Recent Updates
446: Attend the Right Networking Events, Lay the Groundwork for Better Joint Ventures, Land Clients, Become a Connector, and Follow Up with Lori Saitz
Lori Saitz from ZenRabbit started life as an extremely shy child. Her report cards regularly included, “Lori is very bright but she needs to learn how to speak up in class.” - Lori Saitz (pronounced Sites) has become a nationally recognized marketing expert, master networker and relationship-builder.
In 2003, she launched Zen Rabbit Baking Company and introduced the world to The Gratitude Cookie. In order to build that company, she had to overcome her hesitancy to talk to strangers, and learn how to network effectively to find clients and referral sources. Today, as a networking strategy coach and speaker, she works with quiet people on getting past the fear of networking, managing their energy, and feeling more comfortable connecting, so they can find success.
Her services are in demand by consultants, entrepreneurs, business owners, and business professionals who need to figure out which networking events are worth going to so they’re not wasting hundreds of dollars; what to say once they’re there so they don’t look foolish; and how to follow up afterward so their efforts aren’t wasted.
Quotes:
“We're naturally attuned to storytelling. Storytelling goes back centuries in human history. The storytelling part really cements and makes you more memorable.” – Lori Saitz
“Follow-up is the most important part. Where most people fall down is in the follow-up, because we all have the best of intentions.” – Lori Saitz
“If you can take control and make it more interesting by asking better questions of your conversational partners, it becomes easier and more enjoyable.” – Lori Saitz
Takeaways:
05:50 Strategic networking means choosing events with the right people, not attending every possible gathering.
06:32 Managing personal energy is crucial when attending networking events, especially for introverted professionals.
10:28 Preparing a clear, concise answer to "What do you do?" helps quiet professionals feel more confident and memorable.
17:01 Asking thoughtful, interesting questions transforms surface-level conversations into meaningful professional interactions.
25:36 Follow-up is the most critical part of networking, and setting specific calendar time for post-event communication ensures connections aren't lost.
Resources
- Zen Rabbit: Networking Strategies for Quiet People (Website)
- Lori Saitz (LinkedIn)
- Lori Saitz (Twitter)
- Highrise HQ (Client Relationship Management tool)
- Insightly (Site)
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445: Online Entrepreneurs: Re-Frame Your Struggles, Stress & Failures of the Past to Create Everything You Want in the Present
Let's talk for a second about past failures, stress, and how to use the mistake of the past to get the future you want, as you listen in today's episode.
Quotes:
“Far too many people wait until it's too late to take any sort of action, and then they wish they had taken that action one to ten years ago.” – Robert Plank
“Many struggling internet marketers are currently having trouble with being spread too thin—too many projects, no deadlines, no sense of urgency, and no focus.” – Robert Plank
“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” – Robert Plank
Takeaways:
00:45 Your current struggles and frustrations will become fond memories when viewed from a future perspective.
01:30 Taking calculated risks is more valuable than playing it safe and never attempting anything meaningful.
02:15 Most people underestimate what they can accomplish in a decade by being too cautious in the short term.
02:45 Simple online business success requires focusing on three core elements: lead capture, offers, and traffic.
03:20 Half-done projects and scattered efforts prevent entrepreneurs from creating a functional online business.
Leave Us a Quick Like & Comment on LinkedIn
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444: Just Do One Push-Up: Get Yourself Out There and Stream Live on Facebook
Have you heard that you "need to take massive action" but you don't quite know how to get started? Do you find yourself overwhelmed, sometimes backsliding or struggling to stay consistent? If so, this is the most important podcast you'll listen to today. Listen below and when you're done, leave us a quick like and a comment over on LinkedIn.
Quotes:
“A year from now, everything you're stressing about won't even matter.” – Robert Plank
“Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive about what could go right.” – Robert Plank
“Life is not fair, and you don't want it to be fair. Fair means average—one step below good, and even one step above poor.” – Robert Plank
Takeaways:
00:05 Small, consistent actions can transform your life, even if you start with just one push-up.
01:25 Fear and overthinking prevent most people from taking the first step towards their goals.
02:15 Success comes from being proactive and taking risks, not from waiting for perfect conditions.
03:45 Incremental improvement beats waiting for the perfect moment to start.
04:35 Envy and regret are poor substitutes for actual action and personal growth.
Visit the "One Push Up" Article on LinkedIn & Leave a Quick Comment
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443: Take More (Fast) Action, Follow-Through and Be Consistent Daily: How I Wrote a Book in a Day and Got Married in a Day
I got married today, Friday, November 17th, 2017. We hadn't planned it, just woke up and decided to knock it out today. I've also done the same thing with my business in several cases, most notably having an idea for a book in the morning and getting it published that afternoon. Listen to the story and if you'd like to leave a comment or "like", check out this post on LinkedIn.
Quotes:
“20 years from now, you'll be more disappointed about the things you didn't do than the things you did do.” – Robert Plank
“You should be committed to your outcome, but flexible in your results.” – Robert Plank
“Develop a habit of consistent completion, and you get instant gratification. You set yourself up for future patterns of turning ideas into reality.” – Robert Plank
Takeaways:
04:40 Fast action and consistent daily effort can transform your biggest dreams into immediate reality.
07:15 Breaking complex goals into smaller, manageable steps reduces anxiety and increases the likelihood of success.
08:30 Don't let perfect details stop you from starting - the first step is more important than having every single thing planned out.
09:20 Setting SMART goals with specific timelines helps you move from idea to execution quickly.
10:10 Developing a habit of instant completion creates powerful patterns of turning thoughts into tangible results.
Visit This Article on LinkedIn to Leave a Quick Comment
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442: Masterminds: The Secret Shortcut to Success, Focus, Clarity, Speed, and Action with Charlene Burke
Charlene Burke says that you shouldn't go it alone when it comes to your online business, so she founded Search by Burke. Charlene believes that a mastermind group is "the secret shortcut to success" and is an information professional and mastermind group expert, with a background in marketing and engineering. She provides small and medium sized businesses with research that answers their questions about market opportunities, industry trends, and what's working for their competitors.
We discuss the importance of you joining a mastermind, types of masterminds to join, what to avoid when you join one, and how to get the most from them.
Quotes:
“A mastermind group is designed to help you navigate through challenges using the collective intelligence of others.” – Charlene Burke
“If you are the one who caused your problem, and you are the one who has decided to come up with the answer, you are using the same thoughts and brain that actually caused the problem.” – Charlene Burke
“You can't be a taker. You can't just sit in on a group to check it out.” – Charlene Burke
Takeaways:
01:50 Mastermind groups are powerful tools for solving business challenges through collective intelligence and peer support.
10:25 Successful mastermind participation requires giving as much value as you receive, not just taking advice.
21:56 A strong group leader is crucial for maintaining group health, resolving conflicts, and ensuring productive discussions.
23:03 Joining a mastermind can help introverted professionals improve communication skills and build confidence.
29:45 When selecting a mastermind group, ask detailed questions about group structure, expectations, and conflict resolution.
Resources
- Search By Burke (Website)
- Charlene Burke (LinkedIn)
- No More Sabotage: Developing Your Success Mindset (Book)
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441: Website Optimization, A/B Split Testing and Heatmaps: How to Double Your Customers, Sales and Profits with Conversion Fanatic Justin Christianson
Justin Christianson is the #1 bestselling author of Conversion Fanatic: How to Double Your Customers, Sales and Profits with A/B Testing.
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The book is based on years of experience running thousands of split tests on hundreds of campaigns and is the definitive guide to getting more out of your marketing efforts. It's designed to help you find and test breakthrough marketing ideas faster and more adeptly than your competition can keep up with, so you convert more website visitors into paying customers faster and at a lower cost than they can.
He's the co-founder and President of Conversion Fanatics, a full service Conversion rate optimization company, member of the Forbes Agency council as well as the host of the weekly marketing podcast, CMO Roundtable. We talk today about Justin and his team's strategy, process, and mindset when it comes to increasing conversions, improving the website visitor experience, decreasing ad costs, and skyrocketing clicks & sales.
Quotes:
“At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you or I think of the website—it matters what the visitors think, because they're the ones who are your customers or potential customers.” – Justin Christianson
“The only way to really get and keep a competitive advantage is to constantly be testing to try to beat your high score.” – Justin Christianson
“Optimization never stops, because markets are constantly changing and evolving.” – Justin Christianson
Takeaways:
04:18 Always test website changes scientifically instead of making assumptions about what might improve conversions.
07:18 Companies need at least 30,000 monthly unique visitors to conduct meaningful A/B testing effectively.
12:09 Optimization is an ongoing process that requires constant analysis and adaptation to changing market conditions.
20:07 Focus on customer benefits rather than just listing product features when marketing.
27:04 Don't give up on testing and optimization efforts too quickly - patience and persistence are key to discovering significant improvements.
Resources
- Conversion Fanatics (Agency)
- Conversion Fanatic (Book)
- CMO Roundtable (Podcast)
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440: Meditation, Journaling, and Gratitude: Tap Into the Three Habits for High Performance State of Flow with Enthusiastic Clay Green
Clay Green, speaker, trainer, and expert. What do you want to do better, in both your business and your life? What ever that "thing" is, Clay can help you apply high performance principles to achieve, excel, and get more out of life. To break the usual destructive patterns blocking your way, have self-awareness and move forward, you need to apply the three fundamental principles: meditation (2-5 minutes a day), journaling, and gratitude.
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We also talk about getting into the flow state and its four stages:
- struggle: where you're focused on a problem
- release: get away from the problem and take a break
- flow: get inspired
- recovery: coming back to reality
Quotes:
“You cannot stay in a state of flow 24/7—you can't, because your body is burning energy. You have to fuel, you have to rest, and your brain has to recover.” – Clay Green
“Control your mind so that you can control your day.” – Clay Green
“My first and most important lesson that I teach people is: think—do not react.” – Clay Green
Takeaways:
02:31 High-performance habits like meditation, journaling, and gratitude form a foundational framework for personal and professional success.
13:02 Breaking complex goals into manageable daily practices helps overcome mental barriers and achieve long-term transformation.
22:21 The state of flow can be intentionally accessed through specific habits, allowing for heightened productivity and creativity without extreme risks.
32:41 Meditation is a powerful tool for controlling your mind and improving daily performance, requiring just 2-5 minutes of consistent practice.
38:56 Entrepreneurs often get stuck by reacting emotionally instead of thoughtfully processing challenges, which blocks their potential for growth.
Resources
- Clay Green (Official Site)
- Clay Green (LinkedIn)
- Custom Mastermind (Site)
- Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler (Book)
- The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler (Book)
- High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard (Book)
- Relaxation One (app)
- Insight Timer (app)
- Headspace (app)
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439: Grow Your Business Using Project Management Software, Systems, Flow, Documentation and Troubleshooting with Bryan Weinert
As the Founding Partner of Incipient, Bryan Weinert oversees product strategy, implementation, and client relations while spearheading an adept team that is determined to push the envelope in custom software technology. From funded startups to large-scale enterprise solutions in finance, healthcare, pharmaceutical, and supply chain management industries, his foolproof solutions have benefited a wide range of clientele.
Quotes:
“As humans, we're all creatures of habit—especially when those habits are bringing good returns. But just because you're getting a return doesn't mean it's the return you should be getting.” – Bryan Weinert
“Reflection is key in any business for any business owner on a monthly basis. You should have processes that allow you to reflect on your progress.” – Bryan Weinert
“It's always easier for someone on the outside, with no preconceived expectations, to offer advice than for anyone involved who might just want to tell you what you want to hear.” – Bryan Weinert
Takeaways:
04:19 Prioritize scalable processes that can grow with your business without requiring complete system overhauls.
08:30 Build a knowledge database that captures recurring problems and their solutions to improve customer service and team efficiency.
12:54 Document your business processes to uncover hidden inefficiencies and create opportunities for technological improvement.
14:43 Seek outside perspectives to identify blind spots in your current business workflows and communication strategies.
15:30 Focus on time-consuming tasks as the primary starting point for business optimization and automation.
Resources
- Incipient (Product Growth Company)
- Incipient (Twitter)
- Bryan Weinert (LinkedIn)
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438: Be of Service and Value to Others: How to Network, Build Loyalty, Develop Relationships, and Express Gratitude with Meredith Bell
Meredith Bell has been an entrepreneur since 1982, and she's an expert in helping companies develop the people side of their business. Meredith is co-founder and President of Performance Support Systems, a global software company based in Virginia. Their products are used by leadership coaches and consultants as well as internal learning and development professionals to help managers become more effective leaders.
One of Meredith strengths is building strong relationships. She and her business partners have worked together for 25 years, and many of their clients and resellers have done business with them for 20 years. She understands what’s required to build the loyalty and commitment that lead to repeat business and referrals, and we talk today about how to help others, follow up, and actively listen to make sales easy again.
Quotes:
“The more I give, the more comes back to me.” – Meredith Bell
“Most people don't have enough others in their lives who show a genuine interest in who they are, what they're doing, and what's important to them.” – Meredith Bell
“When your attitude is focused on serving and being helpful, it makes a huge difference in the response you get.” – Meredith Bell
Takeaways:
02:29 Effective leadership hinges on clear communication, active listening, and genuine appreciation of team members.
11:07 Reaching out to authors, experts, or professionals can create unexpected opportunities through genuine curiosity and support.
17:51 Building strong relationships requires a mindset of serving others and finding ways to help them without expecting immediate returns.
24:57 Most people lack meaningful connections, so showing authentic interest in someone's work can create lasting professional relationships.
27:13 Expressing gratitude and providing small, thoughtful gestures can significantly impact professional interactions.
Resources
- Surveys for Small Business (Website)
- Strong for Performance (Site)
- Meredith Bell (LinkedIn)
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437: Fulcrum Investing and the State of Logic: How to Stand Out, Get Noticed, Build the Right Team, and Make Great Decisions with Kevin Van Eekeren
Kevin Van Eekeren started his career as a logistic officer for a SWAT team, which gave him insight into the criminal justice world, and he soon found that through training SWAT teams better he could reduce the use of force while bettering the national security of our country. Fulcrum Tactical was born out of that idea, and within 18 months he expanded it from a charity to a for-profit company. He started investing in startups on the side but focused on Fulcrum Tactical and his new venture, Fulcrum Farms a sustainable farm producing high-quality meat and eggs for families and restaurants in the Chicagoland area. After six years Kevin sold Fulcrum Tactical and moved on to investing in startups full-time by starting Fulcrum Investing. Kevin spends his free time co-hosting The State of Logic Podcast and has also continued his passion for farming.
Quotes:
“While we never want to hurt anyone's feelings, it's also important to give people our honest assessment of the possible ability for success of an idea or a company.” – Kevin Van Eekeren
“It is the investor's job to call an ugly baby an ugly baby when necessary, in order to be the best person you can be for that entrepreneur.” – Kevin Van Eekeren
“The CEO cannot be working in the business. He has to be working on the business.” – Kevin Van Eekeren
Takeaways:
03:12 Media and information sources often prioritize sensationalism over truth, making critical thinking and fact-checking essential.
06:33 Quick, honest feedback is more valuable to entrepreneurs than prolonged, sugar-coated responses.
09:18 Startup success depends more on the quality of the founding team than the specific industry or product.
09:49 Successful investing requires a rigorous, objective process that removes personal bias and focuses on the entrepreneur's potential.
15:00 Building a business means focusing on the big picture strategy while empowering a skilled team to handle execution details.
Resources
- The State of Logic (Podcast)
- Fulcrum Investing (Website)
- Kevin Van Eekeren (LinkedIn)
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