Take The Next Step with Ryan Sterling

Nick Bradley is a world-renowned business growth and scale-up specialist, who helps exceptional business leaders unlock their full potential.He is the host of the UK's #1 Business Podcast on iTunes and Spotify - Scale Up Your Business - which has achieved over 100,000 downloads, in 130 countries, in less than 12 months since launch.We cover several topics in this interview, including:1)    The correlation between endurance sports and entrepreneurship2)    The phases of a start-up3)    The scale up processThis interview turned into more of a scale-up coaching session and Nick gave me a ton to think about as I scale up my business.If you own a business or are thinking about starting a business, this episode is for you!

Do you feel like stock investing is too confusing, too time consuming, or too risky? If this is you, tune into today's episode because I'm speaking with TYKR CEO and Founder, Sean Tepper.TYKR is an easy way to screen stocks. The TYKR interface is easy to understand and a great tool for evaluating your current or future stock holdings.In addition to being the CEO of TYKR, Sean is the host of the podcast Payback Time.We cover a lot in this episode including:1)      How podcasting is the new networking event.2)      Sean's journey to entrepreneurship3)      How to invest in the stock market using TYKR

Cecilia "Cece" Leung is the founding partner of The Entrepreneur CFO, a global professional advisory firm helping growing companies with strategic decision making as they become financially and operationally ready for their next big thing. She has two decades of international financial services experience in New York, London, Switzerland, Hong Kong and China, Cece has worked with prominent firms including JP Morgan, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Ernst & Young, offering the best in-class solutions to Fortune 500 and growing companies worldwide.  Cece is the author of the book Dear Accountant: Stories, Advice and Explorations, which offers up-and-coming professionals valuable insights and perspectives about the many career paths and opportunities under the accounting and finance umbrella. In this episode we talk about Cece’s path from an entry level accountant to a business owner and published author! Cece is passionate about mentoring college students and helping them navigate their career journey, especially as it relates to the accounting industry.  Her dedication to being a mentor is what led her to write Dear Accountant. If you know someone who is interested in the diverse field of accounting, this episode is for you! Personal Website: http://www.ceceleung.comBook Website: http://www.dearaccountantbook.comThe Entrepreneur CFO website: http://www.ecfopro.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceceleung/

Mike “C-Roc” Ciorrocco is the CEO of People Building, Inc., and the powerhouse behind the “What Are You Made Of?” movement. He is a performance coach, author, public speaker, visionary and thought leader. He has been featured by Yahoo! Finance as of the of the Top Business Leaders to Follow. In this episode we cover the following topics:1)      How to turn setbacks into Rocket Fuel 2)      The importance of finding your superpower3)      Why you need to raise your standardsIf you want to light a fire inside of you, this episode is for you!

Today I am joined by bestselling author, Scotty Alpaugh. In this episode we talk about Scotty’s new book “Have no fear, there’s always fucking next year (a covid-19 tale)". His book is a hilarious and honest tale about family life during the pandemic, highlighting the everyday moments and challenges faced by us all. In this episode Scotty gives us a masterclass in resiliency and how to find meaning and purpose in life’s challenges. Scotty is an expert in resiliency having served in Iraq, going through a divorce, fighting cancer, and living through Covid-19. If you are trying to find meaning and make sense of these challenging times, this episode is for you. We cover a lot in this episode, including: 1)      How to be more intentional with time.2)      How thinking about your own mortality can empower you to do more with your life.3)      How to find opportunity in chaos.

For those of you who listen on a regular basis, you know that I am a huge advocate of entrepreneurship, and one of the best paths to being a business owner is buying a franchise concept. If buying a franchise is of interest to you, tune in to this discussion with franchise consultant, Giuseppe Grammatico. Giuseppe helps aspiring entrepreneurs find financial and time freedom through Franchise ownership. In addition to being a consultant, Giuseppe is a podcast host (Franchise Freedom) and published author (Franchise Freedom).For a free copy of his book, go to ggthefranchiseguide.com. We cover a lot of topics in this episode, including:1)      buying a franchise concept vs doing a startup from scratch2)      building a portfolio of franchise companies 3)      how to think about finding the right franchise conceptI love the franchise model and Giuseppe is an amazing resource. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is for you! 

The stock market is (and has been) the single biggest contributor to wealth over time. Stock returns have outpaced those of cash, bonds, real estate, commodities, and collectibles. It’s not even close.The stock market gets a bad reputation for being risky, confusing, and exclusive, but this is far from the truth and you can beat 90 percent of the pros by following just four simple rules:Diversify using low-cost index funds.Invest in consistent increments.Stay invested over the long run.Minimize fees and emotions.Unfortunately, with headlines being dominated by meme stocks and digital investments like Bitcoin and NFTs, new investors are as confused as ever. But it doesn’t have to be this way which is why I invited Lee from The Free Retiree Show back to the show to talk about stocks and investing.  In this episode we cover the following:1)      The difference between investing and gambling2)      The dangers of day trading3)      What to look for in a financial advisorAlso, Lee shares his six rules from investing. Lee is a great resource and if you are new to investing, this episode is for you.

Christmas Hutchinson is a high-energy management consultant, executive coach, and author of The Resilient Mind – a field guide to a healthier way of life. She is passionate about helping high achievers overcome imposter syndrome to confidently achieve a fulfilling career as a means to find balance in all areas of their lives. Christmas specializes in resilience and design thinking with a proven track record of strategic thought leadership.We talk about so many important topics in this episode including:1) The power of choice2) How to develop a resilient mind3) Why living a “good” life is the enemy of living a “great” lifeChristmas is an inspiring force and speaker, and you can feel her passion and commitment shine through.

Kristel Bauer is a Wellness Expert and she shares her knowledge and advice in several different ways. She is a Keynote Speaker, Podcast Host, Consultant, Wellness Advisor, Content & Course Creator. Kristel is a believer that Mindset is Everything and provides empowering information to help people awaken to optimal well-being. Kristel is an influencer in the wellness world and collaborates with companies she believes in by providing wellness content and promoting brands that resonate with her mission to her social media following of over 40,000 individuals. Kristel loves sharing her expertise and connecting with inspiring individuals on her top 100 self-improvement podcast “Live Greatly.” Health and wellness is everything and we owe it to ourselves (and Future Self) to live our healthiest and best most intentional life.

Becca Siegel of @halfhalftravel is a blogger, content creator and travel/lifestyle writer who aims to inspire professionals to be adventurous and confident through remote work, travel and entrepreneurship. Her background in foreign languages (Spanish & Chinese), teaching, living abroad and travel helped her to create the lifestyle brand @halfhalftravel with her husband, Dan. Their creations have been featured in Cosmopolitan, INSIDER, Lonely Planet, Oprah Magazine and CondeNast Traveler. Since returning from a 10-month around-the-world remote work trip in 2018-2019, both Becca and Dan have been working remotely from home in Brooklyn, NY, as they build their business. Both Becca and Dan find value in lifestyle optimization, avoiding lifestyle inflation, investing toward their future together and avoiding consumerism in a minimalist mindset that has helped them align with their goals and visions. We cover so much in this episode including: their story of starting their blog and Instagram account, growing a following, embracing minimalism, and monetizing this amazing brand. Stay tuned to the very end to hear her list of top 10 cities in the world! Website: https://www.halfhalftravel.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halfhalftravel/

Gary Travis is a Linkedin influencer and coach where he helps solopreneurs grow to 30k engaged followers in 6 months or less while building multiple revenue streams. Gary's process for writing viral posts works (I know from experience) and in this interview he outlines the template for one of his post themes.The amazing part about his story is that two years ago he wasn't even on Linkedin. Today, Gary has close to 200,000 followers and is the king of viral content. One of his posts got over 20 million views.Today, his mission is to help as many entrepreneurs as he can get the attention that they deserve.Check out his website: https://bloomingbound.com/

Jason Linett is a Hypnotic Influence Expert who helps entrepreneurs and business owners to close more premium sales. As a Certified Professional Hypnotist, Jason has dedicated nearly two decades to helping his clients harness the science of positive persuasion strategies to quickly and easily rewrite negative thought patterns. He reveals the secrets of hypnotic communication and shares specific "Business Influence Systems" to supercharge business growth. This isn't about tricking or manipulating people... It's about helping your prospects to ETHICALLY SELL THEMSELVES into your products or services. Jason is the host of the Hypnotic Language Hacks podcast. His TEDX talk, "Rethinking Rapport” is available on YouTube. He is the best-selling author Work Smart Business, a 5-star rated book on Amazon's Top 1,000 Neuro-Linguistic Programming list.

It seems like each week someone reaches out with a question about starting and growing a podcast. What equipment do I need? How long does it take to attract an audience? What should my expectations be?If this is you, tune into today's episode as I have the trio behind The Free Retiree Show. The Free Retiree Show helps listeners excel in their career and financial lives so they can live the life they’ve always dreamed.Lee Michael Murphy, wealth manager, is joined by career advisor Sergio Patterson and attorney Matthew McElroy. Tune into their weekly show as they give you entertaining and valuable advice, and help you filter out the BS in their respective fields.The Free Retiree Show has four pillars to help listeners achieve success: career advancement, money management, avoiding detrimental mistakes, and learning from a successful business and thought leaders.In this episode we talk about the importance of resiliency, consistency, and marketing. These guys are awesome and I hope you enjoy.

Pam Christian is a mindset coach, motivational speaker, author, and the host of The Juice Podcast. Pam is obsessed with helping people live their best lives.Her practice includes intuition and experience, methodology, and personal pivoting so that people can embrace themselves and shift their thinking. We cover so many important topics in this interview including: 1) How to tap into your higher self and not give voice to your inner critic.2) The power of questioning your thoughts and seeing your thoughts as just thoughts.3) Acting despite fear, and the power of reframing events, outcomes, and challenges.For more on Pam, check out her website (https://thepamchristiangroup.com/) and follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pamchristiann/).

David Meltzer is the Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing and formerly served as CEO of the renowned Leigh (“Lee”) Steinberg Sports & Entertainment agency, which was the inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire.His life’s mission is to empower OVER 1 BILLION people to be happy! This simple yet powerful mission has led him on an incredible journey to provide one thing…VALUE. In all his content, and communication that’s exactly what you’ll receive. As part of that mission, for the past 20 years, he’s been providing free weekly trainings to empower others to empower others to be happy. In this podcast we cover the following topics:1) Finding happiness through being in the pursuit of your potential.2) Making the transition from not enough to more than enough.3) David’s mission to empower over 1 billion people to be happy.David is an amazing resource and I encourage you to sign up for his free training - a link to register can be found in the comments.Link to Register: https://dmeltzer.com/training/ Social Handles:Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @davidmeltzerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidmeltzer11/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmeltzer2/Text Community: (949) 298-2905

Rocky serves as Chief Profitability officer for business owners. He teaches them how to get paid and make profit a priority! As a certified Profit First Professional he implements Mike Michalowicz's Profit First System. Rocky changes the accounting formula from: Sales - Expenses = Profit to Sales - Profit = Expenses. This ensures Profit comes first! (PS. It's not about money at all costs, people come before money!)Rocky started with nothing when his parents immigrated to the United States when he was two years old, and his parents were in their 40's. It was his parents' second time starting over in life as they moved here to experience the American dream. In spite of a lot of struggles and his mom passing away when Rocky was 7, he has been able to achieve financial and life success. Rocky loves to share his journey and inspire others to achieve their dreams even faster.

You are a composite of the people you spend the most time with, and I am so grateful for all of my guests who have shared their wisdom and stories on Take The Next Step. I've learned so much from all of my guests and this week I'm sharing 10 minute clips from episodes 9-15. This week's episode features excerpts from:Candler Cook - Episode 9Matt Vlahovich - Episode 10Dorian Fuller - Episode 11Dr. Susan Nicholas - Episode 12Erin Hatzikostas - Episode 13Eric Richard- Episode 14Tana Mann Easton - Episode 15

You are a composite of the people you spend the most time with, and I am so grateful for all of my guests who have shared their wisdom and stories with you. I've learned so much from all of my guests and this week I'm sharing 10 minute clips of the first seven episodes of 2020. This week's episodes features excerpts from:Brendan Russo - Episode OneQuan Huynh - Episode TwoSiwat Siengsanaoh - Episode ThreeJordan Paris - Episode FiveNatalie Elisha Gold - Episode SixAngie Gallagher - Episode SevenKristen Cullen - Episode Eight*Episode four was a recap of episodes one-three.

Tana Mann Easton knows how to follow her intuition. Whether its picking up from the comfort of her town in Wisconsin to embrace the unknown in New York City, or leaving the safe confines of a world renowned wealth management firm to start her own company, Tana is a prime example of how to take risks without being reckless. In this episode we talk about the times in her life when she said no to a seemingly “safe” life to embrace the unknown and how a vision made her take inventory of her life. Topics we cover are:1) Moving from a charming small town in Wisconsin to New York City2) Living up to your potential and taking calculated risks3) How to tap into your inner geniusToday, Tana is teaching people how to optimize their email and task systems and other organization and efficiency methods to live life by design instead of by default at her company, Focus to Evolve. If you want to learn how take calculated risks and tap into your inner genius, this episode is for you.

Eric Richard is a millennial living the digital nomad lifestyle and pursuing FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early). Eric achieved leanFIRE in July 2019 by automating savings and investments, avoiding lifestyle inflation, and utilizing travel hacking to ramp up his savings rate to over 60%! Achieving leanFIRE gave Eric the confidence to leave the corporate job behind and begin slow traveling the world. Today, Eric runs the popular blog/podcast Nomad on FIRE, where he teaches others about combining the digital nomad lifestyle with financial independence principles to design a life with more freedom, excitement, and greater joy!In this episode we cover the following topics:1) How to achieve financial independence.2) How to build a following and grow a podcast and blog.3) Why you only need 1,000 true fans.

Erin Hatzikostas is a CEO, career coach, speaker, podcast host, and soon-to-be-author. Erin is a former corporate executive, where at the age of 42, she became the CEO of a 9-figure company. When she realized that it was her extreme authenticity that both allowed her to say “yes” to the job and achieve incredible results, she walked away to start b Authentic inc.Erin is determined to create a massive authenticity movement to eradicate the all-too-fake Corporate world and enable people to have a big career, without compromising everything else.Erin is a prolific speaker (including TEDx in October 2020), truth-teller, edutainer, and her new book, You Do You-Ish, is available for pre-order now on her website https://www.bauthenticinc.com/youdoyouish. Some of the themes we cover are:1) Erin’s 50% rule – why it’s good to feel 50% uncomfortable. 2) How you can pick your career AND you can be 100% you. 3) Erin’s HUMANS framework – 6 Principles of Strategic Authenticity.

Dr. Susan Nicholas is a physician and surgeon who after a conscious awakening, transitioned her life into soul healing work. Today, she is a telepathic medical intuitive, energy healer and international speaker. Susan is a TEDx speaker on Money Consciousness: Overcoming Generational Poverty. As the founder of the Human Consciousness Consortium Publishing, Dr. Nicholas is the author of “The Duality of Being”, “Two Parts of Me” and The Death of Cupcake”. Susan can also be found hosting her Be Conscious® Podcast. Her diverse work has a common thread to awaken humanity to consciousness. Susan and her works have been featured in SWAAY Media, Thrive Global, The Native Influence, FOX News, and NBC and she is a frequent guest podcaster for national medical and business influencers. Some of the topics we cover are: 1) How Susan broke the cycle of generational poverty.2) Susan’s conscious awakening.3) The frequency of money.

As the Head of Diversity and Inclusion Recruiting at a global investment bank, Dorian Fuller has one of the most important jobs on Wall Street. In this episode Dorian shares the initiatives he and his team are working on to recruit talent from underrepresented communities and why more minorities need to be represented in executive ranks. Some of the themes we cover are: 1) Race and Corporate America.2) How to attract and promote talent from underserved communities.3) The importance of having a sense of entitlement.Finally, Dorian shares his personal story how he was able to overcome a rough childhood and homelessness to achieve a full scholarship to college.Dorian is an amazing person, and I am grateful for him coming on to share his work and his story.

Matt Vlahovich is a dear friend, an accomplished investment banker, and now, a marathon finisher. Matt and I were roommates in college, and today, we are fortunate to see each other every weekend for our Saturday basketball game. But back in March, basketball was canceled for the year due to COVID-19, so we quickly pivoted and turned our attention to training for the 2020 New York City Marathon. After it was announced that the New York City Marathon was canceled, we decided to run our own version and documented our experience. In this episode some of the themes we cover are:The importance of being a part of a positive community.How to set goals.Why you need to commit to and love the process.Marathons are always an amazing reminder of what humans are capable of and I am so proud to share this episode with you!

Candler Cook is a former University of Georgia football player, and when you see him today, he looks and sounds like someone who played football at a top division 1 program. But his path was anything but ordinary or likely. A former high school football benchwarmer, Candler entered the University of Georgia as a 145 pound Freshman hoping to make a top-10 program as a linebacker. Despite being up against unlikely odds and having to face rejection and some harsh feedback, Candler used extreme focus, determination, and grit to transform his body into a fit 270 pound defensive end and ultimately made the team. If you have lofty goals, this episode is for you. Some of the themes we cover are:1) The importance of having short-term achievable goals.2) Where focus goes, energy flows.3) When faced with rejection and setbacks, change your approach.Candler outlines his blueprint for success that can be applied to all areas of life! I am so grateful to Candler for sharing his story and highly recommend his book From Underdog to Bulldog.

Kristen Cullen is a founding member and Personal Brand Strategist with Brand Builders Group, working with NYT bestselling authors, health and wellness experts, award winning and internationally recognized attorneys, physicians, lifestyle mentors and 7-figure influencers. She speaks and writes on resilience and the power of never giving up, on yourself or others. As a part of that effort Kristen founded a cancer advocacy program that focuses on facilitating patient centered care in centers around the country. As a certified personal coach KC has a specialty in helping entrepreneurs and startups uncover their brand identity and excel in their marketing journey. She has a listening heart, is free of judgement and is dedicated to helping people live a life they truly love.And for listeners of this show, you can schedule a free call with Kristen at https://www.freebrandcall.com/kc. If you are interested in spreading a message and growing your personal brand, I strongly recommend scheduling a call. But Kristen’s story is so much deeper than being a Brand Strategist. At the age of 40, Kristen found herself a widow with three young children in the depth of the financial crisis. Kristen goes into detail on the struggles she faced and how she was able to pull herself back up. Today, Kristen is an amazing role model for her children and a massive success in all areas of life. In this episode we talk about:1) Why everyone needs to invest in their personal brand.2) The importance of gratitude.3) How to be resilient when faced with life’s inevitable headwinds.I am in awe of Kristen’s strength and resiliency and could not be more grateful to have her as my Brand Strategist, but more importantly, my friend.

Angie Gallagher is a successful sales executive, an accomplished photographer, and an amazing content creator on Linkedin. Angie makes it all look so easy, but her life was far from easy. Angie grew in Appalachia with an Asian immigrant mother on government assistance. Despite the odds being stacked against her, she became the first in her family to graduate college, received a MFA, worked at a high-end art gallery, and started her own photography business where she worked closely with some of the country’s wealthiest and most influential leaders. Angie is an endless optimist, and she posts inspiring messages and videos on Linkedin every week. Some of the themes and topics we cover are:1) The power of seeing people as individuals and not judging them based on their background, status, or position.2) Why Linkedin is an amazing networking event.3) How to pick yourself up and move forward in the face of setbacks.Angie also introduces us to her amazing 10/80/10 rule. Angie is a truly inspiring person, and we can all learn a lot from her story and life lessons.

Natalie Elisha Gold is a celebrity attorney, a business owner, a media personality, a bestselling author, and a loving and committed mother. The best way to describe Natalie is Elle Woods meets RBG with the soul of Oprah. I had so much fun speaking with Natalie and learning more about her story. We talk about the moment she decided to become an attorney at the age of 15, how she graduated from law school at the age of 23, and why she started her own practice at the age of 25. Natalie shares such valuable insights and wisdom for anyone looking to take control of their life. Some of the themes we cover are: 1) The importance of blazing your own trail.2) How a sense of entitlement can be a good thing.3) How to take risk without being reckless.Finally, check out Natalie’s books: “For I am Ruth” – out 10/18/2020, “I Love When It’s Mommy and Me” – out in December, and “The Millennials Guide to the Universe” and “Money Momma” – out now!Watch on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher.

Jordan Paris hosts the amazing podcast, Growth Mindset University - a top 15 podcast where he has interviewed some big names including: James Altucher, Mark Manson, Seth Godin, Ryan Serhant, David Meltzer, Charlie “Rocket” Jabaley, Gretchen Rubin, and so many more. He’s a successful business owner, he’s been featured in Forbes, he’s a published author, he’s a soon to be TEDx speaker, and he just turned 23 years old. To say Jordan is driven is an understatement. In this episode we go deep into Jordan’s story and break down how he went from an 18-year-old college student to a podcasting star, business owner, and the designer of life on his terms.Some of the themes we cover are:1) The importance of being intentional with time.2) Not being afraid to change your approach.3) How extreme focus can lead to big results.

Three episodes of “Take The Step Step” are live and I appreciate all of your feedback! I’ve had three amazing guests so far in Brendan Russo, Quan Huynh, and Siwat Siengsanaoh and I am in awe of their respective journeys – Brendan losing over 100 lbs, Quan finding inner peace while service a life sentence, and Siwat starting a wellness business. While the stories are all truly diverse, there are some common themes that have emerged, namely: 1) The power of choice – we can all choose to start a personal growth journey.2) The importance of community – you can’t do it alone.3) Inner freedom - prioritizing internal rewards over external praise

Siwat Siengsanaoh is a classic entrepreneur and in today’s episode, Siwat outlines the steps he took to launch the recovery beverage, Recoup Wellness.Today, Recoup can be found in over 30 stores throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, they have relationships with large distributors, and they have a thriving online business. But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, just five years ago, Recoup Wellness was just a line item in Siwat’s idea journal. An idea led to Siwat purchasing a juicer, which led to formulation, which led to his first sale, and the rest is history.Some of the lessons we cover are:1) The importance of surrounding yourself with people who are doing the things you want to do.2) How to seek input from others and pivot when necessary.3) The grit, determination, and perseverance required to be an entrepreneur. Watch on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher.

When you meet Quan Huynh today, you see a business owner, a non-profit executive, a published author, and an all around smart, thoughtful, and kind person. But it wasn't always this way. The son of Vietnamese immigrants, Quan's childhood was met with racism, the death of a parent, and a loss of faith. He felt lonely and out of place until he found acceptance and a place of belonging within a violet gang, which ultimately led to a high speed chase down the 405 freeway and a life sentence for the murder of a rival gang member. It took over 10 years, but after reading books on the Saints, personal growth, and entrepreneurship, he learned how to take accountability and embrace self love and self acceptance for the first time.

When you look at Brendan Russo today, you see a super fit guy. He has finished 5 marathons, a 50k (31 miles) ultramarathon, and is a wellness enthusiast!But it wasn’t always this way. At one point, Brendan was almost 300 lbs, and was playing the role of the fun overweight friend, brother, and son. He felt uncomfortable in his own skin but chose to ignore his discomfort and embrace the role that he had grown accustomed to. This all changed after a visit to the doctor. What ensued is the embodiment of the Take The Next Step mindset.