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Hosted by John T Meyer
Hosted by John T Meyer
2 episodes with John T Meyer
2 episodes with John T Meyer
Are you building a business or just creating another demanding job? In this episode of Sales Is Not a Dirty Word, I sit down with John T. Meyer, entrepreneur and founder of No More Solo, to break down what it really takes to grow a service-based business—without losing your freedom. John has built and exited multiple seven-figure businesses, and now he coaches solopreneurs on how to scale smarter, not harder. We talk about why hustling alone is a trap, how to break free from the revenue roller coaster, and why having an empire isn't the only path to success. In this episode, you'll learn: Why building an empire isn't the only option: You don't need a massive team to create a successful, sustainable business. How to escape the revenue roller coaster: The key is consistent marketing and repeatable sales processes. Why hiring help doesn't mean losing control: The right team can free up your time while keeping your vision intact. How to create a profitable, stress-free business model: Align your pricing and services to fit your ideal work-life balance. The power of predictable sales strategies: Stop custom-quoting every project and start building a system that scales.
Want to run meetings like a pro?
Not all heroes wear capes—some run 437 miles for mental health awareness!Join me, John T. Meyer, host of the Leadmore podcast, as I share my journey across South Dakota in the 437 Project to support mental health and suicide prevention.Right before I start this journey running across the state, I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings on the call, as well as the importance of mental health and its connection to our physical health.Helpline Center Website ➡️ https://www.helplinecenter.org/437 Project Website ➡️ https://the437project.org/Make a donation ➡️ https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/John24#437Project #mentalhealthawareness #suicideprevention #southdakota #leadership
I'm committed to helping creative solopreneurs break through the ceiling and build great companies instead of busy jobs.In this episode, I share three critical exercises to help solopreneurs rethink and rebuild their businesses. If you're a designer, photographer, coach, or creative consultant, this episode is for you. Three tactics you need to know:1. Figure out your Buy Back Rate2. Utilize the Three-Legged Stool for steady growth3. Track your progress with the Solopreneur ScorecardWatch the full video for detailed strategies and get access to a free scorecard template. Don't go solo, build a successful company instead!Get the scorecard template: https://exceptional-originator-1887.ck.page/43efc7c308#creativeentrepreneurs #businesstips #businesscoachShow notes:00:00:00 - Introduction to Creative Solopreneurship: Overview of the episode and introduction to creative solopreneurs.00:02:00 - Defining the Creative Solopreneur: Explanation of who creative solopreneurs are and common challenges they face.00:04:00 - The Solopreneur Trap: Feast or Famine Cycle: Discussion on the feast or famine cycle and its impact on solopreneurs.00:06:00 - Introducing the No More Solo Program: Introduction to the No More Solo program and its purpose.00:08:00 - Exercise 1: Calculating Your Buyback Rate.00:13:00 - Exercise 2: Conducting an Energy Audit.00:16:00 - Exercise 3: Building Your Three-Legged Stool.00:21:00 - Exercise 4: Implementing the Solopreneur Scorecard.00:28:00 - Preparing for Growth: Marketing, Sales, and Delivery Strategies for managing growth and ensuring efficient delivery of services.00:34:00 - Final Thoughts and Program Launch
“I just need to clone myself.”Have you ever had that thought while running your solo business? Us too.What if we told you you could actually have more time to focus on what you love or actually have to do while a skilled professional handles the nitty-gritty details? Oh, and what if we told you it doesn't have to break the bank?Well, we invited John Meyer on our show to share insider tips, proven strategies, and real-life success stories of life with a virtual assistant that will actually have you rethink how you're running your business.We discuss things like:How solopreneurs can achieve a four-day workweekEffective strategies for finding and vetting virtual assistantsHow a solopreneur should train their virtual assistantHow solopreneurs can ensure their virtual assistant understands their business and goalsCommon challenges solopreneurs face when working with virtual assistants, and how they can overcome themPlus so much more. So be sure to tune in!To access John's VA course for just $29 (90% off) visit howtova.com and use promo code "solo."Being a solopreneur is awesome but it's not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr's SoloSuite Intro gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business. So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, be sure to check out SoloSuite Intro!Access SoloSuite Intro
In this episode, I had an enlightening conversation with John T. Meyer about the power of aiming for 10x growth instead of settling for 2x. John shares valuable insights on how this mindset shift can make a significant impact on both your professional and personal life, allowing you to prioritize the things and people you love. We explore why thinking bigger can actually make achieving your goals easier and more fulfilling. Tune in to discover how you can apply this mindset shift in your own life and start spending more time on the things and people that matter! Helpful Links: 10x is Easier than 2x Book Fix This Next Book Preloaded Year Handout This video will walk you through how to use the template Stay in the Know: Get direct links to new episodes, free resources and more. Join our newsletter. Connect with Me:Got a burning question about home or work life? Drop it along with your review and rating on Apple Podcasts, and I'll personally answer it in an upcoming episode! Join the Community:Let's be Facebook buddies! That's where we hang out the most, go live to chat about your pressing questions, and even offer some free coaching. Connect with me here.Utilize Your 5 Systems:Every woman operates in 5 systems: Me, Food, Family, Home, and Work. Discover how to bring joy and clarity to all 5 systems here. Explore More:EncouragerPodcast.com Grab my book and access FREE resources.EncouragerAcademy.com Dive into my digital courses covering the 5 systems.Clarity Blueprint Membership Join our supportive community and transform your life.Shop Our Brands & Favorites:Support the podcast by shopping our brands: Rebekah Scott Designs & 1948 LeatherExplore our favorite wares for your 5 systems in our Amazon shopSpread the Joy:Your listens and shares mean the world to me! Share with another mama hoping to navigate both home and work life with JOY!Stay Updated:Follow the podcast for automatic updates on new episodes! Find us on all major platforms: Apple, Stitcher, Google Play, YouTube, Spotify, and more.Connect Outside the Podcast:Follow me on Facebook and YouTube for additional content and updatesYour support is invaluable, and I'm grateful for every share and listen. Together, let's bring joy and clarity to every aspect of our lives! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Welcome back to the Leadmore Podcast! After an extended hiatus, John is thrilled to announce the podcast is back! The new Leadmore is focused on equipping you with actionable leadership insights. The world needs more leaders, and in each episode John will extract knowledge from amazing guests and deliver it in short, impactful episodes. Exciting news—the Leadmore Podcast is now in video format too! Subscribe on your favorite platforms, to listen and watch. The first new episode will drop this Thursday!
John T. Meyer built more than just a business to work for. John and the other co-founders of Lemonly built a teamwork culture that brought success to table. John T. Meyer is a seasoned leader who is passionate about inspiring others to be their best selves. With more than 15 years of experience in leadership roles, John has learned on the job by taking risks, making mistakes, and challenging himself and his teams to improve every day. Currently, John is the Executive Director of Leadership South Dakota, where he is dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders in South Dakota. In addition to his work with Leadership SD, John is also the founder of January, a coaching company where he helps founders grow and scale their businesses. John is perhaps best known for co-founding Lemonly in 2011, a design firm that has worked with some of the world's most recognizable brands, including Netflix, Marriott, Major League Baseball, and Google. As CEO of Lemonly, John fostered a strong company culture that gained regional and national attention, making it one of the best places to work in the Midwest. When he's not working, John enjoys spending time with his wife Paige Pearson Meyer and being a proud girl dad to Margot and Liv. He's also an avid runner, traveler, and always on the lookout for the next big idea. Highlights from Episode: 3 outgoing podcasters actually start the episode around 3:30 Building Lemonly from a basement The transition from Business Owner to Entrepreneur The consequences of selling your business Finding or recreating identity Transition to Leadership South Dakota "Be someone's cheerleader." How to create culture NEW SEGMENT, Guest asks a question This episode is sponsored by: Origin Health (https://www.originhealthsf.com/) Meadowland Financial (https://meadowlandfinancialgroup.com/) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mandate/message
John T. Meyer will take the reins as leader of Leadership South Dakota in April. He joins In the Moment with Rick Melmer, founder and former director of the program.
On this special episode, host John T. Meyer shares the six themes he has drawn over the course of 100 episodes as well as what he loves most about building a podcast. John gets nostalgic by bringing back clips from some of his favorite episodes and is grateful for all of those who have listened to any (or all) of the 100 episodes. John's six leadership themes from 100 episodes are:Belief - Hear why Coach John Stiegelmeier says it's essential to success (Ep 13). Cheerlead - Listen to Liz Giorgi explain the real role of any CEO (Ep 20).Growth - Nate Poeppel teaches us that life is the curriculum to become a better person.Community - Whatever your community is, Paige Pearson Meyer reminds us to leave it better than we found it (Ep 73).Foundation - It is in our times of trial where we learn what we stand for and no one embodies this more than Tim Schut (Ep 72).Gratitude - Let the words of Dr. David O'Hara wash over you as he teaches us how to practice gratitude every day in big ways or small (Ep 87).
Transition is part of everyone's life. Sometimes a transition is exciting, but oftentimes it can be stressful and confusing. The key is to understand how to navigate it. In this episode of the Leadmore Podcast, host John T. Meyer reflects on his season of transition. You might recall that he sold his company earlier in the year and now he's trying to figure out what's next. John has spent the summer reflecting, reading books and talking to friends, including past Leadmore guests about change and transition. In this episode, he also taps into the Leadmore Podcast community to ask - how does one tackle transition? Resources:July 2021 Leadmore Episode - What is John going to do next?
Leadmore Podcast host John T. Meyer often talks about leaders being called or pushed to step into new roles or start new things. In June 2021, Gabe Nelson experienced this with starting the first women's elite soccer team in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.In episode 97, Gabe Nelson tells the story of starting Sioux Falls City FC, what they learned in their first year, and how they plan to move forward with impact on the community.A financial entrepreneur, father, author, and community contributor, Gabe saw an opportunity to empower women through soccer, and he stepped up to the challenge of making it happen. Creating Sioux Falls City FC (3:30)The First Year (13:44)Lessons so Far (17:29)Looking Ahead (22:25)Check out Sioux Falls City FC HereFollow Sioux Falls City FC on Twitter Follow Sioux Falls City FC on InstagramCheck out Gabe's Financial Services Business Here
Leadmore host John T. Meyer has two core ideas with the Leadmore Podcast. First, the world needs more leaders. Second, leadership doesn't have to look the way it always has. Leadership comes in many forms. In this divisive and politically charged time, we need the right leaders to step up.In episode 96, John shares about the kind of leadership he believes we need during this time. He shares a framework for leadership including tapping into potential, using empathy, finding alignment, and the importance of mentorship. What leadership role are you being tapped to step into? Do you need to be tapping someone around you to show them their potential? Allow this episode to remind you how you can step up into leadership and help those around you step up as well.Tapping Leaders (4:48) Empathetic Leadership (7:15)Alignment (10:05)Mentorship (14:30)Connect with John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
Leadmore host John T. Meyer recently sold his design agency, Lemonly, and started a new company, No Fun Team. John shares what he's up to with No Fun Team and the familiar challenges he's experiencing of building a new company.John shares vulnerably about imposter syndrome and talks through advice that's helped him navigate through it. He explains how visualizing success, sharing your failures, choosing confidence, celebrating your wins, and playing the long game all help along the way. Tune into episode 91 to get caught up with John and hear about his new adventures.Starting No Fun Team (1:24)Challenges of Building a New Company (8:12)Experiencing Imposter Syndrome (11:02)Dealing with Imposter Syndrome (13:50)Subscribe to the No Fun Team NewsletterListen to John's audio journal for building No Fun Team, No Fun TalkLearn about Web3 from John on Leadmore hereConnect with John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
All people are creative, and our next guest believes the world calls us to express it. As the first visual artist on the Leadmore Podcast, Molly Noem Fulton helps us explore the expanse of our creativity and understand how creative work tends to the places we live–like South Dakota.Inspired by the vastness of the plains and the goodness of its people, Molly is learning to express her creativity in a new medium. In episode 88, we learn about her venture with Jodi Shaw as Molly and John T. Meyer discuss creativity and how we can overcome doubt, find courage, and express our ideas when we're called to it.Meet Molly (1:29)Overcoming Creative Doubt (8:37)Exploring Your Creativity (19:05)Finding a Place Well Tended (29:05)Listen to Place Well Tended, Molly and Jodi's podcast about creativity in plains country.-----Connect with John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore CommunitySubscribe to John's newsletter
Caught on the precipice of doom scrolling, host John T. Meyer calls an emergency podcast with philosophy professor Dave O'Hara to discuss the practice of Stoicism in this week's episode. Easily one of the most accessible philosophies, Stoicism is a working philosophy we can apply to our daily life, especially when we're living through the chaotic events and widespread turmoil we see in our feeds today.In episode 87, John and Dave talk about what Stoicism is, what it isn't, and how we can apply it to help ourselves–and the world–flourish. The Working Philosophy (1:51)Applying Stoicism (16:37)A Student Walks In (25:49)What Can We Do? (29:04)
Before David Rosenthal became a full-time podcaster, he was a full-time venture capitalist. Entering Wall Street at the age of 24, David was one of the last associates hired at Madrona Venture Group before the Great Recession in 2008. Today he's the co-host of the Acquired podcast, which tells the story of great companies. It's also the #1 Tech podcast on Apple, with the likes of Taylor Swift, Warren Buffet, and Elon Musk on its guest roster. In episode 86, David and John T. Meyer dive into entrepreneurship, storytelling, and leadership while unpacking his journey from Wall Street to the podcast studio. Learn how Acquired evolved to tell the story of household names and how you can find your unfair advantage.
Running has played several roles in Benson Langat's journey to this moment. What started as a hidden hobby in Kenya became his ticket to higher education in the United States and quickly evolved into a profession. Today, it's a passion he shares with a growing network of followers who are inspired by his story. In episode 85, Benson joins host John T. Meyer to share the lessons he's learned from running, how it supports him in his work as a clinical therapist, and how he supports the country's top runners as a coach. Tune in to hear how this transformative sport can help fuel your life and how it has saved others.Meet Benson (1:18)Walking with Runners Near and Far (12:56)Chasing Personal Growth (24:51)Rapid Fire with Benson (33:00)-----Connect with John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore CommunitySubscribe to John's newsletter
True to Leadmore's mission, John T. Meyer brings another show producer out from behind the scenes in this week's episode. Sharing her story for the first time on the Leadmore Podcast, Ngoc Thach brings insights from her unconventional career path while John connects the dots in her leadership journey. In episode 84, John and Ngoc discuss her first year in business, what inspired it, and the road signs that directed her to start it in Sioux Falls. Tune in to learn why Ngoc left an executive communications role and how her business bolsters the missions of small businesses and nonprofits by leveraging the expertise of freelancers. Meet Ngoc (1:26)Building a Business as an Unlikely Entrepreneur (10:05)Making Mom Proud (22:30)Leading from Within (26:40)Rapid Fire with Ngoc (37:14)-----Connect with John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore CommunitySubscribe to John's newsletter
We're starting 2022 on the right foot with Chris Ronzio, founder and CEO of Trainual. Energized by progress and driven by process, Chris discovered the need for Trainual long before it became a SaaS company. While software was key to scaling his own service, Chris has helped countless companies and contractors organize their systems and processes without it—and he's going to help you, too.In this toolbelt episode, Chris sits down with host John T. Meyer at Trainual HQ to discuss the concept of frameworks and the importance of playbooks. Listen in to learn how to scale systems with playbooks, when to document a process, and where else playbooks can help you improve in life.Meet Chris (1:36)Scaling through Software (10:04)Building the Playbook for your Business (13:20)The Personal Playbooks (27:20)Rapid Fire with Chris (31:49)Want to dive deeper? Get The Business Playbook by Chris!-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
It's the end of the year, and Leadmore host John T. Meyer is deep in reflection mode. Greeting us from Phoenix, Arizona, John looks back on the past year of Leadmore, brings listeners to the present, and gives us an exciting look at the future of the show.Tune into episode 82 to hear John reflect on Leadmore's mission, the guests who help him accomplish it, and how the show will change in the coming year. You'll also learn about the year's top episodes and stats, why John needs more friends in Maine, and his action plan for Antarctica.Past (1:35)Present (10:48)Future (16:02)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Last Friday, to celebrate John's last day as CEO, the Lemonly team surprised him with an afternoon full of laughter, memories, and quality time together — including a surprise podcast interview that put John in front of the mic.In this special episode, recorded live from Lemonly HQ in downtown Sioux Falls, John T. Meyer reflects back on his life and lessons from the past decade as CEO of Lemonly. It's a heartfelt, vulnerable conversation moderated by Tess Thompson, Lemonly's director of client services, with questions gathered from the whole Lemonly team. You'll hear lots of laughs and a few tears from Lemonheads in the background.Setting the Stage (2:09)Looking Back on 10 Years at Lemonly (4:08)John's Leadership Lessons (18:51)Life, Legacy, and the Future (27:55)Rapid-fire with John (34:02)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Blue Dot founder and executive coach Andy Sparks caught the startup bug early. When he was 19, he attempted to start a microbrewery, which was quickly shut down because of the illegality of owning such a business before turning 21. After thousands of TechCrunch articles and a handful of startups, he's become an expert at starting and a coach for executive leaders working on one of our most persistent problems: climate change.Why did he choose to coach? And how did he set his sights on climate change? In episode 80, Andy joins host John T. Meyer to share his process for starting a business, narrowing his focus, and how he helps others change the world today.Meet Andy (1:26)Starting in the Climate Space (3:55)Coaches, Consultants, and Therapists (13:45)Andy's Hope (31:20)Rapid Fire with Andy (35:36)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Nick Wendell is not a great spectator. As a first-generation college graduate turned higher-ed advocate and a public servant who led his community through pandemic-time policies, Nick holds a unique perspective on the arena of choices that belongs to each individual. More importantly, he consistently puts his perspective to work for others. Today, he's the first Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Technical Education, a nine-member board impacting the way we see technical education opportunities in the state. In episode 79, Nick joins host John T. Meyer to discuss the future of education, the common ground that connects communities, and the considerations he makes when he's faced with divergent paths.From Agriculture to Higher Ed (1:44)The Career Turn (6:57)Forecasting Careers of the Future (13:28)Nick's Public Service (22:10)Investing in What's Important (43:30)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
“You may not have a mental illness, but you do have mental health,” says Wendy Mamer. It's one of many powerful takeaways from her TEDx Talk, Survivor of Suicide Loss: A Title I Never Wanted. As an ardent mental health advocate, she speaks to it in a way that only she can. And by creating conversations that normalize our innermost experiences, she's paving the way for others to do the same.In episode 78, Wendy joins host John T. Meyer to discuss her leadership journey as a mental health advocate and a bastion of inclusive conversations in her community. Tune in to hear their perspectives on the mental health ecosystem, where we go from here, and how we can better tend to our mental wellness.Meet Wendy (1:19)Speaking from Her Experience (5:30)The Mental Health Crisis (13:06)Wendy's Hope (26:30)Rapid Fire with Wendy (32:41)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Who are the leaders who inspired you? It's the question John T. Meyer asks every Leadmore guest. While the responses are as diverse as the guests themselves, a single theme runs through: We're thankful for them.In this Thanksgiving Day episode, John reflects on his favorite holiday by recalling his favorite responses to this question, the impact these leaders make, and the leaders who inspired them.Chase McCants (3:38)Brigit Blote (6:06)Bill Anderson (7:48)Rahele Megosha (11:33)Senator John Thune (15:19)Tim Schut (17:00)Paige Pearson Meyer (21:11)Kim Scott (26:10)John T. Meyer (27:18)Dr. David O'Hara (28:42)Want to hear more from these guests? Listen to all episodes of the Leadmore Podcast here.-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Nate Poeppel does a lot of things. He's the go-to audio engineer in Sioux Falls, the producer of the Leadmore Podcast, and he's a unique friend to many, including host John T. Meyer. He also had a lot of things including a house, a car, and a studio. But a month ago, he decided to leave the bulk of it behind and begin a new chapter on the road. While “van life” isn't new to us or to Nate, this episode isn't about life hacks or efficiency either. It's about self-awareness and letting go of what's holding you back.In episode 76, Nate and host John record from Nate's empty home as he prepares to leave it. Tune in to hear the friends discuss attachment, Nate's inspiration for the move, and how he decided to let go.An Empty House (1:21)The Execution was Easy (8:01)Your Attachments are in Your Way (20:59)Rapid-fire with Nate (24:48)Follow Nate's Journey on Instagram!-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
In 2009, host John T. Meyer took time off from his corporate consulting job to attend SXSW. While it was the first of many non-traditional moves for John, it also changed his life. After 12 years, he's captured lightning in a bottle once again. And he's not leaving anyone out. In episode 75, John takes leaders inside his head, unpacks this Twitter thread about his time at NFT.NYC, and helps us embrace the beginner's mindset.In the Spirit of Leadership (1:42)Social Media and SXSW (3:54)Understanding Web3 and Value (6:51)Embracing the New Frontier (13:34)Go down the RabbitHole.Need help learning the world of Web3? DM John!-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
It seems nothing can prevent Taneeza Islam from meeting her community's needs in the moment. In the 16 months since we first heard from the South Dakota Voices for Peace executive director and immigration attorney, her organization raised $1.2 million in five months and distributed it to 1700 immigrant-led families in South Dakota. When they recognized a lack of multilingual COVID-19 education and vaccination resources, her organization filled the gap and presented their efforts to the Federal Department of Health and Human Services and Dr. Anthony Fauci. And that's only some of the work that helped her realize she's suited to meet her community's needs from a different position. In episode 74, Taneeza rejoins host John T. Meyer to discuss her recently announced candidacy for mayor of Sioux Falls, what's behind it, and the possibilities it holds for the community she serves. Building Power with Information (1:20)Meeting the Need of the Moment (6:49)Leading Differently (12:52)Scaling Leadership Style (21:51)Taneeza's Hope for Sioux Falls (28:32)For more on Taneeza, check out taneezaforsf.com.-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Paige Pearson Meyer has a heart so big you can hear it in her voice. She's also a sharp communications executive, a passionate contributor to her community, a mother to two young girls, a wife to Leadmore host John T. Meyer, and today, she's a wealth of inspiration for his listeners.In episode 73, we learn how she balances it all. Tune in to this special conversation to hear the pair discuss lessons from Paige's career in communications, how they pursue their passions as parents, and why it's important to show their girls what's possible.Get to Know Paige (1:10)Communicating with Community (12:10)Paige on Parenting (20:37)Showing Up with Your Best (26:52)Rapid-fire with Paige (33:25)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Since 2013, Tim Schut has picked a single word to serve as his annual theme. Last December, he chose the word courage. That was before he learned that Primary Progessive Apraxia of Speech, a rare neurodegenerative syndrome, would rob him of his superpower: speech.While the odds are one in a million, he hopes to find and support others with the frequently misdiagnosed condition. In this special episode, Tim joins host John T. Meyer to share his story and how he's preparing his family and friends for the impending loss of his voice, and the eventual loss of his light. The Discovery (2:40)What Happens Next (12:11)Tim's Lessons and Legacy (18:10)Rapid-fire with Tim (25:03)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Hardship is a powerful teacher. It can shape the way we think, the way we lead and change the trajectory of our lives—for the better. That's what we learn from Billie and Kelsea Sutton's remarkable story of love, adversity, and leadership. While the pair grew up in Burke, SD, their relationship began across state lines in 2007. Only weeks into their budding romance, Billie experienced a life-altering accident that would shatter his dreams and transform their lives. That's only the beginning. In episode 71, the dynamic couple join host John T. Meyer to share many insights from their journey and how it has shaped the way they support each other and their growing community of Sutton Leaders.How it Started (2:22)Tragedy Strikes (6:33)The Nudge (15:43)A Massive Endeavor (23:34)A New Way to Serve (28:18)Rapid-fire with Billie & Kelsea (39:58)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
If you follow host John T. Meyer on Twitter, then you've noticed his dive into the world of Web3. But do you know what the terms mean or how to get started? Whether you're crypto curious or ambivalent about the future of blockchain, John believes all leaders should learn what the emerging space holds for them and how it will impact transactions in the future.In episode 70, Pinata founder Kyle Tut joins John to brief us on the basics of blockchain. Taking us from a macro to a micro view, this conversation defines the terminology, highlights NFT use cases, and provides practical tips for crypto newcomers. The Home for NFT Media (2:03)From Nebraska to Blockchain (4:38)The Terminology (12:30)The Near Future of NFTs (25:43)The Opportunity for Creators (32:43)Where to Start (43:08)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Senator John Thune didn't grow up with political aspirations, but a chance encounter opened that door over 46 years ago and ignited a storied career in public service. The Senate Minority Whip is now serving his third term in the U.S. Senate, and he's bringing a rare collection of leadership lessons to share with Leadmore listeners. Ready to unpack them?In this thoughtful conversation with host John T. Meyer, Senator Thune shares his perspective from the Senate as he reflects on his leadership journey and the people who impacted it.When the Door Opened (1:06)South Dakota DNA (3:44)The Problem of Division (8:30)The Keys to Leadership (17:59)Rapid-fire with Senator Thune (22:57)A Vision of Unity (34:44)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Chief Culture Officer: The title sounds like a job exclusive to Silicon Valley startups, but it also belongs to Rana DeBoer, the first person to fill the role at the City of Sioux Falls. And while she credits former Leadmore guest, Mayor Paul TenHaken, for conceiving the new role, neither government nor culture work is new to her.In episode 68, Rana joins host John T. Meyer to discuss the origin of her position in city government, the workforce challenges all organizations are facing, and how culture can help organizations overcome them.The Origin of Rana's Role (1:24)The War on Talent (8:01)Creating Conditions for the Best (11:53)How to Measure Culture (19:19)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
When Adam Nathan founded Almanac, he was building tools for a remote workforce of the future. Due to the pandemic, that future came much faster than he anticipated. As a leader in the asynchronous work movement, Adam joins host John T. Meyer to discuss the terms and tactics you need to know to lead an asynchronous work culture. Tune in to learn the benefits of asynchronous work, the difference between remote-friendly and remote-first work, and why Adam doesn't believe in a compelling hybrid.What is Almanac? (1:31)What is Asynchronous Work? (8:42)Why You Can't Compromise (15:28)How to Work from Anywhere, Hire Anywhere (23:41)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
What do leaders do when life gets heavy? While the pandemic has taught us how quickly life can change, it's also shown us how mindset impacts our daily lives and the lives of others. In this framework episode, host John T. Meyer sits down to help us reframe our mindset. If you're in need of a powerful reset, tune in to start the shift.Be Where Your Feet Are (4:09)You Can Only Control What You Can Control (5:44)Iron Sharpens Iron (7:58)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Using your voice is a prerequisite for leaders, but recognizing when other voices need to be heard is also essential for good leadership. That's the work of Libby Skarin's career at the American Civil Liberties Union. As the Campaigns Director of the ACLU of ND/SD/WY, Libby brings this and other key insights from her field to this episode. Tune in as she and host John T. Meyer discuss power dynamics, why leaders need to listen first, and how to make room for new leaders. Whether you're a CEO or a rising leader, there is plenty to learn from this advocate.Leadership in Advocacy (2:13)Using Your Voice (8:46)Knowing When to Raise Your Hand (11:45)Rapid Fire with Libby (23:11)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
In the last episode, host John T. Meyer share his framework for setting and making big goals as he prepared to make his: climb the equivalent of Mount Everest in 36 hours. 29,029 feet and 13 summits later, John shares three takeaways from the experience. Reframe Your Limits (1:34)Plug into the Power of Community (3:41)Be Where Your Feet Are (6:39)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
It's days before his 36th birthday and host John T. Meyer is preparing to hike 29,029 feet, the equivalent height of Mount Everest. How did he decide to take on 13 summits over 36 hours, and how do other leaders define and climb their own Everest?In this framework episode, John shares a four-step process for accomplishing big goals and issues a challenge to Leadmore listeners to find and climb their next summit.John's Everest (0:32)The Framework (4:37)The Challenge (9:42)Find Atomic Habits by James Clear.-----Subscribe to The Change, a newsletter by John T. Meyer.Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on Twitter
Transition is fresh on Eric McDonald's mind. After leading the successful startup DocuTap (now Experity) through acquisition, Eric recently left the company he founded 20 years prior. What came after would allow him to fully explore the options ahead of him. In Episode 62, Eric joins host John T. Meyer to discuss the period of transition, the criteria for finding success twice, and how Eric decided to commit to his current role as the CEO of CoinLion.Eric's new niche (2:15)A season of transition (13:53)Finding success again (21:05)Rapid Fire with Eric (35:14)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
If you want to grow your organization, you must grow your people. As a leader, the best way to help your people grow is through high-quality, productive, 1-on-1 meetings—not only having 1-on-1s, but doing them well.In this Frameworks episode, host John T. Meyer shares his model for effective 1-on-1 meetings, The Four Cs of a Great 1-on-1. Dig into this episode to start having better meetings that help your people and your organization grow.Download Lemonly's 1-on-1 meeting agenda template here: lmly.co/1on1agenda-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
South Dakota Mines epidemiologist Elizabeth Racz, Ph.D., offers insight into current COVID reporting in South Dakota and why it conflicts with CDC reporting . Employers are going to great lengths to hire staff in the Black Hills. SDPB Arielle Zionts reports on summer tourism workers in western South Dakota. John T. Meyer , host of the Leadmore podcast, joins us for Tech Radio. Today we talk about NFTs, walking meetings with the Spot app, and a leader planning for the next big transition. Poetry from Studio 47 features the work of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. State historian Ben Jones joins us to explore the military life of George Armstrong Custer. Jones is the host of the History 605 podcast. We discuss the latest Custer book by author Sandy Barnard. In this week's Music Matters we hear from Diali Cissokho. He hails from Senegal in west Africa.
Amy Moore and Leadmore host John T. Meyer started Lemonly nearly 10 years ago to the day. Today, it's home to the world's best infographics, leads the region with company culture, and was recently acquired by Click Rain.In episode 60, Amy and John openly discuss how they created an industry-leading design company, their dynamic as co-founders, and how Amy felt about the acquisition. The earliest days of Lemonly (3:50)Complementary co-founders (13:00)The time to sell (25:45)Rapid Fire with Amy (37:21)Subscribe to The Change, a newsletter by John T. Meyer.-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Words are powerful. Whether you use many or few, words have impact, and leaders need to master how and when to use them. Tucker Bryant is a master of words. A marketing manager at Google by day and a poet by night, Tucker believes that poetry is the best way to connect to your emotions and describe the world around you. Tucker is embarking on his own journey to help leaders and organizations use poetry to better connect and create meaningful experiences. Listen to this episode for Tucker's conversation with host John T. Meyer—and what's surely the coolest opening yet of any episode of the Leadmore Podcast.-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
Rahele Megosha is going places. At 17 years old, she just became the national champion in the Poetry Out Loud champion. Next month, she'll move to New York—a city she's never been to—to attend Columbia University and study biochemistry. Rahele is also the youngest guest we've ever had on the Leadmore Podcast.In this episode, she talks with host John T. Meyer about her victory at the national Poetry Out Loud competition, how her generation views leadership, and her plans to lead after college. Don't miss this conversation with an incredible young leader!-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to John's newsletter
“What are you going to do next?” We all face this question at every milestone in life, forcing us to think about what we want to do next, how we'll do it, and why. For host John T. Meyer, it's the most frequently asked question following the recent acquisition of his company, Lemonly. The answer? He doesn't know, but he's figuring it out—and he'll spend the next six months documenting the process for us to learn how one leader is working through a season of change.In this special episode of the Leadmore Podcast, John shares three frameworks that are helping him determine what he does next. Core values and first principles (6:09)The energy audit (10:20)Draw the picture (14:34)Subscribe to The Change, a newsletter by John T. Meyer.-----Connect with John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
Do you see opportunities for leverage in your life? Eric Jorgenson does, and he's teaching leaders how levers can decrease input and increase output. As the author of The Navalmanack, an Amazon #1 Best Seller, Eric's ideas about leverage have also spawned a course and community.In episode 56, Eric joins host John T. Meyer to discuss the origin of his new book, the profound power of leverage, and how leaders can use leverage as a lens to amplify effort.Catching up with Eric (03:09)Making of The Navalmanack (7:34)How leverage became Eric's thing (17:16)The mountain of levers (22:10)The wire cutter for online courses (35:36)Rapid-fire with Eric (41:19)Get Eric's book, The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness.-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
Bill Anderson has a fascinating mind and a career marked by his time as a CIA analyst, a university professor, and an entrepreneur. Today, he's the Chief Customer Experience Officer at First National Bank, a 136-year-old organization. In episode 55, Bill joins host John T. Meyer to discuss how curiosity has shaped his leadership journey, the tools he picked up along the way, and how entrepreneurs (as well as intrapreneurs) can recognize fear and resolve anxiety.How Bill got here (02:49)The through lines of Bill's career (9:20)An anecdote about anxiety (23:10)Bill's fuel light (31:36)Bill's guiding lights (34:33)Rapid-fire with Bill (44:42)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
While the pandemic crippled many businesses in the event industry, The Event Company bucked the trend and doubled its business last year. In episode 54, founder and CEO Addie Graham-Kramer tells us how.Listen in as host John T. Meyer and Addie take us behind the scenes to discuss how her company started, her insight into the future of events, and our burgeoning need for gathering.From criminal justice to event planning (02:41)Building business and teams (10:13)The future of events (13:48)Bucking the trend (17:30)Rapid-fire with Addie (26:44)Learn more about The Event Company.-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
Jim Hagen has worked with four governors to attract visitors to South Dakota, where one out of every 11 people work in the tourism industry. As the state's Secretary of Travel and Tourism, Jim also lead a global media and marketing team through the pandemic.In episode 53, host John T. Meyer and Jim discuss the work of travel and tourism departments, how the South Dakota department navigated uncertainty and helped the state become one of the best performing states in the country.Making South Dakota look good (03:05)Take us back 12 months (10:05)Push and pull (17:23)Jim's outlook on travel (24:10)The front porch to economic development (28:14)Changing culture at the department (33:30)Jim's top travel picks (36:50)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
The ideas behind the Leadmore Podcast took form over a year ago. As the pandemic enveloped the world, leaders, as we knew them, went missing in action while others rose to the occasion. Host John T. Meyer knew it was time to give today’s leaders a platform to encourage the leaders of tomorrow, but could he do it for an entire year? In the final episode of Season 1, John discusses the goal and core premise of the show and tells us a series of stories that illustrate a philosophy he calls Better Every Day.How and why the show started (01:10)Every Day stories (08:05)A year of Leadmore (18:32)Learn more about Robbie Crabtree’s Performative Speaking Course.-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
When BuzzFeed recognized rising inequality in the wake of the pandemic, the news publisher formed a desk dedicated to the phenomenon, and senior reporter Venessa Wong reframed a decade of experience in business writing to cover its cause and the communities impacted by it. In episode 51, Venessa and host John T. Meyer unpack the growing wealth gap, where her stories start, and her experience in covering anti-Asian racism as an Asian American journalist. How Venessa covers the heavy stuff (01:50)Anti-Asian racism (7:37)Where do you start a story? (17:07)Leaders who listen (25:52)How representation impacts leadership (30:03)Rapid fire with Venessa (38:07)
Throughout his 20 years in community building, Joe Bartmann learned he had a knack for following legendary leaders. He also recently learned that he’d lived his entire life with autism. In episode 50, Joe and host John T. Meyer discuss Joe’s leadership journey, how he embraces the gap between legendary leaders, and what he’s doing to help others understand autism. Joe’s first community (02:55)Wading into economic development (10:28)Embracing the leadership gap (14:40)Empowering rural communities (18:38)Accepting autism (29:41)A new mission (41:55)Learn how Dakota Resources empowers rural communities.-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
Listening leads the storytelling process for Jackie Hendry, host of SDPB’s news program South Dakota Focus. It’s also her superpower. In episode 49, Jackie joins John T. Meyer to discuss what it was like to cover healthcare during the pandemic, the art of storytelling with audio, and what she has learned from interviewing leaders throughout her time at SDPB. You wanted to be a journalist when? (04:37)Coverage during COVID (08:10)Jackie’s new focus on South Dakota (16:48)The power of the human voice (19:54)The balance of preparation (25:00)Listening to leaders (30:10)Rapid fire with Jackie (35:39)-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramFollow Leadmore on TwitterSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
Rob Walling sees himself as a maker and serial entrepreneur. These days he leads with three things: Startups for the Rest of Us, a podcast about bootstrapping SaaS companies, MicroConf, the oldest and largest community for bootstrapped SaaS founders, and TinySeed, the first accelerator designed for bootstrappers. In this episode host John T. Meyer and Rob unpack his life’s mission of supporting a movement, how to identify ethical leaders, and how to start companies with solutions rather than ideas.Rob right now (01:52)What drove you to create all this stuff? (04:51)Unpacking SaaS (07:49)Am I the flagbearer? (12:06)Realizing your life’s mission (16:29)Accepting your role as a leader (24:17)The spreadsheet analogy (29:57)Rapid fire with Rob (33:00)Get The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Keeping Your Sh*t Together: How to Run Your Business Without Letting it Run You-----Follow John T. Meyer Follow Leadmore on Instagram Follow Leadmore on Twitter Subscribe to the Leadmore newsletter Join the Leadmore Community
Leaders can take the world by surprise. Fomeno founder and CEO Brigit Blote is certainly one of them. She’s a 21-year-old D1 athlete who plays in the symphony, and she’s building a company. In episode 47, Brigit joins host John T. Meyer to discuss her company’s origin story, how she met her co-founders, and how they beat the competition in 121 countries to earn $100,000 in seed funding from the Hult Prize Foundation.What is Fomeno? [01:30]The origin story [04:05]The first people Brigit called [07:57]The giant shark tank [09:54]When it becomes more than an idea [20:01]The rule of thirds [24:52]Why Fomeno exists [28:07]Rapid fire with Brigit [37:20]Get in touch with the Fomeno TeamKeep up with Fomeno on Instagram-----Follow John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
When it comes to milestone decisions such as accepting a promotion, selling your company, and starting a new company, Aaron Weiche is an expert. He’s done it a few times over the past decade. In this episode, Aaron and host John T. Meyer distill lessons from Aaron’s ascent to leadership, his story of selling a bootstrapped SaaS startup, and his newest role as Co-founder and CEO of Leadferno.Aaron’s startup track record [03:34]How do you merge into leadership roles at new companies? [08:36]Are you a hand raiser? [13:03]How did you know it was time to jump? [20:18]Taking inventory when you start over [26:07]Transitioning when stakes are high at home [30:50]Rapid-fire recommendations from Aaron [36:10]Take a deep dive to learn from Aaron’s experience in selling a bootstrapped SaaS company.-----Connect with John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
How do we make a successful transition in leadership? In this episode, David Whitesock, founder of Commonly Well, and host John T. Meyer look to the nation’s transitions of power and apply historical context to the transitions we make in our careers. The origin of the idea of a peaceful transition of power [03:34]How much of this is timing? [14:18]Good leaders look beyond the target [18:39]You have to step way out of yourself to determine who’s next [21:22]Messy transitions are a choice [25:28]-----Connect with John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
Leaders often give everything they have to their team and their cause. But who takes care of the leaders? That’s exactly what the Reverend Jen Bailey and her team at Faith Matters Network are working to do. Jen is an accomplished leader with a lot of wisdom to offer. In this episode, Jen shares her insights about what leaders need most, what faith looks like after the pandemic, and reflections nearly a year after George Floyd’s murder.-----Connect with John T. Meyer Follow Leadmore on Instagram Subscribe to the Leadmore newsletter Join the Leadmore Community
Wes Eisenhauer loves to create. He's a photographer, musician, chef, and entrepreneur—a true modern-day creator. While Wes makes his living creating things, that's not why he does it. He creates out of a need to explore and a passion for making things. His work has been featured in National Geographic, on the front page of Reddit, and with NASA. In this episode, John talks with Wes about how Wes chooses the projects he wants to pursue, what inspires him creatively, and why he often works with the same people again and again. Plus, Wes talks about his latest project: turning one of his photos into an NFT (and what the hell that means).-----Connect with John T. Meyer Follow Leadmore on Instagram Subscribe to the Leadmore newsletter Join the Leadmore Community
In sickness and in health, through good times and bad… We make these vows on our wedding day, but you can never really know how extreme the good and bad might be. Chris Maxwell and Molly Weisgram have been together through truly tough challenges during Chris’s battle with Guillain–Barré syndrome. At its worst, Chris was paralyzed to the point that he couldn’t blink. What impact does this have on a family or a marriage? How do tough challenges shape our lives and relationships?In this episode, John talks with both Chris and Molly—both patient and caregiver, husband and wife—about their emotional story, how the journey brought them closer together as a family, and how the experience impacts the way they lead today.-----Connect with John T. Meyer Follow Leadmore on Instagram Subscribe to the Leadmore newsletter Join the Leadmore Community
What’s going on inside the brain of a leader? What makes leaders want to lead? Dr. Sarah Bridges is searching for those answers. Sarah is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, former Fortune 500 executive, and mother of four. In this episode, John and Sarah discuss the neuropsychology of leadership, whether leaders are born or made, and the importance of adopting a growth mindset.-----Connect with John T. Meyer Follow Leadmore on Instagram Subscribe to the Leadmore newsletter Join the Leadmore Community
In the first solo episode of Leadmore, host John T. Meyer describes the 5 senses of leadership. He shares a personal story for each sense (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) as they relate to the leadership journey. Throughout this episode, John reflects on insights shared in the first 24 episodes of the Leadmore podcast. This is a special gratitude edition of the Leadmore Podcast— we hope you enjoy!---Connect with John T. MeyerFollow Leadmore on InstagramSubscribe to the Leadmore newsletterJoin the Leadmore Community
To learn about the future, we must study the past. Dr. David O’Hara is a professor of philosophy and religion at Augustana University and one of the brightest minds you’ll meet. Dr. O’Hara believes in the power of classic languages, ancient philosophy, a good cup of tea, and the little things in life. In this episode, Dr. O’Hara connects the dots to show you unexpected connections and help you learn something you didn’t know before. Listen to our conversation to hear about why teachers are some of the most underrated—yet profoundly impactful—leaders in our lives.—Connect with John T. Meyer: https://jtm.carrd.co
Every leader is confronted with a moment when they are asked to rise up and lead. In episode four, John T. Meyer asks Taneeza Islam about how she knew this was her moment and what she did to prepare. Taneeza also details the critical needs of our immigrant community today and how leaders can effectively pass the baton to the next generation of leaders. Taneeza is a fierce and dedicated leader who will inspire and motivate you to create positive change.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Ben Milne is an insanely curious person who loves to solve problems. In episode three, John T. Meyer calls Ben Milne to discuss the origin of his fintech startup, Dwolla, how he decided to reinvent the business, and when he knew it was time to replace himself as CEO of his own company. Ben is a person who cares deeply and that is very clear when you listen to this episode.
In episode two, John T. Meyer sits down with entrepreneur, musician, author, and activist, Vaney Hariri. He explains why leaders need to step up and speak out, and reflects on his experience as a black man living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Vaney will inspire you to take action and create change in your business or personal life today.
In the first episode of the Leadmore podcast, John T. Meyer calls up former South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard to discuss leading during a time of crisis. He details how he identifies rising leaders and why he spent hard-earned political capital on key issues. You won't want to miss this episode with the man who left office as the most popular governor in South Dakota history.
Exclusive interviews continue from Garrett Moon’s book, 10X-Marketing Formula, which features top marketing professionals who uncover uncommon marketing mindsets, methods, and growth strategies. In this episode, we’re talking to John T. Meyer, CEO and co-founder of Lemonly, which is a visual marketing firm. John started Lemonly as a way to educate people about how digital media is a way to reach customers, and eventually the business ended up specializing in infographics. Lemonly helped build and pioneer the infographics industry, and it has evolved into visual storytelling - the secret sauce. Some of the highlights of the show include: Humans are visual creatures bombarded by messages; infographics make the world less noisy and confusing Infographics transitioned from visualizing data to a storytelling formula, where there is a beginning, middle, and end Core types of stories offer familiarity and ability to predict what will happen Lemonly starts with content by creating an outline that features the goal, 3 main points, and summary/call to action Web of Content: Where will content live to connect and hook pieces on mediums Issues related to driving traffic through visuals on various social media mediums Visuals grab people’s attention, but you need a good story for ROI Other options available, but Lemonly offers person-to-person relationships Examples of 10X ROI results from visual content Infographics fail and don’t live up to full potential when delivery is blurry, squished; don’t do all that work, and then stumble at the end Links: Lemonly 9 Clouds 10X-Marketing Formula by Garrett Moon Donald Miller’s StoryBrand Canva Infogram Piktochart Pablo by Buffer Write and send a review to receive a CoSchedule care package
How important is company culture? For John T. Meyer of Lemonly, a visual storytelling firm based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, it's about more than just keeping employees productive and happy - it's about raising the standard. From publicly stating company benefits on their website to providing "adventure bonuses" that employee are required to spend on an international trip of their choice, John tells us more about how and why he approaches Lemonly's policies the way he does.
John T. Meyer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lemonly. Lemonly helps companies tell their story through visuals. Specializing in infographics, videos, and interactives. Lemonly works with brands like Marriott, Major League Baseball, Netflix, Lego, Under Armour, Salesforce, the Green Bay Packers, and the United Nations. John is a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council and in 2013 was named to Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 10 Emerging Entrepreneurs. John loves to cheer on the Minnesota Twins, spend time with his wife Paige and daughter, Margot. He also writes about focus and productivity within a weekly newsletter called “Point Letter.” Secret – timesaving technique John does six professional tasks and two personal tasks every weekday, six personal tasks and two professional tasks on Saturday, and then he's off on Sunday -- make it eight for the day. ONWARD! Daily habit that contributes to success Saying "no" today means you can say "yes" tomorrow -- John takes control of his schedule by saying "no." Could have ruined your business – but now – an invaluable learning experience John had to have a hard conversation with his brother who he was in business with -- and John tells the whole story here. Most critical skill you think business owners need to master to be successful "Communicate your value." Most influential lesson learned from a mentor "It's not just luck." Final Round – “Breaking Down the Recipe for Success” What systems would you go back and put into place sooner? I would have developed a stronger backbone -- don't be afraid to give clients pushback. What one strategy or “recipe” would compound into big wins for business owners? Get out of the way and let your team work -- the killer to productivity is too many managers and too many meetings. What strategy would you recommend new business owners focus on to best ensure success? Know when and where to draw a line in the sand Be prepared to adjust and adapt How best to connect with John: Twitter: @johntmeyer Website: johntmeyer.com You can also find us here: ----- OnwardNation.com -----
Stephen is the CEO of Predictive ROI and host of the Onward Nation podcast. He is the author of two bestselling books, speaker, trainer, and his digital marketing insights have been featured in SUCCESS, Entrepreneur, The Washington Post, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and other media. Good Morning Onward Nation...I’m Stephen Woessner. And before we jump into today’s solocast topic -- I want to say thank you for all of the thoughtful and specific feedback following last week’s solocast, episode 158...which I entitled, “How to defeat the imposter syndrome.” I love feedback -- good or bad -- and often encourage it at the end of my solocasts. But last week’s solocast was followed by more feedback than normal...and I am grateful. I received notes via email, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. I appreciate the kind words -- but even more so -- for the insights into how the discussion helped. It is always awesome to find out someone likes what you have to say -- and it is so rewarding to hear the connecting points between what is being shared and an experience. Those are powerful and I am grateful -- thank you, Onward Nation. So same request goes for today’s solocast -- please let me know what you think -- thumbs up or thumbs down -- I want to know what you think and appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. It is a gift, a privilege, and an honor to be with you each and every day. It is important to me that you know how much I appreciate your time -- I consider your time sacred -- because it is -- and am looking forward to spending time with you this morning delving into yet another deep topic that affects all of us. So for today’s solocast...I am going to focus our attention toward an obstacle we all experience -- something we all face. In fact, it is fair to say that everyone on Earth faces it no matter who they are. The obstacle is art of making excuses...or “alibis” as Napoleon Hill described them in in his timeless work, "Think & Grow Rich." Hill goes on to explain that “Building alibis or excuses with which to explain any failure has become a national pastime. The habit is as old as the human race and is fatal to success. People defend their alibis because they create them. A person’s alibi is the child of his own imagination. It is human nature to defend one’s own brainchild.” I am not going to get political -- I have no conversation for you there whatsoever -- but I will set Washington as a prime example of excuses -- and then defending one’s position vehemently -- and sometimes until the bitter end. Instead -- an intelligent, non-defensive discussion that leads to a win-win compromise is often the best policy. In an effort to dig deep into this topic...let’s examine some of the most common excuses Hill shares in his book. People who fail to succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. They know all the reasons for failure and have what they believe to be airtight excuses to explain away their own lack of achievement. Some of the excuses are clever -- and a few of them justifiable by the facts. As I read you the list -- examine yourself -- your thoughts -- your actions carefully and think about how many -- if any -- of these excuses you have used. I will say this -- if you are open and honest as I share this list with you -- it may be a painful process -- as it was for me when I first reviewed and considered the list. In fact, as I read it the first time...I highlighted 17 excuses off the list and set about to resolve those and eliminate them from my thought process. Please listen to the podcast for Napoleon Hill's complete list of excuses. And...here is the greatest excuse of them all, Onward Nation… “If I had the courage to see myself as I really am, I would find out what is wrong with me and correct it, then I might have a chance to profit by my mistakes and learn something from the experience of others, for I know that there is something wrong with me, or I would now be where I would have been if I had spent time analyzing my weaknesses, and less time building excuses to cover them.” This is a lesson -- about the greatest excuse -- is a lesson that I tend to learn and relearn over and over again. One of the most painful examples was taught to me was in June of 1990. I was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for basic training. About midway through our training, we were asked if anyone was interested in volunteering and trying out for the Air Force special forces. Uh Rah! Count me in. So I volunteered to spend that Saturday gritting it out with the best on the base to see who would make the cut. It was a long day...by the end...I was beat down. I was tired...had swam a mile and a half. Had run a mile and a half. Had just done pull ups, sit ups, and a variety of other exercises. I was hot, I was sweaty, I was exhausted. My energy level was beat to the pulp. But it was time for push ups, which perked up my energy level a bit because push ups had normally been a decent exercise for me. This time...it came with specific instructions, which I failed to hear. And it wasn’t because the instructions weren’t loud enough -- oh no -- our instructors did not have an issue with volume. The instructions were to perform the movement in stages...you would lower your chest to the mat until you touched your spotter’s fist with your chest...and then raise yourself back to the starting position...hold yourself there for a beat...and rinse and repeat. All the while...I needed to be looking face up...not down at the mat...throughout the entire movement. If any of these instructions were not followed...the repetition would not be counted. I was feeling confident because this was “my” exercise -- I knew I could bang out a bunch of reps despite being exhausted so I was excited to get started -- so excited -- that I did not pay close attention to the instructions. I thought -- very arrogantly -- that I had this competition “in the bag” and based on my previous swim, run, etc. Yeah! I was going to be a candidate for the special forces. Well, I was about to learn how painful it can be to come up short -- and the creative force to making up excuses that followed. When the instructor yelled, “begin”...the race was on and we were on the clock to see how many push ups we could complete within the specified time. I was so concerned about speed...and quantity...I failed to perform a critical step. I was looking down at the mat during the completion of each rep for the first four...instead of “eyes front.” It was after four repetitions, that my spotter pointed out my mistake, and I made the correction on my fifth repetition -- and then my heart sank when I heard my spotter say loudly count out...“ONE”. Oh no...I was at least four reps behind. And I never did catch up. By the time the exercise was over...I was still four reps behind the pack...and I knew I was probably sunk. Then it was the long wait for the instructors to tabulate our scores and announce their selections. If you were selected, your normal basic training would be over and you would immediately join the special forces training program -- first stop -- the Bahamas for scuba diving. Um...yes, please! But, when the instructor came out to announce the list of names...mine was not called. I had missed the cut by four points. I had battled all day -- and lost by four points. But did I blame myself for not following the very specific -- very loud -- and clearly articulated instructions? No. I blamed my spotter. For what? For doing his job? He wasn’t supposed to count bad reps -- and he did me a favor by even telling me about my mistake. He didn’t have to do that. He, too was competing to win a spot on the list. But he did tell me. My success was up to me, Onward Nation. Not him. And yet I blamed him. Deep down inside, I couldn’t bare the thought that it was me who had failed -- and to Napoleon Hill’s point -- I then created an alibi that rationalized the loss and tried to make it sting a little less. Several weeks later, I learned from the mistake at I made at the special forces qualification. I was outside my dorm on a break with my squad...and a drill instructor...not assigned to our squad decided to come up and harass us to see if she could get us to misspeak, not follow protocol, or make some other mistake. And for whatever reason, I was the lucky one she picked. Not awesome. I don’t remember the line of questioning she bombarded me with -- but -- I missed something and made a mistake. I next found myself standing outside my squadron commander’s office in the hallway. My drill instructor had been summoned -- we made eye contact as he walked down the hallway -- and he shook his head in disappointment. As I was called into my commander’s office to explain the situation, they were looking for any sign of weakness -- of excuse making. I didn’t provide one. I apologized for the situation and accepted full responsibility without excuse. I passed. But why? Because I didn’t throw someone under the bus. I stood up and acknowledged the situation -- accepted responsibility -- and then moved on. And it has been my experience in business and in life -- and likely yours, too -- that if we simply acknowledge our mistake -- as hard as that may be to do -- set our ego aside and apologize -- and accept responsibility -- then our customers, employees, spouse, or children are more willing to forgive us because everyone makes mistakes. But no one likes excuses. Michael Jordan famously said, that “A loss isn’t a failure until you make an excuse.” When you make excuses -- you lose credibility -- you lose the respect of your peers -- and you run the risk of damaging relationships. So stop the excuses, Onward Nation. Forget the alibis -- do your best every time -- own your mistakes -- learn from them -- and you will achieve success and greatness. You were indeed meant for greatness. You are a child of the most high God. You are instilled with an infinite abundance of talent and gifts. How can I be so sure, you might ask? Because Luke Chapter 17, Verse 21 says so. The scripture reads, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” The kingdom of God is indeed great...and if the kingdom is within you...then that makes you great, Onward Nation. So please don’t let something so small as making excuses -- and creating elaborate alibis -- cheat you from your success...your greatness...your destiny! So with that said... I want to say thank you again for taking the time to be here with me today. It is an honor to have you here -- thank you for tuning in -- I am delighted you chose this episode to be what you listen to, study, and take with you on your morning run, or maybe Onward Nation has become part of your daily commute, or in some other way has become part of your morning routine. However our daily podcast fits into your daily routine -- I want you to know how much I appreciate you sharing some of your invaluable 86,400 seconds you have in your day with me and the strategies we learn and share each day from today’s top business owners. And please continue to let me know what you think of Onward Nation...good or bad...I always want your feedback. My direct email address is stephen@onwardnation.com -- and yes -- that is my actual Inbox. No fancy filters or filing system and I read and reply to every single email. So please let me know how you think we are doing. I look forward to hearing from you. We will be back tomorrow with an incredible interview with John T. Meyer -- he is off the charts amazing. His productivity strategy of “8 for the day” and the discipline he applies to mastering it is remarkable -- which has helped him build a phenomenal business. Until then, onward with gusto! You can also find us here: ----- OnwardNation.com -----
Business Buff Entrepreneurs | Who Turned Their Concepts Into Cold Hard Cash
South Dakota native John T. Meyer is on a mission to make the world an easier place to understand. John and his team do this every day at Lemonly. We create understanding through visuals with infographics and data viz. His family owned company started from nothing and has grown significantly by playing business "offense" instead of "defense." Find out he raised the bar by expanding into a soup to nuts infographic and creative marketing company. The post BBE 053 – John T. Meyer | CEO & Co-Founder Lemonly | Business Buff Entrepreneurs appeared first on Business Buff Entrepreneurs.
How can you use infographics and visuals to improve and enhance on an audio message? We speak to our guest the CEO and co-founder of Lemonly, John T. Meyer. The post Enhancing Your Audio Using Infographics appeared first on the Music Radio Creative.
How can you use infographics and visuals to improve and enhance on an audio message? We speak to our guest the CEO and co-founder of Lemonly, John T. Meyer.
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