Interview

871: Improve Your Business Conversations with Michael Reddington

June 3, 2022

Talking to people and engaging with conversations is something that takes a lot of courage to do. It is quite pressuring, not knowing whether what you're saying is making sense to the other party or not. We can't know whether you are able to convince them with your words. When it comes to business, it is important that you are great with conversations. You must know how to listen and speak carefully.

Michael Reddington is the president of Inquasive, a company that integrates key components of effective, non-confrontational interview techniques with current business research for executives. He is also a certified forensic interviewer and the author of “The Disciplined Listening Method.” Today, Michael discusses the importance of listening in business conversations, how to shift the focus from what you want to say to what the other person needs to experience, and strategies for addressing potential objections before they are raised.

Quotes

“When we're under stress, we revert to what we know. Many business meetings can be stressful, even for people who are confident in themselves and their goals.” - Michael Reddington

“If we're not listening, we're not learning. The more we listen, the more we learn, the less we have to say, and the fewer questions we have to ask to get powerful information that leads to the outcomes and relationships we aspire to create.” - Michael Reddington

“It's not about what we want to say. It's about what they need to experience.” - Michael Reddington

Takeaways

01:03 Focus on understanding your audience's needs, concerns, and perspectives rather than just trying to deliver your own message.

03:06 Anticipate potential objections or roadblocks from your audience and address them proactively.

07:54 Allow your audience to save face and protect their self-image, as this can help build trust and open them up to sharing more.

11:12 Observe your audience's verbal and non-verbal cues to pick up on unspoken thoughts and feelings.

15:02 Be patient and let the conversation unfold naturally, rather than trying to control it, as this can lead to unexpected opportunities.

Resources:

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870: Perfect Guide to Starting a Podcast with Colin Gray

June 1, 2022

Thinking of starting a podcast? You have concepts, and you've got some ideas. You have themes. You want to talk about something you're passionate about, and launching a podcast is a great method. However, you should not begin your podcast without first considering a few key factors. Even if your show is going to be a pastime at first, chances are you want it to be as successful as possible.

Colin Gray is the founder of The Podcast Host, a website dedicated to helping anyone start and grow a successful podcast. With over 11 years of experience in the podcasting industry, Colin has established himself as an expert in the field. In addition to running The Podcast Host, he is also the founder of Alitu, a software tool that simplifies the podcast production process. Today, Colin shares his journey in building The Podcast Host and Alitu, sharing insights on the importance of providing valuable free content to build trust and credibility with his audience.

Quotes

“I can split myself into two parts. I do a Planning Day at the start of every month to outline my higher-level goals for that month. Then, every Monday morning, I revisit that higher-level plan and create a more detailed manager-level plan for the week.” - Colin Gray

“It's not just that everyone is different. Everyone does have different ways of working, but equally, you yourself have many different ways of working inside you as well.” - Colin Gray

“If you're switching from one type of task to another, it takes your mind a little while to flip, change mindset, and adapt to the new task.” - Colin Gray

Takeaways

00:34 Providing valuable free content is crucial for building trust and credibility with an audience.

10:43 Balancing innovation and reliability is a key challenge in software development.

12:15 Implementing structured time management strategies can help increase productivity and reduce stress.

21:48 Recognizing and embracing different working styles within oneself can lead to more effective task management.

26:51 Segregating tasks and planning ahead can help maintain momentum and ensure consistent progress.

Resources:

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869: Use Branding to Discover Your Target Audience with Ernie Harker

May 27, 2022

Is your brand getting KO'd by the competition? Why is branding important for your business? A strong brand matches colors, words, emotions, beliefs, and attitudes to earn the customers that you want most.

Ernie Harker is an experienced entrepreneur, author, illustrator, travel TV host, and Ironman athlete. One of the books he wrote is called, “Your Brand Sucks: How to ignite a brand that doesn't.” With over 30 years of expertise in branding and marketing, Ernie has valuable insights on how businesses can use branding to discover their target audience. Today, Ernie talks about the importance of finding a unique brand spark that sets a business apart from the competition, as well as the need to identify the core customer in order to craft effective marketing messages.

Quotes

“It's never exactly what you think it's going to be at the start. It's just a general idea. And then, after the illustration is done, you realize, 'That's kind of what I had in mind.' But it might be better, or it might be different.” - Ernie Harker

“Everybody in the water business talks about how great their water is. What you need to find is a unique point of differentiation that your target customer really cares about.” - Ernie Harker

“It's not about the quantity of eyeballs, but the quality. I can post a message about my widget and how cool it is to a million different people. But if only 100 are interested, it's a waste of time and money.” - Ernie Harker

Takeaways

08:22 Embracing a unique personality and not being afraid to let it shine through in branding and marketing can help a business stand out and connect with customers on a more personal level.

14:13 Branding and marketing should focus on finding a unique "brand spark" that sets a business apart from the competition, rather than just highlighting common product features.

20:57 Identifying the core target customer is crucial for crafting effective marketing messages that resonate with the right audience.

29:15 Quality of audience engagement is more important than quantity, as businesses should aim to build a smaller but highly engaged following rather than a large but disinterested one.

32:59 Collaborating with the right industry partners can help expand a brand's reach, but the partnership must align with the target audience to be successful.

38:10 Developing a distinct brand personality that customers can connect with emotionally is key to building a successful and memorable business.

Resources:

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868: From Money Maker to Moonshot: Find Success Through Innovation with Lewis Schiff

May 25, 2022

What kind of businesses do you want to create? What makes you unique that you can bring to the business world? You have to look at the world differently.

Lewis Schiff is an accomplished entrepreneur and author who has dedicated over 25 years to studying success in America. He wrote the Amazon best seller, “The First Habit.” As the founder of the "Birthing of Giants" program, Lewis has helped numerous business owners transform their companies into thriving, multi-million-dollar enterprises. Today, Lewis shares his insights on the key factors that differentiate the top 10% of successful entrepreneurs from the rest, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's unique strengths and leveraging them to create substantial growth.

Quotes

“The most successful people I know look at the world differently than almost everybody else, and that's a really hard thing to do.” - Lewis Schiff

“You have to learn how you're bad at a lot of things to carve away and discover what you're good at. Most people do not have the stamina, tolerance, or elasticity to fail repeatedly to finally figure it out.” - Lewis Schiff

“The thing that you're probably really good at is something that comes so naturally and easily to you that you think, 'What's the big deal?'” - Lewis Schiff

Takeaways

02:48 Identifying and focusing on your unique strengths is crucial for achieving exceptional success.

04:40 Embracing failure and using it as a learning opportunity is essential for personal and professional growth.

16:30 Surrounding yourself with a diverse community and being curious about others' perspectives can lead to unexpected insights and breakthroughs.

20:01 Transforming a successful business into an even more valuable enterprise often requires a willingness to challenge the status quo and explore new possibilities.

27:27 The physical environment and traditions of certain institutions can create a mindset conducive to innovative thinking and problem-solving.

Resources:

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867: Develop your Next Big Business Idea to Change the World with Bryan Mattimore

May 23, 2022

Developing a new idea for the next big thing in the market can be tough. This usually requires a lot of ideas and a lot of people during its process. The first thing you should do is to figure out the problems that need to be solved. In that way, you know what kind of problem you are facing and what kind of solution you should be proposing.

Bryan Mattimore is the co-founder of the 20-year-old growth engine Growth Engine Innovation Agency. He has written three books, including "Idea Stormers" and "21 Days to a Big Idea!" Bryan has facilitated over 1,000 ideation sessions and 200 successful innovation projects, leading to $3 billion in new products and services. He is also an innovation instructor at Caltech. Today, Bryan talks about developing big ideas and shares techniques for overcoming common challenges in the innovation process, such as redefining problems and questioning assumptions.

Quotes

“If you can create an environment where people are allowed and encouraged to be creative, you'll find that it's more fun, and you're likely to be more profitable and grow more rapidly.” - Bryan Mattimore

“You can go down a certain path with a certain problem definition. But you need to be flexible and open to redefining that definition as you come up with ideas and learn more.” - Bryan Mattimore

“A big part of successful innovators is the salesmanship of their ideas, which is, frankly, as or more important than the first 'eureka' moment.” - Bryan Mattimore

Takeaways

08:38 Successful innovation requires a toolkit of different ideation techniques, such as questioning assumptions, using metaphors, and exploring fantasy ideas, to reframe problems and uncover new solutions.

12:45 Involving key stakeholders early in the innovation process and allowing them to contribute to the ideas is crucial for gaining buy-in and overcoming organizational resistance.

17:40 Failing quickly and learning from those failures is more important than trying to get the perfect solution on the first try, as it allows for iterative improvements.

22:07 Mashing up ideas from different industries or domains can lead to unexpected and innovative solutions.

27:33 Imposing constraints or limitations on a problem can sometimes spark more creative thinking and breakthrough ideas.

Resources:

The Growth Engine Co.: An Innovation Agency
Bryan Mattimore on LinkedIn
Get a copy of 21 Days to a Big Idea!: Creating Breakthrough Business Concepts
Get a copy of Idea Stormers: How to Lead and Inspire Creative Breakthroughs
Watch Bryan on Creative Techniques to Solve Impossible Challenges – TEDx Talk
Send Bryan an email at bmattimore@growth-engine.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:07 — 44.1MB) | Embed

866: Build a Global Podcasting Brand with Audrey Bell-Kearney

May 20, 2022

Reaching out to your target audience was challenging for entrepreneurs, when the internet was not around. With so many outlets via which you may communicate your niche these days, all you have to do is get your message through.

Audrey Bell-Kearney is the CEO of Noise Media Network, a media, marketing, and consulting firm that produces and distributes digital content for clients. She is a podcast host, with her show "Good Morning, Gwinnett" airing four days a week live. Today, Audrey shares her experience in the podcasting industry, including how she has leveraged her show to build relationships with local government officials and small business owners, and how she has structured a partnership with her local Chamber of Commerce to provide podcast services to their members.

Quotes

“We need transparency. We need you to be transparent and tell us where the money's going.” - Audrey Bell Kearney

“I talk to business owners all the time. I sit on the chamber board of two chambers, and often they think it's something that can't help them.” - Audrey Bell Kearney

“I help take away the fear of being out there—the fear of not knowing how to work something, what to do, or who to call.” - Audrey Bell Kearney

Takeaways

01:37 Podcasting can open doors to valuable connections and opportunities, even with government officials and community leaders.

04:39 Small business owners may be hesitant about podcasting, but it can be an effective way to establish themselves as experts and attract new customers.

13:44 Consistency and passion are key to maintaining a successful podcast, even during difficult personal circumstances.

21:59 Tailoring the podcast format to your own style and preferences, rather than trying to emulate others, can lead to a more authentic and engaging show.

28:09 Taking advantage of partnerships and technology can help expand the reach and impact of a podcast, even for those who may be intimidated by the technical aspects.

Resource

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:03 — 49.5MB) | Embed

865: Get into Growth Mode Using Automation with Kevin Snow

May 18, 2022

Starting a business and establishing a presence in the traditional sense might be intimidating. It might be as simple as a few clicks for the tech-savvy. However, it is a different scenario for the technological nomads. It may be difficult for them to navigate through complicated web pages, links, or commands.

Kevin Snow is the President and CEO of Time on Target and the co-host of the top 100 Apple podcast called "Growth Mode." As a sales expert and technology enthusiast, Kevin shares his expertise in integrating digital technology with sales processes in an authentic and professional way. Today, Kevin discusses the importance of starting small with marketing automation and sales process optimization.

Quotes

“Wisdom comes from experience, and experience comes from bad choices.” - Kevin Snow

“It's always about understanding and helping them realize where their limitations are now, and then figuring out a really cool way to fix it.” - Kevin Snow

“Your number one job as a CEO or business owner is sales. You need to sell, especially if you're just starting out, because that's what gives you proof of concept for your product.” - Kevin Snow

Takeaways

05:48 Embrace the iterative nature of marketing automation and sales process improvements, as the ability to revisit and enhance your systems is key to driving business growth.

13:00 Start small with marketing automation and sales process optimization to get easy wins and build excitement around the technology.

20:00 Document and understand your current sales process before implementing complex automation to ensure it aligns with your clients' needs.

24:35 Use an outside perspective to help identify limitations in your sales process and develop innovative solutions to streamline your operations.

32:37 Prioritize sales as the CEO or business owner, as it provides proof of concept for your product and keeps your company going.

Resources

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864: Become True to Your Intentions and Impact the World with Amanda Johnson

May 16, 2022

Do you want to change the world with your message? In order to do that, you need to be true to your intentions.

Amanda Johnson is the founder of True to Intention (folded into Saved By Story), a company that helps seekers and storytellers write truer and more impactful stories. She is also the co-founder of Saved by Story Publishing. Today, Amanda talks about her recent project "You Can't Make This Story Up," a compilation book featuring 20 of her previous clients and family members, and how the process of writing their stories helped them heal old wounds and become more authentic in sharing their messages with the world.

Quotes

“There's a lot of hype around telling your story, getting your message out there, and sharing your expertise with the world.” - Amanda Johnson

“We can't heal by ourselves. The communal aspect is crucial, especially for those who have been traumatized and want to share their stories. They need to rebuild trust with themselves and others.” - Amanda Johnson

“If we can just pay attention and ask ourselves, 'What's the message that I'm supposed to be getting here? How is all this being brought to me so that I can be more whole?' life gets a lot more magical.” - Amanda Johnson

Takeaways

00:59 Sharing personal stories and healing old wounds can help people become more authentic and impactful in sharing their messages with the world.

09:00 Allowing yourself to be vulnerable and share the full depth of your story, including the difficult parts, can lead to growth and transformation.

19:06 Creating a supportive community space can be transformative for people who are struggling to write and share their stories.

26:27 Recognizing the reciprocal nature of the coach-client relationship and how each person's journey can contribute to the other's healing is key to avoiding burnout.

33:30 Being open to the messages and lessons that life presents, rather than seeing challenges as obstacles, can make life feel more magical and purposeful.

Resources

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863: Build Relationships on LinkedIn with Janice Porter

May 13, 2022

LinkedIn is one of the most powerful online platforms for networking and business building. If you are using the power of LinkedIn to build meaningful and long-lasting connections, then your business is missing out. In order to grow your business in the right direction, you must first need to understand your vision and goal.

Janice Porter is a LinkedIn expert and trainer who helps business professionals build relationships and attract new clients, strategic partners, and referrals through LinkedIn. She believes that all business owners need a magnetic LinkedIn profile to showcase their expertise and connect with the right people. Today, Janice discusses the importance of having an optimized LinkedIn profile, including key elements like the header, headshot, headline, and "about" section.

Quotes

“If you're in business today, you need to be on LinkedIn and have a profile that works for you, as it is highly indexed by Google.” - Janice Porter

“LinkedIn is really about your profile. It provides insight into you, your personality, and how you serve people.” - Janice Porter

“Be consistent and know your purpose for using the platform. It's so powerful and so underutilized.” - Janice Porter

Takeaways

04:29 Having a fully optimized LinkedIn profile, with attention to the header, headshot, headline, and "about" section, is crucial for making a strong first impression and showcasing your expertise.

10:59 LinkedIn is a platform for building genuine business relationships, not just pitching products or services, so the approach should be focused on connecting and engaging, not just promoting.

12:45 It's important to be selective and strategic about which LinkedIn connections to pursue, rather than just accepting every request, in order to focus on the most promising opportunities.

15:47 Consistently posting relevant content on LinkedIn can help establish oneself as an authority in their industry and attract the right connections.

19:52 Utilizing new LinkedIn features like video messaging can help one's messages stand out and foster more personal connections.

Resources

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862: Groove: The World’s Fastest Growing CRM and Marketing Automation Platform with Mike Filsaime

April 1, 2022

When it comes to operating your business, one method to avoid internal conflict is to identify and simplify how various teams define success. You must assess how teams collaborate, processes operate, and data flows. Remove any barriers that are preventing you from getting things done. You should examine how you manage your firm and who is operating it.

Mike Filsaime is a legendary internet marketing expert with over 20 years of experience, currently the Co-Founder & CEO at Groove Digital, LLC. He has created numerous successful software platforms like WebinarJam, EverWebinar, and Kartra. Today, Mike talks about his journey from the car business to the world of online marketing and software development. He shares insights on common mistakes entrepreneurs make, the importance of focus and prioritization, and the lessons he learned from past business partnerships.

Quotes

“Fail quickly; you will learn more from your failures than from your education.” - Mike Filsaime

“Partnerships are like marriages. You can love someone, but things don't always work out.” - Mike Filsaime

“Follow your passion. Entrepreneurs take risks, but don't do anything reckless. Make sure you have your ducks lined up.” - Mike Filsaime

Takeaways

08:59 Embracing the imperfections of a new project and taking action is better than overthinking and delaying launch.

12:14 Prioritizing tasks and focusing on one project at a time is crucial for avoiding burnout and achieving success.

13:14 Failing quickly and learning from mistakes is more valuable than extensive education.

16:07 Carefully structuring business partnerships with clear contracts and shared vision is essential to avoid conflicts and ensure long-term success.

22:32 Having a clear contract in place for business partnerships can help resolve conflicts and make difficult decisions easier.

34:05 Pursuing your passion and taking calculated risks can lead to fulfilling entrepreneurial journeys.

Resources

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