Podcast appearances and mentions of bob bob

What happens to a dream deferred? A dream filled with tight outfits, latex boots, and furs? A dream saturated with showmanship, physicality, and wholesome recreation for both him and her? A dream of Bob: "Bob the Professional Wrestler". Does a dream deferred dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore—one that you caught last weekend from that hot Belgian? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or smell like Katya after a long show—like a sweaty, pickled beet? Maybe it just sags and squelches like a heavy load. Or does it, like the pure podcast magic that is Trixie and Bob in the same room for an hour, simply explode? For sustainable size and gender inclusive underwear, swimwear and loungewear for all bodies, head to https://tomboyx.com Join the 17 million Rakuten members who are already saving! Start all of your holiday shopping at https://Rakuten.com or download the Rakuten app to start saving today. Your Cash Back really adds up! Turn your holiday purchases into steps toward your financial goals with Chime's secure credit card. Get started today at https://Chime.com/BALD Chime. Feels like Progress. This holiday season, unwind and recharge with VIIA! If you're 21+, try VIIA today at: https://viia.co/BALD and use code BALD to receive 15% off! Follow Bob: @BobTheDragQueen Follow Trixie: @TrixieMattel Follow Katya: @Katya_Zamo To watch the podcast on YouTube: http://bit.ly/TrixieKatyaYT Don't forget to follow the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: http://bit.ly/baldandthebeautifulpodcast If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to: https://thebaldandthebeautiful.supercast.com If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be amazing! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/baldandthebeautifulpodcast To check out future Live Podcast Shows, go to: https://trixieandkatyalive.com To order your copy of our book, "Working Girls", go to: workinggirlsbook.com To check out the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs, CA: https://www.trixiemotel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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The Wizards Return with a fun show with tons of wrestling talk and talk about wrestling. After a little this & that, Tony is perplexed that Kota Ibushi wrestled in a match with Chigusa Nagayo, and this leads Matt to doing some searching & we are introduced to the Tag Team of Bob Bob Mom Banana. Focus shifts to Handsome Kevin's trip to Smack Deezy, the crowd cheering for DIY, not knowing who the MCMG were, and the US Title Tournament. Tony wants more pudding matches We are then joined by Juice Springsteen from the Juice Box to talk some WCW. He reveals his favorite WCW PPV, shows off his shirt collection, gives us his runner up WCW PPV, Battle Bowls, & so much more WCW related content. It's a great introduction to Juice & a fun talk. Back from the break we talk some NXT Deadline, go over our picks and the Iron Survivor. When will Axiom & Nathan Frazer break up? Should Trick be called up? We then preview Saturday Nights Main Event this coming weekend, the news of Jesse Ventura being part of the commentary team, and we share our favorite SNME moments before KJG hits us with a Top 5. We then discuss the homework Brundo assigned us last week, have a blast talking Samoa Joe/Necro Butcher & then have Handsome Kevin assign us some homework for next week. It's a fun show with lots of wrestling talk, laughs and more. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review. Handsome Kevin's Homework can be found on the Peacock Great American Bash 2004 JBL vs Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bullrope Match Follow Juice Springsteen at the links below https://t.co/GB0fh7aDwp Follow the Shining Wizards on all social media platforms & Subscribe https://t.co/JxBwhzKl9E --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-shining-wizards/support

The Wizards Return with a fun show with tons of wrestling talk and talk about wrestling. After a little this & that, Tony is perplexed that Kota Ibushi wrestled in a match with Chigusa Nagayo, and this leads Matt to doing some searching & we are introduced to the Tag Team of Bob Bob Mom Banana. Focus shifts to Handsome Kevin's trip to Smack Deezy, the crowd cheering for DIY,... The post The Shining Wizards 719: Bob Bob Momo Banana appeared first on Shining Wizards Network.

Father John Paul Erickson joins Patrick to discuss Humor and the Spiritual Life (3:04) What is the purpose of laughter in scripture? John - Joke: Kind of fruit they took on Noah's Ark (12:43) Benito - Joke:  Atheist who can do whatever he wants (20:51) Break 1 Father Tom – shares some jokes. You decide whether they are good or bad. (28:34) Dean - Humor is critical especially when life is difficult. Also, joke to share. Patrick - Morality of humor.  My experience at a nursing facility and how humor can be helpful there. Crucifixion, resurrection...in what sense can that be viewed as a joke on the devil?  Death turned into victory and glory. (34:35) Mary - St Bernard said no humor ever came from the devil (37:23) Break 2 Marty – shares a joke about a deacon Nancy – shares a joke about lighting candles. (45:23) Kathy - Close to retirement. My grandmother told me a valuable lesson about humor...that it always be kind. Bob – Bob shares a joke about cheese Jake – shares a joke which his dad would share

How can one relationship completely redefine a career, a mission, and even impact millions?   In this thought-provoking episode, Kevin speaks with Chris Vaughan, founder of Sequence Consulting. They discuss the foundational role of associations in society and how Chris and his team have dedicated their lives to transforming these organizations. Chris shares personal stories of pivotal relationships,and explores the importance of integrity, the unique value associations bring, and how powerful, purpose-driven relationships can truly make the world a better place.     [00:01 - 05:53] Defining Purpose Through Associations Structure and support for various industries and interests The transformative power of associations to enhance modern life Sequence Consulting's mission is to grow and empower these organizations   [05:54 - 10:12] The Mentor Who Made All the Difference Chris's first consulting opportunity guided by mentor Bob Bob's advice to "be yourself" and maintain integrity What propelled Chris's career and shaped Sequence Consulting's values   [10:13 - 15:44] Building Success on Integrity Chris learned that honesty and authenticity foster long-term success Bob's journey to start his own business after the dot-com crash inspired Chris Why Chris decided to start Sequence Consulting and follow his mission   [15:45 - 21:26] Turning Around a Legacy Organization How Chris revitalized a declining medical association through transparency Chris explains the importance of truthfully assessing member needs How Chris tripled the association's growth rate and improved brand perception   [21:27 - 27:27] Lessons from the Association World Look to associations for lessons on loyalty and belonging Associations' focus on relationship-building is valuable to the for-profit world The transformative power of communities united by purpose       Key Quotes:   "Associations make the world possible, and by making them better, we are making the world a better place." - Chris Vaughan   "Don't lie. Be yourself. Say what you mean, do what you say, and the world will create a path for you." - Chris Vaughan       Connect with Chris:   Website: https://www.sequenceconsulting.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisvaughanphd       Thanks for tuning in!   If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!    Find me on the following streaming platforms:   Apple Spotify Google Podcasts IHeart Radio Stitcher

Todas las llamadas al 900 100 800  han sido sobre Valencia. Ha habido desasosiego y tristeza, como ha dicho Sastre. Bob le ha dado las gracias a Sastre por informar desde el primer momento, junto con Aimar y Mara: "cuando todo fallaba estabais ahí y estabais vivos. Dentro de todo el espanto me consoló mucho." Sastre ha hecho extensivas las felicitaciones a todos los compañeros de la radio, y a toda la gente que está ayudando. Bob, por su parte, ha reflexionado sobre por qué nos empeñamos en vivir como si no fuéramos frágiles, y como si la naturaleza no fuera a buscar su sitio. "Esto que ha pasado evidencia las grietas del sistema, y por una herida que supura se cuela el fascismo." ¿Cómo evitarlo? Pues tal vez no viviendo de espaldas a la naturaleza, como si fuéramos fortísimos. 

Bob Pop, durante su emisión de 'Cuenta con Bob' en Hoy por Hoy, el segmento semanal en el que Bob Pop responde a consultas de los oyentes, vivió un momento inesperado cuando recibió en directo una alerta meteorológica de Protección Civil por lluvias torrenciales en Barcelona. La sección, que este lunes estuvo centrada en la tragedia provocada por la DANA en Valencia, se detuvo momentáneamente cuando Bob Pop interrumpió a un oyente para anunciar lo que ocurría: "Me está entrando un aviso".

It's spooky season once again, dear Listener, and the Silly Boys are off earning a crust all over the land. Pear Bear and Bob Bob present a pair of ghastly tales to give you the chills.   PREPARE THE BACKUP UNDERPANTS!!!   Thanks to www.Zapsplat.com for zips zaps boings and music and thanks www.Scottbuckley.com.au as always for the awesome music.   Happy Halloween!  

In this episode, Amy welcomes Bob DePasquale, also known as The Generosity Guy, to discuss the profound impact of generosity and abundance in both personal and professional spheres.  Bob shares his inspiring journey from aspiring athlete to financial expert, highlighting how his life-changing cancer diagnosis at 18 years old along with his emotionally-charged 9/11 story, led him to a deeper understanding of what it means to live abundantly.  Bob introduces his ACE Process as a practical approach for business leaders to embed generosity into their operation, creating a transformational ripple effect that helps organizations reach higher levels of success while attracting top talent. The conversation touches on the contagious nature of generosity and how, by empowering others, leaders can continuously regenerate a cycle of abundance and fulfillment. More about Bob: Bob, known as "The Generosity Guy," is the Founder and President of Initiate Impact⁠, a wealth management firm dedicated to building cultures of generosity. With over 23 years of professional and volunteer experience across three countries and 17 states, Bob has made it his mission to empower mission-driven organizations to create environments where generosity thrives.  A Certified Financial Planner® and Chartered Advisory in Philanthropy®, Bob specializes in developing philanthropic plans that maximize impact while bringing joy to those involved. He is also the author of Personal Finance in a Public World, a guide on how social media, ads, and technology influence money decisions and how to navigate them wisely. Bob's story of personal resilience and the transformative power of generosity continues to resonate with individuals and organizations seeking to make a positive difference in the world. Connect with Bob: https://www.bobdepasquale.com/ http://linkedin.com/in/bobdepasquale https://www.instagram.com/bdepa http://twitter.com/bdepa Connect with Amy Sylvis: ⁠https://www.sylviscapital.com⁠ Contact Us: https://www.sylviscapital.com/webinarhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amysylvis 0:00 Episode Preview 01:58 Guest background 03:13 Bob defines abundance 05:12 How generosity can change your life 12:21 Tips for more generosity & abundance in your business 13:52 The ACE Process explained 17:00 Bob's life-changing 9/11 story 33:22 Building generosity culture in your organization

Bob Ferguson threatens legal action against two other Bob Ferguson's who filed for governor – and the conservative watchdog who pulled the stunt. unDivided takes you to the University of Washington as pro-Israel rally marches on pro-Palestine encampment. Another brutal attack on public transit. Sequim hosts the patriotic dance team canceled by woke activists.

Antoinette Pitt used to roadie for 73 Bob Bob and was Australia's first female wrestling referee. She is a woman of many surprises. Antoinette is a nurse and an executive for Australian Progressives who have 6 pillars of E's: Ethics + Empathy + Evidence + Equality + Engagement + Empowerment. Learn all about Antoinette's goth phase in Lilydale and her time as an apprective spray painter. Antoinette is a '77 baby. Thanks for being our lovely guest, Antoinette!progressives.org.auAntoinette chatting in studio 1 at 3CR.

●YouTube影片● https://voh.psee.ly/5rfh7g ●FB粉專影片 ● https://voh.pse.is/5rfh8c 本集主題：律師人生 訪問：嚴柏顯-市井律師BOB 從小普普通通，憑著堅持認真向上的「市井律師BOB」，本名嚴柏顯。 因為野蠻生長的背景，更能體會每一個需求背後的原因，挺身而出。認真研究案件，誠懇服務市井，同理訴訟過程的心理煎熬，讓每一場仗都是應許之戰，做你的堅強後盾。 弘人法律事務所 主持律師 政治大學勞工研究所　碩士 輔仁大學法律系　學士 #李基銘 #李基銘主持人#fb新鮮事#生活有意思#快樂玩童軍 #廣播之神#廣播之神李基銘#漢聲廣播電台 YouTube頻道，可以收看 https://goo.gl/IQXvzd podcast平台，可以收聽 SoundOn　https://bit.ly/3oXSlmF Spotify　https://spoti.fi/2TXxH7V Apple　https://apple.co/2I7NYVc Google　https://bit.ly/2GykvmH KKBOX　https://bit.ly/2JlI3wC Firstory　https://bit.ly/3lCHDPi 請支持粉絲頁 李基銘主持人粉絲頁：  / voh.lee  李基銘的影音頻道粉絲頁：  / voh.video  廣播之神李基銘：  / voh.god  Fb新鮮事新聞報粉絲頁：  / voh.fbnews  漢聲廣播電台「快樂玩童軍」節目粉絲頁：  / voh.scout 

Navigating the promises and pitfalls of the agency-client relationship. Discover strategies for aligning expectations, establishing boundaries, and crafting clarity around goals, metrics, and shared vision. The key to success? Honest communication, mutual understanding, and a relationship built on trust and partnership. Summary: In this week's episode, the guys delve into the nuances of managing client expectations and optimizing the agency-client relationship. Bob kicks things off by highlighting the disconnect that can occur when clients request general awareness and agencies deliver specific metrics. Ken emphasizes that agencies can only control their expertise, not guaranteed outcomes, since external factors also influence results. Brad shares an example where a client disregarded research recommendations, then blamed the agency when their gut instinct didn't pan out. Bob advocates for an immersion day to align on goals and strategy before engagement. Ken argues that clients should view agencies more like employees, carefully vetting values and vision. He notes that in successful past relationships, mutual philosophy and respect were key. Brad stresses empathy for clients' high-stakes position while hiring agencies. Bob recommends using tools like HumanIK to analyze clients' psychological profiles and craft tailored communication. In closing, the guys encourage honest, ongoing dialogue to establish shared expectations and boundaries. Keeping clients' ultimate aims top of mind, whether fame or fortune, can help agencies LEAD expectations by forging trust, partnership and clarity. Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode: Agencies: Guide, Don't Guarantee. Agencies should view themselves as experts and guides, not miracle workers promising guaranteed outcomes. While skilled advisors can absolutely influence results, many external factors also contribute to an agency's impact. Establish reasonable expectations by being upfront about what your expertise can and cannot control. Guide clients to success without overpromising uncontrollable results. Clients: Seek Shared Values, Not Just Skills. When hiring an agency, look beyond just skills to carefully assess if their values, vision and problem-solving philosophy align with yours, as you would with a new employee. Shared principles and mutual respect create the foundation for successful relationships, not just temporary wins. Avoid viewing agencies as interchangeable vendors to be swapped out. Seek out an agency that is a true fit. Both: Define Success in Their Language. Switchtracking wastes time and fractures trust. Make sure you're speaking the same language when defining goals and metrics for success. Agencies: Interpret marketing-speak into practical business aims clients care about. Clients: Articulate your ultimate definitions of victory. Laser focus on shared communication pays dividends. For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders About The Guys: Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from 2000-2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob: Bob on LinkedIn Bob on Twitter Bob on Instagram Bob on Facebook   Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic Brad on Twitter Brad on Instagram Brad on Facebook   Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken: Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV Ken on Twitter Ken on Instagram Ken on Facebook Show Highlights: [1:42] Brad introduces the topic of managing client expectations around results when working with agencies. [3:18] Ken discusses how agencies can only control their expertise, not guarantee outcomes. [5:39] Brad shares an example where a client disregarded research recommendations, then blamed the agency when it didn't work. [8:20] Ken argues clients should view agencies like employees, carefully vetting values and vision. [11:37] Brad stresses empathy for clients' high-stakes position while hiring agencies. [17:47] Brad highlights the difference between what clients say and what they actually want. [22:11] Ken emphasizes the importance of mutual philosophy and respect in successful agency-client relationships. [28:55] Bob advocates for defining perfect customer criteria to evaluate fit. [32:13] Brad discusses the high-risk stakes for clients hiring agencies. [33:40] Ken compares hiring an agency to hiring an employee. [38:38] Bob recommends using HumanIK to analyze clients' communication styles. [41:16] Brad suggests identifying red flags early to navigate new client relationships. [42:36] Bob reminds listeners to like, subscribe and check out the new 3-camera format on YouTube.

On-The-Road-With-Bob-Bob Davis Podcast 1115 On the road with Bob is an answer to a question. Above all it’s the most asked question to me. What’s it like on the road. Crazy Even more listeners and subscribers have the impression nomad life is nothing but crazy situations and people. By all means listen to this podcast […] Read more The post On-The-Road-With-Bob-Bob Davis Podcast 1115 appeared first on The Bob Davis Podcasts.

From time to time, in addition to having stimulating conversations here on Unstoppable Mindset, I am asked to appear on podcasts created by others. One such podcast, Grit, Grace, and Inspiration is based out of Florida and has as its host, Kevin Lowe. I knew little about Kevin's story until he and I talked on his podcast. I knew I had to invite him to be a guest here. He graciously accepted.   Kevin is in his 30s. At the age of 17, he was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor. When the tumor was removed Kevin lost his eyesight.   What makes Kevin's story somewhat unique and certainly inspiring is that he chose not to give up, but to live. He will tell us about his challenges, not only related to blindness but also from other issues, and how he overcame everything.   Kevin is as unstoppable as anyone can be. He lives, thrives, and grows as you will see. I hope you enjoy our episode.     About the Guest:   In his 30s, Kevin Lowe has become a shining example of strength, resilience, and optimism. Despite losing his sight after a life-saving brain tumor surgery in 2003 at just 17 years of age, Kevin has blossomed into a Life & Business Coach and the engaging host of the popular podcast, Grit, Grace, & Inspiration. His passion for positivity, growth, and connection has touched countless lives, leaving a profound impact on all who encounter him. Embracing his new reality, Kevin found solace in his faith and the love of his family. Their unwavering support and his strong belief in the goodness of people have helped him navigate life's challenges with grace. Today, Kevin is a beacon of hope and encouragement, always acknowledging the role his faith and family have played in his journey. As a coach, Kevin's unique perspective helps him to empower his clients to overcome their own challenges and achieve their fullest potential. With a knack for forging deep connections and fostering transformative growth, he has made a lasting impression in the personal development world. Grit, Grace, & Inspiration, Kevin's podcast, is a treasure trove of motivation and personal growth. Through captivating interviews and heartfelt discussions, he shares valuable insights on resilience, perseverance, and embracing the beauty of life's challenges. Kevin's dedication to making a positive impact and uplifting others in the face of adversity truly embodies the spirit of a true leader. With his inspiring story and contagious optimism, Kevin Lowe is redefining what it means to live a life well lived – one where leaving an impact and making a difference matters more than anything else.   Ways to connect with Kevin: Website: https://GritGraceInspiration.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grit-grace-inspiration-keeping-a-positive-mindset/id1511704034 Single Promo Link: (1 Page with links to my podcast on all platforms) http://ListenAnywhere.today     About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.     Transcription Notes     Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i  capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Hi there, and we're glad that you decided to join us today on unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet and whatever else comes along. But that's probably in the unexpected part. I want to really thank you for being here. Really glad that you're with us. And hoping that you're having a good day, our guest today. My colleague in crime and conversation today is Kevin Lowe. And I was on a podcast that Kevin did. And I told him that the cost for me being on his podcast was that he had to come on unstoppable mindset. And he bought into that so we suckered him. So you know, what more can you ask for Kevin? Welcome. How are you?   Kevin Lowe ** 02:02 I am glad to be here, man. I'm glad to be here. And then to be honest, for a minute, I thought, oh, my gosh, I have to cancel this interview right away. But then now I guess I can afford the cost of having to be on your show as well.   Michael Hingson ** 02:16 You'll suffer through it. Right. Exactly. Yeah. Well, we're we're really glad that you're here. And it's always fun. And I understand that where you are down in Florida. You're having typical summer Florida sunshine. Yeah, yeah. California sunshine, right.   Kevin Lowe ** 02:33 Yeah, sunshine with a mix of thunderstorms. So yes, it never   Michael Hingson ** 02:38 rains in Southern California. But here we are. Well, let's start with the way I love to start. Tell us a little bit about you growing up what life was like and just all about Kevin, and we'll go from there.   Kevin Lowe ** 02:54 Yeah. So you know, I really have a really blessed childhood. Honestly. You know, I grew up I was born and raised here in Ormond Beach, Florida. Which for those who are a little bit more familiar with Daytona Beach, Florida, which is about an hour east of Orlando grew up right here in this little beachside town and had a great childhood grew up riding dirt bikes, and four wheelers hunting and fishing and, and all the things you know, my biggest loves was was riding dirt bikes. And literally on my fourth birthday, I got my first dirt bike and it was so little that it even have training wheels on it. And my my my parents and stuff, they would get a kick out of it, because I'd be riding around the yard and the training wheel would hit a pile and I topple over.   Michael Hingson ** 03:50 And button to the ends. Of course, yeah.   Kevin Lowe ** 03:54 Well, what Well, of course, you know, but, you know, it was it was really good. And that really, you know, the dirt bike, I don't think they had any clue what that birthday present would do. But really that would become my life for my childhood was was riding dirt bikes. It was something I did with my dad. And so we would go camping in the woods for a week at a time doing nothing but writing every single day. And and coming up in my teenage years when I turned 16 Of course the the love for dirt bikes turned to the love of the idea of getting a track you know, when I turned 16 And and I had that I did indeed I got a it was a Ford. What was it was a 96 Ford F 154 by four so was was lifted with big mud tires. And it was it was literally a 16 year old boy's dream truck and you know fuel economy out the window You know, practicality, not a bit of it. It was just big, loud and could go in the mud and, you know, have some fun.   Michael Hingson ** 05:10 And the other side of that, of course, is though, with a truck like that, and being in high school didn't impress the girls.   Kevin Lowe ** 05:17 Well, well, of course it impresses. Yeah. Why, of course it especially when, when you'd give anybody a ride in the tract, of course, they would get scared to death. Because when you chuck that high, as you're making turns, they think you're gonna topple over. And you know, and so, it gives that gives everybody a whole lot of fun, you know, but, so that was life, you know, was was great. Now, I did have, you know, some different issues, I would, I started to call them health issues, but we didn't even really know that they were, quote, unquote, health issues. It was just problems I had had like headaches, I always had headaches, literally, from the time I was a toddler, and they were horrible migraine headaches. around kindergarten, I think it was I failed the eye test at school. And so I had to get glasses. And so I started wearing glasses and had the headaches and, and going up through those like middle school years and stuff, my mom would always tell my pediatrician, you know, you don't understand he drinks more than any human you'll ever see. You know, I mean, I can remember my grandmother, my Nana, she'd picked me up from school, I'd come home, and I would down an entire picture of tea, you know, and then go on to you know, glasses of water could never drink enough. And all of these were signs of something that we had no idea about. And coming up in my junior year of high school. So So now I've been driving for a year I work at Publix as a bag, boy, you know, things are going good. But here I am 17 years old, turned 17, about two months after the start of school. And yeah, I'm still this little kid, I hadn't started growing. I'm only five foot three, still having these headaches. And finally my mom and my grandmother had enough and they're like, listen, something has to be done. And so they got me switched to a new doctor. And that new doctor, he was just another family doctor, but he took one look at me will look at my chart and was like there's something not right. And so that would kind of put forth this kind of just whirlwind of an adventure we would embark on. And that was discovering that I had a brain tumor. And my mom got the call from from the endocrinologist on a Friday evening to tell her that the results of the MRI came in, and that it was worse than he ever expected that it was indeed a brain tumor. It was a cranial Ferengi Oma. So thankfully, it was non cancerous. But literally, they said that I had six months to live if this tumor was not removed. And so it had completely encased my pituitary gland, which your pituitary controls all of your body's hormones. That's why it wasn't growing. You know, that's why I wasn't going through puberty, all of those things. It was also in the crosshairs of my optic nerve, and had begun pressing against my carotid artery. And so it was horrible news, it was devastating. But we were assured by the leading pediatric neurosurgeon in the country, we were assured by him that it's no problem. He's like, we're gonna go in, we're going to remove the tumor, you'll be back to school in about three to four weeks, and you'll continue on with life. And, you know, I often joke and say that at that time, the most upsetting part of it was that he told me I would not be able to ride my four wheeler for six months. And so, you know, but life continued, you know, life was going to continue and I had fun with it. I named my tumor Bob Bob the tumor. And so we had a going away Bob party with me and my whole family.   Michael Hingson ** 09:35 And did you have siblings?   Kevin Lowe ** 09:38 I did a sister. Okay. Yeah, I have a sister My sister is five years older than me. And so yeah, so I mean it was was really set up to be okay and then you know, I'm, I'm back in high school telling all my buddies you know, haha, see you later suckers. Enjoy trigonometry. I'm out of here, you know, and we go in The surgery was October 28 2003 was surgery day. And I tell people that on that day my, my life stopped. And a new life began. Um, nothing went right from that point forward. I had the surgery, they, the doctor came out, told my family that everything, you know, went great that the surgery was a success. And that it was I mean, the tumor was removed, it saved my life. But I believe it was maybe the second day or third day after surgery. I'm still in intensive care unit. You know, I have no memory of any time after being wheeled into the operating room. My memory doesn't pick up until months later. So all I know about this time is the stories that have been told by my family and, and my mom is the one who always tells the story that she was in the room at this particular moment. And the doctor, the neurosurgeon had made his rounds. And he's in the room with my mom. And he was was talking to me, and apparently I was very combative. And apparently I had one of those pulse ox machines on my toe. Well, apparently I kept ripping the thing off. So the doctor, he was pointing to the pulse ox machine, and apparently it had a baby a little blinking red light on it. And he said to me, he's like, Kevin, do you see this light? You don't touch this? Do you see the light? Well, my mom said that I said, No, I don't see anything. At that moment, he looked at my mom, my mom was at him. And he walked over and he flipped on the light switch. And he started flipping it on and off on orphans like Kevin, do you see the light? And I said, No, no, it's just black. It's just black. And it was at that moment that they found out that I couldn't see. So I came out of that surgery to be left completely blind. So I have no light perception, no shapes or shadows, nothing of the sort. I also lost my ability to smell had short term memory loss for oh gosh, at least a good like six months after surgery. And literally just began this this whole new life. And, you know, for a long, long time, you know, I thought it was really the blindness that was my greatest disability. Well, I came to realize over the years that it's really more than the blindness, it's the effects that the tumor had on my my endocrine system or with my pituitary gland. Being now paying hypo pit where I have to take all these medications to try to replace and do what the body's supposed to do naturally, which is always a very poor alternative. And, you know, it leaves me kind of struggling a lot of times, but I learned to to continue, you learn to adapt, you keep moving forward. And even though things were hard, I kept pushing forward. And I never went back to school, the rest of that junior year. Instead, I would have my mom would drop me off at my, my Nana's house in the morning, she would go on to work. And I had a group of teachers who would come it was part of a program called hospital homebound. And I had Mrs. Scott who taught me my school subjects. I had Mrs. David who taught me how to read Braille and how to use a talking computer. And then I had Mrs. Toth who taught me how to start getting around with a cane. And those three women were literally like three angels who entered our lives. And they were amazing. And they were so good with me now. Luckily, I was really good in school, I was already pretty much set up to graduate. So that was made life easier. Especially because, you know, like I said I had short term memory loss. So, you know, here I would be learning about school subjects. They would leave and I'd say to my Nana, when is Muscat coming? Every round and I was like, wow, I can tell that that just really sank in real well what we just learned. But ultimately what happened is is through it all. I was able to make it back to school for the start of my senior year. And I just Just went back for one class a day, we had a block scheduling. So it was four classes a day instead of the normal six or seven. And so I went back for just one class a day. And the rest I did back at home with the same same teachers. Ultimately, I did what I had a goal to do. Now, I hated school, never liked it would rather be sick with the with the flu and get to stay home, they go to school, yet, for some reason, from the time I became blind, I kept telling everybody that I just want to be able to graduate with my class, I just want to be able to graduate with with my class. And I did it. I literally walked across the stage of my high school graduation. And I think that was a pivotal moment for me. I don't think that I, I know I didn't realize that at the time. And matter of fact, I didn't realize it till years and years later. I think how impactful that moment was, but for myself, my faith is a big part of my my story. And, and I believe in all of my heart that God was the one who put that desire to graduate on my heart. And that God wanted to show me that even in this new life, even though things are different, even though things may be difficult, you can still do great things.   Michael Hingson ** 16:31 I'll bet you got lots of cheers when you walked across that stage.   Kevin Lowe ** 16:35 I did. I did. It was pretty darn awesome.   Michael Hingson ** 16:39 Yeah, because you obviously went through a lot and people were aware of it and sensitive enough to it that when you walked across that stage, it must have been a wonderful thing.   Kevin Lowe ** 16:49 Yeah, yeah, it was it was. It was pretty cool. It was it was pretty cool. I must admit,   Michael Hingson ** 16:55 yeah. What kind of a grade point average did you have? Um, I   Kevin Lowe ** 16:59 can't remember what I graduated with. But I was always on a roll. I mean, I was always right up there. And like the, you know, 3.8 You know, your GPA. So? Yeah, well,   Michael Hingson ** 17:11 so you graduated. So? That must have been? What in like, 88   Kevin Lowe ** 17:18 Oh, goodness, no, that was not 85 2005   Michael Hingson ** 17:20 I miscalculated. Sorry about that. How old are you? That's right. You had a tumor surgery in 2000. Late 2003. So yeah, okay. Yeah. I was just listening to the story. All right. So you're an old fellow. So when 85 You graduated? And, obviously, well, what happened to the truck?   Kevin Lowe ** 17:48 So so my dad, my dad kept my truck for, for a while, I can't remember how long he kept it. And he, you know, it was so unexpected. No one ever expected this to happen. I mean, it wasn't even in the cards. And so, I mean, it took it took a toll on on not just me, but my whole family. And for a long time. I wasn't the only one who kept thinking that this was temporary, that there's going to be a doctor, there's going to be a surgery or procedure, a medicine, something somewhere in the world that's going to fix me that I'm gonna get my sight back. And my dad, he, he kept my truck for a while and, and he would drive it and pick me up in it. And he always told me that he was keeping it for me. And finally, the one day I, I told him, I said, Dad, I said, Listen, I said, if the day comes that I can see again, I want a brand new truck. I said, get rid of this thing, sell it, let somebody else get to enjoy it. And then, you know, I told him, I said, You don't gotta keep it from me. Because I told him I said, trust me, five, get the marillac miraculous recovery that I'm looking for. I'm going down to Ford and getting a brand new one. So there you go.   Michael Hingson ** 19:20 What did they decide actually happened that caused your blindness? So you had the surgery and they felt it was successful? I would think that they were a little bit surprised that you suddenly couldn't see or were they?   Kevin Lowe ** 19:35 So yes, um, so apparently, I guess my optic nerve had already begun to atrophy. And there's a consensus that what happened is when the tumor was removed, that it caused a trauma shock to the optic nerve. Another thing that is And I've been told about was that they feel as though the optic nerve had been tunneling blood through the tumor, it had basically become, you know, part of it. And so again, when that tumor was removed, it kind of cut off that blood supply, it caused trauma to the nerve, causing it, causing it to atrophy, causing it to die. As I said, my Oh, go ahead, go ahead. Um, you know, the biggest thing has always just been is I remember in all the, the after MRIs that I kept having, because when they took the tumor out, there had to be this one little piece left. And so I kept having MRIs afterwards to be sure that that wasn't growing back. And it didn't, it continued to die off. And, and I can remember in every office visit, I go into the, the pediatric endocrinology or the pediatric neurosurgeons office, and if I can remember that man, he always just said he, he would sit there, and he would literally cry with being my mom, this man who's just at the top of the top in terms of the medical system, this leading, leading pediatric neurosurgeon to the country. And yet he would sit there and cry, and he would say, everything is there, everything is intact. I see from the results, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to see. And I always told him, it was a God's plan. I don't know why either. But I came to realize that, for whatever reason, it was a God's plan. And that's, that's what I truly believe.   Michael Hingson ** 21:52 So you graduated high school, which clearly was also part of God's plan. And then what did you do?   Kevin Lowe ** 22:01 So the years after graduating, where a lot of just honestly learning to kind of live again, you know, I tell people that, you know, I was, in an essence, almost, I felt like I was brought back down to a child, you know, here I was, you know, a quote unquote, child when it happened, but I had independence, you know, I had my own car could come and go as I wanted to do what I wanted, I was independent. And, you know, I lost that. And, again, just the health issues that I was dealing with, with, with the surgery and everything, it was a lot. And so a lot of those years after were spent at my Nana's house, like I said, my mom, you know, my dad, they'd be working and, and I would stay at Nana's. And while they are, though, I did some classes, thank goodness, where I live, right near Daytona Beach, is we have a huge blind center there, have a division of Blind Services Center for the visually impaired, have, I believe the world's largest braille book library, all these resources that before this happened, never even knew existed. And so I was so fortunate that I mean, it was so easy for me to go in and take classes and get help. And so, so I started doing some different classes, learning more about technology, doing stuff, I would end up going to our local community college. And that, that was short lived. As I said, I wasn't a fan of school to begin with now make it a little bit more difficult. And have me trying to line up aims to be in class with me, as notetakers was a total just train wreck. The aides wouldn't show up, or if they didn't show up. They were talking in class and doing everything other than than actually helping me. And so, you know, I would end up having to literally do classes with, with my family members. I mean, thank goodness, I had a cousin my same age who was in college, so I made sure to sign up for some of the same classes she was in, so that she could be my aide. And it was just, it was crazy. And finally, I just I'd had enough and so I'm like, Okay, I don't leave this is the route for me. And, and, and so I can't remember what really much happened like after that, but I just kept trying to live and not really sure what I was going to do. Like I said, I mean, it was such a blow because everything that I had ever thought that I might have wanted to do as a career with my life was was now out no more. Every, every just bit of me was just torn down. As I tell people that the only two things that I had, were were my faith and my family. And literally everything else I felt like was taken from me for a long time. And then finally, one day, I got asked to take part in a job readiness program that was offered through the local center for the visually impaired. And it was said that at the end of this job readiness program, they would set you up with an internship at you know, whatever business that you know, maybe interested you. So I'm like, Okay, I was a little apprehensive, but what I had signed up to do it, what the heck, yeah, exactly what the heck, let's give it a shot. So I was in there. To be quite honest, the job readiness program was a little silly. I felt like some of the stuff was a little Elementary. But I had a good time, because I made friend with two old guy who were in there. One of them, which was a guy from Puerto Rico, I think is where he originally was from, was living here in Florida as a plumber. So we talked all about, you know, handyman stuff. And another guy was in there was like a former gangster out of New York. And he was a total character. And so the three of us would just kind of sit in the classroom and have a good time together. And at the end of it, though, and this job readiness program, I had the opportunity to get an internship at a job. And so sitting down with them, you know, trying to figure out what my interests were, I had an interest in travel, and radio. And so traveling was something that I did all growing up into love to travel. And I realized that even after becoming blind, that I still love to travel, maybe even more so because, you know, no longer can I just watch the TV and see the sights. Now I actually have to go places and experience though. And so, lo and behold, they set me up with an internship at a local travel agency, and an internship at a local am a radio station. And in so I began those internships and oh, my gosh, I love them both. Both at the travel agency, I got to literally gotten to start working, helping the owners of this company, you know, we were booking cruises and working with, with, you know, all their clients, which they specialized in seniors, they had their, what was it called sensational senior socials. So, so it's all these old people coming in, and they were so sweet. And, and so I was doing that. But at the same time, I'm working at the am radio station. So I would have to be there from 6am to 9am. I worked on the morning drive, and they didn't really, they didn't really know what to do with me. Because at first they put me in a little side booth and, and I'm on my computer, and I'm supposed to find like local news stories for us to talk about, well, soon enough, they realized, let's just bring Kevin in the studio. So I literally sat in the studio on the morning drive with the host of the show, the guy Dave who worked the controls, and then a co host. And literally, I got to be part of the show. And so, you know, they'd be talking about mostly political issues and stuff and and I always had an opinion on something and and I can remember the the host he would he'd see me over the corner kind of chuckle and laugh at and you Kevin you got some input on this and you know, I'm so I pipe in and be on the radio show. And I loved it. Absolutely loved it. And so though react Yeah, it was great. It was great. But into the internship are both places. They went nowhere.   Michael Hingson ** 29:11 They went nowhere. Nowhere before we go on how was your your Braille so you did learn braille and so on. How How did you end do you do it Braille because you know, you didn't learn it as a very young child.   Kevin Lowe ** 29:24 So I learned braille really quick, really fast. My my teacher even told me that I learned braille faster than anyone she had ever had. And so I did really good with Braille. But then, of course, if you don't use it, you lose it. And so welcome technology, good or bad. I stopped using braille. And I mean, today I know my grade one Braille but the contracted form, you know, headache, so   Michael Hingson ** 29:56 yes,   Kevin Lowe ** 29:57 yeah, of course.   Michael Hingson ** 29:59 But you did travel? Um, well, you you were able to get around and and how did you get like to the travel agency into the radio station every day?   Kevin Lowe ** 30:07 Yeah, those were primarily I did primarily, you know, a family member. Generally, it was one of my grandparents, either my grandfather, the radio station was right near his work. So he would drop me off in the morning. And then my grandma would pick me up, or I would also use transport, like service like, I don't know, we didn't even have like, Uber and stuff back then. But we had some different transport. Yeah, yeah. But so those internships ended in. I'm back at square one. I'm like, What the heck do I do. And so I come to find out about this idea of starting a home based travel agency. And so that's what I did. So January of 2013, I opened my own home based business, it was called better days travel. And I grew and operated my own home based travel agency. And I did that up until 2020. And I loved it. Now, I won't say that I felt like it was probably what I was, you know, maybe say, quote unquote, meant to do. But I didn't know what else I was supposed to do. And I knew that I enjoyed it. And I enjoyed getting to, for one thing, get to grow a business. You know, I grew up with, with my parents, both being entrepreneurs owning their own businesses. And so to have this opportunity to get to be an owner of my own business as well, operating right out of my home was amazing for me, what kind of businesses did they have. So my, my dad, he had when I was was really young, he had a big massive construction company with all kinds of employees and stuff, he then downsized had a bearing shops, and so the ball bearings, bolt saw that the hoses and, and you know, all kinds of different stuff like that. And then he ended up switching over to just operating himself with a bulldozer, so he's a heavy equipment operator. Then my mom, my mom is had had the whole time as a, as I was a teenager, she had her own property management company. And so, so I grew up with him, you know, he said with having their own businesses, and so getting to start my own business was was really something that was amazing for me, and I got to build this brand, build this company. And like I said, I saw I really did really well with that rockin and rollin up until 2020. And, you know, of course, you know, the story hasn't 2020 was going to be my best year on record. And then, of course, March of 2020 came, and everything fell apart.   Michael Hingson ** 33:06 So I'm curious as a travel agent, not so my wife was a travel agent for a number of years. She was a travel agent when we got married. So while you are a travel agent, and I don't know whether it happened as an intern, but certainly once you built your own home business, were you ever able to go on any fam trips and go to look at places?   Kevin Lowe ** 33:26 Yes, yes, I did. I did. Yes. Probably one of the most impactful trips that I've ever been on was was one of these trips that you're talking about, that was with another guy who I had been working with in the in the travel industry, and he invited me to go with him on a fam trip to Jamaica. And so it was my first time traveling out of the country. I had been on cruises before, but this was my first time like actually flying somewhere out of the country. And it was my first time traveling without a family member with me. And so, you know, but I I you know, had a really great relationship with this with this guy. And so I jumped on the opportunity. And so we went to Jamaica, and oh my gosh, we got to tour the whole island. We went to all the different resorts. The resort we stayed It was absolutely incredible. Which one Had we stayed at? We were at. Oh, my goodness. What is the name of Moon Moon Palace? Yeah, yeah, it was a Yeah, what is it? Yeah, Moon Moon Grand Palace, something like that. So I know that they have a they have a same kind of property over in Mexico. And I think that's called like moon and I think the one in Jamaica has maybe called a moon grant or something.   Michael Hingson ** 34:51 My my wife took a fam trip to hedonism, which is I think, in Jamaica was yeah, some sandals invited me along. But we did go on some some fam trips together she let me come on. Yeah, a few of them, which was really great. And then we we did do cruising. Yeah had some opera she actually went to cruise because she had booked a number of cruises on what was at that time sit Mar, which became part of princess but she had some limited options because being in a wheelchair the early days of well, and I wouldn't say early days of cruising, but back in the 80s, and so on. There weren't a lot of accessibility options on ships. And that did change over time. But you know, we did go even on a ship that was inaccessible, the fare sky was a Sigmar ship. And there were like six inch sills, you had to go over to get into the cabins and so on. But again, since I was with her, then I could wheel her over those. And then the next ship we we were on was, I think called the Fair sea. And that one actually had an accessible room. And so that was one of the reasons we got to be on that ship. And to do the fam trip on that, because it was totally accessible. It was great. Yeah,   Kevin Lowe ** 36:12 yeah, absolutely. And I tell you, I mean, cruising, I fell in love with cruising, you know, with my family, and then, but it's just traveling in general. Experiencing just the world, the people, that's what made me fall in love with Jamaica, was the people. And I'm the person who, who I remember the day on that trip to Jamaica, where we were touring, all these different resorts we are out, like, all day long, well, well, there was a couple of them that I really didn't have any interest in, you know, for one reason or another. And so, I had made friends with our driver that day. And so I, you know, told a couple of times, I'm like, Hey, I'm just gonna sit in here, you know, and me and him, and we would talk and I learned all about, you know, their culture and how they pressure cook, go, and, you know, all this stuff. And, and, you know, that's what did when, when I would book travel is that is I tried to get through to my clients was booking travel to experience a destination and not just going to see it. You know, and so yeah, that was   Michael Hingson ** 37:22 why I asked the question about taking a fam trip, because yes, that way, you really had the experience.   Kevin Lowe ** 37:28 Exactly, absolutely.   Michael Hingson ** 37:31 So 2020 came, March of 2020 came, and those little things from wherever they came from, came along and invaded all of our world. Yes, so what? So what happened to you, then what, what did you do? Because that clearly had an impact on you? And what you were doing?   Kevin Lowe ** 37:55 Yes, yes,   Michael Hingson ** 37:56 unless you can sell a lot of virtual travel. But   Kevin Lowe ** 38:00 exactly, well, well, it didn't need so. So as I had said, that was gonna be my best year on record. And yet, inside of one week, everything disappeared. All the bookings cancelled. And it was at that point, you know, we're all now in lockdown, were in quarantine. And I didn't know what I was going to do. You know, of course, none of us did. We didn't know how long it was going to last we thought it was temporary. And so you know, luckily, I had built you know, this amazing, you know, community in the travel industry. And, and so we're just all trying to rally each other together. Well, finally, I decided, You know what, it's, you know, what, this is the perfect opportunity for me to finally start that YouTube channel I've been thinking about. And so I get my sister together, and Mike. And so start going on Amazon and start ordering equipment to start, you know, being able to film YouTube videos. Well, finally, the one day it kind of hits me as I'm starting to order stuff, I'm starting to get stuff in the mail. Is it just kind of had that that light bulb moment was, Kevin, if Tiffany is not here to help you. You can't do this on your own. You're not going to be good filming yourself walking around doing whatever. And so I kind of had that moment like, Oh, crap, what am I going to do? And, and my YouTube, you know, stardom, you know, is just dashed. And so I'm telling my sister about it. And she says, you know, why don't you do a podcast and I'm like, What is a podcast? So she tells me and I'm like, Tiffany, that sounds like a really lame alternative to a YouTube channel.   Michael Hingson ** 39:47 You know, little did I   Kevin Lowe ** 39:49 know, I start listening to podcasts. And it didn't take long for me to realize, Kevin, you just found your space the world of Audio, where everybody who listens to podcasts gets to be blind. So now I will see the podcast about how to start a podcast. And so low Behold, May of 2020, I launched a podcast. And I called, it was called the lowdown on life and travel. Because at the time, I still thought that I was going to be a travel agent. And so the podcast was going to talk about me, as a blind travel agent, it also just focusing on travel, keeping the dream alive for people is what my intention was. And so I kept running with that. And I'm starting to release episodes. And you know, I mean, if you go back and you listen to any of your beginning ones, now, you cringe like nobody's business, and you think to yourself, how did I ever think that was any good? Yeah, at the time you thought, Man, this is this is how to really good? Well, I kept getting really good feedback. And as I was going along, I kept getting really great feedback, especially the interviews I was doing. And so 2020 is marching along. And we're coming into, I guess, probably like the fall of 2020. And I'm starting to get people inquiring about travel again. And I didn't know what this podcasting journey was going to do, where it was going to leave. But all I knew was at this moment, I didn't want to book another trip, to then have to cancel it. And so I found myself kind of turning people away. And then I realized, you know what, I have to have to do something different. I don't want to do travel. And so the podcast, I kept having these interviews with people, and I was having these really in depth interviews. And I think by this point, I had rebranded the podcast for the first time. So it went from the lowdown on life and travel to the lowdown with Kevin Allah. And I was focusing on just, you know, inspiring stories and, and, you know, personal growth, development, stuff like that. And so, I'm having these interviews with people. And I keep having people tell me, at the end of our interview, that I asked them questions that no one ever asked them, or that I see part to their story that no one else ever sees before, or all these different little things like that I even had one lady told me, she said, the only person who's ever fit those two pieces together before, you know, was my psychiatrist. And I kept having people talk to me about, you know, you should really think about being your coach. Well, again, kind of like podcasting. I had no idea what coaching even once, and only coaching, I never heard of what's the PE coach. And so I started kind of learning about that. And times marching on, we're now obviously, on moving down the months. And I don't even know what year it was, I guess, now 2021, I started exploring some different options, didn't really know the coaching thing, was doing some different little work with the computer and didn't really sure what was happening. And then then things finally kind of came together. And I finally realized what I loved. And it was being able to work with people talk with people, just like I do on the podcast. But now I actually really get to help them, not just interview them. And so it led to me being a transformation coach, which is what I do today.   Michael Hingson ** 43:59 So tell me a little bit more about what it means to be a transformation coach.   Kevin Lowe ** 44:04 Yeah, so being transformation. Yeah, of course. So the biggest thing would be being a transformation coach is working with people who are kind of at that point in their life when when they want something more, they want to make a change, but they're scared to do it. They're maybe thinking about what lies on the other side of turning that page, starting a new chapter in life, and they're just haven't done it yet. And so I get to work with my clients. They're mostly women, who I work with. And, you know, as I say, I helped them to, to create, to embrace and ultimately step into their next best chapter of life, helping them to transform into this new life that they're wanting this new just stage of life. And that's that's what I do as a coach   Michael Hingson ** 45:02 And so have you have you seen some great successes at having done that love to learn, you know more about it and kind of hear some stories if you can about what, what you've been able to accomplish and so on with it.   Kevin Lowe ** 45:16 Yeah, absolutely. So, so I have had some really great experiences with clients, I developed a coaching program. So I don't just do like, say, one off sessions or whatever, because I did that at first. And then I realized that it really just doesn't serve the client to work with them one time, and then you know, them go on about life. So I do a three month coaching program, with each each client. And yeah, I've had some great success. As I said, most of my clients, if not, I think all of my clients so far have all been women, all women who are kind of later in life who are wanting to maybe explore a career change, that's most of them who they're in this season of life where they've, they've been through some stuff that has kind of opened their eyes, and where they just kind of want more out of life. And so helping them to realize that recognize it, and to see what needs to change in their life, for them to find that fulfillment. And a lot of times that is a career change. Or sometimes it doesn't have to be, it's just adding something to their life, that fulfills them, they have their work that you know, brings in the money and that they enjoy. But now adding on maybe it's a hobby, or maybe it's starting a you know, organization or taking up a craft making a side business. Something though that draws on their own experience. And you know, and that's, that's the biggest thing is helping them to really find fulfillment in this kind of new chapter of life that they're creating.   Michael Hingson ** 47:03 And one of the beauties of doing what you do, I assume is that you can do it virtually they don't need to come to where you are. Exactly, which clearly has to help. So what what kind of, you know, you're a blind guy, which is great. And so I'll ask this sort of principle, but what kind of technology do you use? How is technology helping you to do your job better?   Kevin Lowe ** 47:30 Yeah, so I, I'm a JAWS user. So I have   Michael Hingson ** 47:34 people who don't know, JAWS is what's called a screen reader. It's a piece of software that verbalizes whatever comes across the screen,   Kevin Lowe ** 47:41 exactly. So I rely on Jaws, which is installed on on my just normal Lenovo laptop. And then and then between that, and my iPhone, you know, with VoiceOver, literally, I feel like you can take on the world with with those two, two combined, you know, and so I mean, literally, can run my full business right from between my phone and my computer, the entire podcast that I produce, which, you know, I mean, I have a habit that goes out twice a week, every week, is literally what used to be a walk in closet is now a full blown recording studio. And, and that's the technology I use, you know, it's funny, after I went blind, I remember getting all different kinds of equipment, stuff that we would order or stuff that we would get through, you know, Blind Services, all these different things. Well, now with like the iPhone, oh my gosh, like, I just have a couple of apps on my phone, and it can do all kinds of stuff. And it just It blows my mind. Technology, as it advances is really, really incredible how, how now literally, with one app on my phone, you know, I can tell what color my shirt is, or I can, you know, read a barcode off the, you know, cat of soup to see what kind of soup it is. I mean, it's really fascinating. And, you know, technology is one of those things that you know, I I was never a big fan of say technology, you know, growing up, which I mean, I think I was blessed to the fact that there really wasn't, quote unquote, technology when I grew up. But you know, I never saw myself as somebody who, who would be so into technology, but becoming blind in with the advancements of technology. It's literally kind of a lifeline where it makes such a world of difference. And I mean, you know, it's it's just really awesome.   Michael Hingson ** 49:43 Well, I love to talk with people about technology, you bring up a very interesting thing. And one of the things that we talk about a lot on this podcast and that I do with people in general is that we have such a wrong concept of the term disability because Disability should not anymore mean a lack of ability. Disability is a characteristic. And I think you would probably agree with me if we discuss sighted people that they have a disability to, namely, that their disability is light dependence, they gotta have like affection. Yes. And Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb in 1879. That was, as the Americans with Disabilities Act would say, a reasonable accommodation to help light dependent people be able to see in the dark. And the reality is that there is so much technology around lighting and so on, that disability is mostly covered up, but it doesn't change the fact that it's there. And so, I try to help people put blindness in perspective, because we don't have that problem. And so we don't worry about that. We use other kinds of technologies. But the fact is, we all use technologies to mitigate the disabilities or carry some of the characteristics that we have. And so it's no different for you than anyone else. And I do love the fact. And I agree with you that the more you can simplify and not use too many things, the better it is, there are several blind people who I know will talk about going to school into college in the 80s, and well into the 90s and early 2000s. And we're Braille readers, but also use technologies for other things. And it was almost like you had to carry this, at least this big, huge rolling suitcase, to carry all the technology around with you. And now, of course, as you said, an iPhone with VoiceOver, which is the screen reader that Apple builds into it, unless you use an Android phone. And then there are a couple of options for that. But the fact is that the technology is going to get simpler, and there are things that we can do that we never thought that we could do before. But the reality is that technology is making that more possible to do. Yeah. And that's what we really want. So we we continue to grow with that. And we do what we have to do. So what is your podcast today?   Kevin Lowe ** 52:22 Yeah, so the podcast is called Grit, grace and inspiration. And basically, the whole point of the podcast is to be that place of of inspiration, of encouragement of empowerment, trying to remind people that you're not the only one who's going through stuff, that we're all going through stuff, and we can all get through it. And so I get to feature interviews with, with as I call them, the real the real superheroes of the world, the people who are overcoming life's challenges to keep living life. And I just find so much pleasure, so much joy and getting to share their stories with the world. And you know, and so so I do that. So, every week on Tuesday, I released an interview, and then every Thursday, I released a solo episode, in which, you know, it's just just be talking to just you. And both of those are related to a lot of just mindset stuff, or some different tactics to help somebody overcome some problems. Or it might be something that was kind of related to that week's interview, something that I wanted to expand on. So yeah, yeah, like so the podcast is called a grit, grace and inspiration. And I mean, I'm getting ready. At the time of this recording, I'm getting ready to release my 200th episode. So   Michael Hingson ** 53:55 that's pretty exciting. When did you start it?   Kevin Lowe ** 53:57 So this is the same podcast, I started back in May of 2020. So so it's been three years, and it was rebranded twice.   Michael Hingson ** 54:06 But it's 200. From back in 2020. Yes, yeah. Cool. Yeah. So do you do all your own behind the scenes work, like editing and all that sort of stuff with it?   Kevin Lowe ** 54:15 No, sir. No, I, I, when I started the podcast, the editing thing was, was something at first that I was trying to figure out, and I kept trying some different, you know, programs. And I'm like, This is so frustrating. I'm not going to do it. And so I went on to Fiverr Have you ever used Fiverr? I have. Okay, so I went on Fiverr. And I searched for, you know, podcast editor. I found podcast editor. And I still wish to work with her today. It's so so as I say that, you know, I record the podcast, and then she makes it sound good. So   Michael Hingson ** 54:55 we got to meet through a company called amplify you and Debbie who Is there their support person, and they also do podcasts work, so I actually work with them. But I started out when we began unstoppable mindset. They did the hosting, and so on. But I tried to edit the podcasts. And I use a digital audio workstation or editor called Reaper, which actually is very accessible. But as you would attest, it's time consuming. And I decided it really didn't make sense. And so using their services anyway, they did the editing and all that makes it a whole lot better. And so I don't have to worry about it. I do rely on using decent equipment for doing the recording. What kind of microphone do you use?   Kevin Lowe ** 55:47 Yeah, so I use a with the Rode RODE Procaster Oh, okay. Yeah. And then that goes into I have the interface of the Focusrite vo caster as my interface, which I mentioned it specifically because I can't remember what the what the interface I was using before it because this is an XLR microphone. So can't plug right into the computer. So I have the interface? Well, I have to say that the focus right vo caster is so amazing. Because it has tactile buttons on the device that are super easy to use nice tactile knobs. And then it's app that installs on your computer works with JAWS. And so I'm able to easily navigate through it and change the different settings. Be sure that my mic level was all set, which literally just means like, it's like hallelujah, it's accessible. And it works. And   Michael Hingson ** 56:46 it has gotten more accessible over this past year. They've done a lot of work to improve the interface, which is great.   Kevin Lowe ** 56:52 Yes, yeah. So yeah. And like you said, Man, I just I the podcasting thing yet, you know, I just fell in love with it. And I fell in love with it. For the simple fact that I'm like, if it wasn't for having a podcast, I never even would have known that all of these amazing people exist in the world. Yeah, you know, and I feel like I feel like in the world today, we're so inundated with, with drama with trauma with everything we hear is the doom and gloom. And to be quite honest, it's easy to feel like the world is falling apart, and there's no hope anymore. And so when you instead get to fill your day, by talking to people who are amazing, it just reminds you that there is hope in the world, that everybody is not out to get you that everybody's not killing one another, that there's some amazing people in this world. And you know, and I say, you know, the, when I knew that this was the right thing for me to do was what I kept finding myself being in different interviews. And I kept finding myself, just pray in thanking God for putting me in this position. That's what I knew. I'm like, Kevin, I don't know where this path is gonna lead. But you're on the right path. So keep following it.   Michael Hingson ** 58:14 So there are a lot of coaches in the world, what makes you different and a coach that people should relate to and use?   Kevin Lowe ** 58:23 Yeah, so you know, I think my biggest thing is the fact of, I just, I'm just a human, I'm just a friend. And that's the kind of people who I like to work with is the people who don't view me as a coach view me as the best friend who doesn't know you isn't judging you. It's just there for you, to help you to be your guide. And, you know, I mentioned that, you know, I work primarily with women. Well, you know, a lot of people asked me, Well, why is that? And they said, Well, I feel like I finally figured out what the purpose was of me growing up with a older sister and, and a single mom for a lot of the time and, and watching nothing but chick flicks and Ella men movies and hanging out with all of their girlfriends. Obviously, it was for something and I came to realize it's because it may be a guy who realizes that I'm able to just work with women better than I am with it. And, and my style of coaching I think does lends its hand better to you know, working with women where we're able to just kind of really go deep and figure out the underlying issues of what's going on what they really want, and, you know, work together to get them to where they want to be.   Michael Hingson ** 59:42 So do you have a significant other in your life?   Kevin Lowe ** 59:45 I don't, I don't, the closest thing I have is my 10 pound Shibu named Sophia.   Michael Hingson ** 59:52 Well, that's something to work toward. That's   Kevin Lowe ** 59:54 a yes. Oh, trust me. Yes, yes, yes. Yes. And that would be that would be amazing. Yeah. us   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:01 that too shall come at the appropriate time, I   Kevin Lowe ** 1:00:03 am sure exactly, exactly. Well, if people want to   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:07 reach out to you would like to talk to you about working with you, and so on. How do they do that?   Kevin Lowe ** 1:00:13 Yeah, the the best place to go is my website that will have all my contact information. And that is literally just grit, Grace inspiration.com. And so if you go to that website, grit, Grace inspiration.com There, you can check out the podcast, but you can also easily get in touch with me, there's a contact form, find my contact information. So that's probably the easiest place to start.   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:38 Grit Great Grace inspiration.com, I will tell you, he is also a great interviewer. And you can tell he is quite a good talker, which is good. So I urge you all to seek Kevin out. I think that, that there's a lot that he has to offer. And I am so glad that we got to do this today. Because there's a lot of life lessons to learn from everything that Kevin has talked about and talk about having an unstoppable mindset, no question that that Kevin has that now we do have to find them a girl or a woman actually. But you know, that's, that's a process we'll get there. But But definitely, I really appreciate you being here. And I am glad that we had to do this. And I hope that you listening also enjoyed this. And I would love it and appreciate it if you would give us a five star rating wherever you're listening to our podcast. I would also love it and appreciate it if you would reach out to me with any thoughts or if you happen to know of anyone who might be a good guest for our podcast, Kevin, you as well. You can reach me at Michaelhi at accessibe.com. That's m i c h a e l h i at a c c e s s i b e.com. and would love to hear from you. Also, you can go to our podcast page, which is www dot Michael hingson m i c h a e l h i n g s o n.com/podcast. Where you can just go to the website, Michael hingson.com. We'd love to hear from you. We have a contact form there. And by the way, if you ever need a speaker and Kevin, if you know anyone who needs a speaker, we do that traveling has started to pick up and so we're back to talking about September 11, and teamwork and trust and other things and would appreciate any any opportunity. So I want to thank you all for considering that. But mostly today. Kevin, I want to thank you one last time for being here. We really appreciate your time, and all the insights that you brought us.   Kevin Lowe ** 1:02:37 Well, thank you so much. It was a pleasure to be here.   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:44 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com. accessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Subtitle:  Dive into a world where business insights blend with the rhythm of excellence, as we unpack the essence of the "Messi Effect." Just as a catchy jingle sticks in your mind, on today's episode, we explore how aligning strengths and impeccable timing can revolutionize success. Join the guys as they discuss how to simplify the complex, fine-tune your abilities, and conduct your own symphony of achievement.    Summary: In this week's episode, the guys talk about their summer experiences, rest, value, profit, simplicity, and more. Ken shares his family's annual trip to upstate New York, emphasizing the significance of establishing deep familial connections in the Adirondacks. Brad delves into his newfound intentional rhythm for managing tasks and avoiding feeling overwhelmed. Bob describes his Florida vacation and the highlight of his summer – witnessing Lionel Messi's debut in MLS. He extrapolates important life and business lessons from Messi's approach, highlighting the value of understanding one's strengths, staying focused, and delivering when the time is right. The discussion shifts to business matters. Ken outlines positive changes his business has made, underlining the importance of proper pricing and recommending reframing the term "agency" to bring about transformative shifts. Ken introduces a tool called Harpa for analyzing longer texts and segues into the "Messi Effect," advising businesses to focus on their core strengths and remain within their expertise. The conversation touches on the tendency to overlook simple solutions and the value of practicing intentional simplicity. Brad observes that relentless busyness doesn't necessarily drive business growth, while Bob introduces the effort justification bias as it relates to focusing on strengths. Brad advocates for setting aside personal time to enhance creative flow and cognitive capabilities. Bob concludes the episode by stressing the need to balance and nurture both sides of the brain, preventing burnout and cognitive overload by renewing, resting, and reviving mental capacities.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Maximize the Messi Effect. By concentrating on unique strengths, mastering expertise, and delivering value strategically, you can achieve remarkable results. This approach prioritizes focus over dispersion, encouraging alignment with core competencies and seizing timely opportunities for impactful outcomes. “He knows his lane. He knows what he's good at. And he doesn't try to be anything. But when it's time for him to stand up, he delivers. He doesn't try to be all things and doesn't try to defend. His timing is impeccable. He's always passing, he's unselfish.” Seek out the simple. In the realm of business, valuing simplicity is a potent yet often overlooked strategy. Embracing simplicity cuts through the noise, unveiling efficient solutions. “It took me a long time to realize that we as humans are conditioned to think that the simple solution is not the right solution…The thing that you are really good at, just do a lot of that thing. So don't jump to the other side.” Create a rhythm to optimize your abilities. Establishing a consistent routine enhances efficiency and minimizes overwhelm. By aligning actions with energy levels, you unlock cognitive and creative potential. This rhythm becomes a reliable guide, smoothing the path to your goals. Take time to rest, enjoy nature, and use the other half of your brain. “In the creative space, the flow is what gets your juices going, but you have to shut everything out. Allow your brain to maximize its capability. It's soothing and healing.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:35] Brad opens this week's episode with the idea that the guys should have a jingle for Agency Exposed. [1:30] Bob asks the guys what they did this summer. [2:00] Ken talks about his family's trip to upstate New York to the Adirondacks and the value of putting down deep familial roots. “I've gone every year for my entire life. It's just a special place for us.” [7:55] Brad tells the guys about his new 1980 Porsche and his trips up to Michigan. [12:15] Brad also breaks down his new intentional rhythm he's been creating over the summer. “I feel like this summer I have been able to kind of just create more of a rhythm and it's been really helpful…there's a point where you start feeling overwhelmed, and you really don't know why. You have to stop and take a look at your day and try to figure out how do I do what I need to do, but not feel overwhelmed when I'm doing it?” [14:07] Bob talks about his vacations to Florida and his highlight of the summer, seeing Lionel Messi play his first MLS game. “There's just something amazing about watching people that are like the highest elite level of their game.” [18:05] Bob breaks down some important life and business lessons he's learned from Messi. “He knows his lane. He knows what He's good at. And he doesn't try to be anything. But when it's time for him to stand up, he delivers. He doesn't try to be all things and doesn't try to defend. His timing is impeccable. He's always passing, he's unselfish.” [19:44] Bob segues into a new topic by asking the guys about their businesses. [19:57] Ken mentions some of the positive changes his business has made, the importance of pricing, and why you shouldn't call yourself an agency. “Change the name to change the game.” [23:35] Brad talks about AI, its explosive growth, and the potential for all businesses.  [24:11] Bob adds that it's important to, “stop yourself and go, what can I automate, and what can I make more efficient with this tool?” [27:18] Ken tells the guys about Harpa, a tool he uses to analyze and understand longer or larger texts. [29:50] Ken talks about “The Messi Effect”, and how to apply it to your business. “I think it comes down to like doing what you're really, really good at, and just staying in that lane.” [33:51] Ken discusses the tendency to overlook the simple answer, and the importance of intentionally practicing simplicity. “It took me a long time to realize that we as humans are conditioned to think that the simple solution is not the right solution…The thing that you are really good at, just do a lot of that thing. So don't jump to the other side.” [37:19] Brad adds on saying, “I've noticed that,I felt like in business that if I wasn't running hard, that wasn't moving the needle in my business. That never gets you anywhere.” [39:36] Bob mentions an important psychological principle, effort justification bias, and relates it to pursuing the simple; focusing on your strengths and assets.  [41:11] Ken talks about the importance of your time because it's, “the most valuable thing in your life. And it's the only thing that you have to really leverage into doing something of worth or good.” [46:51] Brad discusses the value in setting time aside for yourself to prepare and reset in order to maximize your brain's capabilities. “In the creative space, the flow is what gets your juices going, but you have to shut everything out. Allow your brain to maximize its capability. It's soothing and healing.” [47:57] Bob closes this week's episode by talking about the importance of accessing both parts of the brain to prevent burnout or cognitive overload. “You have to renew it, and you have to rest it, and you have to revive it.”

Live from the Drapetomaniax Library of Black History, in a special storytime episode, Michael is joined by Bob the Drag Queen to shed light on the harrowing tale of how civil rights leader and founder of the Black Armed Guard, Robert F. Williams, organized his city and galvanized the world to save two innocent children from a twenty-two year prison sentence. Drapetomaniax is created by Michael Harriot in collaboration between OtherTone, Sony Music Entertainment and Queer Media. This episode features: Bob     Bob the Drag Queen  Special thanks to our voice actors: Mrs. Agnes   Andrea O'Brien Vives Keisha           Jude Pijeaux Brianna         Hannan Pijeaux Alex               Moxie Radway Kid 1              August Jervis-Spitzman Executive Producers Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener, Noleca Radway, and Moses Soyoola Senior Producer Janicia Francis Managing Producer JoAnn DeLuna Production Coordinator Homero Radway Production Assistant Gilianne Roberts-Atkinson Head Writer Silas Miami Writers  Dallas Rico, Roderick Morrow, Danielle Solomon, Randolph Terrence Sound Engineer  Toni Paulsen Fact checker LaPorsche Thomas Music Supervisor  Patricia Kihoro Theme Song  Freedom by Pharell Williams This episode includes the songs Golden Crates” by Dusty Decks, Built For You” by Wanja Wohoro, Keys to the Castle by Salon Dijon, Vanished” by Wicked Cinema , Birdwatching” by Delbony as well as music by Chad Milner Special thanks to StoryCorps for the audio of James Thompson from a conversation recorded and produced by StoryCorps. Originally aired April 11, 2011 on NPR's Morning Edition and made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subtitle:  Though the title may sound suspiciously too good to be true, trust us, it's easier than you think to become the best in the world. Today, the guys dive into topics surrounding the challenges of agencies recently as well as commodity agencies, superpowers, being the best, cheapest, or only, profit, mindset, creativity, and more.    Summary: In this week's episode the guys have a conversation about the challenges faced by agencies in the current business landscape. Bob highlights the conflicting reports he has heard recently: some agencies claim to be thriving, while others are struggling to retain talent. This sets the stage for a discussion on how agencies can create value and improve their offerings. Brad emphasizes the concept of finding a "pure play," a specific area of expertise that distinguishes an agency from being perceived as a generic service provider. He also mentions the business strategy principle of being the only, the best, or the cheapest to succeed. He points out the unique challenges faced by agencies that fall between being the best and the cheapest, often resulting in mediocrity. Switching gears, Bob asks the participants to discuss what agencies can do to prepare for the future and make necessary adjustments. Brad shares his goal of diversifying revenue streams by aiming for 20% of their income to come from their own products in the next five years. He talks about forming alliances with like-minded agencies to create a larger community and broader offerings. Brad expands on his goals, expressing his desire to utilize their products to assist other businesses, engage in acquisitions, and serve clients while also being a significant customer themselves. Ken emphasizes the benefits of launching one's own products, highlighting the opportunities for innovation, balance, and freedom it provides. He stresses the importance of achieving profitability to invest in research and development and to continually showcase innovation. He adds that discovering and leveraging one's superpower, accurately pricing the value offered, and maximizing profit are crucial for building a successful business.  delves into the critical factor for project success, attributing it to the mindset of agency leaders and teams, who must commit to achieving success regardless of the obstacles. To wrap up, Bob asks the guys to share the most important focus or action that solopreneurs and agencies of all sizes should undertake for the remainder of the year. Brad emphasizes the need for business owners to take time off and reflect on personal values before returning to run their businesses, as this can provide valuable insights. Ken highlights the significance of making significant investments in one's business, including purchasing items that expand capabilities and raise the bar for service offerings. In closing, Bob encourages agencies to identify their unique strengths, become recognized experts in their respective fields, and dedicate the next six months to honing their expertise in those areas.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Superpower all the way. Embracing your superpower empowers you to create a meaningful impact and achieve success in the competitive business world. It represents your unique strengths, sets you apart from competitors, and positions you as an expert. By focusing on your superpower, you attract the right audience, deliver exceptional value, and enhance your reputation. “It's essential to be good at whatever you do.” Profit helps everyone, so make sure you're getting enough. Profit is beneficial to everyone involved in a business. It fuels innovation and growth, enhances employee opportunities, and enables businesses to contribute to the community. Ultimately, a healthy profit ensures long-term sustainability and prosperity, benefiting customers, employees, stakeholders, and the wider community. “Let's say you make a million dollars a year, I believe you should have $300,000 of profit, like 30% or so after you pay yourself. Now you've got $300,000 that you can actually invest in r&d,like starting a product or a service or some area where you become one of your clients. Now you've got number one, an asset, number two, stability, and Number three, something that you can say, hey, I innovate all the time over here.” Don't become a commodity. Avoiding commodity status is crucial for businesses. It preserves uniqueness, prevents price competition, and maintains profitability. By emphasizing distinct value and exceptional experiences, businesses can stand out, attract loyal customers, and achieve long-term success in a crowded marketplace. “People have to think creatively about their sources of income, and not just rely on those commodity services, because those are going to constantly go through these waves of being lowered.” For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [1:31] Bob opens this week's episode with his perspective on agencies and their struggles right now. “One thing I have noticed in the last month or two is I'm hearing a duality of things. I'm hearing, “business is booming, and it's great.” Or I'm hearing, “we're really struggling, we can't keep people.”” [4:23] Ken talks about things that he and his business are doing to continue to create value and get better at what they do.  [5:23] Brad discusses the idea of finding your pure play, “something specific that you do really well that you're known for” and how that can help you not be a ‘commodity agency'. [7:31] Brad brings up the business strategy principle that in order to succeed, you want your business to be the only, the best, or the cheapest; he discusses the challenges that are unique to the agencies that fall between the best and cheapest. “I think agencies are struggling between being the cheapest, and being the best, and they're actually just mediocre.” [8:10] Ken adds a quote from Dan Kennedy, “there is no strategic advantage to being the second cheapest.”  [9:15] Bob begins a discussion about the pros and cons of being the cheapest on the market by talking about convenience versus value when your business chooses the cheapest strategy. “I don't know that the customers see you as valuable. I think they see you as convenient. So that can be a business model, but I don't think if you're trying to look for value you're going to find that and be the cheapest.” [13:12] Brad summarizes the pros and cons of choosing to be the cheapest, and highlights that while this strategy is possible, it is incredibly challenging to achieve in the service industry.  [15:38] Bob changes topics, asking the guys to, “talk about what agencies can do as they look down the road into next year, and how do they need to adjust?” [16:15] Brad talks about how he and his business are pursuing a goal to reach 20% of their revenue from their own products in the next five years as well as an agency community. “So right now, we're in talks with a group of agencies that are like minded, who are looking to do a very similar type of roll up and to understand what that might look like. So we would still act as our own agencies and we would be part of a greater community and a greater offering.” [17:56] Brad elaborates on his goals, discussing how he wants to use his products to help other businesses, acquisitions, and clients. “make yourself one of your number one clients.” [25:15] Ken talks about the balance, opportunities, and freedom to innovate that launching your own products can provide. “I think it's essential to be good at whatever you do and to have your own place where you can fail and play with things.” [26:46] Ken discusses the wide reaching benefits of developing your own products as well as the significance of profit. “Let's say you make a million dollars a year, I believe you should have $300,000 of profit, like 30% or so after you pay yourself. Now you've got $300,000 that you can actually invest in r&d,like starting a product or a service or some area where you become one of your clients. Now you've got number one, an asset, number two, stability, and Number three, something that you can say, hey, I innovate all the time over here.” [29:55] Bob talks about the way to avoid lowering prices in commodities. “You guys are talking about the way forward; I think people have to think creatively about their sources of income, and not just rely on those commodity services, because those are going to constantly go through these waves of being lowered.” [32:31] Ken says that being aware of your superpower, leveraging it to you and your client's advantage, and pricing your value accurately to create a maximized profit is the best way to create the best version of your business. “But you have to find the superpower. And then you have to figure out your cost basis. And then you have to add your profit… I talk to a lot of agency owners about this, and a lot of times I come up against a very limiting belief of like, “oh, we cannot do that. No one does that. It's wrong to do that.” All this stuff, right? And they're suffering in this really poor business model.” [36:46] Ken dives deep into a discussion about the determining factor in a project's success, the client's mindset, and relates it to pricing. “It turns out, the determining factor in success is simply the person who's like the leader, or the team, basically saying we will be successful one way or another. That factor is critical. The premium price helps sift out all the people that are not.” [40:14] Bob asks the guys, “What is the one thing that every solopreneur, small agency, and medium and large agency needs to be thinking about and or doing for the rest of this year?” [40:34] Brad says that all business owners need to take time off. “You need to go and take a day and not deal with the business. Go away, take a walk, and think about life and what you're about, personally, and what is meaningful to you personally, and then go back and run your business. It will help, trust me.” [41:13] Ken mentions the importance of making a significant investment in your business. “Buy something expensive that scares you, that is an investment, but also something that expands your level. You can't sell someone something for $100,000 If you don't buy something for $100,000.” [41:46] Bob closes out by saying, “find out what your only is, become the obvious expert, and work on that for the next six months.”

Subtitle:  Take a moment to think about any famous, successful company. (Apple, Tesla, Google, Facebook, etc). One thing that most people think about when they think about a successful company is profit; how much money do they make, and how do so many people pay so much money for their products? We definitely don't have a simple solution, but instead, a few ways you can break out of your box and increase your prices and therefore profits. We break down mindset, communication, commodities and how to not be one, defining your unique strengths, strategy, and more on this week's episode!   Summary: In the episode, the guys discuss the importance of raising prices in a business, particularly during times of economic instability. They acknowledge that many business owners may feel hesitant to increase prices, but argue that it's necessary for sustainable growth and profitability. One of the key points the guys make is the importance of understanding the mindset of the customer. Brad emphasizes the need to communicate the value that a business provides to its customers, which can help support higher prices. Ken stresses the importance of not becoming a commodity and argues that higher prices benefit all parties involved, as it ensures that businesses are able to provide quality service and remain sustainable over the long term. Bob offers a few questions that can help business owners focus on promoting the human elements of their work and expertise, such as "What differentiates me as a person?" and "What makes me an expert in these areas?" He also encourages business owners to work on their attitudes of scarcity and abundance mindsets, which can influence their perceived ability to raise prices. Ken advises business owners to focus on their unique strengths and passions and use those to differentiate themselves from competitors. He suggests taking away the label "agency" from a business and finding ways to break out of the box to become more unique. Bob talks about the importance of recognizing that not every prospective client is a good fit for a business and that it's important to not devalue oneself for the sake of gaining clients who are unwilling to pay what one's worth. Throughout the episode, the guys offer actionable advice and strategies that can help business owners raise their prices successfully. They also highlight the importance of mindset and attitude in achieving this goal, as well as the need to differentiate oneself from competitors and communicate the value that a business provides to its customers.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Mindset matters. Mindset is crucial for business owners when it comes to increasing prices. Having a positive and abundant mindset can help communicate the value provided to customers and confidently set prices that reflect that value. Conversely, a scarcity mindset can lead to undervaluing work and hurting the bottom line. By recognizing and working on mindset, business owners can achieve their goals for growth and profitability.  “I would challenge you to work on your own attitudes of scarcity, and abundance mindsets. That's really at the heart of being able to raise prices regularly without pain and without struggle.” Change the name to change the game. Labeling a business as an agency can be limiting for increasing prices, as it connotes a commoditized service. By shifting away from this label and focusing on unique value propositions, businesses can avoid competing solely on price and differentiate themselves in the marketplace. This can lead to increased profitability and long-term success.  “I think you immediately limit yourself, and you call yourself an agency or a marketing agency or an advertiser, whatever it is website development, because it's commoditized. You got to change the name to change the game.” Knowledge, strategy, attribution. Focusing on knowledge, strategy, and attribution can allow businesses to create higher prices. It allows them to communicate their value, optimize resource allocation, measure ROI, and position themselves as valuable partners. This can result in increased revenue and profitability. “There's three things in my opinion that I've observed, that you need to focus on that will make you valuable; it's knowledge, strategy, and attribution.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:59] Ken opens this week's episode by introducing the topic, increasing your prices.  [2:17] Bob asks important questions in light of recent economic instability. “How do you raise prices? How often? And how do you do it?” [3:34] Brad discusses the importance of understanding the mindset of the customer and communicating value to them. [4:34] Ken talks about the importance of not becoming a commodity, and how higher prices benefit all parties involved. “It's a perpetual spin to the bottom, I think it's bad for everybody. you can't be a commodity.” [8:00] Bob says that it's crucial to focus on and promote the human elements versus technology and offers some questions to help your business get there. “I think people buy expertise. What differentiates me as a person? Why am I unique? And why am I an expert in these areas? And why can I be a fit for you and what your needs are?” [9:29] Ken discusses the importance of public perception. “The way you don't be a commodity is you become the only option.” [13:43] Brad talks about an element of customer empathy that sets his business apart from others and the success they've seen from it. [15:46] Ken discusses the role that founders and their values play in becoming ‘the only one'. “My advice to myself, is to lean in, figure out what it is that you love, and what you're better at than anyone in the world.” [17:28] Bob brings up the importance of mindset and attitude and how they can influence your ability to increase your prices. “I would challenge you to work on your own attitudes of scarcity, and abundance mindsets. That's really at the heart of being able to raise prices regularly without pain and without struggle.” [18:34] Ken breaks down some important questions to break out of the scarcity mindset. [21:19] Bob talks about the importance of two ways you can narrow down; you as a person and your niche. [24:32] Ken discusses the value in taking away the label “agency” from your business and how that will help you break out of the box and become unique. “I would propose that the biggest barrier to raising prices and to charging more is yourself… you need to charge more and not do more.” [27:29] Bob reveals and dives deep into three things that will make you more valuable. “There's three things in my opinion that I've observed, that you need to focus on that will make you valuable; it's knowledge, strategy, and attribution.” [30:22] Ken dives deep into the value behind not calling yourself an agency; it only creates limits for your business. “I think you immediately limit yourself, and you call yourself an agency or a marketing agency or an advertiser, whatever it is website development, because it's commoditized. You got to change the name to change the game.” [32:37] Ken suggests a mental exercise and series of questions to help your business break out of the mental limitations holding you back from increasing your prices.  [35:16] Bob talks about the importance of recognizing that not every prospective client that walks through your door should be a client you serve. “I'm not going to devalue myself for the sake of getting this immediate, quick dollar, when they're not willing to pay what I'm worth.” [37:03] Ken wraps up by discussing a quote he heard. “Once someone realizes that you need them, they realize that they don't need you.”  

Subtitle:  When you think about creativity, you typically think of painting, poetry, or some other art form. The truth is, creativity is in everything; whether it's a design, a color scheme, or a plan of action. In business, creativity can be your secret weapon to success. The hard part is convincing others that it's a weapon, not a hindrance. In this episode, we break down practical ways to market creative as well as the importance of communication, conviction, the true meaning of a brand, breaking stereotypes, and more in this week's episode.    Summary: In this episode, the guys delve into the topic of creativity in the workplace and explore its importance and practical value in business. Bob opens the discussion by asking whether being creative makes one a better business person and whether creativity is essential for success. Ken responds by discussing the importance of leveraging creativity and how it can create value. He breaks down practical ways to use creativity to drive business elements and highlights its power in generating practical results. Brad joins the conversation by emphasizing the true meaning of a brand, which is not just a logo or brand colors, but a promise. He explains how creativity can elevate and express that promise, emphasizing the importance of backing up the brand with logistics, practical elements, and product execution. Bob adds to this by stressing that without the practical elements to back up the brand, it loses its value. The guys then discuss how creativity can impact and improve areas of our lives on a personal level. They talk about the importance of breaking down the existing stereotypes about creativity and shifting one's mindset to embrace creativity as a valuable skill. They emphasize that creativity is not limited to artistic endeavors but can be applied in all aspects of life, including problem-solving and decision-making. The conversation then shifts to marketing creative services effectively. Ken asks the guys if they have any strategies or thoughts on how to do so. Bob answers by emphasizing the importance of communication and interpreting branding, marketing, and strategy in a language that the client can understand. Brad adds to this by discussing the importance of understanding the customer journey and how a brand makes them feel. The guys also discuss the importance of backing up a rebrand with fulfilled promises and how communicating the value of creativity is crucial in effectively marketing creative services. They acknowledge the challenges of marketing creative services and stress the importance of communicating their value. In conclusion, the guys close with a quote by Maya Angelou, "people don't remember what you said or what you did. They remember how you made them feel." This quote highlights the importance of the emotional impact that creativity can have and how it can leave a lasting impression. Overall, the episode emphasizes the practical value of creativity in business, personal growth, and marketing creative services effectively. Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Keep your promises. Keeping your promise is crucial in building a successful brand. If your brand promise is not backed up with logistics and practical elements, then it has no value at all. Failing to deliver on your promise can damage your reputation, reduce customer loyalty, and ultimately harm your bottom line. It's crucial to ensure that you're consistently delivering on your brand promise by aligning your creative strategy with practical elements and focusing on delivering an excellent customer experience. “Your brand is not your logo, it's not your brand colors. A brand is a promise. A promise is elevated and expressed through creativity.” Communicate value. Communicating value is crucial when marketing creative services. To effectively communicate value, focus on the client's issues and frame them in a way that they'll understand. By approaching marketing from a communication perspective and using common language, you can build trust and establish a level playing field. It's also important to understand your customers' journey and tailor your messaging to resonate with them. Ultimately, focus on being clear, concise, and compelling in communicating the benefits of your creative services. “I always approach it from a communication perspective. Because most people understand that you're kind of on a level playing field. And if you can reinterpret branding, marketing, strategy, all of that and put it into common language of communication, I think you'd then you're on that's how you can sell that a lot better.” Find your conviction. Finding conviction is crucial in the creative industry. It involves having a deep belief in your creative abilities and the value of your work. To find your conviction, collaborate with like-minded individuals, define your brand, and be true to your values. Trusting your instincts, taking risks, and creating authentic work can lead to greater success and fulfillment. “You have to have really strong conviction as a creator.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [1:51] Bob opens this week's episode by discussing the topic for this week, creativity's role in the workplace and breaking the existing stereotypes about creativity. “Does being creative make you a better busin353ess person? And then I would take it a step further and say, Does being creative and learning how to think creatively? Is it essential for success?” [4:08] Ken talks about the importance of leveraging creativity and the value it can create.  [5:32] Ken breaks down some of the ways you can practically leverage creativity. “That's why I think creativity is so powerful; it's so practical, because when leveraged correctly, it actually drives practical business elements.” [7:41] Brad discusses what a brand actually is. “Your brand is not your logo, it's not your brand colors. A brand is a promise. A promise is elevated and expressed through creativity.” [12:13] Bob talks about the importance of backing up your brand with logistics, practical elements, and your creative. “If it's not backed up with the logistics and the practical side and the product and how that product is executed, then the brand has no value at all.” [14:49] Bob begins a new discussion, talking about the practical and personal ways creativity can impact and improve areas of our lives.  [21:07] Bob talks about the importance of breaking down the believed stereotypes about creativity and shifting your mindset. “There's real value in going, I don't have to just do it this one way. That's the value that people come and pay us for.” [24:44] Ken discusses the importance of identifying your superpower and advantages in the market. [26:18] Brad talks about the power of strong conviction in creative, product, and brand. “You have to have really strong conviction as a creator.” [28:18] Ken asks the guys if they have any strategies or thoughts on how to effectively market creative services. [29:55] Bob answers and discusses the importance of communicating the client's issue to them in a way they'll understand. Often miscommunication is the issue, so looking at the application of creative services with that lens is an effective way to market them. “I always approach it from a communication perspective. Because most people understand that you're kind of on a level playing field. And if you can reinterpret branding, marketing, strategy, all of that and put it into common language of communication, I think you'd then you're on that's how you can sell that a lot better.” [32:21] Brad talks about the importance of understanding the journey of the customers and how does your brand make them feel?  [35:31] Brad discusses the importance of backing up a rebrand with fulfilled promises. “But if you reinvent yourself, it's not just changing a logo; that was the last thing we did. They had to change and make a promise that they had to organizationally keep.” [38:51] Ken talks about the challenges of effectively marketing creative and the importance of communicating its value. “In a marketing problem, there are very few things that are not creative related.” [42:03] Brad closes with a Maya Angelou quote, “people don't remember what you said or what you did. They remember how you made them feel.”   

Subtitle:  As a kid, you were probably taught that creativity is something only for “artsy kids” and that it was “unique” but it wasn't going to help you make money. In this week's episode, we challenge that idea by diving into the importance of creativity in today's business world, and how your creativity is the key to success. We talk about the stigma surrounding creativity, innovation, curiosity, mindset, phases of life, and more on this week's episode!   Summary: In this week's episode, the guys discuss creativity and its relevance in the constantly changing world of 2023. They acknowledge that people are going through their own life changes, including shifting their businesses, experiencing layoffs, and adapting to hybrid or remote work environments, and everything seems to be a little bit upside down. They suggest that this is a great and necessary time to think a little bit differently, and to leverage creativity to find new and better solutions to problems. The guys then break down the stigma surrounding creativity, which is sometimes seen as a non-income driver. However, they argue that creativity is required to be successful at anything, and that it is essential for problem-solving and achieving goals. They emphasize that creativity is not just for creativity's sake, but rather that it is a skill that can be harnessed to create value for businesses and individuals alike. The guys discuss the importance of recognizing an agency's unique perspective and role in creating value for clients. They also touch on the idea that creativity sets humans apart from other mammals, as it allows us to imagine something and then bring it to life. The guys then explore the mindset of successful business people, who have a greater fear of not achieving their ideas than the fear of failing. They emphasize that failure is the key to growth and success, and that it is important to learn from failures and use that wisdom to have a grateful mindset. Throughout the episode, the guys emphasize the importance of being curious and having a pliable mind in order to be creative. They discuss the balance between discipline and creativity, and suggest that removing the word "impossible" from one's vocabulary can help to expand creative possibilities. The guys also touch on the cyclical nature of phases in life, and the importance of realizing that life and career exist in phases rather than one big chunk. They discuss the benefits and dangers of past, present, and future mindsets, and suggest that understanding where one spends their thoughts and time can help them to move forward in a positive direction. The guys conclude by emphasizing the importance of innovation and always looking for ways to improve. They suggest that creativity looks at order, blows it up, and then puts it back together in something new, better, more creative, and more functional. They use an analogy to highlight the importance of staying innovative and continuing to look for new and better ways to do things. Overall, this podcast episode provides valuable insights into the importance of creativity and how it can be leveraged to create value in a changing world. It encourages listeners to be curious, embrace failure, and stay innovative in order to find new and better solutions to problems. Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Be curious. Curiosity is essential for creativity. It drives exploration and innovation by encouraging individuals to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and seek out new experiences. Without curiosity, creativity can become stagnant, leading to tired ideas and approaches. Embracing curiosity unlocks new possibilities for growth and innovation. “Creativity is required to be successful at anything. when there's a problem, you have to have the ability to be creative and get around it.” Embrace failure. Embracing failure is crucial for creativity. It enables experimentation, risk-taking, and learning from mistakes. Fear of failure can stifle creativity and limit innovation. By embracing failure, individuals can push boundaries and adapt to challenges, leading to greater resilience and growth. Failure is an opportunity for learning and growth, unlocking creativity's full potential. “Be able to learn that wisdom to be grateful, and say, I would have never learned that had I not failed.” Break the stigma. Breaking the stigma surrounding creativity is crucial as it enables individuals and organizations to recognize and utilize the potential of creative thinking. It allows individuals to approach problems with a fresh perspective, leads to increased productivity and innovation, and dispels the notion that art and creativity are not viable career paths. However, breaking the stigma requires a shift in mindset, embracing failure as part of the creative process, and prioritizing experimentation and risk-taking. Ultimately, breaking the stigma surrounding creativity unlocks the full potential of human imagination and innovation.  “I want to dispel the myth that you're not creative. As human beings, we have that so we can solve problems and express deeper truths; it is so that we can reframe things in our mind.”  For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [1:30] Bob opens this episode by discussing creativity and its relevance. “In 2023, the world has changed and is changing, it's a little bit crazy out there. And we have friends who are going through their own life changes, whether it's shifting their business, maybe going through some layoffs, their leadership styles have changed because people are hybrid or remote, and everything's a little bit upside down. It's a great and  necessary time to think a little bit differently.” [3:14] Ken discusses some of the stigma surrounding creativity. “We're kind of brought up with the idea that creativity is not a is not an income driver.” [5:17] Brad talks about the importance of recognizing an agency's unique perspective and role. “In our business, we don't create for creative's sake. We're paid to create.” [7:12] Ken continues to talk about the stigma surrounding creativity and the importance of recognizing that, “Creativity is required to be successful at anything. when there's a problem, you have to have the ability to be creative and get around it.” [10:34] Bob talks about the importance of creativity and how we as humans were intentionally given the ability to be creative. “I want to dispel the myth that you're not creative. As human beings, we have that so we can solve problems and express deeper truths; it is so that we can reframe things in our mind.” [12:01] Ken discusses the idea that creativity sets humans apart from other mammals. “Being creative is the ability to imagine something and then bring it to life.”  [16:50] Ken talks about the mindset of successful business people and how, “They have a greater fear of not achieving that (idea), than the fear of failing.” [17:01] Brad mentions that failure, “is the key to growth and success.” [19:03] Bob discusses the importance of being curious and having a pliable mind in order to be creative.  [20:55] Ken talks about the balance between discipline and creativity as well as removing “impossible” from your vocabulary. [22:37] Ken breaks down a question he asks himself to break out of a restricted mindset. “Ask yourself, how could this be possible? If you ask yourself that question and really spend time on it, you'll actually find really great answers.” [25:58] Bob discusses the idea of the “leftover mentality” and the importance of realizing that your life and career exist in phases versus one big chunk. [28:18] Brad talks about past, present, and future mindsets and the benefits and dangers of each. “Try to understand where you spend your thoughts and your time, because where your thoughts are, that's where you're going toward.” [32:56] Ken says that it takes creativity to have a grateful perspective.  [33:36] Bob discusses the importance of learning to fail fast and learn from failures. “Be able to learn that wisdom to be grateful, and say, I would have never learned that had I not failed.” [37:41] Bob talks about the cyclical nature of phases. “In our stages of life, there's order to disorder and reorder, and we're constantly going through that cycle. Creativity looks at order, blows it up and then puts it back together in something new and better and more creative and functional.” [40:59] Bob wraps up this week's episode by using an analogy to dive into the importance of innovation and always looking for ways to improve.   

Subtitle: Have you ever been inside a store, picked up an item you thought was unique, looked at the price, and then put the item back on the shelf? This is a universal experience in all industries, and is particularly an issue in the agency world. How can we as business owners and professionals achieve successful value-pricing? In this episode, the guys discuss the concept of value pricing and how it can be applied to businesses. They emphasize the importance of differentiating your business and establishing yourself as an authority in your field. They also discuss the significance of positioning through branding, creating your own category, shifting your mindset, and more on this week's episode.    Summary: In this episode the guys discuss the concept of value pricing and how it can be applied to businesses. Ken dives into the idea behind value pricing and the role that context plays in determining the price people are willing to pay. He explains that all the information you provide about your product or service is what influences the price people are willing to pay. The gap between the cost and the result is the value, and the more you can push those two factors apart, the closer you get to an irresistible offer. Brad talks about the importance of differentiating your business in a crowded market. He says that as a business or a product, you can only be the cheapest, the best, or the only one. Ken adds that to differentiate your business, you need to establish your positioning through branding and determine your superpower. Bob talks about the importance of establishing yourself and your business as the authority and how that ties into value pricing. He explains that becoming the authority means establishing your own category, creating your own language, and shifting your mindset. Ken discusses the value in becoming aware of the business you're really in. He emphasizes the importance of understanding your industry and your competitors and knowing how to position your business within that context. He says that if you're not aware of the business you're in, you'll encounter problems. Ken asks, "How do you move to value-based pricing?" and discusses the truth that no one wins if you don't charge enough money. He explains that you need to use information in psychology to create awareness of all the value around the service that you have. He also talks about how he uses budgeting and cost plans to illustrate to the clients that there is a reason for each part of the price and if they want a price drop, something will need to be cut. Brad talks about clients asking for a reduction in price and uses an analogy to illustrate how this can become an issue in the service industry. He says that it's like going to a doctor and saying, "Doctor, I need a hip replacement," without a proper diagnosis. He emphasizes the importance of establishing yourself as the authority to prevent clients from asking for unreasonable reductions. Bob discusses the importance of positioning yourself as the obvious expert. He says that you need to position yourself as the authority every single time; otherwise, you'll be seen as a commodity. He emphasizes that the difference between those who are able to do value-based pricing and those who struggle with a commoditized business and an hourly model is their ability to position themselves as an authority. Ken talks about the importance of removing your assumptions, beliefs, and preconceptions in order to be able to "charge 10 times as much for that." He emphasizes that you need to think outside the box and be creative in determining the value of your services. Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Establish your positioning as an authority and expert. To establish your business as an authority and command higher prices through value pricing, it's essential to identify your unique value proposition and leverage it through effective branding and positioning. Customers are willing to pay more for businesses that they perceive as experts in their field, and by establishing yourself as the authority, you can attract more customers and command value-based prices for your products or services. “You have to get your positioning, we talk a lot about your branding, and like that kind of stuff. And like being like, what's your superpower?” Become aware of what business you're really in. Identify the unique value proposition that your business offers and how it can solve your customers' problems. Without a clear understanding of your business, it can be difficult to create effective marketing strategies, attract and retain customers, and set value-based prices. By becoming aware of the business you're really in, you can focus your efforts on your core competencies, differentiate yourself from your competitors, and offer unique value to your customers.  “If you're not aware of the business that you're in then I think there's problems.” Determine what the value of your service or product actually is. Value pricing is creating awareness of the value of your service by using psychology. Budgeting can be used as a tool to explain that each part of the price has a reason, and if you want a price drop, something will need to be cut. This approach helps businesses determine the actual value of their product or service. “How do you charge anything for anything?” For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:54] Ken opens this episode with a chat about how he is not a pet person.  [1:41] Brad says that he's so thankful for the guys and the time spent together on this podcast.  [3:53] Bob discusses new AI voice technology and dives into possible future applications.  [7:05] Ken introduces today's topic “we're going to talk about how to charge anything for anything.” [7:21] Ken dives into the idea behind value pricing as well as the role context plays. “All the stuff that you say, is really what influences the price people pay.” … “That gap between like, what does it cost me, and what is the result; that's the value. Everyone's pushing those as far apart as possible, and the  more you can push those apart, the closer you get to an irresistible offer.” [10:40] Brad talks about the importance of differentiating your business. “As a business, and as a product, you can only be the cheapest, the best or the only.” [11:22] Ken peels back some of the layers of value pricing by discussing the crucial element of positioning through branding. “You have to get your positioning, we talk a lot about your branding, and like that kind of stuff. And like being like, what's your superpower?” [14:02] Bob talks about the importance of establishing yourself and your business as the authority and how that ties into value pricing.  [16:25] Bob dives into the significance of establishing your own category, creating your own language, and shifting your mindset.  [22:54] Ken discusses the value in becoming aware of the business you're really in. “If you're not aware of the business that you're in then I think there's problems.” [25:33] Ken asks, “How do you move to value based pricing?” and discusses the truth that no one wins if you don't charge enough money.  [33:55] Brad talks about clients asking for a reduction in price and uses an analogy to illustrate how this can become an issue in the service industry. “It's like going to a doctor and saying, Doctor, I need a hip replacement. And the doctor is like, how do you know that? So they come with their own diagnosis, and they're looking for a doctor to prescribe something for them.” [36:14] Ken defines value pricing as “using information in psychology, to create the awareness of all the value around the service that you have.” He also talks about how he uses budgeting and cost plans to illustrate to the clients that there is a reason for each part of the price and if you want a price drop, something will need to be cut.  [43:56] Bob discusses the importance of positioning yourself as the obvious expert. “You've got to position yourself as the obvious expert every single time otherwise, you're going to be seen as a commodity. that's the difference between those people that are able to do value based pricing and those who are struggling with a commoditized business and an hourly model.” [45:57] Ken talks about the importance of removing your assumptions, beliefs, and preconceptions in order to be able to, “charge 10 times as much for that.” [47:37] Bob wraps up by asking the listeners to, “Please like and recommend this podcast. We haven't asked you to do that in a while and to all you audio listeners, we do have a YouTube version of this. We haven't pushed that a whole lot lately either. So you can go to YouTube and just search up ‘agency exposed podcast' and find us there.” 

Subtitle: When most people think about AI, they think of the dangerous robots or technology from movies that destroy the human race. Though AI does have the potential to be dangerous, it also has a lot of potential to assist businesses by creating content, cleaning up writing, and helping with research. Today, the guys dive into the practical uses and dangers of Chat GPT and AI. They also talk about communication, misinformation, human nuance, Wall-E, and more on this week's episode.   Summary: In this week's episode, Bob, Ken, and Brad engage in a discussion about Chat GPT and AI. Bob starts by asking how the guys use AI practically in their agency and business. Bob also explains that machine learning is the precursor to AI and has been around since the 1960s. He defines AI as generative, meaning it takes a prompt and tries to match and complete the thought as accurately as possible. The group then delves into the importance of words and communication in human relationships. They consider if it is the words alone, the context of the words, or the embodiment behind the words that matter most. Bob highlights the complexity of communication and how AI may struggle to understand the nuances of human language and relationships. Brad shares his experience exploring and using Chat GPT. He tests its capabilities and tries to find ways to use it to save time and create authentic content. He also discusses the amount of information that Chat GPT can retain as context, which affects its ability to generate accurate responses. Ken brings up the importance of using technology and AI wisely, leveraging time and avoiding the dangers of atrophy. He warns about relying too heavily on AI and losing valuable skills, such as writing. Brad agrees and highlights how Chat GPT has helped him save time and create content. Ken then asks Brad if he has used Chat GPT for research purposes. Brad discusses the extensive knowledge that Chat GPT has and also raises concerns about the dangers of AI creating and publishing false information. He emphasizes the importance of fact-checking and ensuring the accuracy of the information generated by AI. Brad highlights that the value of writing is not the writing itself, but the concepts behind it. Bob elaborates on the idea that AI does not have the same understanding of nuances as humans do, which could lead to misinformation. He explains that AI is only trying to give what it thinks the user wants, but has no incentive to provide what is true and accurate. Bob raises the concern about the potential for the best AI to become a tool solely for wealthy individuals and businesses. He warns about the unequal distribution of technology and the consequences of a small group having access to such powerful tools. Finally, Ken wraps up the discussion with a warning about the need for discipline in balancing technology and human skills. He emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between using technology and preserving valuable skills, such as critical thinking and writing. He stresses that there is no self-discipline in technology, and it is up to us to exercise discipline in its use.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    AI has the potential to increase your comfort or leverage; choose wisely. AI can revolutionize the way we live and work, offering new levels of comfort and efficiency. Whether you're looking to streamline your daily tasks, automate repetitive processes, or gain insights from large data sets, AI has the potential to increase your comfort and leverage in many ways. However, the danger of atrophy remains so it is vital to examine the motives behind using AI. “There's two ways you can use technology and AI. One way is to increase comfort, and the other way is to increase leverage.” AI is a tool, not a human. AI is a useful tool but lacks the emotions, empathy, and understanding of human relationships that are essential to many aspects of our lives. By recognizing the limitations of AI and balancing its use with human skills, we can unlock its full potential and use it to enhance our lives and work. “There's no self discipline to balance technology with not technology. We have to exercise a lot of human discipline with these things, because they're really powerful.”  The dangers of AI are very real.The dangers of AI are real and can't be ignored. It lacks human nuance and context, leading to misinterpretation and false information. Misinformation spread by AI can have serious impacts, so it's important to use AI transparently, accurately, and responsibly to avoid these dangers and ensure its benefits to society. “It's just trying to give you what it thinks you want, but it has no incentive to give you what is true and what is accurate.” For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:42] Bob begins a discussion about this episode's topic, Chat GPT and AI.  [1:35] Ken asks the guys how they use AI practically for agency and business. [3:14] Bob talks about how machine learning is the prequel to AI, and AI has been around since the 60s. He says that AI is, “what we call generative. It's taking a prompt and it's actually trying to match that prompt and finish that thought and make it as accurate as possible.” [5:45] Bob dives deep and asks, “what's the importance of words and communications in how we relate to other human beings? Is it the words alone? Is it the context of the words? Or is it the actual embodiment of someone behind those words?”  [10:00] Brad talks about some of the practical ways he's been exploring and using Chat GPT. “I'm just testing it out, I'm trying to figure out how this thing can help me. What type of processes can I throw at it that it would give me the results I'm looking for? how much information could it retain, that it can use as context?” [13:48] Ken talks about the importance of leveraging your time wisely and how to use technology and AI to either increase comfort or leverage; he also discusses the dangers of atrophy. “If you just asked it to write everything for you, eventually you'd lose the ability to write.” [15:39] Brad talks about other ways he's been using Chat GPT and how it has helped him save time and create authentic content.  [18:29] Ken asks, “Have you used it for anything on the research side of things?” [18:33] Brad discusses the extensive knowledge that Chat GPT has and also launches a discussion about the dangers of AI creating and publishing false information.  [21:25] Brad says that, “The value of writing is not the writing. It's the concepts.” [23:57] Bob elaborates on the idea that AI doesn't have the same understanding of nuances as humans do and how this could lead to misinformation and its various dangers. “It's just trying to give you what it thinks you want, but it has no incentive to give you what is true and what is accurate” [33:49] Bob talks about the potential for the best AI to become a tool solely for wealthy individuals and businesses.  [36:18] Ken wraps up with a warning, “There's no self discipline to balance technology with not technology. We have to exercise a lot of human discipline with these things, because they're really powerful.”  

Mark, Kyle and Logan made it to Shipshewana, IN and were able to sit down with Bob Schrock of Shipshewana Harness & Supplies. If you're in the draft horse industry you would be in the minority if you have never had an interaction with Shipshe Bob.  He tells us stories from the beginning of his time in the harness business up to present day!PLUS  listen in to our new segment, The Pennwoods' Perspective, with Chris Cole! Learn about equine nutrition in great detail. This segment is packed full of knowledge that can be used by every horse owner!Thank you to our sponsors of Episode #64!Shipshewana Harness & Supplies Twisted Luck Carriages - Coyaltix North America  Glenwood Snacks  Young Living Percherons Mona, Utah  Pennwoods Equine Products INC.  Weaver Wagons Do you have suggestions for future episodes? Do you have ideas of someone we should have join us? Please send us any comments or questions to the Rinehold Tack & Western Wear mailbag at podcast@naclassicseries.com!

Subtitle: Processes. For many that word sounds boring, but for the wise owner it means profit. It's one of your best tools to increase your profit. On this week's episode, the guys dive right in, emphasizing the importance of developing and optimizing processes in business. By streamlining tasks and creating templates, businesses can work more efficiently and achieve better results. The guys also provide practical tips and tools that businesses can use to develop and optimize their processes, helping them to navigate uncertain times and achieve their goals.    Summary: The guys stress that in uncertain times, it's important to figure out how to optimize what you're doing and create less cost while generating more profit. They emphasize that this is why processes are important. Processes can help to standardize operations, streamline tasks, and help teams to work more efficiently. The guys discuss how to get started with developing processes, suggesting that the first step is to document how tasks are currently done. By documenting tasks, businesses can create a foundation for developing SOPs that can be used by all team members. The guys also discuss the importance of seeking an outside perspective when developing processes and systems. The guys then dive into the specifics of how processes and systems can be developed and optimized. They talk about two areas where processes and systems have major value: delivery and product creation. The guys use an analogy of Lego blocks and a menu of items to express the importance of organizing and creating templates for each product or service a business offers. They also discuss how using tools like Monday can help create templates for projects and increase efficiency and organization. Monday is a project management tool that allows businesses to create project templates that can be easily customized and duplicated. The guys emphasize that tools like Monday provide accountability for all team members and clients and ensure that everyone is on the same page. The guys stress the importance of creating a culture that makes data and metrics fun, so that team members are more likely to engage with them. They also discuss the importance of setting goals for the business and using processes and tools to achieve them. By setting goals, businesses can work backward to determine the processes and systems needed to achieve those goals. Finally, the guys discuss how to improve results and charge higher prices by improving processes. They suggest asking how to charge 10 times what a business is currently charging, which can help to identify areas where processes and systems can be improved. By improving processes and delivering better results, businesses can charge more for their products or services.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Document any and all processes. Documenting current processes is a simple way to get started with process optimization. It enables clear communication and can help identify areas that need improvement. Having a centralized location to store all processes and systems can also streamline operations and ensure everyone has access to the right information and resources. These simple steps can help businesses create effective and efficient processes for improved productivity and success. “One of the most simple things you can do to get started on this more process oriented and time and resource saving endeavor is to simply document how you do things.” Create product templates; you want to be a menu, not a personal chef. Creating templates for products using systems and processes brings immense value to a business. It standardizes and streamlines the production process, saving time and resources while maintaining consistency and quality. This eliminates the need to create new products from scratch and ensures efficient and error-free production. “We want like Lego blocks, or a menu of actual items. And so we don't want to be making new Lego blocks.” Set goals; what do you want to achieve through these processes. Goal setting is crucial for any business and requires the use of processes and tools to achieve them. Without a clear target, it becomes difficult to measure success. It's important to consider how to handle projects and manage them efficiently, especially when scaling up.“You can't hit a target, and you can't see or you can't measure.” For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [1:07] Bob asks the guys how they're doing, launching a discussion about their businesses and the economy in the new year. [5:08] Ken talks about how hard seasons in life and business are necessary in order to grow stronger. “Good times create weak people, weak people create bad times, bad times create strong people, strong people good times.” [6:48] Ken segues into this episode's topic, processes. “It's always good, especially in these times to figure out how to optimize what you're doing. And if you can create less cost, and create more profit, then you have a better way of producing at a profit. And so that's why processes are important.” [7:32] Brad mentions a quote he's heard recently that ties into his word for the year and how those things relate to processes. “If you don't know how to put what you're doing into a process, you don't know what you're doing.” [10:21] Bob talks about where to start when looking at how to create and define the sometimes overwhelming processes in your business. “One of the most simple things you can do to get started on this more process oriented and time and resource saving endeavor is to simply document how you do things.” [12:50] Brad discusses the importance of seeking an outside perspective and having one location where you can store every system and process each employee uses. [14:22] Ken talks about two areas where processes and systems have major value; delivery and the actual products. He uses a Lego analogy to express the importance of organizing and creating a template for each product or service you offer. “We want like Lego blocks, or a menu of actual items. And so we don't want to be making new Lego blocks.” [17:23] Brad dives into the specifics about how he and his business utilize his tool, Monday, to create templates for their projects and how it has increased efficiency and organization. “So what we do is we've started templates for our projects. We literally will just drag that project and start a brand new project. It automatically has all the hours for it, and we pretty much know what the cost is. You can tweak it, if there's some nuances and stuff. But then what happens is, the whole project is already set up all the timelines, all we do is we trigger it.” [21:52] Brad discusses how his tool, Monday, has really helped his business because, “it just gives accountability to your customers, it's really accountability for everybody, and clarity.” [24:30] Bob talks about the value and saved time that result from having templatized products. [31:13] Brad says, “you can't hit a target, and you can't see or you can't measure.” [32:35] Bob talks about the importance of creating a culture that makes the data and the metrics fun so that you are able to optimize the processes. “If you can create a culture, you not only make it better for the client and for yourself, and you are able to optimize, but you also catch things quicker.” [36:41] Brad talks about the importance of setting goals for your business and using processes and tools to achieve them. “Let's just dream a little bit? And let's just say we actually are able to meet this goal? How are we going to be able to handle these projects? When, you know, without? How do we do this? How do we manage? Efficient? How do we scale?” [39:51] Brad says that in order for your processes to be successful, you have to plan on them being used by the average person. “There's going to be superstars in your agency who can do projects quicker, get them up on their feet quick. But you have to plan for the average person and their speed.” [41:11] Ken wraps up by asking, “how can we charge 10 times that? Ask yourself that question because then it forces you to the next step to ask, how can we improve the result that it creates?”  

蔡天鳳碎屍案｜Abby夫為譚仔「太子爺」　譚仔集團：深表難過 28歲時裝界名媛蔡天鳳Abby Choi遇害身亡，更遭人碎屍，屍塊在大埔龍尾村被發現。蔡天鳳是譚仔米線「太子爺」Chris的妻子，譚仔集團今晚（24日）回覆查詢時表示，對事件深表難過，但由於集團不涉及相關事件，故不便作任何評論。 據了解，Abby Choi早年曾結婚及育有兩子女。後來，她與現任丈夫、譚仔米線「太子爺」在2016年12月9日結婚，當年任司儀的人便是「金牌司儀」林盛斌 （阿Bob）。阿Bob當年曾於婚宴翌日在社交網站發文及分享與一對新人的合照，可見新娘子一身紅裙，胸前及雙手戴滿金器，與新郎均滿臉笑容。

Subtitle: How's 2023 going so far? We start every year with successful themes and words; not resolutions. Approximately 80 percent of those who set New Year's Resolutions give up at the beginning of February. This is why we at Agency Exposed believe that choosing a word to guide your year and give you something to focus on is a better way to achieve change and grow. In this week's episode, we break down our themes for this year, our themes from last year, and AI.   Summary: On this week's episode the guys break down their words from last year, their words for 2023, and AI. Ken explains the reasoning behind choosing a word or a theme for a year instead of having resolutions. He quotes basketball coach Tim Grover, stating that "The difference between winners and losers is that winners value the process of winning, and losers, only value the result." He emphasizes the importance of valuing the journey and not just the end goal. Bob then asks the guys to reflect on their words from the previous year, and how they put them into practice. Ken talks about his word from last year, leverage, and how it helped him to understand that by loosening his grip, he can achieve more. He also explains how he views his past words as building blocks and tools to continue to change and grow. Brad talks about his phrase for last year, more fun, and how it helped him to focus on doing more things that bring him joy and laughter. He also shares a conversation he had with his dad that inspired his word, where his dad regretted working too much and not spending enough time with his family. Bob shares his word for the previous year, simplify, and how it helped him to realize that the biggest journeys and adventures are not somewhere out there to conquer, but with the people he does life with. He also talks about his new business that he is launching and how he believes that collaboration is greater than competition. Ken shares his word for this year, belief, and how it has been unpacked for him in so many different ways. He emphasizes that the greatest human superpower is expectation, which is closely related to belief, and that if you change what you expect, you get what you expect, and not what you deserve. Brad talks about the process he used to arrive at his word for this year, transparency, and how he believes it applies not only to business but also to his personal life. He also talks about how he's been testing and using AI and how it's helped him and his business. Bob joins the conversation and talks about the importance of recognizing the things that AI succeeds at and the things that humans succeed at, and how to utilize them to our advantage. He concludes the episode by emphasizing the importance of creating value around our creativity and ideation, as well as our people and services.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Belief. Ken shares his word for this year and explains how it has been significant for him in various ways. He stresses that the greatest human superpower is expectation, which is closely related to belief. He states that if one changes their expectations, they will get what they expect and not what they deserve. “The greatest human superpower is expectation. If you change what you expect, you get what you expect. You get what you believe, you don't get what you deserve.” Transparency. Brad explains that he arrived at his word for this year, transparency, through a process of reflection and it applies to both business and personal life. He believes that being transparent allows for deeper connections and trust and it also helps him to be more authentic in his interactions. “Clarity is the understanding of something but transparency is being able to see it as well.” Collaboration. Bob's word for the year is collaboration, and he emphasizes that it is more important than competition; especially for building his new business. Collaboration can lead to better problem solving, innovation and stronger relationships. “Collaboration is greater than competition.” For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:39] Bob opens this week's episode by introducing this episode's topic, the guys' words for 2023.  [2:48] Ken talks about the reasoning behind choosing a word or a theme for a year instead of having resolutions.  [5:05] Ken talks about a quote from basketball coach Tim Grover and applies it to setting goals. “The difference between winners and losers is that winners value the process of winning, and losers, only value the result.”  [7:37] Bob asks the guys to break down their words from last year. “Why don't we talk about our words last year, briefly talk about what the experience was.. And how you live that out.” [8:18] Ken talks about his word from last year, leverage. “You can lift more if you loosen your grip.” [10:04] Ken your multiplier is someone who spends their time on something that actually makes more time in the future. It's like an investment. [15:40] Ken says that he views his past words as building blocks and tools to continue to change.  [16:23] Brad talks about his phrase for this past year, more fun. “I live with the goal of doing more stuff. But it's always for return on investment. And I realized that I'm best when I'm laughing.” [20:29] Brad talks about a discussion he had with his dad that inspired his word and created a shift in his perspective. “I asked my dad, what is the one thing in life that you regret? And he said, "I regret working so much, because I wasn't around my family as much.” [21:25] Bob talks about his word for last year, simplify. [24:51] Bob opens with his word for this year, collaborate and talks about his new business that he is launching. “I know that collaboration is greater than competition.” [27:32] Ken talks about his word for this year, belief. “Over the last year, that word keeps coming up in my life, and in different ways. And it's been unpacked, for me, in so many different ways…  the greatest human superpower is expectation, which you can say is basically a synonym of belief. But basically if you change what you expect, you get what you expect. You get what you believe you don't get what you deserve, you get what you believe.” [32:13] Brad talks about the process he used to get to his word, transparency. “So first I, my word was clarity. I'm going to choose a different word. While clarity is the understanding of something, transparency is being able to see it as well.” [33:45] Brad digs into the idea of transparency and authenticity and how it not only applies to business but also to his personal life. [37:09] Ken starts a discussion about AI and how it is being used today. [38:09] Brad talks about the ways he's been testing and using AI and how it's helped him and his business. “And so I will tell, I will kind of craft the initial idea of what I want. And they'll just ask it to refine, refine, refine, refine, refine, and then I'll say, Give me three alternatives to that. And it'll give you ideas.” [42:25] Bob talks about the importance of recognizing the things that AI succeeds at and the things that humans succeed at, and utilizing those to your advantage. [49:36] Bob wraps up this episode by saying, “you need to create value around your creativity and your ideation versus your people and your services.”  

Subtitle: 2022 flew by and 2023 is here. That means it's time to reflect on 2022 and what you want to change for yourself and your business in 2023. In today's episode, we break down our goals, predictions, and thoughts for 2023 along with what we think all agencies should focus on. We talk about profit, efficiency, value, processes, Severance, shooting for the stars, and more on this week's episode. Let us know your thoughts, goals, or questions in the comments below.    Summary: In this episode, we discuss our goals, ideas, and theories for 2023 along with some changes we will be making in our businesses. Each agency is unique and has different strengths, yet there are a few things we all could be doing to improve and spark change in the coming year. The first of these being focusing on and prioritizing profit. Profit is mistakenly viewed as greed driven or selfish when it is often in fact the opposite. In order to serve your customers well, you have to be able to fund ways to do that, this is where profit comes in. Most midsize agencies make around 15% of profit per year, and small agencies make around 10%. This is simply not enough to successfully run a business and allow for growth and investment. Profit also ties into efficiency and value. Profit is based on value, and value requires efficiency. So in order to increase your profit, you need to evaluate and improve your efficiency and improve the way you communicate your value to your clients. This is where mindset comes into play. You have to believe that you have earned your profit and that what you have to offer is valuable. It's also crucial to recognize the importance of processes and evaluate how you can implement them to create more efficiency. We also talk about the advancement of technology, what that looks like, and what that means for agencies moving forward. It's important to identify your ‘Lego blocks' and improve your attribution.  Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Focus on profit. One of agencies' most common misconceptions is that high profit is for the greedy and selfish. This is due in part to agencies' low profit and their mindsets. Instead we must understand that profit is not greed, but instead a tool for our businesses to better serve our clients and employees while also growing and investing in the future of the business. “Unhealthy, low profit businesses don't help anybody, not the people that work for them, not the people that own them, not the people they serve.” Improve efficiency and the ways you communicate value. Profit is built upon value, so one of the ways to increase your profit is to communicate your value in a creative, meaningful, or practical way. Value is due in part to time and therefore efficiency. Value, profit, and efficiency are all tied together, so by strengthening one, you inadvertently strengthen all three.  “It's important for agencies, especially smaller ones, to understand that profit is based on value.” Change your mindset. Many agencies view themselves as service providers when in fact, they are media companies. Because they view themselves in this way, they often fall into the trap of validating themselves through busy work. To avoid this, agencies need to shift their mindset to one that shows that they are media companies, and that profit is a way to better serve their clients due to the high value they as an agency produce. “You need to shift your thinking from just being a service to seeing yourself as a media company.” For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [1:05] Bob opens this week's episode with a chat about how the meaning of phrases or words change over time due to new societal context.  [3:00] Brad talks about the importance of having a holistic and balanced life and how work can, “disconnect us from who we are”. [3:24] Ken says that, “there's no such thing as business life and personal life.”  but we often separate the two mentally.  [7:09] Bob asks the guys about their thoughts, and predictions for 2023 and any goals or changes they'll be making in their businesses.  [7:34] Brad talks about some of his new focuses for his business in 2023. “We are focusing a lot more on new business development, looking at our processes and services and really challenging what we do, making sure that our clients get the best value, but also that we are competitive, really offering value where our customers can't find that easily, and looking at our current customers and trying to figure out how do we serve them better?” [8:24] Brad dives more into serving his current customers better and his ideas on how to do that. “We are shifting our models, diving into our sales data to understand where our key profit centers are, and trying to package a little bit more of our services in a way that is more better clarity. We've hired somebody to kind of spearhead that, a Director of Client partnership, and just really understanding, you know, where our sweet spots are trying to dive into that further.”  [9:43] Ken talks about an analogy he uses to identify and create replicable things to sell.  [11:01] Brad mentions the importance of recognizing, “processes run your business and people run the processes”.  [11:52] Ken discusses his thoughts for 2023 regarding the importance of profit and how that enables you to serve your clients. “A lot of people associate profit with greed. And if I have a high profit, my clients won't be happy. That is a common misconception; it's the exact opposite.” [12:59] Ken says that, “10% profit margin margin is not enough to run the business. Any MBA will tell you and the standard is around 30%.” [15:00] Ken elaborates more on profit and its relationship with efficiency and value.   It's important for agencies, especially smaller ones, to understand that profit is based on value…Agencies tend to validate themselves with busy work more often than other businesses…Unhealthy, non profitable, low profit businesses don't help anybody, not the people that work for them, not the people that own them, not the people they serve.” [18:27] Bob talks about changing our mindset and beliefs of profit to one that allows you to, “learn how to charge more and realize I'm going to be able to serve my clients.” [20:30] Brad applies the adage, “when you shoot for the stars, at least you'll land on the moon,” to setting goals for and dreaming about your business.  [21:51] Ken talks about the role of your inputs and how that impacts your ability to shoot for the stars. “Whatever star you're hitting, is probably in line with the inputs that you have.” [22:22] Ken asks a few questions that all agencies should be asking themselves in order to prompt a mindset change that will help them to begin to pursue their big goals.  [27:10] Brad discusses the importance of presenting value in a creative way or a way that makes sense, and uses an example from his business recently to demonstrate its importance.  [29:37] Bob breaks down his thoughts and predictions for 2023 including technology's advancement, smaller agency sizes, and understanding your business' attribution, and how these things will impact agencies and what agencies of the future will look like.  [33:58] Bob also talks about blockchain being integrated into marketing, data integrity, investing in technology, the commoditization of services, and changing your mindset of being a service to being a media company. “You need to shift your thinking from just being a service to seeing yourself as a media company. Some of that might be print, some of it might be intellectual. But 90% of what we do is we create media.” [38:41] Ken summarizes this episode with three key points for agencies to focus on. “Focus on profit, focus on efficiency, focus on value.” [38:48] Brad wraps up by saying, “If you guys have any questions, or if you guys are doing things this year in your business, reach out to us.”

Subtitle: How to write a book. So many want to, so few do. Though it might seem lofty, unrealistic, or daunting, you CAN write a book. Everyone in our world has a different experience and perspective and something unique to say; the challenge is putting it into book form. In the last episode, we dove into Bob Hutchins and Jenny Black's book, Our Digital Soul, breaking down the solution to media trauma and collective anxiety. In today's episode, we continue our three part discussion of Bob's book, but we focus more on the behind the scenes of how to write a book as well as the processes and some practical tips. We highly encourage you to check out Bob and Jenny's book on Amazon or ourdigitalsoul.com and let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments below.    Summary: In this episode, we continue to discuss Bob Hutchins and Jenny Black's book, Our Digital Soul. In our last episode, we talked about how to heal and be part of the solution to the collective anxiety and media trauma we as a society have endured and continue to bear. If you haven't yet, please go check out the previous two episodes to get the full scoop of our three part series breaking down Bob and Jenny's book. This episode is different from the past two because instead of breaking down the content of Bob's book, instead, we dive into the processes involved in writing a book. Bob talks about his motivation behind writing this book and his previous three as well as the role writing has played in his business and life. He also talks about his process behind picking a topic, doing research on it, and deciding if it is something the public is interested in. Bob discusses the opportunities he's had because of his book as well as his top tips and advice for anyone thinking about writing a book. He also talks about the importance of writing everyday, finding your unique perspective, and making your book authentically you. If you enjoyed today's episode and feel curious about media trauma and how to heal, don't forget to purchase Bob Hutchins' and Jenny Black's book, Our Digital Soul: Collective Anxiety, Media Trauma and a Path Toward Recovery.    Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Write everyday. Whether it's a journal, notes of things you learned, or simply an idea you thought of, it makes a huge difference to write something everyday. These writings don't have to be groundbreaking ideas, just little snippets that you can reflect on later that can help you when in the process of writing a book. “I'm just writing everyday.” Find your unique perspective. This may sound cliche, but everyone in this world has their own perspective and something to say. Find what you're passionate about and talk to people about it to see if there seems to be a public interest in it. Do your research and see if and what other authors have written about the topic. Don't get discouraged by what you may find, keep an open mind and continue writing and researching. “My test is always, when you talk to people about it, does it resonate, do their eyes light up and say, ‘Oh, I've never thought about it that way.'” Make it book authentically yours. Don't retell someone else's story or filter your passion or perspective through someone else's lens. Even if you think your book is the most boring book on the face of this earth, it will resonate with and impact someone because true connection happens through authenticity and honesty. Tell the story you want from your unique, authentic perspective. “The most important number one most important thing is make sure it's authentically yours.” For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:32] Bob opens this episode with a chat about old tv shows, inflation, and how the  [6:34] Brad says, “the thought of writing a book is very daunting to me. So I would love to break down some myths of writing a book… I'd like to get to the heart of like, your motivation for book writing,” [7:31] Bob talks about his love of writing and how he's built his business and marketing on content and how those things helped him become familiar with and comfortable with the idea of writing.  [9:49] Bob discusses the importance of identifying your reasoning behind why you want to write. “Depending on what your reasoning for writing is, also should drive how it's done.” [12:10] Bob talks about his motivation for writing this book and his overall motivation to write. “The motivation was certainly thought leadership. And so that's a lot of my drive is thinking deeply about things and having a voice in the environments that I found that I find myself in my career.” [13:05] Ken asks Bob, “what was your process like in just deciding your topics?” [14:09] Bob says that there isn't just one way to write a book and that one of the most important things is to just write something everyday. He also talks about the way he identifies if his topic is interesting to the outside world and would make a good book.  [17:53] Brad asks Bob, “How do you figure out if your book is unique? What's the process?” [18:38] Bob talks about the importance of research, outlining ideas, and identifying the target demographic. [21:22] Brad asks Bob, “what kind of things does your book allow you to do that you maybe wouldn't have been able to do?” [23:37] Ken talks about how in any type of business and marketing, “you have to have a formula for success.” [29:02] Ken mentions that one of the values of writing quality content is that it can be used to write a book. He also talks about his secret to writing effective articles and blog posts.  [34:40] Bob breaks down the most important thing to remember when writing a book. “The most important number one most important thing is make sure it's authentically yours.” [36:11] Brad asks Bob what the cost would be to write a book. [37:13] Bob says that the price depends on what you're looking for but it could be between a few thousand dollars to twenty thousand.  [39:49] Ken asks Bob if he writes the title first or last and if he recommends finding a publisher or not.  [47:04] Bob closes today's episode by telling the listeners that they can find his book on Amazon. “It's called “Our Digital Soul: Collective Anxiety, Media Trauma, and a Path toward Recovery. You can just Google my name or Jenny black, my co author or just Our Digital Soul.”  

It's finally here! Yes, Tales of Bob is available now in all the usual places: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-of-bob/id1651110002 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ozDFLvq3J1UQ95nhtPEEC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf9DdQQikXVBM6Y4_iVVBwVc37eDJ2u7h RSS: https://feeds.simplecast.com/_6JPR3jO Need More House of Bob Bob in Your Life? Check out our other (NSFW) podcast, House of Bob, on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/house-of-bob/id1232011965 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fdO6KkkmllwwHT9iD9jY4?si=22c33731dbb34fbd&nd=1 Support the Show: Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/thehouseofbob) Merch Store (https://hobcast.com/shop/) Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/houseofbobmerch) Contact Us: Discord (https://hobcast.com/discord-server/) hobcast.com (https://hobcast.com/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/thehouseofbob) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thehouseofbob) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HoBcast) Email (mailto:houseofbobpodcast@gmail.com)

Subtitle: Being human in a digital world. It's no secret that our society has become a digital one; almost everything we do is online or involves the internet. In the last episode, we dove into Bob Hutchins and Jenny Black's book, Our Digital Soul, breaking down collective anxiety and media trauma. In today's episode, we continue our discussion of Bob's book, but we focus more on the solutions and ways to reduce media trauma through screen time and how to heal from the influence of technology. We highly encourage you to check out Bob and Jenny's book on Amazon or ourdigitalsoul.com and let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments below.    Summary: In this episode, we continue to discuss  Bob Hutchins and Jenny Black's book, Our Digital Soul. In our last episode, we talked about what collective anxiety and media trauma are and in this episode, we discuss how to heal as a society and how to remain human in a digital world. In order to remain human, it's important to consider what defines humanity and then apply those aspects to our lives in the digital age. Bob discusses a few of the ways to remain human. The first one is that staying human is about less. Online we have the world at our fingertips. The internet enables you to do so many things online. Another way to stay human is to accept your limitations. Because the internet is so vast and has “all the answers”, it conditions society to believe that we do not have limitations when online. Bob also discusses the importance of coming to terms with the paradox and mysteries of humanity. Our world isn't black and white, yes or no, there's often a lot of gray and maybes. The internet can convince its users that everyone is one way or another and this is false. There are many mysteries to life that we haven't figured out yet, and sometimes there isn't a clear cut answer. We as humans also don't always get what we want, but technology creates the illusion that we can always get what we want due to the lack of limits on technology. As professionals in the technology industry, we are responsible to lead the way and start setting boundaries and being intentional about our marketing and be the start of the solution. You won't want to miss our next episode where we'll break down the process of writing a book. If you feel curious about media trauma or want to be part of the solution, don't forget to purchase Bob Hutchins' and Jenny Black's book, Our Digital Soul: Collective Anxiety, Media Trauma and a Path Toward Recovery.    Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Staying human is about less. We've all been that person who hoarded their halloween candy or had a random collection of rocks. This behavior is unhealthy, yet we allow ourselves to indulge in it when it comes to technology. We as a society are endlessly scrolling, posting, or hoarding our online experiences. We use technology as a tool to escape the limits of our world. Instead of hoarding when it comes to technology, we might exercise discipline and enjoy the social experience online in moderation. “Successful humanity is about making decisions, sticking with them, and moving forward.” Accept your limitations; you can't always get what you want. We are human and we have limitations on what we can do and it's a fact of life that it is impossible to always get what you want. Technology has enabled and conditioned us as a society to believe that because knowledge is so accessible and almost everything is right at our fingertips, we can get whatever we want whenever we want. This is false, and when we ‘return to reality' after being online and we don't get what we want, this can drive us back to technology to continue getting the bursts of dopamine. It's also important to remember that creating beautiful things takes time and effort, it's not going to be instant or easy and we will make mistakes along the way. “All of the things in the real world take time; it takes accepting our limitations in order to create something beautiful.” Come to terms with the paradox and mysteries of humanity. Though the internet almost always has the answers, recipes, or news you are looking for, there are things that it will never understand. There's only so much that programming and social media can convey. Nothing is ever just black or white; there is more middle ground than the internet may lead you to believe. Humanity is complex, and it can't be defined or simplified by technology. “When you're in a digital space. Everything is divided into either or categories. In real life, you're a mix of things. Online, you're actively creating an identity that begins to define you in society. Then it begins to define society, and when the digital definition becomes your primary identity, you will miss out on innumerable human facets of who you are that a program can't translate or compute.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:31] Bob opens this episode by introducing the topic, part two of Our Digital Soul by Jenny black and Bob Hutchins. [2:37] Brad talks about how in the previous episode, they discussed the challenges posed to us through social media and screens, and he asks Bob to unpack the solutions and the ways we as a society can heal. [5:22] Bob begins a discussion about some of the solutions or methods we can use and act on to limit our time on technology and the resulting trauma. “The first one is: Staying human is about less.” “Successful humanity is about making decisions, sticking with them, and moving forward. We look at a person who hoards and we go, that's really unhealthy. We kind of do that in the digital world, we hoard our options. We're endlessly scrolling, we hoard our experiences, because we want to escape from the limits of human existence.” [8:25] Ken talks about the importance of exercising the discipline muscle because, “once it's gone, it's really hard to get back, and it's so critical in life.” [9:41] Brad talks about how he's noticed that often he will use his phone as a way to fill dead space and prevent boredom. “Why do I feel the need to pick up my phone? When there's a dead space? Why can't I just allow this space to happen? And be okay with not having to entertain my mind right now?” [10:23] Bob discusses the fact that, “boredom is our brain processing”.  [11:29] Ken adds that your subconscious does process things through sleeping or just when your conscious is not focused or actively doing something. [12:42] Bob reads a segment from his book and talks about two other ways to remain human in the digital world, “the second one is staying human means accepting limitations. All of the things that in the real world take time, it takes accepting our limitations in order to create something beautiful.”... “Staying human means coming to terms with the mystery and paradox of humanity.” [17:05] Brad mentions the idea that remaining human in this digital space is not only about what you consume but also how you present yourself. [20:27] Ken discusses the adage, “with great power comes great responsibility.” and how it applies to technology. [25:47] Bob reads a section of his book and breaks down the idea that “Staying human also means you don't always get what you want.” and how technology has conditioned our society to believe that we can have whatever we want whenever we want because there are no boundaries to what we can do with technology.  [32:04] Bob talks about how each of his three kids have grown up in different eras of technology and how it has impacted each of their lives individually. He also talks about some of the rules he and his family have to help them remain human and reduce the time they spend on screens.  [43:15] Ken asks, “As professionals in this industry, what can we do? To not help hurt the situation, but improve the situation? How do we put boundaries on what we do to be part of the solution and not the problem and still do business?” [43:58] Bob discusses the importance of giving a genuine experience to your customers that is human and natural that doesn't exploit their weaknesses through technology.  [45:35] Ken entertains the idea of, “Putting reasonable limits on the unlimited. Put even limits on E commerce. I was thinking in my head, like, what if we shut down websites at 9pm? Like should websites close?” [49:40] Bob wraps up by informing listeners that they can purchase Our Digital Soul on Amazon for fifteen dollars. “We're the number one release in the psychology section for about a week and a half. It's called Our Digital Soul: Collective Anxiety, Media Trauma and a Path Toward Recovery. You can go to our digital soul.com If you want to know more, or you can just search it up on Amazon.”

The word of the week is Action. No matter what you want to do in life, you must take action.    It is not a degree or a lot of money to start that will take you to the next level; It is the actions that you make to move forward. If you always just sit on the side and hesitate, you'd just be stuck.    Join Dwan as she interviews Bob LaChance about what he does and how he got into the business he has today. He shares his early years of being a hockey player and how his athletic mindset helped with his business. He believes that if he can do it, anyone can do it too if they always act and take the next step forward.   Listen up and enjoy!     Episode 308 at a glance… -Who Bob is and what he does -About REVA Global -How Bob's team made 160 deals -Bob's Teenage years and the best time of his life -How Bob's athletic mindset helped with his business -What success means for Bob -Bob's actionable tip -How to connect with Bob LaChance   Until the next episode!     Today's Guest:   Bob LaChance owns a virtual assistant company in the Philippines (REVA Global) and a real estate investing company (Purch Rock Management).   Connect and know more about Bob LaChance here:   Email: bob@revaglobal.com Website: https://www.revaglobal.com  Website: https://purchrock.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revaglobalcareersph/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reva-global-llc/  Podcast: http://www.puckstoproperties.com    About the host:   Dwan is America's most sought-after real estate investor coach. She has been featured on more than 50 media outlets in interviews and featured articles. For the past 4 years, Dwan's Podcast has grown in popularity and is now in the top 1000 business podcasts. Connect and know more about Dwan here: Website: https://dwanderful.com Instagram: @dwanderful Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dwanderful/

Subtitle: Media trauma. Sounds scary… but (our own) Bob Hutchins and Jenny Black's new book, Our Digital Soul helps to, “guide you through the overwhelming maze of modern life to the life you really want, as it takes a hard look at the impacts of digital media and the trauma that results for all ages and every generation. Backed by research and experience, Black and Hutchins share their own personal journeys as well as those of their clients to explore a path where we can recover and thrive alongside our digital reality.” We dive deep on Bob's new book, trauma bonds, technology, social media, small-t trauma, and more on this insightful episode.    Summary: What is media trauma? In order to understand what media trauma is, we first need to acknowledge that all technology is an extension of us. Because of this it impacts and changes who we are physiologically, psychologically, emotionally, and as a community. The magnitude of this impact is partially due to the imbalance of our brains and our technology. While our technology has continued to advance, our brains have stayed the same. This imbalance can lead to overwhelming amounts of small-t traumas. Small t-traumas are things such as a breakup, the death of a pet, losing a job, getting bullied, or being rejected by a friend group. These social small t-traumas happen even more online, that compound upon each other, causing media trauma. All trauma is created through trauma bonds and trauma bonds are defined as “emotional bonds with an individual that arise from a recurring cyclical pattern of abuse, perpetuated by intermittent reinforcement through rewards and punishment.” If we changed the word “individual” into “technology” would that statement not define our relationship with technology? In order to heal from media trauma, we must become aware of it, educate ourselves and others on the magnitude of media trauma, and begin to exercise self discipline. We will dive even further into Bob Hutchins and Jenny Black's book, Our Digital Soul in the next episode; you definitely won't want to miss it! We also highly encourage you to check out their book on Amazon or ourdigitalsoul.com and let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments below.    Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    All technology is an extension of us. Though technology can be a very broad term it could include things that are considered commonplace along with computer and internet based inventions. Consider this; an airplane is an extension of our feet and a shovel is an extension of our arms. With this kind of perspective, computers could be considered extensions of our brain and the internet an extension of our nervous system. This understanding helps lay the foundation for comprehending media trauma and the magnitude of its impact. “If it's an extension of us, then it fundamentally changes us. Physiologically, psychologically, and as communities…” We have godlike technology. Bob has mentioned this quote before, “The problem with humanity is we have Paleolithic brains, medieval institutions and godlike technology”. Due to this unique combination, this can lead to overwhelming amounts of small-t traumas because of the imbalance between us and our technology. Media trauma is real. We've all experienced feeling left out, and this feeling along with others is magnified and multiplied by social media, creating repeating small-t traumas that compound upon one another. Bob defines trauma bonds as relating to an abusive relationship with a spouse, and changes “someone” into “technology”, as a stark description of our relationship with technology. He doesn't make this comparison lightly. “Trauma bonds, or emotional bonds, with a device or a technology that arise from recurring cyclical patterns of abuse, perpetuated by inner intermittent reinforcement, through rewards and punishment.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:32] Bob opens this week's episode with a chat about what the guys have been up to recently. [5:47] Bob talks about his book that was just released, “Our digital soul: collective anxiety, media trauma and a path toward recovery”. [8:47] Bob begins a discussion about technology and its impact on society and says that,  “good marketing is Psychology and math.” “it's getting people to respond and engage and then measuring and scaling it”. [16:06] Bob talks about the difference between video games and cell phone time/social media/work and how they impact your brain differently.  [17:16] Bob breaks down how all technology is simply an extension of us as humans. “Every new technology is an extension of us. if you think of the wheel, it was an extension of our feet, right? We have to frame it that way, versus it's just a tool, and it's separate from me, no technology is ever separate from us…If it's an extension of us, then it fundamentally changes us. Physiologically, psychologically, and as communities… What is the computer and the cell phone an extension of? It's an extension of our brains. So what then is the internet? It's a further extension of our brains, and I would argue it's an extension of our nervous systems.” [21:57] Brad adds that it can often be very easy to be overwhelmed with the high amounts of information with emotional ties that enter our brain every day. [23:06] Bob talks about a quote from a biologist, EO Wilson, “the problem with humanity's we have Paleolithic brains, medieval institutions and godlike technology.”, adding that, “you can't plug a Paleolithic brain and expect it to keep up with godlike technology.” [24:25] Brad asks Bob if he believes that AI will be able to regulate the amount of information and stimulation we receive to healthier levels.   [26:54] Bob defines media trauma, “small-t” traumas, and dives into some of the side effects (or “small-t's”) of screen life. “We define media trauma as experiences through media, and personal devices that hinder or harm our capacity to be mentally whole.” [32:22] Ken discusses how according to Dr. Andrew Huberman, “the frequency of dopamine hits that we get daily is the number one societal problem because because they're their weight, they're way more frequent than they ever have been in history.” [34:29] Bob dives deep into an explanation of his and Jenny Black's book, discussing how the internet compounds small-t traumas, three of the five symptoms that indicate that you have media trauma, and breaks down trauma bonds. “That's something called a trauma bond. Now I want to read the definition, and then I'm going to change one word. Trauma bonds are emotional bonds with an individual that arise from a recurring cyclical pattern of abuse, perpetuated by intermittent reinforcement through rewards and punishment.  But let me change one word. Trauma bonds, or emotional bonds, with a device or a technology that arise from recurring cyclical patterns of abuse, perpetuated by inner intermittent reinforcement, through rewards and punishment.” [42:58] Ken asks whether we as a society can exercise our discipline muscle now that we know the true impact of technology on our lives.  [44:36] Bob talks about the importance of self awareness, education, and collective intervention in order to, “retrofit this crazy godlike technology to our paleolithic brains.” [48:03] Ken asks what the audience should take away from this, and why should they read this book?   [49:09] Bob says that, “mental health and wellness professionals. We want to get it in the hands of all of them. So hopefully it's accessible to everyone. But it is chock full of studies and data and information that could make an impact.” [49:58] Bob says that you can buy Our Digital Soul on amazon.com or at ourdigitalsoul.com.  [50:29] Bob talks about some of the topics for the next episode. “What are some things that you can do to heal? What are you addicted to? One of the indicators is, what's the first thing that comes to your mind when you open your eyes in the morning you wake up?”  

Subtitle: The goal of all businesses is to make profit, and that's only possible if you're able to consistently close business at a profitable rate. So the question is, how do you close more contracts? In today's episode, we break down the process of funneling clients, and some key steps to produce the most success and increase your close rate. We talk about investing, communication, Mark Cuban, money, and more on this week's episode!   Summary: On today's episode we explore strategies to close more business. In order to figure out how to increase your closing rate, first you have to analyze how you get clients there and how your funnel works. Once you've identified the steps and processes your business uses to close contracts and work with clients, then you can work on improving your processes and systems. In the inquiry phase, the top of the funnel, we've learned through our experience that asking questions is key to moving forward with clients. Some of the most helpful questions that you can ask are “Why now?, Why us?, and What would a successful project or result look like for you?”. These questions can help you identify the timeline, scope, and budget of the project as well as set clear expectations. We've also learned that having the client make a small investment with your business is key. This investment should ultimately leave them with a high amount of valuable information about their company and what all needs to be done to reach their goals for the project. This can help eliminate competition and give you a real sense of the project as well as give the client confidence to move forward with the project. The key in all of these things is communication. Oftentimes in life, people are disappointed because of unrealistic or unmet expectations. In order to prevent this disappointment and conflict, communication is vital. Be honest with what your company needs to uphold your standards of work as well as who you are and what you are able to do. It all boils down to money and if they feel like they are receiving a high quality product. In the end, money isn't what we care about, it's what that money can buy or do for us.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Ask the ‘why' questions. When businesses are in the inquiry phase, it's important to gather information about the client and their company, the project they want done, the scope, their budget, and the timeline. Three excellent questions to ask to fully understand these details are the “why questions”. “ Why now? Why us? What would the things be that make it a win?”  These questions can help your business move forward with clear direction. Build in a “small investment” step. One step in the closing process that has helped Ken and his business boost their closing rate is the “small investment” step. This step allows clients to feel like they are investing a small amount of money to understand the problem they need to solve as well as the ways it can be solved. It eliminates the risk factor, and if done correctly, can eliminate your competitors, increasing your close rate. “It allows them to test the waters with you at very low cost.” Communicate expectations and capabilities clearly. One of the most important skills in all business and in life in general is communication. Without communication, people can feel disconnected, excluded, out of the loop, shocked, and even angry. Lack of communication causes problems and can lose clients. Not only is communication with the client important, but so is communication with your team. Communication sets realistic goals and expectations and creates a healthy business relationship. “The key is to communicate to your potential client, this is who we are.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:47] Ken open's this week's episode by wishing Bob a happy birthday.    [3:31] Ken begins a discussion about this week's topic, sales, and how to improve your closing rate. “What are the logical stages that we go through that we want to track step to step?” [4:36] Ken begins to break down the stages that his business, Metacake, goes through, starting at the beginning with initial inquiry. “We have some sort of initial call where we qualify them.” [5:05] Ken discusses the three main questions he asks during the initial inquiry and how it helps him to understand the company and the potential project. “Why now? Why us? What would the things be that make it a win?” [10:43] Bob talks about the importance of managing expectations.  [14:07] Ken discusses the three main factors of a project and talks about a key psychology tactic that has helped his business boost their closing percentage. “In our philosophy there are like three factors to a project. They're timeline, scope, and budget we've adjusted our pipeline a little bit, and one of the things that has helped us close the most is like putting into place some sort of small, very low cost, essentially strategy product that allows the clients to test the waters with you at very low cost.” [20:07] Ken says that inserting this step, “develops trust, which builds in ownership to the solution. Also you kind of eliminate competition most of the time.” [28:20] Ken talks about his goal with this product was to create a clear deliverable product that benefits the client, impresses them, and allows them to see what they actually need and how his business can deliver.  [32:00] Ken discusses how helping the client visualize the solution to their problem has a magical effect; it helps them feel confident moving forward. [34:25] Ken talks about how often price is thought of as equal to quality (higher price means higher quality), and because of this assumption, many people are willing to and even happy to pay a higher price. He also adds that, “no one really cares about money. We think we do, but we really care about the results of the money.” [38:02] Brad makes the point that he and his team feel more at peace about certain projects when they know that they're being paid enough to uphold their high standard. “We're happier internally when we know we have enough.” [39:50] Ken adds on and says, “for projects where we haven't gotten paid enough, no one's happy.” [42:11]  Brad analyzes the common belief that abundance means overpaid and how that isn't true. “Abundance is enough.” [43:30] Bob talks about a way to communicate your financial needs in a way that  is about serving the client and upholding the company's standard. [46:44] Brad closes by talking about Mark Cuban and his pharmaceutical business and how, “Mark knows his lane. He knows exactly what that business is going to be. The key is to communicate to your potential client, this is who we are.”

Subtitle: We've all waited in line for long periods of time, either by choice or necessity. As businesses, we want to be the business consumers choose to wait in line for, but be aware of what people pay for. It's all about time, gaining more time, achieving something faster, and enjoying the time they spend. To that end, every business is in the time maximization business. On today's episode, we break down the importance of time, time management, customer service, being proactive, pursuing purpose and meaning, and more on this week's episode!   Summary: On today's episode, Brad discusses a negative experience he had recently with the healthcare industry and how that's helped him view customer service and time differently. One of the major lessons all businesses should take from Brad's experience is customer service. No one likes waiting, and time is everyone's most valuable asset. This is why customer service is so crucial. It's also important to remember that your clients are, in a sense, your boss; you wouldn't want to be disrespectful to or offend your boss. Because time is your most valuable asset, it's important to manage it well. Whether it's by blocking out chunks of your day on your calendar, having a checklist, or some other plan, figure out what works best for you to manage your time. Don't waste your time; it's limited and you can't earn it back. This is way easier said than done, so one way to manage your time well is to not get sucked into reacting to and putting out the daily fires. Take a moment to assess the situation and then decide the level of urgency and if it's an emergency and then go from there. Maybe have a time of day when you answer any of your team's questions and understand the day's squeaky wheels. Remember to pursue purpose and meaning over success and passion; those will come in time. In conclusion, maximizing your time and your customers' time is the key to becoming the line they want and choose to wait in.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Customer service is a priority. Brad's experience with the healthcare industry has many valuable lessons for all businesses to take away. One of the top lessons is that when customer service is overlooked, it can result in stressed employees, frustrated customers, and a loss of business. Although there are differences between a doctor's office and an agency, this principle applies everywhere. Your clients are in some ways, your boss; treating them well is a priority. “If every business ran the way a health care hospital or doctor's office runs, most businesses will be out of business.” Time is your most valuable resource; manage it well. Although everything in the world may be screaming at you to earn money, or achieve success and fame, the one asset that cannot be earned and is often misspent every day is time. The reality is, our time on this earth is limited, so how do we want to spend it? Time management is one of the most important skills a person can ever develop, and it is crucial for agency owners. Don't make the mistake of underestimating the value of time and time management. “Of all the resources, time is the only one you can't get back.” Be the thermostat, not the thermometer. As we all know, time management is important, and most people have methods of planning and staying on top of their schedules and tasks, but we all have a million things that pop up every day that demand our attention. When this happens, it's important to do a quick assessment of the situation and determine if it's a real emergency. Be proactive and prepared to deal with these situations and determine how you and your team need to spend your time, otherwise you'll spend all your time being a firefighter. “Be the thermostat, not the thermometer.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:31] Bob opens this week's episode with a discussion about production. [2:48] Bob introduces the topic for this episode, time management and lessons to learn from the healthcare industry. [3:16] Brad talks about productivity and how he spends his time along with his struggles with time management. [6:47] Brad breaks down his recent experience with the healthcare industry and launches a discussion about the lessons all businesses should take from this experience. “There are two things that will bring people back to their health care providers. Number one is empathy, and number two is time.” [9:17] Ken says that, “if every business ran the way a health care hospital or doctor's office runs, most businesses will be out of business.” [11:11] Brad elaborates on his challenges with his recent experience and talks about his empathy for the dentist as well as his shared struggles. “I struggle with the same thing. I struggle with trying to run a business and also making sure our clients are satisfied and feeling like they're serviced.” [12:52] Bob talks about some of the lessons to be learned from this experience as well as the shift the healthcare industry is having and the allowances that need to be made because of this shift.  [17:17] Ken talks about the value of time and how it is often overlooked as the most valuable resource.  [18:37] Ken says that it's important to recognize your superpower and to leverage it so that people would want and choose to wait in line for you and your business. [23:03] Ken talks about the three things a business can do to earn other people's time. “If you can determine what the problem is, be really really good at solving that problem, and become famous for that problem, you can have a line out your door.” [27:20] Brad discusses how this experience has impacted how he views customer service and interactions. [28:37] Brad asks the guys how they manage their time and avoid getting sucked into putting out fires all day.  [29:05] Bob talks about how he uses task lists to motivate him and manage his time [32:29] Ken says that he is in between Brad and Bob and that he believes, “no matter what your personality is, in order to get something done, you need to focus on it. In order to focus, you need to develop the discipline muscle to not chase squeaky wheels. I do this with my customer in mind. I look at it as, okay, I'm going to decide if this is an emergency or not, not you. In order to have a successful, peaceful, well balanced agency or any service business, you need to take ownership of what you're going to do and when.” [34:04] Bob summarizes Ken's thoughts on how he manages his time. “Be the thermostat, not the thermometer.” [34:08] Ken talks about the importance of recognizing the process when measuring success by results. “You have to have the awareness of not just measuring success by the result, because the result may not be there.” [40:01] Bob discusses the book, “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield and how it relates to this discussion of productivity and time management in the business world. [43:30] Bob wraps up by talking about the importance of pursuing purpose in order to find happiness, passion, and hopefully success. “Do not pursue success, but actually follow purpose. Don't pursue happiness, pursue purpose, and when you and when you pursue and are involved in purpose and meaning, passion will ensue.”  

Subtitle: *jeopardy countdown plays* “Which work environment is best: remote, in-office, or hybrid?” The answer to this question depends on what your goals, growth projections, team size, and personality are. There are pros and cons to all of these methods, and we unpack each of them as well as subleasing, mental health, office dogs, and more in this week's episode!   Summary: On this week's episode, we talk about the pros and cons of remote, in office, and hybrid work. Remote working makes it possible for your employees to have a flexible schedule, travel, and prioritize time with family and friends. In office working provides human connection, team camaraderie, and the potential for higher productivity. Hybrid work environments are a mix of both of these; a happy medium. Any of these methods could work well for your agency, but hybrid seems to be the most optimal. We dive deep on what elements are important to have in an office to create a healthy place where your employees can grow and thrive creatively while being productive. We also explore what the workforce will look like and want in five years as well as the importance of having a holistic perspective for your business. All of these things depend on the goals you have for your business, the size of your team, your personality, and your dreams and desires.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Hybrid offers flexibility and human connection. There are many pros and cons to remote and in office work environments. The beauty of a hybrid workplace is that it combines the positive traits of both of the other methods. Human connection and flexible schedules are important for mental health, and a mentally healthy employee is a happy, productive, and creative employee. While hybrid offers a happy medium, any of these methods could work for you and your business; that's the beauty of running your own agency! “The hybrid model seems to be the most optimal of all the studies. You can get that team creativity and workflow and face to face, which is really important, but you also get the freedom.” Future growth and goals for the business as well as team size and personalities impact what work environment would work best for you and your agency. If you are extroverted like Brad, quarantine may have been a challenge and had a negative impact on you and your work. Others who are introverted thrived during quarantine and work best remotely. The future goals for your business, the size of your team, and the personalities of your employees influence what kind of work would be best for your business. “Five years down the road, you have to move into offices. You may stay partially remote, maybe not, you never know. What kind of stuff would you need for sure at that office for your employees to thrive there?” Have a holistic view of your business. Due to the pandemic, the business world has become more aware of the importance of creating a healthy work environment where employees can thrive and grow creatively while being productive. It's important to take these elements into consideration when deciding what works best for your business. “I think in order to make a really good, creative, productive, healthy environment, we as business owners have to think beyond just the square footage, desks, and computers.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:42] Ken opens this week's episode by chatting with the guys about the interview with Rogan and Zuckerburg, technology, social media, and mental health. [5:08] Ken talks about how humans struggle with addictions to technology and how wisdom and restraint will become increasingly necessary as technology advances. [10:20] Bob discusses how there are many different ways to run your business as a result of the pandemic. “It's an interesting time, because while there's so many agency owners that have gotten rid of office space altogether, there's some that are going back to the office. And most are doing some sort of hybrid. There's pros and cons to all of those.” [13:38] Ken talks about the net positive and net negative effects of hybrid and remote work. He also discusses convenience and how often, “as you grow, you learn that convenience is not necessarily serving you.” [16:35] Bob discusses some of the benefits of a hybrid work environment. “The hybrid model seems to be the most optimal of all the studies. You can get that team creativity and workflow and face to face, which is really important, but you also get the freedom.” [18:00] Bob says that the best work environment depends on your desires, personality, and management style. [21:25] Brad asks the guys, “Five years down the road, you have to move into offices. You may stay partially remote, maybe not, you never know. What kind of stuff would you need for sure at that office for your employees to thrive there?” [22:48] Bob answers Brad's question and discusses the importance of team size, growth projections, and what the goal of the space is. [24:42] Brad talks about the possibility of purchasing extra office space and leasing it out until his company needs that space. [27:23] Ken talks about defining the vision and future goals for the business, size and the cost associated with it, and subleasing. [30:04] Brad discusses the benefits of subleasing as well as the idea of purchasing and owning a space. “We could have 60% of the office, and then sublease 40%, which actually helps us subsidize our own fees and rent. I also like that there's people, even if they don't work for us, with different ideas and different backgrounds.” [31:27] Brad talks the guys through a few of the things he's taking into consideration as he plans for his company's new office space. [33:12] Bob asks the guys, “five years from now, what's the workforce going to look like?”, igniting a discussion about what a workplace should look like and how it can become a place your employees want to work. [35:55] Ken elaborates on what he believes is the ideal work space. “Ideally, people come here because that's the best place for them to work. And they deal with some frictions in life, because it's worth it. You've got everything you need to do a really good, productive day of work that you believe is better than in your bedroom. How do we make this the best place in my employees' mind?” [38:54] Bob talks about the importance of taking a more holistic approach to business. [41:35] Ken closes with a chat about office dogs and says that he tells his kids, “If you want a dog, pray that God changes my heart. Because I can't take a dog right now.”

Subtitle: How can you make every project a success? You may be thinking, that's not even possible, but there's one technique that's often overlooked that can do just that. What is that technique you may ask; it's consumer research! We break down what consumer research actually is, some tools you can use to make it more efficient and affordable, and some other general tips and tricks! This is an episode you won't want to miss!    Summary: On this week's episode of Agency Exposed, we dive deep into consumer research, its benefits, and some tools you can use to make it more efficient and cost effective. Although consumer research may seem like an outdated method or something that is impractical, it is not these things at all! Today's technology has simply changed the way consumer research is conducted. Consumer research is just as important as it used to be, and it can generate incredible ideas and prevent expensive mistakes. The most important thing when conducting consumer research is to listen to what the customers are saying. Analyze their body language, word choice, and facial expressions to help you understand how they truly feel about a product. In order to use the information you gain from consumer research, you must let go of any biases or opinions about what you or your client believe are the best and listen to what the consumers are saying. “If you're going to spend a million dollars on a campaign, why not spend 10% of that budget to understand if the other 90% is well spent?”   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Consumer Research is worth it. Focus groups and consumer research is something that you often hear about in business school, but it can seem irrelevant or impractical in today's world. The fact is, its importance hasn't changed, but technology has changed the way it's done. Be aware of ways you can use today's technology to complete consumer research, it's definitely worth it. Better to spend 10% of the budget making sure the other 90% is worth it, than to spend all of the budget on a failing campaign. “Understanding the mind of the target that you're trying to reach and getting to know not just what you think about them or what you read online, but actually speaking with them and getting hard data.” Let go. No, not the famous Frozen song. Let go of any opinions, bias, or other thoughts about a product or brand. Simply let the consumer say what they're going to say. Feedback won't do anything if you only argue for your point. “Don't get too close to your creative, because if you start doing that you will never create something great.” Listen to what the consumer is saying. Not only do you need to let go of your opinions and bias, but you also need to listen to what the consumer is saying verbally and nonverbally. Be aware of their body language, word choice, and any signs of excitement or disappointment. Listen to everything with an open mind. “Hear firsthand from the voice of the customer. Listen to their body language that will tell you 80% of what we're trying to get. It's not always what they say, it's how they say it.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:31] Bob opens this week's episode and starts a chat about California. [3:05] Bob introduces the topic for this episode, consumer research. “Understanding the mind of the target that you're trying to reach and getting to know not just what you think about them or what you read online, but actually speaking with them and getting hard data.” [3:44] Brad talks about why he believes consumer research is important as well as the value it can bring to any project. [5:40] Brad discusses how consumer research has changed due to the rise of the internet and digital marketing as well as the importance of hearing, “firsthand from the voice of the customer. Listen to their body language that will tell you 80% of what we're trying to get. It's not always what they say, it's how they say it.” [7:15] Bob asks why it's important to put in the extra effort for consumer research when working on campaigns. [7:54] Brad elaborates on the importance of seeing products and brands through the lens of a customer and how it impacts them on a daily basis. “If you're going to spend a million dollars on the campaign, why not spend 10% of that budget to understand if the other 90% is spent well?” [12:27] Ken talks about the hippo effect, as well as the importance of realizing, “most likely you're not necessarily your target customer.” [13:19] Bob discusses another benefit to completing customer research, “it levels the playing field and gets rid of opinions, desires, subjectivity, all the things that can cause road bumps along the way, especially when it comes to creative.”  [18:56] Brad talks about the importance of letting go in order for the customer research and feedback to have an impact and ignite change. “Don't get too close to your creative, because if you start doing that you will never create something great.” [19:42] Ken asks, “How much effort do you invest before you do the focus group?” [19:47] Brad discusses some of the challenges when putting together a focus group. [22:09] Ken asks if, “an agency could use a focus group for themselves?” [24:02] Bob asks Brad what tools he uses. [24:08] Brad dives into a tool he uses, userinterviews.com, and all of the unique benefits and features it has. [30:55] Brad offers a few suggestions regarding consumer research through userinterviews.com after breaking down the pricing of this tool. [36:02] Brad talks about a few tips and tricks that have helped him when doing customer research. [38:07] Bob talks about a simple method of consumer research that he has had success with, surveys.  [40:59] Bob wraps up this week's episode by, “encouraging everybody to please like, review, or share this podcast!”

More Rogen bashing, The fall guys, and Faces of Death

Subtitle: What do you think of when you hear the word asset? Most people think of stocks, real estate, or some kind of commodity. While all of those things can be a wise investment, those aren't the type of assets we'll be talking about. Instead, we'll be exploring how to build valuable assets and create investments for and within your business. We'll also talk about verticals, the flywheel concept, business initiatives, AC units, and more on this exciting episode!   Summary: In today's episode, we talk about building valuable assets. One way to build a valuable asset is to expand into another vertical. Having a focus and a skilled speciality is important, but it's crucial to look for another vertical where those skills can be marketed. Most agencies already have a valuable asset, knowledge from their experience. This is something that many businesses highly value. Raising your prices, looking over your fixed pricing, and communicating with your clients are a few ways to prepare for the coming year while also retaining your business. Keep an eye out for any opportunities that may come your way, often, the best opportunities come during harsh conditions, so be ready for them. In this episode, we also talk about the flywheel concept. We believe that this concept is a great system that will allow for healthy growth and the creation of assets. Be aware of the state of the economy and ways you can prepare and invest before it's too late.    Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:    Expand into other verticals. Having a niche and expertise is important, but don't limit yourself too closely otherwise you will eliminate opportunities for growth and diversification for your business. Instead, do some research on verticals you think would be a good fit for your business, and choose a few to expand into. “What are those verticals that maybe you've been considering or thinking about that you can go in and apply the knowledge that you've had success with in other verticals?” Use your knowledge to your advantage. Everyone's heard the saying “Knowledge is power”, and when it comes to agencies, it's also a marketable asset. Take some time to reflect on skills or knowledge your business has obtained and create an asset out of those things. “What is the asset that you're creating? In the agency space, it's knowledge. So then how do you exploit that in a bunch of different places? How do you grow that? How do you protect it?”  Look for opportunity. When trying to create an asset or make an investment to benefit your business, keep an open mind. It's important to not look for opportunities through a telescope. Diversification is crucial. Whether you're expanding to a new vertical, starting a new business initiative, or discovering an asset you already have, keep an eye out for opportunities, they often show up during hard times. “This is an opportunity for agencies.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:40] Ken opens this week's episode with a chat about the weather in England and AC. [3:32] Bob asks the guys if they've seen the impact of the economy for their businesses. [3:43] Brad talks about how he's seen a lot of financial preparations for the coming year. [5:20] Ken discusses how he's seen a lower level of consumer spending as well as, “opportunity to grow.” [11:17] Brad talks about the differences between the 2008 era and the state of the economy today. “I think the case right now is that it's gonna be a slow progression of cutting 10% of their fat. And I think that's healthy, because there's always 10% fat you could cut out of your business, and they're just using this as the opportunity to do it.” [12:02] Bob discusses the opportunity to explore other verticals and how to use the knowledge you've acquired as an asset. [14:44] Brad talks about the importance of having a balance of having a, “mix of clients that will sustain themselves when the market changes.” [20:26] Bob discusses the opportunity to revisit the fixed pricing on your contracts to help retain clients during the challenging economic times ahead. [23:41] Bob talks about the wide variety of things most agencies do and the opportunity to pitch them to existing clients. [24:47] Ken asks the guys, “are there any new business initiatives that you guys are launching?” [25:02] Brad talks about his business' new vertical, the trucking industry. [31:36] Ken discusses Metacake's business initiative, Dough Capital as well as some of the niches they have that set them apart and provide opportunities for growth and investment. “Over the last several years, we've put together essentially a capital fund for E commerce companies or direct consumer companies of a certain type. We launched that officially, earlier this year. It's called Dough Capital.” [36:28] Ken breaks down the flywheel concept and how his business uses it. [40:04] Ken talks about how he views agencies, what he believes their assets are, and how an agency can capitalize on their opportunities and assets. “What is the asset that you're creating? In the agency space, it's knowledge. So then how do you exploit that in a bunch of different places? How do you grow that? How do you protect it?”  [45:16] Ken concludes this week's episode by asking the listeners, “ Do you have a flywheel in your agency? Do you realize the knowledge and experience that you have the opportunity to create as an asset? And then what are you doing with that?”

On this episode of Mount Pleasant Podcast, "Trooper Bob" Beres, Traffic Safety Expert, ABC News4 Traffic talks to host Brian Cleary about the Navy, Austria, the MUSC helicopter, a boat, God, a fire and how Bob got his start with the Police Department and how all of this lead to ABC News4 Traffic ... and more. Tune in!

Make Space for God, Remember Names, God Laughs, Thank You Foster Care, Jesus & Discipling, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Non-Anxious Voice, Stand On One Leg, BONUS CONTENT: A Masterclass Workshop; Quotes: “Thank you to foster parents.” “Chances are your neighbors and coworkers are very anxious.” “I can handle anything with the strength God gives me.”

Welcome, 7 Hatters! In this episode, we speak with Bob Phibbs and dive deep into hats 3, and 4... the servant, and the entrepreneur, as we enroll in medical school and get our degree in retail execution with the retail doctor himself.Bob is the world's leading expert on Brick-and-Mortar retailers and he got there by building his foundation one brick at a time. Before 1994, the retail world didn't have a champion, but when Bob became the retail doctor, he started to resuscitate the industry.Bob was named one of the top retail influencers of 2018 and has worked with giants that include Bernina, Brother, Caesars Palace, Hunter Douglas, Lego, Omega, Hearts on Fire, and Yamaha, to name a few.So if you're ready to learn all about retail and how to compete in this digital age, then let's welcome Bob to the 7 Hats... ----------------------Visit https://www.the7hats.com/ for more information and more shows.Bob's Website: https://www.retaildoc.com/ Bob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobphibbs/ My Bio & Links: https://sleek.bio/yuvalselikSUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW...Want to be the first to know when new episodes are released? Please subscribe and leave a review!Subscribes and podcasts reviews are pretty darn important to iTunes, and the more reviews we receive, the more likely we'll be able to get The 7 Hats message in front of more people (It's all about the iTunes algorithms)I'd be extremely grateful if you left a review letting me know your favorite part of the show or episode :)

As you sit across the desk from your client in the middle of a sales pitch, it is common that salespeople tend to focus on closing the sale ASAP. Although this is intuitive, it may make you appear insincere and uninterested in your client's actual needs. So how do you go around that?In this podcast, our host Ian Garlic and special guest Bob Burg, the author of the Go-Giver series, talked about their personal experience on switching from being a “Go-Getter” to a “Go-Giver” and how doing so helped them close more sales than ever!What You'll Learn:How being a "Go-Giver" is the best sales tactic yetThe human nature of self-interestReprogramming your mind to be a Go-GiverWhat it means to be AUTHENTICConnect with Bob:Bob's LinkedInBob's WebsiteGo-GiverBuy the book here!Resources:Connect with IanSupercharge your marketing and grow your business with video case stories today!Book a Discovery Call Today with Our ExpertsSubscribe to the YouTube Channel See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Subtitle: Today we're workshopping a real marketing problem, live. In this episode, we talk about various forms of marketing, other than Facebook, as all kinds of marketers have recently been facing struggles with targeted marketing. We break down unique platforms, diversification, mindset, branding, and more on this episode of Agency Exposed.   Summary: On today's episode, we ‘get jiggy with it' and do a mini marketing workshop. Due to recent increases in privacy regulations, marketers have had to deal with large decreases in targeted marketing. We believe that privacy is important, but suddenly removing a tool that has been relied on by marketers for years definitely poses a challenge. So, in this episode, we discuss the importance of diversifying your marketing platforms and offer some alternative ideas. It's important to be prepared for the shutdown of a platform and to utilize the resources that are still available on those platforms. The right mindset and branding also play a critical role in marketing, and having both will only help you in the long run. Sometimes, it's more about the quality than the quantity of your leads.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:  Diversify your use of marketing platforms. Facebook is where ad companies are the most comfortable. Unfortunately, the targeted marketing that was once offered here is becoming more and more restricted due to privacy concerns. Privacy is important, but reducing the extent of targeted marketing can make our jobs more challenging. This is why it's important to ask yourself and your clients, “What if Facebook was taken away tomorrow? What would your business look like? And if it's devastation, then you've got no choice but to figure out other channels.” Utilize the retargeting that is available. While targeted marketing may be limited, there is some retargeting that is still available. Diversification is important, but make sure you and your clients are utilizing all available resources. “Be more creative, intentional, and thoughtful with retargeting strategies. On Facebook and Google you can still retarget just like you always could.” Quality over quantity. Finding leads has the potential to become more difficult and expensive without targeted marketing. This is why it's important to have the mindset that quality can surpass quantity. Niching down to the high quality clients, traffic, and leads are what can help your business succeed and grow in a time without most targeted marketing. “It's just a different mindset… it's really not about the volume of people. It's about the smaller number of high quality people, traffic, and leads that you get and really mining those.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:33] Bob opens a Freestyle Friday episode with a brief chat about Yeti versus Ember mugs.  [2:21] Bob begins a discussion about the advertising struggles that digital marketers are running into lately. [2:34] Brad breaks down the question, “What do you do when platforms start to take away abilities to market to certain audiences that you relied on for clients?” [5:39] Bob talks about some of the more unique platforms that he's started using. “At the end of the day, when it comes to first party data, you just have to kind of just shift your whole mindset.” [9:47] Ken discusses diversification and asks, “What was it like before Facebook?” [12:14] Brad talks about how he views diversification in marketing as well as the importance of being prepared. “I look at this like a financial investment. Financially, you really want to diversify your investments.” [16:09] Bob discusses 3 marketing areas that he believes will grow in the next few years. [19:43] Bob talks about the importance of intentionally utilizing the retargeting that is available. [20:58] Ken discusses the effectiveness of branding and acknowledges that, “It's just a different mindset… it's really not about the volume of people. It's about the smaller number of high quality people, traffic, and leads that you get and really mining those.” [24:01] Bob mentions the marketing possibilities when partnering with influencers. [29:30] Bob says that, “We would love to hear from our listeners! I know that we've had a little glitch with Spotify that we fixed and we got all of our past episodes that were missing. So if you're listening to us and you've got some ideas on how to be more creative with your clients and digital ads, we'd love to hear from you. So reach out to us! You can click on the podcast and email us or just use #agencyexposedpodcast and we'll find you.”

Billy feels deep shame after Bob shares some information with the show, and Tony's deeply flawed "Top 25 Pizzas" list gets him sent to the ocean. Plus, coaches under the most pressure headed into the NBA Playoffs, sympathy for Frank Vogel, and the best food to get from places where you don't ordinarily get food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subtitle: Today's episode features a special guest, Erik Jensen, Chief Strategy Officer of Predictive ROI. Predictive ROI is a thought leadership and content strategy business that helps agencies, consultants, and coaches create smart solutions while digging deep into their client's systems and goals. We chat about what it looks like to discover your superpower as an agency and how to leverage that to intentionally and strategically grow your business.    Summary: On today's exciting episode, featuring special guest Erik Jensen, we dive deep into superpowers, thought leadership, and how to monetize thought leadership. Erik tells us about his unique background as well as how Predictive ROI came about. Predictive ROI helps agencies, consultants, and coaches develop thought leadership and monetize it by niching down to their special “superpower”. In order to profit from your superpower, you first have to identify it. Erik breaks down some important questions and perspectives to consider when trying to find your special power. Once you know where your specialty lies, content generation and having a body of work are key players to consider when monetizing your thought leadership. There is no such thing as a “silver bullet” strategy that will fix everything or make you wealthy overnight. It takes work, intentionality, and strategy to build a strong business. Erik advises agency owners, consultants, and coaches to not allow fear to dictate business strategy, because then you've lost before you've even begun.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:  Discover your superpower. In order to monetize your thought leadership, you have to be known for something. And to do that you first must know where your greatest strengths lie. Erik offers 3 questions to help identify your “superpowers”. These three key perspectives can help you categorize and analyze your business differently to determine where your true strengths exist. “What are the problems that you solve? What is your superpower?.”  Content creation is key. Once you know completely what your powers are, content creation is the next step. Consistency and accessibility are crucial. Erik advises listeners to “fill it (the online vacuum) with content of your own making and direction before others fill that vacuum for you.” Leverage a framework. Content creation is hard and time consuming. Knowing how to make the most of the time you spend here is the key to success. Erik and Predictive ROI have multiple resources, referenced in his profile and at the end of the podcast. Use these free resources provided by the professionals of thought leadership to help your business to evolve smartly. “It does not happen overnight. This is not a silver bullet strategy. This is not a ‘get rich quick' scheme. This is a ‘building a business with intention' strategy.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About our Guest:  Erik Jensen: The Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder of Predictive ROI, a company whose thought leadership & content strategy is for smart Agency, Coaching, and Consulting leaders who want even smarter solutions. Our clients are incredibly brilliant business leaders who know that if something promises quick and simple, it likely won't last for the long haul. So when we work together, we dig in deep to learn your business, your systems, and your goals.  Learn more about Predictive ROI at predictiveroi.com Predictive ROI on Facebook Erik on LinkedIn Predictive ROI's podcast, Onward Nation   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:32] Bob opens this week's episode by introducing this week's special guest, Mr. Erik Jensen. He's the chief strategy officer for a company called Predictive ROI.  [3:01] Erik explains what Predictive ROI's mission is as well as his unique background, his business partner, and how Predictive ROI was formed. “We help agencies, coaches and consultants build a position of thought leadership and then monetize it.” [7:09] Ken asks Erik about his pivoting point in his business, and what pushed them to evolve. [7:37] Erik explains the process of Predictive ROI's transition from serving any client to niching down and working with agencies, consultants, and coaches. “We offered guaranteed contracts where we would say, we're guaranteeing you that you will get you know, 2x or 3x or 4x return on the investment with us. Then we learned something else, which is sometimes we don't have control.” [11:01] Erik gives a key piece of advice to all agency and business owners, and explains why he believes it's important. “I think if there's any one lesson that I would like to tell anybody who's just new to running a business, I don't care if it's agencies, coaches or consultants or something else. Go narrow, fast.” [11:54] Erik breaks down the meaning and reasoning behind why agencies often try to help every client that comes their way.  [12:43] Ken asks Erik, “Why agencies, coaches and consultants, like why did you decide to niche down in that way?” [14:02] Bob asks Erik what his role is and how he serves his clients. [15:04] Erik explains one of the key concepts of thought leadership. “Thought leadership is really about staking your claim, and we call it planting your flag, planting your flag of authority in the space that you want to own.” [19:37] Ken asks Erik to “walk us through the questions that someone could ask themselves to identify here's the flag that I should be planting.” [20:19] Erik discusses the importance of identifying “What are the problems that you solve? What is your superpower?.” He also discusses the three main categories to analyze when trying to establish what your superpower is. [24:53] Erik creates a unique analogy that explains and dives deep on leveraging your superpower. [26:13] Erik talks about one of the ways that Predictive ROI ensures that their clients are in a position to identify their superpower ability and have buy in. [29:29] Ken asks Erik what his tips are for content generation.  [32:04] Erik talks about how he implements systems to help with content generation, but even more importantly, “your best salesperson is you.” [38:38] Erik breaks down his daily schedule and tasks. [41:35] Bob discusses his experience with content creation. [43:03] Erik explains his perspective on content generation and talks about the importance of filling the inherent vacuum online, “with content of your own making and direction before others fill that vacuum for you.” [43:03] Erik also discusses the value of having a body of work, and how it can help build trust with your clients. “It does not happen overnight. This is not a silver bullet strategy. This is not a get rich quick scheme. This is a building a business with intention strategy.” [45:45] Erik talks about all of Predictive ROI's resources to help you monetize thought leadership. “Hop over to predictive roi.com. We have the weekly free q&a. We also have a book on this, which outlines it a little bit more clearly. You can get it for free at predictive roi.com/free-book And it really is free. It's not one of those like, pay shipping and handling or whatever [47:29] Erik closes with a final piece of advice, “Don't let fear dictate the strategy of your company.”

Today's FunSize - Bob Bob Bob (Airdate 3/17/2022) This episode features two talkback from listeners about their issues with Bob and a discussion featuring Bob's area of expertise as a paid court witness. Bob & Sheri FunSize: All of the Fun You Want in a Snackable 10 minutes! Share it with Friends on Facebook and Twitter!   Text "FunSize" to 888-262-7437 and we'll send it right to your phone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subtitle: And the myth-busting continues! On this week's episode, we continue to analyze and debunk some of the most common myths in the agency world. We break down RFP's, hiring, size, Cancun, creativity, trendsetting, and more in this week's episode!   Summary: On today's episode, we discuss some of the top myths in the agency world, from an agency's perspective, and the client's. We believe that it's important to debunk these myths not only to expose the truth about agency life but also to dig deeper and understand the reasoning behind the myths and how they influence businesses today. Keep in mind, this episode is all about our personal opinions and experiences with these myths. The goal of these mythbusting episodes is to help our listeners form their own opinions about the validity of these myths, and help them achieve success.   Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:  RFP's are not the best ways to find an agency. We personally don't believe that RFP's are the smartest or best way to find an agency. Think of hiring an agency like hiring an employee. While their experience and education do play a part in the hiring decision, their personality and ability to do the specific job does even more. Having a competition between agencies won't help you hire the agency you're most compatible with, and the relationship with the agency you end up hiring can often be awkward due to how the relationship started. We've dedicated a whole episode to  RFP's here, so if you missed it, go check it out! “There's a lot of waste in RFPs.” Size of your agency can matter but often doesn't. The old corporate adage, “No one ever got fired for hiring IBM” is where we believe the myth that “big agencies are the only ones that big brands hire” came from. Because of this saying, many businesses associate large size and high price with high quality work and valuable experience. While some large companies truly need large agencies to help them with their projects, leaner agencies do have a chance too. The thing companies are looking for is trust and confidence in the team they hire, and size is only one way to judge that.  “Instead of focusing on the size of an agency, I think you need to be focusing on what's the best fit, and the best solution for my problem.” Creativity isn't limited to one geographic area. Although NYC, LA, and Chicago may traditionally be known for their creative design, creativity is everywhere. If you're looking for someone to help with design, don't just look for people in large cities; look for the person that you will work well with and will do the job you need them to do best. “You're not really limited to a geographic area.”   For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:45] Bob opens this week's episode by announcing Brad's new youtube crypto channel, RADMAX Crypto. [2:31] Brad talks about how crypto will get hit by the Ukraine-Russia tension. [5:41] Ken discusses how the guys are, “going to do a bunch of episodes where we collect myths that people send in or that we find, that we hear, that we know of, and we're just gonna see if they're true or not.” [6:01] Bob brings up the first myth, “An RFP, request for proposal, is the best way to find an agency.” [6:56] Brad talks about how he's seen and experienced the negative side of RFP's. “There's a lot of waste in RFPs.” [12:22] Bob asks the guys, “If the myth is “an RFP is the best way to find an agency”, what is our opinion on a better way?” [16:35] Ken discusses how he believes that agencies should be hired in the way employees are hired rather than through RFPs. “An RFP doesn't let you know if you like them.” [20:19] Bob begins the discussion about the next myth, “Only big agencies can really provide and do a good job and what I need.” [20:42] Ken says that the size of the agency can matter when it comes to certain size companies, but more often than not, clients associate size with reliability and experience.  [22:30] Bob proposes an alternative perspective for clients to consider. “Instead of focusing on the size of an agency, I think you need to be focusing on what's the best fit, and the best solution for my problem.” [26:53] Brad talks about how he teams up with other agencies in order to win bigger clients and a few of the advantages of being a larger agency. [28:12] Bob mentions the next myth, “the best creative only comes from LA, New York, or Chicago.” [29:02] Brad discusses how there are differences in agencies in different cities but how when he moved to Nashville, he saw a lot of creativity here. “It's like creativity meets corporate.” [31:20]  Brad talks about how the improvements to and accessibility of technology has made it easier to compete with larger agencies. [32:26] Ken asks, “Where do you get the trendsetting creativity?” [34:23] Bob talks about how he believes trends were made previously and how technology and culture have reversed the trendsetting process.  [37:12] Ken says that busting these myths is important because not only can you express the true nature of agency life, but also, “digging into the reason behind them is where you can learn some things.” [37:30] Bob summarizes the agency myths and the truth.  [38:09] Brad closes this episode by reminding the listeners to “Go to Agency Exposed on YouTube, slap up the likes and subscribe. There's a little notification button. If you click that you'll get all of the latest videos from Agency Exposed.”  

Subtitle: Welcome to the 100th Episode of Agency Exposed! The agency world is riddled with myths and assumptions, and today we're going to begin a series of episodes where we test some of the most widely believed myths about marketing, advertising, and agencies in general. We debunk some of the top agency myths and more on this week's exciting episode.    Summary: On today's episode, we begin to explore some of the myths people believe to be true about agencies. We've gone out to our listeners as well as the Google machine to find some of the most common beliefs and assumptions about marketing agencies. We break down many myths in today's episode. Thank you to our listeners for your support, we can't believe this is our 100th episode!    Top 3 Curtain Pulls in this episode:  The best creative doesn't always win. Though you may have poured your heart into a creative project for a client, they may hate it or it simply may not work in the real world. This is why it's important to remove any emotional attachment to your work before shipping it off. And that isn't easy. It's also important to have data that backs up your decisions, creating valid reasons for your client to accept or pick your project. “I always thought that great creative would always win. Meaning if you were doing a campaign for a client, the best creative was always going to win.” Agency life shouldn't be chaotic and toxic. When you think about agencies or agency life, do you immediately think, late hours and toxic co-workers? While that may be the case in some older agencies, healthy agencies have a positive environment and want their employees to avoid burnout and stay healthy. It's all about great leadership and leading the client vs the client leading you. “that agency life is chaotic, and you work long hours, and everybody's cutthroat.”  Agencies can't solve every problem. It's important to remember that agencies aren't a magic fix for every problem. Nothing is ever fully guaranteed. You can hire the best agency in the world, but if your product doesn't work, there's no need in the marketplace, or your business model is off it just won't work. You don't hire an employee based on a guarantee of how they'll help you, you're hiring them based on their character and experience. It's the same situation when you hire an agency. “There's a perception that an agency is going to come in and they're going to solve my problem and they have the ability to do that. No matter what.” For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes: Follow us on Instagram @AgencyPodcast Join our closed Facebook community for agency leaders   About The Guys:  Bob Hutchins: Founder of BuzzPlant, a digital agency that he ran from from 2000 -2017. He is also the author of 3 books. More on Bob:  Bob on LinkedIn twitter.com/BobHutchins instagram.com/bwhutchins Bob on Facebook Brad Ayres: Founder of Anthem Republic, an award-winning ad agency. Brad's knowledge has led some of the biggest brands in the world. Originally from Detroit, Brad is an OG in the ad agency world and has the wisdom and scars to prove it. Currently that knowledge is being applied to his boutique agency. More on Brad: Brad on LinkedIn Anthem Republic twitter.com/bradayres instagram.com/therealbradayres facebook.com/Bradayres Ken Ott: Co-Founder and Chief Growth Rebel of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team for some of the world's most influential brands with a mission to Grow Brands That Matter. Ken is also an author, speaker, and was nominated for an Emmy for his acting on the Metacake Youtube Channel (not really). More on Ken:  Ken on LinkedIn Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team Growth Rebel TV twitter.com/iamKenOtt instagram.com/iamKenOtt facebook.com/iamKenOtt   Show Notes: [0:32] Bob opens up the 100th episode of Agency Exposed, with a brief chat about Tim Horton and ice hockey. [2:47] Ken begins today's discussion about mythbusting by brainstorming some myths about agencies and agency life.  [4:15] Brad talks about his myth and explains why it's a myth. “I always thought that great creative would always win. Meaning if you were doing a campaign for a client, the best creative was always going to win.” [8:57] Ken discusses the importance of being able to detach yourself emotionally from your work and allowing things to roll off of you. [12:55] Ken googles some common agency myths and breaks down two, “do marketing agencies pay well, and do marketing agencies make money?” [14:12] Ken talks about the average profitability of agencies and why having a heavy human capital can be an issue. “How do marketing agencies make money?” [16:18] Ken discusses some of the potential negative aspects of working for an agency and compares them to his ideal agency situation. “We want a consistent team that builds over time. We want a balanced team that is not overworked.” [18:39] Bob talks about how working for an agency provides numerous opportunities for growth and education as well as other benefits. “I would argue there's no better place to get that type of business life experience.” [20:37] Bob discusses his myth, “that agency life is chaotic, and you work long hours, and everybody's cutthroat.”  [27:15] Ken breaks down another myth and talks about the importance of balance.  [28:07] Brad talks about one of his key philosophies and applies it to Ken's myth. “I'm here to win the war, not the battle. I'm there to be an asset, not somebody that's going to care more about the end result than my client as a person.” [34:47] Ken discusses another myth and explains why he believes it is a myth. “The idea of control, I think, is a myth because there's a perception that an agency is going to come in and they're going to solve my problem and they have the ability to do that. No matter what.” [41:32] Bob concludes the 100th episode of Agency Exposed by talking about the importance of aligning the client's definition of success with yours and how that comes into play with Ken's myth.