Creative Warriors

If you're a regular listener to this show or have read my book, Lingo, you're well aware of the importance I place on the energy of words in marketing and the impact of the words we say to ourselves. In today's discussion with Dr. Heidi Gardner, we're talking about one word that, in my belief, has the potential to reshape the landscape of business — collaboration. Heidi and I dive deep into the intricacies of collaboration, exploring everything from the science of loneliness among entrepreneurs to the nuanced dynamics of trust when working on a team. Get ready for a mind-expanding conversation on how embracing diverse perspectives and adapting to collaboration styles can supercharge your business and well-being.   Heidi K. Gardner, PhD, is the acclaimed author of the best-selling books Smarter Collaboration: A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transforming Work and Smart Collaboration: How Professionals and Their Firms Succeed by Breaking Down Silos. Currently serving as the faculty chair and inst

Find out how this question, "What does the world need next?" can be one of the most important questions you can ask yourself in your business. It's a question that I credit for much of my success and how I best support my coaching clients today. I'd love to see you incorporate this into your business!   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it ou

Intention. Often spoken about, especially amongst more introspective and passion-driven business owners such as us, but how many of us really understand how intentions work? Today, I'm speaking with author and educator Jane Frankel to take a look at what lies underneath intentions. Jane shares key insights from her book, The Intentional Mindset, highlighting the profound impact of mindset on decision-making and success. We discuss the collaborative power of groups, the importance of understanding others' mindsets, and the transformative effect of trust in the employer-employee dynamic. This conversation is full of actionable strategies for self-employed individuals looking to align their intentions with decision-making prowess.   Jane Frankel is a business author, lifelong educator, workforce consultant, and successful entrepreneur. Today, she serves as the managing principal of The Art of Performance LLC and as an adjunct professor in economics at Temple University. Her new book is The Intentional Mindset

I've always said that my journey to TEDx was more impactful than actually giving the talk itself; it was a journey in clarity and effective communication. I had to get across big ideas in only 12 minutes.  Today I'm joined by John Bates, a TED talk expert who explores the neurobiological principles of communication. Together, we unravel the secrets behind creating engaging, emotionally resonant speeches, and offer practical advice on connecting with your audience and embracing the fear that often accompanies public speaking. This conversation is full of insights for self-employed business owners looking to master the art of impactful communication and storytelling.   John Bates is a TED and TEDx speaker, Leadership Communications Executive Coach, Author, and Keynote Speaker with a deep focus on communication rooted in neurobiology. He is renowned for his coaching excellence in the TED format. His clients, including notable organizations like Johnson & Johnson’s JLABS, NASA, US Navy Special Operations,

Midlife is hard. I've often asked myself why no one's addressing this. Society paints a picture of coasting on easy street at this point, but the reality is far from it. Today I'm speaking to Tom Morgan about his groundbreaking article "What Nobody Tells You." Tom dives deep into the unspoken struggles of this transformative phase, offering guidance to self-employed entrepreneurs on finding profound meaning with patience and trust. Tom's personal journey and the power of curiosity will leave you inspired, revealing the untapped potential within your midlife challenges.   Tom describes himself as a curiosity sherpa to billionaires. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, two children, and a rabbit called Frank. Tom Morgan is a Director at Sapient Capital. He is responsible for the firm’s content. He has previously worked in Equity Sales on Wall Street at Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, and most recently as a Managing Director at Stifel. Tom holds a BA from Oxford University. His own hellish life transition ha

Creating curiosity as a way to get people to step closer to you and your business may be one of the most underrated forms of marketing I know of. Yet perhaps one of the most powerful. Creating curiosity is one of the most important strategies in the Hug Marketing system that I teach. Find out about the power of curiosity as a marketing strategy.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online ed

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to turn conventional business ideas upside down. The fact is, deviating from the typical business approach often yields superior results for us. Why? Because conventional business is transactional, but we find success in relationship-based business. Today I speak to Grant Muller about the transformative concept of “top of heart.” As a seasoned speaker, author, and certified high-performance coach, Grant breaks down why nurturing authentic, human connections isn't just a breath of fresh air in our tech-driven world; it's the secret sauce for success. Flip the script on conventional wisdom and embark on a journey to business excellence through genuine, heartfelt relationships.   Grant Muller is a speaker, author, Certified High Performance Coach™, and a seven-figure real estate agent. Ranked in the top 1.5% of realtors nationwide, he’s on a mission to help high achievers who have tried every tool and tactic to sell more, achieve more, and find more fulfillment but aren’t

As self-employed business owners who put ourselves out there every day, no one knows better than us about the topic of today’s guest’s book. The title, Navigating Shitstorms, perfectly captures the essence of our experiences. Can you relate? In this episode, author Liz Long and I dive deep into the challenges self-employed business owners face, touching on the power of recognizing our heart voice. This conversation provides a personal and honest exploration of how inner dialogues, self-care, and self-love play a critical role in managing the hurdles of entrepreneurship and life in general. Tune in to gain actionable strategies for navigating your own shitstorms.   Liz Long spent over fifty years stuck in Victimtown. After a close family member, Lynda White, went missing, six-year-old Liz was forced into a shitstorm of epic proportions. Five years later, Lynda’s body was found, and her case remains one of Canada’s longest unsolved murders. Having discovered her own path to healing, including inpatient treatme

We can work hard. We can trust in our skillset. We can be confident and believe wholeheartedly in ourselves. And we also have to have hope. In this episode, I share a bit from Brant Menswar, author of Black Sheep, when he was a guest speaker in the Self-Employed Business Institute. This is the best perspective I have ever heard about hope.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online educatio

In my work as a business coach, I often talk about adding good habits, morning practices, daily habits, and such. In this episode, we're going to talk about eliminating unwanted habits that might be keeping you from your full potential. Today, I speak with Dr. Jud Brewer about the fascinating concept of eliminating unwanted habits that can hinder personal and professional growth. Jud sheds light on how habits like anxiety and worry can be viewed as behavioral patterns. We explore the habit loop of worrying and delve into the impact of habits like distraction and scarcity mindsets on self-employed business owners. If you want to break free from these patterns and boost your personal development, this conversation is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and business owners.   Dr. Jud Brewer MD, PhD is an internationally renowned psychiatrist, neuroscientist and New York Times best-selling author. He is an associate professor at Brown University's School of Public Health and Medical School. He also serves as the Chi

  What could be more fun than being in the toy business, right? But, as we'll discover in this episode, this line of work isn't all fun and games. Today I'm joined by Brad Pedersen, who shares his remarkable journey from an expected career path in chiropractic care to an unexpected adventure in the world of toy making. Brad's story is one of resilience and reinvention, as he navigates the challenges of scaling a business too quickly, emphasizing the significance of strategic planning and timing. Self-employed business owners will find valuable insights in Brad's reflections on his journey and the importance of play.   Brad Pedersen is a serial entrepreneur with a remarkable journey that spans decades. A husband to Kelly for 27 years and a proud father of two, his entrepreneurial spirit ignited during his teens when he launched his first business venture. Brad initially pursued a career in healthcare but was captivated by a story about a young entrepreneur who successfully built a toy business, inspiring hi

Whenever I've been asked about the number one characteristic required for success, I've often answered with “resilience.” However, it turns out that resilience isn't quite what I thought it was. In today’s episode, I speak to Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier about the fascinating relationship between resilience, mental health, and business success. We delve into the concept of a daily resilience planner, aligning values, the three pillars strategy, and the importance of adaptability. This conversation will provide you with a different perspective on the concept as well as offer strategies on nurturing your resilience amidst the challenges of entrepreneurship.   Throughout her career in business management and psychology, Dr. Pelletier has spearheaded a national dialogue on the crucial issues of leadership resilience and workplace health. Drawing on her extensive background in corporate, insurance, governance and public sectors, she brings national and international perspectives and expertise on mental health and

Have you ever thought that your life was like a movie? Have you had someone suggest you write a book, implying that your life is as dramatic as a novel? What if you could harness that idea as a tool to script the life you genuinely desire? This is the core of the Holllywood Approach by the brilliant Kristina Paider. Kristina and I discuss the art of crafting a one-line structure for your life story, using storytelling techniques and the hero's journey as tools for personal growth and self-discovery. Kristina offers a creative and practical approach to scripting our lives, setting meaningful goals, and achieving personal and professional success. Join us and discover how to shape your life's narrative and business journey.   Kristina Paider – “KP” – is a world-class storyteller and best-selling author. Her book and workshops, The Hollywood Approach, helps people accelerate results in their business and life. KP’s executive track record includes overseeing the marketing and research for a $15 billion-dollar g

Let's keep these show notes simple – because simplicity wins, especially in marketing and messaging. I'm joined by Ben Guttman, marketing entrepreneur and author, as we dive deep into this concept. Ben highlights the challenges of communicating effectively in today's world filled with distractions, emphasizing the need to break through the brain's natural filtering process. We discuss the importance of delivering messages that are noticed, remembered, and understood.  Tune in to learn why embracing simplicity in communication is crucial for connecting with your audience.   Ben Guttmann is a marketing and communications expert and author of Simply Put: Why Clear Messages Win — and How to Design Them. He’s an experienced marketing executive and educator on a mission to get leaders to more effectively connect by simplifying their message. Ben is former co-founder and managing partner at Digital Natives Group, an award-winning agency that worked with the NFL, I Love NY, Comcast NBCUniversal, Hachette Book Group

Investing in your business growth and your personal development is essential. Whether it's coaching, training or technology, we're always looking at our options. In this episode I provide some practical tips on how to make the best decisions on what to invest in. Having been making such decisions for 40+ years, these are my own practices for making the big decisions.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute,

Some business owners still cling to the old-fashioned idea that quality takes time or that customers will wait due to the demand. In the past, I built my photography brand on these beliefs. But today, customers expect not just quality, but also something else – speed. Today, I’m joined by customer experience expert Jay Baer. With a strong background in research and renowned brand consulting, Jay explains how speed has become a pivotal factor in today’s business landscape, just as important as price. We delve into strategies for enhancing responsiveness and the value of setting accurate speed expectations. Jay also introduces the innovative concept of offering a “fast pass” to customers who are willing to pay more for expedited service. Tune in to discover how to leverage speed for success!   Jay Baer is a business growth and customer experience author, researcher, and advisor. A 7th-generation entrepreneur, Jay has written 7 best-selling business books, and created 6 multi-million-dollar companies. He has c

I fully support our guest's perspective of retiring the term “retirement;” as Dr. Jann Freed aptly puts it, “We are not retiring from life, but moving on to something else.” In this episode, Jann and I explore the concept of “Breadcrumb Legacy” - a forward-thinking approach to leaving a meaningful impact. We discuss how legacy isn't just something at life's end, but a collection of intentional actions woven into the present. From the influence of Mr. Rogers to the power of silence, we uncover how focusing on relationships over achievements shapes a purposeful legacy. Whether approaching retirement or not, as self-employed business owners, we can all benefit from aligning our actions with our values. By doing so, we not only foster personal growth but also make a positive impact in both our business and personal lives.   As a former professor for decades, Dr. Jann decided to practice what she was teaching and preaching.  She says she is out to retire the word “retirement.” We are not retiring from life, but