrassia (Facebook)

Visit Manage Copyright to Discover the 10 Biggest Copyright Mistakes

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:08 — 27.6MB) | Embed

506: The One Thing and the Domino Effect: Think Big, Act Small, Get Clarity on Priorities, Time-Block, and Simplify with Geoff Woods

February 26, 2018

Geoff Woods is the Vice President of The ONE Thing and the hosts The ONE Thing podcast which is in the top 5% of all podcasts in the world. After hearing the Jim Rohn quote that "you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with" Geoff set out on a mission to surround himself with high level CEOs and successful entrepreneurs. Fast forward just 10 months, Geoff went from employee to entrepreneur, launching a company with the co-authors of the best selling book The ONE Thing. Geoff has been featured in Entrepreneur.com and is on a mission to teach people how to take back control of their time and get clarity on how they want to invest it.

The problem Geoff is solving for us today is how to achieve that "domino effect" in life through aggressive simplicity, getting clarity on priorities, time-blocking, a one page business plan, and, surprisingly, cancelling 50% of his upcoming appointments! Listen in to discover the secrets.

Quotes:

“If doing the most important thing is the most important thing, why would you do anything else?” – Geoff Woods

“Most people go through their days doing all the things that don't really matter and hope to free up time to do the things that matter most.” – Geoff Woods

“80% of your results come from just 20% of your activities. What we teach people to do is to get clarity on their priorities—the few things that, if you knock those dominoes down, would unleash the majority of the growth in any area of your life.” – Geoff Woods

Takeaways:

04:31 Most people waste time on easy, low-impact tasks that provide a quick dopamine hit but don't contribute to meaningful progress.

17:16 Protect your time by interrogating every calendar appointment and be willing to cancel up to 50% of meetings that don't directly support your key objectives.

18:23 80% of your results come from just 20% of your activities, so focus on the most critical tasks that truly move the needle.

21:27 Choose one specific, actionable task each day that, when completed, will make everything else easier or unnecessary.

29:30 When setting goals, think big picture first by imagining your future self and then work backwards to determine current priorities.

Visit The 1 Thing to Use the 4-1-1 Tool

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:06 — 30.3MB) | Embed

505: Differentiate Yourself in the Marketplace, Provide a Superior Solution and Dial-in Your Ideal Group of Clients with Biohacker and X Gym Founder PJ Glassey

February 23, 2018

PJ Glassey is the founder of X Gyms in the Seattle area, where he invented his own methodology to save time, decrease injury rate and tone muscle instead of bulking it up. PJ spends hours each week studying the current research to further improve the X Gym methods. He has been a guest expert on TV and has hosted his own call-in talk show on KKOL and KVI radio.

PJ has authored many works including local and national media articles and two books on health and fitness. He has also created a workout DVD, "X Gym Workout Protocol #1" designed to introduce non-X Gym clients to the unique concepts he has developed.

PJ has been selected as one of the top fitness bloggers by several different rating sites. He continues to create free content for people through this blog, his partner blog and his various X Gym blogs.

He's here to explain how he goes about solving problems AND finds new business "territory" by getting inside the mind of the prospect and discovering the gap in the marketplace.

Quotes:

“Our goal is health. If they end up getting shredded when they reach optimal health, that's great. But some people don't, and that's fine too.” – PJ Glassey

“We took traditional training and turned it on its head. Instead of focusing on weights, reps, and PRs, we don't care about any of that. We just care about time under tension and controlled movements.” – PJ Glassey

“I certainly encourage people to do whatever is best for them at that point in their life because anything is better than sitting on the couch.” – PJ Glassey

Takeaways:

02:31 Developing a fitness system that saves time, reduces injury risk, and prevents unwanted muscle bulk is crucial for busy professionals.

13:41 Creating a specialized fitness approach for a specific age group can fill a significant gap in the market.

16:41 Building authority through free, research-backed content can attract and retain potential clients.

21:19 Content creation works best when driven by personal passion rather than following current trends.

22:49 Delegating promotional tasks allows creators to focus on generating high-quality content.

Resources

X Gym (West Seattle & Kirkland Personal Fitness Training)
Beege and Peege (Website)
X Gym (YouTube)
X Gym (Facebook)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:50 — 24.6MB) | Embed

497: Create a Simple Strategy to Hit Goals and Make Important Decisions with Business Plan Answer Man David Brown

February 13, 2018

Dave Brown, The Business Plan Answer Man, is a leader in business planning. His message is designed to help entrepreneurs understand the need of a business plan and remove the fear and pain of writing the plan. An in-demand speaker and consultant who have helped many clients write their business plan to meet the requirements of lenders and operate their business. Sharing his 25+ years’ experience owning and operating a business he saves entrepreneurs time and money.

His first book, From the Bottom Up: The Ultimate Guide for Business Planning to Profitability is a step-by-step guide for writing a business plan in a no nonsense format. His second book, Journeys to Success: 21 empowering stories inspired by the success principles of Napoleon Hill released in March of 2016 became an international bestseller on its release. Both books have received stunning reviews from a wide range of leaders in the business, marketing and sales.

Quotes:

“Your business plan is the blueprint to build that business. As you start each piece, begin with the foundation, then the floor, the walls, and the roof—think of it in that context.” – David Brown

“There are some things out there that make great hobbies, but they do not make a good business. There's no market for them, and you haven't done any research.” – David Brown

“If everybody is a customer, then really nobody is, because you can't focus on everybody.” – David Brown

Takeaways:

02:12 Break down business planning into small, manageable pieces to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

05:47 Focus on solving a specific problem for a tightly defined customer group rather than trying to serve everyone.

11:39 Use brainstorming techniques like writing everything down first, then narrowing your ideas to the most effective strategies.

14:17 Create a living business plan that involves your team and can be adjusted as you learn and grow.

17:32 Know your daily operational costs in simple, actionable terms that everyone on your team can understand.

21:27 Share your business expertise by giving back and helping others learn from your past experiences and mistakes.

Resources

Business Plan Answer Man (Free Questionnaire)
From the Bottom Up (Book)
dave@BusinessPlanAnswerMan.com (Subject line: "template" to get the template)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:19 — 60.2MB) | 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

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

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

426: Get Stuff Done, Develop Your Team, Get Out More, and Scale with Advertising Professional Mike Arce

October 24, 2017

Mike Arce is the host of the top fitness business video podcast, The GSD Show. He is also the founder and CEO of Loud Rumor, a 7-figure advertising agency for small businesses in the fitness and wellness space. Mike has helped over 25 major brands like Orangetheory Fitness and his agency has worked with over 457 fitness and wellness companies throughout the world. As a husband and father of 4, he's created the time to do all of this while traveling to speak at many events across the country over the last 2 years.

Quotes:

“They do what they see you do. You can tell them all this stuff, but they don't do what you tell them—they do what they see you do.” – Mike Arce

“You want to be great, you want to study great people. It's as simple as that.” – Mike Arce

“You want to build your business as if you're going to sell it to someone else, and you're not going to be a part of it, and it's going to be just as valuable without you.” – Mike Arce

Takeaways:

03:32 90% of business success comes from understanding core business principles, not getting lost in industry-specific technical details.

07:33 Developing and empowering team members allows you to focus on high-level business strategy and personal growth.

11:50 Children learn more from watching what you do, not just from what you tell them to do.

20:25 Continuous learning and education are critical for business growth, especially reading books and attending conferences.

27:39 Build your business as if you're going to sell it, making it valuable and functional without your direct involvement.

Resources

Mike Arce (official site)
The GSD Show (podcast)
Loud Rumor (agency)
Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss
Scaling Up by Verne Harnish
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:44 — 27.2MB) | Embed

422: The Anticipatory Organization: Turn Disruption and Change into Opportunity and Advantage with Innovation Expert Daniel Burrus

October 18, 2017

Daniel Burrus is considered one of the world's leading technology forecasters and innovation experts. He is the CEO of Burrus Research, a research and consulting firm that monitors global advances in technology driven trends to help clients profit from technological, social and business forces that are converging to create enormous, untapped opportunities.

He is a strategic advisor to executives helping them to develop game-changing strategies based on his proven methodologies for capitalizing on technology innovations. He is the author of seven books, including The New York Times bestseller Flash Foresight, and his latest book, The Anticipatory Organization. Daniel has a ton of interesting stories to share with us, as well as the three categories of hard trends that you should be looking for:

demographics (i.e. baby boomers -> a smartwatch for seniors)
government regulation
technology

Quotes:

“If it can be done, it will be done. If you don't do it, someone else will.” – Daniel Burrus

“Take your problems and skip them. Use the hard trends that are shaping the future to gain confidence to make a bold move.” – Daniel Burrus

“Instead of trying to be successful, which is inwardly focused and measured by you, don't create a life of success. Why not create a life of significance?” – Daniel Burrus

Takeaways:

06:05 Skip problems that seem impossible and focus on innovative solutions.

14:59 Create a life of significance by helping others, not just pursuing personal success.

19:42 Solving real problems for specific demographics creates powerful business opportunities.

23:57 Make your business ideas newsworthy to gain free marketing and credibility.

28:12 Think bigger than your initial idea - there's always a "bigger big" waiting to be discovered.

Resources

The Anticipatory Organization (get a free copy of the book)
Daniel Burrus TedX Talk
Daniel's books (Amazon author page)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:35 — 27.1MB) | Embed

400: Profitology: Accelerate Your Path to Profit, Identify Your Natural Working Style, and Implement Your Ideal Business Strategy with Kelly O’Neil

September 18, 2017

Kelly O'Neil is a multi-award winning entrepreneur, best-selling author, profit strategist and affluent brand-marketing expert for the next generation of innovative companies and thought leaders. Her mission is to help her clients strategically design and build businesses that make their competition irrelevant and their solutions irresistible to affluent clients, using her innovative business process called Profit-ology.

Quotes:

“To create an effective brand strategy, you must have a business strategy. You need a way to differentiate yourself from the competition to make the competition irrelevant.” – Kelly O’Neil

“Critical path is the specific steps you take, in the right order, to transform your business and rapidly start achieving the results you desire by doing things in the right sequence.” – Kelly O’Neil

“When you align people with the way they naturally work best, and then show them how to partner with, align with, or hire people who make up for the dark side of their profile, you see businesses rapidly accelerate.” – Kelly O’Neil

Takeaways:

04:05 Most entrepreneurs implement marketing tactics without a clear business strategy or unique market positioning.

13:15 Creating a strategic business funnel that guides clients through a predetermined path can significantly increase revenue and efficiency.

18:18 Every marketing effort should consistently lead potential clients to a clear, low-pressure next step, like a complimentary consultation.

20:44 High-end clients appreciate flexibility and the option to quickly move forward without being forced through a rigid process.

25:16 Taking time to plan and be strategic upfront saves time, money, and creates more confidence in business operations.

Resources

What Type of Profit-Preneur Are You? (Quiz)
Kelly O'Neil (Official Site)
Kelly O'Neil (LinkedIn)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:04 — 23.9MB) | Embed

398: Five Entrepreneurial Skills You Should Develop or Sharpen as a Work at Home Internet Marketer

September 14, 2017

Listen in today as we talk about the five entrepreneurial skills you need for a successful business:

Selling (email marketing, sales letters, webinar pitches, podcast soft sells, swipe file, hot material)
Content creation (writing, speaking, video, structure, step-by-step, reading a lot to distill down information)
Basic website creation (WordPress, funnels, membership sites)
Productivity (workflow, mindset, focus, motivation, chunking, systems thinking, delegating, troubleshooting equipment/traffic/software)
Planning & Architecture (scaling, editing the raw materials, software design, course layout, dashboard)

Quotes:

“Market more than you create. No one's telling you to cut corners, take shortcuts, or make crap—but market more than you create.” – Robert Plank

“Always have a constant flow of information—books, podcasts, courses—but also distill that information down into just a handful of actionable items you can begin using right now. There's nothing worse than going to a conference or taking a course, writing 50 pages of notes, and then never looking at them again.” – Robert Plank

“The bad news is it's super competitive now. The good news is it's easy enough for anyone to do, so there's no excuse.” – Robert Plank

Takeaways:

02:29 Marketing your content matters more than creating it - aim to spend 80% of your time promoting and 20% creating.

12:07 Build a "swipe file" of interesting marketing phrases and ideas to spark creativity and improve your selling skills.

18:12 Develop a systematic approach to repetitive business tasks using clear checklists to increase productivity and consistency.

28:12 Learn basic troubleshooting skills to quickly solve problems and keep your business moving forward.

29:34 Always have a clear vision of what you want to build, even if you don't know exactly how to get there.

Resources

WP Crusher (WordPress)
Profit Dashboard (Fiverr)
Webinar Crusher (Website)
Membership Cube (Website)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:56 — 29.2MB) | Embed

388: Your Business is a Live Expression of Your Strategy: Specialize, Differentiate, and Organize to Fill the Leadership Gaps and Get Transformational Change with Ron Carucci

August 31, 2017

Ron Carucci is co-founder and managing partner at Navalent, working with CEOs and executives pursuing transformational change for their organizations, leaders, and industries. He has a thirty year track record helping some of the world’s most influential executives tackle challenges of strategy, organization and leadership.

He's here today to discuss how you and your business can re-focus, avoid analysis paralysis, adapt, fill the leadership gaps, and do what you do best.

Quotes:

“The worst thing you can do is ask an organization to hope for change, then dash those hopes by not following through.” – Ron Carucci

“If you're a leader and don't have people in your face with dissenting points of view and disconfirming fact bases about how you see the world, you're in the most dangerous place you could be.” – Ron Carucci

“The longer you wait, the fewer options you have and the harsher your choices become.” – Ron Carucci

Takeaways:

04:05 Organizations must be strategic about change, focusing on comprehensive transformation rather than scattered small adjustments.

06:35 Leaders need to create clear strategic identity and understand exactly how they will compete and win in their market.

12:37 Entrepreneurs and small businesses should start strategic planning early, not wait until they're "big enough".

18:05 Successful businesses constantly monitor external contexts and remain adaptable without losing core strategic focus.

25:31 Courageous leadership means soliciting honest feedback and being willing to hear uncomfortable truths about your organization.

Resources

Navalent (Agency)
Leading Transformation: An Owner's Manual (Site)
Ron A. Carucci on Amazon (Books)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:39 — 24.4MB) | Embed

360: Don’t Buy a Duck: Plan, Execute, Track, Measure, Adjust and Grow with Strategic Marketer Derek Champagne

July 24, 2017

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:31 — 25.2MB) | Embed

Derek Champagne, author of Don't Buy a Duck: Stop Wasting Money and Only Do Marketing That Works, stops by to tell us that we need to connect with people and market our online businesses. You need to strategically snoop on your competition to uncover real solvable problems and discover those gaps in the marketplace. It comes down to five crisis points all business owners face:

identify self: audit, business, find value proposition (that competitors can't duplicate)
find target customer: gender, income, age, hobbies, geography, politics
messaging: based on your customers, what message is most important to them?
plan: lifecycle, step-by-step actyion
execution: If you tried it once and it didn't work, why didn't it work? Perhaps it was because you only tried it one time?

Listen in as Derek also explains goal setting, productivity, and follow-through using PETMAG: Plan, Execute, Track, Measure, Adjust, and Grow.

Quotes:

“There are just too many options for us. Several years ago, there were five marketing channels. Now, we have more than 70 choices.'” – Derek Champagne

“Knowledge is power, especially when you operate from that kind of self-actualization.” – Derek Champagne

“Don't buy a duck. Don't make impulse buys. Don't buy shiny objects just because you think you need them.” – Derek Champagne

Takeaways:

04:00 Most internet marketers avoid actual marketing, getting stuck in content creation instead of taking strategic action.

11:20 Understand your competition not to copy them, but to find unique market gaps where your brand can stand out.

16:00 Emotional business decisions come from survival instincts; strategic decisions come from self-actualization and intentional thinking.

22:25 Use a structured approach like "PET MAC" (Plan, Execute, Track, Measure, Adjust, Grow) to maintain business focus and prevent entrepreneurial distraction.

23:51 Give your business strategies time to gain traction before making major changes or jumping to new projects.

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:31 — 25.2MB) | Embed

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