In Layman's Terms

In this episode, we'll be talking about how to unlock the potential of Facebook groups for launching so you can take your online business to the next level without high tech, the need for large teams, or big system expenses. You'll learn how to maximize Facebook's algorithm-favored live streaming, strategically tag members, the magic of DMs, and revolutionize entry questions to drive sales.

You want to be more creative but don't know how. It can feel impossible to be creative on demand. We all know that one great idea can make all the difference, but where do those ideas come from? Follow these 5 simple tips, and you'll be well on your way to a more creative life. With a little practice, you'll find yourself coming up with new ideas to make money for things that matter to you most.

If the thought of spending money on your business is unsettling, you're in the right place because today, I'm going to share the three most important things to invest in when it comes to your business and, more importantly, what will shift when you do.

People have worked hard and are now ready to take some time off for summer. Business changes, the weather changes, and people begin to focus on other things. Does this mean your ideal clients aren't investing or planning for the fall? Of course not. It just means that they are going to begin doing things on their timetable, not yours. In this podcast, I'm going to share three of my favorite growth strategies that will help you convert more clients so you can breeze through summer sales slumps.

There's no shortage of networking events to attend. Although this opens up more opportunities to meet new clients and fellow entrepreneurs, it's exhausting! You're already over-scheduled and stressed to the max. If networking makes you feel like a used car salesman decked out in a cheap plaid suit, you're in the right place because today I'm going In this episode I'll share my seven steps to turn networking hell into connecting nirvana.

Do you sometimes wish you could charge more than you do? Maybe… a LOT more? Well that's exactly what we're going to help you with on this week's show, where you'll learn how to confidently charge what you're worth and attract clients who see the value of working with you so the investment is a no-brainer.

Have you ever gotten an odd or hurtful comment or response to an email, social media post, or even a review? If the thought of putting yourself out there on social already makes you feel uncomfortable, you may not know the best way to respond. In this episode, I'm going to give you the dos and don'ts for handling negative comments on social and more importantly how to get your mindset right so you can let it go and get back to business.

You've probably heard a lot of different definitions for success, and it can be tough to know what really matters. It's easy to get bogged down by all the conflicting advice out there. What does it mean to be successful? How do you achieve success? In today's show, I'm going to cover the 5 Pillars of Success. These essential pillars will help you define success on your own terms and guide you every step of the way!

If finding your ideal clients feels more like searching for a needle in a haystack, you're in the right place because today I'm going to teach you how to STOP selling your coaching programs and show you what to do instead.

You've worked hard to develop your knowledge and want to be compensated for it. You've heard sharing valuable content is important, but have you ever struggled with giving away your knowledge for free? This week you'll learn how to use the 'free' method to get more clients.

If you've ever felt like your brain was in conflict with itself the good news – you're not crazy! As a business owner you're doing all the things so why is it some goals are easy to achieve, and you find yourself creatively avoiding others. This is where understanding how your brain – specifically your amygdala can work against you. I posted a 60-second reel on Instagram sharing a science-backed way to achieve your goals and to date, it's gotten over 5900 views. In this podcast, I'll be sharing 5 powerful pointers to develop a mindset that will open you to bigger possibilities and potential profits. 

A majority of business owners say that if they were to get one thing, they want clarity. So why is clarity so crucial? If you don't have clarity about what you want to do in your business - about who your target audience is, what you're offering, and how you're showing up online, it makes it harder to attract your ideal clients. Lack of clarity can also lead to a lot of wasted time and money in business. In this episode, I'll share 3 components of clarity along with a value statement template. The result is helping you to craft a message that prompts a "heck yes, I need that!"

Darcy Howe has a passion for innovation and has been a regional leader in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, developing connectivity between funders, entrepreneurs and advisors. She is also a 20-year veteran angel investor so coming out of retirement to build the KC Rise Venture Fund was a perfect fit. In this episode Darcy shares details on the KC Rise Fund and the KC Rising initiative as well as wealth of insights you can apply to business and life.

Pre-Med, systems engineer, direct sales, sales and entrepreneur are all words to describe Laura Schmidt’s career journey. The idea for her latest venture was literally sparked with her feet on the dashboard while on a trip with her family. She put positive thinking into action with Notes to Self Socks.  Laura will tell you the path to success wasn’t a straight line but the lessons learned and lives touched make it all worth it. Notes to Self socks are available online and in over 1900 stores across the country, including Hallmark stores, hospital gift shops, and boutiques. In this interview, Laura shares insights to help to grow your business and you’ll be inspired too!

Niall luxury watch is a true Kansas City entrepreneur story. Michael Wilson, the founder, will tell you starting his company is 2012 was not easy at all. In the beginning, Niall was rejected by the industry in a very abrupt and overt way. His goal was to produce the best timepieces possible that are true legacies to passed on to future generations. In 2017, Niall's sales increased 129 percent compared with the previous year. This is a testament to quality and the relationships they build with their customers and fans. In this episode, Michael shares his philosophy and tactics to build a business that exceeds expectations. 

When an opportunity presents itself, you should take advantage of it and that's what Dan Thompson did. A conversation over dinner with his sister sparked the idea of a cage-less doggie daycare facility. His background in sales and experience in flipping houses didn't quite prepare him for all that was in store to successfully launch Dog Pawz in 2010. Dan has since expanded to two other locations. In this episode he shares a wealth of knowledge you can easily apply no matter what business you're in. 

Ben Rao is a real estate investor and founder of Community Buying Group. He has a knack for helping entrepreneurs and small businesses accelerate growth. His latest ventures are Bridge Space, a co-working facility and the E2 Hustle podcast. In this episode, Ben shares insights on creating new companies, economies, eco-systems, and of course, entrepreneurship. 

Nick Spencer is the founder and president of Keep Them S.A.F.E., an anti-abduction course for children. Nick is also a lead instructor and project manager for Strategos International, a global training, security and protection firm. After spending 20 years in the military, police and security industry, Nick knows what it takes to protect and secure the things you treasure most. In this episode, he shares his entrepreneurial journey along with insights and safety tips everyone can apply. 

You typically don't use the terms American psychedelic rock and roll musician and corporate suit in the same sentence unless you're referring to Chris Garibaldi. Chris is the co-founder of Lotuspool Records and also a principal in one of the largest professional services companies in the world.  In this interview, Chris shares insights on the music industry along with keys to capitalizing entrepreneurial skill sets in a corporate world. You'll also get the inside scoop on Lotuspool Records and what's in store for their 25th-anniversary celebration.

Like most chiropractors, Dr. Michelle Robin started out with a small practice. Over the last 25 years, her practice has grown into one of the premier wellness facilities in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Her team includes chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, nutrition counselors, functional medicine doctors, an MD who focuses on sleep medicine and corporate wellness programs too. Dr. Robin knew she needed to make some shifts in her own life. She's now a published author, speaker, and host of the popular podcast: Small Changes, Big Shifts. In this episode, she shares her entrepreneurial journey along with wellness insights that apply to business and life. 

David Patrick learned first-hand from brilliant marketers like McDonald's, P&G, LG Electronics, General Motors, Miller Lite, Kellogg, and Burger King to name a few. He worked his way up through the ranks and has served as a COO, CMO for companies like Beauty Brands and Westlake Hardware, David looked beyond marketing to connect a vision to a strategy to an action plan; aligning the Why, What, and How.  Now as the Founder of High Performance Retail Marketing Group, David builds strategies that drive brands, businesses, leadership teams, and companies. He also teaches future builders of marketing, business strategy, and entrepreneurship in the MBA programs at the University of Missouri and the University of Kansas. In this how to episode, David shares insider strategies to grow your business through effective marketing. Of course, there are bonus adds too. 

As the business of sports has evolved, so has the industry that covers them which means the competition is increasing. Joel Goldberg has spent more than 20 years in television developing and maintaining relationships with professional athletes, coaches and team management. He's covered top athletes from Brett Favre to Kurt Warner to the 2015 World Championship Royals. In this episode, Joel shares insights on building trust, making key connections and of course baseball.

Erin Smith is the founder of FacePrint, a patent pending telemedicine system for the early and accurate diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. FacePrint has received national attention including winning the #BUILTBYGIRLS Challenge at Twitter Headquarters along with being recognized by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. In this episode, Erin shares the science, struggles and successes of starting a business as a teenager. If you think you're busy, she also has productivity insights to offer. 

Kare Anderson is inordinately curious about why we do what we do. She's an Emmy-winning former NBC and Wall Street Journal reporter. Now a columnist for Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and the Huffington Post she shares her knowledge and strategies on quotability and connective behavior. Kare's TED talk on The Web of Humanity: Becoming an Opportunity Maker has attracted over 2 million views. Her clients are as diverse as Salesforce, Novartis, S.F. Giants and The Skoll Foundation. In this episode, she shares insights on ways to build credibility, open opportunity to the unexpected and building trust.  

Established in 1893, US Engineering has grown to be one the nation’s top design-build mechanical contracting firms. Tyler Nottberg is the fifth generation of the Nottberg family to lead U.S. Engineering. He served in several roles in the company before taking over as Chairman and CEO. Tyler has been named one of the 250 Most powerful Business Leaders in the Kansas City area by Ingram’s Magazine. He was selected as one of Kansas City’s key executives from non-profit and public-sector settings, those whose day-to-day decisions go a long way toward influencing regional business. Along with serving on a number of nonprofit boards, Tyler is also a founder of the Alliance for Childhood Education, a group of business leaders focused on investing in high-performing schools in Kansas and Missouri. This episode is packed with leadership insights.  

Serial entrepreneur and business mentor Allison Maslan has built ten successful companies from the ground up starting as a single mom on her own. Her client list has included Ben & Jerry’s, Charlotte Russe, Supercuts, and Allstate. She has also been a world-renowned homeopath for the past 20 years which adds a unique whole person approach to her innovative business strategies. In this episode, she shares what so many of today’s entrepreneurs are missing when it comes to achieving success in life and work.

Stephen Heiner is an entrepreneur who owns several lifestyle businesses – in real estate, tourism, publishing and podcasting, and a particular passion: writing. He is in his 4th year of residence in Paris, where he is pursuing a French passport, the language itself, and the perfect walk.  He spends all but all but 100 days a year in France, and can often be found in the US – specifically Kansas City – or in other European countries.  In this episode, Stephen shares his entrepreneur insights and philosophies, some of which may push your comfort zones.

Cam Bishop has extensive experience building, buying, and running companies.  For over 30 years, he has led companies owned by a broad range of international, regional and institutional private equity. He's managed a workforce of nearly 2000 employees located in cities across the U.S. and several foreign countries. Most recently he combined his expertise in business and passion for fitness to launch Muscle Metrics, a company focused on body composition testing with the Bod Pod. In this episode Cam shares leadership and business insights you can apply no matter your industry or role. 

Have you ever taken an online quiz? If so there's a possibility Interact was the platform used to create it. To date, Interact has worked with brands like Starbucks, The United Nations, Home Depot, World Wildlife’s Fund and many more. They’ve helped companies around the world generate more than 4 million new email subscribers. In this episode, you’re going to hear Interact's co-founder Josh Haynam share entrepreneur insights on starting a company as well as the how to’s for content marketing, engagement and landing new customers and clients.

Working in an animal shelter and seeing 3 animals come in and less going out inspired Michelle Rivera to find a solution to the problem of pet homelessness. In 2002, without financial backing or an advisory board already in place, Michelle embarked on the most challenging career path ever to start Spay & Neuter Kansas City. SNKC was the first and is now largest “targeted” spay/neuter program in Kansas City. With over 100,000 spay/neuters to date, they have impacted the overall reduction of animals killed in Kansas City’s area shelters. Michelle recognized the need to expand services beyond free/low-cost spay and neuter programs. SNKC also has the Families Better Together Outreach Program, a wellness clinic and food pantry serving over 20,000 pets each year. In this episode Michelle shares entrepreneurial and leadership insights that you can apply no matter what business you are in.

Cameron Herold is known as the business growth guru and Forbes calls him the CEO whisperer. By age 21, Cameron had 14 employees and by the age of 35, he'd help build his first two $100 million dollar companies. By the age of 42, he engineered 1-800-GOT-JUNK?'s spectacular growth from $2 million to $106 million in revenue, and 3100 employees in just six years. Cameron is the mastermind behind hundreds of clients exponential growth and they will tell you he speaks only from experience. He's the author of three books including The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs, Meetings Suck, and the global best-selling book Double Double.  No matter if you're looking to start a business or grow your business, you'll gain valuable insights from this episode!

Coss Marte, former inmate turned CEO, knows he beat the odds. By age 19, Coss was making $2 million a year running one of the largest drug delivery services in New York. At 23 he was caught and faced seven years in prison. Upon entering prison, the medical unit told him he could die in prison because at 5'8" and 230 pounds, he was overweight with dangerously high blood pressure. A year before he was scheduled to be released, Coss ended up in solitary confinement. During that time, he refocused, starting working out in his cell and without any equipment, lost 70 pounds in six months. He also helped 20 inmates lose over 1000lbs. It was during an Alcohol/Substance Abuse Treatment meeting where he came up with a business plan and the idea for Conbody was formed. After Coss was released, he applied the same marketing tactics that he used to build his drug business to build his fitness business. With the help of Defy Ventures, he entered a business pitch competition and was awarded $100,000 via Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran and the Young President's Organization to open Conbody Studios.

Angel Morales will tell you pushing comfort zones is a must no matter what role you're in. As the head of C3 International, he works with clients in 25 countries and it started with a simple phone call to a friend. Angel's multi-language and multi-cultural skills along with his experience and expertise in international marketing have made him a sought-after consultant for clients in various industries who seek to achieve success with strategic and marketing programs targeted at families and children. As a creative with the wheels always spinning, Angel turned a carbon fiber wallet he created for himself into a second company - Tailwag. In this episode you'll learn the keys to launching and growing a business in international markets. The bonus, you can apply the same insights domestically too. 

Mental toughness is the birthplace of personal leadership development. LaRae Quy knows firsthand that mental toughness is not something you're born with. As an FBI undercover and counterintelligence agent for 24 years, she faced stressful fast-moving situations, risk, and deception on a regular basis. In this episode, LaRae shares insights learned in the field that you can use to move through discomfort zones and tackle limiting beliefs to achieve bolder goals. 

In 1989 when the economy was unstable, Mitchell Gold knew he had to break some of the rules to succeed in the furniture industry and it paid off in a big way. From an initial investment of $60,000, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams has grown to $250 million in annual sales with 30 signature stores, boutique shops, as well as an e-commerce and hospitality division. His defiance of conventional wisdom and investment in his employees helped fuel the meteoric growth of the company. Mitchell runs his business with the same passion and commitment he brings to his work on behalf of LGBT equality. 

“Great things won’t happen to you unless you put yourself into uncomfortable situations.” Chef and restaurateur Celina Tio knows getting uncomfortable has been key in her success. Her path was influenced by her family and Julia Child at an early age. She developed the skills necessary to be an award winning chef and combined that with an entrepreneur spirit and desire to tackle the challenges that come with opening restaurants. In this episode, Chef Tio shares insights gained and lessons learned along the way. 

Perry Brandt's forty-year law practice is defined not by the clients he's served or the trials he's won, but by principals that have made him one of the most sought-after and respected lawyers in his industry. Even though the stakes of his cases have grown from millions to billions of dollars, Perry's fundamental perspective has remained unchanged: being a lawyer is the ultimate people business. He believes in being a positive leader who improves every situation he's in. In this episode, Perry shares his insights on leadership, persuasion and mastering skills while having fun in the process.  

Launching a successful technology startup takes vision, guts, execution, and patience. Drew D'Agostino recognized the importance of communication between individuals and within organizations. He created Crystal, a technology platform that analyzes public data on the internet. Crystal gives you personality information for everyone you contact helping you to communicate better with empathy. His company has been featured in Business Insider, Forbes, Wired, and CNN to name a few. in this episode, Drew shares entrepreneurial insights and lessons learned while growing his company. As for the bedbugs, that was Drew's oh sh#t moment that took his business endeavors in another direction. 

Fred Pryor is a renowned speaker, author, and philanthropist. He pioneered the one-day seminar business model in 1970. He recognized the need for companies to provide leadership training to employees that focused on internal drivers like motivation and achievement. Not only did he write the curriculum, he taught the class that generated organizational results. After speaking an average of 225 times a year Fred expanded his vision to create a professional development business that today has transformed into Fred Pryor Seminars and CareerTrack. In this episode, Fred shares his wisdom and philosophies on business and life. 

Howard Putnam's passion for aviation began early on. He learned to fly out of a pasture in his Father's J-3 Piper Cub. His career didn't start out of college but instead as a baggage handler at Midway Airport. He held 13 different positions before being named to Group VP of Marketing for United in 1976. Howard was recruited to become President and CEO of Southwest Airlines in 1978. He led the visioning process and further developed the fun culture and excellent customer service that Southwest is known for today.  In 1981 he was recruited by Braniff International to restructure the financially failing airline. He was the first airline CEO to successfully take a major carrier into and out of chapter 11. This episode is packed full leadership wisdom and stories to remember. 

"If you're going to be on it,run it." During the past 39 years, Ed Holland has worked hard at being a successful restaurateur and leader as well as actively giving back to the community. In this episode, Ed shares why creating experiences for your customers and team will give you an advantage in business. You'll also learn how the power of mental wages, a smile and an orange can keep you on your game. This episode is a little longer than most as there was so much wisdom to share. The laughs are an added bonus!

The path to success isn't always what you think. At the age of twenty-two, CiCi Rojas was a single mother of four with limited job options. She had a choice to settle but instead chose to turn her perceived impediments into opportunities. She has over twenty years experience serving in executive roles across private, public and nonprofit sectors. CiCi is a locally and nationally recognized leader within the Hispanic community and beyond. In this episode, CiCi shares how to be the master of your game no matter what your role, the power of strategic visibility and more.

There are approximately 750 craft distillers in the U.S. today which contribute to only 2% of sales compared to the big distilleries. Even with those odds, Steve and Lisa Strong will tell you that they would rather bet on themselves than someone else. But isn't that what entrepreneurs do? S.D. Strong Pillar 136 Gin might have launched just in May 2015, but it's already won top honors in several competitions beating out better-known producers.  It takes more than making great spirits to operate a successful business. In this conversation from the cave (60+ feet below ground), Steve and Lisa share their insights, strategies and ah ha's that you can apply to your business. #madeinacave

"Confidence doesn't find you, it's the result of doing something big."  Contrary to what you might think, Sandra Yancey didn't start eWomenNetwork because she liked networking. She started it because she saw a way to solve a problem for introverts (herself included) who didn't like crowds and attending events.  From its start above Sandra's garage in 2000, eWomenNetwork has expanded to 118 chapters in six countries and helped thousands of women grow their businesses.  In this episode, Sandra shares a wealth of insights including the importance of doing people math, how to 'shift the dance' at a networking event, using the three E's (example, explain and expand) to open up a conversation, her top book picks and more. 

Did you know LinkedIn is the 12th most searched website on the internet? It's a powerful platform for individuals and businesses that choose to leverage it to their potential.  In this episode, JD Gershbein, one of the world's top thought leaders on LinkedIn strategy, shares insights to expand your thought leadership, generate leads and advance your business goals. JD is an acclaimed social business psychologist, frequent broadcast media expert on LinkedIn for business, and a featured writer for the Huffington Post and Forbes. He is the only practitioner in the world who combines LinkedIn profile writing, corporate LinkedIn consulting to the Fortune 500 sector, and instruction at the graduate school level at a major academic institution into his value proposition.

Perry Puccetti served around the world as Marine Corps attack helicopter pilot for over a decade learning the importance of values such as persistence and mission accomplishment. It's the true meaning of teamwork that Perry has really carried with him over the years and into his role as a CEO. In this episode, Perry shares advice and lessons learned from his corporate adventures including: The expenditure of emotional capital How a leader can be the brand for the company even when they're an introvert Remember your supporters (especially when making a leap) Have a process The favorite question in each podcast is, "what has been one of your oh $hit moments?" I think Perry's is my all time favorite because it involves an 8' javelin, a taxicab and getting lost in Europe. He proves that even these moments can turn to gold.

"Every opportunity is on the other side of fear." In some businesses, you can see a fairly quick payoff of your efforts. In the wine industry its years in the making from the vine to bottle. James and Lindsay Lowery of KC Wineworks will tell you that every grape that comes off the vine is full of unrealized potential to be a great wine; you just have to figure out how not to screw it up. If it’s a raisin, it’s a tragedy. Being an entrepreneur takes vision and education. In the case of James and Lindsay, you can also add combined talents of a husband and wife team.  The passion came at an early age. The farmland the vineyard is on has been in the family since 1870's, and they bottled their wine long before growing production for other wineries since 2002. Launching KC Wineworks in 2014 was no small feat, and they're still learning lessons. No matter what your business is, you'll find value in this episode! #drinkMOwine 

"The biggest threat to your business is not your competition. The biggest threat to your business is sitting in your head; it’s called your mind." Rebel Brown spent 25 years as an executive consultant in high technology and worked with over 300 global organizations. Over the years, Rebel watched smart people make some bad business decisions. It was her series of personal 'oh shit moments' that brought her to her knees and turned into the most powerful moment in her life. She became fascinated with the human mind and its impact on our ability to see new opportunities and shift behaviors. The result was creating a methodology for guiding businesses and executives to break out leadership success. In this episode, Rebel shares how you can apply this powerful insight to grow your business. Of course, there are value adds galore!

Mary Carol Garrity, the founder of Nell Hills, has garnered national attention with Forbes magazine dubbing her “one of the hottest little retailers” in America. She has been featured on CBS’s The Early Show and NBC’s Today Show, and in The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Midwest Living, Country Living, Victoria, and many more. Mary Carol is the author of nine books on home decorating; a weekly decorating blog Style at Home with Mary Carol Garrity, and a column syndicated weekly throughout the U.S. After 35 years in business, Mary Carol knows what it takes to build and maintain a thriving business despite changing markets significant challenges including the crash of 2008. No matter what your business is, this episode is worth a listen!

Never being afraid to ask is one of the secrets to Kyu Lee's success. Kyu is the founder and CEO of Wiselike, the 'ask me anything' platform.  He's considered a rising star in the tech community and his company is one of Huff Post's top 10 to watch. Hard to believe considering that just a few years ago he wasin college at UCLA without the knowledge or network to raise millions in venture capital funding and build a rock solid team. In this episode, Kyu shares key steps and pitfalls to avoid on an entrepreneurial journey. The value adds include ways to maximize the Wiselike platform and experts to connect to. It's worth listening to! 

An NFL player deals with constant pressure on the field including; the opponent, hits, potential injuries and the relentless struggle to stay in the league. No matter what their physical capabilities are, their state of mind is the single biggest factor that affects their performance. In this episode former NFL player, Jon McGraw, shares his lessons from playing the wrong game.  He also shares the keys to create and maintain a performance mindset in business and life. If you have kids in sports or a co-worker who frustrates you on occasion, you'll appreciate the added insights to help them 'play' to their potential. The full post with value adds and resource links can be found at JoyceLayman.com.