Bolder Business Podcast

The focus in this episode is still on creativity in business because it’s just that important to our success. It’s not only the domain of artists, writers, and the performing arts. It belongs to all of us – and especially to small business people. Today I share a tool I use all the time for my business and in my personal pursuits. It allows me to tap into the creative side of my brain and turns my curious questions into valuable business assets. You can, too.

Julie Foucht, Kickass Biz Coach, helps frustrated entrepreneurs activate their creative superpowers. Her  philosophy is simple: When we step into our authentic self and build businesses that truly express what we are most passionate about, then we have the power to change the world and make buckets full of money doing it.   Julie started her first real business at the age of 12, becoming a lifelong entrepreneur. In 2013 she was named Woman of the Year by the Professional Women’s Network of the Monterey Peninsula. When she is not coaching her fabulous clients or hosting her weekly podcast, Ms. Kickass Biz Radio, she can usually be found enjoying tea parties with her husband and two tiny granddaughters.

1.       Instead of asking "HOW" all the time, we need to take a step back and take a lesson from kids. The real question is never "HOW". It’s "WHY" or "WHY NOT" or (my favourite) "WHAT IF".  Because we all know that if we really want to do something we’ll figure out the HOW later. Curiosity is a trait we need to value more and nurture if we are to be successful in business. Curiosity is the heart of innovation and growth. Innovation creates value and awareness of our brand.  And that's bold!

Your skills and experience may not always lead you where you think you’re heading. My guest Dr. Ellen Britt explains how everything she learned in life led her what she does today -- teaching savvy women entrepreneurs how to take their knowledge and expertise and transform it into Genuine Influence. Dr. Ellen Britt is an award-winning Online Marketing Strategist, Mastermind expert, Amazon best-selling author, master interviewer and host of the Pink Coattails podcast…providing information, inspiration and a voice for women in business, so they can ride in on the 'coattails' of other successful women entrepreneurs. She has produced and hosted more than a dozen telesummits and has interviewed some of today’s most well-known and respected names in marketing and self-development. She lives and works near Atlanta, Georgia.

Time, like money, is a resource that we spend or invest. In this episode we discuss what's really happening as I introduce you to a strategy to help you get a handle on your time investments.  Let's blow away once and for all the myth that’s got you running in circles. You can’t manage time. No one can. The definition of the word ‘manage’ is “to be in charge of”. Time simply is. There’s no “being in charge”. The only thing we are in charge of are our activities and the value we assign to them. Listen in to find out more. 

The skills of convincing, persuading and influencing others is fundamental to most professions. Without sales there is no trade, without trade there is no business. Pat Helmers teaches sales. Especially to those uncomfortable in sales: entrepreneurs, engineers, new sales professionals as well as to veteran sellers who are stale and want to grow He believes you can discover a selling style that fits your personality and industry. We are all sellers and his passion is to help you discover your inner sales professional.   Pat's 3 Tips 1.     Listen. Ask good, open-ended questions and listen for the need. 2.     Have a service/helping attitude. 3.     Over-deliver and create raving fans. 

At a recent MasterMind event for my private clients one of them made this observation. “The biggest obstacle to our success is our self.”  I’ve thought about that statement ever since she said it and wondered, “What tools or habits can help us get over ourselves?  What's worked for me personally and for my clients?” What I came up with are 3 power strategies to get you beyond your self-imposed roadblocks and further down the highway to success.   

The Stacey Harris is a powerhouse online entrepreneur who helps her clients reach rock star status. Her passion for rock stars goes back to her roots because she graduated with a degree in audio engineering ready to take the music scene by storm. She quickly started working with an up and coming record label finding bands to sign and feature on their web radio station. Now returning to her web radio roots Stacey is the host of her own show Hit the Mic with The Stacey Harris.   She’s also passionate about women entrepreneurs because we are taking the power back into our own lives. She’s going to tell us how to ROCK our time online, build communities of raving fans AND have fun, too. When you see her photo you’ll know The Stacey Harris is no shrinking violet. She’s also a wife and mom so she understands that whole ‘juggling act’ and how to optimize your time online. 

There’s a lot of value in looking at the journeys of people who achieved maximum impact through their passion and sense of purpose. People like Jane Goodall who I spoke about in Episode 50. Which is why I'm sharing another story about someone who successfully blended passion with purpose - Walt Disney. (Besides I do love a good story.) When I teach a writing class the first thing I tell students is NOT to compare their work with anyone else's but especially not with their heros. The same advice holds true if you are building a purpose-based business. There will be a lot of rough drafts and hard work between you and the future you envision. If you trust the process and follow the path as it appears it can be even more amazing than you could have imagined.  Walt Disney's experience has a lot to teach us about passion and perseverance.

For over 20 years, author, speaker and branding expert Rahna Barthelmess has passionately built some of the world’s beloved brands, like LEGO® Toys, Miracle-Gro® Plant Food, Build-A-Bear Workshop® and Texaco® Gasolines. Today, As a personal branding strategist, it is her job to help entrepreneurs find more clients, job seekers land that dream job, and corporate executives to maximize their potential and take their careers to the next level.   Author of the book Your Branding Edge: How Personal Branding Can Turbocharge Your Career, Rahna pulls from real-life experiences, translating classic marketing ideas into practical how-to’s that can be immediately applied to people’s business lives—to have more fun in their lives, do more meaningful work and earn more money!

Defining your Ideal Client feels hard for many of us, especially in the beginning when money is usually  tight. Afraid to turn down work, we take on anyone who can fog a mirror. And often we regret some of those choices.   In today’s episode I hope to make it easier for you. You don’t have time to flounder around confusing people! Spraying and praying that your marketing will work is a huge waste of your precious time and money. TIP Make 3 Lists to Help You Identify Your Ideal Client 1.     Who do you admire? Who would make your day – your year (!) if they phoned you today? Living or dead, who’s on YOUR VIP list? 2.     Who DON’T you enjoy working with? What qualities in someone else aren’t a good fit for you? It doesn’t mean they are awful human beings, rather you just don’t connect.    3.     If you’re a B2B business -  What industry or profession would you like to w

Mike Kawula is the founder of Self Employed King where he shares marketing tips and launching shortly SparkedBiz, an affordable turn-key training & coaching system for Network Marketers and Business Coaches to offer their teams & clients. Michael has started several businesses, the last 2 growing to over Million Dollars each in under 3 years. His most recent business was ranked #144th fastest growing business by Inc. Magazine in 2012 and he plans to repeat this with SparkedBiz by 2017. Michael has 3 amazing children and he likes to say an awesome patient wife who can deal with the entrepreneurial crazy lifestyle. He’s a LeanStartup Mentor, volunteers at Co-Working spaces helping startups and has a strong passion for Social Media and Marketing.

An effective social media strategy is like learning to drive. Driving a car may seem like an optional life skill UNTIL you actually learn to drive. Then you realise just how vital it is to everything you do. 7 Step Plan 1.       Identify your Ideal Client. No. Really. Do it. 2.       What platforms are they active on? This may NOT be where you like to hang out. Rather it’s  where your client is spending time. 3.       Pay attention to what your audience cares about and add value to their conversations.  4.       Define measurable results you want for your social media time. 5.       Schedule your posts using a tool that will help you maintain a consistent presence. 6.       Schedule your personal engagement on a daily basis and put a time limit on it.   7.       Most importan

Robert of B2B Sales Connections brings over 30 years of direct sales, sales management and executive level experience to his role helping sales professionals and business owners achieve sales growth. He is an author, award winning speaker, broadcaster and entrepreneur. Some of his career highlights include: •39% annual growth over 5 years managing a national sales division •6 consecutive years as a 100% Sales Club member with Fortune 500 • Created & delivered sales and product training programs throughout North America • Founder of one of the largest Sport Fencing Clubs in Canada Robert is an avid competitive fencer and coach. In 2006 he established the Ajax Fencing Club. His students have won medals in provincial, national and international competitions.   Robert has widespread experience building regional, national, and industry specific sales channels, as well as extensive skill in the foundations of sales; prospecting, presenting and closing. Both personally and professionally

After 10 years in the music industry, and another 10 years as a computer programmer, Liesel Teversham started her third career in the emotional wellness industry in 2005. Her biggest eye opener was learning how unresolved emotions negatively impact our success journey, and she qualified in many methods to resolve past challenges quickly and simply. Liesel is the co-founder of The EFT Academy of Southern Africa and an EFT Trainer. She’s the author of “No Problem. The Upside of Saying No” and she helps woman all over the globe to put themselves back on their own priority list - guilt-free.   She’s the creator of the Savvy Self-Care Secrets Telesummit.

Recently I met one of my lifelong heroes – Dr. Jane Goodall. I’m happy to report, I’m an even BIGGER fan now. As I mentioned in my last episode I was challenged about my use of the word ‘bolder’ and the baggage some people attach to that word. After observing Dr Goodall I now know exactly what it looks like when a Bolder Woman lives her life on purpose. Dame Jane Goodall is the ideal example of the difference each of us can make if and when we are willing to take risks and seize opportunity.     What about you? I firmly believe we each have something we need to be up to in this world. It may not be on as big a stage as Jane Goodall’s but there is a role for you. Someone, somewhere is waiting for what you have to offer. 

Many people have a transformational messagebut they haven’t summoned up the courage to share it. Doug Foresta is on a mission to help them do just that.   Doug Foresta is the co-founder of Coachzing.com, a marketing and publishing company and a veteran podcaster. Since 2009, he has interviewed over 600 guests, including New York Times bestselling authors and Academy Award Winners. He has helped hundreds of people with a transformational message Stand Out and Be Heard through the power of podcasting. He is the producer and host of The Coachzing Show on iTunes and Creating Change on Empower Radio and iHeartRadio.

One of the biggest myths among solo entrepreneurs is that marketing is selling. This misconception keeps financial success out of reach.  It’s time to bust this myth wide open. Patti Pokorchak is an award winning marketing and sales executive, with 30+ years of experience at IBM, Siemens, and many startup companies. Self-employed since 1992, she helped start and run a multi-million dollar software company for 10 years, before opening a thriving garden centre and hobby farm. She says “If I can be a farmer, then you can be anything you want to be — with some basic sales and marketing skills that is!”. Patti was NOT a born salesperson – she was a trained programmer, after dropping her quest to be an accountant – all great geeky careers. While at IBM, even after she went on a grueling two week residential sales course, she was still a nervous shy introverted sales person. And then she discovered something. Today, Patti LOVES to sell and has deconstructed her mill

I was the guest on a radio show recently and they questioned me about the use of the word “bolder”, especially for women. Many women have negative connotations to the word, equating it with ‘aggressive’ and all that THAT word brings up. The messaging many of received in our formative years was ‘Don’t be so bold. People will talk.” The inference (or directly spoken ) was the people won’t like you if you’re too bold. If you’re trying to get your message  heard in this noisy, crowded market place, then you MUST  challenge those messages. Why? Because quite frankly, you WANT people to talk about you, your business, your products and services. Don’t you?   However, Let’s make them talk for the right reasons. Lets’ look at the positive side of “BOLD”. 

Kathleen Gage is the “no-nonsense, common sense” online marketing strategist, speaker, author, product creation specialist, and owner of Power Up For Profits. She helps entrepreneurs make money online. Her clients are driven by making a difference through their own unique voice.   As an early adopter of online marketing, Kathleen is considered to be one of the nation’s most passionate speakers. She is known for cutting through the fluff and helping people leave their sob stories behind so they can stop focusing on the past and start looking towards the future. She speaks and teaches about what she believes are the core elements of a successful life: accountability, integrity, honesty, and living with passion and hope.