Excellence Expected: Small Business Action - Define, Challenge & Conquer Your Biggest Issues!

The word “brand” is changing, in this world of people-to-people marketing, do you have the confidence to be you? Danielle Watson developed The Purse Process, which identifies four purse process personality personas such as Dumpster Debbie and Vanishing Veronica based on the items found in a handbag or briefcase – awesome, right? These personas identify the cycles and patterns people exhibit. As a result, this information helps others identify and build their brand. Branding is a “signature” that weaves throughout everything you do – how you speak, how you dress, the colours you choose, how you present yourself, etc. Find the confidence to be who you know you are. If you don’t know who you are, take the necessary journey to find out. Be yourself or you won’t find your true voice, which turns into your brand. Ask people what’s interesting, memorable or even annoying about you. Be vulnerable and put yourself out there. Also, communicate with people as human beings, not as clients. Be mindful of how they respond to what you say. Make things about your brand pop! You don’t even have to come up with something completely new. If it comes down to copying someone else or doing nothing at all, then copy someone else until you find your own voice. Also, you can use something that you are not proud of in order to find your voice and niche. Look for things that you are ashamed of and find the right way to use them. They may be your Golden Ticket to an amazing life! About Danielle: Danielle is the creator of The Purse Process. It started as a fun experiment to identify her perfect client by looking through their handbag. The process uses three basic principles of archeology to look through a mountain of data and extract information relevant to what it going on in a woman’s (client’s) life. Challenged Issue: In this podcast, we challenge the issue of how to stand out in a crowd – how to create a brand that perfectly represents you. Danielle’s Actionable Tips: * Look at the whole of your life experience. Use that to create something brand new that the world has never seen before. * Build your brand around what excites you and lights you up. * Craft your gig to support indulging in things you love and would do anyways. Crafting a brand is work. But if you craft it around things you enjoy, you will be working from inspiration rather than motivation!  Top Quotes: * “How will you identify your ideal client?” * “I see relationships and connections between things that other people don’t see.” * “I knew who I was. I knew that I didn’t fit in.” * “This is who I am and not only am I OK with it, but I love it!” * “I think we get overwhelmed by this idea that we have to reinvent the wheel, when really, we don’t.” * “You are exactly the way I expected you to be. And that is a powerful brand.” * “There is no one in the entire universe who can do what you do in the exact way that you do it.” * “People spend too much time worrying about creating a niche, and not enough time expressing who they are.” * “We don’t really see how amazing we actually are and how unique we are.” * “When someone speaks truth to you, you recognize it. You feel it in your gut.” * “I said what I thought people wanted to hear. And then I realized that didn’t feel very good.” * “You can create the same level of success by just following your own pattern – your own inner instincts – your own expression of who you are.” * “The minute you stop copying somebody else, is the minute things take off.” * “Just get moving in the direction of putting something out there, and you will find your way.” * “The most successful people love what they do every day.” Guest Links: * The Purse Process (

Many people are so focused on just being able to pay their bills and get ahead in their business. But you must have the right mindset and be receptive to ideas/opportunities; you must be happy and not focus on fear – can you honestly say that describes your approach to doing business? Transform and shift your beliefs and everything will fall into place. It will manifest and attract what you want to achieve in your business. How do you do this? Freedom. You must have freedom in your life to achieve what you want. Here are a few tips: * Make sure what you are doing is for the right reasons. That will make you unstoppable to achieve whatever success looks like to you. * Believe in yourself and things will happen. * Get together with like-minded people. Participate in a collaborative space that offers a sense of community. * Take action to make things happen because you truly believe in what you are doing. * Create successful rituals and habits. You will see results fast in your business! * What are you grateful for? A lot of people neglect the true power of gratitude. * Help others. In return, that will help you. It’s called karma. Instead of being an entrepreneur, become a freedompreneur! About Justin: Within two years, Justin went from barely being able to pay his rent to creating a blossoming seven-figure business and becoming a successful speaker. He is known as a “Freedompreneur” and the “Hippie Jedi.” Challenged Issue:  In this podcast, we challenge the issue of how to create a mindset to be successful – especially if you suffer from a poor self-image. Justin’s Actionable Tips: * 30-Day Mental Fast: Listen to inspiring audio, read personal development books, and unplug from regular news and media. * Think BIG! There is no limit to how big you can think. * Meditate every day. Let go of the negative and free your mind. There are so many reasons to meditate. Top Quotes: * “I represent freedom in three aspects/three elements of life (monetarily, spiritually, and mentally).” * “By creating freedom in your life, you create a story that people can connect and resonate with.” * “What changed everything for us is realizing the belief in our self – having a certainty aspect in your mind that this is going to happen.” * “All of this stuff (rank a blog post, make a Facebook ad, etc.) is cool to learn … but if you don’t have your foundation square … your house (business, happiness, etc.) will collapse.” * “As entrepreneurs, we’re all weird in our own unique ways that God made us.” * “When you are in a state of gratitude, that’s the type of energy that’s going to accelerate the law of attraction with what you actually want to attract in your life.” * “Once you get in that fear state of consciousness, it’s like kryptonite to Superman.” * “It all stems down to belief.” * “Belief is the #1 determining factor to your success.” Guest Links: * Weird Entrepreneurs (http://weirdentrepreneurs.com/) * Weird Entrepreneurs iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/weird-entrepreneurs-***inspiring/id958829608?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4) * Hippie Jedi (hippiejedi.com) * Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/justinverrengia) Resources: * Google (google.com) * Facebook (facebook.com) * Women of Bliss (http://www.womenofbliss.com/) * YouTube Guided Meditation (

Stop making excuses! You’ve got everything you need to start a business – full-time job or not. But here’s where the first time sidepreneur usually falls at the first hurdle: you don’t have to quit your full-time job to make your idea a reality. Keep your full-time job and develop your idea on the side until it is market-ready. The only thing you need is to be committed to your product/idea and believe in it! About Dennis: Dennis is the CEO and co-founder of Orderella, a mobile ordering and payment plan for hospitality. It turns your smartphone into a mobile waiter and your nightlife companion! Image credit: eatoutmagazine.co.uk Challenged Issue:  In this podcast, we challenge the issue what you need to do to start a business whilst working a full-time job? What are the three steps you need to take right now? Dennis’s Actionable Tips: * As quickly as possible, create a product that you can show and share. * Keep things simple when it comes to your core product. You can add features later on. * Scale: Secure partnership with larger brands and corporations. Top Quotes: * “At one point, I was kind of tired of the corporate world, and decide … you know what … I wanted to do my own business.” * “Technology is making people’s lives incrementally easier.” * “Nothing is stopping you.” * “It shows the initiative. It shows the entrepreneurial spirit.” * “You just gotta follow what you want to do.” * “Does your idea have legs?” * “See if people love it or hate it, and then go from there.” * “Just do it!” * “There are different (funding) options out there.” * “It’s better to have a percentage of something fantastic than 100 percent of something that is not very good.” * “Nothing will be perfect, so just start doing it. Take that first step!” Guest Links: * Orderella (http://www.orderella.co.uk/) * LinkedIn (http://in.linkedin.com/pub/dennis-collet/19/610/84a)  Resources: * Podcast Movement (http://podcastmovement.com/) * The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (http://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/)  Key Timestamps: * 0:38 Challenged issue * 1:00 Introduction of guest * 2:53 On-demand services * 4:47 Concept to fully functioning business * 8:15 Being open to opportunities and ideas * 10:49 Finding time * 12:34 Telling people and getting caught * 13:27 Benefits * 14:30 Actionable tips * 22:47 Focus and assigning roles * 24:52 Recap of actionable tips * 26:18 Guest’s links Don’t forget, the more you expect from yourself the more you WILL excel!

We all do jobs for the wrong reasons – you don’t want to let people down, perhaps you don’t know how to say ‘No’, and hey, doesn’t everyone need cash in the bank? However, if you are unhappy and frustrated, stop what you are doing – even if it is your own business. Stick to your guns, follow your dreams, and aim for your goals. Make sure you are going in the right direction! Even if your company is growing and generating money, you may be left feeling lost and realise it was not what you wanted. You may no longer have a passion for what you are doing. Owning a business can be overwhelming and stressful. It often means working twice as long and twice as hard for half the pay. Don’t go rushing into your own business. It can be a headache. You are constantly trying to get to the next level and find reliable people to work for your company. This is definitely not the dream of owning a business! It is a very difficult and hard decision to leave your business, but it could be the right answer. It can be a big relief to walk away – less stress, less work. You can focus on your trade and not have to worry about the rest. Build something that works for you. Build something that you enjoy and gives you the lifestyle you want. That is being an entrepreneur! About Daniel: Daniel comes from a small trade-based business. Then he set up his own business, only to become burnt out, end up really disliking what he was doing for himself and in the end, he simply left. As a result, he became more productive and profitable. Challenged Issue:  In this podcast, we challenge the issue of those of you who have a small business – does that mean you are an entrepreneur or did you just create a job for yourself? And you treating yourself and the business you are in with the respect that you and the job deserves? Daniel’s Actionable Tips: * Put a value on your time. Then compare how long and how much it will cost to do a task to determine whether you should do it or if you should hire someone to do it. * Learn to tell your story in a way that you are not hard selling, but involving your customers. * Learn from the experience of others by investing in yourself.  Top Quotes: * “Most of us at this level never really … we don’t even plan to have a business in the beginning.” * “Overnight, you realise … I am now a business owner.” * “It’s an overwhelming process that sneaks up on you.” * “They are not really reaping the rewards of being a business owner.” * “Be careful of what you wish for.” * “No one sets up in business to not be happy.” * “Get help early on and figure out the direction you want to go.” * “Years later, we look up and we’re surprised at where we end up.” * “Learning when to say ‘No’ is key.” * “Why are we even here?” * “You need this pride, you need to build a business, you need to build something – but you don’t.” * “There’s no real pride in being a small business owner.” * “I must do everything, and that is when people burn out.” Guest Links: * Blog (danielericbowling.com) * Podcast (smartradesmen.com)  Resources: * The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (http://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/) Key Timestamps: * 0:37 Challenged issue * 1:07 Introduction and background of guest * 2:55 Realization of being a business owner * 3:43 Decision to leave your own company * 6:57 Transition from worker to business owner * 8:25 Sticking to goals and pivoting * 9:11 Unhappiness and frustration * 11:29 Next steps

Crowdfunding – a word that brings with it excitement and the lure of billion pound startups. But what’s the real truth behind this phenomenon, and what alternatives do you have; what pitfalls will you face? Curiously, and I didn’t know this, there are different types of crowd funding: * Rewards-based is typically done through Internet fundraising sites where companies offer a product or prize as a reward and generates smaller amounts (from 1,000 to 50, 000 pounds). * Debt-based funding is for more established businesses where a whole bunch of investors are looking for a good return on their money –  millions can be raised. * Equity-based is where the general public invests directly and receives equity in the business in return. Make sure to avoid pitfalls when seeking financing for your startup company. Before you seek funding, lay out your business plan and forecast. Make sure there is a market and need for your business. Ask yourself: “Why am I doing this?” Plus, get tools from Startup Direct to avoid making major mistakes! About James: James is the CEO of Startup Direct, which has helped more than 700 startups access funding and mentoring. Challenged Issue:  In this podcast, we challenge the issue of securing funding if you are a startup company and how that can be intimidating. James’s Actionable Tips: * Invest time and effort in your business plan and forecast to identify what you need. * Consider all the options available. Banks, crowd funding, grant funding, angel investors – there are so many options out there! Determine which is best for you! * Agree on ownership of business before seeking funding. Avoid fallouts and arguments! Top Quotes: * “There’s quite a few (financing) options out there.” * “The alternative funding space is huge now.” * “There are opportunities there that weren’t there before.” * “I think generally starting up a business has become, in a way, sexy.” * “You don’t have to be in the same city to run a company.” * “The governments realize that startups are the way forward.” * “So many people that have just gotten so much more confidence to do what they want to do, what they believe in.” * “I applaud that passion and desire to succeed, but real life sometimes does kick in.” * “You need to be able to be pretty agile and shift on your feet.” * “If you have a job, keep it – for as long as you can.” * “It is not really a failure if you just change.” Guest Links: * Startup Direct (http://www.startupdirect.org) * Email (apply@startupdirect.org)  Resources: * Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/) * Indiegogo (https://www.indiegogo.com/) * Funding Circle (https://www.fundingcircle.com) * Fiverr (fiverr.com) * PeoplePerHour (http://www.peopleperhour.com/) * Google Glass (http://www.google.com/glass/start/) * GrantTree (http://granttree.co.uk/startup_funding_uk) * Horizon 2020 (http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/) * The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (http://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/) Key Timestamps: * 1:07 Challenged issue * 1:19 Introduction guest * 2:03 Startups and funding

There’s no doubt that when you have an idea and want to take it to the next level, you need buy in and people to support you. You need to be perceived as someone that people know, like, and trust. As you develop those three pillars – you become a person of influence. But are you willing to be patient? Influence does not happen overnight. It takes times. You need to be consistent with the people you want to serve, connect with, and sell to – that will lead to success. There are several existing influencers. People are successful for a reason. It is wise to learn different models of success. However, do not do everything exactly like someone else. Then you are not being authentic – you are not being yourself. Instead, focus on growing your own influence. Focus on your own dreams and passions. Besides focusing on yourself, focus on the people you want to serve and help. Treat your followers like friends, not numbers. Create conversations with them to build influence. People will notice you, talk about you, and tell others about you. Some of those people can become your best allies. Find your own voice to achieve influence! About Jared: Jared is known as the Zig Ziglar of the podcasting world. Also, he is an author, podcaster, and co- founder of largest international podcasting conference called Podcast Movement. Challenged Issue: In this podcast, we challenge the issue of growing your influence and determining whether it is beneficial to follow someone influential and match what they are already doing. Jared’s Actionable Tips: * Stop chasing influencers. Instead of focusing on someone else’s dream, focus on your own dreams and passions. * Collaboration is essential. Strategically align with other people. * Be the noticer. If you want to be noticed, you need to notice others. Express general interest in others.  Top Quotes: * “I want to continue to do work that I enjoy and try to do it on my own terms.” * “How can you take the skills that you have and how can that translate into a contracted role where you have more flexibility with your time to build what you feel compelled and led to build on the side?” * “Influence does not happen right out of the gate. You have to earn it. You have to grow it.” * “Convenience is King.” * “Those who are diligent – prosper.” * “Grow your influence. And don’t focus so much time on what the big boys are doing.” * “Collaborating with other people increases the visibility of what you’re doing, and it increases the likelihood of success.” Guest Links: * Podcast Movement (podcastmovement.com) * Starve the Doubts Podcast (starvethedoubts.com)  Resources: * Pat Flynn (http://patflynn.com/) * Lewis Howes (http://lewishowes.com/) * John Lee Dumas (http://www.entrepreneuronfire.com/) * Michael Hyatt (http://michaelhyatt.com/) * Richard Branson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Branson) * Twitter (twitter.com) * Facebook (facebook.com) * Tony Robbins (https://www.tonyrobbins.com/) * The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (http://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/)  Key Timestamps: * 0:40 Challenged issue * 1:11 Introduction of guest * 2:03 Guest’s background * 6:48 Influence

Some people struggle with copywriting. If you get the copy wrong on your Web site, social media profile, online brochures, and other items – it can be detrimental. How do you write great copy? How do you maximise impact in a small amount of space and time? Before taking pen to paper, take the time to position yourself uniquely and identify how that resonates with your customers. What’s essential about your business? What are you selling? What are you doing? Who are you selling it to? Why do they care? Attention spans are low. So you need to quickly show why your business is important enough for customers’ time. If you communicate quickly and effectively, then they will be willing to give you more time. Also, write from the personality of your brand. Who is your customer? That will determine the tone of your copy – formal or conversational. Make sure your copy does not focus too much on you and your business. People want to know you understand their problems and offer them solutions. After listening to this podcast, you will be well on your way to writing great copy for your business! About Liston: Liston is a copywriter and digital strategist. In addition, he is a persuasion scientist, sales nerd, environmentalist, and hip-hop artist. He runs his own business called, Good Funnel. The business focuses on three areas of a funnel that comes to a Web site: getting traffic, page conversion, and closing sales. Challenged Issue: In this podcast, we challenge the issue of how to write great copy even if you have no idea where to start. Liston’s Actionable Tips: * Don’t be too cute. Instead, be simple and direct. Make sure people understand what you are trying to communicate. * Ask why when you gain or lose business. Record the answers, and you will see trends. That will help you to improve your copy. * Add a healthy layer of social proof or data to increase your credibility. That becomes a shortcut for people to make decisions. Also, it lets people know you have a stamp of approval from others.  Top Quotes: * “There’s a real economy of expression in hip hop.” * “People become too focused on tactics.” * “Your readers, hate to break it to you, they don’t care that much about you. What they care about is solving their own problems.” * “Let people know you can solve their problems.” * “You start to understand what’s clicking and what’s not.” * “Think about ways in which you can develop your own social proof, and make sure you weave that right into the core of your message.” Guest Links: * Good Funnel (http://goodfunnel.co/) * Copywriting Checklist (http://goodfunnel.co/copywriting-checklist) * Email (liston@goodfunnel.com) * Twitter (https://twitter.com/law4)  Resources: * Robert Cialdini (http://www.influenceatwork.com) * NWA (http://www.nwaworld.com/) * Netflix (netflix.com) * Kindle (https://kindle.amazon.com/) * Chris Ducker (chrisducker.com) * MailChimp (http://mailchimp.com/) * Basecamp (https://basecamp.com/) * iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/al/podcast/excellence-expected-small/id924421463) * Stitcher (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/excellence-expected) * The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (

Traditional routes into business are starting to fade. In the next 10 years, millennials will make up 75% of the workforce. What can millennials do to make themselves more employable in tomorrow’s business? They are going to play an important role in business! How do companies engage them and get them excited to work so they stay at a company? Businesses now want intrapreneurs – entrepreneurs within a company. Many millennials don’t know what they want to do, but they know they want to do something fulfilling. They want more than just a job. Millennials want to achieve greatness. They are bold and ballsy. They are not satisfied with just being successful. They want something more. However, they need to build a plan that is going to take them there! About Peter: Peter works with young professionals and entrepreneurs to create plans of action to achieve greatness. Challenged Issue: In this podcast, we challenge the issue of how millennials can understand where they fit in and what they can do in the world of business. Peter’s Actionable Tips: * Understand your value-add. Whose need does it meet? They are exchanging their time for dollars, and that does not work for millennials. Make sure your value-add meets a company’s needs. * Become an intrapreneur. Manage your brand and focus on the parts of your business: P = performance; A = accessible; R = reliability; T = testimonials; and S = scalability. * Uncover your purpose and passions, and then align them with your profession. This is the way to find fulfillment.  Top Quotes: * “This generation is the generation that’s now starting to become the leaders in business.” * “The world, frankly, is your oyster.” * “I had this vision that we, as human beings, are going to need to evolve pretty soon.” * “People want to achieve a little past success.” * “Technology is simply an enabler for passion.” * “We’re a generation that grew up with technology.” * “Life looks very different in our eyes than it does in yours.” * “That’s what the millennials are about – there are just no boundaries.” * “You have to manage your brand as a professional business.” * “Technology has become so infused in our culture. Become an intrapreneur – focus on your personal brand. You are now in business.” * “What lights your heart on fire?” Guest Links: * Powered Life (http://www.thepoweredlife.com) * Peter Yobo International (http://peterfyobo.com/) * Facebook (facebook.com/peteryobo) * Twitter (https://twitter.com/PeterYobo) Resources: * Ryan Jenkins (http://www.excellence-expected.com/episode17a/) * University of Southern California (http://www.usc.edu/) * WordPress (wordpress.com) * Alan Arlt (http://www.excellence-expected.com/episode60) * LinkedIn (linkedin.com) * Daniel J. Lewis (http://www.excellence-expected.com/episode42/) * John Lee Dumas (http://www.excellence-expected.com/episode42/) * The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (http://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/) Key Timestamps: * 0:28 Podcast topic * 1:15 Introduction of guest * 2:55 Millennial generation

Money is a big deal, and cash is king when it comes to business. However, some businesses face a cash flow issue, but do not think about it until it is too late. Typical pitfalls regarding cash flow include businesses thinking it’s only their problem – no one else’s – but everyone suffers from such an issue. Also, a cash flow issue is created by the business owners because they do not have a proper plan and approach to managing cash flow. Managing cash flow needs to be higher on the business owner’s priority list. Some business owners do not like to manage cash flow or just don’t know how to manage it. But it’s not rocket science. They can either acquire the skills through Internet resources or hire someone to handle it. The following are basic cash flow tasks: * If you need money for your business, go to your customers. Get on the phone, call them, and ask them to pay you. It may make you uncomfortable, but it needs to be done. It is not a sign of weakness. Know your rights! Your businesses provided a service or product, so the customer needs to pay you for it. Build respectful relationships with your customers. * If you get an order that does not mean you just go ahead and fill it. Check the customer out to determine their credit and how to process the billing (cash on delivery or ship on open terms). Do not leave yourself open to being taken advantage of by the customer. * If you need to, unlock capital to fuel the next round of your company’s growth. Entrepreneurs need to be creative when determining what resources are available to help them manage cash flow. Start by surfing the Web! About David: David is the president of Interface Financial Group, one of the world’s leading invoice financers. Challenged Issue: In this podcast, we challenge the issue of how businesses can manage their cash flow and free up capital in order to grow. David’s Actionable Tips: * Managing cash flow: Understand what cash flow is and have a plan to deal with it. Use the Internet to find business plans, cash flow management plans, and other resources that are pertinent to your business. * Be proactive with your cash flow. Pick up the phone, and do what you have to do. Don’t run a sloppy business! * Think about alternatives, and think outside the box. You need to think about how to handle your business in order to grow.  Top Quotes: * “Cash flow seems to be the leftover.” * “The cash flow will not take care of its self. Nothing, in this day and age, could really be farther from the truth.” * “The customer is really sitting on your money.” * “You are not going out there asking for charity. You are asking for what is due to you.” * “..we might be naïve enough to think that we can trust absolutely everyone with whom we do business.” * “We live in the age of outsourcing.” * “It should not be seen as an expense. It should be seen as an investment.” * “Cash flow issues do not always translate into delinquent accounts, bad accounts, and overdue accounts. It often translates into growth.” * “There are plenty of ways out there to unlock that capital, which in turn keeps the wheel moving.” Guest Links: * Interface Financial Group (http://www.interfacefinancial.com/) Resources: * The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (http://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/) Key Timestamps: * 00:27 Introduction of podcast topic * 00:54 Challenged issue * 01:05 Introduction of guest * 03:12 Pitfalls and problems * 06:17 Insecurities and misunderstandings * 08:24 Credit control * 10:45 Basic management skills * 11:54 Get help!

Too many people in business look at potential employees’ skills rather than the person or the passion that person has for the business. Instead of playing it safe and hiring someone based on if they can do this, went to this school, achieved this GPA… you need to hire people with passion to believe in your business! They need to be excited about your company’s mission and vision. They may not have the necessary skills, but they can learn them. Passion drives the ability to learn! Don’t assume everyone who applies for your company has a passion for your products. Develop an all-star DNA profile to find the right people. The profile may include: Love our mission; tireless promoter; passionate, determined and humble; and perpetually curious. Also, make sure to create a culture that matches your company. You don’t want to hire someone who does not know what to expect. Many companies are now focused on a culture that encourages fun and no longer the stuffy environment of clocking in and sitting at a desk from 9-to-5. You want employees who are passionate – they love their job, the products they sell, and the company they work for. Who wouldn’t want to go to a fun place to work?! About Alan: Alan followed his passion and succeeded. He is the founder of Ultimate Hoops, which believes all basketball players should be treated liked professionals! Ultimate Hoops is the largest national basketball recreation league in the nation that connects teams and players in 25 U.S. markets. Challenged Issue: In this podcast, we challenge the issue of focusing on passion rather than skills when hiring employees. Alan’s Actionable Tips: * Establish the type of culture you want to have and be specific about the attributes you are looking for to drive your business. Make a list of values that you want in employees. * Make your company culture completely 100 percent transparent. Then applicants can understand the type of company they are joining. * Continue to check in on your culture. Take care of it – it is a living, breathing thing! Reinforce and reinvent the culture as needed. Top Quotes: * “I realized I wanted to make a change in my life…I decided to really sink the ship somewhat of what I was doing and go after what I was passionate about.” * “…have the right people in your company and get people who are really passionate for your product and your organization.” * “You can have the greatest product in the world…but if you don’t have the people behind it who actually believe in it and can sell it and engage in the product…you gotta have that, it’s a must-have. Otherwise, it’s not going to connect with the consumer.” * “Now we never hire people on skill, it’s always on passion.” * “If you have passion, you can learn anything.” * “Social advocacy is so important these days.” * “Treat everyone as you expect to be treated and let their own passions flow.” * “It is just fun to work with people who are highly passionate and want to disrupt the marketplace.” * “The vetting process is critically important.” * “People turn up to work to be valued.” * “What’s great for culture today, will not be the same two or three years from now.” Guest Links: * Ultimate Hoops (http://www.uhlife.com/) * Twitter (https://twitter.com/AlanArlt) * Alan Arlt (http://www.alanarlt.com/) * Instagram (https://instagram.com/alanarlt/) Resources: * Turner Broadcasting System (http://www.turner.com/) * Discovery Communications (http://corporate.discovery.com/)

Being a small business owner with a staff can be challenging. The most challenging aspect is finding and retaining the right staff members by motivating them! Staff motivation at every level is changing. People want some control with their lives and choose when they work and how they work. They want to have a little bit of freedom. Therefore, it is important to let employees find their passion and happiness. Rune Sovndahl’s company, Fantastic Services, uses the 360 Degree Happiness Principle for both staff members and customers. The principle is to treat everyone as partners. Whether someone is a cleaner, vice president or customer, treat everyone as a professional and keep them happy. It is no longer a hierarchical platform. Instead, everyone works together to build partnerships. Fantastic Services brings together service providers with customers. As a result, this helps the service providers build their businesses and grow their markets while adding value to the customers, too. To keep Fantastic Services staff members motivated, training programs, core values, and an educational system are in place. Make sure you build a fantastic internal academy for your company. And celebrate successes and wins – no matter how small!  About Rune: Rune has a wealth of entrepreneurial experience. Currently, he is the co-founder and CEO of Fantastic Services, which provides a range of services such as cleaners, gardeners, handymen, pet care, rubbish removal, and pest control. Fantastic Services is an introductory agent that handles the training, booking, and management of services for those who do the jobs. Fantastic Services is not only for the clients, but for those who provide the services as well. Challenged Issue:  In this podcast, we challenge the issue of – as a business owner – how to motivate your staff. Rune’s Actionable Tips: * Build a top-quality training program and visualize its path. * Promote excellent service through core values. Define the service and user experience. * Hire people with passion. What are they passionate about and what do they want to change?  Top Quotes: * “Motivation is…whether you are a cleaner or whether you are a professional at the height of your game, what do you want out of your employer or the people you work with? You want a partnership, and you want to grow it.” * “You start to see people that treat everyone as partners. The idea that it is not a master/servant relationship, it’s not an employee/employer relationship – it’s this entire collaborative partnership.” * “You are not going to do a good service, if you are not happy with what you do.” * “You have to be of service to your employees.” * “Hire people who are passionate.”  Guest Links: * Fantastic Services (https://www.fantasticservices.com/) * Twitter (www.twitter.com/runelondon) Resources: * AJ Forsythe (http://www.excellence-expected.com/episode43/) * Booking.com (http://www.booking.com/) * Marco Pierre White (http://marcopierrewhite.org/) * The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (http://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/) Key Timestamps: * 00:50 Challenged issue * 00:55 Introduction of guest * 02:30 Fantastic Services * 06:00 Happiness principle * 07:00 Building partnerships * 10:04 How to motivate * 15:49 The little things * 18:09 Actionable tips * 28:42 Guest’s links Don’t forget,

Books have become the new business card. Books are something that people keep, they can use them, and they make people think of you! People are likely to throw away business cards, but not books. However, a lack of confidence, insecurities, doubts, and other factors keep people from writing books. Who’s gonna buy it? Who’s going to listen to what I have to say? Writing and publishing a book can be a scary and intimidating process for most people. They may have the drive and ambition to write a book, but they don’t have a publishing formula to follow. Fortunately, the publishing industry is much easier these days. Plus, Chandler Bolt is here to help entrepreneurs with self-publishing books to build their business and increase business leads. Self-published books offer entrepreneurs a source of passive income. But they also serve as a powerful marketing and networking tools. They open so many doors and help you build a following for your business. By writing books and self-publishing them, you become known as an expert and grow your personal brand and business. Self-publishing is a lot easier than people think, and it allows you to be in a position of power if you do it well! About Chandler: Chandler is an entrepreneur and author of best-selling books. He first started businesses while still in high school. He enjoys the freedom of being an entrepreneur! The first book he wrote focused on productivity for entrepreneurs. Challenged Issue:  During this podcast, we challenge the issue of helping people gain exposure so they can grow their businesses quickly through authoring/self-publishing. Chandler’s Actionable Tips: * Done is better than perfect: Don’t expect your first book to be your best and to be perfect. Just get a book done and make it available. * Be consistent: Spend time regularly writing and set a goal to write so much each day. Plug away! * Be accountable: Hold yourself accountable, but also get an accountability partner. They will help you keep on track! Top Quotes: * “I’ve always kind of had this hunger for entrepreneurship.” * “I just kind of stumbled into writing my first book.” * “I really realized the power that books give you.” * “Drive tons of business and tons of leads to the business…through books.” * “Anyone can do this.” * “It’s (self-publishing) a way to prove yourself and then have more leverage with publishers.” * “This is a game changer. Now I have all these people coming to me, instead of me banging on their doors.” * “Most people have a book inside them.” * “The self-publishing route is so much more attractive.” * “The option of failure was not an option.” Guest Links: * Self-Publishing School (self-publishingschool.com) * Email: chandler@self-publishingschool.com Resources: * David Allen (http://gettingthingsdone.com/) * Amazon (amazon.com) * Guy Kawasaki (http://guykawasaki.com/) * Gary Vaynerchuck (https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/) * Justin Mares (http://justinmares.com/) * Tim Ferriss (http://www.timothyferris.com/) * Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ * Facebook (facebook.com) * The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (http://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/) Key Timestamps: * 01:00 Challenged issue

Putting your head down and working hard is just a fairytale. You have to tell people what you need, and you need people to help you make it to the next level. You need a strong network of critical resources to reach personal and professional goals and build a business. Your Network=Your Net Worth Most networking events are a waste of time. If the events do not have the right people or resources, you’re in the wrong room! You need to develop relationships and strategies. Where should you go to “network”? Volunteer or join groups and organizations. Also, you have to create value immediately with people – introduce yourself, share a report, etc. After sharing your story with someone, ask these two questions: What other ideas do you have for me? Who else do you know that I should talk to? As an entrepreneur, gain wisdom through mistakes, step out of your comfort zone, listen to your intuition, deal with fear, and follow your gut! Also, have necessary pieces in place – funding, advisory board, and so on. Learn to be strategic. Don’t go around in circles. Get on with your dream and vision! About Judy: Judy is a business thought leader. She is the author of How to Be a Power Connector – The 5+50+100 Rule, which offers strategies for meeting the people you need to know and building relationships with them. Challenged Issue: In this podcast, we challenge the issue of determining what is the value of your network! Judy’s Actionable Tips: * Remember the two golden questions: What other ideas do you have for me? Who else do you know that I should talk to? * Rethink assumptions and beliefs around networking. * Write the key people you have now. Are those the people you need to reach your goals? Top Quotes: * “All of the resources they need are out there – in particularly for entrepreneurs.” * “They’re looking for money in all the wrong places.” * “Failure really isn’t an option.” * “Nothing is really as bad as it seems is it in business.” * “If we wanted safety, we wouldn’t be doing this anyway.” * “This is how I have billionaires in my Rolodex.” * “Nothing happens without people.” * “You never ask investors for money, you always ask for advice.” * “You feel like you are in a group of piranha.” * “All of us have problems…and we all have solutions.” * “There is money everywhere. It’s getting in the right room.” Guest Links: * Judy Robinett (http://www.judyrobinett.com) * How to Be a Power Connector – The 5+50+100 Rule (http://www.judyrobinett.com/book/) * LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyrobinett) * Twitter (https://twitter.com/judyrobinett) Resources: * How to Win Friends & Influence People (http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034) * MIT (http://web.mit.edu/) * The Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com/) * Skullcandy (http://www.skullcandy.com/) * Springboard Enterprises (https://springboard.totemapp.com/company) * Oprah Winfrey (http://www.oprah.com) * LinkedIn (linkedin.com) * Twitter (twitter.com) * Apple iPhone (apple.com) * Success Magazine (http://www.success.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) tends to get a bad rap. Some say SEO is too technical, sensational, complicated, and frustrating. Many businesses dismiss SEO as an unpredictable waste of money. However, search is still responsible for most of the business done online. Don’t be on the sidelines when most business is generated through online searches! Break SEO down to where it is actionable, and you can get results based on the size of your business. Making small adjustments to your marketing can make search results for your business even better. The best search strategy is to offer the best answers to customers’ problems. Serve customers’ interests and needs through Web pages, social media posts, and other outlets. Create content to satisfy your customers’ curiosity. This will make your business sustainable. Have you tried SEO? The best informational tools to steer you in the right direction are Moz, SEMrush, Google, and Google Adwords. Your business needs to have a profitable search engine presence. So stay focused and don’t lose your patience! About Jeremy: Jeremy is the co-founder of Juicy Results, the Internet marketing agency for the “Fortune Five Million.” Also, he is author of The Bootstrapper’s Guide to SEO. Challenged Issue: In this podcast, we challenge the issue of developing a long-term SEO strategy. Jeremy’s Actionable Tips: * Keywords: What keywords does your business want to rank for in search results? No just descriptive keywords, but also expand your mindset to problems your products and services solve for customers. * Use each keyword as the driving force for the content on your Web site and that you generate over time. Develop more than one answer or one piece of content to address each keyword. * Put content out in all kinds of formats – videos, social media, and other sources – to reach as many people as possible. Top Quotes: * “Search is still how we discover new products and services online.” * “It is sometimes seen as a silver bullet.” * “SEO can be a lot of fun.” * “You’re better off blazing your own trail based on your own positioning.” * “Slow and steady wins the race with SEO.” * “You really need to understand what your customers are searching for, which is just good for business in general.” * “Serve your readers’ curiosity.” * “You have to be patient for patient for results, but inpatient for the activities that lead to results.” Guest Links: * Juicy Results (http://www.juicyresults.com/) * The Bootstrapper’s Guide to SEO (http://www.juicyresults.com/books/bootstrappers-guide-to-seo/#.VTVex5PD7Qo) * Keyword Brainstorming Worksheet (http://www.juicyresults.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/KeywordBrainstormWorksheet-JuicyResults.docx) * Jeremy Pound Twitter (https://twitter.com/jeremypound) Resources: * Excellence Expected Episode 41 (http://www.excellence-expected.com/episode41/) * Google (google.com) * Amazon (amazon.com) * Google AdWords (https://www.google.com/adwords/) * Semrush (http://www.semrush.com) * The Essential 14–Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact (http://www.excellence-expected.com/cwh/) Key Timestamps:

Most people have a sexy, romantic view of becoming an entrepreneur – quit your day job and be happy and live your dreams. Well, being an entrepreneur actually involves hard work, early mornings, tough days, etc. It is not for everyone. Sometimes you get hit hard and don’t get back up. Your business fails. Instead, you should have a side business. That offers more freedom, leverage, and insurance in case you lose your day job. A great way to grow your side business is to build an online community. This allows you to communicate and work with people all over the world. You can bring value, share passions, and inspire them. Who does your business serve? What are they interested in? What can you provide that people can benefit from? By offering value-added content via an online community, you are giving your business a voice and helping people. You are letting people know that you care about them and that they are important to you. Do not focus on return on investment (ROI). Just give and give and give. Find ways to be more valuable than other businesses. Don’t focus on success, but on value! Your online community should focus on the following: * Give people a place to talk: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn, etc. * Give them something to talk about: Engage them with questions, tips, and other content. You will gain incredible feedback about product development and other areas of your business. Spend 20 percent generating valuable content, and 80 percent engaging with your online community. Now, get going and tweet away!  About Brendan: Brendan has been an entrepreneur since the fourth grade! Entrepreneurship is just part of his nature. He has his own podcast series titled, “Entrepreneurs and Coffee.” The series focuses on talking shop, getting actionable advice, and asking questions. Challenged Issue: In this podcast, we challenge you to build on online community that drives your business forward and allows you to try new things to lead to greater sales, customer retention, and success. Brendan’s Actionable Tips: * Learn people’s names and stories. Then invest in them and put value into their lives. Engage and help them whenever and wherever possible. * Become a media company. Use pictures, videos, and other media items that are empowering, entertaining, and educational to share with others. * Bring value beyond your brand. Help people with things that don’t matter. Ask about things that do not relate to your brand. Top Quotes: * “I am very much wired for this.” * “I don’t think being an entrepreneur is for everybody.” * “We’re more connected today than we were yesterday.” * “Online community can bring you a lot of things. I think it is incredibly valuable.” * “At the end of the day, we all want to feel valued.” * “You need to be talking to people.” * “That media that you create around your company is really valuable.” * “In the end, you’ll see a lot more sales, you’ll see a lot better business, and people are going to become repeat customers over time.” Guest Links: * Brendan Hufford (http://brendanhufford.com/) * The 10 (FREE!) Tools I Used To Start My Business and Grow it to $100k in Revenue (www.brendan hufford.com/ee) * Entrepreneurs and Coffee Podcasts (http://www.eandcoffee.com) * OK! Kimonos (http://www.okkimonos.com/) * Gi Reviews (gireviews.net) * HustleHeart.Co Resources: * Henry Ford (http://www.thehenryford.org/) * Dwight Eisenhower (