Podcasts about Business development

What you'll learn in this episode: • Why “next” is the most powerful 4-letter word in sales • How fear and excitement are driven by the same emotional energy • Why consistent outbound prospecting still wins in every market • The truth about building predictable income in sales • How social media judgment keeps people stuck • Why trust is becoming the ultimate business currency • The difference between core competencies and distractions • How AI can become your personal board of directors • Why successful people act before they feel fully ready • The long-term payoff of resilience and consistency

Like many parents, Amy Jo was totally against sleep training. She believed the common misconceptions and never thought she'd consider it. But after struggling with her own child's sleep, she took a leap and hired a sleep consultant—and it completely changed her perspective.Not only did Amy Jo see the benefits firsthand, but she was so inspired by the experience that she became a certified sleep consultant herself! Now, she's helping other parents navigate their own sleep challenges with confidence and compassion.In this episode, we cover:- Why Amy Jo was originally against sleep training- The fears and misconceptions that held her back- What happened when she finally worked with a sleep consultant- Her advice for parents who are skeptical or nervous about sleep trainingLinks:Website: https://sleepysailings.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleepysailings_/If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Sleep Consultant, please join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/becomeasleepconsultantCPSM website: https://thecpsm.com/Book a free discovery call to learn how you can become a Certified Sleep Consultant here: https://jaynehavens.as.me/CPSM-Inquiry

The following article of the Tech industry is: 'The First Step Toward Financial Inclusion Isn't a Bank Account' by Mariel Sada, Head of business development, PayJoy. 

Medical technology is evolving faster than many manufacturers can adapt to, and falling behind can now happen in months rather than years. In this episode, Seth Rowan, Director of Business Development at Harmac Medical Products, discusses how AI, data integration, and digital transformation are reshaping medical device manufacturing. He explains why clean data is essential for successful AI adoption, how manufacturers can identify bottlenecks before they grow, and why companies need scalable manufacturing partnerships to bring single-use medical devices from design through commercialization. Tune in to learn how manufacturers can turn rapidly changing technology into practical solutions without losing sight of execution, quality, and scale. Resources: Connect with and follow Seth Rowan on LinkedIn. Follow Harmac Medical Products on LinkedIn and explore their website!

Design and marketing are often treated as separate disciplines, but after sitting down with Kimberly McNatt, it's clear they're deeply connected.In this episode of The Real Build Show, I had the opportunity to talk with Kimberly, Director of Business Development at Clive Daniel Home, about how thoughtful design, strategic marketing, and strong relationships all work together to shape exceptional projects and successful businesses. Drawing from her extensive background in branding, sales, and design, Kimberly shares insights on creating experiences that resonate long before a project is complete.We also discuss the value of collaboration, the psychology behind great design, and why the best brands are built with intention, not just through what they create, but how they communicate it.Whether you're in construction, design, real estate, or business, I think you'll walk away with a fresh perspective on the intersection of creativity, strategy, and growth.

In this episode, we're excited to welcome Brent Batterman, VP of Business Development & Sales Education at Bedhead Marketing and a respected mattress industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience. Brent shares his journey of transforming sales strategies, launching innovative products, and developing high-performing sales teams that drive measurable results. Tune in as Brent discusses how the mattress industry has evolved, the lessons he's learned throughout his career, and how his forward-thinking approach continues to help retailers achieve greater success around the world. 

Send us a text and chime in!The City of Kingman has launched a new Infill Incentive District Development Fee Reduction Program designed to encourage business investment, redevelopment and economic growth along four key commercial corridors. Established in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes § 9-499.10, the program provides eligible businesses with a 50% reduction in qualifying development fees. The incentive applies to approved projects that develop vacant land or occupy and renovate vacant buildings within designated corridor boundaries. Qualifying properties must front one of the following corridors: Airway Avenue: Stockton Hill Road to Rainbow Drive Bank Street: Airway Avenue to Gordon Avenue Hualapai Mountain Road: Andy Devine...   For the written story, read here >> https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/kingman-creates-new-incentive-program-for-business-development/ Check out the CAST11.com Website at: https://CAST11.com Follow the CAST11 Podcast Network on Facebook at: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network

CapeTalk’s Sara-Jayne Makwala King is joined on Weekend Breakfast by Lettesha Pillay, Head of Business Development at NMG Benefits. Weekend Breakfast with Sara-Jayne Makwala King is the weekend breakfast show on CapeTalk. This 3-hour morning programme is the perfect (and perky!) way to kickstart your weekend. Author and journalist Sara-Jayne Makwala-King spends 3 hours interviewing a variety of guests about all things cultural and entertaining. The team keeps an eye on weekend news stories, but the focus remains on relaxation and restoration. Favourites include the weekly wellness check-in on Saturdays at 7:35am and heartfelt chats during the Sunday 9am profile interview. Listen live on Primedia+ Saturdays and Sundays between 07:00 and 10:00am (SA Time) to Weekend Breakfast with Sara-Jayne Makwala-King broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/AgPbZi9 or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/j1EhEkZ Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Cardano ADA news update starts with the Linux Foundation's x402 Foundation and the rise of internet-native AI agent payments. Cardano is listed through the Cardano Foundation, but the membership tier raises a bigger question: is Cardano shaping the standard, or just appearing beside it?Peter then connects that x402 story to Masumi, Hydra, DeltaDeFi, SBI's move with Solana in Japan, AlphaGrowth, Blockfrost, and the upcoming Van Rossum hard fork. The core theme is simple: Cardano has serious technology, but the ecosystem needs stronger business development, marketing, liquidity, and user adoption if those projects are going to survive and grow.Chapters:0:00 Intro and x402 setup1:18 AI agent payments explained3:01 x402 membership tiers5:13 Cardano associate member question7:17 Masumi, Hydra and AI payments9:06 DeltaDeFi pauses operations11:51 SBI, Solana and Japan14:10 Cardano adoption problem15:44 AlphaGrowth proof case19:10 Blockfrost infrastructure risk23:46 Cardano needs marketing26:19 Van Rossum hard fork warningWhat you'll learn:- x402 shows AI-native payments are becoming a serious internet payments category, with major finance, cloud, and crypto organisations involved.- Cardano Foundation is present in x402 as an associate member, but Peter questions how much influence that gives Cardano over the standard.- Masumi, Hydra, Leios, and Cardano's eUTXO model give Cardano a credible technical stack for AI agent payments.- DeltaDeFi pausing operations shows that strong Hydra-based products can still struggle when users, liquidity, and awareness do not arrive.- SBI choosing Solana in Japan highlights why business development and commercial representation matter, not just technical capability.- AlphaGrowth and Blockfrost are framed as examples of the growth and infrastructure support Cardano needs to turn technology into adoption.Links & References:Linux Foundation has launched the x402 Foundation:- https://link.learncardano.io/CixMMPCardano Foundation has joined x402 as an Associate Member:- https://link.learncardano.io/VZngLHLinux Foundation Announces Operational Launch of x402 Foundation to Standardize Internet-Native Payments for AI Agents and Applications:- https://link.learncardano.io/86s6Bs- https://link.learncardano.io/V5qvDKProjects on Cardano Using x402:- https://link.learncardano.io/643BBv- https://link.learncardano.io/5rilqGexplanation page for x402 on Cardano:- https://link.learncardano.io/JgPgBwDeltaDeFi operation will be paused effectively today:- https://link.learncardano.io/pgXJudSBI Partners with Solana Foundation:- https://link.learncardano.io/VsLBCbIf you Build It, They Will Come:- https://link.learncardano.io/ULtbrKAlphaGrowth's Work on Compound:- https://link.learncardano.io/vY9rlbAlphaGrowth Cardano Prime:- https://link.learncardano.io/5xOoK0Future of Blockfrost:- https://link.learncardano.io/mba82eCardano Node Update:- https://link.learncardano.io/9C45RS- https://link.learncardano.io/svhdpVPulse on Midnight:- https://link.learncardano.io/LsYlUOWebsite: https://link.learncardano.io/bQ68RcX/Twitter: https://link.learncardano.io/3a1QtvDisclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. Nothing constitutes financial advice.DISCLAIMER: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or legal advice. I am not affiliated with, nor compensated by, the project discussed—no tokens, payments, or incentives received. I do not hold a stake in the project, including private or future allocations. All views are my own, based on public information. Always do your own research and consult a licensed advisor before investing. Crypto investments carry high risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. I am not responsible for any decisions you make based on this content.

Daniel is joined by Andrew Levy, Vice President of Business Development, IP & ASIC at Alphacore. Andrew leads strategic growth initiatives, customer engagement, technology commercialization, and business development activities for the company’s semiconductor IP, ASIC design services, and advanced microelectronics… Read More

Argus experts unpack how conflict, depleted stocks and diesel competition are reshaping aviation fuel markets. Renewed Middle East conflict is putting aviation fuel markets back under pressure, just as Europe enters a volatile summer with depleted jet stocks and growing competition from diesel. In this episode of SAF Insights, Louise Burke (SVP, Business Development, Biofuels) is joined by Amaar Khan (Jet Fuel Reporter) and Aidan Lea (Associate Editor, Sustainable Aviation Fuel) to examine how conventional jet and SAF markets are responding. They discuss how Europe has avoided jet supply shortages so far, why SAF pricing is behaving differently from 2025, and what renewed volatility across jet, diesel and renewable fuels could mean for airlines and suppliers in the second half of the year.

In this episode of Defence Deconstructed, Dr. Alexander Salt moderates a panel from our conference Implementing Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy. The discussion brings together Ian Smith, Laurent Carbonneau, Dr. Kate Kaminska and Dr. Shannon Quinn to provide insights on implementing the new defence industrial strategy. // Guest bios: - Dr. Kate Kaminska, Director General, BOREALIS Joint Program Office, Defence Research and Development Canada - Ian Smith, Director of Business Development, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta - Laurent Carbonneau, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Council of Canadian Innovators - Dr. Shannon Quinn, Secretary General, National Research Council // Host bio: Dr. Alexander Salt, Senior Researcher, Canadian Global Affairs Institute // Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding and Ombudsman. // Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Judy Alomari Release date: 17 July 2026

We're all walking around convinced we're right and everyone else is the problem, and it's tearing apart our politics, our workplaces, our families. Stu Kliman and Susan McKenty Brady join me to break down the four hidden landmines killing our ability to disagree without destroying each other. Susan MacKenty Brady is a global leadership expert, speaker, and CEO of the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership. She advises organizations worldwide on cultivating high-performing, human-centered cultures and is the coauthor of the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller Arrive and Thrive. Stuart D. Kliman is a founder and Partner Emeritus at Vantage Partners, a midsize consulting and training organization headquartered in Boston. He is an expert in behavioral change management and collaboration, an alumnus of the Harvard Negotiation Project, and the Head of Business Development at PrescriberPoint. Get a copy of their brilliant new book, All the Difference: Six Leadership Actions to Bridge Perspectives, Strengthen Teams, and Create Value Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge, a global alternative investment firm, and founder and chairman of SALT, a global thought leadership forum and venture studio. Pre-order my next book, All the Wrong Moves: How Three Catastrophic Decisions Led to the Rise of Trump, out on the 17th of September in the UK and the 22nd of September in the US: ⁠https://www.scaramucci.net/allthewrongmoves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode Summary In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan speaks with Matt Coleman, CEO of Davis Hill Development and Principal of Skyview Ventures. The conversation centers on Davis Hill's partnership with HiveTracks, an innovative program that uses beekeeping and honey analysis as a biodiversity monitoring tool on solar sites. Matt explains how HiveTracks analyzes honey, pollen, and environmental DNA to track pollutants, invasive species, and ecosystem health, and how that data informs vegetative maintenance, mowing schedules, and seeding decisions on Davis Hill's projects. Benoy and Matt also discuss agrivoltaics and multi-use land strategies, including grazing, hay production, and a new cranberry bog project in Massachusetts, the importance of long-term partnerships with farmers and landowners, how community-focused land stewardship can strengthen permitting outcomes, and the evolving role of solar-plus-storage and standalone battery projects. The episode closes with Matt's advice for early-stage clean energy entrepreneurs on differentiation and market timing. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, a solar development and consulting firm, and the host of the Solar Maverick Podcast. He also serves as a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed more than 100 MW of solar projects across the United States, advised on more than 1 GW of energy projects worldwide, helped launch some of the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered approximately $50 million in renewable energy credit transactions. Before founding Reneu Energy, Benoy worked in Tesla's Project Finance Group as an environmental commodities trader, where he managed one of the company's largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated renewable energy credit transactions and worked with senior leadership to develop monetization and hedging strategies supporting the company's expansion into East Coast markets. Benoy also served as Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, a solar and energy storage construction company, where he developed project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. At Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with approximately 125 MW of U.S. renewable energy assets, he evaluated investment opportunities, supported portfolio strategy, and played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable energy portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young. He also completed an internship on the trading floor at D. E. Shaw & Co., a global investment and technology development firm. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from the NYU Stern School of Business, where he was an Alumni Scholar.   Guest Information   Matt Coleman Matt Coleman joined Skyview in February 2016 and brings over fifteen years of expertise in renewable energy via project development and finance, corporate investment, and technology development. Mr. Coleman was most recently EVP of Business Development at Clean Focus, where he led the company's commercial and utility solar power project development and acquisition. Prior to Clean Focus, Mr. Coleman co-founded and managed one of the first renewable energy sector hedge funds in the United States. He also helped launch two different concentrating solar firms, Soliant Energy and Hyperlight Energy, and developed and financed a variety of distributed generation technologies for RealEnergy. Mr. Coleman earned an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA and a BA in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins University.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/    Matt Coleman       Skyview Ventures https://skyviewventures.com/    Davis Hill Development  https://www.davishilldevelopment.com/    Hivetracks  https://www.hivetracks.com/    Matt Coleman on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattecolem/ Sponsor This episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast is brought to you by Reneu Energy. Reneu Energy works with companies and organizations on renewable energy strategy, project development, owner's representation, project finance, renewable energy credits, and market advisory services. To learn more, visit: https://www.reneuenergy.com Listen and Subscribe Subscribe to the Solar Maverick Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. It helps more people discover conversations with the leaders shaping the future of solar, storage, and the energy transition.

When I interviewed Joan Lunden live on stage in Baltimore a few months ago, I never expected our backstage conversation would lead to this podcast episode.As we chatted before taking the stage, I shared a bit about my work as a sleep consultant, my online sleep consultant certification program, and of course this podcast. To my surprise, she asked if she could be a guest.Needless to say, I didn't hesitate to say yes.Joan has spent decades in the public eye, but what I was most interested in wasn't her career highlights. I wanted to hear what it was really like to build an ambitious career while raising six children, long before there was much of a roadmap for working mothers.In this conversation, we talk about:• Navigating the judgment that often comes with making unconventional career choices• Why women shouldn't feel like they have to choose between meaningful work and motherhood• How Joan has defined success at different stages of her life and career• Why leading with service ultimately creates the greatest impactWhile Joan's career may have looked very different from ours, I think you'll find that many of the questions she wrestled with are the same ones women are still asking today.Is it okay to love motherhood and still want something that's just yours?Can you build a meaningful career without sacrificing your family?How do you define success when you're trying to balance it all?I hope you enjoy my conversation with Joan Lunden.Links: Website: https://joanlunden.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealjoanlunden/If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Sleep Consultant, please join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/becomeasleepconsultantCPSM website: https://thecpsm.com/Book a free discovery call to learn how you can become a Certified Sleep Consultant here: https://jaynehavens.as.me/CPSM-Inquiry

Prath Reddy, CFA, serves as the CEO of Percent, where he was instrumental in setting the company's trajectory since its inception. With a solid background in financial services, particularly in investment banking and capital markets, Prath leads the revenue-driving sectors, including Capital Markets, Credit, Compliance, and Business Development, and maintains a Board Observer position.

Owning a child care business can feel lonely, but it doesn't have to. Every owner faces challenges, whether it's improving enrollment, building stronger systems, or simply having someone who understands what you're going through. The truth is, some of the biggest breakthroughs happen when you stop trying to figure everything out on your own.   Join Brian Duprey as he welcomes Faith Yocum, Child Care Genius coach and VP of Business Development, for a conversation about the biggest challenges child care owners are facing today and the strategies that are helping businesses adapt and grow. Listen in as they discuss why documented systems, effective marketing, and learning to navigate changing markets are essential for long term success.   Brian and Faith also share why surrounding yourself with other child care owners can be one of the most valuable investments you make in your business. Tune in as they take you inside the Child Care Genius Leverage Conference and explain how the combination of business training, networking, coaching, and meaningful connections helps owners realize they are not alone and equips them with the tools to move forward with confidence.   And be sure to stay until the very end for a special announcement! Brian reveals an exciting change to the Friday Child Care Genius Training Podcast as he introduces the new host who will be bringing you weekly, bite sized business training. You won't want to miss the big reveal or what's in store for the next chapter of the Friday Training series.   Mentioned in this episode: GET TICKETS to the Child Care Genius LEVERAGE Conference:  https://childcaregenius.com/leverage    Need help with your child care marketing? Reach out! At Child Care Genius Marketing we offer website development, hosting, and security, Google Ads creation and management, done for you social media ads management. For social media content we have the Genius Box, which is a monthly subscription chock full of social media & blog content, as well as a new monthly lead magnet every month! Learn more at Child Care Genius Marketing. https://childcaregenius.com/marketing-solutions/  Schedule a no obligation call to learn more about how we can partner together to ignite your marketing efforts.   If you need help in your child care business, consider joining our coaching programs at Child Care Genius University. Learn More Here. https://childcaregenius.com/university   Connect with us:  Child Care Genius Website Like us on Facebook Join our Owners Only Private Mastermind Group on Facebook    Join our Child Care Mindset Facebook Group Follow Us on Instagram Connect with us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Buy our Books Check out our Free Resources

In this episode, Farid Moussa, Former SES NSA Officer and VP for Business Development, Babel Street, joins us to discuss the influence of the American University of Beirut [AUB] on its role on shaping Lebanon, the region, and the political movements of the region. The Lebanese Civil War in 1975 which involved some kidnappings of official from AUB principals. It included the killing of the AUB President. Moussa recalls his teenage years in Beirut. Interview date Friday, 29 May 2026. Interviewer James Hughes, President Emeritus, AFIO.  

Adam Woolard is the Vice President of Business Development and Health Coach at Joi + Blokes, where he helps people optimize their health through personalized hormone care and functional wellness. Inspired by his own health transformation, Adam is passionate about helping others uncover root causes and reclaim their energy, vitality, and performance. Connect with Adam Website: Joi + Blokes — https://joiandblokes.com Instagram: @admandew

You can care deeply about your team and still be missing the structure that helps them stay.That is the part a lot of salon/shop owners feel, but do not always know how to fix.In this episode, Eva DuPont, Director of Business Development at Infiniti HR, breaks down why building a team that stays is not just about hiring good people, it is about creating clarity around expectations, compensation, benefits, HR, payroll, compliance, and growth. She explains how small gaps in structure can turn into bigger problems over time, and how salon owners can start building a more professional, protected, and supportive business from the inside.

It's been nearly a week of hearings in the Charlie Kirk case. Host Ali Vallarta, executive producer Emily Means, and City Cast Salt Lake contributor Andy Larsen break down the biggest developments. Plus, what locals are buying at the liquor store (and what it says about us), and in our members-only segment: Are Utahns actually rude? Resources and references: Read Salt Lake Tribune reporter Jessica Schreifels' Charlie Kirk hearing coverage. RSVP for 801 Day on Saturday, Aug. 1! Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It's the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.  Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137 Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. If you enjoyed this interview with Eric Haymond, the SVP of Business Development for Taskrabbit, learn more here.  Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  The Shop

Every couple of years, a buzzword seems to rise up to become the industry's token topic.There was an era when "TAMP" was the sexy talk of the day.About 10 years ago, "hybrid" was all the rage.While these terms are still used today, past hype has sometimes caused confusion about when and how to use them.Case in point, should you join a "hybrid" RIA?But what does "hybrid" really even mean? After all, it's often used to describe several different logistical scenarios.In this episode (#152) of the Transition To RIA question & answer series I clarify what a "hybrid" RIA is, and when it might be a fit for our practice.Come take a listen!P.S. Prefer video? You can find this entire series in video format on Youtube. Search for the TRANSITION TO RIA channel.Show notes: https://TransitionToRIA.com/should-i-join-a-hybrid-ria/About Host: Brad Wales is the founder of Transition To RIA, where he helps financial advisors between $50M and $1B understand everything there is to know about WHY and HOW to transition their practice to the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) model. Brad has 20+ years of industry experience, including direct RIA related roles in Compliance, Finance and Business Development. He has an MBA and has held the 4, 7, 24, 63 & 65 licenses. The Transition To RIA website (TransitionToRIA.com) has a large catalog of free videos, articles, whitepapers, as well as other resources to help advisors understand the RIA model and how it would apply to their unique circumstances.

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Embedded Insiders, Kelly Peralta, VP Sales and Business Development at Gateworks Corporation, joins us to discuss the company's current role in the industrial SBC market. We also dive into how trends such as edge computing and AI will shape the evolution of SBCs. Next, Rich and Vin are back with another Dev Talk about MCU architecture loyalty. They're discussing whether AI removes the hurdle of rewriting code for different architectures and how it could affect MCU vendors. But first, we're diving into some more recent news about custom AI chips and what this could mean for the companies hopping on the trend. For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

In the second episode of our four-part SBCA Innovation Grant Recipient Spotlight Series, Abby Langenberg, Director of Business Development & Member Engagement for SBCA, sits down with another 2026 Grant Recipient, Nouran Ghaly of Crowdbuild, to discuss the company's 4D and 5D AI model and how it's helping advance innovation in the structural building components industry. Crowdbuild shares how its technology has evolved, the value of participating in the Innovation Grant program, and what attendees can expect to see at BCMC, September 14–18, in Columbus, Ohio. Tune in to hear how AI is shaping the future of off-site construction and why innovation continues to drive the industry forward.

Do you put off business development tasks because they feel overwhelming or uncertain? In this final episode in the series on common procrastination patterns for lawyers, we explore why business development often gets delayed and what factors contribute to this challenge. Understanding these dynamics can help you approach relationship-building and visibility work with more intention.       This episode highlights the nature of business development as ongoing, relationship-focused work that does not always come with immediate rewards. We cover why it can feel amorphous, how to break it into actionable steps, and ways to integrate these tasks into your calendar in practical, bite-sized increments. You'll hear strategies to identify priorities, clarify what activities will be most effective, and maintain consistency even when the work feels non-urgent.        Whether you're attending networking events, writing articles, giving talks, or connecting with referral sources, the concepts you'll learn in this episode offer practical approaches to business development that help you act with more confidence and structure. These strategies can help you create manageable habits that support long-term practice growth while reducing stress around these important tasks.                                               Get full show notes and more information here: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/268              Click here to grab my procrastination protocol checklist: https://mailchi.mp/0c249b28750c/procrastination_protocol               Click here to grab my time management podcast roadmap: https://mailchi.mp/d267dabde299/time-management-lawyers-podcast-roadmap

In this episode, Wayne Pollock (Founder of the Law Firm Editorial Service) argues that when attorneys regularly produce thought leadership, they can improve their lawyering abilities.  In addition to gathering their thoughts on how to advise their clients regarding developments in the law, best practices, and trends and predictions, Wayne gave seven reasons why consistently producing thought leadership helps attorneys become better thinkers, and thus, better attorneys:  1. Consistently producing thought leadership forces attorneys to develop their ideas.  2. Consistently producing thought leadership will make attorneys better at expressing their views clearly and concisely.  3. Consistently producing thought leadership makes attorneys better issue spotters.  4. Consistently producing thought leadership improves an attorney's ability to synthesize information. 5. Consistently producing thought leadership helps attorneys sharpen their judgment and their ability to communicate their points of view. 6. Consistently producing thought leadership helps attorneys develop their ability to recognize patterns.  7. Consistently producing thought leadership provides attorneys with a feedback loop that improves their thinking and thought leadership. === Learn more about Wayne Pollock at https://www.linkedin.com/in/waynepollock Learn more about the Law Firm Editorial Service at https://www.lawfirmeditorialservice.com Learn more about Copo Strategies at https://www.copostrategies.com === Do you want to elevate your thought leadership, distinguish yourself from your competitors, and never again be your target clients' second choice? Our Legal Thought Leadership Accelerator is a FREE five-day educational email course, in which you will learn five advanced principles for conceptualizing and crafting revenue-generating legal thought leadership that positions you to be your target clients' top choice over your competitors (and the one the media regularly calls and conference organizers regularly put on stage). Learn more: www.LTLAccelerator.com

Adapting the big law playbook and driving the same high standards without the big law budget has never been more relevant for growing firms.   On today's episode of the CMO Series Podcast, Will Eke is joined by Sarah High, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Yetter Coleman, about what it takes to successfully build a BD function from the ground up in a boutique litigation firm. Drawing on big law lessons and her ability to drive real strategic growth, she shares how to succeed on a boutique budget. Sarah talks about her journey from big law to boutique litigation, what it means to be a one person team building the framework for growth, and how she's leaning on external partners and AI to deliver big law results. Sarah and Will dive into: Her early priorities while establishing the BD function How to balance a strong legacy with modern growth strategies The importance of strong communication with external partners Where AI and technology is making the biggest impact Expert advice for others building a function from scratch

One of the biggest mistakes I see aspiring entrepreneurs make is believing they need to have everything figured out before they begin.They want certainty before they invest in training.They want confidence before they put themselves out there.They want to know they'll be successful before they're willing to take the first step.The problem is...that's not how confidence works.Confidence doesn't come first. It comes after you've taken enough imperfect action to realize you're capable.Sindy Warren is a life and business coach who helps people navigate career transitions, build businesses, and step into new chapters with intention. In this conversation, we talk about why so many people get stuck waiting for the "right time," how to quiet the limiting beliefs that tell you you're not ready, and why following curiosity is often a much better strategy than chasing certainty.If you've been sitting on an idea, questioning whether you're ready, or waiting until you feel more confident before taking action, I think this conversation will give you the push you need.Sometimes the only way to find out what's possible is to take the next step.Links:Website: https://bluetreecoaching.net/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluetreecoaching/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sindywarren/If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Sleep Consultant, please join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/becomeasleepconsultantCPSM website: https://thecpsm.com/Book a free discovery call to learn how you can become a Certified Sleep Consultant here: https://jaynehavens.as.me/CPSM-Inquiry

For the past 5 years, the ITX Product + Design Conference stands at the top of the company's calendar. In this Topics in Product Series (TiPS) episode, Product Momentum co-host Sean Murray called the 2-day conference event “my favorite two working days of the year,” complete with workshops, keynotes, spotlight sessions, and live podcast recordings. Sean (Director of Product Management) is joined by ITX colleagues Shannon Baird (Lead UX Designer), Kyle Psaty (VP of Business Development), and Dan Sharp (Product Manager, Product Momentum co-host). With conference excitement still fresh on their minds and drawing from their experiences across product management, UX design, and business development, the panel explored the conference’s most relevant takeaways. As you'll see and hear, one theme emerged: the boundaries that once separated the roles of Product and UX are rapidly fading. As AI changes how teams work, their success depends less on tools and more on the collaborative problem solving that grows from a deeper understanding of our products' users. Here's a look at what they learned: AI Amplifies Existing Product Practices Not surprisingly, Conference speakers discussed artificial intelligence and its impacts – but not as the primary topic. Instead, they focused on ways AI can be used to strengthen good product thinking, not to replace it. David Pereira, author of Untrapping Product Teams, explained that AI is most valuable when it enhances sound discovery, user research, and decision-making. Teams that already practice strong product fundamentals will benefit the most, he added. “AI accelerates what you are already doing,” David says. Leadership Is Something You Do, Not Someone You Are Leadership emerged as another major theme during the Day 1 workshops. In a Product track session guided by Rachel Kohman, attendees explored how leadership happens through everyday actions. Rather than being defined by job title or authority, leadership is revealed at all levels of the organization by speaking up, creating space for others, and helping teams navigate difficult problems. As Dan points out, “It’s really easy to think about leadership as a thing that happens when ‘somebody's in charge.’ But that’s not always the case. Leading is a verb that you do, not an overall overarching principle. I think there’s a lot of power in that.” Product and UX Deliver Stronger Results Together Our TiPS panelists believe that the Conference's most actionable takeaway is the growing convergence of Product and UX. Even though AI is enabling professionals to work across traditional role boundaries, a focus on shared customer and business outcomes are bringing the disciplines even closer together. “In past years,” Kyle shares, “guests like Jesse James Garrett, Jared Spool, and Rich Mironov really celebrated our conference because it brings together product and design. Historically, the impetus has been to actively bring those departments together. Now, those roles are converging in this kind of natural way; the game board is tilting us all together toward unified problem solving and shared solutioning.” [04:11] The ITX Product + Design Conference is my favorite two working days of the year! — Sean Murray, Director of Product Management, ITX. [13:28] I'm now building my own AI design expertise, and it's important to stop for a beat and make sure I'm asking the right questions as I design these tools. — Shannon Baird, Lead UX Designer, ITX. [18:51] One thing is clear: the work we’re doing – designers, engineers, product managers – is figuring out what brings value. It’s adaptive problem solving, right? — Dan Sharp, Product Manager, ITX. [19:50] The Product and Design roles are converging in this natural, authentic way that is tilting us all toward unified problem solving and shared solutioning. — Kyle Psaty, VP of Business Development, ITX. [21:05] That’s why this Product + UX Conference was killer for me. With AI technology becoming readily available, we’re seeing designers coding their own prototypes and product owners designing their own solutions. Our roles are more closely aligned and offering more opportunities to cross-collaborate. — Shannon Baird, Lead UX Designer, ITX. [22:33] I think we’ve lost a little bit of the in-person career development. And we wouldn’t have been able to make the observations that we were making about the blending of these worlds. There’s so much value for both distinct role sets; the opportunity to be there in person and the opportunity to talk with other people is really unique these days. — Sean Murray, Director of Product Development, ITX. Sean Murray. Sean is the Director of Product Management at ITX. His expertise lies in aligning teams with product goals, business objectives, and user value, all while creating a fun and collaborative environment where everyone can thrive. Dan Sharp. Dan is a Product Manager at ITX focusing on enterprise level clients and technology solutions. He enjoys shaping product strategy and turning a strategy into valuable solutions. Kyle Psaty. Kyle is ITX’s VP of Business Development. In this role, Kyle is the executive sponsor of the annual ITX Product + Design Conference. Shannon Baird. Shannon is a Lead UX Designer at ITX. She thrives on solving challenging problems with a user-centered design process, taking problems through research, ideation, prototyping, and testing design phases. The post 191 / TiPS: ITX 2026 P+D Conference – Converging Around Better Problem Solving appeared first on ITX Corp..

On this episode of The Market Pulse presented by SmartTouch® Interactive, host Aaron Fichera sits down with Ben Bollman, Director of Business Development at Zonda, to explore one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, the emerging Austin–San Antonio metropolitan corridor.Drawing on Zonda's industry-leading housing data and market intelligence, Aaron and Ben examine the macroeconomic forces driving long-term growth across Central Texas, from sustained population migration and job creation to the influx of major employers reshaping the region's economy. The conversation also explores why both believe the Austin–San Antonio corridor is evolving into one of America's most significant economic hubs.The discussion moves beyond the headlines to provide actionable insights for home builders and developers navigating today's market. Ben shares key data fromZonda on buyer demand, housing supply, pricing trends, and opportunities that can help builders make more informed land acquisition, product, and marketing decisions in an evolving economic environment.Whether you're a builder, developer, marketer, or industry professional, this episode offers valuable perspective on where Central Texas is headed and how data-driven decision-making can position your business for long-term success.

What if your biggest health problem isn't showing up on a routine physical? In this episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly sits down with Adam Woolard, Vice President of Business Development at Joi+Blokes and health coach, to discuss why so many people feel exhausted, foggy, and unmotivated despite being told they're "healthy." Adam shares his personal journey of struggling with low energy, brain fog, and declining hormone levels in his early 30s, and how comprehensive blood testing helped uncover the root causes that traditional healthcare had overlooked. Together, Kelly and Adam explore hormone optimization, blood sugar, inflammation, nutrition, exercise, longevity, and practical ways to improve both physical and mental health. The conversation also expands into faith, personal reinvention, vulnerability, purpose, and building a life aligned with your values. Whether you're already focused on your health or you're simply tired of feeling "off," this episode offers practical insights to help you take control of your well-being. Key Topics:

Podcast: PrOTect It All (LS 27 · TOP 10% what is this?)Episode: AI for OT Cybersecurity: Real-World Strategies to Protect Critical InfrastructurePub date: 2026-07-06Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationAI is changing OT cybersecurity - but success still depends on understanding your operations. In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow welcomes Vivek Ponnada for a practical conversation about how artificial intelligence is transforming the way organizations defend critical infrastructure. With decades of experience in industrial automation and OT security, Vivek shares firsthand insights into the realities of protecting legacy control systems while preparing for a future increasingly shaped by AI, automation, and digital transformation. Together, Aaron and Vivek discuss how organizations can use AI to improve visibility, accelerate threat detection, prioritize vulnerabilities, and strengthen operational resilience, without losing sight of the fundamentals that keep industrial environments safe. Key Learning:  How AI is transforming OT cybersecurity and industrial operations Practical AI use cases for protecting critical infrastructure Why legacy systems remain one of the biggest OT security challenges How AI can improve vulnerability management and incident response The role of digital twins in strengthening cyber resilience Why trust, collaboration, and operational knowledge remain essential in OT security Whether you're responsible for manufacturing, utilities, energy, water, or other critical infrastructure, this episode provides practical insights into balancing innovation with operational reliability. Tune in to discover how AI can strengthen OT cybersecurity while helping organizations protect the systems that keep the world running. Key Moments:  06:43 AI and cloud adoption in OT 13:27 Controller logic changes and safety steps 21:24 Discussing Digital Twins for Security Use 26:51 Managing vulnerabilities at scale 32:41 Understanding Power Plant Limitations 37:17 Keeping up with plant changes 41:43 Automating infrastructure and maintenance 49:08 Rising importance of cybersecurity investment 52:16 Early days in cybersecurity and OT 01:00:03 Ransomware impacts on industries 01:01:53 Using GPUs for security and OT About the guest :  Vivek Ponnada is an Operational Technology (OT) Security practitioner with global experience and currently serves as the SVP of Growth & Strategy at Frenos, the world's first Simulated OT Pentesting Platform. Having started his career in Industrial Control Systems (ICS) as a Technician, Vivek became a Controls Engineer and commissioned Gas Turbines in Europe, Middle-East, Africa and South-East Asia. Post MBA, Vivek held multiple roles in Sales, Marketing & Business Development and Services covering ICS and OT Security solutions for Critical Infrastructure industries (Power, Oil & Gas etc.) at GE, XenonCyber Dynamics and Nozomi Networks. He was a co-lead for the Top 20 Secure PLC Coding Practices Project and regularly speaks at Information Security Conferences. Vivek has a C.Eng. from IEI, MBA from McCombs (UT Austin) and holds the ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Expert & GICSP certifications. He is a member of the ISA, ISACA, Public Safety Canada ICS Security Symposium Advisory Committee and is a CS2AI Fellow. How to connect Vivek:  Frenos: https://frenos.io  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/1ot/  Frenos YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Frenos_Security Learn more about PrOTect IT All: Email: info@protectitall.co  Website: http://protectitallpod.com/ep113 X: https://twitter.com/protectitall  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrOTectITAll  FaceBook:  https://facebook.com/protectitallpodcast To be a guest or suggest a guest/episode, please email us at info@protectitall.co Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple   - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/protect-it-all/id1727211124 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Vvi0euj3rE8xObK0yvYi4The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Aaron Crow | Operational Technology & Cybersecurity Host, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.

Send us Fan MailPlatforms such as Spotify, Amazon, and Netflix have not only innovated how people consume music, shop for everyday items, and watch movies and television—they have also permanently transformed the relationship that consumers have with brands.  By training consumers to expect experiences tailored to their preferences, these platforms have made personalization, convenience, and seamless omnichannel experiences increasingly non negotiable features that brands are expected to deliver with their products and services. Ian Young, Senior Director & Head of Business Development at Comarch, also sees these shifting consumer expectations playing out with loyalty and rewards programs today.  To build lasting emotional loyalty among their members, brands must now think beyond just points and make personalization a key cornerstone of their programs. And to effectively embed seamless personalization across all the channels of their loyalty program, brands must invest in artificial intelligence, according to Young. 

Most companies recruit interns to take work off someone's plate. Your Health does the opposite — and it's why several of its current executives, including a Chief Information Officer, first walked in the door as interns. In this episode, Jamie sits down with Heather Bower, Director of Experiential Learning, who has taken the reins of Your Health's internship, mentorship, preceptorship, and apprenticeship programs. Heather shares how a long-standing program is being rebuilt with structure, data, and intention — organized into semester cohorts, anchored by a four-day all-company orientation, and designed so every intern owns a project with genuine stakes. In this conversation, you'll hear: Why "get interns because they're cheap" is exactly the wrong spirit — and what replaces it How one MBA intern's shadowing experience redirected him toward nursing school The "spreadsheet whisperer" intern who taught regional leadership to pull data faster What surprises interns most once they're inside healthcare: the human complexity How Your Health uses feedback loops to move interns toward roles where they'll actually shine If you're early in your career and unsure where you fit, this episode is a map to possibilities you may not know exist. Press play and rethink what an internship can really be. www.YourHealth.Org

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Coyal Harrison interviews Nancy Chin-Wagner, a master networker and owner of Power Connectors, about transforming casual networking into a strategic business tool. They discuss effective networking strategies, building visibility in new cities, and leveraging platforms like Alignable to grow your business.key topicsTransforming casual networking into strategic connectionsUsing platforms like Alignable for business growthBuilding visibility in a new city quicklyEffective strategies for introverted entrepreneursThe three-tier framework for networking successNancy Chin-Wagner social media links:Website: https://www.nancychinwagner.comInstagram: @nancychinwagnerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin/in/nancychinwagnerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyChinWagnerLLCConnect with Nancy and Coyal on Alignable.Coyal's Alignable ProfileStay Connected - 

What separates great leaders from everyone else? In this episode of Everything Is Personal, Len May sits down with Terry Mendez, CEO of Safe Harbor Financial, to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, business transformation, financial innovation, team building, AI, technology, and the future of business. Terry shares lessons from his career at Deloitte, Arthur Andersen, Fortune 500 companies, and high-growth businesses. The conversation explores leadership, communication, innovation, customer experience, financial services, entrepreneurship, business strategy, and how successful leaders build organisations that continue to grow. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, business owner, or someone interested in leadership and innovation, this episode offers practical insights that can help you think differently about business and success. EndoDNA: Where Genetic Science Meets Actionable Patient Care EndoDNA bridges the gap between complex genomics and patient wellness. Our patented DNA analysis platforms and AI technology provide genetic insights that support and enhance your clinical expertise. Click here to check out to take control over your Personal Health & Wellness   Connect with EndoDNA on SOCIAL: IG | X | YOUTUBE | FB Connect with host, Len May, on IG     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailWhen it comes to propane, "say when," says Bert Warner, Director of Business Development for PERC. The boys go deep into the benefits of propane.Heat pumps struggle in colder weather — but hybrid heat pump solutions powered by propane can deliver the comfort your customers desire. Understanding how to install these systems can help grow your business and set your services apart. Get started with a free, two-hour online course at www.propane.com/hybridSubscribe to the Appetite for Construction podcast at any of your favorite streaming channels and don't forget about the other ways to interact with the Mechanical Hub Team!Follow Plumbing Perspective IG @plumbing_perspectiveFollow Mechanical Hub IG @mechanicalhubSign up for our newsletter at www.mechanical-hub.com/enewsletterVisit our websites at www.mechanical-hub.com and www.plumbingperspective.comSend John and Tim your feedback or topic ideas: @plumbing_perspective

The tenth season of the Eccles Business Buzz podcast continues with a conversation between host Frances Johnson and Becky Kearns, Director of Community and Business Development at Zions Bank.Becky and Frances talk about mentoring as a way to share knowledge, help students find direction and passion, and expand access to professional networks. Becky highlights student adaptability but notes they often need guidance in clarifying career paths. She also describes why corporate partnerships with higher education and community involvement matter, including employee engagement and “goodwill,” and how banks can design programs to meet unmet community needs. Becky explains the economic and cultural impact of sports events in Utah and discusses the future challenges of sustainability, water, and housing, urging collaboration and responsible growth. Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm.Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts. Episode Quotes:The influence behind Becky's commitment to give back[06:22] Frances Johnson: Why was it important to you to be a mentor, to give back in that way?[06:39] Becky Kearns: Well, I think my parents both were two individuals who taught the four of us to always leave a community better than you found it. Now, how we define community is up to us. But that could be being very involved in the, you know, not-for-profit world and helping with boards, et cetera. But my parents were very clear that share the knowledge that you have with those that need it. And so that's why it was important to me because I also am not quite sure where I would have gone without the direction I had from both my father and the dean of the College of Business because I was going off in a total different direction than where they were. And they saw my strengths there, but they also saw the big pitfalls that came with that. So I think having the comfort... And sometimes it isn't always what you want to hear. In my case, it wasn't always what I wanted to hear. However, you know, it's just information that someone can use to help guide them along the way.The key skill for success in financial services today[09:38] Frances Johnson: What are some skills that students need to succeed today in the financial services industry, but also more generally, and how have those maybe changed or evolved over time from when you started your career?[09:52] Becky Kearns: I think being adaptable. The students today need to be adaptable with all the information that's coming at them from different directions, you know, where do they want to go? But being able to see there might be different avenues for them to pursue, whether today or throughout their career. Because when I started, especially in financial services, people would pick a specific genre that might be retail banking, commercial banking, investments, and they stayed plugged in, so to speak, to that specific area. In my case, I had the opportunity, and mainly through my husband's transfers across the country, I was pulled out of everything that was familiar to me and being plugged back into something I didn't know. In most cases, I was moving to cities I didn't know anyone. And so being adaptable to those changes and being able to find what would fit best for me really opened up a wealth of opportunity for me.What Becky wishes she had done earlier in her career. [38:18] We had four kids in my family. We were all going to school at the same time. God loves my parents, but they couldn't afford to put us all through. So, you know, we had to help. So I had to have a paycheck. And so, I stayed pretty risk-averse for a while. But when I started to be willing to take risks is when I found my greatest success but most importantly, my greatest joy. If I could give advice to myself and to others, be flexible, be adaptable. You know, be willing to bank on yourself, so to speak, that some of the skills I didn't think I had, I very much had. It just took me a long time to find them. And so, believe in yourself and believe in  what you can provide. And I wish I had done that a little earlier.Show Links:Becky Kearns | LinkedInLiveLikeSam | Advisory Board ProfileDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

One of the most common reasons lawyers struggle with business development despite investing significant time and effort is that they confuse activity with strategy. Many attorneys draft business development plans filled with networking events, coffee meetings, conferences, articles, and visibility goals, only to become frustrated when those activities fail to produce meaningful client relationships or new matters. The problem usually isn't a lack of effort. It's that the plan itself lacks the strategic foundation necessary to generate business. In this episode, I explain why effective business development begins with identifying the right clients, evaluating where genuine opportunities exist, and understanding how legal work is actually awarded. I also explore the importance of narrowing your target market, building relationship-based strategies instead of pursuing general visibility, consistently following up on opportunities, and treating business development as an ongoing process rather than an annual administrative exercise. Throughout the episode, I share practical ways lawyers can build business development plans that focus their time on the relationships, opportunities, and actions most likely to produce long-term client growth rather than just keeping them busy without results. At a Glance 01:20 Why most lawyers mistake activity for an effective business development strategy 02:28 Building a business development plan around client outcomes instead of busywork 04:09 Identifying target clients and evaluating where real opportunities exist 05:18 Finding decision-makers, internal advocates, and paths into new client relationships 06:15 Why broad client targeting makes business development less effective 08:23 Why visibility alone rarely generates meaningful legal work 09:19 How trust develops through consistent, long-term relationship building 10:25 Identifying the people most likely to influence legal work in your direction 11:21 The follow-up mistakes that prevent promising opportunities from becoming clients 12:26 Managing business development with the same discipline as billable client work 12:47 Why business development should be reviewed continuously instead of annually 13:45 Tracking relationships, opportunities, and team accountability over time 15:04 The essential elements every strategic business development plan should include 15:44 Why successful lawyers focus on the right relationships rather than simply doing more 16:15 Building business development plans around where future work is most likely to come from For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast here!  For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars. Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? Here are ways to reach out to her: www.lauraterrell.com  laura@lauraterrell.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/  Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast

What happens when affiliate marketing is no longer just SEO, and media buying becomes a core part of user acquisition strategy?Lee-Ann Johnstone sits down with Kamila Łuksza-Szpyt, Managing Director and Marcin Kumięga, Director of Business Development at Voluum to discuss how iGaming and affiliate programs are shifting away from single-channel dependency and into a multi-layered acquisition model driven by affiliate media buying strategy, AI, and real-time optimisation.For years, SEO affiliates and review sites dominated acquisition strategies. But that model is breaking down under pressure from AI search, rising traffic costs, and changing user behaviour. The result is a major shift: brands are now forced to rethink what “affiliates” actually mean, and expand into broader user acquisition strategies.Kamila and Marcin break down what is really changing inside the industry; traffic diversification and testing budgets to tracking, attribution, and why many programs fail in their first 30–60 days of media buying.Affiliate Media Buying Strategy: Key Talking Points Why SEO-only affiliate strategies are losing visibility in iGamingHow AI search and Google AI Overviews are changing traffic distributionWhy media buying is becoming a core user acquisition channelWhy data tracking and technical setup are critical for successHow AI is changing optimisation and reporting workflowsWhy affiliates and media buying should not be treated as competing channelsThe role of attribution in connecting campaigns across the funnelWhy iGaming Is Moving From SEO to Multi-Channel AcquisitionThe traditional iGaming model relied heavily on SEO affiliates, comparison sites, and review pages to drive traffic. That model worked because search behaviour was stable and predictable.Kamila and Marcin explain that this is no longer the case. AI-driven search, Google AI Overviews, and shifting consumer behaviour are reducing organic visibility and pushing brands to rethink their dependency on SEO.At the same time, media buying channels such as push, pop, native, programmatic, and paid social are opening up at scale. This creates a wider, more competitive acquisition environment but also a much larger opportunity pool.Instead of relying on one predictable funnel, brands now operate across multiple fragmented touchpoints, making diversification not optional, but necessary.The First 60 Days: Where Most Media Buying Strategies FailOne of the strongest insights from the episode is how many programs fail early due to poor setup and expectations.Kamila highlights two consistent issues:Brands expect fast ROI without proper testing phasesBudgets are either too small or too widely spread across traffic sourcesMarcin adds that another major issue is mindset: many operators still treat media buying as a replacement for affiliates rather than a complementary user acquisition channel.The reality is that successful campaigns rely on structured testing, proper tracking setup (UTMs, postbacks, attribution), and a clear understanding of what success actually means before scaling begins.Without this foundation, optimisation becomes guesswork rather than strategy.Listen to Learn More About Affiliate Media Buying and AI Why SEO alone is no longer a sustainable acquisition strategyHow AI is reshaping both traffic and optimisation workflowsWhat brands consistently get wrong in the first 30–60 days of media buyingWhy tracking infrastructure is critical for performance marketing successHow to properly structure testing budgets across multiple traffic sourcesTimestamps to Go Direct[03:22] Why AI search is reducing organic traffic[06:55] Biggest mistakes brands make when starting media buying[08:55] Why tracking and technical setup determine success[10:58] Funnel differences between SEO and paid media[15:00] Budget allocation and traffic source strategy[25:50] How AI is changing media buying workflows[32:15] Real-world success case: +30% conversion rate uplift[36:54] Rapid fire: AI, LTV, and scaling mistakesCall to ActionMedia buying is no longer treated as a side experiment by many affiliate programs. It is becoming part of a broader user acquisition strategy, sitting alongside SEO, partnerships and other performance channels.Kamila and Marcin from Voluum break down exactly how brands can approach this shift with structure, testing discipline, and the right tracking infrastructure to avoid costly early mistakes.If you're working in affiliate marketing, user acquisition, or performance media, this episode shows what is changing right now — and what you need to fix before scaling.Sign up for the Affiverse Newsletter at affiversemedia.comAlready subscribed? Share this episode with any affiliate, operator, or affiliate manager working to build trust in online gaming.Subscribe to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to gain insights into scaling campaigns with accountability, sensitivity, and trust, even in the era of AI and automation.Click here to rate and review, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review."Send me a text with your questions

A lot of people assume that when you start a business, you need to be all in.You need a full workday.A quiet house.Reliable childcare.A clear schedule.But that's just not realistic for most.This week on the Becoming a Sleep Consultant podcast, I'm joined by Sam Hirschel. Sam is the mom of a three-year-old and has built a thriving sleep consulting business while navigating school drop offs and pick ups, nap schedules, and all of the unpredictability that comes with raising a young child.One thing we discussed is how easy it is to convince yourself that you'll get started later.When the kids are older.When you have more time.When life settles down.The reality is that every season brings a new set of challenges. The goal isn't to wait for life to become easier. It's to figure out what is possible right now.In this conversation, we talk about setting boundaries with clients in order to protect family time, asking for help when you need it, and building a business in a way that actually works for your family.We also talk about something I know so many mothers can relate to: wanting something that belongs to you, while still being fully committed to your role as a parent.Whether you're thinking about becoming a sleep consultant or you're simply trying to balance work and motherhood, I think you'll see a little bit of yourself in Sam's story.Links:Website: https://gotobedsleepyhead.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotobed.sleepyhead/If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Sleep Consultant, please join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/becomeasleepconsultantCPSM website: https://thecpsm.com/Book a free discovery call to learn how you can become a Certified Sleep Consultant here: https://jaynehavens.as.me/CPSM-Inquiry

This episode of Hustle Inspires Hustle features Alex Quin and Michelle as they break down the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and how tools like ChatGPT and Claude are transforming the way businesses operate, create, and scale. The conversation dives deep into real-world applications of AI inside marketing agencies, content creation workflows, and the rise of AI agents reshaping entire industries.Together, they explore how different AI platforms serve different purposes—Claude's strength in reasoning, systems, and data analysis versus ChatGPT's power in creativity, image generation, and fast execution. They also unpack how entrepreneurs are now building automated workflows, SOPs, and even full “digital workers” using AI tools connected to CRMs, spreadsheets, and marketing systems.The episode also expands into the future of search, advertising, and SEO as AI shifts user behavior away from traditional Google searches toward conversational AI interfaces. Finally, they discuss the broader impact on jobs, emphasizing the urgency for professionals to adapt or risk falling behind in an AI-driven economy.Episode Outline:[00:00] Intro, life update, returning from hiatus, audience engagement [02:30] Why AI has become the main focus in their business and agency work [05:45] ChatGPT vs Claude overview and how each tool is being used today [09:10] Claude for reasoning, dashboards, data analysis, and system building [12:40] ChatGPT for creative work, images, and fast content generation [15:20] Building AI workflows across tools (hybrid systems and stacking platforms) [18:30] AI agents, automation, and replacing manual business processes [21:10] Real examples: CRMs, spreadsheets, emails, and marketing automation [23:00] The future of ads: intent-based search vs interest-based targeting [25:10] SEO shifts, AI search, and the decline of traditional Google traffic [26:30] The impact of AI on jobs, industries, and creative professionals [27:19] Final thoughts, urgency to adapt, and closing messageWisdom Nuggets:There Is No “Best AI Tool”: Success with AI comes from using the right tool for the right job—not choosing one platform over another. Claude and ChatGPT work best together, not in isolation.Systems Beat One-Off Prompts : The real advantage comes from building workflows, SOPs, and automated systems that run repeatedly—not just asking one-off questions.AI Agents Are the Next Workforce Layer : Businesses are quickly moving toward digital workers that handle emails, calls, data analysis, and operations with minimal human intervention.Search Behavior Is Changing Forever: Users are shifting from Google to AI chat interfaces, which will reshape SEO, PPC, and how businesses generate traffic and leads.Adaptation Is No Longer Optional: Industries are being reshaped in real time. The ability to learn and apply AI tools will determine who scales and who gets left behind.Power Quotes“Claude is better for reasoning. ChatGPT is better for creativity. The real power is using both together.” — Alex Quin“AI doesn't replace thinking—it replaces the repetition that slows you down.” — MichelleConnect with Michelle:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/michellechia)Linkedin: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-chia1/)Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)Website: (https://alexquin.com)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)Books Mentioned:How to Market Your Restaurant Online — Alex QuinThe Digital Marketing Dictionary — Alex QuinPolo's Day at the Park — Alex Quin & Michelle's children's bookOur CommunityInstagram: (https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Business development doesn't have to mean sending hundreds of cold emails. The best opportunities often come from building genuine relationships and showing up in the right rooms.In this episode, Whitney shares what she's learned while growing her agency from Milan. She explains why relationship-first networking has been far more effective than transactional outreach, and how speaking engagements have become one of her strongest business development tools.Building an international business has reinforced a simple truth: trust takes time. Whitney breaks down how staying visible, nurturing connections, and playing the long game can create more sustainable growth than constantly chasing the next lead.In This Episode, We Cover:Why relationships outperform cold outreachHow speaking engagements can generate new businessWhat building an agency abroad has taught Whitney about networkingThe value of nurturing connections over timeIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and connect with Whitney for more practical insights on building a business that grows with intention.Connect with Whitney on InstagramConnect with Whitney on LinkedInYour Marketing Heroes Website

St. George, Utah is having a moment, earning national praise as a must-visit destination. But some Salt Lakers know it as the “Florida of Utah.” Host Ali Vallarta and City Cast Salt Lake contributor Shireen Ghorbani unpack the reputation of one of Utah's fastest-growing cities. This episode first aired on Aug. 7, 2025  Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: ‪(801) 203-0137‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. If you enjoyed this interview with Eric Haymond, the SVP of Business Development for Taskrabbit, learn more here. 

In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Ben Poswalk, Director of Business Development at The Child Care Success Company, for a chat about what really separates owners who keep growing from the ones who stay stuck in the same overwhelm, year after year. Because after years of working with child care owners in every stage of the journey, Ben has seen the patterns clearly: where owners break through, where they get in their own way, and what actually helps them move forward.   Together, they talk about the habits that show up inside successful businesses, the blind spots that keep owners spinning, and why the biggest problem is not always the one sitting on the surface. They also get into trust, relationships, vulnerability, and what it looks like to stop carrying everything alone.    Key Takeaways: [3:57] Ben shares how his path into child care started unexpectedly and became a calling he never planned for. [6:47] The owners who grow are usually the ones who take action on what they learn instead of just gathering more information. [8:09] Many owners stay stuck because they are buried in the day-to-day and are trying to control too much at once. [9:25] Letting go of tasks your team can handle often creates more freedom and better results than holding on too tightly. [10:42] A lot of staffing struggles point back to leadership, culture, and clarity, not just hiring. [11:53] Better hiring starts with helping people see the purpose of the work and how they fit into the bigger vision. [14:03] One major blind spot is chasing outside solutions for problems that are really happening inside the business. [15:07] Strong enrollment systems are built on trust and relationship-building, not pressure or rushing families. [18:25] The owners who keep growing are usually the ones willing to do the hard things and have the hard conversations. [19:40] Vulnerability is often the thing that helps owners get support, build confidence, and move forward. [26:58] In 2026, one of the biggest opportunities is getting back to real human connection with staff, families, and children. [31:48] Owners do not have to carry everything alone, but they do have to be honest about what is not working. [33:33] Often, the biggest breakthrough starts by identifying the one issue that will create the most momentum first.   Quotes: "I feel like it's a calling more than anything else, and we end up serving the children and families that are in our care, because it was just meant to be." — Ben [4:09]   "It's the owners that implement and actually take action on the information that they receive." — Ben [7:06]   "Relationships are everything, because it's not about what we can do or the shiny objects that we can build; it's about who we are on the inside, showing up and being authentic, building trust, and building relationships with them." — Jennifer [17:14]   "We are in the trust business. Always." — Jennifer [17:50]   "Vulnerability is such a key component to success." — Ben [20:32]   "My passion is getting fulfilled, and that's making this world a better place, one child at a time, and that's only possible through those conversations I have on a regular basis with owners." — Ben [35:02]   Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!   Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray Jennifer Conner The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Ben Poswalk Facebook Ben Poswalk Instagram Ben Poswalk LinkedIn Brené Brown

What if the real secret to a lasting writing career isn't talent or luck, but learning to thrive in the mess? Why are in-person events worthwhile even if the maths doesn't add up? How do you protect your creativity when the machines never sleep and the community is at one another's throats? With Mark Leslie Lefebvre In the intro, Has AI Already Killed Non-Fiction [Tim Ferriss]; 9 ways that AI would disrupt authors and the publishing industry over the next decade; Pivoting towards The Transformation Economy; and Who do you serve? This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Mark Leslie Lefebvre is the author of horror and paranormal fiction, as well as non-fiction travel and books for authors. He's also an editor, professional speaker, and the Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital. His latest book is Stark Realities: Stacked Up Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know About the Business of Writing and Publishing. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Why print and in-person events are making a comeback for indie authors The case for (and against) licensing your voice clone through ElevenLabs Why we keep selling books in person when the numbers rarely add up Measuring success by creative satisfaction rather than money Being honest about author earnings and the fear of being truly seen Managing stress, divisiveness, and the noise around AI You can find Mark at MarkLeslie.ca. Transcript of the interview with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Jo: Mark Leslie Lefebvre is the author of horror and paranormal fiction, as well as non-fiction travel and books for authors. He's also an editor, professional speaker, and the Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital. His latest book is Stark Realities: Stacked Up Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know About the Business of Writing and Publishing. Welcome back to the show, Mark. Mark: Oh, hey, Jo. It's always an awesome time chatting with you. Jo: You've been on the show lots of times over the years, but the last time was in September 2024, when we talked about selling books in person. So give us a bit of an update. What does your writing and publishing business look like at the moment? How do you manage it alongside the day job and everything else you do? Mark: Oh my God. Well, sleep is—no rest for the wicked, maybe. I'll sleep when I'm dead. It's so funny, it was just this last weekend in Waterloo. I was at Waterloo Book Fest, and somebody came up to my table—another author from one of the other tables—and said, “I heard you on the The Creative Penn Podcast. And then when you mentioned something about Waterloo, I said, ‘He can't be from Waterloo.' And then when you mentioned the skeleton, I said, ‘I know where he lives.'” Jo: That's scary. Mark: So I love the fact that there are so many of your listeners all over the world, and that's usually how people know me. No matter what else I've done, it's like, “Oh, you've been on Joanna Penn's podcast.” I'll say, “Yes, I have.” You know what's really funny? The last time I was on the podcast, we were talking about A Book in Hand, which I was supposed to release that year. Jo: Yes. Mark: I just added another 5,000 words to it this morning. Jo: Wait, it's still not published? Mark: No, and it's so funny. I actually have the first 60,000 words of it with an editor right now, and I told her I'd get her the rest of it, which I thought would be another 20,000 words, by the end of June. But I think it's going to hit 100,000. Here's the weird thing that happened with this. This is trying to accumulate my life of book selling, as well as doubling down on doing in-person events in the last several years. I thought I was going to have the book done in 2024. I ran into some issues where I didn't back it up properly. It was an old version, and I accidentally overwrote the only version I had. Jo: So, for everyone listening, Mark—how many decades have you been an author and a publisher? How come you're still missing deadlines and still not backing up your work properly? Mark: Yes, this is a lesson: no matter how long you've been doing something, you can still make boneheaded errors. So if you, dear listener, have made mistakes, just know that this old guy who's been doing this since the mid-'80s still makes mistakes like that. Don't beat yourself up. I probably did something worse. Anyway, that book I thought was going to be maybe 40, 45,000 words, it's going to be bigger than Wide for the Win—close to 100,000 words. Here's a really important lesson I learned in that, Jo. I thought the book would be something. It became something else. Through my own experiences of doing more in-person events, book signings, and library event. Also in talking to awesome folks like Johnny B. Truant, Katie Cross, Todd Fahnestock, and so many other authors I know, and seeing what Ben Wolf is up to, and a whole bunch of different people who are doing in-person events. In creating case studies for how they interact specifically with a bookstore or library, or how they do in-person selling—I really think the book wasn't ready then. It's like the recipe wasn't ready. I still needed to play with some things. I do sincerely have faith, since I got it into the editorial process, that this will be the year the book actually gets released. Jo: As you said, there are some really good lessons there around sometimes the book not being quite ready. I'd bought an early version from the StoryBundle, which is how I got this book as well, actually. Mark: Yes. Jo: That's another tip for people—storybundle.com. You can go and find some great bundles there. I was also thinking, as you were talking, that maybe one of the reasons this book about in-person events has got so big is because that's a real trend in the community. It feels like indies, we've moved… Back in the day, I said, “I'm not doing print. No way.” This was the early days of digital, because print was really hard back then. So I was like, “Oh, and we've got all the advantages doing digital, so I'm just going to focus on that.” It feels like the pendulum has swung, perhaps even more with the ease of mass production of digital with AI. The focus on print and in person is getting stronger and stronger. Do you think that's happening? Mark: Oh, yes, 100%. I did print in 2004. It was really hard back then, so that's gotten easier. I think there are a few reasons. One of the reasons is, yes, digital made it so much easier for indie authors to get out there and break into the community. But the reality is that print books still outsell e-books in general—overall—despite the fact that indie authors can make six and seven figures a year from selling e-books alone on a single platform. So print has never really gone away. It was just never something indie authors attended to. They were in a different business than traditional publishers were in. And second, obviously I've got these gorgeous books that you've created on Kickstarter, because I like the beautiful books. I've never stopped buying print books. I actually buy more print books. I read more because of audiobooks and e-books, but I buy more print books, especially when I can get a nice signed copy. Then the other reason comes back, again, to your advice—something I've been following for the longest time, and you've long been saying. I do repeat this, and I try my best to offer attribution to you every time I use it: to double down on your humanity, particularly in this age of digital generation and the ability for even non-writers to leverage tools to create content. I think it's so much more important for me, as a creative who will never be able to catch up with the machines, to exploit my humanity. I mean, we both have digital voices of ourselves, right? There's a digital Mark Leslie Lefebvre voice that people can use, and I'm making money off it because people are able to license it through ElevenLabs. But when I'm there in person, so far the holograms aren't good enough to fool people. I think I'm not just selling a book to somebody; I want to create an experience where, “Oh, I'm talking to the author, and we're signing a book together, and we're taking a selfie together.” For me, there's that tactile experience that's really enriching. And it may not be something that lines my pockets as easily, because the investment is more significant. For every $10 I make, it costs me six or seven dollars, as opposed to an e-book, where the cost is amortised in the most beautiful way over millions of copies. Jo: There are a few things there. First of all, let's talk about that ElevenLabs voice licensing, because, as you say, I also have a voice clone. Bones of the Deep, the latest book, that's my voice clone. I haven't gone with the licensing, partly because you don't have control over what someone can do with it. So, for example, someone could create Nazi content, or content that I might not agree with, in my voice. So how have you got over that? Because part of me really does want to license my voice, and the other part doesn't. Mark: This is a great question, Jo, and I'm glad you asked it. It's the same reason I don't worry about people stealing my books—adding DRM onto my e-books and things like that. I may as well make some money off it, because let's be honest: you and I, our voices are out there. Thousands of hours of our voices, right? In your podcast, my podcast, in various interviews we've done over the years. The technology exists for someone to make a copy of my voice themselves anyway. The tools exist. They can do it easily, so why not do it myself and at least make money? I'm actually getting money deposited into my account. Not a lot—maybe $30, $18, something like that every week. Again, I've taken a lot of my non-fiction books that I haven't had the time to record myself, as I like to do, and I can at least load those to ElevenLabs and make my voice the default voice. But wouldn't it be great to be able to listen to my book in your voice? It would sound so much better. Because you can do that. When you listen to a book on that platform, you can choose my voice if you'd rather hear it in my voice, or you can choose Burt Reynolds' voice, or some other folks who've licensed theirs. Again, for me, the whole concept of wide publishing has always been important. It's another small revenue stream that's adding to my numerous revenue streams. So I guess that's how I've justified just licensing the voice. If someone's going to do something with my voice that I can't control, they can do it regardless of whether or not I put it out there myself. Jo: I agree with you. That could happen, and neither of us is famous enough that it's likely to happen anyway. I do quite like the idea of people using our voices, say, for other books for authors, because that would make sense—that's where we fit in the niche. I will rethink that, because I think it's interesting. I wanted to come back to print books. You said sometimes there are easier ways to line your pockets, and I think that's funny. So, getting into the book, this leapt out at me quite near the beginning: Why do we keep doing this when the maths almost never adds up? Mark: Oh, I have a perfect example of that from an event I did a couple of weekends ago in Burlington, Ontario. I think it was a $60 table fee. It was a new event. I believe I made $90 or $95 in sales. So even after the costs of printing and all that stuff, I really didn't make money. I made my table back, which is always a good thing. There were a few encounters I had with people who were really excited to find my Canadian Werewolf series of books, and just so thrilled to get started. Among the four of them, they bought one copy, but they were going to pass it amongst each other. You know what? Okay, they bought a single copy, and I was like, “Well, the e-book is permanently free online. You don't even have to buy a copy”—which is anti-selling. I just want them to read the book and enjoy it. But if they read it and pass it along and start talking about it, they could become readers for a long time. It's an eight-book series, with the ninth book coming out later this year. There was another encounter I had that day. A woman and her teenage daughter came in, and they were looking at my traditionally published books that I buy at a reduced price from a local bookstore and resell. They were looking at these true ghost story books I had, and they were pointing: “Do you have that one?” “Yes, I have this one, I have that one.” And the mother's like, “Well, she collects all your books, and she wants to make sure she has them.” We had this conversation, and she was so excited to meet me in person and to get a signed copy of the book. That experience was such a vanity moment for me as an author. We're lonely. I'm a big loser. Nobody's buying my books. We're always down on ourselves. So that investment of time and energy, in order to get that little pat on the back or that feeling of, “Wow, I really connected with someone who likes my stuff”—those moments are really precious. They're difficult to explain if you only look at the world in a financial way. I guess I'm fortunate enough that I do have enough income from numerous streams, including the consulting I do part-time, that it's okay if not every bookish endeavour leads to more money in my pocket at the end of the day. I can still have these authentic connections with people, which I think is one of the reasons I'm a storyteller. Yes, it's the stories I have to tell, but it's also putting the story into somebody else's hands and eyes and heart and mind. Jo: You're very giving like that. You have that sense about you, whereas I'm just a curmudgeon in the corner. Mark: That is not true. Jo: It is, generally. I don't do events like you do for readers. Mark: But that's because it takes a lot out of you. Jo: Yes, but that doesn't matter. Why do I write? I write for me. Mark: Ah, very good. Jo: At the end of the day—just being entirely selfish about this—when people say, “Oh, if you won the lottery, what would you do?” I'm like, “Well, I'd do pretty much what I'm doing now.” Mark: Yes, I'd just do the same. Of course, I'd write more books. Jo: I'd write more books. So this is where I'm trying to get to for people as well: measuring success in a different way. You were talking about measuring success by how that girl loved your books, and how you feel when someone says they love your books. With Bones of the Deep, this thriller I've just done, I feel like I had the benefit of that book before anyone even read it. As soon as it was finished, I made a nice proof copy from BookVault, and I held it in my hand and said, “I made this. I'm proud of the story, I wrote the story, and it's outside my head now.” I feel like I'm creatively satisfied in that moment. Then, of course, the Kickstarter was great, and I love that the books are going out around the world, but— I think the happiest I felt was that moment of finishing—that creative satisfaction of holding the book in my hand. You know what I mean? Mark: 100%, Jo. I cannot agree with you enough. I love so many aspects of writing. Yes, the connection with people is amazing. But I often say this when I'm doing my one-on-one consulting with authors: focus on the projects that mean the most to you, those passion projects. The process of writing, and the painful rewriting and editing and all the things you go through—when you finish that book, like you said, you hold it in your hands and it is a thing of beauty. It's a huge achievement. You've won. Whether or not you sell a single copy, you've won by doing it. Everything else is gravy: the sales, the money in your pocket or not, the reviews, positive or not, the people who say, “Oh my God, Bones of the Deep, thank you for writing this book. I'm so glad you introduced this into the world and into my life.” Anything beyond the creation itself, which is a pure joy—I love it so much. It's just why I get up at 5:30 every morning and write for hours before the rest of my day begins. I try to get stuff done before the rest of the world wakes up. I want to get the writing done first, when I have the most energy to give myself to the page. Then the rest of the day is kind of gravy for me too. Jo: You talk there about giving yourself to the page, but in Stark Realities— You talk about the fear of truly being seen. What do you mean by that, and how do you manage that feeling? Mark: For anyone who has written anything—fiction, non-fiction, memoir in particular, since it's a bit more closely tied to reality—it's exposing yourself to the world. I'll never forget an interview I did with Canadian science fiction author Julie E. Czerneda, who, before being a fiction writer, was writing biology textbooks, but her real passion was science fiction and fiction. When her first novel came out, she said, “It's like standing naked on the front lawn.” When you release a book, even a novel, people look at it and they're going to judge you and rate you. I remember early on, Jo—we knew each other through Twitter, I think, where we initially met, and then interacted with and finally met in person at London Book Fair. I think you and I have a very similar reaction. When people know us as positive and upbeat and out there helping authors in the community, and then they read our fiction, they go, “Well, Jo, you burned a nun alive on page one.” Or, “Mark, what kind of… they're drinking from the skulls of dead people? What the heck is going on with you two?” We are exposing parts of ourselves in our fiction and non-fiction. That's a fear I embrace, but also never get over, if that makes any sense. I write scary stories because I'm a big chicken. So maybe the entire process is just cheap therapy for me. Or not cheap, because it's an expensive pastime, isn't it? Jo: It certainly can be, but I agree. I struggle with fear of judgment still. I think it's also because we do this in public, which comes back to the financial side of things. We do a lot of this in public, and then people judge us on our author businesses too. You could look at Bones of the Deep, which was just on Kickstarter, and compare my Kickstarter to another author's Kickstarter for a fiction book, and judge one or the other person based on numbers. I feel like this is because you and I have done so much in public—for me, almost 20 years, and for you, like 40 years or whatever. Maybe 30 years. You look that old. Mark: Listen there, dearie. Get off my lawn. Jo: Yes, get off my lawn—with those skeletons you have on your lawn. Mark: Yes. They're no longer in my closet. Jo: They're not in your closet. I wonder if that also plays a part of it—the pros and cons of doing this business in public. Mark: Yes, that is a part of it. One thing I try to be very clear about, because there's so much FOMO and so much out there about people thinking that everyone else is making a million dollars from their books and “I'm the only loser who's not”—I try to be clear that I have never made more than a mid-five figures as an author from my author earnings, ever. I haven't yet hit six figures. One of the reasons I try to be transparent in sharing that is I don't want people to think that everyone else is a six- and seven-figure success story, and they're the only one who's only made $100 last year on their books. The reality is, 90 to 99% of the people who are writing and publishing are not going to earn a significant amount of money. I realise I'm also very, very lucky that I've earned this much, and it's taken a long time. I just shared this in a Substack post I posted yesterday: it was 10 years of rejections before I got $5 for my first short story that was published in '92. It wasn't until 2001 that I finally made pro rate, six cents US a word, for a short story that, ironically, Julie Czerneda bought from me back in the day. For me, I've been lucky that it's always been a long, slow slog. It's been a marathon, and I've never instantly sprinted across any dramatic finish line. I've had some really phenomenal moments—doing a book signing in a Costco, walking into Walmart and seeing my books there. Even last night at the Burlington Public Library, going, “Wow, they have eight of my books here—four of my self-published books and four of my traditionally published books, in two different sections.” I was like, “That's kind of cool.” So I've had these amazing moments as a writer, but I've never had the blockbuster—the Brandon Sanderson, or even the Dungeon Crawler Carl, Matt Dinniman, kind of moments. I still think I've had a very fortunate and lucky journey. Even if I wasn't making the money I'm making, I'd still be writing, and I'm sure you would be too. Jo: Oh, yes, for sure. I actually think the thing most of us would probably let go is the marketing. If we won the lottery, we'd carry on with all the creative stuff, the writing, the community stuff, and we'd just literally do no marketing at all. Mark: Well, yes, of course. Or potentially say, “Oh, here, ad agency, here's some money. You just run it, whatever. Let me know if it works or not. I don't care.” Jo: That's a much better idea. Mark: At least I've got the extra disposable income, so I may as well, because I'm helping the world when my books are out there. I know my books will help people. I really honestly think that as storytellers—whether it's fiction or non-fiction, we're still storytellers—what we do in writing and podcasting and all the things we do, the re-sharing on social media, is really helping connect people. I think that is one of the most profound things we can do as writers. And I mean that the writing, in and of itself, is a reward. Jo: Like you said, we met on Twitter when Twitter was what it was back in the day. I do very, very little social media now. But you just mentioned your Substack, and you also have your podcast, Stark Reflections. So how are you balancing what you put on each? I only do this podcast now. I don't even blog. I write books, obviously, and then I do the podcast. So what are you doing differently on Substack to the podcast, and what part do they play in income and marketing? Mark: Great question. I realise most people have never heard of me, or read or listened to the things I put out into the world. And I've been a longtime fan of “reduce, reuse, recycle my IP.” My podcast is not as long-running as yours, but I'm in my ninth year, and I've not missed a single Friday in the full eight years, or eight and a half by now, that I've been doing this. Every week I reflect on what I learned from an interview, or I'll reflect on something you've posted and say, “This episode is not an interview, but Jo said this last week, and I'm going to talk about it.” The podcast itself takes a lot of work. I still do all of it myself, and I know I probably shouldn't, but I like doing it, so it's one of those tasks I enjoy. I also have reflections that aren't going to come out vocally but might come out in writing. Sometimes in the morning I'm not in the mood to write the novel or the non-fiction book I'm writing, but I'm writing some tangent. I just let the creative monster go. I find that re-sharing… I might have reflected on something for a couple of minutes at the end of an interview, but I really want to expand upon it, so I write the Substack article. I try to reuse some of that content. Someone's going to enjoy seeing it on a short video clip I share on YouTube, or whatever the platform is. Someone else is going to listen to it on a podcast, wherever they listen to podcasts, and someone else is going to want to read it. It could be the same information, just shared in a slightly different way, to potentially get it out to other people. So for me, it's part of that wide publishing mentality. I'm trying not to completely duplicate the work, although I am duplicating some of it. I'll give you an example. Hey, Canadian listeners—if you have not registered for Public Lending Right in Canada, please put something in your calendar for February 2027, because the deadline's over. It was May 1st of 2026. Put it in your calendar for next year. I even had somebody at this writers' event I was at this last weekend say, “You mentioned something in a presentation you did for the Canadian Authors Association about Public Lending Right, and thank you, because now I get thousands of dollars a year from this.” So just look up Public Lending Right. I've been saying stuff about Public Lending Right for at least 10 years now. Every time I get my beautiful multi-four-figure cheque from them in February every year, I post on social media and remind authors to check it out. I know it exists in the UK, and it exists in 36 countries in the world—just not the US. Jo: Not the US. Mark: They don't have a programme like this, probably because the big publishers—and probably one of the authors' associations—think that libraries are cannibalising book sales, which is not true. It's been proven time and time again, and that lobbying has prevented it from happening. Whereas here in Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Writers' Union of Canada worked hard to make this happen. Anyway, I talk about something like Public Lending Right and I feel like I must have said this so much that people are sick of it, but every single time I mention it, someone goes, “Oh my God, thanks for saying that. I never heard it.” That's a good reminder, especially for folks like you and me. We know the basics. We know what an ISBN is. We know KDP Select means you can't put the e-book on any other retailer, or even sell it on your own website. We know all these things, but it's hard for us to remember that there are folks coming to this for the very first time who've never heard it, even though we feel like, “Oh my God, I've said this till I'm blue in the face.” I think I got that from retail. When I worked in retail, I recognised that somebody's going to come in and ask for “that blue book that Reese Witherspoon was talking about,” or Oprah was talking about, or whatever. And you do your darn best to help them figure it out rather than mock them. I try to take the same approach when people ask me those questions, because I'm trying to remember what it was like when I honestly did not know the answer, and having someone take the time to help me. I've been very, very lucky that I've had a lot of people take the time to help me. I'll never forget—God rest her soul—Nancy Kilpatrick, a horror writer here from Canada who passed away a few years ago. She gave me a blurb for my very first book in 2004 because she'd acquired one of my short stories for an anthology she'd edited. I was trying to call my short story collection an anthology, and she very kindly took me aside and said, “It's not an anthology if it's a single author. An anthology is a…” Jo: I didn't know that until, like, last year. I got that wrong as well. There are lots of words like that. I want to circle back, because you didn't really answer earlier about the time management. You just mentioned YouTube, on top of Substack and all the things you do. You also have a day job at Draft2Digital—it's part-time, right? You also do part-time at the university, teaching publishing, right? You do all kinds of things. How do you manage your time with all of that? Mark: Well, I mismanage my time more than I manage it, Jo. That's the God's honest truth. Fortunately, most of the things I have that aren't scheduled—like, scheduled to do this lecture at this time, or scheduled to have this meeting at this particular time with Draft2Digital—most of my work is very flexible. I do not work a regular 9:00 to 5:00, Monday to Friday. Well, I never did. I always worked way more. But I have a very flexible schedule. Every single day is a work day, and every single day is a play day for me. So I'm very, very lucky. I do schedule in the very important things, particularly where somebody else is reliant upon me—meetings and connections and stuff like that. Then I make the time first thing in the morning to get the writing done. Everything else is not as important, and it's part of… I guess it's part of playing. You know, like the social media sharing. I don't look at social media as marketing. I just look at it as another way to connect with people, with other creatives, and with readers potentially, all six people who read my stuff. I probably could do a better job of managing my time. I've tried several times over the years to adapt processes to make it better, but I consistently default back to what I do, and so far I guess I've been getting away with it. So I was like, “Do I want to waste more time trying to come up with a process, or do I just want to roll with it?” Because so far I haven't killed myself doing it, and I've been enjoying the journey. So, if it ain't broke… Jo: I think that's the point, if it doesn't feel like it's broken. Having known you for a long time now, and we work together—obviously we co-wrote The Relaxed Author—you do work very, very differently to me. You definitely are a little bit more chaotic. I'm chaotic in some ways too. Mark: Oh, you're very generous. “A little bit chaotic.” Thanks. That was generous, Jo. Jo: You're chaotic in your work practices and scheduling and all that, which I couldn't cope with very well. Even though I feel like a part of my brain is very chaotic—the creative side, I guess, can be quite chaotic—I think I'm actually quite controlling and very scheduled in my work practices. As you say, for someone else on the outside, it might feel to me like you have too many balls in the air. But if you don't feel that, then that's the way of working that works for you. So this is another important thing, isn't it? You can't adapt to what other people say your life should look like. It's what feels good to you. Mark: Oh, for sure. One thing I know about my procrastination tendency is that panic and fear motivate me. So, a deadline—”I have to get this into a publisher by this date, I have to get this manuscript to an editor by that date”—I'm motivated by fear. And I'm afraid of everything, so I guess I'm always motivated. Jo: But I also know that when you hear the word “deadline”—and I know a lot of people who do this—the deadline means you get it in on the deadline, or the day before the deadline. To me, a deadline means I have it ready a month earlier. Mark: I love that. I've done that a few times and shocked myself. I actually had a pre-order up—with the audiobook, the print, and the e-book—a month in advance, and I didn't know what to do with myself. I was like, “Well, what am I going to do now in the next month?” Jo: Work on the next thing. Mark: But I'm so used to working on it up to the last second that I was kind of like, “What do I do?” That actually caught me by surprise, and I honestly felt weird. I was like, “I've never felt this before.” I'm really lucky. I know you have a very supportive and amazing partner, and so do I. My partner, scarily enough, is maybe a bigger procrastinator than me, so she never gives me a hard time. She supports me, and I do the same thing with her own work. I'm up all night with her at the last minute so we can get something turned in. So, fortunately, we really understand one another, and we don't give each other a hard time. We just go, “Well, got away with it again. I guess I'm not going to change my ways.” Jo: We made it. And again, that's the point. You and I could stand up in front of people, both hold up the last book we wrote, and say, “We made this,” and our processes are completely different. Our brains are completely different. We come from different countries. There are lots of things that are different, and yet we both made a book. So hopefully that encourages people. You don't have to do anything that we're telling you, or anyone else tells you. But if you want to be an author, at some point you have to produce a book. Mark: Exactly. As Brian in the classic Monty Python film gets them to say: “Yes, we are all different.” Embrace that difference. I think that's such a powerful reminder that there is no one process for getting anything done. Jo: Given that we co-wrote The Relaxed Author back in 2021—and we did that because we had another show, and we were talking, and we said, “Oh, everyone's stressed and the anxiety levels are really high, and we think there's a better path”—we co-wrote that book, which I think is still a very good book. Definitely people should get it. Interestingly, I think the stress and anxiety might actually be higher now than it was. So what do you think the main stresses are in the community now? You also see a lot with Draft2Digital, I guess, as well. Mark: Oh, for sure. Honestly, Jo, I'm so glad we wrote that book, because I actually pick it up every once in a while to remind myself of the things we tried to help others with. Again, it's therapy for me as well, so I'm so glad we did it. I think we're 10, if not 100, times more stressed. The world events and things going on, the divisiveness—not just in the world in general, in politics and everything else, but the divisiveness in the author community. The witch-hunting that happens, people trying to tear down other authors either because they're successful, or because, “Oh my God, you dared use a new technology.” All of these things are happening, and everyone's at one another's throats. I need to pick that book up and reread it. I'm a lot more stressed than I was. I'm just getting over shingles, which is… Jo: Oh. Which is actually related to stress as well, isn't it? Mark: It is, yes. I was in LA for Writers of the Future—I'm a judge for that science fiction and fantasy conference. I went right from LA, like a week in LA, which was a phenomenal experience getting to mentor the winners. And I mean, come on, it's a free trip to Hollywood, hanging out with Kevin Anderson, having beers and stuff like that. Then I came back to the Toronto Indie Author Conference, run by Tao Wong, here in Toronto. I went right from the airport—didn't even go home—straight to the hotel, because I kicked into another conference. We did a display on how to set up an in-person booth, so I ended up having to hand-bomb boxes, blocks down the street from where I was parked. My chest was really sore when I got home on the Monday, and I thought it was because I hadn't used these muscles, because I'm not in the best shape. Then I took my shirt off and went, “Oh, there's a rash there.” Liz goes, “You have shingles.” Because the pain in my chest, which I thought was the muscle, was actually underneath. I'm one of those lucky people that it's taken the full five weeks, and I'm still in pain even afterwards. So, again, public notice: if you're an older person like me, and there's a vaccine available for shingles, you may want to consider it. Jo: Yep, get it. Mark: Oh my God, it hurts. But, yes, the stress, I think, is higher—even though I didn't know I was feeling it. It was happy stress, right? I was stressed out because I'm there in Hollywood, helping people and doing some good things, and then I'm doing the same thing, interacting with some amazing authors at the Toronto Indie Author Conference. I didn't feel anxious stress. I was happy stress. Is that a thing? Jo: I think possibly… your physical body masks stress, physical stress, because you enjoy all of that stuff. Whereas someone like me, I'll feel it quicker and withdraw. Although I say that, back probably a decade ago, Jonathan would say to me, “You're going too fast, and you're going to hit the wall. And when you hit the wall, it's not going to be fun.” And I did hit the wall. Then, probably in 2021—I mean, that was when I just started going into menopause, and obviously we had the pandemic, and I wrote Pilgrimage, and I was doing all those walks, which I think really helped me. I learned a lot about maybe stopping that before it happened. Becca Syme obviously talks a lot about this too. But I find it interesting with you, because I think you're so positively happy with these events you do that it might mask your physical symptoms in a different way. That's really hard to watch out for. I'll give a tip to you and everyone else listening: schedule the calendar, and look at your calendar and go, “I can't go back-to-back-to-back. I have to put in some rest days.” Mark: Well, thank you. You know, Jo, you and Becca Syme are two of my best unpaid therapists. I appreciate that. Jo: You just don't listen, Mark. Mark: Or sometimes I do. Jo: Just coming back to the community, and the divisiveness there is primarily over AI at the moment, I think that's one of the biggest things. And the arbitrary lines as to what you're allowed to use it for and what you're not allowed to use it for, which is just kind of crazy. Obviously, you know I've opted out of that whole discussion now. How do you think we can move through this [divisiveness over AI], move on? We remember when it was trad versus indie, and then it was wide versus KU. So this will pass—it's just hard, when you're in it, to know when it might pass. Mark: Yes. I think the more generic advice—for whatever may come, whatever has come—is: why are you doing this? Why are you a writer? Heads down, focus on what gives you pleasure, and do that, because everything else is noise. All the marketing tactics and strategies, and all the people yelling at one another. Write your books. Do the things that motivate you. Do the things that give you that intrinsic reward. It's hard to ignore. I get it, it is hard to ignore. I have difficulty ignoring the haters and the yelling and the screaming that happens, but I do my best. Like this morning, when I was in the throes of my manuscript and I looked up and went, “Oh my God, I've got to shower. I'm going to be talking to Jo soon, I should comb my hair”—which I have none of. Because I was so in my book that everything else melted away. That, for me as a storyteller, as a writer, is one of the most beautiful places to be. Jo: I think you're absolutely right. I have a little thing that pops up in my calendar sometimes which says, “If you're feeling all of these things, just go create something.” The moment you refocus on creation—whatever that means to you—things change. It changes the energy. That, or go for a walk. That's my other tip. Mark: Outside. And I have to say, Jo, Pilgrimage is still one of the most profound and powerful books you've written, and you've written a lot of amazing ones. Jo: Oh, you're very sweet. Mark: That one really resonates, not just for me, but with Liz. Because one of the things we often do when we get stressed is go for a walk, ideally in nature. The vitamin N. I think there's something really profound in that, and it really helps me a lot. And again, sometimes going for a walk listening to your podcast, or an audiobook, or sometimes just attending to the environment. A tip I picked up years ago from Brooklyn author Denis Hamill was: go for a walk with your character. Listen to what they see. What do they comment on? How do they approach this environment that you've seen a million times? How do they see it? What do they notice that you don't notice? That's such an incredible experience of creativity—when you're not writing, but writing. That really helps me a lot. Jo: Oh, nice one. Okay, so your latest book is Stark Realities, but you have so many more. Where can people find you and your books and your podcast online? Mark: Jo, you can find everything you want to know about me—and stuff you don't want to know about me—over at MarkLeslie.ca. It links to all the other places from there. Jo: Brilliant. Thanks again for your time, Mark. That was great. Mark: Thanks so much, Jo. Bye-bye. The post Creative Satisfaction, In Person Print Book Sales, And Author Mindset With Mark Leslie Lefebvre first appeared on The Creative Penn.

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