The Water Cooler Hangout with Bob Poole

With the surplus of hype and sales-focused messaging, the need for authenticity has never been more real. Today we speak to Loren Weisman about authentic brand messaging and hear his perspectives on the meaning of this term. Loren is a brand messaging strategist with a focus on the authenticity, authority, optics, psychology, and perceptions of a brand, persona, or product for FSG Messaging and Optics. He is also the host of a brand messaging podcast called Wait What Really OK. From speaking and counseling on brand messaging to brand discovery, analyzing the two sides of artistic vision, igniting the investor's confidence, and brand protection and amplification approaches for sales, marketing, and retention, Loren helps across the array of the messaging experience. In our conversation with Loren, we talk about what a brand messaging strategist is and the lessons our guest learned in this regard from the years he spent in the music industry. We take a deep dive into the need for authenticity in brand messaging and Loren shares a wealth of valuable lessons, such as how to set up social media in a way that provides value rather than sales, how to find success by getting clear on our unique stories, and a whole lot more! Tune in and hear more about how Loren's approach to messaging revolves around authenticity, authority, transparency, and humility.

In today's episode of The Water Cooler Hangout, we get together with Len Ward to discuss the intricacies of marketing investment and how he helps his clients get an optimal return on investment. We talk with Len about how he departed from a successful career in finance to embark on an entrepreneurial journey, taking on a partnership role with an e-commerce startup in 2004. Len shares how he discovered his passion for marketing and founded the online marketing agency Rank Me SEO. Today he is the CEO and founder of Commexis, a marketing consulting firm that specializes in financial auditing, investment allocation, and reporting digital marketing campaigns. Len founded Commexis through his dedication to marketing investment and upon identifying a need for a company that solves digital marketing ROI challenges. Commexis teaches companies how to optimize their marketing investment in order to improve their return on investment. Tuning in you'll hear Len break down his process with new clients and how his company helps to bridge the knowledge gaps within a company, especially between CEOs and CFOs. For all this and much more, join us today as we unpack marketing investment intelligence!

You might have noticed that people are missing. Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen a dramatic drop in traffic on the podcast, website, and our social media. Even the phone has been dead! We were beginning to think it was something we said, but it turns out that Americans are hitting the roads, skies, trains, and bike paths like a swarm of sailors on their first liberty after being at sea for a month. It has been dubbed ‘revenge travel', and, according to Forbes and travel agents across the country, people are eager to travel and much less willing to give up their vacation this year after a year of shutdowns thanks to COVID-19. With this in mind, your host, Bob Poole, is taking a short respite from the Water Cooler Hangout in favor of a Beach and Mai Tai Hangout. To find out how to catch up on episodes of the podcast while you are traveling or relaxing on the beach, tune in today!

In today's episode of The Water Cooler Hangout, we reconnect with Graham Bodie to talk about his work at the Listen First Project, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing people into conversation despite their differences, where he currently serves as the chief listening officer. Graham is recognized as a highly accomplished international expert on listening, and the social cognitive underpinnings of human communicative behavior, having authored over 90 published papers. His immense productivity has placed him in the top one percent of published Communication Studies scholars. In our conversation, we talk with Graham about the project's mission, how it was founded, and what its impact has been. The Listen First Project has had a broad impact, especially in its partnership with the Weave The Social Fabric Project, with whom they have created America Talks, an initiative that hosts events geared towards repairing America's divides, one conversation at a time. We hear from Graham about how the America Talks events have helped empower individuals to combat toxic polarization in their everyday lives and what his hopes are for the future. Join us today for a powerful conversation on the power of connection, stories, and much more!

Today's guest is Eli Marcus, who is the Executive Director of Davler Media Group, the publisher of New York City's largest circulation visitor magazine, City Guide, and has spent five decades working with businesses in the hospitality industry. He is the host of the Motivation Show Podcast, where he interviews the world's best motivational speakers, New York Times bestselling authors, alternative health experts, mega-successful entrepreneurs, celebrities, and more. As the former CEO of The Seminar Center, the premiere seminar company in the United States, Eli hosted numerous notable celebs and experts in all fields and, as a motivational speaker, he has spoken to tens of thousands of people on everything from essential secrets for success to how to be the number one salesperson in your industry. He has also likely sold more advertising at a local level than anyone in the world, which makes him uniquely qualified to discuss the art of salesmanship, which he does in today's episode. 

The question of which pieces of sales software to include in your company's tech stack can be a tricky one to answer. With so many options and different connections between emergent technologies, there can be a degree of overwhelm and concerns about compatibility, integration, and efficacy. One of the most exciting new names in the space, and one that is aiming to bring more integration and unification to the technology is Veloxy, an AI solution to sales that has simple and intuitive workability with Salesforce, Gmail, Outlook, iOS, and Android! Joining us on today's episode of The Water Cooler Hangout Podcast, is Senior Account Executive at Veloxy, Jeff Grice! Jeff works remotely in Buffalo, while the company's headquarters are in the tech hub of Silicon Valley, and he explains a bit about current operations at Veloxy before diving into some illuminating information on what they offer. We get into sales AI, sales enablement, sales engagement, and more! This is the conversation you want to hear if you need some guidance on how AI relates to sales in the current climate and the powerful ways that Veloxy is addressing real concerns in the space today!

Getting More Out of Your Life and Career with Lynn Whitbeck Episode 16: Show Notes It is not always apparent that a career in sales can be a rewarding pursuit, but it truly can be, especially when you form meaningful relationships with your clients and can help people fix problems they never knew they had! In today's episode of The Water Cooler Hangout, we speak with Lynn Whitbeck, Founder, and CEO of Petite2Queen and Future Forward Sales. In our conversation, Lynn shares the story of her first experience with sales when she became obsessed with earning a girl scout badge for selling cookies and why she believes sales is such a rewarding and fulfilling career. We talk with Lynn about the origin story of her two companies Petite2Queen and Future Forward Sales, and how she helps companies take their sales strategy to the next level. We discuss how her company challenges imposter syndrome in their courses and why she is such a big proponent of daily affirmations. Join us today for an inspiring conversation on sales, relationships, and much more! Key Points From This Episode: Introducing today's guest Lynn Whitbeck. Why working in sales is so valuable for learning leadership skills. How the skills involved in sales are necessary for other parts of life, such as navigating relationships or negotiating at work. The sales courses that Lynn offers for salespeople with various levels of experience. How the COVID 19 pandemic has affected the courses her company offers. How Lynn deals with the negative connotations tied to a career in sales. Why a career in sales often leads to leadership positions. The large range of company sizes that Lynn's company Future Forward Sales has worked with. How Lynn's training program combats imposter syndrome in men and women. Why Lynn is enthusiastic about affirmations. Examples of the exercises that Lynn uses in her course to combat imposter syndrome. Lynn shares how she first became interested in sales when she sold cookies for the girl scouts. Why a career in sales can be so rewarding when you help clients improve their business. Tweetables: “If you don't have a growth mindset in today's business environment, you're gonna get left in the dust. So that is so important for business leaders to embrace and to really foster among their team members to push the whole organization forward.” — @LynnMWhitbeck [0:04:50] “It's a career boost. If you have sales training, whether you work a day in sales or not, you are actually selling every day, at home, with your friends or family, at work. You're selling your idea to the different team members or your boss.” — @LynnMWhitbeck [0:05:37] “And by the next year, I was the top salesperson. And I never looked back. It was because it answered my own core value of being of service and helping others.” — @LynnMWhitbeck [0:26:09] “Working with someone who's very different is really good for you because it pushes you out of your comfort zone. It forces you to flex your style, and really reconsider someone else's approach or how they're tackling something.” — @LynnMWhitbeck [0:30:34] Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Lynn Whitbeck on LinkedIn Lynn Whitbeck on Twitter Petite2Queen Future Forward Sales

Season 4 - Episode 14: Show Notes. The term sales development might be relatively new to some but this linking of the work of sales and marketing teams has been gaining large amounts of traction recently. Today we are joined by an expert on the subject, the founder and CEO of Tenbound, David Dulany! Tenbound is a research and advisory firm, based in the Bay Area, and they are solely focused on helping companies set up and run an effective sales development strategy and team. David is also the author of the recently published, The Sales Development Framework, in which he lays out all the important parts of the process for his readers. In today's episode, we look at the rise of sales development, Salesforce's critical role in this, how companies can approach the task of installing a team, and the strong ties between sales development and tech companies. David also shares some thoughts on the next few years for Tenbound and the service of sales development in general, so tune in to hear all this and more! Key Points From This Episode: David's explanation of the term 'sales development' and its history! The companies that are currently using and finding value in sales development. Looking at the example of HubSpot and its evolution from a strict inbound focus. The first and most important steps in the building of a sales development team. How Tenbound approach helping their customers; providing content for independence. The role of the sales development team manager and the constant education that is needed. Common mistakes that David has witnessed when companies are building a sales development team. The strategic adding of new members to a team that is already up and running. Why this model for sales fits so well with newer, technology businesses. How small businesses can set up and run a sales development program; some helpful resources. Looking to the future with David; where are Tenbound and sales development headed? Applying the sales development framework to part-time and freelance work. The process of writing a book and David's reflections on The Sales Development Framework. AI in the sales space and balancing the powers of automation and human skill. Tweetables: “You've got to think about the concept of reverse engineering. You start with the revenue that you expect from putting the investment in this program. So start with the end in mind.” — @DKDINSF [0:09:45] “We provide content and information on doing it yourself. And then advisory services if you want some help.” — @DKDINSF [0:12:28]  “What we see a lot is that people skip right over the data component.” — @DKDINSF [0:15:36]  Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: David Dulany Tenbound The Sales Development Framework The Sales Development Podcast David Dulany on Twitter Salesforce InsideSales HubSpot Predictable Revenue Upwork Fiverr Connect With Bob Poole's Water Cooler Hangout Community! Visit Bob on the web Connect with Bob on LinkedIn Join Listen First - Sell Later® on Facebook Get Your Free Copy of “Listen First – Sell Later®” and Insider discounts Get a Copy of “NOW, Not Later:  Make More Money IMMEDIATELY”

A Bit About Rebecca Rebecca is a sales and performance coach specializing in independent salespeople and entrepreneurs. She started in door-to-door sales in college. Moving up the ladder to insurance and then recruiting and training, she achieved top-tier success in her field. Today she has 20 years of experience building businesses that have generated over $50 million in revenue. “Retiring” from in 2014, at the age of 33, she felt burned out. Now, her passion is helping others achieve sustainable success. Her new book is Beyond the Board: How To Achieve Your Vision Board Goals in a Fulfilling and Sustainable Way. Two Experienced Businesspeople Talk Sales Rebecca and Bob talk about starting in sales and the difficulty involved in working your way up and meeting different people. Rebecca believes that the mindset and focus about the work are what causes sales leaders to feel emotionally exhausted and stressed. Sure, some jobs are demanding, but ultimately, the focus is off. Work hard, play hard leads to burnout. But it isn't the work itself; we burn out thinking about the work as opposed to doing the work.  Professional Sales in the Era of Pandemic After talking about various business and sales topics, Bob and Rebecca touch on what it's been like to try and sell during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rebecca underscores the persistence and positivity of people who work in sales. “Salespeople change reality in their mind to make it win for them,” Rebecca explains. In this way, good salespeople “choose their own reality” to move forward, even in the face of the pandemic. Online communications, brand focus, and “making things work” are all highlights of this driven approach. Among the surprising changes? Better work-life balance because salespeople are no longer expected to come calling in person when they can communicate virtually. A Value-Add As Rebecca and Bob conclude, they touch on all the coaching available out there. “Selling's not bad,” Rebecca comments. Some people don't like to be perceived as salespeople, but there's a lot of good this work accomplishes. It also works that anyone can do if they're determined to accomplish it. “All you have to do is learn and work,” Bob offers.

I used to worry quite a bit about my sales practices early on in my career and often rehash my mistakes and beat myself up for not making one more sale or one more cold call. If it were close to the end of the month, I'd worry about making my sales quota or tomorrow's big presentation. Finally, I realized that yesterday's gone and tomorrow's yet to be born. I only have the day, so why not live and work like it is the only day that matters - because it is the only day that counts! Salespeople - What's in a Name? Many salespeople have a negative perception of themselves. When I first started selling for 3M Company, my title was sales representative. Over the years, I've seen all kinds of names given to sales representatives such as sales executives, sales consultants. While these are fine, there are some names that I don't particularly like, such as marketing representative, business development manager, or relationship manager. Because salespeople have a negative connotation, they feel ashamed or don't want to have the word sales be in the title of their sales job. However, this is a self-defeating mindset. When you travel through life with a negative perception of what you do, you're probably not going to be very successful. How Sales Provide Value The truth is selling is providing value, but when people confuse sales with people who are forcing unwanted products, services, and opportunities on them, sales get a negative rap. Don't allow guilt to perpetuate what you do. Be proud of what you do. People love to buy. When you are authentic, listen, solve problems, be generous, be honest, build relationships, lead well, and demonstrate gratitude, humility, and compassion. You have the basic building blocks of a salesperson that brings value. Solving Pain Points for Clients Clients and customers want solutions; they want practical and workable ideas from character and common sense. Studies show that customers who buy are indeed likely to buy again from the same person, but only if they see value in doing so. Price, by the way, is hardly ever a bargaining chip. The best customer service, follow-up, and relationship-building will increase your sales. When you make a sale, you're making a connection with someone. The sale opens the door. Walking through that door into the customer's business, life and future is what drives more sales. Think of that first sale like it's the first date. You've met, talked, exchanged time, ideas, resources. Do you want to continue the relationship and see it as a connection? Be Authentic Be the real deal with authenticity. Many of us pride ourselves on the ability to spot a phony, but we fail to realize that our prospects can sometimes spot a fake. You may look like the real deal, but you have to be the real deal. Walk your talk and keep promises you make to build trust under-promise and over-deliver. Always do what you say or do - no excuses. Give your personal best, whether it's a small client or a large corporation. Finding Success in Sales  Success is 90% preparation and 10% persuasion and sales. Customers will often show up knowing the features, advantages, and benefits of your products and services. They've done their homework on the Internet, and they've read all the good and bad things people said about your company. Be ready to answer questions your clients will have about your product or service. Listen in as we talk about the six sales principles I live by, the importance of being prepared before a sales pitch, and why you want to take responsibility for your mistakes.

Gina Pomponi is President and COO of Bluewater, one of the leading digital marketing/video production companies. She has spent 30 years in the business pioneering digital marketing and a women's role at the top of a company.  Bluewater Media and Direct Marketing Bluewater Media is a fully converged, direct-to-consumer advertising agency that builds and connects all the multiple media services between people and brands that are relevant to consumers where they live, work, and play. They create disruptive, profitable connections between people and brands. Direct marketing engages directly with the consumer. "People are jumping onto the bandwagon because they realize brick and mortar is becoming a thing of the past, especially since COVID." She believes that direct mail will be a more significant part of an overall marketing plan since that marketing sector is resurgent. Interactive Marketing  Anytime you directly engage with your consumers, you are working with interactive marketing. "Traditional advertisers think that they are creating something new, but this is something that we've always done." You want your advertising to talk to your customers and tell them what they want to hear. "It has definitely shifted into a consumer world." Targeting Your Avatar  "When you are targeting adults 65+, then your traditional methods will work much better. However, when you are marketing to Gen Z or younger, then your traditional linear television isn't going to be your main focus." Gina says her marketing agency looks at each client to see how they can overcome their challenges individually. Listen in as we talk about influencer marketing, PPC as part of your marketing plan, and Gina's predictions on the future of social media marketing.

Bob Poole shares some random thoughts about sales, marketing, running a business, and listening. Curated from his "Ideas and Random Thoughts Journal," hopefully, you will hear an idea or two that will help you in your life's journey.

"I help business owners bridge the gap between the idea in their head and turning that idea into content." ~Lynn Smargis  Jumping Careers from Teaching to Content Creation "I've always been a creative person my whole life, but I never considered having a creative job." Lynn decided to get into teaching for her first career. After listening to podcast interviews, she decided to write for a living and travel. "I wanted a job that would be flexible for travel." After receiving a settlement, she decided to jump from teaching to creating content and becoming a freelance writer.  Making Connections to Start a New Career  At first, Lynn wanted to write editorials for a living and quickly found out that this was not an efficient process for creating consistent income. She started her new career in content creation by offering website content and LinkedIn profiles, building her business organically. "My two superpowers are coming up with ideas and networking." Using these two superpowers, Lynn hustled and started connecting with other business owners to build her network. Pivoting for a COVID Comeback  "Half of my clients were travel-based before COVID hit and I lost all my travel clients the second week of March." Being a business owner, Lynn is aware that being consistent and dedicated to what she does is key to running a successful business. Lynn is pivoting her content creation business with the start of her new content membership, Content Concierge. Content Concierge is a membership platform that travel professionals can join for a monthly subscription to have access to unlimited travel content which can be personalized for their business. In addition to offering content, Content Concierge is also a networking platform as travel influencers, and travel podcasters will also be a part of her membership. Her service will also offer monthly digital webinars for travel professionals to learn how to create their brand online. Travel Gluten-Free Podcast  Travel Gluten Free Podcast gives people who lead the gluten-free lifestyle a better way to live. Travel Gluten Free's host gives insights into how to easily lead a gluten-free lifestyle at home, at work, and during travel. Learn the ins and outs of how to successfully be gluten-free with less hassle and more fun and enjoyment! Lynn has taken her podcast content and created and published her book The Guide to Traveling Gluten Free. Listen in as we talk about delegating work in your business, how to create a book from your podcast, networking on Instagram, and the process of repurposing content into different formats.

“We have this fun work culture that people really want to be a part of.” ~Kerry Wekelo  How Kerry Aligns Gratitude in her Financial Services Company Kerry is the COO of Actualize Consulting, a financial services consulting firm specializing in capital markets and treasury, mortgage and fixed income, and culture. She has been on its leadership team for close to two decades.  She utilizes mindful strategies to infuse gratitude, empathy, and communication throughout all levels of her organization. Kerry says, “It is my passion and why I love my job.” “In the first five years with the company, we were focused financially and operationally on getting the business up and running.” She realized they needed to shift their focus when she looked at their high turnover rate. Kerry changed the direction to being people-centered to retain their employees. “We have a culture in which we celebrate one another, and people want to celebrate. You want to give your peers awards.” Since this time, their turnover rate has been less than 4%, and Actualize Consulting was named Top Company Culture by Entrepreneur Magazine, a Top Workplace by The Washington Post, and Great Place to Work-Certified. “Not only do we see our retention going up, but we're also winning awards.” People tell her that the workplace feels more like family than a shared office environment.  Working Remote Pre-Pandemic  Her consulting firm likes to give people their space. Even before the pandemic, Kerry's work structure was remote with bringing people together during meetings and events. “I like to give people their space and entrust them to get the job done.” Culture Infusion and Putting Clients First  Her book, Gratitude Infusion, published last July, talks about how Kerry infuses gratitude into her workplace culture. Using her nine principles, you too can build and manage a thriving organization. Listen in as we talk about why building a culture and infusing important people connections is essential for your business and why it's crucial to lead with gratitude. 

“There is a fracture in the status quo that brings opportunity, hope, and new ideas.” ~Mark Schaefer  What is The Cumulative Advantage?  Mark Schaefer and I chat about the concept of his new book, The Cumulative Advantage, and how this idea applies to our daily personal and work life. “The cumulative advantage pays tribute to an idea and methodology that's been locked in the academic hallways of sociology for more than 50 years.” His book is about how we can unlock ideas and create momentum for our lives and our world.  Momentum Built Through Patterns  As Mark was writing his book, he had discussions with people in his circle about how momentum is built through patterns. He found that many people haven't looked at the world from this point of view. “The one thing that I guarantee is that when people read this book, they'll see the world in a new way.” The Matthew Effect The Matthew Effect states that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, which we can see if we look around society today. The pandemic has brought about a fracture in the status quo, which has brought about a period of new ideas. There are so many new businesses starting up because there are unmet needs right now. With these unmet needs come new opportunities for entrepreneurs. How The Cumulative Advantage Can Get You “Unstuck”  Mark has been receiving many letters and messages stating how his book has helped people, managers, and business owners get unstuck from the position they were in previously. “It's providing clarity to people from a wide variety of places in life.” Mark talks about how there are many ideas in the world, but that they are meaningless unless you pursue the quest to make those ideas a reality. “If you're curious about something that is the beginning of momentum - to pursue your curiosity.” Listen in as we talk about why strategy is a plan that incorporates your core competencies, how to create momentum without having a considerable following, and the importance of being intellectually honest.”

“People do business with people who they know, like, and trust.” ~Bob Poole Earliest Studies on Human Behavior The earliest recorded efforts to explain human behavior came from astrology, where astrologers explained behavior based on the alignment of certain planetary bodies in the heavens. Hippocrates devised the four temperaments to explain human behavior. In the '20s, Dr. Carl Yung wrote the book Psychological Types, the most sophisticated human behavior book at that time.  The Four Basic Personality Groups  I've found that through my studies, many psychologists and others who look at human behavior usually come up with four primary groups of personality styles. Most people are a blend of styles, with one being dominant. The Developing Human Brain We develop certain brain parts more than others which predisposes us towards specific, predictable patterns of behavior. Other professionals say our personality is based on patterns. Over time, people's nature turns into predictable behavior patterns, and you may know how someone will react to a specific set of stimuli from their personality pattern. Listen in as we talk about how we can like and trust someone within minutes of meeting them, effectively communicating with another based on their personality style, and the four personality styles: driver, expressive, amiable, and analytic.

“The true value of a chaplain comes through in times of calm in order to address times of crisis. ” ~Peter Keady Peter Keady: Photographer and Life Consultant Peter Keady is a professional photographer with PK3 Photography and is currently a life coach consultant. His unique and varied background experiences have given him the skill set to work with leaders and upcoming leaders over the past two-plus decades. Peter's specialty areas are leadership support, team building, and emotional intelligence are all PK3 training specialties. He advises his clients on forming, developing, and keeping better teams, leading more successfully, and living with a heightened and increased Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Peter's Career from Photography to Ministry “I was drawn to photography from the journalism side, and I had a very strong interest in people.” At the time, the church was looking for someone to work inside their youth program and decided to be the youth ministry leader in 1994. This slowly became a growing passion for Peter while at the same time his photography career started to explode. While working for national magazines, Peter was called to join the ministry, went back to school for his master's degree in theology, and performed pastoral ministry for over two decades. Heeding the Call as a First-Responder Chaplain He and his wife wanted to get involved in his home township, Palmer Township and became a chaplain for the local fire department organization. “The more I worked with first-responders, the more I cared deeply about them.” Realizing firsthand the stressful work first responders do, Peter wanted to care for them in the chaplain's role. Listen in as we talk about the purpose of the First Responder Chaplain Corps, the origin and history of chaplains, and how Peter supports others in his chaplain system within the first-responder community. Links and Resources Visit me on the web Connect with me on LinkedIn Join Listen First Sell Later on Facebook Get Your Free Copy of Listen First - Sell Later and member discounts Visit Peter on the web Find out more about First Responder Chaplain Core See some of Peter's photography PK3 Photography Steve Dotto and I are writing a book together called “No Limit Over 50” to be published in the next few months - more details to come!  Spread the word about The Watercooler Hangout Podcast and share this episode with a friend!

Dillon is the founder of Live for Another that organically came out of using kindness to get through life. “It's almost like a mindfulness practice, but instead of meditating or journaling, we come up with ridiculous ideas in response to the things that are bothering us.” In addition to Live for Another, he also started Lemons for Leukemia, trying to break the world record for the most amount of bone marrow donations. It went viral, and they eventually broke the world record and saved his friend's life, who received a bone marrow donation. The King of Trash, The Homeless Heist, The Kindness Dart, and the World's Biggest Book Exchange are just a few of the fun and crazy ways Dillon and his cohorts are changing the world.

Tank is a divorce coach who assists individuals before, during, and after the divorce process. He's created a program to help those going through a divorce get through one of the most traumatic experiences of their life. Through one-on-one coaching sessions, online and live training events, he helps other dads reach their highest potential. “I help clients minimize the damage to themselves and their kids.” Tank's purpose is to work with both groups and individuals to a transparent and straightforward path, transforming your past negative experiences into the change you want.

Melanie Parish is a speaker, podcast host, and MasterCertified Coach. She is the author of The Experimental Leader book has coached organizations from a Fortune 50 company to IT start-ups. Seth Godin describes her book as groundbreaking in that it helps each of us see that leadership isn't a fancy form of management. Melanie and Bob Poole chat about leaders, managers, transitioning your business to online, and more in this episode.

How does a TV celebrity transition from over two decades of creating and producing his own television show to becoming an online star on the Internet? And, why would he make the decision to niche down and focus on helping Generation X and Baby Boomers make the same journey to creating their own online businesses? Join me today as we talk with Steve Dotto and learn the answers to those questions and more including an announcement about a project Steve and Bob Poole are creating together.

Angel Ribo, known as the CEO Confidant, has empowered more than 1500 CEOs in 33 different countries. Born near Barcelona, he has lived in eight countries around the world and speaks five languages. Currently based in Texas, he runs an international business, Wisdom for Kids, which helps underprivileged kids in Latin America become entrepreneurs using their local resources.

Internationally Recognized Photography Team Bev and Tim Walden Bev and Tim Walden are the husband-and-wife photography team of Walden's Photography in Lexington, Kentucky. This duo recognizes that running a business is a skill. They are superb artists, teachers, and businesspeople. The three of us discuss the art of building a business.

Well before Bucket Lists were a ‘thing' – an eighteen-year-old Trav Bell wrote a ‘To Do Before I Die List'. Today, as a forty (something) year-old guy, thanks to The Bucket List movie and the popularity of the concept, everyone is aware of the term Bucket List. Trave is on a mission to help 10 million people to wake up and live purposely fulfilled lives.  Join Trav and Bob Poole as they talk Bucket Lists, internships, gap years, Australia, and much more at the Water Cooler Hangout.

"Tracy Lamourie is the President and Creative Director of Lamourie Public Relations & Marketing. In that world, she represents clients as diverse as politicians, entertainment figures, newsmakers, ethical businesses, and not for profit groups whose aims she supports. She is also the author of the upcoming book GET REPPED — Build Your Brand With Effective Public and Media Relations. She is a well-known, longtime advocate on a myriad of important worldwide issues and an award-winning international publicist working across industries from major entertainment projects to small businesses. Tracy is passionate about amplifying important messages and being a voice for those who most need one. Recognized by media around the world for her 20-year campaign that ultimately helped free an innocent man from death row to her work getting clients major media attention and for her local community work, she is the winner of the FIRST PLACE PLATINUM award Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice for PR 2018, Diamond 2019. She is a frequent guest on TV, radio, and high-profile podcasts worldwide on topics of leadership, empowerment, entrepreneurship, and all aspects of media and public relations. She is a 2020 RBC Women of Influence Nominee and a 2020 Universal Women's Network Woman of Inspiration Nominee and was also recently nominated for the internationally prestigious 2020 Tällberg/Eliasson Global Leadership Prize.

How do you turn a side-hustle into a full-time digital marketing agency? Monique Idemudia discusses her story with Bob Poole. Passionate about inspiring small business owners to build an online presence, Monique is the founder of Dragon Digital Marketing and the host of the Dragon Digital Marketing Podcast.   

What do people fear more – death or public speaking? Surveys about our fears commonly show fear of public speaking at the top of the list. Our fear of standing up in front of a group and talking is so great that we fear it more than death, at least according to some surveys. However, Breden Kumarasamy has been teaching executives how to make presentations since he was in his early 20's. Brenden is the founder of MasterTalk, a Youtube channel he started to help the world master the art of public speaking and communication.  Join Bob Poole as we find out how he is changing minds and helping people master their talk.

Dylan Ogline is a high school dropout from a small country town in Pennsylvania. He started his first business when he was 14 selling cell phones. In 2016 he scrapped 10+ business projects and started focusing on one single thing, digital marketing. Tired from struggling and working from his freezing basement, not to mention nearly a million dollars in debt, Dylan found himself in an uphill climb. But, then he learned that one thing was the key to success. 4 short years later he has built Ogline Digital into a 7-figure agency generating over a million in sales three years running. Join Bob Poole and Dylan Ogline as they discuss digital marketing, entrepreneurship, and more on today's episode of The Water Cooler Hangout.

A few years ago a man by the name of Mike Thakur had this crazy idea. He thought, "What if I could use the power of entrepreneurship to create PROFIT, that would fuel my PURPOSE to help PEOPLE?" CEO of WorkLodge and Founder at the Gabriel Project, recognized as one of "Houston's Most Admired CEO's", Mike is on a mission to change lives through entrepreneurship and sustainable social enterprise. Please join Mike and Bob Poole as they discuss how you too can make a difference in the world and grow together.

You're over 50 - even 60-years-old and you've just been fired! You've been working there for years, maybe decades, maybe it was your first job after college. This is a serious loss. Now, what do you? We have some ideas to share with you at The Water Cooler Hangout.

Creativity matter more than ever, and each of us is being called on to be a Creative. A professional, able to conjure original thought on command. We've also been brainwashed into believing that creativity is a gift, something mysterious that the muse hands to a few select people. Seth Godin say, "Nonsense. Creative is a choice." Join Seth and Bob Poole as they talk about creativity and The Practice.

Imagine you're a parent with a spouse, three children in high school and college, you run your own small business while helping other small businesses succeed, and suddenly you're thrust into the middle of a pandemic and nothing is as you planned in both your personal and business lives. Those are the facts thousands of small business owners have face this year. Join Bob Poole as he discusses all these things with April Heavens-Woodcock.

If you had a one-time opportunity to go back in time and give your 18-year-old self some advice, what would you say?  Bob Poole offers twenty-two pieces of advice to his 18-year-old self today. Listen in and see if you agree.

What happens to customer service and support when online shopping increases exponentially due to a pandemic? Do customers think it is worse than before COVID 19, the same, or even better. Have companies reacted quickly enough to the need for more support? Will customers return to shopping at brick and mortar stores as they reopen? Bob Poole talks about all this and more in this episode of The Water Cooler Hangout.

You don't have to go far in America today to find people who disagree. It's always been that way and in the past for the most part, we were able to work out our differences with discussion and trying to see the world as the other person sees it. It's not that way today. Today, we don't just disagree. We dislike, distrust, even despise those who see the world differently. We're withdrawing from conversations—eroding relationships and understanding. 75% of Americans say this problem has reached a crisis level.  Join us today as we talk with the Chief Listening Officer of The Listen First Project and see how we can tip the scales toward a stronger and more equitable future for our nation and better relationships in our daily lives. 

Phil Elmore is a bestselling commercially published author, technical writer, Internet marketing copywriter, and content creator living and working in Upstate New York. He has written two dozen action novels in the Gold Eagle/Worldwide Library series The Executioner for Harlequin, as well as the books 10 Things Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Your CPAP Machine (his bestselling non-fiction book) and Monsters, a  dark science fiction novel about a father's love for his daughter. Phil also wrote the books "Flashlight Fighting" and "Street Sword" for Paladin Press, in what he calls "a lifetime ago," and has contributed countless articles to various firearms, knives, and martial arts publications. 

The topic of today's podcast is why do people do the things they do? That's the big question isn't it? And, if we can answer that question is it possible to change the things we do?

Bob Poole and The Water Cooler Hangout is back after a ten-year hiatus. Learn why and what's coming in future episodes.

Today's Classic Podcast comes to us from Gail Bower, CEO of Gail Bower Consulting LLC. Gail has an amazing background specializing in raising the visibility, revenue, and impact of non-profit organizations. She's a professional consultant, writer, and speaker, with more than 20 years of experience managing some of the country's most important events, festivals and sponsorships and implementing marketing programs for clients. (Business Philadelphia named Gail among the "100 People to Watch" in 1993.) Launched in 1987, today Bower & Co. improves the effectiveness and results of clients' marketing, events, and corporate sponsorship programs. I've gotten to know Gail over the last few years and I can tell you that she is brilliant, talented, and authentic and willing to share her knowledge and experience. Imagine being able to spend a half-hour with someone who has advised clients in industries and disciplines ranging from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, to the University of Pennsylvania to events like two presidential inaugurations. In today's interview she offers advice for freelancers and new entrepreneurs as well as a new idea about the role content strategy plays between both buyers and sellers. You can learn more about Gail at her website http://gailbower.com/  and her blog http://www.sponsorshipstrategist.com/ . Her book, “How to Jump-start Your Sponsorship Strategy in Tough Times” is available on her site.

In today's Classic Podcast edition, Bob Poole talk with the Walden's of Lexington, KY. Tim and Beverly took over Walden's Photography from Tim's father in 1980, taking the studio in an entirely different direction when they developed their trademark “Relationship” Black and White Fine Art portraiture. Today, they run a high-end, boutique, studio, providing beautifully crafted portraits in an elegant setting with impeccable customer service. They also have educated thousands of professional photographers with seminars and workshops. The have been recognized around the world by their peers for their extraordinary artistry and business acumen.  Their marketing wisdom and business principles are applicable to any small business. Take time to listen to them and you won't be disappointed.

Today's Classic Podcast is an interview with Lee Rutherford founder and former CEO of Tower Communications and EchoSat. Lee is a pioneer in the world of online payment systems, satellite payments, customized radio networks, and more.  Listen in as Lee and Bob Poole discuss all this and why "Attention Shoppers" always brings a smile to Lee's face whenever he's in a store.

In this Classic Podcast edition, Bob Poole and Guy Kawasaki discuss Guy's book, Enchantment - The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions. This book is both an action plan and a philosophy that will help launch a new business and or take your current company to new heights of profitability and enchantment.

Great stories succeed because they are able to capture the imagination of large or important audiences. Seth Godin says, "Customers don't buy a product, they buy a story." “Stories make it easier to understand the world. Stories are the only way we know to spread an idea. Marketers didn't invent storytelling. They just perfected it.” Bob Poole and Seth talk about that and more in this Classic Podcast Episode.

Jodi Kaplan fixes "broken" marketing. She is a marketing expert with over 25 years' experience having spent 14 years working for companies such as The Economist, Drake Beam Morin, and The Direct Marketing Association before starting her own business in 2003. Listen to her and Bob Poole discuss reviewing and fixing broken web sites in today's Classic Podcast.

In this first podcast in the Classic Series, Seth Godin and Bob Poole discuss Seth's book, "Poke the Box." Learn what it means to be an initiator and box poker and why that is so important in today's revolutionary economy.

Dr. Loren Cordain, author of The Paleo Diet, talks with Bob Poole about how it is a lifestyle and not a diet, how it is supported by 20 years of scientific research and data, and how it can help those with auto-immune disorders.