The Leveraged Business: Earn More, Work Less, Grow Faster

Feeling a little “off” after the holidays? You're not alone! Getting back into work after a well-deserved break can feel heavy, and gaining back your business momentum isn't always easy. If you're still stuck in that holiday slump, whether it's New Year's or Summer time today's episode is here to help you get going again with renewed energy and focus! I'll share how to recharge, build business momentum, and sustain your drive over the next 90 days and beyond – plus, there's a juicy free gift waiting to help you accelerate your success. In this episode of The Leveraged Business Podcast, I'm sharing:

In this landmark final episode of our Rising Resilient series, we're unpacking the ultimate guide to entrepreneurial resilience, synthesised from conversations with 20 remarkable women business leaders. From Fortune 500 executives and tech innovators to successful startup founders and corporate change makers, these accomplished entrepreneurs reveal their hard-won wisdom about building sustainable success. Host Jay Allyson weaves together powerful insights from months of in-depth interviews, examining how true resilience emerges through both personal growth and systematic approaches. This comprehensive exploration centres around three transformative themes: evolving resilience beyond mere recovery, embracing the deeply human side of business sustainability, and building robust systems that support both personal and organisational growth. Through intimate stories and practical examples, our guests share their journeys of overcoming challenges including: -- Navigating major business pivots -- Managing team dynamics during organisational change -- Maintaining energy and focus while scaling operations -- Building confidence in high-stakes situations -- Creating work-life harmony as a high achiever. Key takeaways include: -- How to transform setbacks into catalysts for growth and innovation -- Building authentic connections that support sustainable success -- Practical tools for maintaining energy and focus under pressure -- Strategies for creating resilient organisational cultures -- The vital role of self-compassion in leadership -- Methods for bouncing forward instead of just bouncing back -- Techniques for building supportive professional networks Featured wisdom from incredible guests including Susan Schramm on organisational adaptation, Christina Becker on soul-making through challenge, Stephanie Slocum on women in STEM leadership, and many more industry leaders sharing their unique perspectives on rising resilient. Perfect for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and high achievers who want to create lasting impact while maintaining personal wellbeing. Whether you're leading a team, scaling your business, navigating a career transition, or seeking to build greater resilience in your professional life, this episode provides a comprehensive framework for sustainable success. As we decode the essential elements of entrepreneurial resilience for the modern business landscape, don't miss this powerful culmination of our Rising Resilient series and grab our FREE RESILIENCE PILLARS CHECKLIST in the shownotes at https://jayallyson.com/podcast/business-resilience-for-women/.

Ever achieved everything you thought you wanted, only to feel strangely empty inside? You're not alone. In this powerful episode of Rising Resilient, I'm delving into the silent crisis facing high achievers - that pivotal moment when success feels hollow. Through real stories of executives and entrepreneurs, we explore: The crossroads moment that signals it's time for change Why pushing harder isn't the answer (and what is) How to spot the early warning signs of high achiever burnout The counterintuitive power of the "purposeful pause" Practical tools to move from surviving to thriving Whether you're feeling stuck, restless, or questioning your path despite outward success, this episode offers honest insights and actionable strategies for navigating this common yet rarely discussed challenge.  Join us to discover how to align achievement with authentic fulfilment and rise truly resilient. It's perfect for ambitious professionals and business owners ready to bridge the gap between success and meaning. More resources and support available in the episode show notes at: https://jayallyson.com/podcast/high-achiever-burnout/.  

Today we're joined by Susan Schramm, a distinguished strategy expert who helps CEOs and leadership teams fast-track high-stakes initiatives when failure isn't an option. As the founder of Go to Market Impact, Susan has developed the proprietary De-Risk System for Impact®, helping organisations systematically navigate the hidden risks that can derail even the best strategies. Susan is a business consultant who has mastered the art of navigating high-stakes strategy execution and risk management. With an impressive track record of driving successful initiatives for Fortune 500 companies and a passion for helping nonprofits and community organisations, Susan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our discussion on resilience in leadership and strategy. Susan's unique approach focuses on the often-overlooked people side of strategic risk, helping leaders align their teams and accelerate results in surprisingly short timeframes. In our conversation, we delve into the critical aspects of resilient leadership, exploring how organisations can foster an environment that not only withstands challenges but thrives through them. Drawing from her upcoming book "Fast Track Your Big Idea!", Susan shares practical tools and insights on building resilience at both individual and organisational levels. What You'll Learn: -- Defining Resilience: Susan's unique perspective on resilience as the capacity to adapt and advance beyond setbacks, rather than merely bouncing back. -- Organisational vs. Individual Resilience: The importance of building resilience within organisations and ecosystems, complementing individual resilience. -- The People Side of Strategy: How addressing the people side of strategy can prevent and overcome disruptions in implementing high-stakes initiatives.  -- Adaptive Leadership: Key traits of adaptive leaders and how they equip and inspire their teams to navigate challenges confidently and creatively. -- De-Risking Strategies: Insights from Susan's proprietary De-Risk System for Impact®, which helps leaders identify and mitigate potential risks to their strategies.  -- Creating a Culture of Resilience: Practical steps for fostering a resilient organisational culture that encourages open discussions on potential risks and "what if" scenarios. -- The Role of Alignment in Strategy Execution: The critical importance of aligning team members to ensure cohesive and effective strategy implementation. Join us as Susan Schramm equips us with the knowledge to tackle challenges with confidence, compassion, and courage, essential for any leader striving to make a significant impact in today's dynamic business landscape. For leaders looking to drive transformational change without getting derailed by confusion, scepticism, or misalignment, you won't want to miss this episode, as a sweet introduction to her forthcoming powerful book Fast Track Your Big Idea and kickstart development workshops coming out in the new year. Whether you're steering a startup, running a nonprofit, or leading a major corporation, this episode is packed with valuable strategies to enhance your leadership resilience and ensure your organisation's success. Links to connect with Susan and find out about her book and workshops are available on the episode shownotes page at: https://jayallyson.com/podcast/resilient-leadership-susan-schramm/.

Are you an entrepreneur, corporate professional, or someone at a career crossroads seeking inspiration and practical advice to help you navigate the ups and downs of your journey? In this episode of our Rising Resilience series, you're invited to listen in to the insights of career strategist and leadership coach, Suzanne Magee (formerly Martyn-Jones) as we discuss resilience, leadership, and overcoming challenges in the corporate environment. Suzanne shares her experience of helping professionals to navigate career setbacks, aligning personal values with professional goals, and cultivating leadership skills that empower both individuals and teams.  For those who are striving to grow in your current role or business, managing team dynamics, or contemplating a career pivot, Suzanne offers practical strategies to help you stay resilient, confident, and focused through it all. From the importance of self-awareness and mentorship to finding purpose in your work, this interview will leave you inspired to take control of your career journey and rise above any challenges that come your way.  Why Listen? Learn from the lived experiences of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders -- Discover practical strategies to manage career stress, anxiety, and overwhelm  Understand the importance of aligning your personal values with professional goals  Find out how to create meaningful connections in your work and navigate workplace dynamics  Get expert tips on how to cultivate long-term resilience, from mindset shifts to tangible career moves. Whether you're working towards a promotion, building a business, or figuring out your next move, this episode delivers the knowledge and inspiration you need to step into your power and forge your own resilient path.  Tune in to discover how resilience isn't just about bouncing back—it's about leading with strength, navigating change with confidence, and aligning your career with your true values.  If you're looking for career coaching, go to the episode show notes to connect with Suzanne: https://jayallyson.com/podcast/corporate-career-resilience-suzanne-magee/.

Whether you're building a small business or leading a purpose-driven organisation, this episode will give you some super-powered methods to strengthen your mindset, clarify your message, and achieve entrepreneurial success. In this interview for the Rising Resilient series, we welcome back Sophie Lechner, Business Strategist and LinkedIn Coach for Mission-Driven Entrepreneurs. Sophie shares her expertise on empowering entrepreneurs to build confidence in business, create meaningful connections, and develop resilience in their personal and professional journeys. Drawing from her diverse background in corporate, legal, and cross-cultural fields, Sophie reveals how she helps business leaders navigate LinkedIn and enjoy marketing with her unique MAGNET Model. Her forthcoming book, due for publication next March, provides a roadmap for mission-driven entrepreneurs to achieve impact, income and independence by bringing the joy of their client-work into their marketing.  We discuss actionable strategies for mission-driven entrepreneurs to find their "golden thread" in brand positioning, align marketing efforts with personal values, and create a confident path to networking on LinkedIn and opening up those vital conversations and sales. You'll take away some key tips on how to stay focused and overcome challenges while driving your purpose forward. Sophie also delves into her own journey of resilience and offers practical advice on staying true to oneself while driving forward a purpose-driven business. Like myself, Sophie has been on LinkedIn since it launched 20 or so years ago, and had plenty of success with the platform. But it wasn't until March of 2020 when she fully realised how much LinkedIn is a black box for most small business owners. Tune in to gain insights on how mission-driven entrepreneurs can effectively connect, communicate, and lead with confidence, and discover the tools and mindset shifts that can transform your success path. Visit the episode show notes to listen, read as an article (transcript), connect with Sophie and learn more about the Magnet Model. Plus you can tap into Sophie's 40+ free mini-lessons to uplevel your LinkedIn game! 

Join us on this episode of "Leading with Impact" as we sit down with the multi-talented Dr. Chris L. Johnson, a psychologist, Master Somatic Coach, and business owner. With over 25 years of experience, Chris partners with leaders to create resilient, conscious, and impactful organisations, transforming the face of leadership and business. In this insightful conversation, Dr. Johnson shares her journey from growing up with entrepreneurial parents to becoming a trailblazer in embodied learning and leadership. We dive deep into her unique approach that combines the wisdom of our biology with practical strategies to expand influence, confidence, and resilience. Chris' story is one of overcoming personal and professional challenges, from a fiery failed marriage to reinventing her career. Her dedication to embodied learning has allowed her to rise from the ashes and develop a powerful methodology that helps leaders and teams thrive under pressure. Key takeaways from this episode include: The importance of embodied learning and how it serves as a shortcut to becoming more effective and productive. Practical tips for cultivating resilience and authentic leadership. -- Insights into the power of intuition, deep listening, and collaboration. - Chris' personal experiences with transformation and the development of her innovative training programs. Whether you're a leader seeking to navigate the complexities of today's business environment or someone striving for personal growth, this episode offers invaluable wisdom and actionable strategies. Tune in to discover how you can embody a new way of being in your leadership and business. Don't miss this opportunity to listen and learn as we explore the transformative potential of embodied leadership towards a more resilient, conscious, and impactful you! Episode shownotes including interview transcript is available at: https://jayallyson.com/podcast/conscious-leadership-chris-johnson/

Discover the qualities that enable introverts to build resilience and grow their leadership skills to become more impactful leaders and confident, assertive communicators. In this episode of the Leverage Business Podcast, we chat with Berry Kruijning, Principal of Crowning Communications. Tailored for entrepreneurs and leaders, especially those who identify as introverts, this episode delves into the unique strengths and challenges introverted professionals face in the business world. Berry, a seasoned expert in leadership development and communication, with over 25 years of international experience, shares her innovative approach to building resilience. Discover how to "bounce forward"—turning challenges into opportunities for growth and enhancing your impact as a leader. Learn practical strategies to boost your confidence, communicate effectively, and lead with authenticity. Whether you're struggling with self-doubt, preparing for a high-stakes presentation, or seeking to elevate your leadership presence, Berry's insights are designed to help introverted entrepreneurs and leaders thrive. This episode is a must-listen for introverts in business who want to leverage their natural strengths, build resilience, and lead with confidence in today's fast-paced, high-demand environment. Join us and learn how to rise resilient as an introverted leader, transforming your leadership journey. Find out how to Master Difficult Conversations in Berry's free Guide available from the show notes page at: https://jayallyson.com/podcast/resilience-for-introvert-leaders-berry-kruijning/.

In today's fast-paced and demanding world, self-empowerment, energy management, and adaptability are key to building resilience for women leaders challenged with navigating work-life balance, avoiding burnout, and thriving, be it in the workplace or as an entrepreneur. My guest for this episode is Stephanie Slocum, the founder of Engineers Rising LLC, and a dynamic advocate for women leaders in STEM. As an engineer, author, sought-after speaker, leadership coach, and mom of three young girls, she is on a mission to normalise women leaders in STEM and help them thrive by unlocking their confidence and influence at work, and creating a path to the career and life they deserve. Stephanie is dedicated to normalising and empowering women leaders in STEM fields by addressing both personal and organisational challenges. She emphasises the importance of resilience, emotional regulation, and energy management for women to thrive in their careers. Stephanie is the brilliant author of "She Engineers: Outsmart Bias, Unlock your Potential, and Create the Engineering Career of your Dreams”, a book that shares her insights and experiences as a woman in a predominantly male industry. With over 15 years of engineering experience, Stephanie is someone who's often been the only woman in the room, so she knows firsthand the challenges, pressures and stresses that women face in these fields. She's turned her experiences into a powerful movement to empower women to speak up, advocate for their teams, and stay resilient. Through her company, Engineers Rising, Stephanie works with STEM organisations to build leadership pipelines, support women's groups, and enhance communication skills - all to retain and elevate talented women in these critical fields. And today, lovely listeners, Stephanie is here to share her insights, strategies, and inspiring stories that are sure to motivate and empower you. So, buckle up as we reveal some brilliant thinking and strategies for rising resilient. We covered a lot of ground, including key themes around: Adaptability: How to quickly adapt and recover from setbacks.  Empowerment: Tools and training for effective communication, leadership, and self-advocacy. Work-Life Balance: Ways to maintain motivation while dealing with high expectations and demanding work environments.  Energy Management: How to leverage high-energy periods for critical tasks. This approach helps prevent burnout and improve overall well-being.  Organisational Culture: Why supportive work cultures that integrate human elements help retain female talent.  Adaptability and Growth: How being open to new opportunities can help you align with changing circumstances.  Find out more and for listen/read links, go to the episode show notes page at: https://jayallyson.com/podcast/resilience-for-women-in-stem-stephanie-slocum/.

Continuing our Rising Resilient series of interviews with amazing women entrepreneurs', today we have the pleasure of the insightful Christina Becker in the guest hotseat exploring soul making as a spiritual practice. As well as an astute non-profit advocate, and consultant, trainer, and founder of the Canadian Non-Profit Academy, Christina is a renowned Jungian psychoanalyst and author, known for her expertise in guiding individuals through the complexities of personal and spiritual growth. In this conversation, we explore the essence of soulful resilience through Christina's lens of Jungian psychology as well as her personal experiences. Christina shares her journey of “soul making” and where the phrase originates, as detailed in her upcoming book, "Soul Making: A Journey of Resilience and Spiritual Rediscovery." We discuss how resilience is not just about bouncing back, but about transforming challenges into personal meaning, empowerment, and growth.  Highlights from our conversation include: The profound impact of Jungian psychology on understanding and cultivating resilience. Christina's personal story of navigating significant life challenges, including her brother's mental illness and her father's battle with cancer. The role of intuition and spiritual practices in fostering resilience and finding meaning amidst suffering. Practical advice on how to begin your own journey of soul-making and discovering your authentic self. The importance of asking empowering questions and shifting perspectives to overcome obstacles and embrace personal growth. Christina also shares insights from her private practice, including the power of dream work and how aligning with one's true purpose can lead to a more fulfilling and resilient life. Join us as we uncover the layers of resilience and discover how to rise resiliently with Christina Becker. Whether you're an entrepreneur facing the pressures of business or someone seeking deeper personal understanding, this episode offers valuable wisdom and inspiration.  Tune in now and embark on your own journey of soul-making and spiritual rediscovery. To read and learn more about Christina's work, read this interview as an article, visit episode shownote at: https://jayallyson.com/podcast/soul-making-journeys-christina-becker/.

In this episode, we delve into the vibrant world of Laura Hess, a master coach with over two decades of experience in transformational coaching who specialises in guiding women aged 59 and beyond into their encore years, gracefully, purposefully, and above all, joyfully. Having previously run impactful mastermind groups with her husband Philip Cohn under their PUSH the Envelope™ brand, Laura brings a wealth of experience and pioneering spirit to her new focus. We delve into her popular resource, "The Joy Test," a compact yet powerful booklet that provides 100 practical tips for incorporating joy into everyday life. Laura shares how this tool has not only enriched her own daily routine but has also become a cornerstone of her coaching philosophy. Laura introduces her latest passion project, Joy Coaching for Women Over 59, a transformative initiative aimed at empowering women to redefine their post-career lives with vibrancy and purpose. This isn't just about navigating life's next phase; it's about transforming it by infusing your life with a deeper sense of fulfilment and serenity - what Laura calls the domino effect. Through our conversation, she shares some profound insights and the unique strategies she employs to help women navigate this exciting phase of life. We discuss her renowned resource, "The Joy Test," a booklet packed with actionable tips for cultivating daily joy and self-care.  Throughout the episode, Laura discusses challenges and opportunities we can all relate to, which come with entering our midlife as well as encore years. She addresses common concerns such as maintaining health and vitality, managing finances to support lifestyle changes, and finding new purposes and connections without the structure of full-time work. Laura's holistic approach goes beyond coping strategies, encouraging women to thrive by embracing joy, intention, and creativity in this pivotal life phase. Tune in to explore how you can embrace and shape your encore years into a joyfully epic chapter of life. Listeners will gain invaluable insights into: -- The Joy Coaching Initiative: How Laura's new coaching model helps women navigate their encore years with enthusiasm and strategic planning. -- The Path to Joy: Laura explains her comprehensive program that covers health, finances, social connections, and purpose—critical elements for a fulfilling encore life. -- Empowering Personal Stories: Insights into the transformative journeys of women who have reinvented their lives through Laura's coaching. -- Practical Joy-Focused Strategies: From daily rituals to major lifestyle adjustments, Laura offers advice on how to cultivate a joy-filled life every day. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or read as an article (transcript) via links on the episode show notes page at: http://jayallyson.com/podcast/the-joy-test-laura-hess/ where you can also claim your guide to joy - the Path to Joy Roadmap and connect with Laura.

In this empowering episode of our podcast, we sit down with the remarkable Annika Ek, an Evolutionary Nutritionist and the visionary behind TrulyU Evolutionary Nutrition. Annika brings a unique perspective to health and wellness by blending ancient practices with contemporary strategies, all aimed at helping women embrace self-care seamlessly. Annika's journey is deeply personal. As a mother and someone who has witnessed the impact of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions within her own family, she understands the critical importance of a proactive approach to health. Through her engaging storytelling, Annika will share how she navigated her personal and family health challenges, and how these experiences have shaped her professional path. We'll delve into Annika's holistic approach, exploring the concepts behind her Evolutionary Nutrition™ and The TrulyU Way™ programs. With a rich background that spans from studying economics to becoming a PhD student in Wisdom Studies, Annika's diverse education and experiences have equipped her to offer invaluable insights into anti-inflammatory eating, cooking, and living. Expect to learn practical tips on how to make health and wisdom a priority and hear about the transformative effects these practices can have on your personal and professional life. Whether you're struggling with health issues, seeking motivation for sustainable self-care, or just curious about holistic health, this episode is for you. Annika also touches on her extensive studies in functional and integrative medicine, including her work with notable experts like Dr. Datis Kharrazian and Dr. Ben Lynch, and her continuous exploration of wisdom and consciousness with luminaries such as Eckhart Tolle and Caroline Myss. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that promises not just to inspire but also equip you with the tools to thrive in every aspect of your life, embracing health with ease and grace. Whether you listen or read, this is an episode you won't want to miss! Player links and episode shownotes available at http://jayallyson.com/podcast/sticky-habits-for-vitality-annika-ek/. 

Welcome to a very transformative episode of our Rising Resilient series, featuring women entrepreneurs I have the privilege to know and work with as business strategist, coach, and friend. Join us as we delve into the heart of resilience in the business world, featuring the insightful Leah Grant. This episode offers a deep dive into Leah's entrepreneurial spirit and her knack for harnessing resilience to overcome business challenges and personal trials. It's packed with real-life examples and actionable advice on building resilience, such as integrating strategic planning, operational routines, and emotional intelligence into daily business practices. You're in for a treat as Leah uncovers both practical and mystical approaches to tackling the challenges of both life and business, and ways she has personally found to embrace change with compassion, courage and conviction - key attributes for anyone looking to thrive in the world we find ourselves in today. Leah shares her journey through the entrepreneurial world, highlighting the indispensable skills of flexibility and adaptability that have helped her navigate the ups and downs of a 27-year career across multiple businesses.  As primary carer for her blind and elderly mother, she's the epitome of organized efficiency, working towards using business time for maximum impact and revenue. As an entrepreneur, coach, and mentor in business marketing, Leah has moved into her genius gift to bring a layer of spirituality in her work with clients through mystical transformation. With Leah's guidance, listeners will learn how to identify the warning signs of burnout, and the importance of self-care and support systems to maintain business momentum and personal health. Tune in for a masterclass in transforming everyday challenges into opportunities for growth and success. Learn from Leah how to empower yourself with the resilience needed to lead with vision and vibrancy in the face of any adversity. Entrepreneurs keen on both personal development and sustainable business strategies will find this episode particularly valuable. To find out more about Leah and the work she does, from the episode shownotes at: https://jayallyson.com/podcast/spirituality-for-entrepreneurial-resilience-leah-grant/.

In this powerful episode of the Leveraged Business Podcast, host Jay welcomes Irma Jennings, known affectionately as "The Bone Lady." Irma helps women who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis to navigate the emotional and medical journey they find themselves on. Bringing her own story and experience to her coaching, and navigating herself through the ups and downs, and challenges of business - and digital marketing to boot - she is now firmly positioned as a Bone Health Coach and "Patient Navigator". She has key partnerships with medical professionals, and is providing a much-needed support service to her clients that's inspiring, pragmatic and pioneering.  Irma has personally tackled numerous challenges herself from her days working on Wall Street to her work today and building a thriving business. So her whole brand rests upon helping her clients to rise resilient, and is synonymous with love and care, and changing people's lives. Irma draws on her experience working with women diagnosed with osteoporosis to deliver compelling insights into cultivating resilience, self-compassion, and courage in business and life. She shares personal anecdotes that illustrate her path through self-doubt, emphasising how surrendering to emotions and leveraging trusted support networks can transform challenges into triumphs. Acknowledging vulnerabilities can be hard for many of us. Irma emphasises the strength gained from sharing fears and seeking guidance, and the importance of building strong support systems. For entrepreneurs striving to build resilience and personal development, her wisdom underscores the power of turning to trusted allies who know us deeply, offering a mirror to our strengths and blind spots.  Listeners will be inspired by Irma's candid reflections on maintaining balance and focus. Whether it's confronting the “stress stacking” that often overwhelms business owners or addressing how habits that range from sugar to self-doubt can sabotage our best intentions, she offers valuable insights into reclaiming control.  This episode is packed with actionable strategies, from staying present in nature to mindfully navigating food cravings, that help listeners find their inner compass and maintain mental and emotional well-being. Tune in to learn how to rise resilient and courageous amidst life's uncertainties, guided by Irma's unique blend of empathy and pragmatic wisdom. To learn more about Irma and her work, go to the episode shownotes at https://jayallyson.com/podcast/emotional-balance-for-business-irma-jennings/.

Wellbeing, personality archetypes and seasonality for resetting and recharging, these are just some of the topics my guest on our Rising Resilient series talks about… Jo Hafey is a holistic health practitioner and mentor who helps her clients master clarity, focus and motivation for peak performance in business and life. Welcome to the eighth instalment of our "Rising Resilient" series on the Leveraged Business Podcast, where we delve into the resilience journeys of women entrepreneurs.  This episode features Jo Hafey, an expert in traditional Chinese medicine, who shares her profound insights on cultivating resilience, balance, and vitality in both life and business. In this engaging session, Jo discusses the concept of 'upright qi'—the vital energy that fuels our day-to-day vigour and momentum.  Listeners will learn how to tap into their inner strength and maintain their foundational health through practical, everyday practices that align with both personal and professional demands. Jo's holistic approach integrates traditional wisdom with modern entrepreneurial challenges, offering actionable strategies for managing stress, enhancing well-being, and improving overall productivity. For entrepreneurs, particularly women who juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, this episode is a treasure trove of advice on thriving amidst challenges. Jo emphasises the importance of knowing oneself deeply—understanding personal needs, strengths, and the activities that replenish energy. From the significance of mini resets to realign focus during busy days to the impact of seasonal changes on our bodies and moods, Jo covers a wide range of topics that resonate with anyone looking to enhance their resilience. Tune in to "Harnessing Your Inner Strength with Jo Hafey" for a treasure trove of strategies that empower listeners to thrive amidst adversity. Whether you're dealing with business obstacles or personal setbacks, this episode will inspire you to transform challenges into opportunities with grace, grit, and a deep sense of self-awareness. Prepare to be inspired to implement changes that lead to profound personal satisfaction and business achievement. Join us on this enlightening journey to discover how resilience can be a transformative force in your entrepreneurial endeavours and beyond. Shownotes and links available at: http://jayallyson.com/podcast/harnessing-inner-strength-jo-hafey/

In this empowering episode of our podcast, we welcome Barbara Walsh, the dynamic co-founder of SupraLimina and a maestro in executive transition coaching. After cementing her legacy in South Africa, Barbara is now conquering the UK with her profound insights into leadership development. SupraLimina is the next iteration of a highly successful consultancy, Metaco, founded in 2009, which rapidly grew to become a leader in Executive and Team Coaching and Leadership Development solutions in Southern Africa, expanding into many parts of the world. Now based in the United Kingdom, she and partner Danny Tuckwood have grown a strong international reputation for partnering with senior teams to level up their executive leadership capabilities to deliver systemic value across their organisations and strategic stakeholders.  Barbara has a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in complex, rapidly-changing environments. In corporate roles, she has led teams through periods of upheaval and uncertainty; and as an entrepreneur, she's experienced her own fair share of failures, along with successes. Barbara brings two decades of acumen in steering individuals through the tumultuous waters of corporate leadership. But what does it take for first-time executives, especially women, to step confidently into their roles and shatter ceilings? The same might be asked of business owners as they grow and scale their enterprise.  Noted for the authoritative 'Mind the Gap' white paper, Barbara brings an arsenal of wisdom to the fore, sharing invaluable tips for emerging leaders and business owners. From navigating cultural shifts to harnessing resilience practices, she's here to discuss how she equips leaders to not just survive, but thrive. Barbara's approach to coaching embodies the resilience practices we explore throughout our series, especially as she navigates the specific challenges of executive transition coaching. It's not just about overcoming; it's about thriving. Her passion for helping leaders - particularly women - find their footing in executive roles is both practical and inspiring. As a result, they have created a unique portfolio of programs specifically aimed at supporting the transition from senior manager to executive roles. Barbara brings not just thought leadership but a treasury of actionable strategies for those ready to enhance their executive trajectory and evade the pitfalls of burnout. But she doesn't just theorise; she gets personal. Her intimate recount of navigating burnout during a life-altering move serves as a beacon for executives and entrepreneurs alike, and illuminates the episode with raw authenticity. With candour and a touch of humour, Barbara shares her expertise on bouncing back, and why the traits of self-care, compassion and perspective taking are particularly potent for women entrepreneurs. They just might be your superpowers in disguise. Embark on this enlightening journey that harmoniously blends personal tales with profound professional insights. Barbara's interaction with a client, catalysing a reinvigoration of joy in the doldrums of professional life, paints a vivid picture of how immediate, energising action can reignite the original passion we have for our work. Tune in for an episode that's a tapestry of resilience, learning, and the invincible spirit of entrepreneurship. Barbara discusses the nuances of leadership that aren't often covered in textbooks, how to avoid common pitfalls and develop perspectives, attitudes and skills that resonate for business owners and leaders alike, no matter the industry or location. Our conversation isn't just about bouncing back from adversity; it's about preparing to succeed amidst it. Shownotes and links to learn more about Barbara Walsh, Supralimina and their work can be found at http://jayallyson.com/podcast/executive-leadership-resilience-habits-to-manage-stress-barbara-walsh/.

My rising resilient series guest today is Lily Woi, an executive coach, leadership expert, and culture change consultant. Lily is both a published author, and international speaker. She has been a contributor to Brainz Magazine and featured on Forbes.  As an ex-corporate person and a business owner, Lily understands what it's like to be constantly firefighting endless challenges, feeling overwhelmed and without the headspace to focus on the things that matter most to you.  As entrepreneurs, making positive changes that drive real value often seems like an unattainable goal. Let's face it, that feeling of constant anxiety and frustration sucks big time. So, Lily is on a mission to change the status quo by helping people develop conscious self management skills. She is uniquely qualified to share her experience and techniques to help shift emotional states and behaviours, unlock potential, and build resilience from the inside out. Lily has made remarkable strides in our coaching work together. Her resilience shines through in her work with executive clients, as well as in her dedication to provide effective culture change solutions for forward-thinking companies. If a shift towards greater calmness, confidence and courage is something you want to see for yourself, then tune into this interview. Tune in via http://leveragedbusinesspodcast.com.

Why are professionals burning out while they give the best of themselves to help others?  Addressing this question is a key driver for my guest today, Mia Sindolic. After a career as a paediatric dentist, and later after moving continents and having to resume her career as a dental hygienist, her use of self-compassion to drive her entrepreneurship is admirable. When I met Mirjana (Mia) Sindolic a year ago for business coaching, she was a women filled with passion and determination for the vision of her business and the people she wanted to help. Now, the founder of a cutting-edge coaching program for dental hygienists that leans into teaching intuitive communication for her clients, her journey is one of innovation, commitment and adaptability. She has mastered the art of staying ahead in the fast-paced digital world, continuously evolving her strategies to meet changing practitioner demands. As the founder of Blue Light Horizon, her business serves dental health professionals, contributing to education, healthcare and well-being of patients, dental teams and the community. Mia seeks to break the curse of isolation and stress that health professionals face. She helps them with communication that takes them from chaos to calm, based on an intuitive and science-backed strategy that empowers patient relationships and makes people calmer, more energetic, and more resilient than ever. Based on the needs she saw in her industry, Mia created an online coaching program exclusively for dental hygienists, but has huge applicability for other professionals and business owners alike. Popular coaching topics include maximizing your impact, creating a positive environment that will help you maintain work-life balance, strategy for teams or organizations, and leading through change. So although Mia's programs are specifically designed and developed for dental hygienist, there is lots to be learned for any seasoned professional or business owner who's feeling a little overwhelmed, jaded or just weary of the day-to-day. The quote on Mia's website BlueLightHorizon.org/about-me page sums this up beautifully: "I often wonder if the bridge was always there, or if I was building it as I walked." Come tune in to my interview with this remarkable woman – you won't just get nuggets of wisdom, you'll be blown away inspired.  Shownotes with all the links to listen to the interview or read as an article/transcript available at: https://jayallyson.com/podcast/intuitive-communication-mia-sindolic/  where you can also find her very popular free eguide: 3 Communication Styles that Transform a Long Day into a Great Day.

In this episode, I interview Margo Mansfield, an internationally known speaker, master trainer, mentor, and organization development consultant. Margo is a leader in emotional mastery, helping individuals and companies transform the way they improve performance. She has spent the past 45 years specializing in the development of emotional literacy in the transformation of stress. She supports organisational leaders to excel by humanizing their approach using her 6-step breakthrough roadmap. Margo's story is powerful. She's overcome a tremendous critical car accident, a traumatic event that resulted in her going through numerous surgeries, a mental health crisis and recklessness, leading eventually to physical healing, spiritual growth, more formal education, contemplation, and life-changing decisions. In this episode, you'll hear insights from her journey that enabled her to rise resilient and bring her gifts to both individual leaders and the business world. Margo is dedicated to bringing about transformation by helping people discover the secrets of becoming “secure under stress”. She's a firm believer that people can learn to use stress as an experience of unleashing their greatest potential in ways that they never understood was possible. And, as a contribution to their health and well-being rather than at a cost. She works with individuals and business leaders to engineer organizational transformation through understanding personality differences and building skills to address those differences using her proprietary Reality Security Inventory. Deep trauma is not an uncommon experience, yet it is very individualised one for any of us. Margo's personal evolution essentially built her business. When working with leaders and their team members who are facing a future of changes, known and unknown, that are wrought with stress, she says her gift to them is the magic of her combined knowledge and experience that fosters life-long skills. If you'd like to connect with Margo and explore her approaches, you can find her on LinkedIn or learn more about her work at mytransformingself.com. More in shownotes here: http://jayallyson.com/podcast/managing-traumatic-stress/ including Margo's free Mindful Mastery video training.

As entrepreneurs, we're highly driven, we're committed to the impact that we have, we push ourselves. And we beat ourselves up a lot. It's what drives us, but it also can cause a lot of burnout and stress and anxiety when things don't go quite to plan. In our Rising Resilient interview, I spoke with life coach Linda Lalicata on spotting the signs that your life or career isn't where you want it to be, and getting the right support and accountability to work on the kind of personal growth and self-confidence that builds our resilience. Join us as we dive into the inspiring narrative of Linda Lalicata, a vibrant figure dedicated to guiding women to achieve career goals that bring professional and personal fulfilment. Linda brings to the table a unique blend of neuroscience, educational acumen, and coaching expertise to help her clients achieve their career and life goals. A staunch advocate for nurturing self-belief, self-confidence, and self-esteem, she has transformed her own experiences into a catalyst for change. As a teacher at Bronx Community College New York, she goes beyond academic issues, addressing the deeper struggles that hinder student success, proving her commitment to holistic development. From battling the shadows of self-doubt and her own family turmoil, Linda has emerged as a beacon of personal growth, her life a testament to the transformative impact of positive psychology and education.  Linda doesn't just coach; she awakens her clients to their innate strengths and values, equipping them to navigate life's hurdles with openness, grace and determination. In our interview for this Rising Resilience series, we explore the essence of resilience through Linda's lens - what it signifies to her and the lives she touches. This episode is an invitation to those yearning to unlock their potential, to feel empowered, and to celebrate their innate talents, propelling them towards greater success.  For those moved by Linda's story and eager to harness their inner confidence, the pathway to building career resilience awaits you. Visit our episode shownotes at http://jayallyson.com/podcast/achieve-career-goals-linda-lalicata/ to connect with Linda, and don't miss the opportunity to sign up for her complimentary Self-Confidence course.

My guest for Rising Resilient today is Melanie Hussell, founder and CEO of Melanie Hussell Communications. Melanie's brilliance is in helping business leaders create and deliver powerful presentations. Melanie's story of resilience is inspiring to others venturing into the world of entrepreneurship. She started out in her business offering in-person Business English classes, then made the courageous decision to shift to online training and coaching, despite lacking technical and marketing skills. Investing in business coaching and with the help of done-for-you services, she's created a comprehensive suite of online video-rich courses, a full Persuasive Presentations program, including feedback through the use of an AI app. An amazing transformation, both for herself and her clients who are just blown away working with Melanie. Her testimonials are just incredible. Melanie quickly pivoted to working more with senior executives who have a lot riding on their presentation skills and improved the consistency of her outreach, her marketing and the consistency of her follow up process. She started turning networking conversations into $5-15k coaching proposals with a 75% close rate, and made almost $25k revenue from 3 new 1:1 clients and 4 pre-sales from releasing an ‘essentials' early splinter offer from the full program.  However, while there are peaks where all her hard work comes to fruition, there are still many dips that Melanie has had to navigate, both in her mindset and in her marketing and sales… so rising resilient is an ongoing endeavour for her. In this second interview for the Rising Resilient series, Melanie shares her resilience journey and talks about how courage and self-belief have been the pillars for her as an entrepreneur, and how she channels this through to the clients she coaches too. Come join us.  For more information, go to http://melaniehussell.com or find links on the episode show notes page at https://jayallyson.com/podcast/tools-for-building-resilience/.

My first guest for this special podcast series Rising Resilient is Dr. Carmen Morrison.  Specialization: Parenting, Brain Health, Relationships, Mind-Body Nutrition, she has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, an M.A. in Theology and M.A. in Education, and is a Certified Integrative Mental Health Practitioner. Carmen has been licensed as a psychologist for almost two decades and also set up an online dimension under the umbrella brand of Alli.health to reach more people who are ‘stuck' and looking for the Ultimate Brain Reset – the so-called magic wand.  In this interview, when you hear how she speaks about resilience and the neuroscience underneath it, bear in mind, she and her husband also run a significant non-profit operation working in developing countries afflicted by trauma. Her work is far-reaching, and highly impactful.  Getting to know both Carmen and Bob as their business coach, I often wonder how they sustain such in-depth and demanding work. So I was very keen to get her on the show to talk about it with you.  What I love about her mission – is that she LOVES coaching – maybe less so all the marketing and sales part of growing the business, but as her husband Bob often remarks in our business development sessions, Carmen comes alive and does her best work when she gets to come alongside you and help you discover ways to get unstuck. And that, for her, is one of the most thrilling things that empowers her. On their website alli.health – where you can find out more about the work - she explains this brilliantly:  I love to take things that seem really complex and break them down into small pieces. I'm a certified brain health professional in addition to being a licensed psychologist.  At Alli, I want to help people who don't really need therapy, but just need help knowing how to take the next step. In her Rising Resilient interview here, you'll want to listen in to her insights on coping and empowerment. She talks about resilience and how to work with your brain's hard-wiring in some very practical and profoundly helpful ways. As a non-profit and health care therapist, and as an entrepreneur, Carmen has made significant strides in her business, through resources, courses, and coaching, especially in creating user-friendly digital interfaces to complement and extend her clinic work. Her resilience is evident in her ability to navigate the highly competitive health industry while juggling the demands of a high potential non-profit in third-world countries. For more information, go to http://alli.health or find links on the episode show notes page at https://jayallyson.com/podcast/carmen-morrison-resilience-brain-reset/.

Resilience is the cornerstone upon which success is built. As entrepreneurs, we possess an unwavering commitment to making an impact in the world. We push ourselves relentlessly, working tirelessly to achieve our goals. But the burning question that often arises is how to sustain this level of commitment while navigating the myriad challenges life, work, and our careers throw at us. How do we avoid burnout and instead, thrive while continually rising resilient? This series is not just about hype or quick fixes; it's about serious discussions on the profound challenges and changes that every business builder faces. Join us as we embark on this enlightening journey with these extraordinary female entrepreneurs. For this first intro and overview episode, I kick off with a framing for rising resilient. I'm going to be talking about the Essence of Resilience, Resilience in Practice, and Entrepreneurial Resilience – is it any different than any other resilience in your life or work… Then we'll turn to finding your resilience pillars… and what's coming up in this unique series where you'll have the opportunity to hear from a diverse group of women entrepreneurs, each with her own perspective on resilience and success. Through their experiences, you'll discover how to navigate the turbulent waters of entrepreneurship while maintaining your sanity and endurance. Go to http://jayallyson.com/podcast/rising-resilient-overview/ for show notes and to get my free Rising Resilient Success Pillars cheat sheet.

It's the 100th episode and three-year anniversary of the show. And we are celebrating. For 2024, we're launching a fantastic new series for the podcast – all about one of the key cornerstones of success in business – resilience. I've been collaborating with a whole group of strong women entrepreneurs on this to put this together for you. In today's episode, I set the scene for what entrepreneurial resilience means, what's coming in guest contributions on the subject, and how to develop resilient practices that fuel and sustain your business success. Through a series of interviews with 14 of my amazing ACES business acceleration clients, we bring you a collection of inspiring and insightful ways you can foster, celebrate and leverage success in entrepreneurial resilience. There is so much passion, talent and commitment to the work they do, in reaching their respective audiences and being of true service. But importantly too is how they show up. Collectively, these business owners all have demonstrated an uncanny ability to deal with resilience, personally and/or in how they help their clients. And together they illustrate what “success” takes from many different and interesting and valuable angles, and different lenses that stem from their own journeys, as well as the work they do with clients. Rising Resilient is all about tackling challenges and change in your life and business with confidence, compassion and courage. A frequent theme that emerges in coaching small business owners is the rollercoaster journey of entrepreneurship. And the growth that happens is not solely because we put great marketing or sales strategies together. It's the inner growth too, the mindset piece. Best way to ensure you don't miss this exciting new series is to subscribe to the show. Please share too with all who could benefit from an uplifting listen. Happy holidays!

For the third part of this series focused on surviving and thriving in the age of AI, we address the proliferation of online courses created using Artificial Intelligence (AI), the impact of AI on education, our writing and digital literacy more broadly, and how you can future proof online courses that sell.   AI technologies, and generative AI in particular, such as ChatGPT, has led to inevitable change in the labour market as well as the marketplace for online education. The increase in course production is leading to greater saturation and competition, which makes it more challenging than ever to stand out. The pressure is on more than ever to differentiate real education and transformation from information and knowledge delivery.  In this episode, we will look at how to future proof your online courses, exploring how creating profitable e-learning courses is actually both easier and harder with AI, and how you can position yourself for success. Join me as we embark on an exploration of how AI is reshaping the very foundations of education, from the way courses are meticulously designed to how they are dynamically delivered to learners around the globe.  The future of learning is being shaped by the boundless potential of AI, and I'm here to guide you through this transformative journey so you can position your offerings in a distinctive way to gain competitive advantage. This three-part series is a prelude to my forthcoming book, The AI Advantage - a short monograph to accompany the larger desk reference, Leveraged Consulting in the Digital Age. The aim is to highlight both possibilities and pitfalls of AI, which I hope will give you pointers to many of the genuine ways you can accelerate your own business's profitability and growth. If you'd like an advanced copy and are happy to provide me with feedback and possibly a review when it's published, go to http://jayallyson.com/leveragedbusiness/the-ai-advantage/ to register your interest.

Whether you're a small startup or a large corporation, understanding the disruptive technologies of Artificial Intelligence and generative AI tools like ChatGPT and how they are infiltrating our world, is crucial for staying competitive in today's market. In this second part of 3, we unravel the transformative potential of AI in reshaping the way we market, sell, and engage with customers. We embark on a journey that uncovers the power of AI tools in redefining marketing campaigns, enhancing customer engagement, and propelling sales growth. From predictive analytics that decode consumer behaviour to the conversational prowess of AI-powered chatbots, businesses are experiencing a paradigm shift in their approach to marketing and sales. It's a digital revolution fuelled by data, and AI is at the helm of this transformative voyage. And I'll be sharing use cases and specific AI software of how AI-powered solutions are enabling businesses to make marketing campaigns smarter, customer interactions more personalised, and sales processes more efficient. Prepare to be inspired by the possibilities that AI unlocks for businesses of all sizes.  Grab an early peek at The AI Advantage, Jay Allyson's forthcoming book, details in the show notes at http://jayallyson.com/podcast/ai-tools-to-boost-sales/.

There's no ignoring or denying the power of AI in business. It's an incredible way to help with many of the operational parts of running a business including content, copy, processes, customer support, and more. Those burying their head in the technical sand, will lose the AI competitive advantage. Over the next three episodes, you'll get my leveraged business perspective on all things generative AI and how small businesses and entrepreneurs can use ChatGPT and other AI tools to get more done in less time without necessarily outsourcing or hiring anyone. Artificial intelligence is not going to replace you anytime soon. Because your business is all about leveraging YOU. Your energy, perceptiveness and insights are what makes you and your business stand out from an increasingly competitive marketplace and become seen, respected and successful. But AI and the likes of generative AI tools like ChatGPT for textual output and Midjourney for images, can take a big chunk of the heavy lifting off your desk. AI is more than just a buzzword; it's a strategic imperative for businesses of all sizes. It empowers organisations to tap into the wealth of data at their disposal, extracting valuable insights that drive innovation and competitiveness. From automating routine tasks to offering predictive analytics, AI has the potential to revolutionise business. There's also a huge impact on the production of content, on the writing of copy, and on creation of courses, which we'll look at in the later episodes.    As we delve into the intricacies of AI in business, keep in mind that this is your gateway to understanding the limitless possibilities that AI presents. The world of entrepreneurship and consulting is on the cusp of a technological revolution, and by embracing AI-driven strategies, you're not only future-proofing your business but also positioning it for sustained growth and prosperity.   In this first episode, we'll unravel the multifaceted world of AI applications, from customer service chatbots to data-driven marketing strategies. Then in parts 2 and 3 we'll tackle more specifically the risks and returns of particular tools like ChatGPT to help you write content, copy and course materials. Join us as we explore how small businesses are leveraging AI to stay ahead in the ever-changing business landscape. You can find all the resources and links mentioned in the episode on the show notes page at http://jayallyson.com/podcast/business-use-cases-for-ai-and-chatgpt/.  

When you're looking at content and copy in your marketing, have you ever really thought about the job each is doing to drive sales across the customer journey? Defining the purpose, audience and occasion for everything you communicate is super powerful for connecting with your target audience and building trust. Ever wondered what's the difference between content and copy? And how to use them in harmony to build authentic and effective customer relationships? Now you might already be creating content in a very intentional way - see previous episodes 93 and 94 on elevating your content marketing - but in my experience many businesses (maybe MOST businesses in fact) are not necessarily getting leads and sales from all that effort - which is pretty demotivating to keep on doing it, right? The reason is that most businesses are not creating content in a way that drives the flywheel of their customer journey. There's very little copy running through all that content. Let me put that another way, most business are not following a strategy where their content loops back to what they're selling. And they're not creating a strong demand narrative to move people from consuming content to following you, engaging with you and taking action towards working with you. Instead of just posting content whenever you feel like it, think of your content and copy working in harmony to get people engaged, educated and then enrolled into your program or service. And you're in luck :-) This episode (and its accompanying blog article) is intended to help you do just that, so you can drive sales across the customer journey more effectively. Don't forget to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts via https://pod.link/1537508136. And finally, if you're finding the content valuable, I'd very much appreciative if you' would leave me a review. (Because I get messages with lots of lovely feedback, but even better if you'd hop over to iTunes (Apple podcasts or wherever you listen) and write a review - a great rating and one sentence is plenty.)

If you're feeling the end-of-summer blues, I hear you – I'm noticing my mood is lower than usual. It can be challenging with our social and work interactions to rise above it. The end-of-summer blues is a real thing. The change in temperature, light going from summer into fall (autumn) can affect us more than we realise. It marks the end of a season filled with warmth, sunshine, and outdoor activities and the start of shorter, darker days and more time indoors. As you might be feeling a little of this too, I thought I'd drop you an impromptu checklist to share some ideas on how to cope with the end of summer blues - prevention and treatment :-) Here are some strategies you can use to cope with the end of summer blues and transition smoothly into the new season. For those interested in understanding our 5 element personal archetypes and how to embrace seasonal living to feel good all year round, I fully recommend this 'Foundations of Seasonal Living' six-week online program with practitioner mentor Jo Hafey.

In this second episode focusing on content marketing, we explore ways to elevate your content performance, moving onto the heavy lifting part, and that's to use content planning practices to increase organic traffic and generate targeted leads. Content planning is where we take the goals and objectives of your strategy, the why and the who, your aims and the intended audience to inform what types of content to create, how, where and when it should be published or posted. In part 1, I talked through the process of getting clear on your ideal client avatar, your message pillars, and your content platform choices. Now, it's time to get the process and logistics planned out, and start creating content. There's a huge opportunity now with new AI tools like ChatGPT to produce content faster, have the technology do much of the heavy lifting for you. Assuming you have a relevant and compelling lead magnet, both updating and re-promoting existing content, and creating and publishing new content, will significantly increase your digital presence and visibility as well as drive organic website traffic and generate targeted leads. What we cover: Choosing what content to create and where to share it Repurposing and retargeting existing content to boost search rankings Using technology to create, automate and schedule content Best content creation practices for getting noticed in the ocean of internet material. How the efficacy of your content marketing plan can be tracked or measured.  Download my free Content Hacks printable from the show notes at https://jayallyson.com/podcast/best-content-planning-practices/.

In this two-part series, we are tackling a very big area of our business development endeavours, and that is developing your content marketing strategy. There's a lot I want to share with you about creating content that converts, so I'm doing it in two parts. The focus for part 1 is about being strategic about content marketing, so you're creating content that drives engagement and sales for your business, not just churning out content in the hope it gets attention and generates leads. Content's such a big part of our lives, and I'm not sure we're always strategic ourselves as consumers, but as business owners, the job of content can feel like a lot. So you want to be sure you're spending your time and energy doing the things that really make a difference in your business, hence the strategic part. With a content marketing strategy, sometimes people get a little bit lost, and they start to create their online presence and start pushing out a load of content without fully being mindful of what's working and what's not. Because when you come to create content to attract and build your audience, you need to be strategic and intentional about Elevate your content marketing from vision to execution • Navigate the pressure to get visible Think about content marketing across 7 dimensions of success Produce content your audience wants to devour Be consistent by showing up where you love to be Align your content with your audience's questions Adapt to shifting market environments. For visuals, links and support, go to https://jayallyson.com/podcast/content-marketing-strategy/.

In this final part 3 of 3, we turn to using your ideal customer avatar (ICA) work to inform your content strategy and create customer centric content and copy. This helps align what you write about, when and where to write what, and how to connect and nurture your audience in a way that converts clicks to clients. We've already talked about an ICA as a key blueprint for your business and really started to build out relevant details that help you write or speak to a specific target audience in a way that truly resonates. Now, in this episode, you'll learn how to harness that avatar for content planning and copywriting. And it's going to bridge us into my next planned topics where we'll dive deeper into how you create content and write great copy, but looking at it from a more strategic angle.  Using avatar driven marketing and sales strategies, and thinking about all your marketing from your ideal customer's perspective, will help you understand more clearly what is the intention of each piece of content or copy, where it fits into the customer journey, and how to move people towards action.  If you need help in this aspect of your business, book a strategy discovery call with Jay via http://jayallyson.com/contactme/ These calls are often transformational and will save you years spinning around with fuzzy marketing that doesn't engage or connect with your ideal customers.

In the second of this two parter for defining your ideal customer avatar (ICA), we will walk through easy-to-use frameworks and an exercise to create your buyer persona. Whether you work with individuals or organisations, you'll come away with clarity and confidence in who your ideal client is and how to find, connect and sell to them. Building a devoted, engaged following — as well as enlisting individuals in your offers — will be much simpler and a lot more enjoyable when you pinpoint precisely who your ideal clients are and what matters most to them. You'll learn how to: • Identify your avatar clearly in order to attract and sign up more of your ideal clients (this advice applies to all business owners, whether they are just starting out or seasoned veterans) • Use these essential demographic and psychographic filters to identify and communicate with your best-fit prospects • Stay away from time-wasting traps and misunderstandings that are typical of avatar work and will make your outreach and marketing ineffective • Develop avatar-based marketing and sales methods that really cater to your target market to increase your self-assurance and success • ...and a lot more! To help you workshop your way through the ICA exercise to create a buyer persona, download the free step-by-step ICA worksheet, available in the show notes and http://jayallyson.com/podcast/ica-worksheet/.

Getting super clear on your ideal client avatar will drive every aspect of your business and enable you to communicate your message and offer with total ease and authenticity. A common error I find when it comes to developing an engaged and devoted audience is not getting specific about who you're talking with. In their desire to benefit as many people as possible, most businesses and professional service providers are afraid of focusing on one ideal client. They are concerned that if they are too detailed, you'd miss out on a whole lot of opportunities. As a result, they define their target audience broadly. If you never focus on specifics, you would miss the chance to demonstrate a true comprehension of the unique wants, difficulties, and objectives of your ideal audience. You won't experience this, though, if you tune into this three-part series on defining your ideal client avatar and how it helps drive every aspect of your business. In this series, you'll learn how to: • Attract and enrol more of your ideal customers by first getting clear on your avatar (this is for you whether you're just starting in business or have been at it for years)... • Find and engage with your best-fit prospects using these key demographic and psychographic filters… • Avoid time-wasting traps and misconceptions common in avatar work that cause your outreach and marketing to fizzle… • Boost your confidence and success by developing avatar-based marketing and sales strategies that truly serve your ideal audience…  • …and much more! For part 1, we'll look at the principles, benefits and process that helps you avoid the common misconceptions and traps business owners can often fall into with ideal client avatar work. Parts 2 and 3 can be found on the podcast site at:  http://leveragedbusinesspodcast.com.

Distractions are everywhere. From the decidedly-digital like social media (it is technically work, right?) to the very-analogue (like spying on the neighbours – because you do not need to know that they've ordered pizza again)…there's approximately a billion different ways we can get derailed from our work.  Learning how to stop letting everything, from every ping on your iPhone to the mailman dropping off a package, derail you actually has little to do with willpower–and a LOT to do with the structures, routines, rhythms and environment you work in. 
Which means, if you truly want to get your most meaningful work done in less time (and with less dings pulling you away from what matters), it is possible. Sound good? Then this part 2 episode - and the workbook that goes with this two-part series - is just the formula and antidote you need for managing distraction to boost productivity. Go to the show notes page to listen or read as an article and to download a super cool Distraction Action Productivity Booster Workbook: https://jayallyson.com/podcast/tech-tools-to-manage-email-and-social-media/.

One of the best things about being an entrepreneur Is that you create the rules. While that sounds great on paper, the truth is most of us don't actually have any ‘rules' when it comes to how, when or even why we get our most important work done.  Science says it takes us 15-20 minutes to get back into “flow” state once we're interrupted. 
This means if you're thrown off course by your phone, or your doggo, or your inbox even 4 times a day–you've lost a solid 1.5 hours of work (or more).  Unfortunately, most people blame themselves for this. They dub themselves lazy, unmotivated, or think just need to “have more willpower.” But the truth is actually a lot less sinister (and self-blame-y). All you have to do is make a few key tweaks to how, when and where you work–and you'll be able to tap into your brilliance in a snap, keep distractions at bay all day and finally get your deep work done and dusted. The good news is that it's not nearly as hard as you might think. And the results are pretty incredible.  Go to the show notes page to listen or read as an article and to download a super cool Distraction Action Productivity Booster Workbook. http://jayallyson.com/podcast/managing-distractions/.

If you're looking to improve sales conversions for your consulting, coaching or training business, in today's episode we'll discuss one of the most crucial aspects of client conversion - the discovery session. We'll explore effective strategies to pre-qualify potential clients, speak with confidence, understand your value, and ask for the sale. So, if you're ready to rock your discovery sessions, get more clients signing up to your program or service, and make more sales, this is a great episode to dive into! I take you through seven strategies that will really ramp up your results in sales conversations. Now if you're selling into organisations, this is likely to be a few conversations, and not necessarily with one individual, so bear that in mind. But many of the principles, steps and forms of words I'll be covering are the same. You'll learn how to pre-qualify potential clients, craft an effective call structure, speak with confidence and know your value. And I'll walk you through the art of asking for the sale and my top way of asking that always gets a YES. Then we'll go into handling objections with confidence and what to do when you get a yes, maybe or no as the outcome of your discovery session. If you want to accelerate your business journey, book a free discovery call with me via http://jayallyson.com/contactme/ and we'll talk through where you're at, what you need and whether the Leveraged Business Accelerator coaching program is a good fit for you. See what I did :-)

This is the second of a two-part series focusing on successful product launches. In part 1, we looked at the four types of product launch strategies, where we explained how anyone can get started and test their product idea, no matter what stage of business or experience with launching, before widening into a more involved promotional campaign. Now, in this second episode, I walk you through 10 essential steps to take when launching your product. From identifying your target audience to encouraging and motivating those helping you, these steps will help you create a solid foundation for your product launch. Whether you're an experienced entrepreneur or just starting out, you'll definitely pick up some valuable insights and tips to help you successfully launch any product.  For a free checklist to support you with creating and implementing and evaluating your product launch strategy, go to http://jayallyson.com/isuccess/product-launch-checklist/.

Launching a new product can be an exciting, yet challenging experience. You might have a great idea, but bringing it to life and getting it in front of the right audience can be a complex process. You're going to need one of four product launch strategies that allow you to progessively build momentum and muscle for launch campaigns. For my iSuccess programs, I've always tended to do soft launches and enrolling a small group at any given time. For instance, the Leveraged Business Accelerator – because it isn't a curriculum-based programme. It's a structured process for strategic review, planning and coaching for each client, from where we create a customised 90-day action plan. Because of this format, I open up spots when I know I can give my coaching clients the time needed between other commitments. In this episode I'll be walking you through four types of launch and talking about general good practice, my experiences of launching, supporting launches and being a participant in a launch.  Then in part 2, we'll go through ten critical steps that will help you create a solid foundation for your product launch success. Whether you're an experienced entrepreneur or just starting out, you'll definitely pick up some valuable insights and tips to help you successfully launch any product.  To learn more if The Leveraged Business Accelerator is a good fit for the business growth you're looking to achieve and the challenges you're facing, book a free 30-minute strategy discovery call at http://jayallyson.com/contactme/. Episode show notes and to read as an article, go to http://jayallyson.com/podcast/. 

Identifying the right business support for your strategic growth needs is crucial to achieve a good return on your investment of time, energy and money. Here's the second instalment of my two-part series on decoding the consultant vs coach dilemma where we'll think about what professional practices attract you as the customer. In part 1, we focused on the consultant vs. coach dilemma through the lens of our own business – what to call ourselves and why it matters. We explored the notion of professional identity, where it comes from and how it shapes our values, approach to our work as well as our business brand and marketing. I gave you four practical ways to move across roles to serve your clients in the best possible manner. Another angle I want to come at this is, the focus of this episode, is to help you think through what your own needs in business are. Do you look for a coach but actually need or prefer a consultancy or thought partner type arrangement? Or are you looking to hire a consultant but actually need a bit of personal coaching to ensure you achieve your goals in the fastest, smoothest possible way? In a sea of professional identities where there's tremendous variation in skills, experience and practice, that brings ambiguity and no ‘one-size-fits-all', how do you perceive the different roles and value when you're looking for who to work with? When you're looking for support, whether it's for your business or life or relationship or health, how do these different professional identities and labels affect how you see their expertise? How do you know which kind of support your business really needs? That's what we'll cover in this second episode of the two-part series. As you learned in part 1, these roles can sometimes blur or overlap. When you have a coach who's adept at moving between roles and practices, you'll go much faster by achieving your objectives in the most effective way. When you think about it from this angle, you may see the “dilemma” with fresh eyes – and can actually turn it into an opportunity, a unique selling point You are able to re-examine what you call yourself from your ideal customer's point of view.  Resources and further support can be found in the show notes for the episode via http://leveragedbusinesspodcast.com. Would you like to work with me over the next few months? Do you want to get clarity on your business idea and run a pilot program or service? Do you need to inject some momentum in your business game plan? Are you looking for specific ways to accelerate your growth, such as pump up the volume on your marketing, have more effective sales calls, raise your prices or scale your delivery? My 90-day Leveraged Business Accelerator is all about finding the strategy that's going to really move the needle and up-level your business and grow your revenue. Get started with a deep dive strategy call to see if my hybrid consulting-coaching-tech combo expertise matches what you want from a business partner.  Book your Digital Roadmap Session at http://book.jayallyson.com/strategy

Consulting and coaching are both focused on helping to solve problems, and bringing about change and improvement. So why do we talk about the consultant vs coach dilemma? The difference between a consultant and a coach as a professional identity is not really about what is achieved, but how it is achieved. Yet, I feel there are some nuances that aren't as easily explained by the typical distinction of a directive vs non-directive approach. Choosing a professional identity in business is not just a nuance – it can be critically important. That's because what you call yourself predicates the approaches we take when working with clients. Deciding to call yourself consultant vs coach can significantly impact your success attracting the right clients to your business. Likewise, if you're looking for business support, which one would you be more inclined to look for? But what if you choose to see the consultant vs coach dilemma as an opportunity or choice rather than as rigid or a tension? In this two-part series, we'll explore the consultant vs coach “dilemma” through the lens of professional identity and what it means for your business practice and your clients' understanding of what you do for them. In this first part 1, for this episode, I'll be talking about choosing the right label for your brand positioning, this is something you'll need to consider carefully.  First, we will look into what the main differences are between consulting and coaching, what exactly is behind the consultant vs coach dilemma, and why it matters. Second, you'll learn four key practices you can use in your client relationship that can enable you to move seamlessly between roles when working with a client. Resources and further support can be found in the show notes for the episode via http://leveragedbusinesspodcast.com. Would you like to work with me over the next few months? Do you want to get clarity on your business idea and run a pilot program or service? Do you need to inject some momentum in your business game plan? Are you looking for specific ways to accelerate your growth, such as pump up the volume on your marketing, have more effective sales calls, raise your prices or scale your delivery? My 90-day Leveraged Business Accelerator programme is all about finding the strategy that's going to really move the needle and up-level your business and grow your revenue. Get started with a deep dive strategy call to see if my hybrid consulting-coaching-tech combo expertise matches what you want from a business partner. Book your Digital Roadmap Session via the short link book.jayallyson.com/strategy.

The C-Suite is a group of high-level executives who are responsible for making strategic decisions for an organisation. As a business leader or sales professional, connecting with C-suite executives and selling into organisations can be a challenging task. It requires a strategic approach that goes beyond just pitching products and services.  In this episode (and the article you can read as well), we will explore ten key levers for success in connecting with C-suite executives and selling into organisations. These centre around understanding their strategic priorities and tailoring your pitch to meet their needs.  We will also look at ways you can avoid common mistakes that service providers and even trained sales professionals make when trying to sell into organisations and provide actionable steps for success. Grab my free Get Corporate Clients Checklist to help you build out your B2B sales process to get corporate clients consistently: https://jayallyson.com/isuccess/6-steps-client-acquisition-checklist/.

As business owners, we are constantly challenged to balance getting clients with serving clients. If you stop one to do the other, it keeps you on the revenue rollercoaster – that cycle of feast and famine, peaks and dips that create stress and struggle in your business and your life. If you haven't got dependable, manageable and consistent client flow, you may be stuck on the revenue rollercoaster. In this episode, I take you through one of three scenarios, what you need to focus on to improve business growth and how to achieve success. Or maybe you've done TOO well bringing new clients in, and you're working flat out and struggling to cope with delivering the work at the quality you want, and your clients expect. Before you arrive at a balanced business where marketing, sales and delivery are all leveraged and in flow, you'll undoubtedly have to cross some choppy seas to reach calmer water on the other side. The success framework I use with my clients when we do a business diagnostic aligns with the stages of business and provides a way of looking at where the bottleneck lies as a driver for strategy and performance improvement. Grab my self-assessment workbook and my three boat scenarios exercise, available via the show notes page at http://jayallyson.com/podcast/consistent-client-flow/.

For most small business owners, self organisation working from home feels like a challenge, right?! All those distractions, people interrupting you because ‘well, you're there'. Yet you'll be amazed at how much more productive you are when you learn to set boundaries. In this episode, the final part of this three-part mini-series, you're going to learn some very pragmatic ways to implement the self organisation plan you create from the first two parts. Getting good at self organisation a real game changer for protecting your space, improving your work flow and increasing productivity for your business. Let's dive right into part 3 … and I'll be sharing my free checklist so you'll have a handy resource with all 21 Ways to Organise Your Life, Homeworking and Routines for More Fun, Flow & Freedom on the show notes page at http://jayallyson.com/podcast/self-organisation-working-from-home/.

Second of three parts focusing on work from home self-organisation to create fun, flow and freedom in your business for less stress and more life balance. In this episode, I take you through a whole list of practical ways you can reduce stress working from home, set some boundaries around your personal and work routines, and create a greater sense of control and life balance. Some of these may seem obvious, but are we actually sticking to them or enforcing them? If we're able bring some order to what makes us ineffective or anxious, we can start to feel more in control of all the things we juggle, which makes us more confident in our business decisions, and more energised. We feel in control because we acknowledged the breakdowns we were having with our lack of routines. We will feel accomplished because simple changes were easy to make, and we will see immediate results. No more spinning our wheels…simple routines to the rescue. Optimising your life is about finding the most efficient way to organise yourself so you can actually enjoy life instead of feeling like you're on the never-ending treadmill to nowhere. With systems, routines, and habits in place you can learn how to have fun again because you have faith in your plans. If you want this upcoming year to be your best ever, grab a spot working with me in our Leveraged Business Accelerator. Places are genuinely very limited. To discuss and/or apply, book a free strategy discovery call to get some clarity on your best next steps for business growth and what support you need to get you there. http://jayallyson.com/contactme/scheduler/

Kicking off a brand-new mini-series, where we'll deep dive on self-organisation and how to empower yourself and your business, especially if you're feel so totally maxed out you just can't focus on high level strategic leveraging stuff. Over three episodes, we're going deep into self-organisation: from self-management to self-care, I'm going to be sharing 21 ways you can organise your life, home office and routines to create more fun, flow and freedom in your business. We'll look at how to set things up so you can really power through everything you need to get done, and want to get done, without burning yourself out, so that it's sustainable. We focus on ways to de-stress your personal life so your business life isn't cluttered with distractions. Who can relate to working from home and you suddenly remember the wet laundry is still in the washing machine? Have you ever ended your day only to realise you never pulled anything out of the freezer for dinner. What about when you're so maxed out, you can't focus properly? Over three episodes, I'll be sharing a set of practical tactics to develop your super powers for self-organisation working from home, so you have space and focus for strategic planning as well as building more leverage for future growth. In this episode, part 1 or 3, we guide you through steps for solving that typical dilemma of working ON the business while continuing to work IN the business, as well as everything else you have going on in your life. For further resources and support, go to http://jayallyson.com.

The primary goal when you create leverage for scaling your business is sustainability, both in terms of dependable revenue growth and ROI. When you're starting out there are lots of way that you are simply leveraging your expertise – be that brand positioning, strategic marketing, operational improvement, curriculum innovation. Your objective is to create a product or service people want and work out how you can best take that to market. In regards to marketing, sales and delivery, creating leverage is the central tenet to successful scaling. There are key points of leverage you can work on across every dimension of your business architecture from using digital tools to outsourcing and hiring to get more done without you doing all of it. Be it solo business owners, small businesses or large corporate organizations, in a nutshell, I help people create leveraged strategies and harness digital technology, so they can work smarter not harder, because that's what gives you the freedom to move to the next level of business growth. In this episode, we'll explore a framework for next level business growth and go through some of the practical things you can do to get yourself there. Book a strategy discovery call with Jay Allyson to identify your current constraints and opportunities to growing and scaling your business: http://belandaconsulting.as.me/discoverycall.

If you regularly get people introducing you to other people they think you can help, then you have a good likelihood of success creating a referral strategy to generate warm leads for your business. These prospects are typically more receptive, trusting and responsive than other new leads coming into your business. But also, even taking account of a small commission or finder's fee, they aren't costing in terms of the marketing and advertising you do for your own lead generation. So it pays to pay attention to how you routinely ask for referrals and how you can make it easy for people to refer, recommend and share positive feedback about you. The referral experience needs to be a natural and simple process for your clients. In this episode, we'll walk through some key principles and practices to make your referral strategy successful: - What is A Business Referral - How Does Referral Marketing Work? - Why Focus on Getting Referrals - Creating a Strong Referral Network - Architect a Simple Client Referral Process - Leveraging technology to support referrals - How to Develop a Referral Mindset - 10 Tips to Get More Business Referrals Resources and links available in the shownotes at http://jayallyson.com/podcast/creating-a-referral-strategy-to-grow-and-scale-your-business/.

This episode is the 3rd and final part of my three-part series where we're navigating the B2B sales process. In this mini-series, I share 6 steps to find, engage and win contracts with business-to-business clients. Because most consultants, coaches and experts go about B2B sales all wrong or they miss vital steps. It's a process that has served my business very well. Part 3's episode it's all about how FOLLOW UP IS FORTUNE. Here, in this last instalment, we cover the last two steps of six focusing on presentations (or pitches) and how to be persistent without turning into a pest. And there's another 7th dimension that runs across all six steps, which helps you go after bigger contracts – so stay tuned. Further resources and support available in the show notes, and you can grab my 6 steps checklist to help you build out your process: http://jayallyson.com/isuccess/6-steps-client-acquisition-checklist/.

How do you position yourself to become one of the "fortunate" professionals who consistently get corporate clients and build lucrative B2B businesses? Most consultants and coaches are experts in their subject matter or field of practice, but hate the whole promoting, prospecting and pitching part of running their own business. In this 3-part mini-series, I share 6 steps to find, engage and win contracts with business-to-business clients. Because most consultants, coaches and experts go about B2B sales all wrong or they miss vital steps. It's a process that has served my business very well. Here in part 2, we continue through steps 3 and 4 of the six steps, talking about prospecting and proposals. I'll be saying more about the order of play and the mistake most consultants make starting in the middle, jumping into steps 3 or 4 and even 5 without the necessary prep work. Further resources and support available in the show notes, and you can grab my 6 steps checklist to help you build out your process: http://jayallyson.com/isuccess/6-steps-client-acquisition-checklist/.

How do you position yourself to become one of the "fortunate" professionals who consistently get corporate clients and build lucrative B2B businesses? In this mini-series, over three short episodes, I share 6 steps to find, engage and win contracts with business-to-business clients. Because most consultants, coaches and experts go about B2B sales all wrong or they miss vital steps. It's a process that has served my business very well. The B2B sales process follows the same general principles as any marketing and sales to consumers. You still need to get clear on the ideal client, position yourself and what you offer as a match to their most pressing needs. But you also have to think specifically about the pain points and needs at the organisational level as well as the people you deliver to ‘on the ground'. In part 1, we start by setting out the landscape of the B2B marketplace and talk through what is and isn't B2B in terms of the pay-offs and then talk through the critical first step of positioning yourself for success and building a pipeline. What you'll learn as I go through these steps are: How to do your market research and due diligence How to craft your offer around their specific needs and challenges The easiest programs and services to offer (especially starting out) What things you worry about that you don't need to worry about How to price your programs so you start as you mean to go on How to prove you can deliver even if this is your first client The most crucial first step to do at this time. Further resources and support available in the show notes, and you can grab my 6 steps checklist to help you build out your process: http://jayallyson.com/isuccess/6-steps-client-acquisition-checklist/.