Podcasts about auxbus

Ryan DuVal, software engineer and old friend from Colorado, was the only person I asked to help produce Witness Underground. He flew up from Asheville North Carolina as our producer in Minneapolis and was the guiding light for multiple editing revisions.He brought a fresh perspective to the project that became essential in telling this deep nuanced story. This episode was recorded at the Auxbus podcast studio in Asheville, a start-up where he pioneered the audio software we recorded this on. He interviews me and my personal back story for the first time.  (Auxbus was later bought by Libsyn and his software is their trademark audio editing software for their podcast  distribution company). This was recorded on the heals of our production together, and after story-lock in our documentary post-production phase. He had a huge hand in the production influencing the story, and pulling out many valuable moments across our interviews. He also ran sound, wrote interview questions, and asked the interview questions, co-directing the storytelling.  He also ran second camera for interviews, live performance music videos, and also some of the side stories that made it into the film, among many additional roles that we shared. He was essential in the creation of this film.  Enjoy this episode as he digs into my back story and the creation of this film, the XJW Coming Out series, and this podcast.Thanks Ryan!Watch now:http://WitnessUnderground.comWatch & Support:https://vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessundergroundhttps://Patreon.com/WitnessUndergroundhttps://YouTube.com/@WitnessUndergroundStore:https://witness-underground-cult-documentary-release.pledgebox.com/preorderJump into our Discordhttps://discord.gg/WUp9c95rsXReach out directly: XJWdoc@gmail.com-Scott

In this episode – the final episode of Season 3 – we're breaking down everything you need to know about us, including how we got here and, most importantly, where we're going from here.   This one's jam-packed with news and updates, so we'll keep it short and sweet, but don't skip it. This is an episode you won't want to miss!   Show Notes:   ✅ Want to learn more about SpeakerFlow, our system, and where we're headed next? Book a call with us: https://speakerflow.com/demo/  

There's a lot of truth in the phrase "Hindsight's 20-20" – no doubt about that – but it rings especially true as a business owner.   In fact, ask any entrepreneur, thought leader, speaker, you name it, and they'll share a host of things they've learned along their journey as a business owner.   To share her own business experience with us, we're joined in this episode by speaker, author, and coach Cindy Tschosik.   Cited as the “Go-To Book Writing Resource” for authors who want to “Change, Save, and Celebrate Lives One Story at a Time," Cindy has spent almost three decades across a wide range of industries including legal, IT, corporate, non-profit, marketing, entrepreneurship, writing and speaking.   Here, she shares insights from her last ten years as a business owner and seven lessons she wishes she'd known in the beginning.   That way, if you're at the beginning of your business ownership journey, you can skip some of the learning curve.   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about Cindy and SoConnected: https://www.soconnectedllc.com/  

Everyone wants to be known for doing something great, for making their mark, and, as a thought leader, that mark can also be what takes you from "getting by" to "making a decent living" in the industry.   So how do you find your big idea? How do you build a mindset that keeps you innovating and continually generating ideas for your audience?   Here to talk about that with us is keynote speaker, author, and innovation expert Bill Stainton.   Bill is a 29-time Emmy Award winner who produced Seattle's legendary comedy TV show "Almost Live!" the longest-running, highest-rated, and most award-winning regional comedy TV show in the United States.   Additionally, as a speaker and advisor on the topics of innovation, creativity, and breakthrough thinking, Bill has coached hundreds of organizations – like Microsoft, Boeing, and Nike – to tap into their creativity and, in doing so, generate their next breakthrough idea.   Let's dive into the details and find out how all of us can do the same!   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about Bill and his speaking and coaching programs: https://billstainton.com/  

There are plenty of challenges that come with running a small business – Any thought leader will tell you that.   But there are also countless benefits, not the least of which is the closer-knit relationships and exceptional experiences you can provide for clients.   In this episode, we're joined by speaker, financial expert, and owner of Get Looped, Chris Lautenslager to explain his "Get Looped" model.   This model is comprised of three "loops": prosperity, integrity, and community.   Here, we break down the topic of his first book and the first loop, "Prosperity," which centers around the idea that we have the opportunity, as small businesses, to scale the "unscalable" to make our customer experiences as rich as possible.   Put simply, in a large company, we're all just numbers. But, in small and medium-sized businesses, we have the chance to make real connections and, in doing so, be more prosperous.   Learn how you can do the same in this jam-packed episode!   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about Chris's work at Get Looped: https://get-looped.com/  

For many business owners – large and small – the thought of building better systems is an enticing one.   But it's also daunting. For instance, how do you know what components a system needs? What's the trigger for when one of these components needs to do something? How do you make it repeatable and iterative?   And, most importantly, how do you measure the results of the system to make sure it's successful over time?   Here to discuss that with us is speaker, author, sales expert, and nationally syndicated business columnist Shawn Rhodes.   In this episode, Shawn shars his insights about his own systems and how he identifies when an additional component is needed. He also shared his acronym for building new systems: Trigger, Replicatable, Iteratable, and Measurable (or T.R.I.M.).   Using this acronym, Shawn has helped companies across the country build systems – sales and otherwise – that not only bring in more revenue but do so consistently AND scale the business to new heights.   If you're ready to build systems in your own business, this is one episode you don't want to miss!   Show Notes:   ✅ Connect with Shawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnrhodes/  

When you think about your favorite places to shop, there are likely a few things they all have in common, like polite and friendly team members or being quick to help when you have a question or concern.   It's also likely that these reasons keep you from looking at their competitors. After all, you've been happy with them – Why look elsewhere?   In the same way, providing an exceptional experience for your clients can keep them coming back again and again, and in this episode, we're joined by CX expert Shep Hyken to talk about just that.   A New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, he's the author of 8 books, including his latest, "I'll Be Back: How to Get Customers to Come Back Again and Again."   Put simply, for the last 30+ years, Shep has helped countless organizations build loyal relationships with their customers and employees. Here, he explains how you can do the same.   Show Notes:   ✅ Check out Shep's CX articles and weekly podcast: https://hyken.com/topic/sheps-articles/  

Outbound sales is, undoubtedly, one of the hardest things to master when running your own business, especially if you don't have any prior experience in sales.   And even if you do, it can be frustrating, feeling like you can't get your foot in the door with potential clients or not knowing which sales strategies are worth trying.   That said, one tried-and-true approach to sales is a simple one, focusing on sales as relationships (rather than revenue), and who better to break that down for us than David Asarnow.   The founder of Business Nitrogen, David is an entrepreneur, trainer, speaker, and business growth mentor who's grown two companies to 8-figures — $10M and $45M, respectively, and both in less than five years.   He also once sent a shoe to the VP of a company, literally getting his "foot in the door" for future sales conversations and proving that sometimes the best sales tactics are the most out-of-the-box.   In this episode, David outlines more strategies like this and how you can take the same approach, building relationships that turn into sales down the road.   Show Notes:   ✅ Check out Business Nitrogen: https://businessnitrogen.com/  

We've all stumbled on instances where we didn't seem to be getting through to someone.   Maybe they were a potential client who misunderstood what products or services you provide. Maybe they were an existing client and, somewhere in your work together, their expectations were misaligned.   In any case, the best business owners are always on the lookout for ways to better communicate, and here to help all of us hit that mark is Jason Raitz.   The Founder and President of Speak with People, Jason's spoken on more than 500 stages throughout the United States and is passionate about coaching leaders to "Speak with people, not at them."   With that in mind, this episode's all about how to better "speak with" the people around you from clients to sales leads to family and friends.   Let's dive in!   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about Speak With People: https://www.speakwithpeople.com/  

We've discussed virtual business ownership at length on this podcast and how to use tools like your website, email marketing tools, and CRM to make the most of incoming leads.   But one tool we haven't touched on is Google Business which, turns out, can be a secret weapon for getting in front of – and catching the attention of – your ideal clients.   Joining us to explain that in more detail is serial entrepreneur, consultant, speaker, and certified Google Business expert Bobby Kerr.   Having established and scaled five successful real estate businesses, Bobby's been at the forefront of referral-based marketing for years, and he's collected a whopping 1200+ Google Business 5-star reviews.   In this episode, he breaks down how you can kickstart the same efforts in your thought leadership business and leverage your happy customers' testimonials to close more deals, all with Google.   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about Bobby and his work: http://thebobbykerr.com/   

Now more than ever, it can seem like everyone and their brother has a podcast, but it's also fair to say that not all podcasts are created equal.   If you're thinking of launching a podcast yourself, this episode is all about how to get above that "average," and who better to teach us that than voiceover expert and audio engineer Gary Maholm.   Having edited more than 12,000 podcast episodes – and yes, you read that right – over the course of his career, Gary knows firsthand what makes for a killer podcast.   He also knows the production elements that torpedo a podcast, even if the content itself is valuable, and make listeners less likely to stick around.   Here, he shares all of these tips and tricks, so you can hit the ground running with your own podcast, just like he helped us kick ass with Technically Speaking!   Show Notes:  

Whether you're a seasoned public speaker or just starting your journey, there's a notable difference between speaking on stage and speaking on camera.   In fact, even if you're a skilled communicator in person, it can be easy to get flustered or appear inexperienced when you're being recorded.   To help you avoid this, we're joined in this episode by speaker and entrepreneur Wendy Russell.   Perhaps best known as the Gemini-nominated host & producer of HGTV Canada's “She's Crafty," Wendy has more than 30 years of experience in the film and television industry.   Having coached countless thought leaders in that time, Wendy shares everything you need to know about building your on-camera confidence including what NOT to do.   That way, in your next live appearance, virtual speaking gig, or online course, you can ensure you look as polished as possible.   Show Notes:  

For as long as SpeakerFlow's existed, one of the most common questions we've heard from clients and connections alike is a simple one: "What's working for other people?"   In other words, "Which business systems are other thought leaders using to produce consistent, reliable results?"   So, without further ado, this episode is all about the best of the best: the systems we see used most frequently, the systems we've seen the most success with, and the things you can learn from the hundreds of clients we've worked with asking this question.   We also cover business development and sales processes as a thought leader, building relationships with and creating content for bureaus and bureau agents, and how to generate leads from the stage and continue engaging with them post-event.   Suffice it to say, this is one of our most jam-packed episodes, so don't miss out!   Show Notes:   ✅ Take our free Systems Check-Up to receive a personalized report on what to improve in your business: https://speakerflow.com/start-here/  

When you hear the word "accountability," if you're like most people, you probably think of something similar to "responsibility."   You might think of your job description, the projects you accomplish as part of that job, and the tasks that make up your day-to-day working routine.   In reality, though, "accountability" is all about your core values and acting in a way that not only produces results in line with those core values but demonstrates consistent commitment to them.   To explain this in more detail, we're joined by the founder of The Accountability Institute and keynote speaker Sam Silverstein.   As a member of the CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame and a Past-President of the National Speakers Association, Sam's mission is to "empower people to live accountable lives, transform the way they do business, and to thrive at extraordinary levels."   In authoring 12 books and his years of speaking around the world, Sam's mastered the balance of "accountability" and "responsibility" better than anyone and, in this episode, he's here to share it with you.   Let's dive in!   Show Notes:   ✅ Download Sam's free value worksheet: https://samsilverstein.com/values-worksheet/   ✅ Take Sam's new accountability quiz: https://samsilverstein.com/me/  

Running a business is no picnic – On that much, we can all agree – but it's even harder when you're drowning in the day-to-day operations.   Put simply, no entrepreneur wants to run a business that sucks. They want one that's well organized, speed-optimized, and creates the lifestyle they've always wanted.   With this in mind, this episode is all about removing the parts of running your business that fall into that category of "This really sucks."   In it, we break down the four pillars of a business's foundation and how to look at them through the lens of "functions," not "to-do's."   We also outline the basics of an accountability chart including what it is, how it's important for the overall vision of an organization, how to create one, and – most importantly – how to compartmentalize all the different functions of a business so we can start alleviating the things we don't want to be doing.   If you're ready to lose some of that operational stress weighing you down, you're not going to miss this episode!   Show Notes:   ✅ Check out our free resource for creating an accountability chart: https://speakerflow.com/resources/creating-an-accountability-chart/  

Every business owner wants to know, with certainty, that they're offering something valuable, something their clients will definitely want.   But how do you find that "something"? How do you take as much uncertainty out of innovation as you can?   Here is discuss that with us is the pioneer of Jobs-To-Be-Done Theory, the inventor of the Outcome-Driven Innovation (ODI) process, and the founder and CEO of Strategyn: Tony Ulwick.   The author of 2 best sellers – "What Customers Want" and "Jobs To Be Done: Theory to Practice" – Tony's one of the foremost experts on innovation, and has been described by Clayton Christensen as having "brought predictability to innovation."   His Jobs-To-Be-Done Theory is "a powerful lens through which companies can observe markets, customer needs, competitors, and market segmentation differently, and in doing so, make their success at innovation far more predictable and profitable."   And, in this episode, Tony describes how you implement this approach in your own business, so whether you're interesting on a large or small offering, you can be confident it's accomplishing the right job for your ideal clients.   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about Tony and his work at Strategyn: https://strategyn.com/tony-ulwick/   ✅ Learn more about "Jobs-To-Be-Done Theory": https://strategyn.com/jobs-to-be-done/  

We've covered Search Engine Optimization (or SEO) on this podcast a fair number of times, but we've rarely gotten into the details.   In this episode, we're changing that and diving right into the podcast equivalent of the beginner's guide to SEO for thought leaders.   Joining us is Brandon Leibowitz from SEO Optimizers, "a digital marketing company that focuses on helping small and medium-sized businesses get more online traffic, which in turn converts into clients, sales, leads, etc."   Here, Brandon outlines the basics of SEO including what backlinks are, what relevancy is, and what type of content you should be producing.   He also summarizes how to prioritize your SEO strategies if you're starting from ground zero.   Let's get into it!   Show Notes:   ✅ Connect with Brandon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonleibowitz   ✅ Learn more about SEO Optimizers: https://seooptimizers.com/  

There are a handful of things that automatically give you an air of credibility as a thought leader, one of them being the title of "author."   However, for many speakers, coaches, and consultants, writing and launching a book can seem like a massive hurdle.   We're joined by writer, editor, and the president of Leverage2Market Associates, Linda Popky, to explain why this doesn't have to be the case.   The author of "Marketing Above the Noise: Achieve Strategic Advantage with Marketing that Matters," Linda is a seasoned expert when it comes to launching books.   She was also named one of Silicon Valley's Top 100 Women of Influence and a member of Alan Weiss's Million Dollar Consulting Hall of Fame, so it's safe to say she knows her stuff.   Here, she explains why you don't need to be afraid to create your own book and outlines everything you need to get started including how to most effectively market your book before and after launch.   So what are you waiting for? Let's dive in!   Show Notes:   ✅ Curious to learn more about Linda? Check out her website: https://www.leverage2market.com/  

It's a fairly well-known fact among professional speakers that corporate speaking gigs tend to be the most lucrative.   But they also tend to be the most competitive – So how do you branch into corporate speaking if you're currently building a speaking business in another niche?   Here to share his experience is speaker, coach, and the author of "Leading Imperfectly," James Robilotta.   Although he started his journey speaking for educational audiences, over the last several years, James has segued into corporate speaking and faced his fair share of unforeseen challenges along the way.   In this episode, he outlines those challenges including how speaker pricing varies in corporate vs education, how his approach to speaking shifted, and how the transition impacted other areas of his life.   That way, if you're looking to launch into corporate speaking yourself, you can learn from his experiences and hit the ground running.   Show Notes:   ✅ Check out James's book, "Leading Imperfectly: The Value of Being Authentic for Leaders, Professionals, and Human Beings": https://jamestrobo.com/book  

As in any industry, the vast majority of businesses in the speaking industry are looking for the answer to the big question: "How do I make more money?"   Depending on who you ask, you can get a wide range of answers, but the core to all of them remains the same. Put simply, you have to differentiate yourself.   Joining us in this episode is someone who's seen this firsthand through his work in the speaking industry, Chris West.   The owner of Video Narrative, Chris has had a front-row seat over the last 10 years as the industry shifted from one of referrals to one that requires more and more sales and marketing effort each day.   In his words, event organizers aren't simply hiring speakers that are recommended to them anymore. They're doing their own research on the speakers available, and to get in front of them, "You have to be unique. You have to become known for something."   Tune in for all of the ways Chris has seen the biggest names in speaking make this happen. This isn't an episode you want to miss!   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about Chris and Video Narrative: https://videonarrative.com/  

We don't have to tell you that running a modern thought leadership business demands a website.   But what you may not know is just how much work your website can take off your plate, starting with the forms on it.   From collecting contact information to storing that in your customer relationship management system to automating communication with those contacts, your website forms can be the starting point for a long list of things.   Here, Taylorr and Austin break down a small part of this list including the basics of why and how to connect your website forms to your CRM and email marketing apps, how to use forms with lead magnets, and how to build your forms into your other business automations.   This is an incredibly useful episode on a topic many business owners gloss over, so don't skip this one!   Show Notes:   ✅ Download our free guide for automating your website forms: https://speakerflow.com/resources/form-automation-best-practices/  

Closing a sale is often presented as a logical set of actions. You say these things in this order, you carry yourself in this way, and people will be persuaded to buy from or hire you.   In reality, though, closing a sale starts with emotional decisions, answering questions like "How do I feel interacting with this person?" and "Could I see myself following the same path as their previous clients or customers?"   That starts with you, but there's another important ingredient to help you seal the deal: case studies.   To help us outline what makes for a good case study, we're joined by TEDx speaker and sales expert John Livesay.   Also known as "The Pitch Whisperer," John's the author of the best-selling books, "Better Selling Through Storytelling" and "The Sale Is In The Tale" and is the creator of the online course "Revenue Rockstar Mastery."   John specializes in training sales teams "how to turn mundane case studies into compelling case stories," and in this episode, he explains how you can do the same.   Show Notes:   ✅ Text "Pitch" to 66866 to get the first chapter of John's new book, "The Sales is in the Tale".   ✅ Check out John's sales course, "Revenue Rockstar Mastery:" https://gofrominvisibletoirresistible.com/  

The thought of a million-dollar business is an enticing one, but, as you likely know already, building a business comes with its share of challenges.   To create a business of this caliber, you don't just have to master the ins and outs of entrepreneurship. You also have to get comfortable "in the weeds" and become an expert on the ways in which your business runs.   Here to break down this process is speaker, coach, and the author of two books – "A Kids Book About Empathy" and "Call an Audible" – Daron K. Roberts.   As a former NFL coach and the founding director of the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation (CSLi) at the University of Texas, Daron is an active writer on issues ranging from corporate culture to leadership and was honored as LinkedIn's #1 Top Voice in Sports.   He also knows firsthand what it takes to scale a business to seven figures, and in this episode, he shares how you can do the same.   This is one episode you don't want to miss!   Show Notes:   ✅ Check out Monetize Your Message here: https://monetizeyourmsg.com/  

Booking your own keynotes as a professional speaker is all well and good, but what's even better is trusting someone else to handle the sales process for you. That's where speaker agents come in.   Joining us to talk all things speaking is the founder and president of See Agency, Christa Haberstock.   With more than 20 years of experience selling for speakers, Christa knows firsthand what it takes to not only get speakers booked but scale the process into a full-blown company.   In this episode, she shares her inside perspective on speaker agencies and what to know if you're looking to partner with one in the future. This includes what agents look for when choosing speakers (speaking fees, budgetary thresholds, credentials, etc).   It also covers how to get agencies' attention, so you don't have to chase them and, instead, they'll approach you directly.   Let's dive in!   Show Notes:   ✅ Check out Christa's speaker agency, See Agency: https://justgreatspeakers.com/  

In recent years, especially, keynote speaking has exploded. After all, what could be more glamorous than jet-setting around the world, getting paid and recognized for your expertise?   To answer that question, we're joined by motivational keynote speaker and charity adventurer Josh Stinton.   Josh is known, first and foremost, for his extensive "challenges" for children's charities including a bicycle trip across the Atlantic and an upcoming running trip "across the sky." Yes, you read that right!   When he's not on an adventure, however, Josh is on the road as a speaker, adding to his resume of international presentations from the last several years.   Here, he highlights what you need to know if you're considering international speaking yourself including how to adjust your speaking style and sales strategies to account for cultural differences.   This episode is full of golden nuggets, and we learned a lot from Josh's experience. Hope you do, too!   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about Josh and his challenges for charity: https://joshstinton.com/  

As a consumer, fending off salespeople can be exhausting, but, on the flip side, most business owners don't love the act of selling either. It can feel "grimy," like you're chasing after potential clients to take their money.   According to sales and marketing expert David Newman, this typically happens when business owners don't give anything away until after people become clients., but it doesn't have to be that way.   In his words, "What if you treated everyone like a client and gave them as much value as humanly possible before they bought from you? What if you shifted your mindset from a 'taking' mentality to a 'giving' one?"   As the author of the business bestsellers, “Do It! Marketing”, “Do It! Speaking," and “Do It! Selling," David literally wrote the books on selling as a thought leader and reinventing your mindset around sales.   In this episode, he outlines how this approach boosts trust and sales rates and how you can create that "giving" sales mindset in your own business.   Show Notes:   ✅ Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjnewman   ✅ Learn more about David and his team at Do It! Marketing: https://doitmarketing.com/  

We've talked a LOT about business systems on this podcast, but for many thought leaders, the challenge remains: how to get past the fear and overwhelm of restructuring the tech and processes that make your business run.   This is especially true if you're starting from ground zero or if you have a lot of old systems to clean up first.   One thought leader that knows this journey firsthand is speaker, sales coach, and emotional intelligence expert Merit Kahn.   When we first connected with Merit several years ago, her systems were all over the place and, even though her message was top-notch, she was still struggling to consistently generate revenue. Fast forward to 2022, and Merit had her best financial year yet, largely thanks to the systems she had in place.   In this episode, Merit shares this journey including what first "triggered" her motivation to rebuild her systems, which ones she rebuilt first, and how her business has evolved.   She also walks through the mental aspect of her systems journey. That way, when you're ready to rebuild systems in your own business, you know everything to expect.   Let's get started!   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about Merit and her work: https://meritkahn.com/  

Building a sales process is a mammoth task to tackle, so in this episode, we're focusing on the inside scoop of sales for experts who speak professionally.   Joining us is speaker, author, and the creator of the Speaker Intel Engine Sam Richter.   A member of the National Speaker Hall of Fame, Sam is considered one of the world's foremost sales intelligence experts and was named one of the Top 50 Sales Keynote Speakers in the world and a Top Sales Coach by the Coach Foundation.   He's also created numerous AI-powered sales technologies – like the aforementioned Speaker Intel Engine – to make prospecting for new leads a matter of minutes instead of hours.   Here, he highlights how to use his tools and strategies to master sales in your own speaking business. This includes how to develop an ideal client profile, what to research before cold contacting someone, and what to do on a day-to-day basis to boost your sales.   Suffice to say, this episode is full of golden nuggets of information. Even if you're confident in sales, there's a lot to be learned – Don't miss this one!   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn how you can find speaking gigs with Sam's Speaker Intel Engine: https://www.knowmore.university/a/aff_gqtxt90h/external?affcode=231462_hfyvfatg  

Thought leadership, as an industry, in an undeniably glamorous one, and what better way to showcase your business than killer photos?   With the right photographer, your action and headshots can elevate your perception and make you stand out from the crowd. Plus, they're great to have on hand for social posts or media kits.   That said, for aspiring or new thought leaders, a professional photographer isn't always in the budget. Even so, you can still create killer photos by shooting them yourself.   To walk us through this process, we're joined by long-time photographer and the owner of DeMato Productions, John DeMato.   With years of industry experience, John's a master at using photography tools – professional or DIY – to create eye-catching, compelling photos that tell a story.   Here, he explains how you can do the same, starting with maximizing the photographic capabilities of your phone and ending with how to use the photos you produce.   In his words, "Even if you use your phone initially after you hire a professional photographer, it's still good to understand self-portraiture so that, when you're on stage, you have a way to ensure you're getting good shots."   So, whether you're a DIYer or getting ready to hire a pro, let's dive in!   Show Notes:   ✅ Want to learn more about John's work? Check out his website here: https://johndemato.com  

Perhaps the biggest goal among professional speakers is to build a referral engine. When this happens, past and existing clients consistently refer new leads to you, making the booking process like shooting fish in a barrel.   Unfortunately, many speakers aren't yet in this position. You may not be there yourself, and that's totally fine!   To help you get there, we're joined by author, speaker, coach, and owner of the Speaker Lab Grant Baldwin.   As a speaker, Grant has mastered the referral engine and earned over $2 million from 500+ paid engagements worldwide. He's also delivered everything from closed-door workshops to keynotes in front of 13,000+ people.   But, to hear him tell it, "I'm just a normal dude. I don't have a crazy backstory or celebrity following. I just had a message to share and a dream to make it happen."   In this episode, he's here to break down how you can get there, too, from building long-lasting client relationships to generating spin-off revenue from speaking gigs to iterating on your sales processes.   Regardless of how big your thought leadership business is right now, this is one you don't want to miss!   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about Grant and how you can get paid to speak with the help of The Speaker Lab: https://thespeakerlab.com/  

For many thought leaders, the transition to owning their own business doesn't happen overnight. It's a slower process where working as an expert is more like freelancing, at least until that work can support a full-time salary.   So how do you speed this process up? How do you make the jump from part-time to full-time thought leadership?   Answering this is marketing expert, business coach, agency owner, and speaker Alex Schlinsky.   Also known as the "Iron Man of Marketing," Alex has sold $15 million worth of products and has worked with over 700 clients in 50 different markets including some of the world's greatest brands, like the Miami Dolphins and the UFC.   As a coach, his entire focus is getting business owners from "just doing okay" to "knocking it out of the park." To do this, you need systems and processes in place, and you need to delegate.   In short, you need to stop thinking like a freelancer, working part-time on your thought leadership business, and think like a full-time entrepreneur instead. In this episode, Alex outlines this path and the systems you'll need to make it happen.   Show Notes:   ✅ Get Alex's 1CC Training/Slide Deck: https://www.facebook.com/groups/7figureculture/permalink/1158044708266307  

If you've ever thought to yourself, as you're knocking out daily tasks in your business, "I just want leads to come to me," you're far from alone.   And one of the most common ways to attract leads is a simple one: lead magnets or, in other words, free resources for your target audience that they can only access after providing some degree of contact information.   Joining us to break down this topic is the owner of Pibworth Professional Solutions, Lauren Pibworth.   As a marketing consultant for the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) Toronto and the social media coordinator for the national chapter of CAPS, Lauren is a seasoned expert in the world of websites and marketing.   Here, she explains everything you need to know about lead magnets including how to know which kind to create, what info to include, and how to make the most of leads once they download your lead magnet.   So, what are you waiting for? Let's get into it!   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about Lauren and Pibworth Professional Solutions: https://pibworthps.com/  

You may have already heard the phrase "delegate and elevate" when it comes to smaller, day-to-day tasks in your business.   But what about the bigger projects? How do you know when you should hire someone to help you improve and, even more importantly, how do you build an openminded approach to your business systems?   In this episode, we're joined by speaker and economist Andrew Busch to answer these questions and get an inside look at his speaking business.   For the last three years, Andy hired experts in various areas, including coaches for his business systems, other economists to help him produce research, a speaking coach for his keynotes, etc.   To hear him tell it, "I'm a smart guy... but I'm a LOT smarter when I surround myself with other people who are way smarter than me... I don't know everything I need to know, but I can go to the places and to the people that can help me understand new things that are coming up."   As a result, his business has doubled – You read that right. Doubled – every year for the last three years. Here, learn how you can do the same in your business.   Show Notes:   ✅ Connect with Andy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbusch  

When ramping up your business's marketing efforts, it can be tempting to think, "I need to do everything possible." Think creating blogs, recording podcasts, revamping your website, starting paid ads, posting on social media, creating lead magnets – the list is endless.   But, all in all, these are just options, and if you truly want to make a difference, you need to first prioritize the ones you need most.   To help work through this, we're joined by marketing expert Michael Buzinksi.   The author of "The Rule of 26 For Service-Based Businesses: Three Steps to Doubling Website Revenue," Buzz is all about "avoiding the time drain and frustration of managing profitable digital marketing campaigns."   In this episode, we dive deep into Buzz's Rule of 26 – 26% increase in website traffic, 26% increase in conversion rate (ie leads coming through), and 26% more revenue clients – to talk about how to generate more marketing leads and make the most of them.   Buzz has some amazing insights into narrowing your marketing focus to have the most impact. You don't want to miss this one!   Show Notes:   ✅ Grab a copy of Michael's book, "The Rule of 26": ruleof26.com   ✅ Learn more about Michael and Buzzworthy.biz: https://buzzworthy.biz/  

At the beginning of each new quarter and each new year, it's vital for thought leaders to reevaluate their business.   What goals did you set at the end of the last quarter or year? Are you hitting those goals? What's prevented you from doing so, and how can you improve your business's performance next time?   All of these questions are valuable, so we're taking it back to the basics of business strategy.   Here to lend his expertise and answer the question, "What is a business strategy, anyways?" is business strategist expert, speaker, and coach Alex Brueckmann.   Author of "Secrets of Next Level Entrepreneurs," Alex stresses that, though many people group "strategic planning" into one term, it's actually two with "strategy" referring to your vision and long-term thinking and "planning" what you do based on that vision.   With that in mind, this episode is jam-packed with ways you can better strategize and plan in your own thought leadership business.   Let's get into it!   Show Notes:   ✅ Grab Alex's new book, "Next-Level Entrepreneurship": https://alexbrueckmann.com/books/  

Making money as a thought leader is no picnic. If it was, we wouldn't cover it so much on this podcast!   But, despite upheaval in the industry and the often-cited argument that technology has nullified standard sales practices, the fundamental tenants of sales remain the same: being authentic and building trust with your potential clients.   To back this up and outline some of the ways you can remain true to these "core values" of successful sales, we're joined by speaker, author, and sales guru Mark Hunter.   Also known as "The Sales Hunter," Mark is a consultative selling expert and specializes in custom-tailored sales programs.   With more than 20 years of speaking experience and as a Certified Professional Speaker (CSP), Mark delivers programs around the world to help organizations, large and small, demystify their sales efforts and become sales masters themselves.   As always when Mark joins us, this episode was a stellar reminder of what to prioritize when selling, and we learned a lot. Hope you do, too!   Show Notes:   ✅ Connect with Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhunter  

We've seen our fair share of sales strategies, but one of the most common is the "spray and pray" method where someone emails a huge list of potential clients, all at once with a templated email.   Is this fast? Absolutely. But is it effective? Absolutely not.   Instead of this approach, the thought leaders most skilled in sales focus on one thing: quality over quantity. In other words, they focus on a few leads at a time and customize their outreach.   To break down this approach in more detail, we're joined in this episode by sales speaker, author, content creator, and coach Phil Gerbyshak.   Recognized as one of Crunchbases Top 25 Sales Leaders to Follow in 2020 and with two decades of speaking experience, Phil is a leading expert on inside sales, LinkedIn, and social selling.   He's also seen consistent results – both in his business and those of his clients – through "high touch sales" or extensively customizing sales outreach to a small group of leads and putting relationships with those leads before profit. Here, he breaks down how you can do the same.   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more and reach out to Phil here: https://philgerby.com/  

It likely comes as no surprise that your website is an integral part of your thought leadership business.   But how do you truly make the most of your website? How do you use it to boost your brand exposure or – even better – turn it into a marketing engine for your business?   The short answer is simple: invest in your other marketing channels. But here to break down the longer, more helpful answer is marketing guru and the owner of Interrobang Digital, David Hornreich.   David takes a holistic approach to helping thought leaders clarify their messaging and brand, then take action in launching it, so they can build greater authority and make a greater impact.   Put simply, David's all about helping thought leaders "broadcast their message to the people who need it most through websites and content marketing."   Here, he also shares an argument contrary to many of the other marketing experts we've hosted on this show, namely that marketing should be as simple as possible and you can have a greater impact if you concentrate your energy on a few key channels (instead of trying to do it all).   Let's dive in!   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more about David and Interrobang Digital here: http://interrobangdigital.com/  

In recent years, more and more speaking, consulting, and coaching businesses have shifted to fall under a bigger umbrella, that of "thought leadership."   With this shift – and as aspiring thought leaders seek to enter the space – many have also been left asking, "What exactly is a thought leader," "What is thought leadership," and "How do I become a true thought leader?"   To answer this, we're joined for a second time by differentiation expert Mark Levy.   As a speaker, consultant, and author, Mark has helped countless organizations define their "Big Sexy Idea™" or "the idea they're going to be known for throughout the world."   This includes brands as big as that of Simon Sinek, but it can also include you, provided you master true thought leadership and define your own Big Sexy Idea™.   Here, in his signature, captivating style, Mark breaks down how you can accomplish this, whether you're adapting an existing thought leadership business or starting one from scratch.   As always with Mark, we learned a LOT from this episode – Hope you do, too!   Show Notes:   ✅ Learn more and reach out to Mark here: https://www.levyinnovation.com/  

Plenty of professional speakers are perfectly comfortable on stage and always were, but, believe it or not, that's not the case for everyone.   For many aspiring or even active speakers, the thought of the spotlight can be anxiety and nausea-inducing, and many resources say the same thing: You just need to be more confident in yourself.   And while this may be true in part, the only tried-and-true way to boost your speaking skills AND your confidence is – you guessed it – practice.   In this episode, we're joined by speaking coach and the owner of Frantically Speaking Hrideep Barot to break this process down and dispel the idea that confidence is "all you need" to become a better speaker.   Having coached people from companies like Meta, Tesla, Deloitte, KPMG, and Adobe as well as from various universities like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, Hrideep is well-versed in the challenges of becoming a speaker, especially if you're a natural introvert.   In his words, "Have I transformed myself into this amazing public speaker? No. But I have come to the conclusion that communication and public speaking skills, just like most other skills, are learnable." And here, he explains how you can learn to be a better speaker, too.   Show Notes:   ✅ Take Hrideep's "Frantically" Public Speaking Masterclass: https://youtu.be/hjX1Sj38ykU   ✅ Download Hrideep's printable Public Speaking checklist: https://franticallyspeaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The-Public-Speaking-Checklist-1.pdf  

From time to time, it can be hard to not feel like things just aren't going your way. Maybe sales in your business are down, maybe you're behind on your day-to-day tasks.   Like many thought leaders, you may also be weighing whether or not you're in the right niche or offering the right products or services. Put simply, you might be feeling misaligned but unsure where or how to fix it.   Here, we're joined by problem solver, organizational strategist, and humanitarian Steve Fredlund to discuss just that.   After more than 20 years in corporate America – and feeling misaligned in the process – Steve launched a non-profit and ultimately went on a journey to become "unstuck" that took him around the world including four trips to Rwanda.   Today, he's a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, the founder of Small Small Business, a two-time TEDx speaker, and the creator of The Solving BOX framework for innovation and problem-solving.   In this episode, he breaks down how you can learn from his experiences to un-stick your own life and business and find where you feel aligned and purposeful.   Let's dive in!   Show Notes:   ✅ Interested in learning more about Steve's work? Check out his website here: https://stevefredlund.com/  

If there's one thing we've discussed in depth on Technically Speaking, it's the importance of learning to sell for yourself in your thought leadership business.   But the greatest, most-impactful tool in your sales toolbelt isn't actually any of your own skills – It's the testimonials from your past clients or, as they're also known, the "superfans" of your products and services.   In this episode, we're talking all about superfans including how to define them AND how to ensure every single one of your clients becomes one by the time your work together is done.   Here to help us out is award-winning entrepreneur, author, and customer experience speaker Brittany Hodak.   Having worked with some of the world's biggest brands and entertainers, including Walmart, Disney, Katy Perry, and Dolly Parton, Brittany knows more than anyone what it takes to turn people into evangelists for your brand.   These are people who love you and your sales offerings and tell others in their network (so they buy from you, too). So, whether you're a one-person show or running a team, you're not going to want to miss this episode!   Show Notes:   ✅ Grab a copy of Brittany's book, "Creating Superfans": https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Superfans-Five-Step-Multiplying-Reputation/dp/1774580780  

One of the most common challenges we come across with clients – and one that's true throughout the thought leadership industry – is "squirrel chasing" in marketing.   Whether we're talking about social media management, creating content, building a website, or even testing paid ads, many expert business owners fall into the trap of wanting to try everything.   And, in the process, they often skip the necessary groundwork, such as identifying your ideal client and narrowing your focus industries.   Here to discuss this with us is speaker, author, and the President and CEO of Prime Concepts Group, Ford Saeks.   With over 20 years' of experience (ranging from retail to wholesale business management), Ford has founded over ten companies, authored four books, been awarded three U.S. patents, and received numerous industry awards.   Suffice to say he knows what he's talking about when it comes to growing a business. He's also an expert on marketing myths and the common "traps" that business owners fall into.   If this sounds like you and you're on the lookout for ways to boost your marketing efforts this year, this is the episode for you.   Show Notes:   ✅ Sign up for Ford's Free Digital Marketing Critique: https://www.primeconcepts.com/  

A single search for "sales strategies" produces a ton of amazing advice... but also a fair amount of garbage or (put more kindly) myths about sales that can lead you astray.   "Cold outreach is pointless" is a common one. We also hear many thought leaders argue that "You can't build trust with cold outreach" and "objections mean you're not going to close the sale."   The good news is that none of these statements are true, and there are a variety of ways to ensure predictable revenue in your thought leadership business. Here to discuss that with us is Shawn Rhodes.   As an author, TEDx speaker, and seasoned expert on what it takes to build a sales team, Shawn is globally recognized for his sales expertise.   Here, he argues, "You can hope for business or you can be predictable about gaining business. If you're running a small business as more of a hobby, hope is fine, but if not, you need a mechanism to keep you in control of your revenue."   We couldn't have put it better ourselves, and if you're looking to take charge of your sales systems, this episode is full of myth-busting you need to hear.   Show Notes:   ✅ Take Shawn's 5-minute sales assessment that generates a sales system you can begin using today: https://survey.bulletproofselling.us/  

It's common knowledge among business owners – regardless of industry – that one of the best ways to win over potential clients is through video testimonials.   Whether they show past clients highlighting their experience working with you or outlining the results you generated for them, video testimonials go a long way in building trust, establishing your authority, and ultimately showing your ideal clients that you're a good fit for them.   Where it gets tricky is when you initially ask clients, "Can you shoot me a video testimonial?" After all, the biggest benefits in this case serve you, not them in any way.   To get around that, we're chatting with Christian Napier, the CEO of the video software app Rakonto.   As Christian explains it, the most impactful testimonials come from capturing a client's story and how you fit into it. Even if their answers reflect well on you, mastering the initial testimonials "ask" so it's focused on them is paramount.   In this episode, he explains how you can make that happen and translate the results of those testimonials into better presentations, higher sales, and more.   Show Notes:   ✅ Check out Rakonto here: https://www.rakonto.io/  

If you're a regular listener of Technically Speaking, you already know how many of our guests are professional speakers, and you've likely heard a few of their episodes about boosting your speaking skills.   But what about when you're not on stage? How does speaking tie into the other aspects of running a business?   Even more importantly, can being a better speaker boost your business in other ways?   The short answer is "yes," and to tell us the "how" and "why" behind that answer, we're joined by award-winning speaker Ramona Smith.   As the 2018 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking, Ramona knows firsthand what it takes to deliver a persuasive, powerful, and memorable speech.   What she's here to explain today is how that also translates to selling products or services – whether you're a speaker or not – by mastering "strategies to sell genuinely and effectively without sounding like a cheesy used car salesman."   In her words, "It's all about knowledge and preparation." Let's get into it!   Show Notes:   ✅ Get Ramona's "Confidently You" Journal: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ConfidenceCompanion?ref=seller-platform-mcnav   ✅ Check out Ramona's Book, "A World Champion's Guide to Public Speaking": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZN7ZJHY?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420 |  

Whether you're an experienced salesperson or not, chances are one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of your sales process is "the pitch," when you present your offer to a potential client.   But what if your pitch didn't have to be a dry, run-of-the-mill list of why someone should buy from or hire you?   What if, instead, it was a chance for you to build an emotional connection and establish a relationship that fuels one if not many purchases?   Find out in this episode, featuring lifetime entrepreneur, businessman, and artist Roger Mavity.   Prior to his current work as a writer and photographer, Roger owned an advertising agency, Mavity Gilmore Jaume, which he then sold to become the Chief Executive of Granada Group's leisure division. There, he led the pitch for Granada Group's acquisition of Forte Group – "the biggest hostile takeover bid in British commercial history."   In the years since, Roger has served as the Chairman of Citigate and the Chief Executive of the Conran Group. He's also the author of "Life's a Pitch," "The Rule-Breakers Book of Business," and "Terence, the man who invented design."   His argument is that a pitch is really like a drama, and that "A pitch isn't about transferring information. It's about transferring power."   We learned a lot in this episode and hope you do, too. Let's dive in!   Show Notes:   ✅ Get Roger's book, "Life's a Pitch," here: https://rogermavity.com/writing/books/lifes-a-pitch/  

Among thought leaders – but especially among professional speakers – one of the most common questions is, "How do I get represented by a speakers bureau?"   We've danced around this question on this show and covered many of the surrounding questions, such as "How do bureaus work?" and "What is it like to run a bureau?"   But the one we're focusing on in this episode – and the one that leads to that core, first question – is simple: What do bureaus look for when they're adding a speaker to their roster?   Here to answer that is the Managing Director of Speakers Corner and the former President of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB) Nick Gold.   With 20+ years of consulting experience, Nick has worked with over 7,500 speakers and services 1,000+ events per year. He's also been published extensively across UK media outlets, including The Telegraph, City AM, Huffington Post UK, GQ.com, and Raconteur.   Needless to say, Nick knows the speaking bureau business like the back of his hand AND what can make you stand out as a speaker looking for bureau representation.   This episode is jam-packed with industry insights, recommendations, and forecasting – Hope you learn as much from it as we did!   Show Notes:   ✅ Check out Nick's book "Speaking with Confidence": https://www.amazon.co.uk/Speaking-Confidence-Penguin-Business-Experts-ebook/dp/B085RR6C9Y/   ✅ Learn more about Speakers' Corner: https://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/  

If you're like most people, you've probably thought at one time or another, "I don't get paid enough for this..."   And, if you're an expert business owner, that thought was also likely followed by, "There has got to be a way to charge more for the products and services I'm providing my clients."   And you're right! You definitely do, and in this episode, we're joined by business speaker and coach Matt Essam to discuss just that.   The author of "Create & Prosper," Matt coaches on a business framework that prioritizes projects in your business, finds your ideal client, and helps you charge accordingly.   As he puts it, "It's easy to feel overwhelmed with all of the things you COULD do to grow your business. But deciding what to focus on and what to ignore can be a constant challenge... The good news is that there is a way out."   Here, Matt breaks down that "way out" for us and outlines how you can confidently command the fees that you truly deserve.   Show Notes:   ✅ Download Matt's free book: https://courses.mattessam.co.uk/creative-control  

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