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TitreDateDurée
Newly Escaped: Adrienne Farrell's Escape from "Toxic" Corporate to Solo Freedom30 Sep 202400:39:32

Hear from a recent corporate escapee and her journey so far.

Adrienne Farrell is a corporate wellness consultant and the founder of the InnovateHerLab, a community for women exploring their career paths. She focuses on women's health and well-being in the workplace, recognizing the need to elevate this issue. 

Adrienne's journey to becoming an escapee started when she experienced layoffs and a toxic work environment. She decided to take a leap of faith and prioritize her own voice and values. 

She is passionate about advocating for women's health and believes that the corporate world needs to change to better support women. 

Adrienne is currently balancing her corporate wellness consulting work with her side project, the InnovateHer Lab. 

The conversation explores the opportunities and challenges of transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship. They discuss the benefits of being your authentic self, the rise of fractional work, and the importance of networking and finding a supportive community. They also touch on time management and prioritization as key factors in the success of solo entrepreneurs. The conversation ends with advice for those considering the entrepreneurial journey.

Adrienne’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennel-farrell/

Website: adriennefarrell.com/ 

Takeaways

  • Adrienne's transition from corporate to escapee was motivated by her desire for work-life balance, flexibility, and the ability to advocate for her own values.
  • She is passionate about addressing the gap in women's health and well-being in the workplace and believes that organizations have a social responsibility to prioritize this issue.
  • Adrienne's experience in setting up wellness programs in corporate roles has informed her current work as a corporate wellness consultant.
  • She emphasizes the importance of having a support network and community when navigating the transition from corporate to escapee. Being your authentic self brings the most value and happiness.
  • Fractional work offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness for companies.
  • Building a supportive network and community is crucial for success.
  • Time management and prioritization are key skills for solo entrepreneurs.
  • Give yourself grace and embrace the learning process.


Sound Bites

  • "There's a real need to elevate women's health within the workplace."
  • "Finding your community allows for authentic, transparent conversations without jeopardizing your current career."
  • "Having the freedom of voice and advocating for what's important to me is incredibly rewarding and empowering."
  • "The opportunity, I guess more than anything"
  • "There are opportunities to create the work that you want"
  • "The future of work is heading this way"


Keywords

corporate wellness, women's health, career exploration, escapee, toxic work environment, work-life balance, flexibility, support network, entrepreneurship, corporate life, authenticity, fractional work, networking, community, time management, prioritization, advice


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:37 Adrienne's Work: Corporate Wellness and the Innovate Her Lab

05:07 Transitioning from Corporate to Escapee

08:29 Finding Your Voice and Advocating for What's Important

12:45 Addressing the Gap in Women's Health in the Workplace

15:30 Balancing Corporate Wellness Consulting and the Innovate Her Lab

20:00 Approaching Time and Focus as an Escapee

22:10 Transitioning from Corporate Life to Entrepreneurship

23:06 The Opportunity of...

"I’d Rather Be Homeless": Laine Belcastro on the Ups and Downs of Escaping and Why She’ll Never Go Back23 Sep 202400:38:48

In this episode, Laine Belcastro shares her journey from corporate marketing to becoming a solopreneur and email marketing consultant. 

Laine discusses the importance of networking, finding your niche, and the challenges of pricing strategies. Laine emphasizes the significance of email marketing for business growth and introduces her new venture, Accountability Arcade, aimed at helping entrepreneurs set and achieve short-term goals. 

The conversation highlights the balance of multiple revenue streams and the mindset shifts necessary for success in the solopreneur world.

Laine’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lainemb/

Website: https://lmbdigimarketing.com/ 

Takeaways

  • Laine has her own email marketing automation consulting business.
  • Networking is crucial for solopreneurs to find opportunities.
  • It's important to focus on a niche to avoid burnout.
  • Pricing should reflect the value provided, not just time spent.
  • Email marketing is a powerful tool for brand recognition.
  • Consistency in email outreach is key to staying top of mind.
  • Accountability can help entrepreneurs achieve their goals more effectively.
  • Starting with a simple nurture program can keep contacts engaged.
  • You don't need to have everything figured out to start your business.
  • Taking action is more important than waiting for the perfect plan.


Sound Bites

  • "I'd rather be homeless than go back to corporate."
  • "Networking is key for solopreneurs."
  • "You don't need a website to get started."


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:02 Accountability Arcade Service

03:43 Leaving Corporate America and Starting a Business

07:57 The Power of Networking

10:01 Finding Your Niche and Specializing

13:19 Pricing Models for Solopreneurs

17:39 Flexible Pricing and Meeting Customer Needs

19:32 Effective Email Marketing Strategies

27:35 Creating an Accountability Group

31:25 Balancing Multiple Revenue Streams

34:16 Taking Action and Diving into Entrepreneurship

Small Group Session: Strategies for Getting on Podcasts & Making an Impact09 Aug 202400:29:56

In this conversation, Brett Trainor and Don discuss the topic of guest podcasting as a way to create awareness and grow your solo business. They share their strategies for getting on podcasts, including watching what people are podcasting about, commenting on LinkedIn posts, and finding topics that align with the show's theme. They emphasize the importance of understanding the target audience and tailoring the pitch accordingly. 

They also discuss the value of networking and asking for referrals to podcast hosts. Other tips include having strong opinions, being prepared with a good headshot and bio, and promoting the podcast episode after it's released. They encourage guests to be themselves and not be afraid of making mistakes or being imperfect. 

Overall, they highlight the power of human connection in podcasting.

Takeaways

  • Guest podcasting is an effective way to create awareness and grow a business.
  • Strategies for getting on podcasts include watching what people are podcasting about, commenting on LinkedIn posts, and finding topics that align with the show's theme.
  • Understanding the target audience and tailoring the pitch accordingly is crucial for success.
  • Networking and asking for referrals to podcast hosts can be helpful in getting guest opportunities.
  • Having strong opinions, a good headshot, and a well-crafted bio are important for making a good impression.
  • Promoting the podcast episode after it's released can benefit both the guest and the podcast host.
  • Being authentic and embracing imperfections can make for a more engaging podcast episode.
  • Human connection is a key factor in successful podcasting.

Sound Bites

  • "Look at what the audience is looking for, the much better success."
  • "Throw in something about AI. Everybody wants to hear about AI stuff."
  • "Give me something different, a different perspective, a different look."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Mixing Concoctions

00:03 The Value of Guest Podcasting

01:00 Strategies for Getting on Podcasts

02:41 Researching the Show and Suggesting Topics

07:12 Being Yourself and Providing Value

16:15 Improving the Guest Experience

20:32 Promoting the Podcast Episode

23:10 Asking for Audio and Video

25:44 Embracing Mistakes and Human Connection

29:14 Conclusion

149. Goal Setting and Planning (To Get the Right Things Done)05 Apr 202200:30:26

Books mentioned:
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Deep Work by Cal Newport
So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport
A World Without Email by Cal Newport

Connect with Brett:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

Connect with Diana:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianamitchell716/

148. How to Take Advantage of The Great Resignation29 Mar 202200:40:59

Connect with Brett:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

Connect with Diana:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianamitchell716/

Introducing BizOwner360 2.0 with Co-Host Diana Mitchell29 Mar 202200:08:26

Connect with Brett:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

Connect with Diana:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianamitchell716/

147. Why Most Bootstrapped Businesses Get Stuck (& How to Break Through) with Steve Hoffman22 Mar 202200:42:25

If there’s a perfect time to start a business, it’s in this new normal when everyone’s set on an almost equal footing with everything else going digital.

 

But how do you make sure that the business you’ll be building has got what it takes to reach the ultimate $10 million dollar goal?

 

Today, I sat down with Steve Hoffman, a.k.a Captain Hoff, CEO of Founders Space, a worldwide innovation hub for entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors with more than 50 partners in 22 countries.

 

Be it growing a startup through bootstrapping or venture capital, you name it, Steve has done it. 

 

So hit the play button now to not miss this chance of learning from this Captain Hoff.

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. The role of ideas in starting a business in 2022 [03:45]
  3. Need-to-haves vs. want-to-haves: Coming up with the perfect product [10:06]
  4. How having the right team is the key to reaching the $10 million mark [14:27]
  5. Why you should set strict guidelines in doing business [16:31]
  6. The value of having returning customers [21:54]
  7. Taking advantage of the opportunity of selling a platform [27:09]
  8. How do you make a platform more interactive and more valuable [33:38]
  9. Steve’s take on bootstrapping and getting a venture capital [34:55]


Resource Links:



About Our Guest:

Steve Hoffman, a.k.a. Captain Hoff, is the Chairman and CEO of Founders Space, a worldwide innovation hub for entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors with more than 50 partners in 22 countries.

Hoffman is a venture capitalist, the founder of three venture-backed and two bootstrapped businesses, and the author of numerous award-winning books. "Make Elephants Fly", "Surviving a Startup", and "The Five Forces" are among them.

 

Connect with Steve Hoffman:

Website https://www.foundersspace.com/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/foundersspace/

Podcasts https://www.foundersspace.com/s/

              https://www.foundersspace.com/m/


Books by Steve Hoffman:



Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/ YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/


If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

146. Overlooked Opportunities to Amp Your Growth with Michael Haynes15 Mar 202200:43:43
The challenge of getting stuck in the growing stage is one that many business owners face.

But what most of owners and founders don’t know is that there’s actually a swarm of opportunities for growth out there that they are missing out on.

Today, we’re going to explore those opportunities with Leading SMB Growth Expert Michael Haynes as we talk about common growth hindrances in 2022 and how to address them.

Do you find it difficult to adjust your B2B business tactics? If yes, then this episode is definitely for you.

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. What your areas of focus for growth in 2022 should be [04:49]
  3. Michael’s A.I.R. concept and the issue of content overload [08:09]
  4. The best approach to determining your biggest growth opportunities [10:07]
  5. How you can conduct an effective customer research [12:30]
  6. Building a sense of community to connect with your prospects  [16:03]
  7. Integrating collaboration and co-creation into your growth strategy [19:38]
  8. Catering to the needs of every participant in the buying group [27:57]
  9. How to reframe your selling process to address your buyers’ needs [30:17]
  10. Skill sets that you need to execute your growth strategies effectively [36:59]

 

 

Resource Links:


Past Episodes with Michael Haynes:


 

 

Books Mentioned:


 

About Our Guest:

Michael Haynes is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Listen Innovate Grow with over 20 years of experience working with firms ranging from micro-businesses to large corporations in Australia and Canada to develop and implement customer strategies and programs that help them expand their businesses.

 

Connect with Michael Haynes:

Website (https://listeninnovategrow.com/)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-haynes-lig/

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn:

145. Is Your Mindset Limiting Your Business’s Growth?08 Mar 202200:52:38

We talk a lot on this podcast about business strategies and tactics but not very often about the personal side which includes wellness, physical health, and especially mindset.

 

So today, we’re having Teresa Buruni, founder and CEO of Less Fear More Flow, who helps entrepreneurs and business owners with their personal transformation, mindset, wellness to unlock their true potential.

 

Teresa shares tips on how we can preserve our wellness so we never get lost amidst burnout while achieving our goals for our businesses.

 

This episode is a breath of fresh air and will surely enlighten you on how to attain the freedom you’re aiming for through your business so hit the play button now!

We talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. Entrepreneurs’ DONTs that need to be reevaluated [04:12]
  3. To have your sleep in one go or to break it down in periods? [07:36]
  4. 45 minutes of laser focus and 45 minutes of break outside [09:59]
  5. Finding balance through different types of meditation [13:41]
  6. Bearing in mind that your bed is for resting [17:37]
  7. Why you don’t have to work 7 days a week [21:36]
  8. The role of mindset in entrepreneurship [26:24]
  9. The challenge of reversing the programming set unto us [32:11]
  10. How you can deal with imposter syndrome [36:02]
  11. Tips on dealing with the pressures brought by industrialization [41:02]
  12. Going through the motions and enjoying the process of growing [48:24]

Resource Links:


Books mentioned:


Episodes mentioned:


About Our Guest:

Teresa Bruni is a deeply committed Healer and Spiritual Warrior who helps people overcome difficulties that keep them from enjoying their lives to the fullest. 

 

Teresa is also the founder of Less Fear, More Flow LLC and The 2020 Resilience Journal Project, as well as a #1 International Best Selling Author, speaker, and author. She is a natural instructor who thinks that our thoughts are the only limit to our potential.

 

Connect with Teresa Bruni:

Website https://www.teresabruni.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresabrunithehealer/

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram:

144. Why ABM Is the Key to Unlocking Your Bootstrapped Businesses Growth with Jeff MacGurn01 Mar 202200:39:29

Account-based marketing (ABM) is one of the most effective strategies for B2B sales but many founders are still missing out on the awesome benefits that it offers.

 

Today, I have just the perfect person to help us understand what ABM is really all about, BusinessOnline Chief Operating Officer Jeff MacGurn.

 

Jeff shares the different ways that ABM boosts sales. He also gives insights on how to get started with ABM and how to target the right audience with the right type of content.

 

Are you looking to learn more about ABM and how you can get the most out of it? Jump into this episode now!

We talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. The current landscape of digital marketing for small businesses [03:38]
  3. Dealing with the changes in buyer expectations [07:14]
  4. How ABM helps businesses in 6 different ways [10:17]
  5. Are you in front of the right audience? [17:34]
  6. How to have a targetted marketing if you’re under $10 million [21:43]
  7. Coming up with content that connects with your target clients [26:02]
  8. One of the most compelling reasons for doing ABM [31:38]
  9. Jeff’s pro tips on getting started with ABM [33:58]

Resource Links:


About Our Guest:

Jeff MacGurn is the COO of BusinessOnline where he works with clients to give strategic consultation on their digital marketing initiatives, specializing on Account-based Marketing.

Sony, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Samsung, IBM, T-Mobile, Disney, Nikon, Apple, State Farm, Intel, Informatica, and Microsoft are just a few of the Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies Jeff has worked with.

Connect with Jeff MacGurn:

Website https://www.businessol.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmacgurn/

     https://www.linkedin.com/company/bolagency/

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

143. How a Virtual Financial Expert Can Help You Accelerate Growth with Joe Manganelli22 Feb 202200:37:08
As you’re earning your first million, your costs of doing business become more complicated if you haven’t built a financial structure from the get-go.

 

Today, we’re graced by the presence of Joe Manganelli, founder of Calculate, a company that offers a multitude of financial services from nitty-gritty bookkeeping to big-picture strategies and forecasting.

 

Joe and I touch on the different aspects of operating a business from a financial perspective.

 

Joe also shares his insights on scaling a startup through efficient use of resources and putting up checks and balances.

 

If you’re looking to set up a solid structure for the management of your business’ finances, then this episode is a great place for you to start!

We talk about:

 

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. Joe’s road to founding Calculate [02:20]
  3. How Calculate started to gain momentum [05:17]
  4. Calculate’s services and how they sell it to their prospects [7:27]
  5. Best practices on scaling from the financial side of your business [11:38]
  6. Setting up your business for a good sale and using your resources effectively [14:37]
  7. Caculate’s time frame for getting involved in a company’s financial processes [19:47]
  8. Outsourcing for your business from a financial standpoint [21:19]
  9. Putting checks and balances in place as you’re growing [23:31]
  10. The numbers game of bootstrap and cash flow [28:40]
  11. The importance of implementing a zero asshole policy [31:36]
  12. Why you should strive to stick with your business’s guiding light [33:38]

Resource Links:


  Books Mentioned:

 

 

About Our Guest:

Joe Manganelli started his career in corporate jobs at financial services behemoths like Goldman Sachs, but he desired to help start companies from the ground up. 

 

He established Calculate in 2017 with the purpose of utilizing his knowledge of experience to growing businesses. 

 

Connect with Joe Manganelli:

Website https://www.calculate.works/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemanganelli/

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to...

142. How to Get Sh!t Done to Grow Your Business On Your Own Terms with Alex Batdorf15 Feb 202200:50:52

When businesses fall short of their set goals, is it because of poor execution or is it because the direction taken was wrong in the first place?

 

We’ll answer that in this episode with Alex Batdorf, CEO and Founder of Get Sh!t Done,  a platform focused on centralizing access to growth resources for female entrepreneurs.

 

Alex and I take a deep dive into the common challenges that her collaborating companies face and how she thinks these should be addressed.

 

We also discuss the importance of a founder’s wellness to the business and the unending quest for innovation for companies today.

 

Alex unloads fresh nuggets of wisdom in this episode so make sure to catch them all by tuning in now!

We’ll talk about:

 

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. The kid who wanted to rule the world through entrepreneurship [01:56]
  3. Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital: How to create sustainable and scalable businesses [10:49]
  4. The biggest bottleneck that Alex sees the most in the startups she works with [15:21]
  5. Do you really need venture capital to grow to billion dollars? [20:09]
  6. Connecting the dots and taking control of your own destiny [26:08]
  7. Why your wellness should be your top priority as a founder [30:16]
  8. Thinking bigger and how it does wonders for your entrepreneurship path [33:46]
  9. Alex’s piece of advice to founders on following their North Star [41:04]
  10.  The best way to get shit done for your business [46:42]

Resource Links:


Episodes Mentioned:

  • Episode 141 with Paul Shirley https://bretttrainor.com/2022/02/08/podcast-ep-141-the-difference-between-average-and-elite-with-former-nba-player-best-selling-author-paul-shirley/
  • Episode 131 with Eva Nahari https://bretttrainor.com/2021/11/30/podcast-ep-131-whats-hot-in-b2b-bootstrap-or-raise-with-eva-nahari/

  • Episode 101 with Jesse Cole https://bretttrainor.com/2021/05/04/how-to-dominate-raving-fans-innovation-a-yellow-tux-with-jesse-cole/

About Our Guest:

Alex Batdorf founded Get Sh!t Done with the mission to redefine the narrative of entrepreneurship by helping women mindfully scale companies that have impactful, intentional growth while giving them the power to do it on their own terms.

 

Alex believes that real growth is making a status quo-breaking impact, not just growing for growth's sake.

Connect with Alex Batdorf:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chief-get-shit-done-officer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shegetsshitdone

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this...

141. The Difference Between Average and Elite with Former NBA Player & Best-Selling Author Paul Shirley08 Feb 202200:45:13

Entrepreneurs and business owners are constantly in scramble mode. So amidst all the chaos in your working space, how do you maintain balance to prevent everything from falling apart?

 

My guest today, Paul Shirley, is the founder of The Process, a co-working facility and virtual platform whose theory is discussed in his book, The Process is the Product. 

 

Paul shares with us about his experiences as a former professional basketball player and author. He reveals how he learned to add process to the chaos of a working environment and get more done in less time.

 

This part of productivity focus has been a game-changer for me, and I think it can really help you as well. So get your pen and paper ready as you listen to this episode.

We talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. The reasoning behind Paul’s book, The Process is the Product [03:46]
  3. Knowing when to go back to life while in your flow state [08:14]
  4. Is it better to know when you’re having an off day? [12:12]
  5. Why intensity is worth more than duration [13:30]
  6. Building a system around having the right priorities [20:24]
  7. Being fulfilled in life by falling in love with the process [25:09]
  8. The impact of willpower in our decision making [28:03]
  9. How to maintain balance when responsibilities are piling up [30:34]
  10.  Staying social and connected in a remote work setup [33:43]
  11.  Positive Peer Pressure: Finding the motivation to go out and connect with people [37:56]
  12.  Lessons that Paul gained when he had to close his first business [39:37]
  13. Paul’s takeaways in his virtual co-working space [42:38]

 

Resource Links:


 

Books Mentioned:


About Our Guest:

Paul Shirley is a former NBA player who operates The Process, a co-working facility and virtual platform whose premise is detailed in his book, The Process is the Product. He dives into this theory in his podcast which is named “The Process” as well.

Paul also wrote two humor memoirs, Can I Keep My Jersey?, and Stories I Tell On Dates, and a novel called Ball Boy.

Paul developed the Writers Blok, a Los Angeles-based co-writing space that aims to provide structure, support, community, and accountability to writers.

Connect with Paul Shirley:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-shirley-360b1649/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulthenshirley

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: ...

Escaping Wall Street: John Browning’s Path to Solo Success and the Power of Networking01 Aug 202400:40:58

John Browning shares his journey from working at large financial firms to starting his own independent financial planning business. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships and providing value to clients. Browning also discusses the challenges of acquiring a small firm and the lessons he learned from that experience. He highlights the significance of networking and making introductions for others as a key strategy for finding new clients. 

In this conversation, John Browning and Brett Trainor discuss the importance of networking and building relationships in business. They emphasize the value of introductions and learning from others in networking groups, rather than focusing solely on sales pitches. 

John shares his experience of writing a book and starting a podcast as effective ways to share knowledge and build credibility. He also highlights the importance of outsourcing tasks that you don't enjoy or excel at, and the need for sales training when transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship. 

John’s Links



Takeaways

  • Building relationships and providing value to clients is crucial in the financial planning business.
  • Acquiring a small firm can be challenging, and it's important to carefully consider contracts and agreements.
  • Networking and making introductions for others is an effective strategy for finding new clients.
  • Involving and communicating with your spouse or partner is essential when starting your own business.
  • Transitioning from a corporate job to entrepreneurship requires a shift in mindset and approach. Networking is about making introductions and learning from others, not just exchanging sales pitches.
  • Writing a book and starting a podcast can be effective ways to share knowledge and build credibility.
  • Outsource tasks that you don't enjoy or excel at, and focus on what you do best.
  • Sales training is important when transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship.
  • Be careful with contracts and seek legal advice to protect yourself in business.
  • John Browning's website, podcast, and daily market update provide valuable resources for those interested in his services.


Sound Bites

  • "Build your best life, not your portfolio."
  • "Be careful with contracts, they may not mean the same thing as in the corporate world."
  • "You need somebody to complain to at the end of the day and somebody to celebrate your wins too."
  • "I think that's where most networking groups go the wrong way is they see it as a leads group or a friends group that gets together to exchange stories or something like that. And I think it's introductions."
  • "Yeah, it's definitely the anti sales sales pitch is counterintuitive, but it works a lot better."
  • "I think that's one of the so the bulk of the rest of my business comes from there. People because I I believe that you put as much as you possibly can out there for free."


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

06:40 The Tipping Point and Leaving Corporate

08:08 Lessons from Acquiring a Small Firm

13:04 The Power of Networking

18:12 Involving Your Spouse or Partner

19:18 Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

21:11 The Power of Introductions and Learning in Networking

23:17 Building...

140. How to Bootstrap Your Business to 7-Figures With Only 2 Employees Featuring Esben Friis Jensen01 Feb 202200:27:19
There is no right or wrong path when raising money for your startup. You just have to understand the trade-offs for whichever choice you make.

 

Today, I welcome Esben Friis-Jensen, Co-Founder of Cobalt and Userflow, who has raised a bunch of money through bootstrapping to give us different perspectives on scaling.

 

Esben and I dive into the principles that he had as he was co-founding and growing his two multi-million dollar companies, which you all will surely learn from.

 

Hit the play button now if you want to scale your business in the most effective way!

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. Esben’s first company, Cobalt, and his transition into Userflow [01:50]
  3. What urged Esben to start his own company [04:05]
  4. How Esben and his co-founders raised $40 million for Cobalt [6:40]
  5. The rationale behind founding Userflow [09:51]
  6. Growing Userflow with two full-time employees and one freelancer [11:53]
  7. Differentiating yourself through your product [14:36]
  8. Where Userflow’s first hire will come from as they expand [19:20]
  9. The value of having team members with more generalist roles [22:14]

Resource Links:


 

About Our Guest:

Esben Friis-Jensen is the co-founder of Userflow, a high growth bootstrapped SAS business that scaled with only two full-time employees. 

Esben is also one of the co-founders of another high growth company called Cobalt which raised almost $40 million through bootstrapping.

Connect with Esben Friis-Jensen :

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esbenfriisjensen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/esbenfj

 

 

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

 

139. Who Not How: Why Virtual Specialists are the Keys to Growth in 2022 with Laith Masarweh25 Jan 202200:37:17

You'll have to expand outside yourself at some point, no matter how skilled you are at growing your business on your own.

 

Today we’re going to talk about how exactly you can do that and I have just the perfect guest for you.

 

Laith Masarweh is the founder of Assistantly, a company that offers virtual team member staffing solutions with a focus on workplace culture.

 

Laith and I dive into the value of having virtual team members or what he refers to as “Unicorns” and how we see it as the best way to scale in 2022.

 

This episode offers a lot of insights on growing your business this 2022 so tune in now!

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. How Laith founded a VA company without any idea what a VA is [02:47]
  3. Industries that Assistantly caters to [08:30]
  4. The value of having VAs in your team [10:18]
  5. Part-time vs. full-time: How should you hire for your organization? [13:55]
  6. Why Laith believes he can start a third company [18:33]
  7. Should you hire a client success manager? [21:17]
  8. The eliminate-automate-delegate framework of running a company [28:54]
  9. The depth of skills that Assistantly VAs offer [32:49]

Resource Links:


 

About Our Guest:

Laith Masarweh, now 24, has been working for his father since he was eight years old. His second company, Assistantly, arose from the necessity to scale his first, Immursiv, a real estate marketing firm, swiftly. 

Assistantly is a virtual assistant (VA) firm that is swiftly gaining a reputation for spotting unicorns – people with an inexplicable desire to perform extremely well.

Connect with Laith Masarweh:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laith-masarweh-a2288310a/

Email: laith@assistantly.com

 

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

 

BizOwner360 Series Ep 8: Support Your Customers - Success, Experience, & Service21 Jan 202200:06:26

When in doubt, start with the customer. If it doesn't make sense for them, you're probably doing it wrong, or you shouldn't be doing it.

 

Today, we touch on the last part of the A-C-E-S framework which is support. 

 

It's a three-part strategy for your customers with three different areas of focus: (1.) customer success, (2.) customer experience, and (3.) customer service.

 

This should really be a part of your playbooks so tune in now and learn how you can ensure your success in these aspects of support.

Resource Links:


 

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

138. A Sales System to Unlock Revenue Growth in 2022 with Karl Becker18 Jan 202200:43:39

 

There is no one-size-fits-all solution when your sales organization stalls. So when you face this problem, what should your focus be?

 

Today, I welcome Karl Becker, CEO and Founder of Improving Sales Performance and author of “Set Up To Win: Three Frameworks to a High-Performing Sales Organization.” 

 

In this episode, we dive into the revenue equation he came up with which helps businesses diagnose problems in their sales and marketing strategies to further optimize them. 

 

This conversation has been long overdue and I’ll definitely have Karl back to provide us more valuable wisdom about revenue growth so be sure to not miss this one!

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. Recent changes in the B2B world that Karl has observed [5:03]
  3. A powerful story about delegation from Karl [9:18]
  4. Karl’s concept to the revenue equation [12:29]
  5. Why your value needs to be clear to scale [17:39]
  6. What’s next after you got your messaging aligned? [23:43]
  7. Understanding the buyer’s journey [29:59]
  8. Empowering your team and interacting better with your leads [31:52]
  9. Salespeople don’t like uncertainty and buyers don’t like risks [38:30]

Resource Links:


About Our Guest:

With over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing working with SMBs, Karl Becker founded Improving Sales Performance to help businesses find opportunities for quick wins that can increase revenue immediately.

 

Karl authored “Set Up To Win: Three Frameworks to a High-Performing Sales Organization,” a book that teaches you how to use the power of an organization’s greatest asset— their team —to stabilize and expand revenue over time.

 

Connect with Karl Becker:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlbeckeriii/

               https://www.linkedin.com/company/improving-sales-performance-usa

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

BizOwner360 Series Ep 7:  Enabling Your Prospects & Customers14 Jan 202200:09:04

From a customer acquisition standpoint, it’s such a huge waste not to have a procedure in place for when your prospects finally engage with you.

 

After all you’ve gone through to have them engage with you, it should be your priority to follow through with processes that will enable your target customers in easily availing your services and products.

 

So what comprises this customer enablement process? And how should you approach it?

 

Tune in as I introduce you to the 3rd framework in our A-C-E-S Zero to Ten Growth System.

Resource Links:


Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

 

137. How to Kick A$$ in 2022 with Sean Rosensteel 11 Jan 202201:18:57

A new year knocks on our doors but our business goal remains the same. Now, what about our game plan?

 

Today, I welcome Sean Rosensteel back to the podcast to chat about how to kick some ass in 2022 and really drive growth in your business. 

 

Sean and I each share three ideas or areas that we're focused on as keys for success in 2022 each of which we discuss in detail. 

 

We share some strong opinions and differing ideas at times but are mostly aligned on what will and will not work this year. 

 

This conversation went so great that we felt we had to do a Part 2 and I am sure you will feel the same way so tune in now!

We’ll talk about:

1. Introduction [00:00]

2. The one thing our owners should be focused on for a great 2022 [2:21]

3. Crushing the new year by throwing out conventional wisdom [9:40]

a. The amazing benefit of hiring contractors [12:21]

4. The #2 in Brett and Sean’s 2022 Priority List [20:02]

5. Knowing what works best for your unique situation [26:18]

6. How stepping back to look into what you’ve already got can benefit you [31:10]

Part 2

7. The “Who Not How” Concept [36:26]

8. Fine-tuning the messaging of your company [41:23]

a. Sticking with the controlling idea of your company [48:34]

9. Getting a website that does its job with cost-effectivity [52:33]

a. WordPress vs. Squarespace [54:04]

b. It’s all about lead generation and conversion [1:00:14]

10. Providing great customer experience in 2022 [1:07:23]

a. Your process vs. what’s right for your customers [1:14:00]

11. A couple of parting wisdom to live by for 2022 [1:15:27]

Resource Links:


 

BizOwner360 Series Ep 6: Connecting with Your Ideal Prospects07 Jan 202200:10:12

Only 3% of your ideal prospects are in "Buy Now" mode, therefore it's critical for you to be there when they're ready to buy.

 

After covering the concept and strategy of creating alignment, we now proceed with the 2nd framework, Connect which is critical to going from one-to-one to one-to-many sales.

 

You can complete the other frameworks but you will not be as effective so if you have not done the alignment exercise yet, I highly advise you to do so before moving on.

 

Tune in now to get better at creating awareness and providing value for your customers through this framework!

Resource Links:


Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

136. How Ryan Kugler Built and Runs Three 7-Figure Companies with Five People04 Jan 202200:37:25

Starting and scaling a company is hard enough. Imagine having to do it with more than one.

 

It does seem to require a lot of effort but Ryan Kugler made this seemingly insurmountable feat achievable after growing his three companies to 7 figures.

 

What makes this stint more interesting is he only has five full-time employees to run the three businesses which are all in different industries

 

Learn how Ryan did it and what his biggest takeaways were by tuning in now!

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [0:00]
  2. Ryan’s first company and his decision to start another one [02:32]
  3. The rationale behind Ryan’s small team for his “layered” company [04:43]
  4. How Ryan got started in the marketing industry [9:19]
  5. Opportunities that Ryan is looking into for his fourth business [11:39]
  6. Lessons that Ryan earned as he was growing his three companies [12:34]
  7. How Ryan allots time among his businesses in the new corporate setup [15:38]
  8. Expanding your company through delegation [18:22]
  9. Ryan’s tactic of hiring two people to do one job [23:07]
  10. Tips for starting entrepreneurs from Ryan [25:35]
  11. Are you the idea guy or the execution guy? [30:34]
  12. Ryan’s advice for businesses being held back by their owners’ capacity [32:11]

Resource Links:


About Our Guest:

Ryan Kugler is a multi-business owner with over 25+ years of knowledge & experience in Film Distribution and in the Wholesale/Retail Trade.

Ryan is the President of A5 Events, president of Ideal Content, Executive Director of Say No To Drugs Race (Charity Run/Walk), and a past co-owner of DVA, Inc.

Ryan also co-authored “How to Plan, Produce & Distribute Your Independent Film.”

 

Connect with Ryan Kugler:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kugler-8653265/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryanjkugler

Website: http://ryankuglercom.wpengine.com/

A5 Events: ryan@a5events.com

Ideal Content: ryan@idealcontent.com

Plan B Distribution: ryan@planbdist.com

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube:

135. Do Your Best Work in Half the Time: Learning How to be Time Rich with Best-selling Author & Podcaster Steve Glaveski28 Dec 202101:02:51

In our second re-broadcasting for the holiday break, we have the episode with top-rated podcaster and author, Steve Glaveski, who shared where he came up with the idea for his book, “Time Rich: Do Your Best Work, Live Your Best Life.”

 

Steve and I also discussed the necessity of establishing an entrepreneurial mindset in children, as well as how it extends to situations beyond business.

 

Finally, we look back to pre-COVID working circumstances and analyze how businesses are dealing with the current difficulty of working from home.

 

Let’s look back at this episode that teaches us to be more productive. Tune in now! 

 

We talked about:

  1. Steve’s professional experience [02:07]
  2. Teaching an entrepreneurial mindset to kids [05:49]
  3. The idea behind Time Rich [9:36]
  4. Flow state: Avoiding time and productivity waste [14:40]
  5. Tim O’Reilly’s business model for the new economy” [22:23]
  6. The power of the rule of two [29:36]
  7. Presence and significance of the Pareto’s principle [32:30]
  8. PCOATS roadmap [36:47]
  9. Steve’s take on nootropics use [42:26]
  10. Tips on increasing memory retention [44:26]
  11. Time to embrace asynchronous communication [46:37]
  12. What’s next for Steve [52:40]
  13. The one thing Steve recommends [55:33]

 

 

Resource Links:


About Our Guest:

An entrepreneur, author, and podcaster, Steve Glaveski is on a mission to untap the potential of people to lead more meaningful lives. 

He forwards this mission through his different ventures, such as the Collective Campus, an innovation accelerator; the Lemonade Stand, a children’s entrepreneurial program; and his podcast, Future Squared. 

In his latest book, he shares how being time rich is more valuable than living “comfortably miserable” lives. 

 

Connect with Steve Glaveski :

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveglaveski/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/steveglaveski

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

 

If you liked this episode, please...

134. How to Optimize Your Revenue Engine: Strategies & Tactics with Chris Walker21 Dec 202100:45:07

We're taking a short break over the holidays so I've chosen to re-air a couple of the most impactful episodes - impactful both from a business and a personal perspective. 

 

So today, we have the episode with Chris Walker of Refine Labs where we went over his company’s ways of helping B2B companies grow through marketing. 

 

Chris comes from a very unique background (engineering) which allows him to look at the full revenue ecosystem rather than breaking it down into silos.

 

If you want your revenue acquisition process to rely on digital to create demand, Chris is the man to call.

 

Join me as we look back to this very insightful episode!

 

We talked about:

1. How an engineering background gave Chris the advantage in marketing [01:36]

 

  • Losing his own money as a vital point in his experience [04:20]

2. The gap in the marketplace that Chris saw [06:00]

 

 

  • Removing assumptions that are no longer true [07:53]

3. The benefit of working with a blank slate [08:54]

 

4. Barriers preventing companies from driving demand from digital [10:13]

5. Attribution is not marketing against sales [12:25]

6. Why you shouldn’t measure social channels the same way with Google [13:14]

7. The first step for founders is to know what they’re good at [20:12]

8. Adspend is a cost of doing business [22:28]

9. Why buyer intent is a critical factor to sales [24:32]

10. The major shifts in the buying process [25:22]

11. Customer success should be part of your product [29:35]

12. Through education, you create awareness [31:38]

13. You don’t really need salespeople [33:33]

14. Companies need a recurring revenue model driven by customer acquisition [35:37]

15. How COVID impacted sales and marketing [38:46]

16. The one thing Chris recommends [41:23]

 

 

Resource Links:


 

 

About Our Guest:

Chris Walker is the CEO at Refine Labs, a marketing consulting firm focused on growing B2B SaaS companies. Their Revenue Engine Optimization Formula combines revenue operations, growth marketing, and buyer enablement.

 

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast. 

Connect with Chris Walker:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-walker-41597028/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWalker171

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked...

Building Success: Shannon Carriere's Transition from Corporate HR to Solo Business Owner21 Jul 202400:40:00

In this episode of The Corporate Escapee podcast, we welcome Shannon, a seasoned project management and HR consultant who partners with CEOs in growing organizations. Shannon focuses on building infrastructure that drives business results through human performance. She shares her escapee journey from corporate to solo business owner, having been solo for two and a half years, with a clear vision of her ideal clients and the work she wants to pursue.


Shannon shares her insights on the varied reputation of HR, emphasizing that most HR professionals take their roles seriously and are willing to face challenges head-on. Her eclectic career before going solo revealed her challenging nature and desire for results, leading her to realize that she didn't belong in the corporate world. The decision to go solo came after a job acquisition and a subsequent role that didn't fit.

Initially, Shannon struggled with networking and selling her services. However, once she embraced her work with pride, she found people receptive and willing to help. She advises newcomers to remain flexible with their offerings and not get caught up in perfection.

Shannon began with hourly work but soon realized it wasn't the right path. Now, she offers three types of engagements: emergency project management retainers, fractional engagements, and long-term retainers. She emphasizes the importance of building relationships and networking to establish trust and credibility. Partnering with other professionals and surrounding yourself with experts is key to success, she notes.


Additionally, Shannon highlights the value of LinkedIn as a platform for networking and building a strong online presence. Join us as Shannon shares her journey, challenges, and valuable advice for fellow escapees.


Takeaways

  • Focus on building infrastructure that drives business results through human performance.
  • HR professionals take their roles seriously and are willing to take the heat for everything.
  • Be flexible with your offerings and don't get caught up in having the perfect offering.
  • Networking and being proud of what you do can lead to receptive and helpful connections. Hourly pricing may not be the best approach for solopreneurs offering specialized services.
  • Building relationships and networking are crucial for establishing trust and credibility.
  • Partnering with other professionals and surrounding yourself with experts in different areas can enhance your capabilities and provide better solutions for clients.
  • LinkedIn is a valuable platform for networking and building an online presence.


Quick Hits:

  • "Building infrastructure that's gonna drive business results through human performance."
  • "Focus on the ones that get it so you don't have to educate them."
  • "HR professionals will take the heat for everything."
  • "Hourly was not the path for me and the kind of things that I offer."
  • "You get all the value, you get all the good stuff without the overhead or the unnecessary meetings."
  • "Networking is really good for me. It helps people see that I'm not a threat to their business."

Chapters
00:00: Introduction and Current Work

02:53: Challenging the Status Quo in HR

07:58 Realizing the Need to Go Solo

12:09 Building a Network and Finding Clients

13:36 Embracing Discomfort for Growth

16:59 Time Management and Work-Life Balance

20:01 The Evolution of Offerings: From Hourly Work to Flexible Services

20:54 Pricing for Results: Shifting the Focus from Hours

21:44 The Power of Partnership: Building Collaborative Relationships

22:16 Tactical Tips for Starting a Solo Business

27:40 The Importance of Networking and Building Relationships

36:01 The Empowerment of Setting Up an...

BizOwner360 Series Ep 5: Aligning the Company & Your Offerings for Max Impact17 Dec 202100:09:17

In the last episode, I led you through the Zero to Ten growth approach, which is divided into four frameworks: ACES (Align- Connect- Enable- and Support).

 

Today, I'll delve deeper into the first framework's essential components and consequences - alignment.

 

Believe me, it’s much more difficult to market if your company and offerings are not aligned from the get-go, especially to those who do not know you.

 

So hop into the episode now and rid your company of that trouble!

 

Resource Links:


 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

133. How to “Read the Room” by Reading Facial Expressions with Dan Hill14 Dec 202100:52:16

The face is the mirror of the mind and this is why it is important for everyone, even for business owners, to have at least a bit of knowledge in reading facial expressions.

 

So today, Emotions Expert Dan Hill gives us a mini-masterclass on the most important emotions to look out for and how you should interpret and properly react to them.

 

This can be really powerful for you, especially in a digital-first zoom first world that we're in to better understand what the other side is actually thinking versus what they're saying.

 

Tune in now to enable yourself to communicate better with the people around you!

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. The rationale behind Dan’s new book “Blah Blah Blah” [2:19]
  3. What Dan is working on today [5:22]
  4. The basics of facial coding [8:16]
  5. Why emotions are more powerful than the dollars [10:40]
  6. What you should look out for when facial coding as a business owner [12:23]
  7. Interpreting happiness in the business world [16:13]
  8. Dealing with different emotions you get out of a sales pitch [22:49]
  9. You as the embodiment of your own business [25:24]
  10.  The dynamic between fear and anger and how to manage them properly [29:19]
  11.  How to read contempt and the stakes it involves for your business [37:43] 
  12.  Sadness: Its indicators, upsides, and downsides in the business [45:02]
  13.  Signs of stress among the people around you [48:03]

Resource Links:


About Our Guest:

Dan Hill is a PhD holder, author, lecturer, and trainer who specializes in interpreting emotions and facial expressions. Dan founded Sensory Logic to help companies better understand the dynamic between the two currencies in life: dollars and emotions.

He has appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Fox, CNN, and ESPN and has advised with over half of the world's top 100 corporations. The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times have both written about him.

 

Connect with Dan Hill:

Email: dhill@sensorylogic.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmotionsWizard

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-hill-emotionswizard/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Emotionswizard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emotionswizard/

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook:

BizOwner360 Series Ep 4: The Zero to Ten Growth Framework10 Dec 202100:10:00

Because B2B growth is nuanced, you must grasp the various revenue levers. You can't just hire a sales leader or a marketing leader and expect to solve your growth problems. 

 

So in this episode, I'll walk you through the Zero to Ten System, which will help you break past owners' capacity and go from one-to-one selling to one-to-many selling. 

 

This system is a combination of my experience in helping grow startups from 0 to 10 million dollars in 2+ years which I have improved with the insights that I got from my interviews with subject matter experts.. 

 

You’ll surely get a lot of value from learning this framework so hop into the episode now!

Resource Links:


 

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

132. How to Start Connecting with Your Ideal Prospects Using Personal Video Marketing with Nina Froriep07 Dec 202100:43:54

Video marketing offers a lot of amazing and exclusive business benefits but entrepreneurs rarely use it to grow their businesses.

 

If you’re one of those entrepreneurs, I’m telling you, you’re missing out a lot.

 

Today, I'm pleased to have Clockwise Productions’ Nina Froriep to teach us how to attract ideal clients through video marketing.

 

Nina also shares the DOs and DON’Ts of video marketing which you can use as a guide once you decide to try it out for your company.

 

Tune into this episode now to learn how you can empower your brand through video marketing.

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. Nina’s beginning in filmmaking and the goal she developed with it [1:48]
  3. People’s reluctance to try out video marketing [6:03]
  4. Sharing what makes you stand out from other businesses in your industry [10:19]
  5. The first steps that Nina take when helping someone start with video marketing [13:20]
  6. Why Nina prefers working with businesses in the $120k-$500k mark [18:51]
  7. DOs and DONTs of video marketing [24:31]
  8. Maximizing the value you can provide in 60-second videos [30:23]
  9. The best situation where you can go for longer videos [35:17]
  10.  Establishing familiarity between your prospects and yourself through video marketing [37:53]
  11.  Some parting wisdom from Nina [40:56]

 

Resource Links:


 

About Our Guest:

Nina Froriep enables business coaches, consultants, and service-based entrepreneurs to grow their businesses with easy + fun video marketing so they can attract their ideal clients.  

Nina has been in TV, film, and video production her entire life. She’s seen it all from the early days on independent features, to big national TV commercials, corporate mega-shows, and (Emmy award-winning) documentary films, including one she produced and directed, called Abraham's Children. 

 

 

Connect with Nina Froriep:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-froriep/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VideoMarketingConsultant/

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

 

BizOwner360 Series Ep 3:  Buyer’s Preferences & Digital First03 Dec 202100:13:16

In this episode, I want to share some of the biggest changes in buyer expectations in the B2B landscape and how you can use them to your advantage. 

 

I touch on why you need to think about business growth the way an ecommerce company would even if you're a services company, which is ultimately digital-first. 

 

Lastly, I talk about the mismatch between buyers and the traditional buying process brought by the pandemic and how you can align with the new normal undertakings. 

 

I’m very thankful for how you have welcomed this new series and may you keep having me as your guide on your way to your $10-million revenue. Tune in now!

 

Resource Links:


 

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

131. What’s Hot in B2B & Bootstrap or Raise? with Eva Nahari30 Nov 202100:41:17

In this episode, I welcome back Eva Nahari, a principal at DNX Ventures, an early-stage Venture Capital firm investing in B2B Startups.

 

Why am I bringing venture capitalists back to the program?

 

Eva is on the front lines of new technologies within the B2B space from which you can get potential business ideas or areas you can move your business into. 

 

You’ll surely learn technologies that can help improve your business in efficiency and growth from everything that Eva shares in this episode.

 

Eva also gives her two cents on scaling through bootstrapping and raising which will help you decide on which between the two should you adopt for your business.

 

This episode is loaded with insights on the hottest B2B SaaS platforms and growing your startup so tune in now!

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. Eva’s transition to B2B investing and mentoring [3:39]
  3. Squadcast and its workflow-based UI-guided tool [5:54]
  4. Quark.ai and how it provides better customer support [8:34]
  5. Macrometa: The Cloud for the Edge [14:07]
  6. What’s next on the horizon for Eva [17:13]
  7. Do you need to get salespeople when expanding? [21:47]
  8. Eva’s thoughts on bootstrapping and raising [25:05]
  9.  The best-case scenario for founders bootstrapping or raising  [28:37]
  10.  Should you bootstrap all the way to your first million? [32:52]
  11.  The biggest challenges that Eva sees from the founders she onboards [34:36]

 

Resource Links:


About Our Guest:

Eva Nahari is a Principal at DNX Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage B2B companies. Prior to joining DNX, she spent 9 years at Cloudera, where she helped organizations scale by developing products and go-to-market strategies.

Eva is interested in investing in firms that are developing SaaS, Cloud, ML-Enabled Enterprise Software, and DevOps solutions that potentially alter how IT is provided to businesses.

Eva has also worked as a startup coach and angel investor.

 

Connect with Eva Nahari:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvaNahari

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanahari/

Substack: https://substack.com/profile/26323472-eva-nahari\

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

BizOwner360 Series Ep 2: Owners Capacity - How to Overcome the #1 Growth Blocker26 Nov 202100:08:58

Today, I'm diving into the #1 blocker that keeps businesses from getting to the $10-Million revenue which is.. the owners’ capacity.

No matter how good you are at growing your business on your own, there will come a time that you’ll have to go beyond yourself.

And what’s great about it is you don't have to overcome that learning curve by yourself.

Join me in this episode as I help you figure out how you can conquer this obstacle.

If you have any questions regarding growing your business, drop a comment and I will try to answer them in the upcoming episodes.

 

Resource Links:


Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

 

BizOwner360 Series Ep 1: Why $10 Million is Your Growth Target23 Nov 202100:05:19

Why should your ultimate goal be $10 million in revenue?

Today, I welcome you to Episode 1 of the BizOwner360, a new B2B Zero to Ten series to guide you as you grow your businesses to $10 million.

If you have been listening to this podcast, you’ll know that the tactics and success stories we share are all for our goal of reaching the $10 million revenue mark.

But why exactly $10 million?

Take a listen as we kick off this very special series.

 

Resource Links:


Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

130. BizOwner360: Another Resource, Same $10 Million Goal23 Nov 202100:06:28

Welcome to a special episode of the B2B Zero to Ten Podcast. 

 

Today, I want to introduce “BizOwner360”, a new weekly series that will serve as another resource for you as you break through and grow your businesses to $10 million.

 

This will air every Friday in addition to the current regular weekly episodes and will also be available on my YouTube channel.

 

Here, we start with Episode 1 where I tell you why $10 million in revenue should be the objective of every business owner.

 

Tune in now and let’s get this started!

Resource Links:


Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

 

 

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

129. 5 Ways Digital Marketers Rip-off Business Owners and What to Do About It with Sean Rosensteel16 Nov 202100:54:14

There are many ways digital marketers rip-off business owners that you should be wary of if you want to attain the ROI you deserve in the “digital marketing first” space we’re in.

 

We will be talking about 5 of these schemes and how you should deal with them with Sean Rosensteel who becomes our show’s second third-timer.

 

Sean also brings to the table his company’s sure-fire digital marketing framework that you can easily adapt for your own business.

 

After this episode, you’ll surely be able to work out with your digital marketer the corporate success that you’re aiming for so tune in now!

We’ll talk about:

 

1. Introduction [00:00]

2. The one time when Sean got ripped off [2:23]

3. The issue in digital marketing specializations [6:00]

4. The biggest way digital marketers can rip business owners off [8:40]

5. What you should take note of when meeting with a digital marketer [10:22]

6. Two reasons why digital marketers recommend expensive technology [12:58]

7. Defining success with your digital marketer [21:09]

8. The problem with digital marketers who don’t guarantee their work [25:53]

9. Laying your defense: Sean’s three-step framework for starting digital marketing [35:04]

10. Going on offense: Choosing your best promotional activities [46:13]

Resource Links:


About Our Guest:

Sean Rosensteel is the owner of Savvy Pro Web, a company helping business owners build hassle-free websites that generate a steady flow of qualified leads.

Sean is also the founder of The Intentional Living Academy and the author of “The School of Intentional Living”, a book that provides insightful tips on achieving goals in the most efficient way. 

Connect with Sean Rosensteel:

Website: https://www.seanrosensteel.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanrosensteel/

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: ...

Breaking Free from the 9-5: How Podcasting Can Unlock Your Growth w/ John Tyreman14 Jul 202400:45:57

In this conversation, Brett Trainor interviews John Tyreman about his escapee journey and the benefits of podcasting for expertise-driven businesses. John shares his experience of transitioning from working in agencies to becoming a fractional marketing director and launching his own consulting business. He also discusses how he got into podcasting and the advantages it offers, such as building trust, generating leads, expanding networks, and creating endless content. In this conversation, Brett Trainor and John Tyreman discuss the value of podcasting for business growth. They emphasize the importance of providing value to both the audience and the business through the podcast. They also discuss the different podcast formats and how to choose the right one for your goals. They touch on the topics of strategy, operation, and marketing, and provide tips for finding the right topics and discovering channels for your podcast. They conclude by highlighting the importance of taking action and getting started with podcasting.


Takeaways

  • Podcasting is a powerful tool for expertise-driven businesses to build trust and authenticity with their audience.
  • Podcasts can generate leads through strategic promotion and partnerships.
  • Podcasting allows for networking and creating connections with industry experts and potential clients.
  • Podcast episodes can be repurposed into various forms of content, expanding the reach and impact of the original episode. Provide value to both the audience and the business through your podcast.
  • Choose the right podcast format that aligns with your goals.
  • Consider the strategy, operation, and marketing aspects of your podcast.
  • Research topics that your audience cares about and use that to inform your content calendar.
  • Find the right discovery channels to reach new listeners.
  • Take action and get started with podcasting.

Sound Bites

  • "A podcast is a way for you to be more human with your marketing and be more authentic with your marketing."
  • "Podcasting can absolutely lead to lead generation for expertise-driven businesses."
  • "A podcast enables you to create endless content."
  • "People like the human nature. We're over indexing more into real conversations."
  • "Even if you have 10 listeners, if those 10 listeners represent your ideal clients, then that is absolutely a great investment."
  • "If you're having great conversations and you bring a curious mindset, you can uncover layers deeper into your guests' experience."

John's Links


Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview

01:18 John's Escapee Journey

22:08 Creating Endless Content with Podcasting

23:02 Providing Value to Your Audience and Business

25:08 Choosing the Right Podcast Format

26:14 Uncovering Deeper Layers in Conversations

28:40 Keeping it Real and Providing Value

29:37 Getting Comfortable with Hearing Yourself

30:19 Focusing on Your Mount Rushmore Listeners

33:48 The Importance of Strategy and Goals

35:14 Considering the Host's Personality in Format

37:18 Researching Topics for Audience Engagement

40:18 Finding the Right Discovery Channels

44:05 Finding Customers vs Finding Jobs

45:10 Taking Action and Getting Started

Keywords
escapee journey, podcasting, expertise-driven businesses, trust, authenticity, lead generation, networking, content creation, podcasting, business growth, value, audience, strategy, operation, marketing, topics, discovery channels

128. Profit-Generating Business Decisions Through Data & Analytics with Govind Balu09 Nov 202100:41:40

It's never too early to build your data infrastructure. You can always start small and scale it.

 

Today, I welcome back Govind Balu, Founder of QuaXigma, to chat about the power in the strategic value of data analytics, and ultimately machine learning and artificial intelligence. 

 

Govind and I dive into ways on how to set up a business for a smooth sailing data & analytics system. Govind also shares how his firm helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation by creating customer-centric solutions.

 

You’ll surely come out of this episode with the perfect idea on how you’ll do data analytics for your business so tune in now!

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. Data challenges that Govind see in SMEs [04:11]
  3. Govind’s data organization tip for small companies [6:21]
  4. Having the right data on making business decisions [11:47]
  5. Keeping your database clean starting from the early days [14:02]
  6. Including data strategies to customer journey roadmap [18:10]
  7. Enabling your eCommerce strategy with data, AI, and ML [22:19]
  8. Considerations to take note of for a better customer experience [26:20]
  9. Govind’s piece of advice for startups [31:16]
  10.  Developing data strategies doesn’t have to be complicated [34:33]
  11.  Professional recommendations from Govind [36:22]

Resource Links:


About Our Guest:

Govind Balu is the Founder and CEO of QuaXigma, a Data Analytics firm that aims to create customer-centric solutions that accelerate digital business transformation and unleash actual value by re-engineering the power of data and AI.

Govind has worked in the data and analytics industry for nearly three decades. Prior to founding his own company, he worked as a lead data scientist for companies including Bank of America and Allstate.

 

Connect with Govind Balu:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/govindbalu/

               https://www.linkedin.com/company/quaxigma/

Website: http://www.quaxigma.com/contact.html

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

127. Baking Made Easier: BāKIT Box’s Recipe for Rapid Growth02 Nov 202100:32:48

With the simple goal of making the process of baking easier and more fun for everyone, our guest for today was able to build a fast-growing brand.

 

So if you’ve always known that you’re going to end up in the entrepreneur world but just don't have the idea as to how yet, this episode is for you.

 

Today, I welcome Shelley Gupta, co-founder of BāKIT Box, a new company that is modernizing the way of baking and is currently gaining a lot of traction. 

 

Shelley and I break down the origin of BāKIT Box and how she went from being a singer-songwriter to working as a management consultant to ultimately co-founding BāKIT Box. 

 

There's a lot of interesting learning and you can hear the tactics and the approach Shelley and her partner took in their early days so tune in now!

We’ll talk about:

 

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. How Shelley got started with BāKIT Box [03:01]
  3. The inseparability of owners from their brand [5:18]
  4. Shelley’s journey from working for Accenture to founding BāKIT Box [8:51]
  5. How BāKIT Box makes baking simpler and more fun [11:32]
  6. The first steps that Shelley took in building BāKIT Box [14:27]
  7. Shelley’s framework for growing BāKIT Box [16:17]
  8. Who Shelley envisioned as their ideal customers [19:18]
  9. Shelley’s small pivots and goals for BāKIT [20:53]
  10.  What Shelley would have done differently with BāKIT Box [24:59]
  11.  Funding and outsourcing for BāKIT Box [26:07]
  12.  What’s next for Shelley and BāKIT Box [28:55]
  13.  Shelley’s personal recommendation [30:40]

 

 

Resource Links:


About Our Guest:

Shelley Gupta is the Co-Founder of BāKIT Box, a new and fast-growing company that is modernizing the way of baking. Before co-founding BāKIT Box, Shelley worked as a singer-songwriter for years then transitioned to a career in management consulting. 

 

Connect with Shelley Gupta:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-gupta/

Email Address: info@bakitbox.com

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

126. How the Pivot From Consulting to Tech-Enabled Services Skyrocketed Growth for Garreth Chandler26 Oct 202100:44:19

Without fully understanding the various factors that surround a business problem, you will never develop the best solutions to them.

This is the key philosophy that Garreth Chandler, who joins me in this episode, uses in delivering the needs of their clients and employees in his company, The Evolved Group.

Garreth and I talk about the business decisions that he had to make to help The Evolved Group succeed, including his huge pivot from consulting business to a tech-enabled services company.

He also touches on the biggest changes that he has observed in the consulting and technology industry and how he adapted to them.

This episode is a valuable guide for you if you’re looking to start a B2B business so tune in now!

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. What motivated Garreth to build The Evolved Group [02:33]
  3. The customers that Garreth targeted at his company’s early growth stage [6:31]
  4. The flow of business that Garreth had in his company’s beginning [7:56]
  5. When Garreth started doing a one-to-many business strategy [11:28]
  6. The Evolved Group and how they solve their clients’ problems [15:03]
  7. The market that The Evolved Group is servicing [21:26]
  8. It's better to be different than to be better [23:30]
  9. The competency-based view of business [27:01]
  10.  The biggest changes with some of Garreth’s go-to market [31:56]
  11.  A market area that Garreth thinks is ripe with opportunity [34:18]
  12.  The focus for the Evolved Group in the near future [37:46]
  13.  A learning from Garreth [39:16]
  14.  Garreth’s experience writing a book with Michael Haynes [42:18]

 

Resource Links:


 

About Our Guest:

Garreth is the founder and CEO of The Evolved Group, a cutting-edge global insights tech firm that specializes in working with consumers and organizations to better understand their behavior, markets, and transformation. 

With 25 years of experience in market research on both the client and supplier side, Garreth has developed successful research and technology start-ups and is a published author. 

 

Connect with Garreth Chandler:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garreth-chandler-5821172/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8b6Sf1MQulZouppdq9NSuw

The Evolved Group: https://www.theevolvedgroup.com/contact/

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

If you liked this...

125. From Freelance Consultant to Building an International Organization: Kobi Simmat’s Incredible Zero to Ten Journey19 Oct 202101:05:43

There are no shortcuts when it comes to setting up your company for success. It takes building a winning culture that works best not just for your market but for your team as well.

Best Practice Biz CEO and Founder Kobi Simmat joins me in this episode to share his Zero to Ten journey from a freelance consultant to the CEO of a multinational company.

Kobi also talks about the most important principles that he teaches to business owners who seek his advice on growing their company.

This episode imparts best company practices and philosophies that you can also apply for your business so tune in now!

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. Kobi’s life before building Best Practice Biz [06:05]
  3. Problems that Best Practice Biz solves [12:14]
  4. Lessons that Kobi gained when he was starting to scale [15:18]
  5. Reviewing your business activities in the previous week [23:24]
  6. The easiest way to create a grant culture [30:04]
  7. The value in helping people do the work they love [33:03]
  8. Kobi’s insights on the power of content [39:12]
  9. Why you should edit your website daily [45:43]
  10. Looking at yourself as a consumer [49:50]
  11.  The ultimate test that is a cash flow-positive business [55:13]
  12.  Kobi’s #1 tip [57:28]

Resource Links:


 

 

About Our Guest:

Kobi Simmat is the Founder and CEO of Best Practice Biz, a global company improvement firm.

With over 25 years of experience in business consulting, Kobi aspires to release the potential in everything by providing pleasant, adaptable business solutions, and a commitment to continuous progress. 

Kobi has counseled in over 7 countries, 50 sectors, and over 50,000 people to date

Connect with Kobi Simmat:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kobisimmat/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kobisimmat/

Email: kobi@bestpractice.biz

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: ...

124. How Being “20% More Human” Can Dramatically Drive Growth with Ethan Beute12 Oct 202100:53:27

As we get caught up in how much the modes of communication have advanced today, we tend to forget the most important aspect which is you, the human.

In this episode, BombBomb Chief Evangelist Ethan Beute talks us through his new book, “Human-Centered Communication” which provides insights on building a better reputation for your company from the communication side of doing business.

Ethan also gives his take on dealing with prospects that are yet to go “buy now” mode and balancing our focus between the emotion and the message when communicating with our market.

Ethan unloads so many valuable bits of wisdom on how you can drive growth to your business so jump into this episode now.

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. The benefit of video messaging to businesses [04:19]
  3. What motivated Ethan to write his second book [9:35]
  4. The value in prioritizing helping over selling [15:34]
  5. Dealing with leads that are not yet on the “buy now” mode [23:28]
  6. The human-centered design model of digital communication [31:01]
  7. Giving a stronger sense of trust to your market [37:43]
  8. Being on emotion rather than being on message [39:54]
  9. The Golden Rule in doing business [42:56]
  10.  Allowing your business to be 20% more human [45:23]
  11.  A recommendation from Ethan [50:05]

 

Resource Links:


 

About Our Guest:

Ethan Beute is the Chief Evangelist of BombBomb, a company that makes it easy for businesses to build customer relationships through email, text, and social media.

Ethan’s second book which he co-authored with Stephen Pacinelli and is called “Human-Centered Communication: A Business Case Against Digital Pollution” discusses how we reduce unwelcome digital distractions.

Ethan is also the host of the highly regarded “The Customer Experience Podcast.” 

Connect with Ethan Beute:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethanbeute/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ethanbeute

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ethanbeute

The Customer Experience Podcast: https://bombbomb.com/blog/topics/the-customer-experience-podcast/

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube:

123. The “Starting Point”: How a Services Company is Scaling via SaaS w/ Ray McKenzie05 Oct 202100:51:25

In the B2B world, we experience almost the same kind of problems. So sometimes, all it takes is thinking of your own situation to come up with something that delivers your market’s needs.

This is how Ray McKenzie developed an incredible software called “Starting Point,” a platform that compliments his first company, “Red Beach Advisors.” 

Along with Digital Marketing Expert Sean Rosensteel, who co-hosts this episode with me, we touch on the principles and processes that Ray applies to provide a great customer experience through their software services. 

Ray also talks about common challenges in delivering Software as a Service (SaaS) and ways that he deals with these obstacles.

This episode provides tons of wisdom and inspiration on scaling a SaaS business into a $10-million company so tune in now!

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. The beginning of Ray’s management consulting firm [04:57]
  3. How Ray allocates resources on his two companies [11:25]
  4. Ray’s goals with Red Beach Advisors and Starting Point [14:13]
  5. What Ray has been doing from the sales side [17:29]
  6. On-boarding with Starting Point and its service categories  [19:24]
  7. Common objections that Ray gets and how he responds to them [22:28]
  8. The gap of providing full transparency during the sale-close process [26:46]
  9. The importance of providing great customer experience [30:48]
  10.  What’s in store for Ray’s companies in Q4 2021 [35:19]
  11.  Ray’s industry of priority and how he approaches them [38:19]
  12.  Starting Point’s biggest challenge and how Ray busts through it [40:36]
  13.  Ray’s personal and professional recommendation [44:06]
  14.  Biggest takeaways from the episode [46:43]

 

Resource Links:


 

About Our Guest:

Ray McKenzie is the founder of Starting Point, a software company that helps businesses delight their customers and clients by increasing customer care and support, reducing workflow to boost productivity. Starting Point is also used by Ray to enable his first company, Red Beach Advisors.

Connect with Ray McKenzie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymondmckenzie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RayMc209

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

 

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

 

122. The ROI of Building Hassle-Free Websites for Your Zero to Ten Journey with Sean Rosensteel28 Sep 202101:01:29

Is your website not generating enough ROI despite all the money and effort that you’ve poured into it? You might have fallen to the trap of conventional marketing strategies that no longer work.

Today, Digital Marketing Guru Sean Rosensteel exposes web development mistakes and myths that you should avoid if you want your business to stay on top. 

Sean and I weigh in on the right mindset to have when starting a business website. Sean also provides useful alternatives and his own lead generation framework that is so easy to follow and surely going to work for you.

Tune in to this episode now to learn new and effective ways to generate more ROIs through your website!

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. A great way to lay the groundwork for your digital business [07:05]
  3. The missing big ingredient in business websites today [14:04]
  4. The Story Brand Framework [16:08]
  5. SEO writing in WordPress vs. other platforms [24:20]
  6. Is SEO still a conducive strategy for your business? [26:26]
  7. Sean’s recommended alternative for SEO  [30:59]
  8. Finding areas where your fish are already swarming [35:15]
  9. The three phases of lead generation [39:34]
  10. The Curb Appeal [47:16]
  11. The value in simplifying technologies for your business [51:20]
  12. Sean’s professional recommendation [57:03]

 

Resource Links:


 

About Our Guest:

Sean Rosensteel is the owner of Savvy Pro Web, a company helping business owners build hassle-free websites that generate a steady flow of qualified leads.

Sean is also the founder of The Intentional Living Academy and the author of “The School of Intentional Living”, a book that provides insightful tips on achieving goals in the most efficient way. 

Connect with Sean Rosensteel:

Website: https://www.seanrosensteel.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanrosensteel/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seanrosensteelfan/

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

 

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

121. “Lee London” on Designing a Brand that People Love and their Zero to Ten Journey21 Sep 202100:34:37

People don’t spend their money on a product or a service. What they buy are the life-changing solutions that they will get from whatever you are offering.

So how do you get your clients into trusting you with providing answers to their lives’ biggest problems?

That’s what User Experience Specialist Valerie Kent and I address in this episode where she shares the philosophy she had behind her iconic webcam covers and when she built her women tech-focused company, Lee London.

We also touch on the business pivots that Valerie had to take and how he managed her way through them.

This episode is full of insights on how you can come up with a brand that your customers will love on your way to your $10-million revenue goal so tune in now!

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. The start of Valerie’s entrepreneurial journey [03:30]
  3. The first business lessons that Valerie learned [10:53]
  4. Why Valerie went through retailers instead of individual consumers [12:36]
  5. Valerie’s next journey after she parted ways with Nordstrom [16:38]
  6. The birth of Valerie’s company Lee London [19:01]
  7. Steps Valerie took in putting up Lee London [22:37]
  8. Building a community beyond selling a product [27:10]
  9. How Valerie deals with the front and back sides of a business [30:43]
  10. A recommendation from Valerie [32:23]

 

Resource Links:


 

About Our Guest:

Valerie Trent is the founder of Lee London, a women-tech oriented company that develops products aimed at empowering people to use technology in the way they want. Ever since starting in the business world, Valerie has always advocated for making women’s lives better.

Connect with Valerie Trent:

Website: https://leelondon.com/

Email: info@leelondon.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-trent-a560139

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/leelondondesign/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeLondonDesign/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leelondonco

             https://twitter.com/valerietrent

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leelondondesign/

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

 

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

EbC7COcamtw2PAOhfZQG

120. Growing a B2B Business in 2021 With Top SMB Expert Michael Haynes14 Sep 202100:49:42

Are you having trouble adapting your B2B business strategies to today’s disruptive world? If you answered yes, this episode is for you.

Leading SMB Growth Expert Michael Haynes joins me to talk about how you should strategize to keep your company on top amidst constantly changing consumer needs.

We cover topics such as understanding the demands of a market, overcoming weaknesses of a company, and Michael’s new mastermind program called “Empower.”

Tune in now to make sure your company never stops growing with the tons of wisdom that Michael unloads in this episode!

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. What’s going on in the SMB world? [05:30]
  3. Michael’s take on sales and marketing alignment [07:56]
  4. Going digital with sales and marketing strategies [11:29]
  5. Collaboration and co-creation beyond alignment [16:00]
  6. Understanding and delivering the needs of your buyers [18:47]
  7. Thinking bigger to drive business growth [20:21]
  8. Knowing when to do automation and outsourcing [25:40]
  9. Being aware of your gaps and how to fulfill them [30:18]
  10. Your clients as your referral engine [33:47]
  11. The rise of M&A deals in SMEs [36:25]
  12.  Referrals, advocacy, and partnerships [38:50]
  13.  Michael’s newly launched mastermind “Empower” [40:55]
  14.  Michael’s piece of advice (Part 3) [44:07]

 

Resource Links:


 

About Our Guest:

Michael Haynes is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Listen Innovate Grow with over 20 years of experience working with firms ranging from micro-businesses to large corporations in Australia and Canada to develop and implement customer strategies and programs that help them expand their businesses.

Connect with Michael Haynes:

Listen, Innovate, Grow Website

119. Ideas that Last - From One Aha! Moment to $10 Million07 Sep 202100:42:34

One brilliant idea can result in a product or service that customers patronize.

But coming up with an idea is just the first step. It takes great development, adaptation, harmonization, and execution of several ideas before you finally end up with something that your clients will keep coming back to.

In today’s episode, I welcome Danielle Gillespie, founder of Ideas Last, a tech geek who has thrived on building rock solid products that people love for 25 years.

Danielle and I talk about the approaches she does to help companies propel to success starting from one business idea. She also provides useful tips on getting the most out of business ideas and how to adapt or ditch them according to customers’ needs.

If you have an idea on how you can start a business that will bring you good fortune but you’re lost as to how you will maximize it, this episode is the perfect guide for you.

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. How Danielle’s framework helps startup ideas flourish [03:26]
  3. Planning your company’s success with Danielle [06:20]
  4. Adapting original ideas into something that people want [10:06]
  5. Having the idea and passion to solve a problem   [15:40]
  6. When you should pivot and make a market shift [18:05]
  7. Being receptive to criticisms [22:26]
  8. Danielle’s advice on growing a $10-million business [23:30]
  9. The approach used by Danielle in getting great hires [27:50]
  10.  What Danielle looks forward to for startups in the near future [31:54]
  11. Danielle’s accountability tip [37:12]

 

Resource Links:


 

About Our Guest:

Danielle Gillespie has over 25 years of experience developing tech products in different industries including hospitality, health and wellness, manufacturing, retail and first responders. She founded her own company, Ideas Last, and has held various product development roles.

Danielle actively advises a handful of startup tech companies and has helped bring several concepts to life that began as an idea on a paper napkin, combining client demand with budget, timeline, and business case. She excels in converting consumer feedback and data into a positive user experience.

 

Connect with Danielle Gillespie:

Website: https://www.daniellegillespie.net/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellegillespie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dgillespie_irl

Medium: https://medium.com/@dgillespie_irl

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

 

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast.

The Power of Action: Brett Trainor on Leaving Corporate Life Behind09 Jul 202400:30:39

In this episode of "The Corporate Escapee," I'm excited to share my conversation from Beau Billington's "Finding That Next Gear" podcast. Special thanks to Beau for allowing me to feature this insightful discussion.


In the latest episode of "Finding That Next Gear," I had the pleasure of speaking with Brett Trainor, an inspiring entrepreneur on a mission to empower 10,000 Gen Xers to escape the 9-to-5 grind and find true freedom.


🎙️ Episode Highlights:

◾ Brett's journey from a 25-year corporate career to discovering fractional leadership and entrepreneurship.

◾ The accidental yet impactful discoveries that shaped his new path.

◾ The importance of taking action and embracing imperfection in entrepreneurial success.


🌟 Brett shared invaluable insights on:

◾Creating Awareness: Helping others understand the vast possibilities outside corporate life, from fractional roles to solo consulting.

◾Building Community: The significance of finding like-minded individuals and creating support systems.

◾Transparency & Support: How regular communication with family is crucial during major career transitions.

◾ Taking Action: The critical trait that separates successful entrepreneurs from the rest.


🚀 Key Takeaway: "Confidence and action are the cornerstones of entrepreneurial success. Don't wait for perfection; start now, learn as you go, and keep pushing forward."


If you're feeling stuck in your corporate job and yearning for a change, this episode is for you. Brett’s story is a testament to the power of taking control of your career and creating a life that aligns with your values and aspirations.

👉 Tune in to the full episode here and join the conversation.


118. What Now? How M&A Can Impact Your Zero to Ten Journey31 Aug 202100:39:51

Closing a merger and acquisition deal is just the beginning. Majority of M&A deals fall short of pre-deal expectations, and the key difficulty is ensuring that the deal delivers the value that prompted the decision to get into the agreement in the first place.

In today’s episode, I am joined by none other than the M&A Whisperer herself Jennifer J. Fondrevay who has been a part of three separate multibillion-dollar merger and acquisition deals. 

Jennifer and I chat about ways of pulling through mergers and acquisitions, a subject that she also covers in her book “NOW WHAT? A Survivor's Guide for Thriving through Mergers & Acquisitions.”

Most companies that undergo mergers and acquisitions do not get the valuation that they originally intended. Majority of these deals also fail because of the workforce being unable to pivot and adapt as rapidly as the leadership expected. 

If you’re worried that yours could end up the same, then this episode will help you find a way to change that.

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. Going through an M&A is a matter of when [04:10]
  3. What CEOs need to prepare for during M&A [06:00]
  4. Power and influence of culture in an M&A [09:59]
  5. Dealing with the new reality of the workforce [11:47]
  6. How to avoid becoming a “former rock star” [15:37]
  7. Being crystal clear when approaching the deal [18:07]
  8. Premortem Exercises - Scenario Planning [20:19]
  9. The challenge of giving up old ways [25:32]
  10. Overcommunication as a key to a successful M&A transition [28:44]
  11. Trends in the new normal set-up of businesses [31:18]
  12.  Jennifer’s piece of advice to fellow workaholics [36:33]

 

Resource Links:


 

About Our Guest:

Jennifer J. Fondrevay is the founder of Day1 Ready, an M&A consultancy agency that works with forward-thinking business executives to redefine what day one looks like in the M&A deal experience.

Jennifer has been on both sides of the deal equation as a Fortune 500 C-Suite "survivor" of three multibillion-dollar acquisitions. She witnessed countless growth strategies fail due to a workforce that couldn’t pivot and adapt as quickly as leadership anticipated.

Her satirical business book, “NOW WHAT? A Survivor's Guide for Thriving through Mergers & Acquisitions,” helps middle managers navigate business transformation to find the opportunities in change.

 

Connect with Jennifer J. Fondrevay:

Website: https://jenniferjfondrevay.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-fondrevay

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jjfondrevay

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferjfondrevay

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGusxCB8gysRPpB8B4RQBJA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jfondrevay

 

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email:

117. “The Juice” on the Value of Content for B2B and their Zero to Ten Journey24 Aug 202100:36:31

By now everyone knows how crucial content marketing is. Effective content marketing connects your business to the right customers and amplifies your brand message. But while B2C brands are nailing it, B2B businesses are having a much harder time finding and distributing their content. 

Today we have Jonathan Gandolf, Co-Founder and CEO of The Juice, sharing with us his unexpected journey from craft beer to content marketing and how he envisions the future of B2B marketing. 

Find out the most common problems marketers have, how content marketing has evolved over the years, and what you can do to make your vision a reality. 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Introduction [00:00]
  2. Jonathan’s career background [02:18]
  3. Getting involved with High Alpha [04:12]
  4. How Jonathan’s craft brewery cut through the noise [05:19]
  5. Who High Alpha is and what they do [08:23]
    • The problem with B2B content distribution [13:35]
    • The vision for The Juice [16:09]

  6. Becoming the co-founder of The Juice [12:53]
  7. The value of surveying over 100 marketers [18:07]
  8. The growth of content marketing due to a pandemic [22:38]
  9. Being the B2B content hub [24:35]
  10. What Jonathan would have done differently [26:40]
  11. What’s next for The Juice [28:00]
  12.  The one thing that Jonathan recommends [30:34]

Resource Links:


About Our Guest:

Jonathan Gandolf is the co-founder and CEO of B2B content hub The Juice. He started his career in digital marketing with Salesforce ExactTarget Marketing Cloud where he spent years gaining insights and experience in content marketing, relationship marketing, and product management. 

After leaving tech and 4 years of pursuing his craft brewery dreams, he found himself getting drawn back into the biz, surrounded by like-minded colleagues and an idea he pursued relentlessly. 

Within a year of conceptualizing, The Juice was born and Gandolf has been busy growing his B2B content hub while also prospecting for new businesses with VC company High Alpha. 

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast. 

Connect with Jonathan Gandolf:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gandolf/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JDGandolf

Connect with me and learn more about growing your business:

Email: BT@BrettTrainor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrainor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainorBrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brett_Trainor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretttrainor/

116. Special Announcement: Zero to Ten17 Aug 202100:05:21

What does Zero to Ten even mean?

If you’ve been listening to my podcast, then you know how often I talk about scaling a startup from 0 to $10 million in revenue. That’s the goal I’ve been helping startups to reach. 

So as I do a rebrand of my podcast, I find it fitting to make that a part of my podcast name. In this short and special episode, I’ll tell you what pushed me to make this change and what you can expect as we head towards 120 episodes and beyond!

 

We’ll talk about:

  1. Why I’m making this change [00:41]
  2. What to expect [01:38]
  3. The history of my podcast [02:38]
  4. It’s not a traditional podcast [03:51]

 

Resource Links:


 

If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to tune in, subscribe, and share this podcast. 

Connect with B2B Founder: 

Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

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