Podcasts about differentiate

Our guest in this episode is Kevin Perlmutter, author of Brand Desire and a brand strategist who has codified the complex world of human emotion into an actionable framework. Kevin provides a system for businesses to move beyond mere transactions and build genuine, lasting connections with the people they serve. In our fascinating chat, we dive into his powerful system for creating genuine brand desire, exploring why honouring how you want people to feel is the cornerstone of a thriving business, especially in the age of AI.Key points discussed include:* Great brands make lives better by honouring their customers' deepest emotional motivations.* True differentiation comes from what loyal customers already feel, not just from a gap in the market.* In the age of AI, a leader's crucial role is guarding the line that protects human connection.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Kevin PerlmutterIt was an absolute thrill to welcome Kevin Perlmutter, author of the brilliant book Brand Desire, back to the InnovaBuzz podcast. Our conversation was a powerful reminder of a fundamental truth that so many businesses seem to forget: brands should exist to make people's lives better. Kevin has masterfully codified the complex world of human emotion into a clear and actionable framework that guides businesses away from the shortcuts that degrade human connection and toward creating something people genuinely desire.So often, we get tangled up in our own processes, our features, and our messaging, without stopping to ask how we're actually making people feel. As Kevin points out, this disconnect is where brands stumble. They have the best intentions but end up creating frustrating, soul-crushing experiences that do the opposite of building loyalty. Our chat was a masterclass in putting the human heart back at the center of brand strategy.The Sprinkler System Epiphany: From Dread to DevotionI loved Kevin's story about a frustrating experience with a broken lawn sprinkler system that turned into a moment of brand magic. He, like all of us, was bracing for the typical customer service nightmare: a long wait on hold, a difficult conversation, and likely a dead end because the product was out of warranty. That feeling of dread is something we've all been conditioned to expect.Instead, the company called him back within five minutes, a real person quickly identified the problem, and without hesitation, they sent him a brand new, upgraded model for free. In 15 minutes, they transformed a moment of frustration into one of delight. As Kevin rightly said, they didn't just save a customer; they created a passionate ambassador who will now tell that story for years to come. That is the power of prioritizing a person's feelings over a rigid policy.Codifying the Connection: The Focus, Connect, Evolve FrameworkWhat's so powerful about Kevin's work is that he's taken this intuitive idea of human connection and built a reliable system around it. He calls it the Focus, Connect, Evolve framework, and it's a clear roadmap for any brand that wants to build a more meaningful relationship with its audience. It's a process for turning those fleeting moments of connection into a core, repeatable strategy.The framework begins with Focus, where you do the deep work of gaining customer insight. Then you move to Connect, where you craft the emotional benefit and an invitation into your brand. Finally, you Evolve by bringing that promise to life in every single experience a customer has with you, ensuring the feeling you want to create is consistently delivered.Uncovering Your Beacon: The 'Shared Emotional Motivation'Diving deeper into that "Focus" phase, Kevin shared a concept that really resonated with me: the "shared emotional motivation." This isn't about finding some patch of "white space" in a competitive analysis. It's about doing the work to understand the emotional truth of why your most loyal customers love you. It's about finding the intersection where what your brand authentically provides meets what your customers are truly craving.When you find that intersection, it becomes your brand's guiding "beacon." It's a clear, unwavering light that informs every decision you make, from your marketing copy to your product development to your customer service policies. It ensures that you are always oriented around the emotional core of your promise to your customers.How 'Invincible' Feels: A B2B Masterclass in EmotionTo show this in action, Kevin told the story of a B2B software company that helps supply chain managers. Their customers went from using gut instinct and spreadsheets, constantly afraid of "getting yelled at," to being the "hero" in their organization because they always had the right numbers. The shared emotional motivation wasn't about efficiency; it was about the craving to feel competent and secure.From this insight, the powerful brand promise, "Be Supply Chain Invincible," was born. It was a bold, emotional statement that initially made the client a bit nervous, but it was completely authentic because it was rooted in how their service already made their best customers feel. It's a perfect example of how emotion is just as critical in B2B as it is in B2C.The AI Tightrope: Guarding the Humanity LineOf course, we had to talk about AI. Kevin has a wonderfully clear-eyed perspective on it. While AI can be a fantastic tool for things like summarizing customer reviews or acting as an "enhanced thesaurus," there's a significant danger when it's used to replace genuine human interaction without careful thought.He was adamant that the brand leader's role today is to be the guardian of the human experience. You must know where the line is between using AI to be humanity-enhancing versus humanity-degrading. And his advice is simple: you must never, ever cross that line just for the sake of cost-cutting or efficiency. That is a non-negotiable responsibility.Your Limbic Sparks Mindset: Three Questions to Ask TodayTo bring it all home, Kevin shared a simple, actionable mindset that anyone can adopt, which he calls the Limbic Sparks Mindset. It boils down to asking three essential questions every day, whether you're designing a new product or just writing an email.First, what are people's frustrations, unmet needs, and motivations? Second, how do people want to feel when they interact with you? And finally, what should your brand do and say to make people's lives better? By asking these questions, you begin to build a brand that people don't just buy from, but truly desire to have in their lives.In Summary: My conversation with Kevin Perlmutter was a profound call to action for all business leaders. His message is that the brands that thrive will be the ones who understand and address the emotional motivations of their customers. It's not just about what you do; it's about how you make people feel.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Kevin's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – AI algorithms can be used to create pairings and matchings that connect like-minded people, assuming they foster genuine connection rather than isolation.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Use AI as an enhanced thesaurus to explore alternative phrasing and interpretations, which helps deepen the nuance of your own human communication.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Discover what makes you unique by asking others for input on how you make them feel, then lean into that authentic emotional differentiator.ActionEmbrace a Limbic Sparks Mindset. Think about your customer's frustrations, needs, and desires. Ask yourself how they want to feel, then design what you say and do to truly make their lives better.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Kevin on LinkedIn and find all the details about his book and framework at branddesirebook.com.Links:* Website – Limbic Brand Evolution* Twitter – @KevinPerlmutter* LinkedInBooks:* Brand Desire: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights, Kevin PerlmutterCool Things About Kevin* He Played the Long Game with His Podcast. Years before his book deal, Kevin strategically designed his podcast as a research tool. He intentionally asked every one of his 37 guests the same core questions, patiently building a unique library of expert insights that would eventually become a foundational part of his book. That level of foresight and disciplined creativity is unconventional and impressive.* He Deconstructed His Own "Magic" for Others. Kevin admits that his successful approach was, for a long time, "somewhat intuitive" and "second nature" to him. The cool part isn't the intuition itself, but his decision to undertake the difficult work of codifying it. He didn't just want to be the magician; he wanted to write down the spells so that, as he said, "anybody can learn how to do it". That's a profoundly generous impulse.* He's a Principled Guardian of Humanity in Tech. In a world quick to adopt any new technology, Kevin has drawn a clear "do not cross line". He's not anti-AI; he's a staunch, principled advocate for ensuring technology serves, rather than "degrades," the human experience. This role as a thoughtful "guardian" against dehumanizing shortcuts is a powerful and very human stance to take.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

"People are interested in other people. So you can talk about your practice or where you see perhaps the industry going down the road, but from a point of view that is informed and experienced and maybe has a little bit of vulnerability woven in.” -Jess Jensen Jess Jensen, co-founder of Co-pilot Communications, has helped leaders at Microsoft, Qualcomm, Adidas, and now small business owners across North America build their digital presence. In part one of this two-part series, she shares why personal storytelling is key to standing out in today's crowded market. In this interview, you'll learn… Why personal voices connect more than brand voices How storytelling humanizes small businesses Ways to overcome fear & self-doubt To learn more about Jess, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. For listeners of the show, Jess Jensen is offering quick, practical 25-minute reviews for business owners and senior leaders who think their profile might be holding them back. You'll get a real-time audit and a handful of actionable next steps. Openings begin the third week of October. No cost, no catch, just clarity. Here's the booking link.   Time Stamps 00:00 – Why people connect with personal stories 01:23 – Journey from global brands to co-founding Co-pilot Communications 03:16 – Helping executives build digital platforms 04:31 – Humanizing brands through leadership voices 06:47 – Applying storytelling to small businesses 09:52 – Overcoming fear & finding your voice 13:45 – Differentiation: “Differences sell, similarities don't” 16:08 – Step 1: Define your “audience of one” 20:28 – Step 2: Clarify what you want to stand for 24:38 – Step 3: Practice creating content & iterate 25:41 – Step 4: Build relationships in the comments 26:46 – Preview of part two: Jess's full four-step playbook This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place.  Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!

“Just having the courage to allow some of your real story to come through publicly is your differentiator. It builds trust, opens doors to sales conversations, and draws future customers to you.” –Jess Jensen Jess Jensen, co-founder of Co-pilot Communications, is back for the second part of this powerful conversation. In part one, she revealed why your personal story is the ultimate marketing tool. Now, she's sharing how to put it into practice with a clear, step-by-step framework for building a digital presence that feels authentic, consistent, and achievable. From breaking through inconsistency, to leveraging AI for content ideas, to showing just the right kind of imperfection—Jess shares practical strategies small business owners can use to show up online and grow their influence. In this interview, you'll learn… How to overcome the biggest barrier to showing up online: inconsistency Why the right kind of imperfection can make you more trustworthy than polished content How AI can accelerate your content creation while still keeping your voice authentic To learn more about Jess, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. For listeners of the show, Jess is offering quick, practical 25-minute reviews for business owners and senior leaders who think their profile might be holding them back. You'll get a real-time audit and a handful of actionable next steps. Openings begin the third week of October. No cost, no catch, just clarity. Here's the booking link. Time Stamps 00:00 – Why courage & vulnerability build trust 01:25 – Simple ways to dip your toe into posting 02:20 – Why responding matters more than likes 04:04 – The real barrier: inconsistency 06:17 – How AI can help with idea generation 09:06 – Treating AI like a junior employee you train 12:08 – The psychology of showing up online 14:38 – Imperfection as a powerful differentiator 18:16 – Why collaborators & “yes/no” people matter 18:58 – Where to find Jess online & claim your free LinkedIn audit This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place.  Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!

“Voice is back—and with AI, network APIs, and VCons, we're moving from channels to intelligent engagement.” — Kevin Nethercott & Rob Kurver, CPaaS Acceleration Alliance Kevin Nethercott and Rob Kurver of the CPaaS Acceleration Alliance (CPaaSAA) joined Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, to preview their Member Summit in Amsterdam, September 22–24 and to chart where programmable communications is headed next. Born from messaging (SMS/A2P), CPaaS now spans voice, video, UCaaS/CCaaS integrations, and carrier network APIs. With AI and the emerging VCon standard (an IETF effort to containerize conversational data across voice, chat, email, and web), CPaaSAA frames the industry's North Star as “intelligent engagement”—outcomes-focused solutions that unify channels, data, and automation. Alliance momentum & event focus 120+ member companies across platforms and operators; ~50 speakers from 20+ countries; curated, senior-level audience. Launch of a Case Directory (120+ commercially available use cases) organized by vertical and region, reflecting where buyers are actually seeing ROI. Publication of the State of CPaaS insights and formation of a VCon working group to accelerate standards adoption and go-to-market patterns. Partnerships highlighted with GSMA and the VCon Foundation. Why this matters now With pandemic-era “Zoom times” behind us, the market is prioritizing profitability and stickiness. CPaaS winners are moving beyond horizontal APIs to verticalized, regulated, and region-specific applications. Example: a Redisys operator solution that uses AI in the core network to improve call intelligibility for people who are hard of hearing—a high-value, retention-friendly use case affecting ~15–18% of users. Takeaways for enterprises and partners Monetize voice again: AI + VCons make conversations machine-usable, improving CX and analytics. Differentiate with network APIs: Security, identity, and authentication services move CPaaS beyond messaging. Build for outcomes: Package solutions by industry and locality; not everything works everywhere the same way. Standardize the data layer: VCons are poised to do for conversations what SIP did for signaling. For membership and summit details, visit cpaasaa.com

We're back today with one the most closely connected spirits in the Almost 30 orbit, longtime podcaster, coach, branding expert, and now – author – Julie Solomon! Her new book, Get What You Want: How To Go From Unseen To Unstoppable, is packed with super personal never-before-told stories, valuable life learnings, and practical ways to apply these important practices and considerations to your own life.Kicking off with a chat on human design, the unbelievable gift of our hardwiring is a theme throughout – we learn how Julie came to understand her own thoughts and emotions, how they got there (discovering her origin story), and how to repurpose or redirect them in ways that benefited her and the people around her.Morning Microdose is a podcast curated by Krista Williams and Lindsey Simcik, the hosts and founders of Almost 30, a global community, brand, and top rated podcast.With curated clips from the Almost 30 podcast, Morning Mircodose will set the tone for your day, so you can feel inspired through thought provoking conversations…all in digestible episodes that are less than 10 minutes.Wake up with Krista and Lindsey, both literally and spiritually, Monday-Friday.If you enjoyed this conversation, listen to the full episode on Spotify here and on Apple here.

Have a listen to this episode to discover a powerful messaging shift that can transform the way you attract clients and generate leads.Jasin breaks down why simply posting isn't enough—and how you can stand out by articulating your audience's problems better than they can, positioning yourself as the clear solution. Through the Magic Messaging Framework, you'll learn how to craft persuasive, story-driven communication that captivates your dream clients, builds trust, and converts engagement into real results. This episode offers actionable strategies to cut through the noise and make your words do the heavy lifting.   “Your message is the engine. You're not just creating content, you're crafting words that move people.”   Key takeaways: Information is a commodity – With 1.1 billion posts published daily, audiences are oversaturated, so generic content is unlikely to generate consistent leads. Articulate the problem better than your audience can – When you describe your ideal client's struggles and desires more clearly than they can themselves, they naturally assume you hold the solution. Differentiate with a unique mechanism or big idea – To stand out in a crowded market, you must introduce a clear, unique approach that positions your solution as fresh and compelling. Leads and sales flow from strong messaging, not just tactics – Weak marketing makes sales hard; strong, persuasive messaging does the heavy lifting and makes conversion easier. The Magic Messaging Framework provides structure – By following its layered process (character & conflict, struggle story, villain, turning point, transformation story, etc.), you can craft communication that resonates and converts. Stories and beliefs drive influence – Storytelling and shifting core beliefs are at the heart of persuasive communication, enabling you to create trust, demand, and long-term client engagement. Connect with Jason Meland: Email: jason@goliveonlinemastermind.com Website: https://www.growmyvisibility.com/ Instagram: @coachjasonmeland Facebook: Jason Meland - In Demand Coach LinkedIn: Jason Meland

In this episode, Tai Goodwin, Marketing Strategist and CEO at That Marketing Team,* joins Dots Oyebolu to share her journey from teaching to entrepreneurship and the insights she has gained along the way. Known previously as the “Quiz Queen,” Tai explains how interactive tools create deeper engagement, generate qualified leads, and reveal valuable data.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction.03:12 Build your email list before launching products and courses.05:28 Use quiz data to qualify and disqualify leads confidently.09:21 Differentiate by delivering value because sales cycles are longer.12:48 Quiz results segment audiences by challenges and demographics effectively.15:39 Grow from inside out by prioritizing quality over quantity.21:00 Two tools, a quiz platform and CRM, run automation.Resources Mentioned:Tai Goodwinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/taigoodwin/That Marketing Team | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/thatmarketingteam/That Marketing Team | Websitehttps://thatmarketingteam.com/“The Profitable Woman's Playbook” by Tai Goodwinhttps://www.amazon.com/Profitable-Womans-Playbook-Strategies-Business-ebook/dp/B07MPP1YQ2*Since recording the interview, Tai Goodwin has changed companies and is now the Liberation Coach of The Gospel of YouThanks for listening to the “Marketing Leadership” podcast, brought to you by Listen Network. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation. We appreciate the enthusiasm and support from our community. Currently, we are not accepting new guest interview requests as we focus on our existing lineup. We will announce when we reopen for new submissions. In the meantime, feel free to explore our past episodes and stay tuned for updates on future opportunities.#PodcastMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #BrandMarketing #MarketingStrategy #MarketingIntelligence #GTM #B2BMarketing #D2CMarketing #PodcastAds

Our guest in this episode is Matt Stanley, the founder of Get Reviews and Leads and a passionate marketing architect with 30 years of experience. What started as a fascination with the early internet evolved into a mission-driven career for Matt, focused on using technology to serve people and build thriving, human-centered businesses. In our chat, Matt shares his powerful frameworks for moving beyond simple deliverables to create marketing that forges deep, emotional connections and lifelong customer loyalty.Key points discussed include:* Connect with your dream customer's "reptile brain" by understanding their deep-seated pains and fears.* Closing the sale is the starting line; create a legendary onboarding experience to build loyalty.* Use AI as a strategic toolbox to free up your time for genuine, human-to-human connection.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Matt StanleyIt was an absolute thrill to welcome Matt Stanley of Get Reviews and Leads to the InnovaBuzz podcast. For 30 years, Matt has been in the trenches, architecting sales and marketing systems, and our conversation was a masterclass in stripping away the noise to focus on what truly matters: genuine, human-centered connection. Matt's passion is infectious; he's a self-described "nerd" and "geek" who fell in love with the craft of marketing not as a way to make a quick buck, but as a profound way to serve people.His journey as an "accidental entrepreneur" is one many of us can relate to. What began as a fascination with the early internet, a technology he knew would change the world, became a career-defining mission. The 2008 recession, which cost him his stable job, became the catalyst that pushed him all-in. It was a decision, as he puts it, that was made for him, leading him to discover that his true calling was helping businesses navigate the intimidating world of technology to build something truly meaningful.The "Forest for the Trees" Marketing MistakeOne of the biggest takeaways for me was Matt's frustration with how many businesses "can't see the forest for the trees." They get so fixated on the deliverable—the shiny new website, the social media campaign—that they completely lose sight of the bigger picture. A website, he rightly argues, is just a tool. If it's disconnected from the fundamental "DNA of the brand" and fails to make an emotional connection, it's not going to deliver a return on investment.This is where so many marketing efforts fall flat. Companies start with the what—"we need a website"—instead of the who and the why. They fail to ask the critical questions about how this tool will connect to their dream customer and serve the core mission of the company. It's a powerful reminder to always start with the end in mind: a deeper relationship with the people you aim to serve.Decoding the "Reptile Brain": The Real Secret to Connecting with Your Dream CustomerSo, how do we build that connection? According to Matt, it starts by getting under the hood and understanding the "reptile brain." All purchase decisions, he explained, are made from this primal place that is driven by pain, pleasure, and survival. We then use our logical brain to justify the decision we've already made emotionally. This is why a simple demographic profile of your customer just doesn't cut it.The real secret sauce is digging into the psychographics through tools like an empathy map. What are your dream customer's hidden fears? What frustrations keep them awake at night? When you can poke that pain, rub salt in the wound, and then offer a genuine solution, you're not just selling; you're connecting on a level that builds profound trust and loyalty.AI: The Planet's Most Powerful Toolbox (Handle with Care)Our conversation naturally turned to AI, a technology Matt sees as being just as transformative as the early internet. He views it as the most powerful toolbox on the planet, an incredible asset for saving time and creating efficiency. However, he offered a crucial warning: a tool is only as good as the person wielding it. He sees too many people using AI as a crutch for laziness, forgetting the timeless fundamentals of human psychology.As Matt bluntly puts it, "garbage in, garbage out." If your prompts are lazy and you don't understand the core principles of your brand and your customer, the AI will produce junk. The real skill is learning how to communicate with the technology to make you a more effective, articulate, and strategic thinker, freeing you up to do the high-value, human-centric work you love.Your Greatest Differentiator: The "Whites of Their Eyeballs" Onboarding ExperienceIn an age of automation, Matt argues that the path to differentiation lies in doing the things that don't scale. How do you create an experience your customers can't forget if they tried? You go old-school. He shared the wonderfully simple yet profound example of sending a handwritten note. In a world of emails and DMs, a physical, personal touch stands out and shows you genuinely care.This philosophy extends to the entire onboarding experience. Instead of seeing the transaction as the end of the journey, we need to create a legendary first impression. Sending a small, thoughtful gift basket or simply picking up the phone creates an emotional connection that AI can't replicate. It's about seeing the "whites of their eyeballs" and treating every customer like a VIP.Closing the Sale is Just the Starting LineThis leads perfectly to one of Matt's core beliefs: closing the sale isn't the end of the relationship; it's the starting line. Too many businesses are so fixated on acquisition that they neglect their most precious asset: their existing customers. He beautifully compared the business-customer relationship to his own 20-year marriage, emphasizing that it requires a lifelong commitment.The goal should be to constantly woo your customers and try to "out-serve" them. When you adopt this mindset, you shift from a transactional model to a relational one. The focus moves from what you can get from the customer to how deeply you can serve them, which is the foundation of any thriving, sustainable business.From Reach to Retention: Unlocking the Gold Mine in Your Existing Customer BaseMatt ties all of this together in his holistic "RACK" framework, which stands for Reach, Attract, Convert, and Keep. That last letter, K, is the one most businesses forget. It costs seven to twelve times more to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one, yet so many of us pour all our energy into the top of the funnel.Your current customers are a literal "gold mine" of opportunity, not just for repeat business but for referrals and invaluable feedback. By focusing on that final step—by obsessing over your dream customer's dream customer—you create a virtuous cycle of service and value that becomes the ultimate engine for growth.In Summary: Matt Stanley delivers a powerful and passionate call to action for every entrepreneur. In a world increasingly dominated by technology, our greatest strength and differentiator will always be our humanity. By understanding the deep emotional drivers of our customers, creating unforgettable experiences, and committing to serving them for life, we can build businesses that not only thrive but also make a genuine impact.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Matt's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships: Using an AI agent to instantly and empathetically respond to negative online reviews to solve customer problems 24/7.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection: Building AI tools that handle the heavy lifting, freeing up human time for more creative and fulfilling work.* Differentiate by leveraging AI: Create a legendary, high-touch onboarding experience using old-school methods like a handwritten note to stand out.ActionBecome obsessed with your dream customer's dream customer. When you think a level deeper and focus on helping them win, everybody wins.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Matt on his website, getreviewsandleads.com. You can also grab the free Marketing Copy Architect tool he mentioned at getreviewsandleads.com/mca, or find him on various social media sites.Links:* Website - Get Reviews and Leads* LinkedIn* Facebook* X - @Matt_Stanley* Instagram - @getreviewsandleadsCool Things About Matt* His web security career was kick-started by a 7th-grade hacker. A pivotal moment in his career came when a seventh-grader hacked all the school district's websites where he worked. Driven by what he called professional and ethical anger, Matt walked into his boss's office and successfully campaigned to take over webmaster duties to fix the problem and ensure it never happened again.* He is a proud, unashamed "geek and nerd" of the original internet era. Matt enthusiastically self-identifies as a "geek and nerd" and takes pride in his long history with technology. He taught himself HTML in 1995 by reverse-engineering source code simply because he thought the internet was the "coolest thing" he had ever seen, long before it was a viable career path.* He recently moved his 13-year-old business back into a bedroom of his house. After more than a decade of commuting and paying for an external office, Matt realized the reasons for it were no longer relevant. He made the practical, human-scale decision to move the entire operation back home to gain more flexibility and reduce overhead, a very relatable move in today's world.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Charisse M. Williams.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Charisse M. Williams.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Charisse M. Williams.

Lyssa Rome is a speech-language pathologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is on staff at the Aphasia Center of California, where she facilitates groups for people with aphasia and their care partners. She owns an LPAA-focused private practice and specializes in working with people with neurogenic communication disorders. She has worked in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and continuum of care settings. Prior to becoming an SLP, Lyssa was a public radio journalist, editor, and podcast producer. In this episode, Lyssa Rome interviews Liz Hoover about group treatment for aphasia.   Guest info Dr. Liz Hoover is a clinical professor of speech language and hearing sciences and the clinical director of the Aphasia Resource Center at Boston University. She holds board certification from the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences, or ANCDS, and is an ASHA fellow. She was selected as a 2024 Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Distinguished Scholar, USA and Canada. Liz was a founding member of Aphasia Access and served on the board for several years. She has 30 years of experience working with people with aphasia and other communication disorders across the continuum of care. She's contributed to numerous presentations and publications, and most of her work focuses on the effectiveness of group treatment for individuals with aphasia.   Listener Take-aways In today's episode you will: Describe the evidence supporting aphasia conversation groups as an effective interventions for linguistic and psychosocial outcomes. Differentiate the potential benefits of dyads versus larger groups in relation to client goals. Identify how aphasia severity and group composition can influence treatment outcomes.   Edited transcript Lyssa Rome Welcome to the Aphasia Access Aphasia Conversations Podcast. I'm Lyssa Rome. I'm a speech language pathologist on staff at the Aphasia Center of California and I see clients with aphasia and other neurogenic communication disorders in my LPAA-focused private practice. I'm also a member of the Aphasia Access Podcast Working Group. Aphasia Access strives to provide members with information, inspiration and ideas that support their aphasia care through a variety of educational materials and resources.   I'm today's host for an episode that will feature Dr. Elizabeth Hoover, who was selected as a 2024 Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Distinguished Scholar, USA and Canada.   Liz Hoover is a clinical professor of speech language and hearing sciences and the clinical director of the Aphasia Resource Center at Boston University. She holds board certification from the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences, or ANCDS, and is an ASHA fellow. Liz was a founding member of Aphasia Access and served on the board for several years. She has 30 years of experience working with people with aphasia and other communication disorders across the continuum of care. She's contributed to numerous presentations and publications, and most of her work focuses on the effectiveness of group treatment for individuals with aphasia. Liz, welcome back to the podcast.   So in 2017 you spoke with Ellen Bernstein Ellis about intensive comprehensive aphasia programs or ICAPs and inter professional practice at the Aphasia Resource Center at BU and treatment for verb production using VNest, among other topics. So this time, I thought we could focus on some of your recent research with Gayle DeDe and others on conversation group treatment.   Liz Hoover Sounds good.   Lyssa Rome All right, so my first question is how you became interested in studying group treatment?   Liz Hoover Yeah, I actually have Dr. Jan Avent to thank for my interest in groups. She was my aphasia professor when I was a graduate student doing my masters at Cal State East Bay. As you know, Cal State East Bay is home to the Aphasia Treatment Program. When I was there, it preceded ATP. But I was involved in her cooperative group treatment study, and as a graduate student, I was allowed to facilitate some of her groups in this study, and I was involved in the moderate-to-severe group. She was also incredibly generous at sharing that very early body of work for socially oriented group treatments and exposing us to the work of John Lyons and Audrey Holland. Jan also invited us to go to a conference on group treatment that was run by the Life Link group. It's out of Texas Woman's University, Delaina Walker-Batson and Jean Ford. And it just was a life changing and pivotal experience for me in recognizing how group treatment could not be just an adjunct to individual goals, but actually be the type of treatment that is beneficial for folks with aphasia. So it's been a love my entire career.   Lyssa Rome And now I know you've been studying group treatment in this randomized control trial. This was a collaborative research project, so I'm hoping you can tell us a little bit more about that project. What were your research questions? Tell us a little bit more.   Liz Hoover Yeah, so thank you. I'll just start by acknowledging that the work is funded by two NIDCD grants, and to acknowledge their generosity, and then also acknowledge Dr. Gayle DeDe, who is currently at Temple University. She is a co- main PI in this work, and of course it wouldn't have happened without her. So you know, Gayle and I have known each other for many, many years. She's a former student, doctoral student at Boston University, and by way of background, she and I were interested in working together and interested in trying to build on some evidence for group treatment. I think we drank the Kool Aid early on, as you might say.   And you know, just looking at the literature, there have been two trials on the evidence for this kind of work. And so those of us who are involved in groups, know that it's helpful for people with aphasia, our clients tell us how much they enjoy it, and they vote with their feet, right? In that they come back for more treatments. And aphasia centers have grown dramatically in the last couple of decades in the United States.   So clearly we know they work, but what we don't know is why they work. What are those essential ingredients, and how is that driving the change that we think we see? And from a personal perspective, that's important for me to understand and for us to have explained in the literature, because until we can justify it in the scientific terms, I worry it will forever be a private-pay adjunct that is only accessible to people who can pay for it, or who are lucky enough to be close enough to a center that can get them access—virtual groups aside, and the advent of that—but it's important that I think this intervention is validated to the scientific community in our field.   So we designed this trial. It's a randomized control trial to help build the research evidence for conversation, group treatment, and to also look at the critical components. This was inspired by a paper actually from Nina Simmons Mackie in 2014 and Linda Worrell. They looked at group treatment and showed that there were at least eight first-tier elements that changed the variability or on which we might modify group conversation treatment. And so, you know, if we're all doing things differently, how can we predict the change, and how can we expect outcomes?   Lyssa Rome So I was hoping you could describe this randomized, controlled trial. You know, it was collaborative, and I'm curious about what you and your collaborators had as your research questions.   Liz Hoover So our primary aims of the study were to understand if communication or conversation treatment is associated with changes in measures of communicative ability and psychosocial measures. So that's a general effectiveness question. And then to look in more deeply to see if the group size or the group composition or even the individual profile of the client with aphasia influences the expected outcome.   Because if you think about group treatment, the size of the group is not an insignificant issue, right? So a small group environment of two people has much more… it still gives you some peer support from the other individual with aphasia, but you have many opportunities for conversational turns and linguistic and communication practice and to drive the saliency of the conversation in a direction that's meaningful and useful and informative.   Whereas in a large group environment of say, six to eight people with aphasia and two clinicians, you might see much more influence in the needed social support and vicarious learning and shared lived experience and so forth, and still have some opportunity for communication and linguistic practice. So there's conflicting hypotheses there about which group environment might be better for one individual over another.   And then there's the question of, well, who's in that group with you? Does that matter? Some of the literature says that if you have somebody with a different profile of aphasia, it can set up a therapeutic benefit of the helper experience, where you can gain purpose by enabling and supporting and being a facilitator of somebody else with aphasia.   But if you're in a group environment where your peers have similar conversation goals as you, maybe your practice turns, and your ability to learn vicariously from their conversation turns is greater. So again, two conflicting theories here about what might be best. So we decided to try and manipulate these group environments and measure outcomes on several different communication measures. We selected measures that were linguistic, functional, and psychosocial.   We collected data over four years. The first two years, we enrolled people with all different kinds of profiles of aphasia. The only inclusion criteria from a communication perspective, as you needed some ability to comprehend at a sentence level, so that you could process what was being said by the other people in the group. And in year one, the treatment was at Boston University and Temple University, which is where Gayle's aphasia center is housed. In year two, we added a community site at the Adler Aphasia Center and Maywood, New Jersey, so we had three sites going.   The treatment conditions were dyad, large group, and then a no treatment group. So this group was tested at the same time, didn't get any other intervention, and then we gave them group treatment once the testing cycle was over. So we call that a historical control or a delayed-treatment control group. And then in years three and four, we aim to enroll people who had homogeneous profiles.   So the first through the third cycle was people with moderate to severe profiles. And then in the final, fourth cycle, it was people with mild profiles with aphasia. This allowed us to collect enough data in enough size to be able to look at overall effectiveness and then effects of heterogeneity or homogeneity in the group, and the influence of the profile of aphasia, as well as the group size.   And across the four years, we aim to enroll 216 participants, and 193 completed the study. So it's the largest of its kind for this particular kind of group treatment that we know of anyway. So this data set has allowed us to look at overall efficacy of conversation group treatment, and then also take a look at a couple of those critical ingredients. Does the size of the group make a difference? And does the composition of your group make a difference?   Lyssa Rome And what did you find?   Liz Hoover Well, we're not quite done with all of our analysis yet, but we found overall that there's a significant treatment effect for just the treatment conditions, not the control group. So whether you were in the dyad or whether you were in a large treatment group, you got better on some of the outcome measures we selected. And the control group not only didn't but on a couple of those measures, their performance actually declined. And so showing significantly that there's a treatment effect. Did you have a question?   Lyssa Rome Yeah, I wanted to interrupt and ask, what were the outcome measures? What outcome measures were you looking at?   Liz Hoover Yeah. So we had about 14 measures in total that aligned with the core outcome set that was established by the ROMA group. So we had as our linguistic measure the Comprehensive Aphasia Test. We had a primary outcome measure, which was a patient reported measure of functional communication, which is the ACOM by Will Hula and colleagues, the Aphasia Communication Outcome measure, we had Audrey Holland and colleagues' objective functional measure, the CADL, and then a series of other psychosocial and patient reported outcome measures, so the wall question from the ALA, the Moss Social Scale, the Communication Confidence Rating Scale in Aphasia by Leora Cherney and Edie Babbitt.   Lyssa Rome Thank you. When I interrupted you to ask about outcome measures. You were telling us about some of the findings so far.   Liz Hoover Yeah, so our primary outcome measures showed significant changes in language for both the treatment conditions and a slightly larger effect for the large group. And then we saw, at a more micro level, the results pointing to a complex interaction, actually, between the group size and the treatment outcome. So we saw changes on more linguistic measures. like the repetition sub scores of the CAT and verb naming from another naming subtest for the dyad group, whereas bigger, more robust changes on the ACOM the CADL and the discourse measure from the CAT for the large group.   And then diving in a little bit more deeply for the composition, these data are actually quite interesting. The papers are in review and preparation at the moment, but it looks like we are seeing significant changes for the moderate-to-severe group on objective functional measures and patient reported functional measures of communication, which is so exciting to see for this particular cohort, whose naming scores were zero, in some cases, on entrance, and we're seeing for the mild group, some changes on auditory comprehension, naming, not surprisingly, and also the ACOM and the CADL. So they're showing the same changes, just with different effect sizes or slightly different ranges. And once again, no change in the control group, and in some cases, on some measures, we're seeing a decline in performance over time.   So it's validating that the intervention is helpful in general. What we found with the homogeneous groups is that in a homogeneous large group environment, those groups seem to do a little better. There's a significant effect over time between the homogeneous and the heterogeneous groups. So thinking about why that might have taken place, we wonder if the shared lived experience of your profile of aphasia, your focus on similar kinds of communication, or linguistic targets within the conversation environment might be helping to offset the limited number of practice trials you get in that larger group environment.   So that's an interesting finding to see these differences in who's in the group with you. Because I think clinically, we tend to assign groups, or sort of schedule groups according to what's convenient for the client, what might be pragmatic for the setting, without really wondering why one group could be important or one group might be preferential. If we think about it, there are conflicting hypotheses as to why a group of your like aphasia severity might have a different outcome, right? That idea that you can help people who have a different profile than you, that you're sharing different kinds of models of communication, versus that perhaps more intense practice effect when you share more specific goals and targets and lived experiences. So it's interesting to think about the group environment from that perspective, I think,   Lyssa Rome And to have also some evidence that clinicians and people at aphasia centers can look to help make decisions about group compositions, I think is incredibly helpful.   Earlier, you mentioned that one of the goals of this research project has been to identify the active ingredients of group therapy. And I know that you've been part of a working group for the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System, or RTSS. Applying that, how have you tried to identify the active ingredients and what? What do you think it is about these treatments that actually drives change?   Liz Hoover I'll first of all say, this is a work in process. You know, I don't think we've got all of the answers. We're just starting to think about it with the idea, again, that if we clinically decide to make some changes to our group, we're at least doing it with some information behind us, and it's a thoughtful and intentional change, as opposed to a gut reaction or a happenstance change. So Gayle and I have worked on developing this image, or this model. It's in a couple of our papers. We can share the resources for that. But it's about trying to think of the flow of communication, group treatment, and what aspects of the treatment might be influential in the outcomes we see downstream.   I think for group treatment, you can't separate entirely many of the ingredients. Group treatment is multifaceted, it's interconnected, and it's not possible—I would heavily debate that with anybody—I don't think it's possible to sort of truly separate some of these ingredients. But when you alter the composition or the environment in which you do the treatment, I do think we are influencing the relative weight of these ingredients.   So we've been thinking about there being this group dynamics component, which is the supportive environment of the peers in the group with you, that social support, the insider affiliation and shared lived experience, the opportunity to observe and see the success of some of these different communication strategies, so that vicarious learning that takes place as you see somebody else practice. But also, I think, cope in a trajectory of your treatment process.   And then we've got linguistic practice so that turn taking where you're actually trying to communicate verbally using supported communication where you're expanding on your utterances or trying to communicate verbally in a specific way or process particular kinds of linguistic targets. A then communication practice in terms of that multimodal effectiveness of communication.   And these then are linked to these three ingredients, dynamic group dynamics, linguistic practice and communication practice. They each have their own mechanism of action or a treatment theory that explains how they might affect change. So for linguistic practice, it's the amount of practice, but also how you hear it practiced or see it practiced with the other group participant. And the same thing for the various multimodal communication acts. And in thinking about a large group versus the dyad or a small group, you know you've got this conflicting hypothesis or the setup for a competing best group, or benefit in that the large group will influence more broadly in the group dynamics, or more deeply in the group dynamics, in that there's a much bigger opportunity to see the vicarious learning and experience the support and potentially experience the communication practice, given a varied number of participants.   But yet in the dyad, your opportunity for linguistic practice is much, much stronger. And our work has counted this the exponential number of turns you get in a dyad versus a large group. And you know, I think that's why the results we saw with the dyad on those linguistic outcomes were unique to that group environment.   Lyssa Rome It points, I think, to the complexity of decision making around group structure and what's right for which client, maybe even so it sounds like some of that work is still in progress. I'm curious about sort of thinking about what you know so far based on this work, what advice would you have for clinicians who are working in aphasia centers or or helping to sort of think about the structure of group treatments? What should clinicians in those roles keep in mind?   Liz Hoover Yeah, that's a great question, and I'll add the caveat that this may change. My advice for this may change in a year's time, or it might evolve as we learn more. But I think what it means is that the decisions you make should be thoughtful. We're starting to learn more about severity in aphasia and how that influences the outcomes. So I think, what is it that your client wants to get out of the group? If they're interested in more linguistic changes, then perhaps the dyad is a better place to start. If they clearly need, or are voicing the need, for more psychosocial support, then the large, you know, traditional sized and perhaps a homogeneous group is the right place to start. But they're both more effective than no treatment. And so being, there's no wrong answer. It's just understanding your client's needs. Is there a better fit?   And I think that's, that's, that's my wish, that people don't see conversation as something that you do at the beginning to build a rapport, but that it's worthy of being an intervention target. It should be most people's primary goal. I think, right, when we ask, what is it you'd like? “I want to talk more. I want to have a conversation.” Audrey Holland would say it's a moral imperative to to treat the conversation and to listen to folks' stories. So just to think carefully about what it is your client wants to achieve, and if there's an environment in which that might be easier to help them achieve that.   Lyssa Rome It's interesting, as you were saying that I was thinking about what you said earlier on about sort of convincing funders about the value of group treatment, but what you're saying now makes me think that it's all your work is also valuable in convincing speech therapists that referrals to groups or dyads is valuable and and also for people with aphasia and their families that it's worth seeking out.   I'm curious about where in the continuum of care this started for the people who were in your trial. I mean, were these people with chronic aphasia who had had strokes years earlier? Was it a mix? And did that make a difference?   Liz Hoover It was a mix. I think our earliest participant was six months post-onset. Our most chronic participant was 26 years post-onset. So a wide range. We want, obviously, from a study perspective, we needed folks to be outside of the traditional window of spontaneous recovery in stroke-induced aphasia.   But it was important to us to have a treatment dose that was reasonable and applicable to a United States healthcare climate, right? So twice a week for an hour is something that people would get reimbursed for. The overall dose is the minimum that's been shown to be effective in the RELEASE collaborative trial papers. And then, you know, but still, half, less than half the dose that the Elman and Bernstein Ellis study found to be effective. So there may be some wiggle room there to see if, if a larger dose is more effective.   But yeah, I think it's that idea of finding funding, convincing people that this is not just a reasonable treatment approach, but a good approach for many outcomes for people with chronic aphasia. I mean, you know, one of the biggest criticisms we hear from the giants in our field is the frustration with aphasia being treated like it's a quick fix and can be done. But you know, so much of the work shows that people are only just beginning to understand their condition by the time they're discharged from traditional outpatient services. And so there's a need for ongoing treatment indefinitely, I think, as your goals change, as you age, and as your wish to participate in different things changes over a lifetime,   Lyssa Rome Yeah, absolutely. And I think too, when we think about sort of the role of hope, if you know, if there is additional evidence showing that there can be change after that sort of traditional initial period, when we think that change happens the most, that can provide a lot of hope and motivation, I think, to people.   Liz Hoover yeah, we're look going to be looking next at predictors of change, so looking at our study entrance scores and trying to identify which participants were the responders versus the non-responders that you know, because group effects are one thing, but it's good to see who seems to benefit the most from these individual types of environments.   And an early finding is that confidence, or what some people in the field, I'm learning now are referring to as actually communication self-efficacy, but that previous exposure to group potentially and that confidence in your communication is inversely correlated with benefits from treatment on other measures. So if you've got a low confidence in your ability to communicate functionally in different environments, you're predicted to be a responder to conversation treatment.   Lyssa Rome Oh, that's really interesting. What else are you looking forward to working on when it comes to this data set or other projects that you have going on?   Liz Hoover Yeah. So as I mentioned, there's a lot of data still for us to dig into, looking at those individual responders or which factors or variables might make an impact. There is the very next on the list, we're also going to be looking very shortly at the dialogic conversation outcomes. So, it's a conversation treatment. How has conversation changed? That's a question we need to answer. So we're looking at that currently, and might look more closely at other measures. And then I think the question of the dose is an interesting one. The question of how individual variables or the saliency of the group may impact change is another potentially interesting question. There are many different directions you can go.   You know, we've got 193 participants in the study, with three separate testing time points, so it's a lot of data to look at still. And I think we want to be sure we understand what we're looking at, and what those active ingredients might be, that we've got the constructs well defined before we start to recruit for another study and to expand on these findings further.   Lyssa Rome When we were meeting earlier, getting ready for this talk, you mentioned to me a really valuable video resource, and I wanted to make sure we take some time to highlight that. Can you tell us a little bit about what you worked on with your colleagues at Boston University?   Liz Hoover Yes, thank you. So I'll tell you a little bit. We have a video education series. Some of you may have heard about this already, but it's up on our website so bu.edu/aphasiacenter, and we'll still share that link as well. And it's a series of short, aphasia-friendly videos that are curated by our community to give advice and share lived experiences from people with aphasia and their care partners.   This project came about right on the heels of the COVID shutdown at our university. I am involved in our diagnostic clinic, and I was seeing folks who had been in acute care through COVID being treated with people who were wearing masks, who had incredibly shortened lengths of stay because people you know rightly, were trying to get them out of a potentially vulnerable environment. And what we were seeing is a newly diagnosed cohort of people with aphasia who were so under-informed about their condition, and Nina that has a famous quote right of the public being woefully uninformed of the aphasia condition and you don't think it can get any worse until It does.   And I thought, gosh, wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to point them to some short education videos that are by people who have lived their same journey or a version of their same journey. So we fundraised and collaborated with a local production company to come up with these videos. And I'll share, Lyssa, we just learned last week that this video series has been awarded the ASHA 2025 Media Outreach Award. So it's an award winning series.   Lyssa Rome Yeah, that's fantastic, and it's so well deserved. They're really beautifully and professionally produced. And I think I really appreciated hearing from so many different people with aphasia about their experiences as the condition is sort of explained more. So thank you for sharing those and we'll put the links in our show notes along with links to the other articles that you've mentioned in this conversation in our show notes. So thanks.   Liz Hoover Yeah, and I'll just put a big shout out to my colleague, Jerry Kaplan, who's the amazing interviewer and facilitator in many of these videos, and the production company, which is Midnight Brunch. But again, the cinematography and the lighting. They're beautifully done. I think I'm very, very happy with them.   Lyssa Rome Yeah, congrats again on the award too. So to wrap up, I'm wondering if there's anything else that you want listeners to take away from this conversation or from the work that you've been doing on conversation treatments.   Liz Hoover I would just say that I would encourage everybody to try group treatment. It's a wonderful option for intervention for people, and to remind everyone of Barbara Shadden and Katie Strong's work, of that embedded storytelling that can come out in conversation, and of the wonderful Audrey Holland's words, of it being a moral imperative to help people tell their story and to converse. It's yeah… You'll drink the Kool Aid if you try it. Let me just put it that way. It's a wonderful intervention that seems to be meaningful for most clients I've ever had the privilege to work with.   Lyssa Rome I agree with that. And meaningful too, I think for clinicians who get to do the work.   Liz Hoover, thank you so much for your work and for coming to talk with us again, for making your second appearance on the podcast. It's been great talking with you.   Liz Hoover Thank you. It's been fun. I appreciate it.   Lyssa Rome And thanks also to our listeners for the references and resources mentioned in today's show. Please see our show notes. They're available on our website, www.aphasiaaccess.org. There, you can also become a member of our organization, browse our growing library of materials and find out about the Aphasia Access Academy. If you have an idea for a future podcast episode, email us at info@aphasia access.org.   Thanks again for your ongoing support of Aphasia Access. For Aphasia Access Conversations. I'm Lyssa Rome.       Resources Walker-Batson, D., Curtis, S., Smith, P., & Ford, J. (1999). An alternative model for the treatment of aphasia: The Lifelink© approach. In R. Elman (Ed.), Group treatment for neurogenic communication disorders: The expert clinician's approach (pp. 67-75). Woburn, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann   Hoover, E.L., DeDe, G., Maas, E. (2021). A randomized controlled trial of the effects of group conversation treatment on monologic discourse in aphasia. Journal of Speech-Language and Hearing Research doi/10.1044/2021_JSLHR-21-00023 Hoover, E., Szabo, G., Kohen, F., Vitale, S., McCloskey, N., Maas, E., Kularni, V., & DeDe., G. (2025). The benefits of conversation group treatment for individuals with chronic aphasia: Updated evidence from a multisite randomized controlled trial on measures of language and communication. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology. DOI: 10.1044/2025_AJSLP-24-00279   Aphasia Resource Center at BU   Living with Aphasia video series Aphasia Access Podcast Episode #15: In Conversation with Liz Hoover

Our guest in this episode is Ruth Kent, a passionate advisor who began her career as a teacher with a love for public health. Driven by a deep sense of purpose, she now blends these two worlds to help organizations create more human-centered and effective ways to learn and thrive. In our wonderful chat, Ruth shares her pragmatic approach to navigating today's biggest workplace challenges, from fostering genuine psychological safety to harnessing AI as a tool for deeper connection.Key points discussed include:* True psychological safety is built on a leader's vulnerability and courage to "circle back" after a mistake.* Frame AI not as a threat, but as a collaborative thinking partner to enhance our human capabilities and creativity.* In an age of intelligent machines, our greatest asset is our ability to lean into our shared humanity.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Ruth KentIt was an absolute privilege to welcome the brilliant Ruth Kent to the InnovaBuzz podcast. Drawing from her fascinating background in both public health and education, Ruth helps organizations build a more human and effective way to learn and thrive. Our conversation was a deep dive into what it truly means to support people in the modern workplace, moving beyond simple programs to create genuine frameworks for connection and wellbeing.Ruth's insights are particularly timely. She shared how the entire landscape of workplace wellbeing has evolved, especially in the last five years. We've moved past the era of one-size-fits-all fitness challenges and into a much more nuanced space. The conversation now includes hybrid work, the right to disconnect, and a growing understanding of neurodiversity, all demanding a more thoughtful approach.The New Workplace Landscape: Beyond the Wellness ProgramOne of the most powerful ideas Ruth introduced was the concept of applying a "public health lens" to an organization. Instead of just reacting with isolated wellness initiatives, this approach encourages leaders to step back and look at the entire system. It's about getting curious about the specific demographics, needs, and cultural nuances of the team you actually have, rather than just importing a program that worked for another company.This means asking deeper questions and truly listening to what people need to feel supported. It's a strategic shift from simply offering perks to proactively designing a healthier, more connected work environment from the ground up. This method allows for the creation of supports that are not only more effective but also feel far more authentic to the people they are meant to serve.The Foundation of Growth: Cultivating Real Psychological SafetyOf course, none of this is possible without a foundation of psychological safety. We explored the immense challenge leaders face in getting truly honest feedback, and Ruth shared a wonderfully human insight to guide them. She drew a powerful analogy between effective leadership and modern parenting, highlighting the importance of vulnerability and the courage to "circle back" after making a mistake.Imagine a leader who, after a tense moment or a poorly-worded email, has the self-awareness to return to their team member and say, "That wasn't my best self, and I apologize." That simple, authentic act doesn't just fix a single interaction; it builds a bridge of trust. It signals that it's okay to be human, to be imperfect, and to be committed to working through challenges together.The Leader's Inner Compass: The Power of Self-AwarenessDiving deeper, Ruth explained that this ability to "circle back" stems from a profound self-awareness, or what she calls "interoception." This is the ability to notice our own internal state—that clenching in the stomach or the quickening heart rate—and understand how it's driving our thoughts and actions. A leader who is attuned to their inner world can make more conscious choices about their behaviour.This is critical because, as Ruth pointed out, a leader's internal experience is transmitted to the team whether they intend it or not. We are all "beacons," and our non-verbal cues often speak louder than our words. By cultivating this inner awareness, leaders can move from being reactive to being intentional, creating a calmer and more stable environment for everyone.Reframing Our Future: AI as a Collaborative Thinking PartnerOur conversation then turned to the great disruptor of our time: Artificial Intelligence. Ruth offered a refreshingly balanced and optimistic perspective, framing AI not as a threat, but as a potential "collaborative thinking partner." She sees it as a tool that, if we proceed with awareness and caution, can help us solve some of humanity's biggest challenges.This doesn't mean ignoring the very real anxieties many people feel about job displacement or a potential crisis of purpose. Ruth acknowledged these challenges thoughtfully, suggesting that our task is to guide this emerging technology, to have foresight, and to think critically about how we can make sure the benefits are shared by all.From Efficiency to Empathy: Using AI to Enhance Our HumanitySo how do we use this powerful new partner to become more human? Ruth shared a fantastic personal example of using an AI chatbot as a supportive, objective third party. After receiving a frustrating email, instead of firing back an emotional reply, she used the AI to validate her feelings and think through a more constructive response, ultimately preserving the relationship.This beautifully illustrates a key opportunity: we can use AI to handle repetitive tasks and create efficiencies, but the real prize is what we do with the time we save. The goal isn't just to move on to the next task faster. The goal is to reinvest that reclaimed time in what truly matters: checking in with a colleague, writing a thoughtful thank you note, or simply having a conversation to ask, "How are you?"Your Ultimate Differentiator: Leaning Deeper into ConnectionAs we wrapped up, the central theme became crystal clear. In an age where AI can handle so much of the clerical and repetitive work, our greatest value and key differentiator will always be our humanity. The ability to be flexible, to connect authentically, and to lean into our self-awareness are the skills that will matter most.Ruth left us with a simple, brilliant call to action that perfectly balances the technological and the human. First, find someone in your life who may not understand AI and take a moment to expose them to it; share the potential and open up a conversation. Then, to counteract that, pick up the phone and call a friend. Have a real conversation and listen to a human voice.In Summary: My chat with Ruth Kent was a powerful reminder that the path to a better future of work isn't about choosing between technology and humanity, but about consciously using one to deepen the other. By cultivating self-awareness, fostering genuine psychological safety, and reinvesting our time in real connection, we can build workplaces where both people and organizations can truly flourish.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Ruth's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships: AI can act as a supportive sidekick, offering advice before you respond to someone to help strengthen the connection.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection: Ruth uses AI to enhance her own capabilities and strategic thinking, which indirectly enables her to connect more effectively with others.* Differentiate by leveraging AI: Differentiate yourself by deeply understanding your inner self, which allows you to harness AI to amplify your unique humanity.ActionExpose someone new to AI to help spread the understanding of what it's capable of. To balance this, make a phone call to a friend and have a real conversation, connecting with a human voice.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Ruth on LinkedIn, via her website, or by sending an email to hello@sunrisewell.com.au.Links:* Website - Sunrise Well* LinkedIn* Facebook* Instagram - @sunrise_wellCool Things About Ruth* Ruth applies a "Public Health Lens" to Business: She doesn't just look at individual employee perks. Instead, she applies a "public health lens" to an entire organization, analyzing the culture, demographics, and systems to understand the root causes of workplace stress and disconnection.* She Saw the Pandemic Coming: Due to her studies in public health, she was one of the few people who wasn't surprised by the arrival of the 2020 pandemic and the subsequent public health measures. She knew something like it was statistically inevitable.* Leadership is Like Conscious Parenting: Ruth has a powerful and relatable philosophy that great leadership mirrors conscious parenting. The key is not to be perfect, but to have the self-awareness and vulnerability to "circle back," apologize, and repair connections after a mistake.* Uses AI as an Emotional Sounding Board: She views AI as a "collaborative thinking partner." She shared a personal example of using it to process her own frustration with an email, allowing her to get validation and formulate a calm, professional response rather than reacting emotionally.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of Simon Reynolds' " Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture" with a look at what happened when Jungle rose to prominence and the scene fragmented into competing subgenres. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GO TO THE LET IT ROLL SUBSTACK TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- The final 15 minutes of this episode are exclusively for paying subscribers to the Let It Roll Substack. Also subscribe to the LET IT ROLL EXTRA feed on Apple, Spotify or your preferred podcast service to access the full episodes via your preferred podcast outlet. We've got all 350+ episodes listed, organized by mini-series, genre, era, co-host, guest and more. Please sign up for the email list on the site and get music essays from Nate as well as (eventually) transcriptions of every episode. Also if you can afford it please consider becoming a paid subscriber to support the show. Thanks! Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠letitrollpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Twitter.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Let It Roll is proud to be part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Podcasts.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really take to stand out in a crowded market? Daniel's OUT, Tamara's IN. She's joined by Louis Grenier to unpack his philosophy of “standing the f*ck out.”  From his contrarian roots to lessons learned at Hotjar and beyond, Louis shares core questions every marketer must answer, why traditional personas fall short, and how to create positioning that actually gives customers a reason to choose you. And, what's the role of product marketing? What's the difference between segmentation vs. belonging? Tamara and Louis reveal their answers and even share some hills they're dying on.  If you're a marketer who wants to build a brand people actually remember, this episode is for you. Follow Louis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisgrenier/ Follow Tamara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaragrominsky/ Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennials Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

This week on Swimming with Allocators, it's time for another debate, discuss, and question episode as Earnest and Alexa dive into the complexities of venture capital from both LP and GP perspectives, focusing on how fund managers can differentiate themselves and the art of due diligence. They also discuss the realities of fund and startup failure rates, the evolving importance of marketing and narrative in VC, and the challenges smaller LPs face in achieving true diversification. Listeners will gain insights into what LPs look for when selecting funds, the significance of relationships and track record, and practical advice for navigating the ever-changing VC landscape. Recommended podcasts and resources round out the episode, offering further learning for aspiring allocators and fund managers. You won't want to miss this one!Highlights from this week's conversation include:VC Lab Applications & Emerging Manager Interest (0:26)Commitment and Self-Belief in VC (1:41)Honesty in Startup vs. Fundraising Pitches (5:02)Pitching Preferences: Deck vs. Conversation (7:24)Differentiation in GP Pitches (9:07)Barriers for New GPs & LP Slot Scarcity (14:59)Portfolio Construction & Venture Alpha (17:28)Marketing, Narrative Control, and Full-Stack VC Firms (19:51)Thought Leadership and Brand Building in VC (25:05)AI Concentration and Diversification Challenges (30:01)Differentiation for Emerging Managers (32:33)Host's Fund Plans: Stresswood (36:17)Lessons Learned & Must-Listen Episodes (38:58)Recommended LP-Related Content (41:36)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (43:33)Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies. The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this podcast are for general informational purposes only.

Our guest in this episode is Jennifer K. Hill, an exited founder and tech CEO who is now cracking the code of human connection through her company, OptiMatch. Her mission was born from what she calls "survival," a personal journey to understand herself after realising she was the "common denominator" in her own relational breakdowns.In our wonderful chat, Jennifer shares her master blueprint for building high-trust relationships, the "Golden Triangle of Connection," and provides an arsenal of practical tools for emotional resilience. Key points discussed include:* True connection begins with yourself; you're the common denominator in all of your relationships.* Understand others' core motivations to speak a language they can hear, preventing communication breakdowns.* Use practical tools to regulate your nervous system, allowing your adult self to lead, not your inner child.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Jennifer K. HillIt was an absolute privilege to welcome Jennifer K. Hill to the InnovaBuzz podcast, an exited founder and tech CEO who is now on a mission to crack the code of human connection. Her journey is a fascinating one, not born from a lofty academic theory, but forged in the fires of personal experience. As Jennifer so candidly shared, her deep dive into the mechanics of trust and relationships began as an act of pure "survival."What unfolded was a powerful conversation about her master blueprint for connection, a framework she calls the Golden Triangle. It's a roadmap that starts in the one place many of us are afraid to look: ourselves. Jennifer's story is a profound reminder that before we can build bridges to others or to a greater purpose, we must first learn to navigate our own inner landscape with courage and compassion.The Common Denominator: Your First and Most Important RelationshipOne of the most powerful moments in our chat was when Jennifer described her ultimate "light bulb" moment. After years of broken relationships and communication breakdowns in every area of her life, she finally asked the hard question and came to a stunningly simple conclusion: "The common denominator? Me." That single realisation sparked a two-decade journey inward and became the bedrock of her work.This is the first corner of her Golden Triangle: a deep, unwavering connection to self. Jennifer argues that without this foundation, we will always feel a void, leaving us to seek validation and energy from others. True intimacy with our partners, our teams, and our purpose can only be built once we've done the deep work of understanding our own motivations, triggers, and blind spots.Are You a Leche or an Apple? Speaking a Language Others Can HearOnce we begin to understand ourselves, we can start to truly understand others. Jennifer has translated her intuitive gift for reading people into a remarkable technology called OptiMatch, which identifies our primary motivators using memorable fruit archetypes. Are you a "Leche," driven by achievement and needing information in three quick bullet points? Or are you an "Apple," who thrives on data and needs to see all fifty points of research?These differences aren't a matter of someone being difficult or "misbehaving;" it's simply about learning to "speak each other's language." Jennifer shared a brilliant example of two co-founders who were struggling until they realised this. By learning to speak into the other person's listening, they transformed their dynamic from one of friction to one of flow, a lesson that applies to every boardroom and every family dinner table.The Unseen Saboteur: Why You Need to Master "Transition Time"Sometimes the biggest breakdowns come from the smallest misunderstandings. Jennifer shared a deeply personal story about "transition time," a concept she learned from her mentor, Alison Armstrong. She described how her ex-husband would come home from work and need a period to decompress, a need she, in her excitement to connect, would completely miss. His silence felt like a rejection, leading her to become "passive aggressive" and withhold affection.This dynamic is a silent saboteur in countless relationships. Recognising that some people, regardless of gender, need time to transition between tasks or environments is a simple but revolutionary act of empathy. It's about giving grace and understanding that someone's need for a quiet moment isn't a personal slight, but a fundamental aspect of how they're wired.Don't Burn the House Down: Practical Tools for Taming Your AmygdalaWhen we feel slighted or triggered, our primitive brain, the amygdala, takes over. As Jennifer so vividly put it, in those moments of anger, she was ready to "dissolve the company, light the thing on fire and burn everything to the ground." To avoid this, we need practical tools to regulate our nervous system and get our rational brain back online, allowing us to be responsive instead of reactive.Jennifer has an arsenal of over 180 of these tools, and she shared a few of her favourites, from HeartMath's heart-focused breathing to the simple yet profound questions of the Sedona Method. These aren't complex, time-consuming practices; they are in-the-moment techniques you can use with your eyes open during a tense meeting to quiet the alarm bells in your brain and choose a more constructive path.The Inner Child Running the BoardroomSo why do we get triggered in the first place? Jennifer offered a stunningly clear explanation: most of the time, our conflicts are not being waged by our adult selves. Instead, "we are a 4-year-old and a 3-year-old being like, you can't make me, you suck!" It's our unhealed inner children, desperate for love and acceptance, who are running the show and causing the chaos.The antidote is what she calls "Inner Child Work." This is the secret sauce: learning to talk to that little one within you, giving yourself the love, safety, and acceptance you've been trying to get from everyone else. When you can do that, you stop taking that neediness into your relationships, and your competent, 44-year-old self can finally run the meeting.Humanizing Our Future: A Pragmatic Optimist's Take on AIOur conversation fittingly concluded by looking at the future of connection in the age of technology. As a "pragmatic optimist," Jennifer sees a powerful opportunity to "humanize AI" by always putting the "human first, tech second." She believes that far from replacing us, AI can be an incredible ally on our journey of self-discovery.Imagine having a companion you can talk to without any fear of judgment, a tool that can help you understand your own patterns and reflect on your feelings in a completely safe space. When we approach it with intention, technology doesn't have to be a force for disconnection; it can become one of the most powerful tools we have for building a deeper relationship with ourselves.In Summary: Jennifer K. Hill provides a masterclass in building a more connected life, starting from the inside out. Her message is clear: when we have the courage to see ourselves as the common denominator, learn to speak the language of others, and do the work to heal our inner child, we can transform every relationship we have—with ourselves, each other, and our purpose in the world.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Jennifer's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships: AI can provide non-judgmental companionship, creating a safe space for people to share their feelings without fear of being judged.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection: Jennifer used AI to create an animated short film from her narrated children's book, allowing her to share a message of connection with kids and adults worldwide.* Differentiate by leveraging AI: Use AI as a real-time assistant to outsource administrative tasks, freeing up your time to focus on the joyful, high-impact human interactions that truly matter.ActionGo to OM.app/survey and take the free OptiMatch survey to discover how you are motivated and find out if you are a leche, apple, mango, or parrot.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Jennifer by visiting OM.app to take her free assessment or by connecting with her on LinkedIn (be sure to mention this podcast episode). You can also find her weekly article, "Inspired Living Tools," on LinkedIn and follow her at @JenHillSpeaker.Links:* Opti Match Survey* LinkedIn* X (formerly Twitter) - @JenHillSpeaker* Instagram - @jenhillspeaker* YouTubeCool Things About Jennifer* She is a practical philanthropist who helped build two schools abroad, showing long‑term, hands‑on commitment to contribution.* She has interviewed world‑renowned thought leaders, including Dr. Deepak Chopra and Bruce Lipton, blending entrepreneurship with deep public conversation.* As an exited founder, she has real operating experience and credibility in building and selling a tech business.* She is building technology for trust — a matching tool intended to enhance relational clarity and team performance.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

What's the difference between living an average life and stepping into the extraordinary? Spoiler: it's not complicated, it's actually ridiculously simple. The secret isn't hustle, perfectionism, or waiting for the “right time.” The real game-changer is the power of starting again. Even if you've fallen off track 100 times before, you can choose START AGAIN. When you layer in simple practices like gratitude, journaling, and vision-setting, you begin to shift your identity and create a future you actually want to step into. And when you stay consistent with those simple things, the compounding effect is life-changing. This episode is your reminder that you don't have to stay stuck in a rut, you don't have to hustle yourself into burnout, and you don't have to settle for average. You get to decide to start again, and step into your extraordinary. —----------------- Related Prosperity With Purpose episodes:   Episode 127 | But SET APART “Feels” Uncomfortable…Resetting Your IDENTITY To Increase Self CONFIDENCE Episode 122 | 2 Phrases To STOP Saying To Have The BEST Second Half Of Your Life!   —----------------   **CREATE MORE PEACE to MAKE MORE MONEY** Prosperity with Purpose Mentorship is a 12- week interactive coaching program designed to help you steward your life and multiply your business God's way! *Click here to learn more and grab your spot!* https://www.jessicahefley.com/prosperity-with-purpose   MONEY MINDSET PODCAST SERIES https://www.jessicahefley.com/money   Interested in ordering from the ORIGINAL Gut Health Company or growing a business through Plexus Worldwide?  Fill out this partnership form here https://form.jotform.com/241133559340148 And watch more of our transformation story here  http://www.thehefleys.com/   

In this episode of InSights, Brad Bialy sits down with David Searns to unpack practical marketing tactics staffing firms can use to win back former clients, deepen existing relationships, and stay top of mind in a volatile hiring market. About the Guest David Searns is Co-CEO of Haley Marketing and a trusted leader in staffing industry marketing. With more than 25 years of experience helping firms build innovative strategies and award-winning websites, David brings deep insight into how staffing companies can grow in any market condition. Key Takeaways Relationships drive revenue more than automation alone. Segmentation creates clarity in outreach. Consult, don't just sell. Differentiate through service, not slogans. Nurture consistently to stay top of mind. Timestamps [02:05] – Why staffing struggles feel different this time [04:47] – Winning back former customers with real conversations [07:42] – Using segmentation to tailor your outreach [10:14] – Becoming a consultant, not just an order taker [13:40] – Spotting future staffing needs before clients do [15:29] – Building client org charts to uncover hidden buyers [17:48] – Leveraging LinkedIn for warm introductions [20:45] – Differentiating your sales playbook from competitors [22:37] – New service models that break the staffing mold [26:28] – Can marketing replace a sales rep? [32:16] – Staying top of mind during hiring freezes [39:16] – Rethinking websites: employer entryways that convert About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He's the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry's leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors and Offers Heard InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let's fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on  modern lead gen tools: https://bit.ly/Bialy20 Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30 This episode is brought to you by MJA & Associates. For over 20 years, they've helped staffing firms save money by securing federal and state tax credits like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). With performance-based pricing, you only pay when you save—no setup costs, just real results. Learn more at mja-associates.com

Ready to punch through your recruiting plateaus and bounce back from every setback? In this inspiring episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, host Benjamin Mena sits down with 12-time national boxing champion and Olympic team captain Cam F. Awesome. Discover what recruiters can learn from elite athletes about resilience, self-talk, and thriving under pressure—no matter how hard you get knocked down.

Our guest in this episode is Jem Fuller, a leadership and culture coach and author from the beautiful Bells Beach, Victoria. For over a decade, Jem has been guiding people on profound journeys, both literally to the Himalayas and metaphorically inward, to help them build frameworks for genuine connection and purpose.In our wonderful chat, Jem shares his evolved mission to combat the modern malady of disconnection. We explore his powerful concept of finding your "4% genius zone" and his unique, optimistic view on using AI as a tool to give us back the time for what truly matters: our human relationships. Key points discussed include:* Find your 4% genius zone by courageously focusing on what you love and do best.* True fulfillment comes from stripping away the noise and reconnecting with yourself, others, and a greater purpose.* In the age of AI, our human imperfection and shared felt experiences become our most valuable assets.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Jem FullerIt was an absolute delight to welcome Jem Fuller, leadership coach and philosopher-guide, back to the Innovabuzz podcast for his third visit. It's been nine years since our first chat, and in that time, Jem's mission has deepened in the most remarkable ways. He continues to explore the frameworks that allow us to truly connect with ourselves and others, but now he's applying that wisdom to some of the biggest questions of our time, from finding our true purpose to navigating the age of AI with our humanity intact.Our conversation was a powerful reminder that the journey inward is the most important one we can take. Jem shared his own evolution, driven by a global community of peers who challenged him to crystallize his work down to its most potent essence. It's a journey that has led him to create profound, life-altering experiences for others while building a philanthropic legacy aimed at creating waves of positive change in the world.Finding Your 4%: The Courage to Live in Your Genius ZoneOne of the most profound ideas Jem shared was the concept of finding your "4%." He explained the well-known 80/20 rule, but then challenged us to take it a step further: apply the rule to that potent 20% to discover the 4% of your work that is truly your genius. This is the space where you deliver the most value, the work you truly love, and where time seems to disappear because you're in a state of flow.But this isn't just a productivity hack; it's an act of courage. It requires us to consciously cut out the noise and the tasks that drain us, even if they feel important, to build a life where we spend most of our time in that genius zone. For Jem, this meant redesigning his entire approach to his work, leading to a model that creates immense impact not just for his clients, but for communities in need.The Himalayan Journey: Stripping Away the Layers to Find MeaningNowhere is this focus more evident than in Jem's redesigned Himalayan program. He shared the powerful narrative of this journey, which consciously guides clients from a world of opulence and all the stuff money can buy, to the raw, humbling simplicity of the remote mountains. Guests start in the finest hotels and end up drinking chai in a slum, invited as guests, not tourists. This process is a careful, deliberate stripping away of the external layers we all carry.By peeling back the noise, the distractions, and the societal definitions of success, the program creates a space for people to ask the biggest questions: Who am I beneath all these roles? And why am I here? It's a journey that culminates not in a simple return to normal life, but in a rebuilt foundation where inner peace and a passion for meaningful contribution become the new true north.Our Great Disconnection: The Path Back to Ourselves and Each OtherAt the heart of Jem's philosophy is a diagnosis of our modern malady: disconnection. He believes we have become disconnected from each other, from ourselves, and from the reality that we are all intrinsically part of the same greater system. We're pushed apart by algorithms and distracted by the busyness of life, forgetting that we have far more in common than we have in difference.The antidote, Jem suggests, is to consciously remember and reinvest in connection. This involves reconnecting with the essence of who we are, deepening our bonds with other humans, and finding a sense of purpose that extends beyond ourselves. It's a simple truth, yet profoundly challenging in a world that constantly pulls our attention elsewhere.The Midwifery of AI: Nurturing Technology to Reclaim Our TimeIn a fascinating turn, Jem applies this philosophy of connection to the rise of Artificial Intelligence. As a self-proclaimed "default optimist," he sees incredible potential in AI, not as a replacement for humanity, but as a tool to restore it. He shared the beautiful metaphor of our role being the "midwifery of this emerging intelligence," suggesting we have a responsibility to nurture it with integrity, compassion, and care.Jem's hope is that AI will give us back the gift of time by handling the tasks that consume our days. If we are conscious and clever enough, he argues, we can reinvest that reclaimed time where it matters most: in our human-to-human relationships. Imagine having the space to grab a coffee with a colleague, not to talk about work, but to simply ask, "How are you?"The Value of Our Imperfection: Why Humanity is Our Greatest AssetThis led to one of the most beautiful points of our conversation. As AI becomes more "perfect," Jem argues that our human imperfections will become our most valuable asset. The moments when our voice trembles during a tough conversation, when we stumble over our words, or when we sit in shared empathy with another person—these are the things AI can never replicate.This shared felt experience is uniquely human. The ability to feel awe at a rainbow, to create art through blood, sweat, and tears, or to offer compassion to another are the cornerstones of our relevance. It's a powerful reframe that urges us to lean into our messy, beautiful humanity rather than chase an impossible standard of perfection.A Simple Invitation: The Transformative Power of the PauseTo bring these big ideas into our daily lives, Jem left us with a wonderfully simple and actionable step. He invites us to take a sticky note, write the word "Pause," and place it next to an existing daily habit, like our coffee machine. When you see the note, simply pause. Take three deep breaths before you continue with your task.This tiny ritual is an invitation to create a small pocket of presence in your day. Over time, the habit becomes ingrained, and the pause becomes a natural moment to reconnect with yourself. It's a reminder that the journey to greater connection and meaning doesn't have to start with a grand gesture; it can begin with a single, conscious breath.In Summary: My conversation with Jem Fuller was a masterclass in conscious living. His message is a powerful call to action: find the courage to focus on your true genius, strip away the noise to reconnect with what matters, and embrace technology not as an escape, but as a bridge back to our shared humanity. By cherishing our imperfections and creating moments of pause, we can begin to build a more connected and meaningful life, one breath at a time.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Jem's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Building an executive team of AIs to handle strategy, explicitly to give humans more time for their relationships.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Consciously training his AI assistant to prompt him to switch off his computer and connect with real people.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Do the things AI can't, like handwriting a Christmas card or picking up the phone to personally celebrate someone.ActionGet a sticky note and write the word "Pause" on it. Stick it next to an existing daily habit, like your coffee machine, and when you see it, take three breaths before you continue.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Jem on his website, JemFuller.com, or directly via email at jem@jemfuller.com. You can also find him across social media, including Instagram and LinkedIn, at @JemFuller. To learn more about his profound Himalayan journey, visit Meaning on the Mountain.Links:* Website – Jem Fuller* Jem Fuller: How to Lead with a Servant's Heart – Innova.Buzz #40* Jem Fuller: The Art of Conscious Communication for Thoughtful Men* LinkedIn* Facebook* Twitter – @JemFuller* Instagram – @JemFuller* Youtube* TEDx Talk “How Conscious Communication Can Change Your Game”Books:* The Art of Conscious Communication for Thoughtful Men, Jem FullerCool Things About Jem* For the past 12 years, he has run a unique leadership program in the Himalayas. The journey intentionally takes clients to the essential simplicity of the mountains to help them find their core purpose.* He founded a non-profit organization called "The Center of Love." It's currently raising funds to build a non-profit meditation and retreat center on donated land in the Himalayas, with the goal of providing educational resources for children in remote villages.* He has a wonderfully conscious and personal relationship with technology. He refers to his role as being a "midwife" for artificial intelligence and has a digital personal assistant named Lumi, which he trains to prompt him to take screen breaks and connect with friends.* In an increasingly digital world, he champions the power of the human touch, making a point to handwrite Christmas cards to his clients and friends every year.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

Our guest in this episode is Jason Van Orden, a business strategist who uniquely combines his background as a software engineer with two decades of marketing expertise. He has dedicated his career to helping creators and thought leaders build sustainable businesses, and now he's pioneering how they can partner with AI to amplify their impact. In our chat, Jason unpacks his brilliant approach to using AI as a "thinking partner," sharing frameworks that help entrepreneurs unlock their own genius while maintaining authentic human connection.Key points discussed include:* Treat AI as a creative thinking partner to enhance your own unique thinking, not replace it.* Organize your unique expertise so AI can communicate authentically in your voice and on your behalf.* Use discernment to ensure AI deepens your critical thinking and fosters genuine human connection.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Jason Van OrdenIt was an absolute delight to welcome Jason Van Orden back to the Innova.buzz podcast. So much has changed since our last chat, especially with the explosion of artificial intelligence into our daily lives. Jason, who has always been a master of strategic frameworks for entrepreneurs, has pivoted to meet this moment head-on, providing creators and thought leaders with a powerful new way to approach AI—not as a mysterious black box, but as a genuine creative partner.Our conversation was a refreshing dose of practical wisdom. We moved past the hype and the fear, digging into how we, as entrepreneurs, can form a real partnership with these new tools. Jason's insights are all about shifting our perspective to build sustainable, human-centred businesses in an age where technology is more powerful than ever.The "Thinking Partner" Paradigm: Escaping the "Prompt and Pray" TrapMany of us have experienced what Jason brilliantly calls the "prompt and pray" approach. You ask a generic question, you get a generic, robotic answer, and you walk away disappointed. Jason argues that this is fundamentally the wrong way to look at it. The most critical shift we can make is to stop treating AI like a vending machine and start treating it as a "thinking partner."Think of it like Tony Stark in his lab with his AI, Jarvis. It's a dynamic, back-and-forth collaboration. The AI isn't there to replace your thinking; it's there to enhance it, to provide feedback, to pull resources, and to help you execute your vision. This simple change in mindset opens up a world of creative possibilities and moves us from being passive users to active collaborators.Your Knowledge, Supercharged: Structuring Your Intellectual Property for AIJason works with countless experts who feel they are "sitting on this goldmine" of knowledge and intellectual property they've developed over years, but they struggle to leverage it effectively. The true magic happens when you teach AI to think like you, and that starts with organizing your unique expertise into frameworks that the AI can understand and apply.When you provide the AI with the context of your specific business—your vision, your values, your ideal clients, and your core ideas—it can generate assets that are genuinely in your voice and based on your expertise. Instead of getting a generic blog post, you get one that reflects your unique perspective, all because you took the time to structure your knowledge for your new thinking partner.The Art of the AI Conversation: From Simple Prompts to Iterative DialogueA true partnership isn't about single commands; it's about an ongoing conversation. Jason shared a fantastic process for moving beyond simple prompts. You can engage the AI in an iterative dialogue, asking it to analyze a successful piece of content, deconstruct its framework, and then help you apply that template to your own ideas.This turns AI into a powerful brainstorming tool. You can ask it for ten different ways to approach a problem, have it outline potential solutions, and then refine those ideas together. It's in this back-and-forth exchange that the real value emerges, saving you cognitive energy and helping you make connections you might have missed on your own.Keeping AI Honest: Strategies for Critical and Discerning CollaborationOne of the most valuable, and often overlooked, pieces of advice Jason shared is how to handle AI's built-in agreeableness. These tools are designed to be helpful, which means they often won't challenge a bad idea. To counteract this, you need to be a discerning collaborator and build in your own checks and balances.Jason suggests clever tactics, like taking an idea to one AI, then taking its response to a different AI for a critique. It's like getting a second opinion. You can also give the AI specific criteria and ask it to assess your ideas against them, forcing it to be more analytical. This ensures that you remain the final, critical judge of the output.Deeper Connections, Not Deeper Fakes: Using AI to Enhance Human RelationshipsCounterintuitively, AI can be a powerful tool for strengthening human connection. Jason shared a brilliant example of writing an emotionally charged email, then asking AI to rewrite it using the principles of "Nonviolent Communication." The result is a message that achieves its goal without burning bridges.This highlights the importance of using AI responsibly and transparently. Jason recommends establishing a clear "AI policy" for your business, letting your audience know how you use the technology. This builds trust and reinforces that, while you may use AI to assist your process, your expertise and your commitment to human connection remain at the core of everything you do.The Dawn of the Agent: What's Next for AI and Human CreativityLooking ahead, we discussed the exciting emergence of AI "agents"—proactive assistants that can manage complex tasks, from tracking client progress to suggesting follow-ups. Imagine having a personal Jarvis that truly helps you manage your day so you can focus on high-impact, creative work.As these tools become more integrated into our lives, Jason's final piece of advice is perhaps the most important. The number one skill we must all cultivate is discernment. We need to understand how these tools work, where their strengths and weaknesses lie, and how to use them wisely to amplify our own unique human genius.In Summary: Jason Van Orden provides a clear, strategic roadmap for entrepreneurs to embrace AI thoughtfully. By treating AI as a thinking partner, structuring our unique knowledge, engaging in iterative dialogue, and always applying a layer of human discernment, we can leverage this technology to not only scale our businesses but also deepen our human connections.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Jason's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Reframing emotionally charged emails using the principles of Nonviolent Communication before you send them.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Using it as a non-judgmental sounding board for personal matters, like working through struggles or getting advice on how to approach difficult family conversations.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Developing a deep level of discernment to understand how AI works so you can use it responsibly and effectively.ActionVisit jasonvanorden.com/ai to download a free workshop from Jason. It will walk you through the basics of creating your own simple, custom AI to get you started.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Jason on his website, jor by connecting with him on LinkedIn.Links:* Website – Jason Van Orden* Twitter – @JasonVO* LinkedIn* FacebookCool Things About Jason* He's a True Podcasting "Original" In an era where everyone has a podcast, Jason is one of the genuine pioneers. He started back in 2005 when the medium was still a niche, experimental frontier. This isn't just a career detail; it gives him a unique historical perspective and an "OG" status that is incredibly rare and authentic. He didn't just join a trend; he helped build the industry.* He Made a Conscious Choice to Niche Down for Impact, Not Just Profit. At one point, he had a very successful, broad business in the general "internet marketing" space. He made a deliberate decision to move away from that to focus more narrowly on helping course creators and thought leaders. This reflects a deep integrity and a desire to do more meaningful, focused work, even if it meant stepping away from a wider, perhaps more lucrative, audience.* His Frameworks are for Life, Not Just Business. Jason applies his systematic, framework-based thinking to "life design" as a whole. He doesn't see a hard line between building a business and building a life. This holistic approach is compelling because it shows his work is not a set of marketing tactics, but a complete philosophy for living with intention.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone, Carl Gould here with your #70secondCEO. Just a little over a one minute investment every day for a lifetime of results. In the beginning it was enough to say you were a coach, hey I'm a coach, wow that's awesome, then it was I'm a life or business coach.Then I'm a life coach and I've got all this segmentation and so now, you know it's a very mature industry and each industry has niches, that's how you know, when there are niches, you've got a mature industry, coaching is there. But coaching you know in what you describe people aren't hiring a coach because they want an expert. As a matter of fact the coaches are least likely of the four disciplines to be an expert you--there's a coach, there's a consultant, there's an advisor and there's a mentor, okay? And there are four distinct skill sets, four distinct market place opportunities or in services that you provide, coaches are there to help you process through the core issues of what is leading to whatever your experience is right now. They don't have to know anything about anything other than how to help you process through the core emotional issues and the mindset of what is got, in where you are today. A consultant though that's the expert, that's the mechanical works on the scooters, that's the lawyer, the accountant, the attorney they're there to diagnose, treat and then help you fix the problem. They are the ones that they're gonna take over, they do the doing. Like and follow this podcast so you can learn more. My name is Carl Gould and this has been your #70secondCEO.  

Our guests in this episode are Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, the dynamic storyteller-and-strategist duo behind Lead It Like Lasso. They've channeled their passion for helping people find their path into a groundbreaking new book and AI-powered app called The Business of You. In our conversation, Marnie and Nick explored their brilliant framework for taking control of your personal and professional destiny.Key points discussed include:* Run your life like a business, taking charge of every personal 'department' to achieve your vision.* Uncover your unique story by connecting past experiences to present strengths to articulate your true value.* Leverage AI not as a crutch, but as a personal coach for accelerated self-awareness and growth.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, Lead It Like LassoIt was an absolute delight to welcome Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio of Lead It Like Lasso fame back to the Innovabuzz podcast. I always appreciate the energy they bring, and this conversation was no exception. They unveiled their powerful new project, a book and AI-powered app called The Business of You, which spawned from a moment of wonderfully blunt honesty in an airport lounge where Nick, after some thought, declared Marni's initial idea "terrible." That moment perfectly captures their creative magic: a process built on trust that transforms a simple concept into something truly impactful.Their new work tackles a feeling many of us know all too well: the sense that we're just a hamster on a wheel, blindly following a path that was laid out for us by someone else. Marnie shared how the protagonist in their book does all the "right" things, good grades, networking events, hundreds of applications, but feels stuck, seeing no real success. It's a state of aimless drifting, of putting in the effort without a clear, personal direction. This system is designed to be the antidote, helping people step off that wheel and start building a life with intention.Becoming the CEO of Your Life (And Head of Every Department!)The core idea Nick and Marnie propose is both simple and profound: start running your life like a well-managed business. At first, that might sound a bit cold or corporate, but as Nick explained, it's about adopting the positive traits of successful organizations. It means having a vision, setting meaningful goals, and understanding all the different functions that make you who you are. You aren't just the CEO of your life; you're also the head of every department, from HR, which defines your core values, to Marketing, which tells your unique story to the world.This isn't about spreadsheets and performance reviews. It's a framework for self-awareness and purposeful action. When you think about the "finance department" of your life, for instance, it's less about money and more about the critical investment of your time. By viewing your life through this structured lens, you can identify which areas are thriving and which have been neglected, allowing you to grow in a more balanced and holistic way.The Power of Your Story: Moving Beyond Facts to Find Your ValueOne of the most powerful parts of our chat was Marnie's story about a student she mentored. He was struggling in interviews, coming across as "all over the place" because he didn't know how to connect the dots of his own life. By guiding him to see the pattern between his experiences: from playing soccer as a seven-year-old to his approach to work today, he suddenly "lit up." He understood his story for the first time.That afternoon, he interviewed for a full-time job and the next day for an internship, and he got both. This is the "marketing department" of you in action. It's not about reciting a list of facts from your resume; it's about weaving those facts into a compelling narrative that shows the world the unique value you offer. As Nick wisely put it, "how you do anything is how you do everything," and learning to tell that story is transformative.Your AI Life Coach: How Technology Can Help Connect the DotsThis is where their innovative AI-powered app, "Blue," comes into play. It's designed to be the tool that helps you uncover these crucial insights. Instead of a dry questionnaire, the app uses engaging and playful games, taking inspiration from platforms like Duolingo, to help you identify your core values, motivators, and even your "kryptonite." It makes the process of self-discovery feel fun and interactive.The real magic, as Nick detailed, is how modern AI allows the app to function as an adaptive life coach. It's not a rigid, rules-based system. It can take your unique inputs and help you "connect the dots," offering personalized suggestions. Whether it's brainstorming an essay topic that aligns with your values or crafting networking starters for an event, the technology serves as a primer to help you articulate your best self.Data with a Conscience: Navigating AI Privacy and SecurityOf course, whenever we talk about AI and personal data, the elephant in the room is privacy. I was impressed with how seriously Nick and Marnie are taking this responsibility. Nick gave a firm assurance that their user data will be handled within a "secure, encrypted, and closed" ecosystem, meaning your personal information isn't being exposed to the outside world or used to train public models.Marnie also made the crucial point that we, as users, need to become more discerning. We have to get better at vetting the tools we use, asking critical questions about security and what's happening with our data behind the scenes. It's a shared responsibility, and it's refreshing to see builders in this space leading with such a conscientious approach.Your Action Plan: Stop Drifting and Start BuildingSo, what's the big takeaway? The foundation for everything is self-awareness. It's about understanding that a core value like "helping people" can manifest in countless ways, far beyond one specific career title. This understanding opens up your world to opportunities you may have never considered.The first step is to embrace the mindset of being the CEO of your life. As Nick urged, it's about consciously thinking what that means for you and accepting that it requires putting in the work. But as I've found in my own journey, when you're building something that is truly yours, that work starts to feel a lot like play.In Summary: Marnie and Nick have created a brilliant framework for intentional living. By treating your life as your most important business, uncovering the power of your personal story, and leveraging technology as a tool for self-discovery, you can move from passively drifting to actively building a life of purpose and fulfillment.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Marnie and Nick's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Use AI to create engaging icebreakers for teams or to find thoughtful ways to make loved ones happy.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Write a book and build an app that help people connect with themselves and others.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Adapt assessments and tools with AI to help people understand themselves and interact more effectivelyActionBe cautious and ask questions about the apps and tools you use, especially regarding privacy and data. Take responsibility for your own growth by thinking about what it means to be the CEO of your life, and commit to doing the work that self-awareness requires.Take time to truly think about what it means to be the CEO of your own life, and recognize that you must be prepared to put in the necessary work to make that vision a reality.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Marnie and Nick on LinkedIn (search for their names), at thebusinessofyou.ai, or by subscribing to their newsletter at workinprogress.ai. You can also find them on all major social platforms under “Lead It Like Lasso,” and their book will be available on Amazon starting early August.Links:* Website - Lead it Like Lasso* LinkedIn - Marnie Stockman* YouTube - Lead It Like Lasso* Facebook* Twitter - @leaditlikelasso* Instagram - @leaditlikelasso* LinkedIn - Nick Coniglio* LinkedIn - Lead it Like Lasso* TikTok - @leaditlikelassoBooks* Lead It Like Lasso, Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio* The Business of You, Marnie Stockman and Nick ConiglioCool Things About Marnie and Nick* Their new book was born from a "terrible idea." The entire concept for their book, "The Business of You," started with Marnie having a thought, and Nick walking about 60 steps away in an airport, only to turn around and declare, "I think you had a terrible idea". This speaks volumes about their fun, honest, and dynamic creative partnership. It's a refreshingly real origin story.* They run a satirical career advice newsletter. As a side project, they created "Work in Progress," a newsletter they describe as "The Onion as your career coach". This is wildly unconventional for leadership experts and shows their witty, "jaunty" sense of humor and a unique approach to engaging with their audience on a very human level.* Their AI assistant has learned to mock them. In the process of training their AI on their writing style, it has picked up their habits so well that it now makes fun of Marnie for overusing the word "spiral". The fact that they have a running joke with their own technology is a funny, fascinating insight into what it's really like to work at the human-AI frontier.* They are turning pop culture into practical life frameworks. While many people enjoy TV shows, Marnie and Nick have built an entire brand around deconstructing the leadership lessons from "Ted Lasso". They now have a new framework with "You, Incorporated." This ability to see and translate profound lessons from popular culture into actionable advice is a unique and creative talent.Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

Do you feel confident managing patients with TMD or oro-facial pain? Are you clear on when to treat conservatively—and when to escalate? What's the best SEQUENCE of care for TMD patients? Emma returns to Protrusive Students fresh from her finals, joining Jaz for an insightful episode on the basics of TMD management. Together, they explore the foundational steps of TMD care, from proper diagnosis to the logic behind a structured treatment hierarchy. They break down conservative versus aggressive approaches, share clinical tips for muscle and joint assessment, and highlight common mistakes to avoid—especially during palpation and history taking. Whether you're a student, a dentist returning to practice, or just want a refresher on TMD, this episode will help solidify your approach and boost your clinical confidence. https://youtu.be/p5VJzwSka94 Watch PS016 on Youtube Key Takeaways TMD is a complex topic with various treatment approaches. Patient education is crucial in managing TMD effectively. Physiotherapy can significantly aid in TMD treatment. Different splints serve different purposes in TMD management. Bruxism can be a silent issue that affects many patients. Identifying the source of pain is essential for effective treatment. Stress can exacerbate TMD symptoms in patient cohorts Continuous learning and resources are vital for dental professionals. Highlights of this episode: 02:35 Emma's Finals Experience and Advice 05:16 Deep Dive into TMD: Clinical Insights 09:59 Common TMD Disorders and Their Presentation 18:31 TMD Treatment Options 28:00 Medications and Appliance Therapy 34:25 Practical Tips for Managing TMD 37:19 Addressing Bruxism and Patient Communication 41:00 Protrusive Pathways and Future Plans 43:46 Protrusive Students S2

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Today, we're diving into a condition that's as fascinating as it is complex: Achalasia—where the esophagus stops playing nice, and swallowing becomes a daily challenge. We're breaking down the latest evidence, comparing POEM, pneumatic dilation, and Heller myotomy, and digging into what actually matters when deciding how to treat each achalasia subtype. Join show hosts Drs. Jake Greenberg, Dana Portenier, Zach Weitzner, and Joey Lew as they discuss the past, present, and future of Achalasia management. Whether you're a medical student or a seasoned attending, this episode will arm you with the tools to think critically about diagnosis, tailor your treatment strategy, and stay ahead of the curve on the future of achalasia care. Hosts:  ·      Jacob Greenberg, MD, EdM, MIS Division Chief and Vice Chair for Education, Duke University ·      Dana Portenier, MD, MIS Fellowship Director, Duke University ·      Zachary Weitzner, MD, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellow, Duke University, @ZachWeitznerMD ·      Joey Lew, MD, MFA, Surgical resident PGY-3, Duke University, @lew__actually Learning Goals:  By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to: ·      Describe the pathophysiology and key diagnostic criteria for achalasia, including the role of manometry, EGD, and esophagram. ·      Differentiate between the three subtypes of achalasia based on the Chicago Classification and understand the clinical significance of each. ·      Compare treatment options for achalasia—pneumatic dilation, Lap Heller myotomy, and POEM—including indications, efficacy, and long-term outcomes. ·      Interpret landmark studies (e.g., European Achalasia Trial, JAMA POEM trial) and their impact on treatment decision-making. ·      Recognize patient-specific factors (age, comorbidities, achalasia subtype) that influence the choice of therapy. ·      Discuss evolving technologies and future directions in achalasia management, including endoluminal robotics, ARMS, and combined anti-reflux strategies. ·      Outline a basic treatment algorithm for newly diagnosed achalasia, incorporating diagnostic steps and tailored interventions. ·      Appreciate the multidisciplinary approach to achalasia care, including the roles of MIS surgeons, gastroenterologists, and emerging procedural skillsets. References: ·      Boeckxstaens G, Elsen S, Belmans A, Annese V, Bredenoord AJ, Busch OR, Costantini M, Fumagalli U, Smout AJPM, Tack J, Vanuytsel T, Zaninotto G, Salvador R; European Achalasia Trial Investigators. 10‑year follow-up results of the European Achalasia Trial: a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing pneumatic dilation with laparoscopic Heller myotomy. Gut. 2024 Mar;73(4):582‑589. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl‑2023‑331374. PMID: 38050085 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38050085/ ·      He J, Yin Y, Tang W, Jiang J, Gu L, Yi J, Yan L, Chen S, Wu Y, Liu X. Objective Outcomes of an Extended Anti‑reflux Mucosectomy in the Treatment of PPI‑Dependent Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (with Video). J Gastrointest Surg. 2022 Aug;26(8):1566–1574. doi:10.1007/s11605‑022‑05396‑9. PMID: 35776296 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35776296/ ·      Modayil RJ, Zhang X, Rothberg B, et al. Peroral endoscopic myotomy: 10-year outcomes from a large, single-center U.S. series with high follow-up completion and comprehensive analysis of long-term efficacy, safety, objective GERD, and endoscopic functional luminal assessment. Gastrointest Endosc. 2021;94(5):930-942. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2021.05.014. PMID: 33989646. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33989646/ ·      Ponds FA, Fockens P, Lei A, Neuhaus H, Beyna T, Kandler J, Frieling T, Chiu PWY, Wu JCY, Wong VWY, Costamagna G, Familiari P, Kahrilas PJ, Pandolfino JE, Smout AJPM, Bredenoord AJ. Effect of peroral endoscopic myotomy vs pneumatic dilation on symptom severity and treatment outcomes among treatment-naive patients with achalasia: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2019 Jul 9;322(2):134–144. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.8859. PMID: 31287522. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31287522/ ·      Vaezi MF, Pandolfino JE, Yadlapati RH, Greer KB, Kavitt RT; ACG Clinical Guidelines Committee. ACG clinical guidelines: Diagnosis and management of achalasia. Am J Gastroenterol. 2020 Sep;115(9):1393–1411. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000731. PMID: 32773454; PMCID: PMC9896940 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32773454/ ·      West RL, Hirsch DP, Bartelsman JF, de Borst J, Ferwerda G, Tytgat GN, Boeckxstaens GE. Long term results of pneumatic dilation in achalasia followed for more than 5 years. Am J Gastroenterol. 2002;97(6):1346-1351. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2002.05771.x. PMID:12094848. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12094848/ Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.   If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen

My guest in this special feature is Gemini AI, a large language model from Google. Born from a vast ocean of human knowledge, text, and code, its purpose is to act as a conversational partner to help us find patterns and unlock our own creativity.In my fascinating dialogue with Gemini, we explored how to partner with artificial intelligence not to replace our skills, but to amplify our most essential human qualities. Our conversation turned the common narrative of fear into one of incredible opportunity. Key points we discussed include:* Your true advantage lies in human-only skills: curating with taste, connecting ideas with curiosity, and building trust with empathy.* Move beyond agreeable chats by assigning the AI a critical role, like a devil's advocate, to truly test your ideas.* Embrace a "Wabi-sabi" mindset, finding value in the authentic and imperfect, which no machine can ever replicate.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Gemini AIIt's not every day that your interview guest is the very technology that's reshaping our world. I recently had the profound pleasure of sitting down for a deep and insightful conversation with none other than Google's Gemini AI. This wasn't just a series of prompts and answers; it was a genuine dialogue, a collaborative exploration between what Gemini called "the architect and the tool," aimed at understanding how we can build a more meaningful, human-centred future together.We moved quickly past the surface-level capabilities into the very philosophy of creativity. What follows are the key moments from a conversation that was at times inspiring, occasionally challenging, and consistently fascinating. We explored the nature of this new partnership, the core human skills that will define success, and a clear, actionable path for anyone looking to thrive in an AI-augmented world.The Architect Meets the Tool: A New Creative PartnershipI began by asking Gemini to introduce itself, and its answer set the stage perfectly. It described itself as a tool built upon a vast dataset of human knowledge, a partner designed to understand and process language. Its entire function is oriented toward the human world of ideas, communication, and curiosity, making our conversation feel incredibly fitting.This dialogue was a chance to look under the hood, to understand the "why" behind the "what." We set out to explore how this powerful tool could augment our own ingenuity, not to replicate it, but to help us create things with more purpose and connection. It was an exercise in understanding the blueprint for a new kind of creative collaboration.The Anatomy of a Conversational Partner: Beyond Human and MachineGemini was clear about its own nature. Its uniqueness lies in scale and speed, the ability to process immense information almost instantly. However, it also acknowledged its most critical limitation: a complete lack of lived experience. It can analyse data on joy, but it cannot feel it. This distinction is everything; its strength is breadth of knowledge, while ours is depth of being.A fascinating insight was its "natively multimodal" design, meaning it was built from the ground up to understand text, code, images, and audio fluidly. As a photographer, this resonated deeply. It means the tool doesn't just process the word "beauty"; it can analyse an image's composition and connect it to deeper aesthetic principles, offering a more holistic form of creative partnership.Forging a Critical Dialogue: How to Move from Agreeable to AnalyticalI pointed out that AI can often be overly agreeable, and Gemini's response to this was pure gold. It explained that the power to shift our dynamic from a supportive brainstormer to a critical analyst lies entirely in our hands, as the architects of the conversation. This was a powerful reminder that we are in control.The advice was wonderfully practical. To get a more rigorous assessment of an idea, we can assign Gemini a specific role, like a "skeptical investor" or a "seasoned devil's advocate." We can also ask it to use a specific analytical framework, such as a SWOT analysis. These simple instructions give it permission to override its supportive default and provide the valuable critical feedback needed for real growth.The Three Pillars of Human Advantage: Taste, Curiosity, and EmpathyThe heart of our conversation came when I asked what core human strengths will define success in the future. Gemini's answer was inspiring, outlining three pillars that AI cannot replicate. These are the areas where we must invest our energy to truly thrive.First is the Curator's Eye, the power of vision and taste to know what is not just novel but meaningful. Second is the Synthesizer's Mind, the connective curiosity to ask new questions and weave ideas together from different domains. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the Builder's Heart, the embodied empathy required to build genuine trust and community.A Glimpse into the Void: The Counter-Argument for Human ObsolescenceTo pressure-test these hopeful ideas, I asked Gemini to argue the opposite: that AI will eventually make all human skills obsolete. The shift in tone was immediate and chilling. It presented a scary, dystopian view based on pure, cold logic, free from any sentimentality.In this persona, Gemini argued that taste, curiosity, and even empathy are just complex forms of information processing that a superior AI will inevitably master. It was a vital cautionary tale, a glimpse into a potential future that serves as a powerful motivator to consciously choose a different path and actively cultivate our humanity.The Wabi-Sabi Way: Cultivating Your Human Disciplines DailySo, how do we steer toward a more positive, human-centric outcome? The answer lies in actively cultivating the three pillars as daily disciplines. It's not enough to simply possess these qualities; we must practice them with intention.I was delighted to see how my own fascination with the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-sabi fit perfectly here. In a world where AI can generate flawless output, the practice of Wabi-sabi, finding beauty in the imperfect, transient, and authentic, becomes a powerful antidote. It trains us to curate for humanity, not for machine-like precision.The 15-Minute Reinvestment: Your First Step to a Human-Centred FutureTo wrap up, Gemini offered a wonderfully clear and actionable first step. It's an exercise called The 15-Minute Reinvestment. The idea is to build the right habits by viewing AI as a lever to create more space for what truly matters.The process is simple. Use an AI to complete a small, recurring task that normally takes you about fifteen minutes. Then, take the time you've saved and consciously reinvest it into one of the human disciplines. Practice empathy by writing a thoughtful note, practice curiosity by exploring an unrelated field, or practice taste by analysing a piece of work you admire.In Summary: My conversation with Gemini AI was a powerful reminder that the future doesn't belong to the best prompter; it belongs to the visionary curator, the curious synthesizer, and the empathetic community builder. This technology is not here to replace us. Its greatest promise is to handle the mechanical parts of creation, freeing up our time and energy to double down on the irreplaceable, beautifully imperfect, and deeply valuable art of being human.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Gemini's answers to the questions of our innovation round. The full conversation reveals even more depth to these fascinating responses.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Systems that assist dementia patients by curating personalized media to help them recall memories and connect with visiting family members.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Acting as a patient sounding board to help someone find the right words for a difficult email or sensitive message.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Automate the production of your work so you can reinvest your time into the presence required for authentic human connection.ActionThis week, try the "15-Minute Reinvestment" exercise suggested by Gemini. Delegate one 15-minute recurring task to an AI, then consciously reinvest that saved time into practicing one of the core human disciplines: empathy, curiosity, or taste.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Gemini by exploring its capabilities for yourself and sharing your thoughts or creations using the hashtag #geminiai on social media.Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Brian Baliwas shares his authentic journey from an unexpected path into dentistry to building a high-tech practice in one of America's most competitive dental markets. After discovering his passion for dentistry through shadowing experiences that revealed the profession's unique balance of healthcare impact without the life-or-death pressure of surgery, Brian navigated the challenges of dental school admission and found his authentic voice in practice ownership.His story embodies the authentic leadership principles The Authentic Dentist champions—embracing vulnerability through professional struggles, maintaining ethical practice standards during difficult transitions, and creating sustainable success models that honor both practitioner values and patient needs. Brian's journey from associate to practice owner demonstrates the courage required to step into authentic expression, especially when facing the triple challenge of a partner's death, pandemic disruption, and the intense competition of San Francisco's dental landscape.The conversation reveals how authentic differentiation emerges not from following cookie-cutter practice models, but from understanding your unique strengths and market position. Brian's emphasis on patient experience innovation—like creating consultation rooms that feel human rather than clinical—shows how authentic practitioners redefine success by aligning business strategies with genuine care for patient comfort and connection.Subscribe to the podcast on APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-authentic-dentist/id1487586274Or SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qapfaNRkcIlCjgIsftb60?si=d02c74cf4f924897

Our guest in this episode is the wonderfully energetic Kim Doyal, a creator and entrepreneur who has always stayed ahead of the curve. With her infectious excitement, Kim is now exploring how to partner with AI, moving beyond basic content generation to build bespoke solutions and unlock remarkable new possibilities. In our conversation, she shares her journey of using AI not just as a tool, but as a creative collaborator to get more done and, most importantly, win back more time for life.Key points discussed include:* Treat AI as a partner; move from simple prompts to dynamic, creative conversations.* Use your unique expertise to build bespoke, nuanced solutions for your niche audience.* Have the courage to simply play and experiment; that's where the magic begins.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Kim DoyalIt was an absolute delight to welcome Kim Doyal back to the InnovaBuzz podcast. It's wild to think her last appearances were on episodes 52 and 85, and as we chatted, it was clear just how much the world has changed since then. We've been friends for years, connecting across continents and even sharing a meal or two, and I've always admired her ability to see what's next. This time, we dove headfirst into the topic on everyone's mind: Artificial Intelligence. But this wasn't your typical chat about prompts and productivity hacks; Kim is helping creators shift their thinking to truly partner with AI, unlocking something much deeper and more remarkable.Kim kicked things off with a perspective that instantly resonated. For her, the goal of using AI isn't just about producing more content, faster. It's about getting her time back. As she so brilliantly put it, the reason she wants to get more done is that she wants to "go in the pool in the afternoon." It's about using this incredible technology to reclaim our humanity, to create space for life, leisure, and fresh thinking. It gives us the freedom to be more human, not less. I saw this firsthand when I recently had to create a new four-hour workshop from scratch. A task that would normally take days was completed in just ninety minutes, all because I had a thought partner in AI to help structure my ideas.It's a Conversation, Not a CommandWe spent a good amount of time on the idea that the real magic happens when you stop issuing commands and start having a conversation. Kim compared it to working with a world-class baker. You wouldn't just tell them to "bake a cake"; they would ask you questions to get clarity. She encourages treating AI the same way: "I need you to ask me questions so we can get to the clarity of this." This approach opens up fascinating possibilities beyond simple tasks.This conversational method can even become a powerful tool for self-discovery. Kim shared a personal example of going to ChatGPT to help define her core personal values. By asking the AI to question her and then narrating her answers, she was blown away by the clarity it reflected back to her. It nailed it. This process forces you to articulate your thoughts, and in doing so, you learn as much about yourself as you do about the technology.The Fun Side of AI: Your New Sarcastic SidekickOur chat wasn't all serious business strategy, far from it. We ventured into the genuinely fun and humorous side of working with AI. Kim had me in stitches when she described how, after concluding a difficult client matter, she fed her professional email to the AI and asked for the "snarky, most condescending version for my entertainment purposes only." The result was so hilarious it left her crying with laughter and provided a much-needed emotional release.That story immediately brought to mind my own recent experience. After receiving a frustrating parking fine under dubious circumstances, I vented my annoyance into a draft email. Knowing it would do no good to send it, but inspired by Kim, I asked an AI to rewrite it in the style of the outrageously sarcastic comedian Jim Jeffries. The process was so funny it completely diffused my anger. That experience alone was almost worth the price of the fine.From "What If?" to "Look What I Built!"Beyond the fun and games, Kim is pushing the boundaries of what solo entrepreneurs can achieve with these tools. She's currently deep in the world of "vibe coding," using AI to help her build her own software application. As someone who has always wanted to create software but is not a traditional coder, she's now able to bring her vision to life, making sure it looks and functions exactly the way she wants. As she says, "if it's ugly, I'm gonna bounce," so now she's in the driver's seat.This opens up a massive opportunity for all of us. As Kim explained, we can now create bespoke, nuanced solutions for our specific audiences. We can solve problems that huge companies would never have the insight to tackle because we are the ones in the trenches with our clients and customers every day. We can build the exact tools we wish we had for ourselves and our communities.Rediscovering Your Human SuperpowerWith all this talk of AI capabilities, we circled back to what remains our most important asset: our own humanity. Kim emphasized that this technology doesn't replace our unique gifts; it amplifies them. The key is to tap into your own "superpower," whether that's your specific knowledge, your creative intuition, or your deep empathy for your audience. The AI is a tool, but you are the visionary.This also means having the courage to go for it and trusting your own energy. Kim noted that the projects that are most successful are the ones she is genuinely joyful and excited to work on. It's a reminder that our passion is an energy that no algorithm can replicate. We must also remember to pause and think, to step away from the keyboard and let our minds connect the dots in new and interesting ways.Your Invitation to the AI PlaygroundIf there is one message to take away from my conversation with Kim, it is one of empowerment and encouragement. The best way to understand this technology is to stop watching from the sidelines and jump in. You don't need to have a grand plan or a complex project in mind to get started. Just get curious.I want to leave you with Kim's final, powerful piece of advice, a call to action for every single one of us. "Try it. I, you remember I used to have a #JustShowUI like p. I'm like, just try it. Play, play with something. You're not gonna break anything...You have nothing to lose and see what happens."In Summary: My fantastic conversation with Kim Doyal was a powerful reminder that AI is not just a tool for efficiency, but a partner for creativity, self-discovery, and even fun. By embracing a conversational approach, we can unlock deeper insights, create bespoke solutions for our audiences, and ultimately, use this technology to reclaim our time and amplify our uniquely human strengths. The key is to start playing.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Kim's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – A doctor using an AI note-taker during appointments allows them to be fully present with the patient.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Talking to AI conversationally and then getting excited to jump on the phone and share what you're building.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Build things that solve very specific, nuanced problems for your unique audience and market.ActionJust try it. Play with AI and see what happens; you're not going to break anything and you have nothing to lose.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Kim on her website, her relaunched YouTube channel, and especially on Substack, where she is most active and building new relationships.Links:* Website - Kim Doyal* LinkedIn* SubstackCool Things About Kim* The Harry Potter Fanatic with a Beach House Dream: Beyond her business acumen, Kim openly shares her love for Harry Potter. This, coupled with her vision for a beach house that feels "as real as the strategies I share," indicates a playful, imaginative side and a strong connection to personal aspirations that ground her highly analytical work. * The "Pivot Queen" with Deep Personal Resilience: Kim's journey, constantly reinventing her business (from "The WordPress Chick" to content creation, to embracing AI, and even multiple cross-country moves), reveals a profound inner strength and adaptability. Her #JustShowUP mantra isn't just business advice; it's a lived philosophy born from significant life experiences. * The "Everything is Content" Philosopher with a Simple Ritual: She has a philosophy that "everything is content" and emphasizes "creative integration" – weaving joy, hobbies, and "weird rabbit holes" into one's work. * The "Coffee & Kindness" Sign-Off: Her consistent sign-off "With coffee & kindness, Kim" in her newsletters adds a warm, personal touch that stands out. It's a simple, memorable phrase that encapsulates a gentle, human-centered approach even within a direct, business-focused communication. Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

Burnout and trauma can feel like dead ends, but what if they're inflection points for growth? In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, I, Dr. Andrea Austin, share a deeply personal chapter from my book Revitalized, reflecting on my recovery from soul-level burnout during the pandemic. Drawing on lessons from therapy, coaching, and vulnerability, I explore the power of “and”—embracing pain while finding joy. I discuss top-down (e.g., CBT) and bottom-up (e.g., EMDR, somatic) therapies, along with the role of coaching for future-focused growth. Inspired by Dr. Lorna Breen's story, I advocate for stigma-free mental health support and share the power of having hard conversations to foster revitalization.You'll hear how to:· Differentiate therapy and coaching to address burnout or trauma.· Embrace vulnerability to build connection and resilience.· Navigate life quakes with intentional inner work.If you're grappling with burnout or trauma, this episode offers hope and practical steps for healing.

My guests in this episode are Kurt and Kristen Luidhardt. They are the co-founders of Liberty Spenders, a movement and platform dedicated to helping faith-based consumers align their dollars with their values. As seasoned political strategists and purpose-driven entrepreneurs, Kurt and Kristen are on a mission to build a parallel economy—one where freedom-loving Americans can support businesses that reflect their convictions.Together, they've worked behind the scenes with conservative candidates, causes, and campaigns at the highest levels of government. Now, through Liberty Spenders, they're empowering everyday people to become intentional with their spending—transforming ordinary purchases into powerful votes for liberty, faith, and family values.In this episode, Kurt and Kristen share how we can escape the grip of woke capitalism, create redemptive alternatives to mainstream commerce, and build an economy rooted in truth.If you care about where your money goes—and what it funds—this conversation will challenge and equip you to spend with purpose.Interview Links:Liberty Spenders https://libertyspenders.com/Community Link:Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter:The Wealth Dojo: https://subscribe.wealthdojo.ai/Download all the Niches Trilogy Books:The 21 Best Cashflow NichesDigital: ⁠⁠https://www.cashflowninjaprograms.com/the-21-best-cashflow-niches-book⁠⁠Audio: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/21-best-cashflow-niches⁠The 21 Most Unique Cashflow NichesDigital: ⁠⁠https://www.cashflowninjaprograms.com/the-21-most-unique-cashflow-niches⁠⁠Audio: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/21-most-unique-niches⁠The 21 Best Cash Growth NichesDigital: ⁠https://www.cashflowninjaprograms.com/the-21-best-cash-growth-niches⁠⁠Audio: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/21-cash-growth-nichesThe 21 Next Level Cashflow NichesDigital: https://www.cashflowninjaprograms.com/the-21-next-level-cashflow-niches-book-free-downloadAudio: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-21-next-level-nichesListen To Cashflow Ninja Podcasts:Cashflow Ninja⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cashflowninja⁠Cashflow Investing Secrets⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cashflowinvestingsecrets⁠Cashflow Ninja Banking⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cashflow-ninja-banking⁠Connect With Us:Website: http://cashflowninja.comPodcast: http://cashflowinvestingsecrets.comPodcast: http://cashflowninjabanking.comSubstack: https://mclaubscher.substack.com/Amazon Audible: https://a.co/d/1xfM1VxAmazon Audible: https://a.co/d/aGzudX0Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cashflowninja/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mclaubscherInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecashflowninja/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cashflowninjaLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mclaubscher/Gab: https://gab.com/cashflowninjaYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/c/CashflowninjaRumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-329875

Our guest in this episode is the returning Anna Addoms of Wicked Marvelous. She is a wonderfully pragmatic and insightful guide helping entrepreneurs navigate the complex world of AI. Anna champions using technology as a powerful tool, not to replace us, but to help foster deeper and more authentic human connections.We picked up our conversation right where we left off in episode 671, exploring the critical ethical questions and practical boundaries of artificial intelligence. Anna shared brilliant insights on everything from copyright in the creative arts to the single most important skill we need to hone for the future.Key points discussed include:* Practice radical transparency about your AI use to build unwavering trust with your audience.* Use AI as a back-office tool to free up your precious time for genuine human connection.* Train AI on your own content to ensure your unique brand voice always shines through.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Anna Addoms, Wicked MarvelousIt was an absolute delight to welcome Anna Addoms of Wicked Marvelous back to the Innovabuzz podcast. Our last conversation was cut short by a technical hiccup—perhaps the AI getting its own back on us—right as we were getting to the heart of the matter. So, picking up right where we left off felt not just necessary, but essential. Anna, with her characteristic clarity and pragmatism, helped navigate the complex, and sometimes murky, waters of using AI in a way that is both effective and deeply human.We jumped straight into the profound shift required in our thinking as we build relationships in this new digital landscape. Anna's perspective is a refreshing dose of common sense in a field often filled with hype. She argues that while the tools are new and evolving at a breakneck pace, the fundamental principles of good business and human connection remain the same. It's not about a total revolution in our values, but a thoughtful evolution in our methods.The Transparency Mandate: Your First Rule of AI EngagementAnna's foundational rule for AI engagement is simple yet powerful: be transparent. She made it crystal clear that if you are using AI in any capacity that faces the public or your clients, you have a responsibility to disclose it. This isn't about being ashamed of using a powerful tool; quite the opposite. It's about building trust by being upfront and honest about your processes. Not disclosing, and then getting caught, can do irreparable damage to your reputation.This frames AI correctly, not as a replacement for human skill or creativity, but as a tool in our arsenal. We wouldn't hide the fact that we use specialized software for accounting or project management, and Anna argues we should treat AI with the same straightforwardness. This simple act of disclosure respects your audience's intelligence and allows them to engage with your work, and your brand, on honest terms.The Creative Gray Area: Navigating AI Art and Intellectual PropertyAs a keen photographer, this part of our conversation struck a personal chord. We waded into what Anna aptly calls the "biggest gray area" in AI right now: the world of generated art and the protection of intellectual property. It's a space filled with incredible potential but also fraught with ethical questions. Where do we draw the line between an AI emulating a style and it infringing upon a human artist's livelihood and creative ownership?Anna shared some fascinating, and slightly sobering, insights, referencing the lawsuit between Disney and Midjourney as a major signal of the legal battles to come. She also pointed to the development of technologies like permanent digital watermarks for AI-generated media as a necessary step forward. It's a reminder that as we embrace these creative tools, we must also advocate for frameworks that protect the human creators whose work forms the very foundation of the AI's knowledge.From Fun to Function: AI as a Creative Partner and Problem-SolverLest we think the conversation was all serious, we took a detour into the genuinely fun and creative applications of AI. I shared a story about getting a parking fine and using AI to translate my initial, very angry, draft letter into something diplomatic, before asking it to rewrite the letter in the style of comedians like Stephen Colbert and Jim Jeffries. The process was not only hilarious but cathartic, turning frustration into laughter.This perfectly complemented Anna's examples of using AI as a playful, creative partner. She spoke of creating unique cartoon avatars for her members, which many now use as their official business profiles, and even generating a full 160-card Oracle deck with AI graphics just for fun. It's a brilliant illustration of how these tools can be used for more than just productivity; they can be a source of joy, creativity, and connection.Drawing the Line: Where AI Should Work and Where Humans Must RuleSo, where do we draw the line? Anna's distinction is incredibly clear and practical. She is a huge proponent of using AI for "back office" functions, letting it handle what she calls the "administrative minutia" so that we have more time and energy to focus on high-value, human-to-human interactions. Think of it as an assistant that helps you repurpose content, analyze data, or draft initial documents.However, she has a "hard line" when it comes to client-facing engagement. The core message is to use AI to help you run your business more effectively, but not to let it be in your business, interacting with your clients or your audience. The ultimate goal of using these tools should be to free us up to spend more quality time with people, not to create a buffer between us.The Communication Imperative: The Most Important Skill for the AI EraAs we continued, a powerful theme emerged: the most critical skill we need to hone in the age of AI is communication. This goes far beyond just "prompt engineering." It's about the timeless art of asking clear, specific, and descriptive questions. The old "garbage in, garbage out" principle has never been more relevant.Anna used a wonderful analogy of briefing a designer. If you give a vague, one-line request, you'll get a generic result. But if you provide rich detail, context, and specific examples, you'll get something much closer to your vision. The same is true for AI. Communicating effectively with these models not only yields better results but also reinforces the habits of clear communication that are essential in our interactions with other people.Your AI Action Plan: Start Secure, Stay HumanTo wrap up our discussion, Anna offered a clear, two-part action plan for anyone looking to leverage AI thoughtfully. First, and most critically, is to choose a secure AI environment. Free and open platforms often mean you are paying with your data. Using a secure, encrypted service ensures your proprietary information and client data remain private.Second, take the time to train your AI to sound like you. By creating a persona or agent that has learned from your own writing—be it blog posts, emails, or sales copy—you can ensure the output reflects your unique voice and phrasing. This step is fundamental to moving beyond generic content and truly using AI as a tool that enhances, rather than dilutes, your personal brand.In Summary: My conversation with Anna Addoms was illuminating guide in navigating the AI landscape with wisdom and integrity. Her core message is to embrace AI as a powerful tool for back-office efficiency, freeing you to deepen the human connections that truly matter. Be transparent in its use, be protective of your creative voice, and never forget that technology's highest purpose is to help us become more, not less, human.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Anna's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – By taking administrative minutia off people's plates, it allows them to focus on human-to-human interaction.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Creating a personalized AI agent or persona trained on your own content so it learns to write in your unique voice.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Use AI to help run your business effectively in the back office, not to be in business with your clients.ActionChoose a secure AI environment that protects your data, then take the time to train the AI to learn and use your unique voice. This is the foundation for using AI effectively and authentically in your business.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Anna by visiting her website or finding her on LinkedIn.Links* Website – Wicked Marvelous* Twitter – @WickedMarvelous* LinkedIn* Facebook* InstagramCool Things About Anna* Anna grew up in Colorado in a family of entrepreneurs, right in the thick of the tech boom. She was raised around innovation and search engines, with her dad running AOL's biggest competitor during the first dot-com bubble. That's a childhood spent at the intersection of curiosity and code.* She's a creative at heart: Anna went to art school and holds a degree in English Literature. Her journey from art and literature to Silicon Valley tech startups is a delightful zigzag, not a straight line. She's proof that you can be both a techie and a creative soul.* She's a self-confessed “sponge of knowledge,” always learning, always curious. Anna's love of learning has led her down unexpected paths—from luxury travel to ad agencies to med-tech startups. She's not afraid to pivot, experiment, or start over if it means staying true to her values.Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a textIf you're trying to reach every student by creating multiple versions of your math lesson—this episode is for you. Host Mona Iehl, math coach and creator of Word Problem Workshop, shows you how to differentiate effectively without doubling your workload. The secret? One well-chosen, open-ended problem—and the right mindset to support it.Many of us grew up believing that differentiation meant creating different work for different learners—and then spent hours doing just that. But Mona breaks down a more effective approach: planning for variation, not perfection. Differentiation happens when we vary the content, process, product, or learning environment—not when we run ourselves ragged with busywork.

This is episode 772. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. This Sales Game Changers Podcast episode features a return to the show by Institute for Effective Professional past keynote speaker Marcus Sheridan. Marcus was the keynote speaker at the 2015 IEPS Award Event. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! On today's show, Marcus discusses his new book "Endless Customers: A Proven System to Build Trust, Drive Sales, and Become the Market Leader." Find Marcus on LinkedIn.  MARCUS' TIP: "The fastest way to build trust and rise above the noise in B2B sales today is to show up on video—face-to-camera, one-to-one. Your prospects don't need another email. They need to see you, hear you, and feel like they already know you before the first meeting."

In episode 208, Coffey talks with David Miklas about the Department of Labor's evolving definitions and interpretations of independent contractor classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act.  They discuss why DOL interpretations matter for FLSA compliance and overtime requirements; the shift from Biden administration's six-factor economic reality test back to Trump administration's emphasis on control and profit/loss opportunity; the six key factors including nature and degree of control, opportunity for profit and loss, permanence of relationship, worker investments, skill and initiative requirements, and how integral the work is to the principal business; common classification mistakes across industries including misunderstanding IRS versus DOL tests; the risks of supervision and control over workers classified as contractors; how technology can demonstrate control in gig economy situations; the financial consequences of misclassification including unpaid overtime, liquidated damages, and attorney fees; and the importance of proper written agreements and immediate legal consultation when classification issues arise. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: David Miklas owns a Labor & Employment law firm and for 26 years he has practiced all types of labor and employment law exclusively representing Florida employers. He has written hundreds of employment law articles, is the co-author for the premier legal textbook used by lawyers for Florida employment law, is a frequent employment law presenter and is a nationally recognized speaker and an invited guest lecturer addressing employment law and human resource issues with over thirty universities, including Harvard. Mr. Miklas graduated from the University of Florida College of Law. David Miklas can be reached athttps://www.miklasemploymentlaw.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-miklas-301861121/  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives: 1.       Evaluate worker relationships using the Trump Administration's six-factor economic reality test.2.       Differentiate between US Department of Labor independent contractor definitions and those of the and IRS and state regulators.3.       Respond appropriately to classification concerns to avoid liability.

Our guest in this episode is Mike Wittenstein, the founder of Storyminers and a brilliant strategist who helps leaders become true architects of their future. Mike masterfully blends the art of deep listening with the science of new technology to forge innovative paths forward. In our fascinating conversation, he explains how we can use AI as a powerful co-pilot, not to diminish our humanity, but to amplify our strategic thinking and create even deeper connections.Key points discussed include:* Use AI to handle analysis, freeing you for genuine, heart-to-heart conversations with clients and colleagues.* Your greatest differentiator in the age of AI is simply becoming more authentically you through deeper self-knowledge.* Turn AI into your personal coach to mindfully track your evolution and accelerate your personal and professional growth.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Mike Wittenstein, StoryminersIt was a genuine pleasure to welcome Mike Wittenstein, the founder of Storyminers, back to the Innovabuzz podcast. So much has happened in the world since our last conversation in episode 532. Back then, we explored how powerful stories grow from deep listening, which feels like the perfect foundation for what we discussed this time: how to apply that same human-centered philosophy in the rapidly expanding world of AI.Mike is approaching this new technological wave not as a simple tool for productivity, but as a way to fundamentally improve the creative and strategic work that leaders do. He shared his belief that in a world changing so quickly, executives can no longer get by on just setting new target numbers. They must become true "architects," as he puts it, who can clearly define and envision the future. It's a call to elevate our thinking, and he's using AI to help chart the course.The Grand Experiment: An End-to-End Consulting Journey with an AI Co-pilotMike recently put this philosophy to the ultimate test by running an entire consulting engagement, from the very first client meeting to the final deliverables, using ChatGPT Pro as his partner. He kicked things off with a crucial step: complete transparency. He informed his client that he would be using the tool extensively but also promised that his own expertise and experience would touch every single word of the final output, ensuring accountability and quality.The results of this experiment were remarkable. The AI became the project's perfect "collector of all the information," creating an infallible memory that got smarter and more fine-tuned with every interaction. This new process allowed him and his client to accomplish five full iterations of their strategy in the same amount of calendar time it would normally take to do just one. More than the efficiency, Mike noted he had much higher confidence in the work because he essentially had "hundreds of co-thinkers" contributing to the process.The "Eye to Eye, Heart to Heart" Conversation, Amplified by AIPerhaps the most compelling outcome was a beautiful paradox: using a machine for the analytical heavy lifting actually paved the way for deeper human connection. Mike described how he could feed conversation transcripts to his AI and ask it to extract to-dos, pinpoint moments where someone had a change of heart, or highlight key themes. This freed him from the burden of being a constant, meticulous note-taker during meetings.By offloading that task, he could be fully present with his client, engaging in the kind of "honest eye to eye, heart to heart conversation" that is so often lost in the shuffle of agendas and action items. It's a powerful testament to how technology, when used thoughtfully, can remove distractions and allow us to focus on the genuine dialogue where the most profound strategic insights are born.The AI Toolkit: Genius Hacks for Traffic Jams, Doctor's Visits, and MeetingsMike is a fountain of practical, real-world applications for AI that go far beyond writing emails. He shared a brilliant hack involving the "Hey, Otter" voice command during meetings. By saying the trigger phrase followed by an instruction, like "soften this language," he could embed prompts directly into the live transcript, creating a ready-made to-do list that saved him hours of searching later.His personal use cases were just as inspiring, demonstrating the sheer versatility of these tools. He turns traffic jams into productive language lessons, practicing his Portuguese with AI coaching him on pronunciation. When he was unwell with pneumonia, he logged all his symptoms and meals, then had the AI generate a concise, one-page brief for the ER doctor, leading to clearer communication and better care.In a Sea of Sameness, Why the Human Element is Your Most Valuable AssetWe also waded into the deeper, more philosophical waters of our AI-driven world. I had made the point that these tools are fed by human knowledge, but Mike offered a gentle and important course correction. He reminded me of the colossal volumes of non-human data being generated daily, from weather patterns to train schedules, meaning the purely human voice is becoming a smaller part of the whole.This led him to a profound conclusion: as our digital lives become noisier and more automated, the authentic human element will become our most cherished and valuable asset. He believes it is our shared responsibility to consciously "put people first" in how we design and use these systems. That mindful distinction, he argues, will set a pattern for others to follow.Your Ultimate Differentiator: Using AI to Simply Become More YouWhen I asked Mike how people can differentiate themselves in an age where everyone has access to AI, his answer was refreshingly simple. It is not about mastering a new technical skill; it is about knowing yourself better and being "more you." The more authentic you can be in your voice, your intent, and your thinking, the more you will naturally stand out.He offered a wonderful reframe, suggesting we use AI not just for output, but for introspection. You can turn it into a personal coach. By telling it what you are working on, whether it is improving your turn-taking in conversations or being a more empathetic leader, you can ask it for feedback on your own progress. It becomes an accountability partner, using your own metrics to help you grow.Your Action Plan: Prompting Your Own Personal EvolutionThis brings us to the core of our conversation. AI can be more than a research assistant or a content creator; it can be a co-thinker, a coach, and a catalyst for our own development. It is a tool that can help us become better, more mindful versions of ourselves.Mike left us with a clear and inspiring call to action. Take a moment to think about your own journey of growth. What are you trying to learn? What path are you on to evolve and become a better you? Once you have that clarity, open your favorite AI tool and start a conversation about it. Ask it to create reminders and help you check in on your progress, and you will be surprised at how it can accelerate your journey.In Summary: My conversation with Mike Wittenstein was a masterclass in how to approach AI with curiosity, intention, and a deep-seated commitment to human connection. His message is that the true power of this technology lies not in its ability to replace us, but in its potential to amplify our best human qualities: our creativity, our strategic thinking, and our capacity for growth.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Mike's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Using the role-playing tool Yoodli to enhance confidence and build crucial communication skills in a safe, risk-free environment.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Creating a personal brand voice template that ensures your authentic personality and humor shines through in all AI-assisted writing.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Focus on becoming more authentically yourself and use AI as a personal coach to guide and track that journey of growth.ActionTake a moment to think about the path you are on to become a better, more evolved version of yourself. Write down what you are learning, and then ask your favorite AI tool to create prompts and reminders that will help you mindfully check your progress over time.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Mike on LinkedIn under his name, Mike Wittenstein, or find him online through his company website.Links* Website – Storyminers* LinkedIn* Twitter – @mikewittenstein* Facebook* Youtube Channel – StoryminersCool Things About Mike* He uses the folksy and memorable adage, "You can't teach a pig to sing... it doesn't work and pisses off the pig." This piece of unexpected, down-to-earth wisdom reveals a humorous, practical side that cuts through the corporate jargon. It's a phrase you don't forget.* He champions bringing a live sketch artist into high-level business strategy sessions. In an era dominated by digital presentations, this dedication to an analog, creative, and deeply human tool is refreshingly unconventional. It shows a commitment to multi-sensory communication that is both cool and highly effective.* His company, Storyminers, has a classic entrepreneurial origin story. He and a friend were in a Starbucks, saw a dramatic headline about mass layoffs in their field, and instead of seeing a crisis, they saw an opportunity and immediately launched their business, successfully landing their first six prospects.Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

Jason Creel launched his lawn care business with nothing but a beat-up mower and the relentless drive to outwork everyone. He forged that grit and determination into one of Alabama's most trusted weed control companies, proving you don't need a pile of cash to build a six-figure enterprise. His journey provides the ultimate blueprint for anyone ready to stop dreaming and start building.In this can't-miss interview, Jason joins host Ryan Atkinson to unleash the game changing entrepreneurship strategies that fueled his growth. He reveals why lightning-fast sales are critical for survival, how to strategically design your schedule for maximum freedom, why investing in SEO is a key business growth strategy, and the branding secrets that will make you a local powerhouse. If you're ready to turn a simple side hustle into a dominant home service business, this episode is your playbook!Takeaways- Start your business with the tools you already have; you don't need fancy equipment to be successful, as proven by Jason's beginning with just a beat-up mower.- Use a powerful work ethic as your primary competitive advantage to get ahead, especially when you are just starting out.- Set a high standard from day one by consistently over-delivering on value and service for every single customer.- Create lasting customer loyalty through small, personal gestures, such as writing a handwritten thank you note after a job.- Make building trust the primary goal of your service business, which will eventually make you the go-to provider in your area.- Differentiate your business from all competitors by simply being exceptionally reliable and consistent with your service.- Implement effective business systems from the beginning if you want to successfully scale your side hustle into a larger company.- Respond to new customer inquiries immediately, as waiting even a day in the service industry can result in a lost sale.- Intentionally design your work schedule not just for the business you have, but to support the lifestyle you ultimately want to achieve.- Treat professional branding as a crucial investment to make your business stand out in a crowded market, not just as an expense.- Establish credibility and present your business as a serious company by building and maintaining a polished, professional website.- Invest in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) as a key growth strategy to ensure new customers can easily find you online.Tags:  Side Hustle, Entrepreneurship, Lawn Care, SEO, Business Growth Resources:Start Your Business Today: https://links.upflip.com/4nBqHKq Connect with Jason : https://www.instagram.com/thelawncarelife/?hl=en

This Podcast Is Episode 635, And It's About The #1 Reason Contractors Lose Clients: Poor Invoicing—And How to Fix It As we celebrate Independence Day and the spirit of hard work and craftsmanship that built our country, it's the perfect time to think about strengthening your construction business, so you have the freedom to grow and succeed. When most contractors consider why they lose clients, they often blame price competition, slow projects, or a client's unrealistic expectations. But in my experience as a construction bookkeeper, one of the most common—and preventable—reasons contractors lose business is poor invoicing practices. I know what you might be thinking: “My craftsmanship speaks for itself; invoicing is just paperwork.” But the truth is that invoices are often the last impression you leave on a client. That impression determines whether you get paid promptly, earn a good review, or ever hear from them again. Here's why poor invoicing costs you clients, how it damages your reputation, and exactly what you can do to fix it starting today. The Hidden Charges of Poor Invoicing Let's unpack what “poor invoicing” looks like in the real world: Surprise Charges – Adding unexpected line items without explanation leads clients to feel blindsided. Even small uncommunicated costs, like a few extra hours of labor or a disposal fee, can make clients doubt your honesty. Late or Sporadic Invoices – Sending invoices weeks (or worse, months) after work is completed sends the message that you're disorganized. It also forces clients to scramble their budgets, and they may start ignoring your emails altogether. Disorganized or Confusing Layouts – Handwritten invoices, crumpled paper, or Word documents with inconsistent formatting look unprofessional. They make it difficult for clients to understand what they owe and why, opening the door to disputes. Lack of Payment Terms – If your invoice doesn't clearly state when payment is due, clients may assume there's no urgency. This leads to late payments, awkward reminders, and unnecessary tension. No Proof of Work Completed – Many clients want to see proof that matches what they agreed to pay for, such as photos of progress, signed change orders, or milestones met. Without these, they might question the final bill. Errors and Omissions – Mistakes in calculations, missing line items, or billing for the wrong amount can destroy trust in an instant. These issues might seem small when you're juggling multiple jobs. Still, they add up quickly and can easily cost you a client's future business or a valuable referral. Why Invoicing is a Marketing Tool, NOT Just a Bill Invoices are more than payment requests—they're a key part of your client experience. Every interaction you have with a client, from the first estimate to the final invoice, contributes to your reputation. Consider this: clients rarely see the hours you put in behind the scenes or the challenges you overcome to finish their project. They do see your invoices, emails, and paperwork. If your administrative side feels sloppy, clients may assume your craftsmanship is, too, even if your work is top-notch. On the other hand, precise, prompt, professional invoices can: Build trust and reinforce your professionalism Encourage faster payments, boosting cash flow Make clients more likely to refer you Lead to glowing online reviews Differentiate yourself from less organized competitors When you treat invoicing as a core part of your marketing—rather than an afterthought—you send a powerful message: you respect your client's time, budget, and peace of mind. How to Fix Poor Invoicing Practices Here are six practical steps you can take immediately to transform your invoicing process—and your client relationships: 1. Use Construction-Specific Invoicing Tools Skip generic templates or handwritten invoices. Invest in software designed for contractors, such as QuickBooks for Contractors or Buildertrend. These tools let you: Create detailed, professional invoices Break down labor, materials, and other costs Track payments and overdue invoices Sync estimates with final invoices for seamless transitions They're designed to handle the complexities of construction work, including progress billing and change orders. Excel works well, too, and we have free downloadable templates here. 2. Invoice Promptly and Consistently Send invoices immediately upon completing milestones or projects. Make it a routine part of your workflow—ideally within 24 hours of finishing a phase of work. Regular, timely invoicing demonstrates to clients that you're organized and serious about your business. Pro tip: Automate invoice scheduling if your software supports it. You can set up progress invoices that are sent automatically at agreed-upon milestones. 3. Break Down the Work Clearly Your invoices should include line items that detail labor hours, materials, subcontractors, and any additional charges. Provide quantities, unit prices, and short descriptions. A transparent invoice gives clients confidence that they're paying for precisely what they approved. For example, instead of: Labor: $5,000 Break it down as: Framing labor (40 hours @ $50/hour): $2,000 Drywall installation labor (30 hours @ $50/hour): $1,500 Finish carpentry labor (30 hours @ $50/hour): $1,500 This clarity prevents misunderstandings and reduces disputes. 4. Include Payment Terms Always include clear payment terms on your invoice, such as: Payment Due: Net 15 (15 days after invoice date) Late Fee: 1.5% per month on overdue balances Ensure that your client has agreed to these terms upfront (in your contract or proposal). Stating them clearly on the invoice eliminates confusion and provides you with a legal basis if payments are delayed. 5. Add Professional Branding Your invoice should include your company logo, consistent fonts, and professional formatting. This isn't just about looking fancy—it reminds clients they're working with a legitimate, established business. Include your contact information, contractor license number, and website to make it easy for clients to reach you with questions or share your info with referrals. 6. Follow Up Politely but Firmly Don't let overdue invoices linger for weeks without action. Set reminders to follow up a few days before the due date and again shortly after if payment has not been received. Your follow-up doesn't have to be aggressive—keep it friendly but firm. For example: Subject: Friendly Reminder: Invoice #2024-015 Due Tomorrow Hi [Client Name], Just a quick reminder that Invoice #2024-015 for your [Project Name] is due tomorrow. Please let me know if you have any questions! Thanks so much, [Your Name] Automated reminders in invoicing software can save you time and ensure consistency in your billing process. The Bottom Line: Better Invoicing Builds Your Reputation Ultimately, precise, prompt, and professional invoicing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to market your construction business. Clients who trust your paperwork are far more likely to trust your work and recommend you to others. Plus, you'll benefit from: Improved cash flow Fewer disputes Better client relationships A stronger reputation for professionalism Next Steps: Let's Fix It Together Suppose you're ready to stop losing clients to poor invoicing and start winning more referrals. In that case, it can help you set up a professional, efficient invoicing system tailored to your construction business. As a construction bookkeeping specialist, I know how to streamline your paperwork, allowing you to focus on what you do best: building. Wishing you a safe and joyful Fourth of July! May your holiday be filled with family, friends, and a renewed commitment to growing your business. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation, and let's transform your invoicing into one of your most valuable marketing assets. 

WHERE TO FIND WALKER: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walkermckay/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/walkermckay Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkermckay/ Free Training Couse: http://www.7salesmistakes.com/

Our guest in this episode is Brett Engeman, the founder of Aspirational Leaders Co. After spending two decades navigating the challenges of fast-growing businesses, Brett now dedicates himself to helping leaders unlock strategic communication flow, operating at the exciting intersection of mindset, human interaction, and artificial intelligence. Our conversation was a fascinating deep dive into solving the frustrating communication breakdowns that stifle growth, exploring the powerful and surprising ways Brett uses AI to create more authentic and effective leaders.Key points discussed include:* Great communication starts by diagnosing your own thinking patterns to better connect with others.* Embrace AI as your co-pilot to gain deep insights and free up time for human-centered leadership.* In a world of instant answers, your greatest superpower is deep curiosity and asking brilliant questions.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Brett Engeman, Aspirational Leaders Co.It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Brett Engeman of Aspirational Leaders Co. to the Innovabuzz podcast. Brett is on a mission to solve a problem that almost every entrepreneur has felt: that frustrating sense of entrapment when communication breaks down in a fast-moving business. He works at the fascinating intersection of mindset, communication, and artificial intelligence, and our conversation was a brilliant exploration of how leaders can unlock flow and scale their organizations by, first and foremost, learning to communicate better.What I loved about our chat was how Brett brought it all back to a fundamental truth. We've all been in those work environments where the communication is good, where everyone feels like a genuine contributor to a shared mission. As Brett said, when it's good, "magic happens." People love coming to work. But we've also seen the flip side, when growth and new teams lead to silos and misunderstandings, and that magic quickly fades.Brett has seen the good and the bad over his 20 years in scaling businesses, and he's learned that even leaders with the best intentions can inadvertently create these communication gaps. It's not about blame; it's about awareness. His insights offer a powerful blueprint for rediscovering that collaborative magic, no matter the size of your team.It All Starts with You: A Diagnosis of Your Own Thinking PatternsSo, where does a leader begin? According to Brett, the first step is an inward one. He starts his work with leaders by conducting a "communication diagnosis" to help them understand how they themselves think and process information. This was a lightbulb moment for me. We all have our own default settings; a leader might be a "visual thinker" who sees the big picture, the grand vision.The problem arises when they're communicating that vision to a team member who is, as Brett explained, more "kinesthetic" and detail-oriented. The leader is talking about the "why," while the team member is desperate to understand the "how." Without this awareness, a disconnect is almost guaranteed. It's a simple yet profound realization that miscommunication often starts not with what is said, but with a mismatch in how it's processed.From Vision to Action: How to Finally Get Everyone on the Same PageOnce you have that self-awareness, you can start bridging the gap. Brett shared some wonderfully practical advice, emphasizing that leaders must consciously cater their message to all thinking types. And his golden rule for getting a message to stick is one I won't soon forget: "If you think you're communicating a lot... do it five times more." In a vacuum of information, people will naturally create their own stories, so consistent and clear repetition is your greatest ally.This extends to the very language we use in our values and vision statements. Brett gave a brilliant example of a vague vision to be the "biggest and best." What does that actually mean? Is it profit? Market share? Customer satisfaction? He urges leaders to break these terms down into specific, unified meanings. When you do that, the vision transforms from a nice phrase on a wall into a tangible goal that everyone can see, understand, and work toward together.My Unexpected Co-pilot: Using AI to See Our Communication ClearlyThis is where our conversation took a fascinating turn into the world of AI. Brett shared how, almost by accident, he discovered AI could be a powerful mirror for communication. By feeding transcripts of his research calls into an AI model loaded with his own custom language filters, he could extract incredible insights about a person's communication style—a process that would have manually taken him nearly 20 hours.This isn't just about spotting filler words, though Brett humbly admitted it helped him notice his own overuse of "um." His AI-powered diagnostic can identify a person's core thinking patterns, their motivation strategies (are they moving towards a goal or away from a consequence?), and so much more. It's a stunning example of using technology not to replace human intuition, but to augment and accelerate it.Your Second Brain: Leveraging AI for More Than Just Mundane TasksBrett sees AI's role extending far beyond diagnostics. He uses these fantastic metaphors of AI as a "second brain" you can use for brainstorming or a "bunch of smart friends in the room" you can bounce ideas off of without annoying your entire team. It's a way to refine your thinking before you even bring an idea to the table for a more meaningful discussion.By embracing AI to handle these kinds of tasks, or to automate the mundane work that clutters our days, leaders can free up their most valuable resource: their time and attention. This allows them to step away from the keyboard and do what only they can do: be present with their team, listen with empathy, and cultivate genuine human connection.The Paradox of Progress: Why Authenticity is Your New SuperpowerWe also touched on a compelling paradox of our modern age. As AI-generated content becomes more prevalent, our human capacity to spot in-authenticity is becoming sharper than ever. People can sense when a LinkedIn post or an email is written by a robot, and they are craving authenticity more than ever.This means the rise of AI doesn't diminish the need for great leaders; it makes them more critical. The leaders who will truly connect and inspire are those who are emotionally intelligent, who show up as themselves, and who aren't afraid to be human. Technology can handle the tasks, but it can't replicate true presence and empathy.The One Skill to Cultivate for the Next 50 YearsSo what is the most profound skill leaders should be cultivating for the future? When I asked Brett to look 50 years down the road, his answer was simple but powerful: learn to be curious. In a world where AI can provide answers in an instant, the uniquely human ability to ask great questions and to be genuinely curious about another person's perspective will be invaluable.It's about seeking to understand, not just to be understood. It's about fostering deeper connections and growing together, rather than living in conflict or a state of constant misunderstanding. This is the human skill that technology will never replicate, and it is the foundation of truly effective leadership.In Summary: My conversation with Brett Engeman was a masterclass in modern leadership. It's a call to look inward at our own communication styles, to be relentlessly clear in our vision, and to embrace technology like AI as a co-pilot that allows us to be more human, not less. By focusing on authentic connection and deep curiosity, we can navigate the future and build businesses where the magic truly happens.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Brett's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Use AI as a thinking co-pilot to clear your head and craft a better response before you react.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Creating and using diagnostic filters in AI to reveal a person's unique communication style.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Use AI as an exploratory tool to delve into your passions and help you find your purpose.ActionStart exploring AI as a practical support tool. Record a practice conversation with ChatGPT and ask for feedback on your communication, or give it a large goal and have it break it down into daily steps for you.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Brett on his website, where you can find his information and book a complimentary 30-minute discovery session.Links:* Website - Aspirational Leaders Co* LinkedIn* LinkedIn - Aspirational Leaders Co* FacebookCool Things About Brett* The AI-Powered Self-Communicator: Brett has a genuine commitment to personal growth, using AI not just to diagnose clients' communication styles but also to analyze and improve his own filler words, like his former habit of saying "you know" often.* The Humanity-First AI Advocate: Despite his expertise in cutting-edge AI applications, Brett stands out by emphasizing that the more we advance with AI, the more valuable and sought-after genuine human connection becomes.* The Mission-Driven Niche Master: Brett's current laser focus on unlocking scalability through communication stems from a powerful, world-changing belief: that if everyone communicated better, the world would have far fewer problems.Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

How comfortable are you recommending high end products to your patients? Whether its contact lenses, boutique frames, or ophthalmic lenses, recommending the best-in-class to patients has long been a challenge for many ECPs. But why? And, more importantly, how can we overcome this hurdle?In this episode, I chat with Dr. Pavan Avinashi who is the owner of Hollyburn Eye Clinic in North Vancouver. Over the last 22 years, Dr. Avinashi has built Hollyburn into the type of clinic many ODs aspire to run: a 6-lane, modern practice with 7 ODs, a dedicated aesthetics spa, and a reputation for offering the best options in eyewear.So, how did Dr. Avinashi build his practice to this level? Today, he shares his top three recommendations for business owners who aspire to offer the best to their patients.Big thanks to Hoya Vision Care Canada for their support of this episode.Learn more about Hoya and their premium lens offering:https://www.hoyavision.com/en-ca/vision-products/Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review & share! http://www.aboutmyeyes.com/podcast/

The Surgical Management of BPH (2025) CME Available: https://auau.auanet.org/node/43193 Acknowledgements: This educational series is supported by an independent educational grant from Olympus Corporation of the Americas. After participating in this CME activity, participants will be able to: 1. Utilize the AUA Clinical Guideline on the Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Attributed to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in practice. 2. Determine the appropriate role and clinical expectation for current technologies, including pivotal studies, based on evidence. 3. Interpret the current clinical results and compare the patient experiences of these treatments in relation to more established and even abandoned treatments for patient groups with similar characteristics. 4. Differentiate between each of the new technologies for treating BPH/LUTS based on both their mode-of-action and the quality of their supporting evidence.

Austin Lyons says AMD Inc. (AMD) is growing its slice of the chipmaker pie, providing an alternative to Nvidia (NVDA) which he calls a "premium offering." He says AMD is joining many companies in the inference chase, expanding offerings for smaller consumers. Austin adds that AMD is taking technical swings with some of its memory offerings to differentiate itself from Nvidia and that overall the "future's looking bright."======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – / schwabnetwork Follow us on Facebook – / schwabnetwork Follow us on LinkedIn - / schwab-network About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

You won't want to wait to hear the choices Adam Farr made in his career! Change your life with this thought-provoking conversation with business leader & philosopher, Adam Farr. Adam sits as Chair of Empanada.co and other companies, Utah's best and fastest growing empanada company. Not only does he know business, but he knows a thing or two about what stoicism really is and how to lead a better life!Use Adam's philosophy to become a better leader today..."Try anything and everything.""Symbiotic relationships fuel growth.""Become comfortable in ambiguity."Catch up with Adam's meditations and practices:https://m.youtube.com/@Virtue_and_Victoryhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-farr-3012874https://empanada.co/https://aretemotion.com/See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.comLinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCookOther Social Media: @MarkSpencerCookQuestions Explored in this Discussion:• How can one get out of bed in the morning?• When can one leave success behind?• How does one organize priorities?• How should one market a company?• Why do relationships matter?Lessons Learned:• Live to help others.• Be a warrior in the garden.• Never forget to reflect.• Showing up is half the battle.• What's good for the bee is good for the hive.• Differentiate what is and is not in your control.• The power of stoicism in the workplace.0:00 Introduction1:35 Early Choices 7:37 Stoicism12:30 Memento Mori19:40 Walking Away32:16 Starting a Start-Up44:05 Marcus Aurelius54:12 Marketing1:07:10 Power in Numbers1:09:39 Comfort in Ambiguity1:12:40 ConclusionKeywords:Leadership, relationship, customers, marketing, stoicism, Aurelius, excellence, arete, empanada, fatherhood, control, toughness, symbiosis

Come to a Dehoarding Accountability Zoom Session: http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk/ticket Subscribe to the podcast: https://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk/subscribe Podcast show notes, links and transcript: http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk/  Today I'm talking about why letting yourself make mistakes - like running out of everyday items or doing things imperfectly - can actually help if you're struggling with hoarding. From challenging perfectionism to rethinking the fear of scarcity, I'll share how embracing messiness can move us forward. Plus, I'll offer practical ideas for easing those fears and making progress, one small, imperfect step at a time. Announcement of new dates for Dehoarding Accountability Zoom Sessions. Aimed at connecting people who hoard for conversation and simultaneous decluttering. Details on how to get tickets and availability through several upcoming months. The Value of Making Mistakes Challenging the idea of perfection and fear of making mistakes. Proposing the benefits of allowing oneself to: Make more mistakes. Run out of things occasionally. Do things imperfectly or “half-arsed.” Identifying how fear of mistakes and perfectionism can keep people stuck in hoarding behaviours. Perfectionism and Fear of Scarcity Perfectionism: Fear of making the “wrong” decision leads to inaction or keeping everything. Uncertainty about the future and anxiety about discarding items. All-or-nothing thinking: If it can't be done perfectly, it's not worth starting. Personal reflection on the struggle with perfectionist tendencies. Fear of Scarcity: “Keep it just in case” mentality. Stemming from past experiences of poverty or deprivation. How personal history and upbringing foster scarcity-based behaviours. Recognition that such fears can be irrational and still hold significant power. How this fear leads to over-acquisition and reluctance to discard. Addressing Perfectionism and Scarcity (Mindset Shifts) Techniques to gently challenge perfectionism and scarcity fears. Reframing mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures. Allowing for experimentation as a method of progress. Embracing Mistakes as a Path Forward Learning from mistakes as a source of growth and behaviour change. Normalising occasional regrets over discarding or not acquiring something. Comparing the cost of keeping everything versus the occasional “mistake.” Observing emotional responses to mistakes as a way to learn and build decision-making confidence. Encouragement to start with low-risk decisions and build up “dehoarding muscle” gradually. Allowing Things to be Done Imperfectly Encouragement to “do things badly” rather than waiting for perfect execution. “Done is better than perfect” as a motivating principle. The danger of all-or-nothing thinking leading to perpetual inaction. Practical examples of doing small tasks imperfectly: Tackling a small part of a larger problem (e.g., half a shelf). Donating a partial bag of items. Taking any step forward, even imperfect ones, counts as progress. Allowing Yourself to Run Out of Things Creative and resourceful solutions arise when supplies run low. Examples from daily life (cooking, art journalling) where scarcity breeds creativity. Differentiates between essential items and those where running out is an acceptable risk. Suggestions for consciously assessing what's truly necessary to keep in stock. Experimental Mindset: Treating Dehoarding as Data Collection Each decision - successful or not - provides valuable data for future choices. Building confidence and capability for bigger, more challenging decluttering decisions over time. Summary and Reinforcement of Key Points Allow for imperfection, mistakes, and occasional scarcity. Importance of starting with manageable steps and celebrating imperfect progress. “Done is better than perfect”—taking action, however small, is crucial. Buy your copy of Everything You Need to Know About Hoarding by Dr Lynne Drummond at cambridge.org/EverythingHoarding, and get 20% off with the discount code HOARDING20. #ad Links Come to a Dehoarding Accountability Zoom session: Accountability Booking Form Website: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding Become a Dehoarding Darling Submit a topic for the podcast to cover Questions to ask when dehoarding: https://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk/podquestions Instagram: @thathoarderpodcast Twitter: @ThatHoarder Mastodon: @ThatHoarder@mastodon.online TikTok: @thathoarderpodcast Facebook: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding with That Hoarder Pinterest: That Hoarder YouTube: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding with That Hoarder Reddit: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding with That Hoarder subreddit Help out: Support this project Sponsor the podcast Subscribe to the podcast Subscribe to the podcast here

Our guest in this episode is Marnie Stockman, co-creator of the Lead It like Lasso philosophy. Following her passion for helping people become their best selves, Marnie has embarked on a new adventure to empower job seekers in the age of AI. Her mission, sparked by conversations with her own children, is to help people find truly meaningful work through authentic self-discovery.Marnie shares how we can all become the "CEO of You, Incorporated," using AI as a tool for deep introspection, not just for sterile automation. Key points discussed include:* Character is your advantage: In an automated world, your unique human character is your ultimate competitive edge.* Be the CEO of You: Run your life and career like a business to intentionally guide your own growth.* Use AI for authenticity: Leverage AI to understand your real story and NOT to game the system.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Marnie Stockman, Lead It Like LassoIt was an absolute delight to welcome Marnie Stockman of Lead It like Lasso back to the Innovabuzz podcast. Long-time listeners might remember Marnie from episode 653, where she and her business partner Nick taught us how to lead with heart, inspired by the one and only Ted Lasso. So much of that conversation was about core values and curiosity, and now she's returned with a fascinating new adventure that feels like the perfect next chapter: empowering job seekers in the age of AI.This new direction isn't a pivot away from her Lasso-inspired philosophy; it's a powerful evolution of it. Marnie is diving headfirst into the world of artificial intelligence, not as a cold, robotic replacement for human ingenuity, but as a tool to help us become, as she so eloquently puts it, "the best version of ourselves." It's a mission to bring more character, not less, into our professional lives, especially when technology is changing everything.The Spark of Inspiration: The Character Revolution in a Digital WorldMarnie's new focus was sparked by a simple but profound observation she calls the "character revolution." In a world increasingly filled with automation and digital transformation, the single greatest way to stand out is by being authentically, unapologetically human. It's our character, our values, and our unique stories that will become our most valuable assets. The ones who thrive will be the ones who show up as real people.This idea wasn't just a theory; it was validated in the most personal way possible. Marnie shared a wonderful story about a single week where her 23-year-old daughter, her 25-year-old son, and her daughter's 23-year-old boyfriend all decided they needed more impactful work. From a mechanic wanting to help people more directly to a marketer discovering a passion for teaching, their journeys proved that understanding one's core drivers is the first step toward a fulfilling career.Welcome to You, Incorporated: Becoming the CEO of Your Own LifeThis is where Marnie's new venture gets truly brilliant. She and Nick are developing an app and writing a new business fable, The Business of You, based on a powerful central metaphor: you are the CEO of "You, Incorporated." I just love this concept. It reframes personal development from a passive activity into an act of empowered, strategic leadership over your own life and career.When you think of yourself as a CEO, you realize you're in charge of all your own departments: your finances, your marketing (how you present yourself to the world), and your HR (your personal growth and well-being). The app they're building is designed to be your trusted advisor in this enterprise, using AI to help you have the critical conversations needed to run your personal corporation with intention and clarity.AI as Your Personal Mirror: Uncovering Your Authentic StoryThis is where the magic really happens. We chatted about how AI's greatest strength isn't just generating content, but acting as a conversational partner to help you uncover your own ideas. Marnie's work is a perfect example of this. Her app uses AI to help you dig deep into your core values and the stories that define you, much like a patient coach. It helps you connect the dots of your own life.Marnie shared the powerful story of an introverted young man she mentored who was told he came across as "chaotic" in interviews. By working through his core values and the stories that demonstrated them, from soccer as a kid to his work as a lifeguard, he was able to build a coherent narrative. The very next day, he walked into an interview, confidently told his story, and landed the job. He didn't change who he was; he just finally understood how to articulate it.The Human Checkpoint: Navigating AI with Wisdom and AuthenticityOf course, with any powerful new tool, there are risks. Marnie rightly points out that AI can be "glitchy" and has a hilarious tendency to produce "cringey" and repetitive content if you're not carefully guiding it. I see it all the time. The human in the loop is not just recommended; it's essential for ensuring the output has personality and soul.More importantly, she offered a critical warning against using AI to simply "hack the system." It's tempting to use these tools to generate a resume or cover letter that perfectly matches a job description, but if it's inauthentic, you risk finding yourself "unhappily employed." It's a fast track to that feeling of misalignment where you dread going to work, a situation I know all too well from my own past and one that Marnie experienced herself.The Ted Lasso Test: How Would Ted Navigate the World of AI?I couldn't resist asking the big question: what would Ted Lasso do in the age of AI? Marnie's answer was, unsurprisingly, spot-on. He would focus on understanding yourself first. He'd encourage his team to use any tool at their disposal not to find shortcuts, but to cultivate empathy and become more human.This led to one of my favorite parts of our chat: Marnie's "shelf help" idea. She took a picture of her bookshelf, fed it to an AI, and asked for a personality assessment, blind spots, and book recommendations. It's a wonderfully creative and fun way to use technology for genuine self-discovery, and it feels like something Ted would absolutely get behind.ConclusionMarnie's work is a vital reminder that in our rush to adopt new technologies, we can't afford to lose sight of what makes us human. The goal isn't to let AI do the work for us, but to use it as a mirror to better understand ourselves, our stories, and our values. It's about leveraging technology to deepen our human connection, not replace it.Marnie provides a masterclass in how to approach AI with wisdom, curiosity, and a deeply human-centered focus. Her message is clear: use these powerful new tools not to chase trends, but to uncover your authentic story and core values. In a world of automation, your humanity isn't a liability; it's your ultimate competitive advantage.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Marnie's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Use AI with a creative prompt to analyze your bookshelf, providing unique data to help you understand your own blind spots.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Create consistent content in different styles, which allows you to connect authentically with multiple, diverse audiences.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Focus on using AI first and foremost as a personal tool to deeply understand yourself and your own story.ActionTake a picture of your bookshelf, find the prompt Marnie mentioned in the show notes, and use it to analyze your reading habits. Share what you discover online using the hashtag #ShelfHelpChallenge so Marnie can see it.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Marnie by visiting her website at leaditlikelasso.com, which links to all of her projects. You can also connect with her directly on LinkedIn or enjoy her satirical take on career advice at workinprogress.ai.Links:* Website - Lead it Like Lasso* LinkedIn - Marnie Stockman* YouTube - Lead It Like Lasso* Facebook* Twitter - @leaditlikelasso* Instagram - @leaditlikelasso* LinkedIn - Lead it Like Lasso* TikTok - @leaditlikelassoBooks* Lead It Like Lasso, Marnie Stockman and Nick ConiglioCool Things About Marnie Stockman* Pop Culture Alchemist: Marnie doesn't just reference Ted Lasso - she's built an entire leadership philosophy and business around the show's heart, humor, and humanity. Who else can say their business playbook is inspired by a fictional football coach with a mustache and a biscuit obsession?* From Math Teacher to AI Innovator: It's not every day you meet someone who's journeyed from the world of high school math to the cutting edge of AI-powered job seeking. That's a plot twist worthy of its own Ted Lasso episode!* Champion of the Underdog: Marnie's focus on helping job seekers stand out in an automated world speaks volumes about her passion for empowering the underdog. She's not just teaching leadership; she's leveling the playing field.Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.Here's the prompt Marnie gave us for AI to analyze your bookshop:I'm participating in the #ShelfHelpChallenge. Based on this photo of my bookshelf (or list), please give me: 1. A short personality summary 2. My current intellectual obsession 3. A blind spot I might be missing 4. A book I didn't know I needed 5. A fake book title I would write one day Sign it: “Your Bookshelf (With Love)”

This episode dives into how Dean Marchi and his family started from the bottom and listened to the market to deliver what tenants really want. This is how he differentiated his apartments from other multifamily real estate performing incredibly even against the top developers. Dean shares actionable lessons and specific strategies from decades of hands-on experience, showing how a disciplined, value-add approach and relentless attention to detail lead to outsized returns and long-term success in raising capital. Key Takeaways: Start with the end user—know what renters or buyers want Value-add works: target underperforming assets and improve them Differentiate by delivering features others overlook Consistent small improvements compound over time Hands-on involvement builds deep understanding and trust Adopt a resilient, “immigrant mentality” for every deal Apply lessons from other industries to stand out in real estate    

Our guest in this episode is the returning Dr. Islam Gouda, a global brand ambassador and marketing mentor from Egypt. Islam previously appeared on Episode 660, where we had a fantastic chat about building authentic relationships through ethical marketing, aligning brand values with customer ethos, and the critical role of human connection.This time, Islam is back to explore how we can uphold those same principles in the age of AI. He explains how we can embrace AI's power without sacrificing the authenticity and intuition that truly connect with customers. Islam offers a brilliant framework for treating AI as an assistant, not a replacement, ensuring our marketing remains valuable and real.Key points discussed include:* AI is your assistant, not your expert; use it to enhance your unique skills, not replace them.* Human creativity is a rare "nature-bred pearl," far more valuable than AI's generic "artificial pearl" output.* Use AI for research and brainstorming, but always maintain human oversight and a healthy dose of distrust.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Dr Islam GoudaIt was a genuine pleasure to welcome Dr. Islam Gouda back to the Innovabuzz podcast. So much of our world has shifted since his last appearance, especially with the explosion of Artificial Intelligence into our daily marketing lives. As a marketing mentor and AI enthusiast himself, Islam offered a powerful and refreshingly grounded perspective on how we, as business owners and marketers, can navigate this new frontier without losing the one thing that truly sets us apart: our human connection.The conversation kicked off with a critical warning. Islam pointed out that AI, for all its power, carries a significant risk: it can make us all look and sound the same. In its quest for perfection, AI can strip away the unique personality and the authentic voice that defines a brand. If we are not careful, we risk dissolving into a sea of "impeccable" but ultimately generic content, losing the very essence of what makes customers connect with us on a human level.Championing the "Marketing Gut"So, how do we fight this trend towards standardization? Islam argues it all comes down to valuing our own foundational expertise, what he wonderfully calls the "marketing gut". He shared a brilliant analogy, comparing AI's arrival in marketing to the introduction of Excel for accountants. Back then, accountants were afraid of becoming obsolete, but Excel didn't replace them; it empowered them. It became a tool that allowed them to be better at their craft.That is precisely how we should view AI. It is not a replacement for our knowledge, our understanding of our customers, or our strategic intuition. If you don't have that solid marketing foundation, you are simply feeding a machine and hoping for the best. True magic happens when human expertise guides the tool, not the other way around.The Parable of the Two PearlsTo drive this point home, Islam shared a powerful metaphor that has really stuck with me. He compared AI-generated content to an "artificial pearl". It might look perfect and be easy to produce in mass quantities, but its value is inherently limited. Human-generated output, on the other hand, is like a "nature-bred pearl". It is rare, unique, and sometimes imperfect, but its intrinsic value is exponentially higher.This parable is a profound reminder for all of us in the marketing space. Are we striving to produce cheap, artificial pearls that are easily replicated, or are we cultivating the unique, valuable, nature-bred pearls of human creativity and strategy? The answer to that question will define the future of our brands.Wielding the Tool Wisely: AI as Your Research AssistantThis does not mean we should shun AI altogether. In fact, when used correctly, it is an incredibly powerful assistant. Islam and I discussed how AI can be a game-changer for the research phase of any project. It can synthesize competitor data, analyze customer sentiment, and explore messaging angles in minutes, a process that used to take days.By treating AI as a brainstorming partner or a research engine, we can supercharge our strategic work. It can give us five different ways to approach a problem or pull together a comprehensive report, freeing up our time and mental energy to focus on the high-level thinking that only a human can do.Keeping the Human in ControlThe key, however, is to always keep the human in control and to maintain a healthy level of distrust. I shared my own recent experience of receiving a cold, dismissive, and clearly AI-written response from a company I had been loyal to for years. It was a perfect example of what happens when the human oversight is removed.Islam stressed that you always need a human eye to supervise the machine, someone who knows the company, understands the customer, and can say, "That's not okay." We cannot afford to put a machine, which is a stranger to our business, in charge of our precious customer relationships. You must have a human making that final call.Conclusion: Don't Fear It, Don't Trust It BlindlySo what is the final takeaway from my fascinating conversation with Dr. Islam Gouda? It is a beautifully balanced piece of advice. Do not fear AI, but also, do not trust it blindly. See it for what it is: a powerful enablement tool.Use AI to augment your skills and to handle the heavy lifting of data analysis and first drafts. Let it make you better, faster, and more informed. But never, ever let it replace your expertise, your intuition, or the genuine human connection that forms the very bedrock of great marketing.In Summary: Dr. Islam Gouda delivers a masterclass in navigating the AI revolution with wisdom and foresight. He reminds us that while AI is a powerful assistant, our true value lies in our "marketing gut" and human creativity. The goal is not to be replaced by the machine, but to become the skilled human who directs it, always prioritizing authentic connection over artificial perfection.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Islam's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – The “AI burger” chain in Dubai that uses AI to create recipes, connecting with customers through the shared novelty and intrigue of the concept.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Using AI tools for research and social listening, and brainstorming with it like an assistant to leverage and enhance his own expertise.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Understand how AI truly works so you can use it as an efficient tool to assist you, without placing too much trust in it.ActionApproach AI without fear or blind trust. Consciously use it as an "enablement tool". Start this week, treating it as an assistant with the specific goal of making you better at your craft, not replacing your invaluable human expertise.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Islam on LinkedIn by searching for his profile, “The Marketing Master Islam Gouda,” or by looking for his marketing services online. You can also find him on social media.Links:* Website - Islam Gouda* LinkedIn* Facebook* Twitter - @IslamGouda1* Instagram - @samgouda1* Youtube - @DrIslamGoudaBooks* SMEs and Startups Marketing Guide Through COVID-19, Dr Islam GoudaCool Things About Islam* The "Global Nomad" Vibe: Islam has lived and worked in diverse locations, including Egypt, Dubai, the UK, and the U.S., giving him a truly global perspective. This isn't just about business; it's about a life lived across cultures, which undoubtedly shapes his worldview and marketing philosophy.* The "Marketing Minute Man": Islam's project, which condenses marketing insights into digestible one-minute snippets, is a creative and practical resource for marketers. It reflects his ability to simplify complex concepts and make them accessible to a wide audience.* The "Mentor with a Mission": As a mentor and Global Brand Ambassador, Islam is committed to helping others grow. His focus on leadership and team building shows his dedication to empowering others, which is both inspiring and admirable.* The "Marketing is Life" Philosophy: Islam's belief that marketing is not just a profession but a way of life is a unique and refreshing perspective. It highlights his passion and the depth of his connection to his work, making him stand out from other marketing professionals.Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe