Beyond the Pole: Tales from the CEO

Entrepreneurs who run businesses like pole dance studios or own tattoo shops face unique challenges that other, more traditional CEOs don't have to deal with. One of those challenges--hiring people--can cost you time and money in many ways if you're not more careful and deliberate. In this episode, I talk about how you can hire the right folks that'll help your non-traditional business thrive. 2:17 - What happens when people come to work for us 8:00 - Step one to addressing this problem 9:20 - The story you want to paint when you interview someone for a job 11:20 - What to put in the job description so you can attract the potential employee(s) you want 12:40 - The questions you need to ask job seekers in your interviews Find me on Instagram or LinkedIn or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com. Mentioned In The Unique Problem That Non-Traditional CEOs Face When Hiring  New Jack City: 25 Years of “Nino Brown” - The Source Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Are you trying to think yourself into being more confident? Women talk to me often about how they're trying to increase their confidence. They're mainly trying to do it from a mental perspective. While that has merit, I don't believe that's the true way to do it. In this episode, I talk a little about confidence and a tip you can use in the moments you don't feel it. 4:46 - What do all these have in common? 6:11 - How to counteract your nerves and help you reclaim your power in sales situations 7:11 - Some suggestions you can use automatically (and not look weird in public) 8:16 - A suggestion that (literally) gives you forward momentum 10:52 - If you need some help with leaning into unshakeable confidence Find me on Instagram or LinkedIn or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com. As mentioned In Why You Won't “Think” Your Way to Confidence Unshakeable Confidence program Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

“Nice guys finish last.” You've heard that saying, right? While it might be cynical, there's some truth to it... and it doesn't just apply to guys. Gals suffer from it even more so, and it touches on something I've come up against when working with women entrepreneurs in my coaching business . In this episode, I talk about being bound by niceness and why this tendency (if you have it) will hold you back financially if you don't recover from it. 1:21 - Are you a recovering people-pleaser? 2:51 - The “too nice” lesson I learned when I first got in sales 5:08 - One way niceness gets in your way and how I work with clients to overcome it 6:12 - Another way niceness shows up in both business and life as women, to our detriment 7:56 - Another people-pleasing habit and the nice thing you can do for yourself to stop it  Find me on Instagram or LinkedIn or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com.

There's an old Japanese proverb about the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. And I think that sentiment is at the root of a lot of women entrepreneurs' fear about something that all businesses need: visibility.  In this episode, I talk about how we get to a point of being afraid to speak up and show out. I'm also sharing how I handle this fear when it shows up.  2:35 - What light dimmers are and the role they play in your story 3:57 - Why competence does not equal confidence 5:47 - What to do when faced with your fear of visibility (and the client that helped me get past mine in my pole studio-owning days) 9:25 - Something I have on hand when the fear shows up that can help you too 11:15 - The first light dimmer I experienced as a kindergartener Find me on Instagram or LinkedIn or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com. Mentioned In Fear of Visibility? Look Out for the Light Dimmers Responsible Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Elon Musk, who's been in the news a lot lately, sure doesn't lack for bravado. But he said something recently that has me thinking. I've worked with clients for five years, and some of them had something in common with him that might put them and their business in a world of hurt soon. Are you going to be one of them? In this episode, I talk about Musk's ironic statement and why you'll need to be courageous for your business to survive.1:07 - What Elon Musk wants to see happen (and why I see where he's coming from)5:23 - A mistake I made in 2008 that people are bound to repeat8:20 - How to attract sophisticated buyers11:19 - How I mix mindset work with the radical truth14:08 - My fear for small business owners Find me on Instagram or LinkedIn or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com.Need to go after sophisticated buyers but lack the emotional vocabulary to do it? Book a Soulful Values Session with me for $444.Mentioned In Why It's Gonna Take Courage for Your Business to SurviveSoulful Value Session - https://www.lesliedlyons.com/Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

At first, I didn't understand why some women resist selling. I wondered why it felt so icky to them, and my ego jumped straight to, “You need it to eat and shop if you're gonna be an entrepreneur. So stop being a coward and just do it!”But over the last four years, my empathy for my clients (and myself) has grown through actually coaching people instead of just training them on how to sell. In this episode, I share how one of my icky money stories reflected the way I sold to clients and how I rewrote that story to help me sell more.3:06 - A money story my sister and I took on as children raised in a poor family6:39 - How my old money story showed up in my sales attempts8:11 - Healing your money trauma story so you can show up as the salesperson you're called to be10:22 - What I work on with clients when it comes to sales and sellingFind me on Instagram or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com.Mentioned In How Selling Becomes Icky and Submerges Your Sales CapabilityLeave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

I'm into both the woo and the strategy and combine them in my coaching style. A couple of years ago, I discovered tapping (a.k.a. Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT). And at first, I wasn't into it, but now I consider it my favorite tool and a staple in my arsenal inside my coaching containers. So in this episode, I talk about tapping and how I use it in coaching to help you sell more.3:06 - What EFT is and why I prefer it over mantras4:31 - The first step to using the Emotional Freedom Technique6:56 - Your objectives during the first and last rounds of tapping7:42 - An example of how I coach through an EFT session10:52 - What people can experience after a round of tapping Want a quick, one-on-one EFT session with me? Get a 35-minute session for $111. Just DM me! You can find me on Instagram or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com.Mentioned In Using the Emotional Freedom Technique to Increase Your SalesEFT for Leaders-Q4 Concerns - https://youtu.be/fxHfoNJ8M4ILeave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Do you find it difficult to visualize effectively? So many of us lose that ability when we enter adulthood, and a recent exchange in my burlesque class just reaffirmed that to me. In this episode, I talk about why visualization is the vital missing key to successfully setting and achieving your goals, especially for entrepreneurs.1:54 - Why so many adults are unable to envision the goals they want to achieve4:45 - The basketball study that shows the science behind visualization7:22 - What happens in your brain as you visualize and its effect on achieving goals11:23 - Traditional goal setting vs. how I work with clients on goal setting13:35 - One thing discussions around manifestation don't take into account Want to do an embodied goal-setting session with me? Let's schedule it! Find me on Instagram or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com.Mentioned In Why You Should Ditch Traditional Goal Setting & Embrace Embodied Goal SettingLeave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

When I say that all female leaders should take a pole dancing class, I'm not trying to be shocking. After teaching it for over 17 years, I know and truly believe it makes a difference in how a woman can lead. In this episode, I'm going to reveal why you should take pole dancing classes if you haven't tried already.1:14 - The powerful statement I heard on a recent coaching call that inspired this episode3:17 - One of the misconceptions people have about pole dancing5:03 - The muscle that gets developed most in pole dancing and how it applies to business6:30 - The game-changing ability to speak your desires as a leader8:38 - Why trusting your body's wisdom is one of the best things a female leader can have11:18 - Ways in which not being in touch with your body's wisdom can cost you Find me on Instagram or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com.

Who would you rather be: the one who waits for it to rain or the one who brings the rain? I am big on women being sovereign over our lives, and the best way we can do that is by generating wealth for ourselves and our families.The CEO Sales Confidence Program is the flagship program I offer to help you do just that! In this episode, I talk about the valuable lesson I learned during my sales career and reveal the four program modules and how they can help you gain confidence and harness success in whatever you choose to do.2:00 - Why it isn't about the quality of your sales/business leads6:16 - When the trajectory of my sales career suddenly changed8:21 - The ultimate goal behind The CEO Sales Confidence Program9:17 - Overviewing the four objectives of the program12:36 - What happens when you dip into the shadow side of your personality while selling14:57 - The one thing that makes you more likely to achieve your goal16:46 - Selling with a new approach and the three things that'll help you successfully sellFind me on Instagram or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com.Mentioned In Inside the CEO Sales Confidence ProgramJoin my email list so you'll know when the doors to my CEO Sales Confidence Program open!Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

I've spent a lot of time in corporate and done my tour of duty, if you will, in sales. So I have a special place in my heart for salespeople, because business and sales are connected. After all, you can't be a successful businesswoman if you don't consider yourself a salesperson, too. In this episode, I want to give you a preview of one of my most popular keynote speeches about how pleasure can fuel profit for the entrepreneur and salesperson in you.2:32 - What I mean when I talk about pleasure as a pathway to profit3:59 - The science behind the drivers of pleasure and how it impacts your salesmanship6:33 - What sex and music have in common10:31 - The opposite of pleasurable selling (we've all been there)12:20 - How to activate pleasure on-demand in your business and sales15:01 - One of the things I do a lot and recommend you try (especially during sales slumps)Find me on Instagram or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com.Mentioned In How Prioritizing Pleasure Can Fuel Your Business ProfitJoin my email list so you'll know when the doors to my CEO Sales Confidence Program open!Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

People these days! They can take something and strip it of its original meaning like nobody's business, such as throwing the word narcissist at everybody and their mama even though it's an actual diagnosed mental disorder. Something similar I see all the time in the business world is women in leadership saying they have boundaries when what they really have are barriers. In this episode, I talk about when a boundary turns into a barrier and how you can tell the difference between the two.3:00 - A barrier I thought was a boundary back in my more immature days4:19 - How I took that “boundary” to a whole ‘nother level5:51 - A true boundary vs. a barrier that'll keep you from reaching your business goals9:27 - What to do in case you struggle with knowing if you have boundaries or barriers10:59 - Another thing I had to learn on this boss journey that may help too

Some women lack confidence when it comes to advocating for their business and have an even tougher time standing on their distinct difference. But why? It's all about the patriarchy! In this episode, I want to talk about how patriarchal norms can show up in how women do business and even how we treat each other in business.1:49 - An example of how women can be a tool of the patriarchy4:44 - How the fear of being aggressive or advocating for your business affects you as a woman6:36 - Another way people succumb to patriarchal conditioning when it comes to women entrepreneurs7:51 - What I'm calling for all of us as women to do

I'm doing something a little different today. Quarterly enrollment inside of my Collective Program approaches soon, but I don't allow just anyone into the program. I'm very protective of that space, so I have what I call “compatibility calls.” I've been there after investing and then finding the vibe is off, that it's weird. That's why I have these compatibility calls, so we can get to know each other beyond what I can read on your website.In this episode, I give you a peek into what it's like to get on a compatibility call with me and let you in on what happens so you can prepare for the experience.1:07 - Why I don't take just anyone into the program2:35 - What you must do (and why) before you can schedule a call with me3:28 - The two things I ask of you when you come on the call5:15 - The step-by-step process of going through my compatibility call10:05 - The response that signals you want to work with me and join the program11:55 - If you feel the program isn't right for you Find me on Instagram or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com.

Does your chest tighten up a bit when you think about money? There's conditioning around women who make a lot of it, and I think we can change that narrative with open and honest conversations about money and what success looks like.I'm trying to do my part today and have a special guest with me, Nia Burks. She's a client of mine and the CEO of Butter & Filth, the premier pole studio in Richmond, Virginia. And in this episode, we discuss what it really looks like to grow a business and how that growth presents other problems you need to face.2:31 - How Butter & Filth started and what has always driven Nia's brand and business6:30 - Nia explains the vision for her logo9:09 - Why Nia sought out business coaching (and how luck is really about timing)13:32 - Why it's important to know the system behind your success15:08 - Nia's adversarial first impression of me and other obstacles that could've prevented us from working together21:27 - What entrepreneurs really need to work on25:01 - One of the most important things I do when first working with clients and how Nia struggled with this29:09 - How much Nia's business grew after investing in coaching32:33 - Why Nia continued working with me after reaching her financial goal36:12 - The story behind the creation of Mrs. Field's (the cookie company)38:49 - What I helped Nia discover about herself as a leader41:50 - How Nia overcame her fear of repelling people and losing resources47:33 - How going through the emotional freedom tapping (EFT) process helped Nia49:58 - The toughest business decision Nia ever faced53:51 - Nia reveals one unexpected benefit she got in working with me56:15 - My ultimate goal for the CEOs I coach and how Nia's experience reflects it1:01:52 - Nia's big hope for the year 2023Find me on Instagram or email me at hello@lesliedlyons.com.Discover what your distinct difference is by booking a Soulful Values Session with me for $333. Discounted price good until June 30, 2022!

In this episode, I'm going to talk about your distinct difference and seven ways you can break through the noise to ensure your business won't be one of those lost among the heap.Now more than ever, your business needs to be different. Distractions and competition are everywhere online, on TV, on billboards, on the sides of buildings and buses, and even coming soon to currently ad-free streaming services you watch. With all that and a looming recession on the horizon, avoiding becoming a commodity is a must! 1:11 - How I learned about being a commodity the hard way3:46 - What happens when you don't have a distinct difference7:13 - The seven ways to differentiate yourself and how I use one of them in my business10:24 - Another example of how you can differentiate yourself13:23 - Where to look for your business motivation and direction during difficult timesDiscover what your distinct difference is by booking a Soulful Value Session with me for $333. Discounted price good until June 30, 2022!

Collaboration vs Competition? Hmm...I'm not sure about that one. Let's chat.

The final installment on our selling your pole studio series. Leslie discusses how she uses Profit First in her biz to make sure she keeps healthy margins.

Wanna sell your studio? You've got to simplfy your curriculum.

I sold one of my studios and I'm sharing the good, bad and ugly of the process over a series of podcasts.

I recorded this podcast back in 2019 and it's now 2022 and this still matters! A recession is coming and you don't want to be caught off-guard.

Kareesha and Melody had they first open house. It was the first real attempt and marketing and it didn't go as well as they hoped. But with a lil' help from Leslie maybe they can turn this thing around.

Stephanie deals with some disgruntled employees who have taken to Internet to smear her reputation. Learn how leading with your values can help in these types of situations.

Kareesha and Melody discuss their initial marketing strategy for opening their new studio.

Kareesha desperately wants to leave her job and open a pole studio. But without her husband's support and shaky business plan she isn't sure she can pull this off.

Black Friday has come and gone but did you have a strategy? Discounting on a regular basis could be killing your brand value and profit.

When you're looking to "scale" inside of your studio, here is the first hire you should make...an Assistant.

During the shutdown, I invested in my business and here is just a little brag. What did you do with your PPP monies?

The age ol' debate around pole dancers vs pole studios has reared it's head again and our bosses have something to say.

The age ol' debate around pole dancers vs pole studios has reared it's head again and our bosses have something to say.

Listen how Clarissa has used the tool of the Enneagram to embrace her emotions and move forward.

Listen how Clarissa has used the tool of the Enneagram to embrace her emotions and move forward.

Jackie is an Enneagram 6w7 listen how she learned to lead through fear and doubt during this pandemic.

Jackie is an Enneagram 6w7 listen how she learned to lead through fear and doubt during this pandemic.

Learn the keys to building a personal brand that won't make you only popular but you'll get paid.

Learn the keys to building a personal brand that won't make you only popular but you'll get paid.

Alena Downs is the founder and creator of one of the first online communities in pole. Listen as she drops some raw truth about what it will take to thrive online.

Alena Downs is the founder and creator of one of the first online communities in pole. Listen as she drops some raw truth about what it will take to thrive online.

Listen in on the fly to a coaching call. We had some small tech difficulties so please bear with us! But the content is so helpful. This is a brand new studio owner looking for tips on establishing her brand in a new market. #coachingonthefly

Listen in on the fly to a coaching call. We had some small tech difficulties so please bear with us! But the content is so helpful. This is a brand new studio owner looking for tips on establishing her brand in a new market. #coachingonthefly

Most small business owners want the latest Instagram and Facebook strategies but what they often need to learn is how to sell. Getting attention won't automatically increase your revenue. You must learn to sell.

Most small business owners want the latest Instagram and Facebook strategies but what they often need to learn is how to sell. Getting attention won't automatically increase your revenue. You must learn to sell.

Opportunities are about even during an economic downturn. Focus on infrastructure building and acquiring new talent.

Opportunities are about even during an economic downturn. Focus on infrastructure building and acquiring new talent.

How does a studio owner compete against pole stars who are doing FREE lessons? Lean into community!