Podcasts about panic management

“I was willing to always forgo money for the sake of doing the right thing… and I think having good principles and having good ethics has helped me stay in business.” This week, Parker chats with Jess Tyson about her financial journey. Jess is a mother, author, speaker, community builder, and proud Director of Calm at Don't Panic Management. She founded Don't Panic in 2011, and became the first virtual assistant company to take a people-first approach to matchmaking between overworked executives and talented assistants. She's been growing her team of kind, generous, brilliant task-kickers ever since. In 2018, she wrote and published Panic Proof: How the Right Virtual Assistant Can Grow Your Business and Save Your Sanity, and has since launched Panic Proof Radio, the podcast, and the Panic Proof Blueprint, the one-day intensive, for struggling owners who need a hand with delegation best practices. Her life is often a whirlwind of wrangling her two young kids, speaking at events, organizing meetups, and building out her latest project, the Georgetown Collective, which is a carefully curated coworking and community space in the heart of Georgetown, CT. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Jess and her business: Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessostroff/ Sign up for the Panic-Proof Blueprint: https://dontpanicmgmt.com/panic-proof-blueprint/ Check out her podcast, Panic-Proof Radio: http://panicproofradio.com Download the mini-workbook: https://dontpanicmgmt.ac-page.com/blueprint-mini-workbook

The VA Advantage For Your Media and Speaking - VAs speaking can turbocharge your business and your income.  I'm talking with Jess Tyson - founder and "Director of Calm" at Don't Panic Management - and a speaker at the Break Through with Media summit, June 14-16.In this conversation Jess sharesthe role media and speaking VAs can play in your strategyhow she came to be a leading expertsome examples of people using media and speaking VAs effectively, andmore!We're going even deeper on this at the summit - and all the other facets of your media, speaking, PR and publicity strategyThe BREAK THROUGH WITH MEDIA Summit is a FREE, virtual event, June 14 - 16, offering live interactive sessions with experts in the fields of media like television, podcasting, radio, magazine, and news, speaking, publicity, and PR to help entrepreneurs, authors, and start-ups quickly understand how they can step their brand up to more prestigious, credible platforms, stages, and pagesWe want to provide an interactive expo experience for your to get the big picture, see the opportunities for you, and meet knowledgeable experts that can make this the year you have the break through you've been dreaming of.

Andrew Nauenburg + Zac Dominguez chat with Jess Tyson on the Superhero Syndrome, Organizational Values and Communication, Auditing Your Time, and Self-Awareness--Jess Tyson is the founder and proud Director of Calm at Don't Panic Management. She is obsessed with building successful relationships between virtual assistants and executives because she has seen firsthand how these relationships can make all the difference. Her life is often a whirlwind of wrangling her toddler, speaking at conferences (virtual and beyond!), researching productivity hacks, and meticulously making matches between overworked entrepreneurs and focused virtual assistants. Jess's first book, Panic Proof: How the Right Virtual Assistant Can Save Your Sanity and Grow Your Business is available now: panicproofbook.comFull show notes heycoachpodcast.com/jess

Lee LeBreton is a multi-talented creator. As a playwright, actor, and producer in the New York theater scene, finding a flexible job that allows him to pay the bills is paramount. After moving to the city following grad school, he considered the prototypical day-job gig waiting tables, but fortunately, a number of Lee's friends were already doing some virtual assistant work with a young Don't Panic Management. Since joining the team, Lee's found an interesting symbiosis between creative work and virtual assistant life. He writes, produces podcasts, manages social media, and does graphic design for clients—all work that plays directly into his talents as a playwright and theater producer. Plus, Lee is able to apply what he's learned about marketing writing to his work as a theater producer, promoting performances online. Hear more about how Lee's created harmony across all areas of life in this episode of Panic-Proof Radio. Key Takeaways VA work can feed your other interests and vice versa. Lee's skills as a voiceover artist help him edit podcasts for clients. Social media marketing tips he's learned from clients empower Lee to promote the artistic work of the nonprofits he partners with. Finding your remote work groove is part life hacks and part knowing thyself. Yes, learn about the Pomodoro Technique. But also pay attention to your own body and energy levels and let those guide you. Make the effort to connect on a deeper level with your colleague. Whether you're the VA or the boss, you'll feel more invested in the work when you have a stronger understanding of what makes your coworker tick. Resources From This Episode Learn more about Lee LeBreton Follow Lee on Twitter Follow Lee on Instagram And learn more about Don't Panic Management's Panic Proof Blueprint here.

Freelance science journalist Catherine Price has worked for herself almost her entire career. Since she's always been a team of one, she never considered the possibility of hiring help. She was vaguely familiar with the concept of virtual assistants, but she thought they were people who could help with calendar management or booking flights. The things Catherine needed a hand with weren't logistical, so she assumed she would be doing it all by herself forever. That is until she met a fellow freelancer on a work trip abroad. A conversation with this compatriot about how she used a VA to help her stay on top of all her work opened Catherine's eyes to the possibility of partnering with a VA. Now, Catherine credits her VA relationship with reducing stress in her life, something she knows a lot about: It's her area of focus in her scientific writing. Key Takeaways Virtual assistants can do so much more than just logistical tasks. If you think it's all calendar and inbox management, think again! Ask the VAs or agencies you interview about their full suite of offerings. It's probably broader than you think. Be open to constantly refining your way of working with your VA. Keep the lines of communication open, and enjoy the process of finding new efficiencies together. Your virtual assistant is a person with thoughts, feelings, and a life outside of work. Be sure to treat them like one! Resources From This Episode Learn more about Catherine Price Learn more about Screen/Life Balance Join the Fun Squad Follow Catherine on Twitter Follow Catherine on Instagram And learn more about Don't Panic Management's Panic-Proof Blueprint here.

Digital futurist, keynote speaker, and multi-hyphenate Brian Fanzo has done a lot of soul-searching over the years. He knows that being brutally honest with yourself is one of the keys to successful entrepreneurship (and successful human-hood, honestly). He has done many of the things we at Don't Panic Management recommend to those who are thinking about hiring a VA. He's tracked his time to see where his hours go each week. He's identified the tasks he dreads doing that could probably be delegated. But Brian has come out on the other side of this work still firm in his conviction that a VA is not the right fit for him right now. Hear why that is on his episode. Key Takeaways Self-awareness is the key to a better life—personally and professionally. Be so honest with yourself that you uncover things you wouldn't want your closest friends, partner, or family to know. Hiring a VA isn't really about what the hire gives you back, it's about what you aren't forced to give up when you have a second set of hands. Learn how to block your time in a way that makes sense for you. Morning person? Do your heavy-lifting in the AM. Night owl? Do strategic deep-dives after the rest of the household is asleep. There is no one-size-fits-all model for productivity. Resources From This Episode Learn more about Brian Fanzo Learn more about iSocialFanz Connect with Brian on LinkedIn Follow Brian on Twitter Follow Brian on Instagram And learn more about Don't Panic Management's Panic-Proof Blueprint here.

Louisa Mfum-Mensah found her way to VA work because she was eager to tap into different parts of her brain and expand her productivity and expertise outside of her 9-to-5 job. She's since become one of our expert VAs at Don't Panic Management, and while Louisa's clients get a lot from working with her, she gets something equally valuable in return. In addition to supporting women entrepreneurs she admires, Louisa says that her VA work has exposed her to new interests. Being a VA has helped her realize how much she enjoys strategy, operations, and implementation work. It's even opened up a new career path for her: She recently accepted the role of Director of Executive Operations with the Urban Affairs Coalition, the largest nonprofit organization in Philadelphia. Hear more about Louisa's journey as a VA, how she remains positive and focused with so much on her plate, and why she's so passionate about serving her VA clients. Key Takeaways When a VA is invested in their client's work, the client's wins are a VA's wins, too. An invested VA will go the extra mile to find the best possible solution to any problem. The best VAs are people who can anticipate what's coming and help their clients plan accordingly. When starting with a VA, invest in the relationship-building. It is a personal relationship, and you need to take the time to build that trust, so everything else can fall into place seamlessly. Resources From This Episode Connect with Louisa on LinkedIn Follow Louisa on Twitter And learn more about Don't Panic Management's Panic-Proof Blueprint here.

Author, speaker, entrepreneur, and thought leader Nilofer Merchant is passionate about the benefits that hiring a virtual assistant can provide to solopreneurs. For Nilofer, it's about more than knowing your flight itinerary is correct and a car will be waiting for you at the airport. It's bigger than waking up to a tidy inbox with only the emails you want to see. Yes, those are some of the tangible benefits of hiring a virtual assistant, but Nilofer sees even deeper value. Making the decision to bring a VA on board opens you up to a world of new possibilities. “Until you learn to value yourself, you can't offer your highest value to the world,” she says. Key Takeaways Working with a VA allows greater consistency in your work. You set the rules of engagement, and you pass them off to your VA to execute with consistency. By having a VA help manage communications, Nilofer's day is now completely within her control. It's driven by her agenda, rather than the competing priorities of others that appear in her inbox. Many entrepreneurs enjoy being in service to others, and hiring a VA may seem antithetical to that. But when you hire help, you can then engage with people on a deeper level and offer your highest value to the world. Resources From This Episode Visit Nilofer Merchant's website Follow Nilofer on Twitter Follow Nilofer on Instagram Subscribe to Nilofer's advice column And learn more about Don't Panic Management's Panic-Proof Blueprint here.

Heather Whaling founded Geben Communication at her dining room table. As she's built the company over the years, she's discovered that a business's needs change as it grows. Heather shares the story of first seeking the help of a virtual assistant in the early days, and eventually realizing she'd outgrown virtual support and was in need of in-person assistance as her team's physical footprint expanded. Key Takeaways What's right for your business in the beginning won't always be right as you grow. Don't be afraid to make necessary changes. Open communication and trust are essential elements to any professional relationship. Surrounding yourself with the right people not only allows you to achieve your business goals; it also empowers you to give back to your team and community at large. Resources From This Episode Visit the Geben Communication website Follow Heather on Twitter And learn more about Don't Panic Management's Panic-Proof Blueprint here.

Kimberly Voorhis had always worked in a traditional office setting, so when she first heard about virtual work she thought it was crazy. But outside of work, Kimberly is also a loving foster mom, and when she and her husband opened their homes and hearts to three children, Kimberly was suddenly struggling to manage the commute and 9 to 5 life she was accustomed to. That's when she decided to give virtual assistant life a try, and she hasn't looked back since. Being a virtual assistant empowers her to be present in all aspects of her life--work and personal. Kimberly shares more about what keeps her motivated and why she loves having a flexible job that allows her to pursue the life she loves. Key Takeaways Find the right virtual assistant for your working style. Do you need someone to be on-call throughout the day, or are you looking for someone to do in-depth research that can happen outside of office hours? No matter what you need, there's a VA for that! We're all human, and we're all striving toward the same goal: to do fulfilling work that allows us to live a great life. Going into the working relationship with that fundamental understanding and a respect for where others are coming from sets you up for success. Give your VA the backstory. Providing them with the full context on any task empowers them to do the work efficiently and effectively. Resources From This Episode Follow Kimberly on Instagram And learn more about Don't Panic Management's Panic-Proof Blueprint here.

Like many ambitious entrepreneurs, Amy Landino (author, speaker, and founder of AmyTV and Aftermarq) started her business all by herself, armed with nothing more than her grit and determination. As time went on, she took on more and more responsibility and found herself struggling to delegate. After finally reaching a breaking point, Amy decided to hire outside help, and she hasn't looked back! She sits down with Jess Tyson to talk about the moment she realized she needed a hand, how she's learned to delegate, and what advice she has for overworked entrepreneurs. Key Takeaways Ambition and grit are great qualities when starting a business, but when it comes to scaling, you need to shift your mindset from wanting to do everything to knowing what to delegate. Start small. If you're nervous about working with a VA, it's okay to delegate a little bit at a time. As you get to know your VA better, you'll feel more comfortable handing off even more tasks. Understand your employees' motivations. (Hint: It's not always about money.) When you can give each team member what they want, you boost their commitment to the work and the brand. Resources From This Episode Visit Amy's website Vist the AmyTV YouTube channel Follow Amy on Twitter Follow Amy on Instagram And learn more about Don't Panic Management's Panic-Proof Blueprint here.

Ann Handley has built a massive following for herself in the world of marketing by building an approachable personal brand. So the thought of asking someone to help her with behind-the-scenes tasks was terrifying. Did this mean she wouldn't be approachable Ann anymore? Fortunately, Ann took the plunge and hasn't looked back. She visits the show to share what it was like learning to relinquish control and what's she's learned is possible when running a business with a trusted assistant by your side. Key Takeaways A great VA is like a spouse (or perhaps a skilled therapist). They provide support that goes well beyond logistics and can act as a supportive but non-partisan sounding board for business decisions. The “virtual” piece of a virtual assistant opens entrepreneurs up to finding the right talent beyond the bounds of their hometown. Even if you run a seasonal business, it's important to have support year-round. In fact, Ann finds that when she's in the “off-season” for her speaking work, having a VA allows her to take on special projects that lay the groundwork for long-term growth. Resources From This Episode Visit Ann's website Visit the MarketingProfs website Follow Ann on Twitter Connect with Ann on Instagram And learn more about Don't Panic Management's Panic-Proof Blueprint here.

Jay Baer founded his second company, Convince & Convert, out of his bedroom. He knew he needed some assistance running operations, but given his office setup, he preferred to keep it virtual. A Twitter job posting led Jay to connect with Jess Tyson, and the rest is history. They sit down today to discuss their shared journey into the world of virtual assisting, and how having help frees Jay up to focus on what he's uniquely qualified to do. Key Takeaways Delegation is hard, especially if you're used to working alone. You need to make a conscious plan to relinquish more and more control over time. There's a difference between working in your business and working on it. Hiring a VA allows you to focus on the high-level things, like growth and strategy, that you are uniquely qualified to do. What you choose to delegate is up to you. Jay maintains control of his calendaring, which might be the first thing you would want to hand off! It's up to you to decide how and when to delegate. Resources From This Episode Visit Jay's website Vist Convince & Convert's website Follow Jay on Twitter Follow Jay on Instagram And learn more about Don't Panic Management's Panic-Proof Blueprint here.

Jess Tyson, Founder and Director of Calm at Don't Panic Management is an entrepreneur herself, so she understands the challenges that come along with running a business. On Panic Proof Radio, she'll dive deep into the lives of entrepreneurs, speakers, authors, agency owners, professional service providers, VPs, and more to hear how they are working with a VA, getting out of their own way, and living a life they love.

Have you ever wished that you had a team member dedicated to helping manage your day, your email, your commitments, and your goals? When we have someone in the office, they often get usurped by other teams or the crisis of the day. That’s one of the many advantages of working with a virtual assistant. Many agency owners are enjoying added productivity and peace of mind that comes with someone always having their back thanks to their VA! My guest Jess Tyson takes a people-first approach to virtual assistant matchmaking. She facilitates the connection and establishes a professional relationship so you can start delegating and focusing on your highest priorities.. Jess is also the author of Panic Proof: How the Right Virtual Assistant Can Save Your Sanity and Grow Your Business, a speaker, and the Director of Calm at Don’t Panic Management. In this episode of Build a Better Agency, we talk about how virtual assistants can help you get your calm on. VAs are a flexible commitment that ebbs and flows with your agency. Most agency owners I know use VAs to increase their efficiency and effectiveness, and VAs can become trusted members of your team if you approach the relationship the right way. It’s an option worth considering and my goal with this episode is to broaden your sense of what’s possible with a VA by your figurative side! A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here: https://www.whitelabeliq.com/ami/ What You Will Learn in this Episode: How Jess’s new operations audit can help people figure out where to best spend their time and relegate, automate, or delegate the rest How VAs work and how the relationships are structured What Jess looks for as she searches for a client’s VA The advantages of hiring a virtual assistant over a traditional admin Why agency owners need to delegate How a VA can manage your biggest time-suck; emails Ways to Contact Jess Tyson: Website: https://www.dontpanicmgmt.com/ Twitter: @jessostroff LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/don’t-panic-management-llc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dontpanicmgmt

Visit friedmansocialmedia.com for complete show notes of every podcast episode.   Jess Ostroff Tyson is a global entrepreneur, author, speaker, owner of Don't Panic Management as well as Director of Calm. Don't Panic Management sets the bar as a virtual assistant agency with its people-first approach to success in the virtual assistant arena.    Jess wrote the book, “Panic Proof: How the Right Virtual Assistant Can Save Your Sanity and Grow Your Business” available online at the bookstore of your choosing.

This week’s guest is Jess Ostroff, founder and Director of Calm at Don’t Panic Management, a people-first virtual assistant agency founded in 2011. In addition to running the Don’t Panic team, she’s also a speaker and author of Panic Proof: How the Right Virtual Assistant Can Save Your Sanity and Grow Your Business. The post EP 140: Paying Attention To The Red Flags With Don’t Panic Management Founder Jess Ostroff appeared first on What Works.

Nowadays, business owners face a relentless workload of pressing tasks and impossible deadlines. More often than not, it can feel like a cascading avalanche is about to come crashing down on you. A lot of people in a situation like this one, find themselves asking “How can I manage all of this on my own?” In this episode, my good friend Jess Ostroff joins the show to talk about her growth as a personal brand entrepreneur, building her business ‘ (http://www.dontpanicmgmt.com/) ’ and how virtual assistants are making a HUGE difference. This is a first for Youpreneur FM and for me personally, having been known as the ‘go to’ person for all things virtual team building and virtual assistants for a long time I’ve never interviewed someone on one of my specialist subjects! Jess identifies herself as an ‘anti-rule follower’ and has always strived to help people get out of their own way so that they can discover their true potential. She launched ‘Don’t Panic Management’ in 2011 and it has quickly become one of the most successful virtual assistant businesses online today. Essential Learning Points From This Episode: Think of a virtual assistant as a ‘thoughtful partner’ and someone who you can trust and rely on to help grow your business Even self-proclaimed ‘workaholics’ need to find the balance between work and family life because working 24/7 is not sustainable We are only as good as our bodies, so put your health FIRST and your business SECOND If you aren’t doing a certain task yourself that doesn’t make you a failure Spend time creating systems and processes that other people can follow Writing a book is the easiest way to position yourself as a thought leader Half of the US workforce will be virtual by 2020 Hiring somebody regardless of their location is one of the biggest barriers employers have to overcome if they want to grow their business without restrictions You don’t have to be located in the ‘big cities’ to make a difference Much, much more! Important Links & Mentions From this Episode: (http://www.dontpanicmgmt.com/) (http://jessostroff.com/panic-proof/) (http://www.virtualfreedombook.com/) (http://www.youpreneursummit.com/) (http://riseoftheyoupreneur.com/) Personal Branding Roadmap Sign-up for the FREE Youpreneur Launchpad Training Course (https://www.youpreneur.com/) Thank You for Tuning In!  There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose mine, and I’m grateful for that. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to  (http://www.chrisducker.com/itunes) , they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! To find out more about this episode with Jess, click here.

Jess Ostroff is a writer, speaker, and proud Director of Calm. Her company, Don’t Panic Management, is the agency that embodies a people-first approach to virtual assistant success. Since 2011, she’s been making the best possible matches between chaotic, overworking entrepreneurs and focused, calm virtual assistants. Her new book is ‘Panic Proof: How the Right Virtual Assistant Can Save Your Sanity and Grow Your Business’. In this conversation, Jess talks with Erik about relegating, automating and delegating with Virtual Assistants. She also shares what expectations you should have a virtual assistant, and what expectations they should have of you. Mentioned in this Episode: Ziprecruiter Don’t Panic Management Panic Proof: How the Right Virtual Assistant Can Save Your Sanity and Grow Your Business Please connect with me Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes Follow @ErikJFisher Check out more Noodle.mx Network showsThe Audacity to Podcast: "How-to" podcast about podcastingBeyond the To-Do List: Personal and professional productivityThe Productive Woman: Productivity for busy womenONCE: Once Upon a Time podcastWelcome to Level Seven: Agents of SHIELD and Marvel’s cinematic universe podcastAre You Just Watching?: Movie reviews with Christian critical thinkingthe Ramen Noodle: Family-friendly clean comedy

Launching Business of Story two years ago at the young age of 55, I realized that I was the proverbial middle-aged-one-arm-paperhanger finding clients, serving their needs, marketing my wares and paying the bills. Personally, not a pretty story. Then I decided to add this podcast. Why not? I already wasn't sleeping at night. May as well use that time for something productive. Plus, it took my attention away from my churning belly. Do you know the feeling? If you're a purpose-driven solopreneur, a startup founder or leader of a young growing enterprise, you know how quickly important but worthless (at least to your growth) tasks can define you.  With the weight of the world on our shoulders, it often seems impossible to find someone able to do what you do. But there is a solution. With the right help, you can take back your life and focus what is most important. Jess Ostroff is our special guest this week. She is one of the first virtual team members to help start the Business of Story Podcast. Her invaluable help made our show a reality. And me a helluva a lot saner. As founder of Don’t Panic Management and author of the new book, Panic Proof: How the Right Virtual Assistant Can Save Your Sanity and Grow Your Business, Jess is a business veteran who started her business to help coordinate business leaders with the right virtual assistant. Don't Panic Managment helps overworked leaders minimize stress, and create a better flow for the company. Today she’s bringing her set of values and storytelling techniques to help you build a better brand and jumpstart your new, focused life. BTW, her book is one of the best examples of storytelling in business and branding that I've seen since reading Phil Knight's memoir, Shoe Dog. Only Jess' is funnier and much more endearing as she strolls the shoals of mayhem and mastery. Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story, check out: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/vn00zi042y Keynote Speaker | Brand Strategy & Workshops | Story Raconteur Park Howell is an international keynote speaker who teaches people and organizations across the world the applied science and bewitchery of story. He makes brand stories crystal clear through his proven Story Cycle system that works every single time that's helped companies grow as much as 400 percent.  International brands Park's worked with include Hilton, Coca-Cola, Beyer Pharmaceutical, Cummins Diesel, American Express, American Marketing Association, Arizona State University, United States Air Force and dozens more. Learn more about working with Park to get your brand story straight.  

Jess Ostroff is the proud Director of Calm at Don’t Panic Management, the first virtual assistant agency to embody a people-first approach to virtual assistant success. Since 2011, she’s been making matches between chaotic, overworked entrepreneurs and focused, calm virtual assistants. Offering services that span from administrative assistance to marketing support, she finds deep joy in making a difference through service. When she’s not speaking, writing, or researching productivity hacks, you can find Jess trying new recipes, tasting wine, searching for the next great music festival to attend, or playing with her labradoodle, Hummus. To find out more and get access to more content click here More ways to get involved If you have found anything useful in this episode, then please leave a comment and rate the show.  If you would like to ask Geoff a question or suggest a topic to cover on the show, please email him at podcast@geoffnicholson.co.uk Get all the latest information about the show at the shows (http://facebook.com/successiqpodcast) and join in on some of the Facebook Lives, it would be lovely to see you there 

Jess Ostroff, Director of Calm at Don't Panic Management, joins the Content Experience Show to discuss finding your specialization and her new book, Panic Proof.   Special thanks to our sponsors: Vidyard Uberflip Convince & Convert: Four Ways to Fix Your Broken Content Marketing   In This Episode Why it's better to find your specialization rather than trying to be a “Jack or Jill of all trades” How to find someone's specialization How to structure your or your employee's time to utilize specializations while preventing burnout How to strategically plan out and prioritize your ideas   Resources Panic Proof Don't Panic Management Agile Sherpas Visit ContentProsPodcast.com for more insights from your favorite content marketers.

How a Virtual Assistant Can Save Your Sanity and Grow Your Business written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing Marketing Podcast with Jess Ostroff Podcast Transcript My guest for this week’s episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is Jess Ostroff. She is the Founder and Director of Calm at Don’t Panic Management, the first virtual assistant agency to embody a people-first approach to virtual assistant success. She and I discuss her new book, […]

I was struck by one theme that kept appearing in the past 100 Business of Story episodes – How stories transport us. A true story well told connects emotionally and inspires. It moves people. Aligns teams. Connects with customers. Grows revenue. And will amplify your impact. [caption id="attachment_23298" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Image from a favorite Photoshop artists, James Popsys, who explored visual storytelling on the Business of Story podcast.[/caption] Thank you for listening to the Business of Story. I've enjoyed all of your wonderful notes about the impact the show and our guests have had on you. And how you have grown as storytellers to literally nudge the world in any direction you choose. You rock! Now, I want to up the ante, to go all in by refining, clarifying and focusing my own Business of Story story. To help you do the same in your business.  From episodes 102 and beyond, nothing in the Business of Story will make sense except in the light of connection: helping purpose-driven leaders like you clarify your story to grow revenue and amplify your impact in the world by connecting you with your audiences, and moving them to action, through the power of true business stories well told. This is my singular focus for the Business of Story, and it has taken me 100 episodes to finally arrive at this focus. Plus, a great deal of help from my good friend, Greg Head. More on that, and him, in a bit. What you’ll get out of this show: How to find and articulate the unique purpose that drives you and your organization. How to clarify that story with lots of examples and resources for you. How to use the impact you’ll make as the launching point for the epic growth of your organization. You see, after 100 amazing guests – story artists from around the world who have been on our show helping you craft and tell compelling stories that sell – this theme of igniting the growth of purpose-driven leaders through the power of story has expressed itself. I realized that some of my favorite episodes were with people whose personal stories were much larger than their brand story, and in fact, influenced the direction of their organizations. Like Vincent Stanley, for instance. He’s the Director of Philosophy for the outdoor retailer, Patagonia. He was one of my first guests back in July of 2015. And he talked about how Patagonia essentially invented story marketing in their first product catalogs when they opened in 1973. Their mission is to turn customers into activists to help protect our wilderness. A pretty important purpose, especially for an outdoor company. Another episode I refer to often is the one I did with Hollywood story consultant, Jen Grisanti. She wrote an amazing book called Change Your Story, Change Your Life. Jen not only teaches and coaches movie and TV screenwriters how to perfect their craft but also how to live into a bigger story. This episode explores the important question: “What is your personal dilemma connected to your professional pursuit?” What’s the conflict in your story and how does your brand help your customers overcome that conflict to get what they want? No conflict no story. How about the conflict around the stuff cramming your home? Michele and I are in the process of a move, and mucking out 30 years of stuff is a major pain in the ass. Brian Scudamore, the founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, joined to talk about how he grew the brand to become worth in the neighborhood of a quarter-billion dollars all on the premise that he is not in the junk business, but the leadership business that happens to haul junk. Now that’s a focused, purpose-driven business. I’ve learned that if you truly want to live into a bigger story for your personal and professional brand, then you must find a purpose greater than yourself to serve. The purpose of the Business of Story has always been to help people live into and prosper from their most powerful story. But that line is too vague for some people.  It ultimately comes down to helping leaders of purpose-driven organizations clarify their story of growing their revenue and amplifying their impact. I know I’m repeating myself from the top of the show, but I want to be crystal clear with you what this is all about. And, I want to underscore that it is critically important for you, too, to be “crystal clear” with your personal or professional brand story. Because if you’re not, you will drown in the sea of sameness that we all compete in. And I’ve found that when you get your brand story straight, everything else comes into alignment.  Everything else gets easier. You say “no” to more things and “yes” to the fewer, but the most important, things. My Origin Story Two years ago I was a total story geek. Ok, I still am. My goal for the first 100 episodes was to help you understand and appreciate the power of storytelling in your business and in your life so that you would become more intentional about it; connect with people at a deeper level; and advance your visions and mission further faster. I had the help of my friend Jay Baer at Convince & Convert who helped me produce and distribute my first year-and-a-half worth of shows with great people like Jess Ostroff of Don’t Panic Management. The past 20 or so shows have been produced by Brian Adoff of Riveting FM out of Philadelphia. He has brought a musician’s ear to the quality of the production and some terrific marketing insight as well. Thanks for that, Brian. Lisa Loeffler of Genuine Media has assisted me in the distribution and advertising for the show, as well as my speaking engagements: an invaluable part of my team. I can’t recommend these two enough if you need to build a virtual team. My focus has been on sharing how stories work, the architecture of epic stories, and how to use them in your business. If you’re an avid listener, then you probably know my story by now. So here’re the cliff notes… I’ve been in advertising for more than 30 years, ran my own agency for 20 years, and for the past 15 years, I have been steeped in business storytelling. My deep dive into brand storytelling began around 2004 when I noticed that our traditional advertising work wasn’t nearly as effective as it used to be. As I often say in my speaking engagements and workshops; “Brands used to own the influence of mass media, but now the masses are the media, and they are your brand storytellers. You and your brand must become the story maker.” One of my favorite examples of a brand doing this very thing is AirBnB. They do a heroic job of placing their customers – both their homeowners and guests – at the center of their brand story. Then they make it easy for them to share their stories. I love their tagline, Belong Anywhere. AirBnB is selling inclusion and freedom: two pretty dynamic concepts, and an especially powerful purpose, given this moment – and let’s hope it’s just a moment – in Trump time. By the way, have you seen Sweden’s latest story marketing campaign? The country just listed itself on AirBnB and its purpose is plain to see: "Explore the Freedom to Roam.”  Sure, they’re ultimately going after tourists, but they do it with such a beautiful purpose that plays to the sensibilities of reasonable and fun loving people. Take a listen, and then go to our show notes to see the video. Ok, so I digressed a bit. I get so excited when I come across smart story marketing. I was telling you my story about how I realized the impact you can have when you become an intentional storyteller: Telling stories on purpose. I learned that storytelling held the key to reconnecting with audiences, so I started studying everything I could find on the subject. It really started in 2006. Our middle son Parker went to film school at Chapman University in Orange, CA. I asked him to send me his textbooks when he was finished with them – after all, we were paying for them – so I could learn what Hollywood knew about captivating audiences through story. Plus, I suppose I wanted to vet this college education to see how Chapman prepared eager filmmakers to be competitive in the most competitive storytelling market in the world: Hollywood. I realize now that this was my creative right brain diving into storytelling. At the same time, our youngest son Caed had to undergo brain surgery to reduce swelling in his ventricles. During the run up to survey, Caed went through a battery of tests, and Michele and I read everything we could absorb about the brain and how it functions under the significant stress of encephalitis. One of the books I found, which has become my favorite on storytelling, is The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make us Human, by Jonathan Gottschall. In it, he explores the intersection of story structure with brain structure and how our minds yield helplessly to the suction of story. Jonathan became a long-distance friend of mine, has been kind enough to lecture twice to my students at Arizona State University, and he was also one of my first guests on the Business of Story podcast. In hindsight, I realized that I, too, was living at the intersection of right brain Hollywood storytelling and left brain story mechanics as I was learning from the journeys both of our sons were on. This is when I was introduced to Joseph Campbell and his universal story structure of The Hero’s Journey, and why it connects so powerfully with the deep reaches of our mind: the subconscious where our intuitive decisions are made that shape our beliefs and behaviors. Note: The creator of What makes a her0?, Matthew Winkler, joined us on the Business of Story podcast. Hear how he created one of the most watched videos in the TEDEd library. During this time between 2006 and 2010, I found myself at the crossroads of the neuroscience of storytelling – how we’re pre-wired from birth to make meaning through stories – with the architecture of stories – how to use them to connect with people on a very primal level and move them to action. Since then, our two boys are doing great. Caed is a healthy 23-year-old composer and producer of EDM, or Electronic Dance Music, and a DJ, and Parker is pursuing his dream of becoming a filmmaker in downtown Hollywood. He pays the bills as a sought after motion designer, and you can see his work in the new CBS game show, Candy Crush. Now that I was armed with the why and how of business storytelling, I created the Story Cycle system that is inspired by Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. Instead of his 17 steps, I’ve mapped it to 10 steps that any business can use for high-level brand story strategy development right down to tactical creative elements including TV spots, web user experience design, blog posts, print ads, sales presentations… you name it. [caption id="attachment_23305" align="alignright" width="300"] Download your DIY Brand Story workbook.[/caption] I was so excited to share with the world what I had learned, and the success we were having with our clients, that I began pursuing all of the brightest minds in storytelling to share their brilliance with you. To be totally honest, I was being self-serving, too, Because I get to learn right along with you with every episode. That alone makes all of the cost and effort of a podcast worth it. One of my early successes was having legendary screenwriting coach, Robert McKee, on the show. We had such a wonderful conversation, he returned for an encore performance. By the way, you will find links to each of the episodes I mention in our show notes. I first met McKee when I attended his four-day Story Seminar in the LAX Sheraton in 2010. Parker joined me. He was there to advance his filmmaking screenwriting chops, along with about 200 of his competitors, and I was there to learn what a marketer like me could learn about Hollywood storytelling to make our creative more impactful.   After the seminar, McKee invited me to his Connecticut home to interview him for my podcast. Now, this was not for the Business of Story, but for my very first flailing attempt at podcasting. I had never done one before and I showed up in his living room with my little Zoom recorder and my wits. I placed the recorder between me and him on the sofa, and away we went. For three friggin’ hours. He was so kind and generous with his knowledge on screenwriting and how we can use it in our businesses, and I was making it up and learning as I went. This remarkable experience underscores a fundamental premise that Joseph Campbell talks about when you follow your bliss, and by bliss, he means the authentic story you have the courage to live into. “When you follow your bliss, doors will open where there were only walls before.” – Joseph Campbell Robert McKee and his lovely wife Mia, open their home and their world to me. And for that, I will be forever grateful. You can still listen to that session, edited into ten 10-minutes segments on Soundcloud. If you don’t know the man and his work, all you have to do is watch this scene in the Spike Jonze’ movie, Adaptation, starring Nicholas Cage as struggling screenwriter, Charlie Kaufman. Actor Brian Cox portrays McKee as he responds to Kaufman’s question during, presumably, his famous Story seminar. Any questions? Ok, take a deep breath. Another one of my favorites was a guy who epitomizes the intersection of science and story, and that is Dr. Randy Olson. He is a Harvard Ph.D. Biologist who also graduated from the USC film school. Randy has produced three documentaries on the environment and climate change and has written three books to help scientist become better communicators through the power of storytelling. His latest book, Houston, We Have a Narrative: Why Science Needs Story, is my favorite scientific look at storytelling.  The book focuses on the And, But and Therefore construct to creating stories. It’s so simple and yet so powerful. I call it the DNA of story. I’m honored to say that Randy has become a good friend, and he’s been on my show twice. The first time talking about the ABT. And his most recent appearance was the day after the election. He dissected Trump’s narrative intuition and why he won the election because he out-storied the Democrats. “America used to be great. America is no longer great. I’ll make America great again.” Three acts. Set up, problem, resolution. One that may become the most successful use of the ABT of all time. Olson’s Trump episode is one of my most listened to from around the world. I even had some friends reach out to me in disgust suggesting that I was capitalizing on Trump’s victory for my own Business of Story gain by highlighting his narrative intuition. My response to them, and you if you feel the same way, is that you must understand the magic to combat the spell. Listen to all of Trump’s ramblings through the lens of the basal ABT structure, and you’ll get a whole new appreciation for how he hoodwinks his base, goes against reason and demolishes the Democrats. The Dems simply don’t know how to connect with America through a story. Olson’s purpose is to advance science by helping big thinkers connect with the rest of us. His vehicle happens to be the ABT, the DNA of story. Another of my favorite authors is Lisa Cron, who wrote Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence. Lisa came on the show to explore the art and science of storytelling to help you with your brand narratives. While Lisa’s book is about guiding fiction writers in writing the next epic novel, Lee Gutkind, the founder of Creative Nonfiction and author of several books including, You Can’t Make This Stuff Up: The Complete Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction from Memoir to Literary Journalism, is the foremost authority on the art of sharing true stories well-told. These two approaches are important to brand storytelling because you want to tell true stories about how your product or service have empowered and leveled up your customers while using brain science to understand and appreciate how to craft and tell your stories.    Clarify your story, amplify your impact and simplify your life We’ve used the 10-step Story Cycle system to help Clinica Adelante reframe its brand story from a 30-year-old community health center to a national leader in sustainable healthcare, and they have grown by 300 percent in the past five years. Goodwill of Central Arizona has used or Story Cycle system to grow from 17 stories doing $24 million in annual sales in 2003 to nearly 100 stores doing north of $140 million in sales today, with the proceeds going to workforce development programs that help put a record number of Arizonans back to work. Their purpose? Good stuff, good work, Goodwill. Coca-Cola used our storytelling to launch an eco-driving program with its 60,000 fleet drivers and their staff in 2010. They double their expected gains in fuel efficiency in the first three months of the initiative. What do these three clients have in common? They all pursued a purpose greater than just selling products and services and making money. And they used intentional storytelling – telling stories on purpose – to achieve epic growth. That is the power of a purpose-driven organization over its traditional, status-quo competitor who focuses on the bottom line, short-term gains and investor returns over empowering the people and the communities it serves. Tell your stories on purpose That’s why now, as we move into our third year of producing the Business of Story podcast, our sole focus is to help leaders of purpose-driven organizations like yours clarify your story to grow revenue and amplify your impact. What we make is the proven Story Cycle system with tools and techniques to help you become an intentional storyteller. But what we make happen is helping you become a more powerful communicator, connect with audiences like you never have before, motivate and inspire people to action, and advance your mission, initiative or cause further, faster than you ever imagined. What we make happen is what drives our purpose: to help people live into and prosper from their most powerful stories. Learning moment: Are you telling brand stories about what you make, or what you make happen? Stories about the human impact you are having; how you are leveling them up. Stories about how you deliver on your ultimate brand purpose. You see, when you tell stories about what you make, your are immediately commoditizing yourself and your offering. You start to drown in the sea of sameness. But when you tell stories about what you make happen, then you will rise above the noise and be heard. Red Bull doesn’t sell you a highly addictive concoction of caffeine, taurine, and sugar. Their story Gives You Wings. Actually, the higher brand purpose was defined by its founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, when he started his company: “Red Bull gives wings to people and ideas.” Now isn’t that a bit more compelling than selling just an energy drink? It must be because Red Bull not only invented the category. They still own nearly half of the worldwide market for energy drinks. Let’s face it, without a good story that connects on a primal, visceral level with your audiences – making them truly feel something – then you’re just more noise in the cacophony of communication we all swim  – and drown – in. Without a focused story that clarifies the uniqueness, relevance, and urgency of your brand offering you will be marooned in the sea of sameness that we all encounter in this age of abundance. Your customers – just like my customers – simply have too many choices to choose from. What’s going to make you rise to the top of your food chain? Without a defined point to your story – a supreme focus on what you do better than anyone else buttressed by a compelling purpose – you will languish in the land of commoditization. In fact, declaring your number one position in the marketplace, what you do better than anyone else in terms of features and benefits, is your first step out of the primordial muck of commoditization. And your defined purpose is your lifeline. So I’m taking my own advice. As I mentioned, my friend Greg Head, who was the head of marketing for Infusionsoft and helped them become a $100 million dollar company in 10 years because of their extreme focus on sales and marketing software for small business, helped me define my brand focus of working with purpose-driven leaders. It’s important, too, because I am competing in an increasingly crowded industry of business storytelling.    Some of my competitors I admire most – some friends, some acquaintances, and some strangers – include Donald Miller and his StoryBrand process. I’ve done his program myself for my Business of Story brand. StoryBrand’s focus is to help small business grow their sales by clarifying their story on their websites. My interesting connection to Don, even though I’ve never met him, is that his best-selling book. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, and it’s overall theme of “What makes a great story also makes a great life,” had a profound impact on me as I was creating the Story Cycle system. In fact, I went to Don’s very first seminar in Portland in 2010, long before he created his StoryBrand process, to guide my thinking on how to help people live into their most powerful stories. In fact, I went to Don’s very first seminar in Portland in 2010, long before he created his StoryBrand process, to guide my thinking on how to help people live into their most powerful stories. Another terrific professional in the storytelling game, and a guy I count as a friend is Michael Margolis of GetStoried. When I think of Michael and the international work he does, I think of storytelling around innovation. He works with large, global brands, including the likes of Google, Deloitte, and NASA, to help them further innovation within their organizations. Michael is definitely the innovation story guy in my book. If you’re looking for business storytelling in the tech world with a twist, then I’d definitely send you to Kathy Klotz-Guest. If you’ve ever seen HBO’s Silicon Valley, Mike Judge’s hysterical TV series about, well, Silicon Valley, then you’ll get a sense of Kathy. She is a technology veteran, stand up comic and marketer extraordinaire who uses storytelling to help her clients curb what she calls, “jargon-monoxide,” you know, that curse-of-the-expert malady that puts audiences to sleep, or worse, with their inane use of jargon. She coined one of my favorite terms in Business Storytelling, Jargon-monoxide. These are just three of many fellow storytellers, each with a focused brand position: Don Miller’s StoryBrand for small businesses. Michael Margolis’ Get Storied for large organization innovation, and Kathy Klotz-Guest for the tech world.   By the way, you can hear both Michael and Kathy on my Business of Story show – again, see the show notes for links. And Don, consider this an open invitation to come on my show. Like Michael and Kathy, I admire your work and what you stand for. Hey, I even invested in your Blue Like Jazz movie. That was a brilliant crowd-sourced move, by the way, to raise your final quarter million to get the movie finished. Michele and I loved the movie, and it was great fun seeing our names among the thousands of executive producers. I help leaders tell their brand stories on purpose And me? My purpose is to help leaders of purpose-driven organizations like you clarify your story to drive revenue and amplify your success. And I deliver on my purpose in three different ways… I help you clarify your brand story through our proven Story Cycle system. In fact, if you tuned into my show two weeks ago, you heard me take Jonathan Barney through the Story Cycle system to clarify his brand story around his restaurant service training platform and focus his purpose of helping people live a tastier life. In addition to clarifying your brand story, I also offer the Storytelling for Leaders and Storytelling for Sales 6-month deliberate practice training programs. Once your brand story is crystal clear, these programs help you find and tell the stories that shape the behaviors that create the culture that drives epic performance. Around your purpose. Essentially, we help you find the true stories within your brand and show you how to tell them well in your advertising, marketing and sales to connect with your audiences. True stories well told. The Storytelling for Leaders and Storytelling for Sales deliberate practice programs come from another amazing story outfit, this time in Melbourne, Australia. Shawn Callahan and Mark Schenk created these programs 13 years ago and have worked with brands around the world to build storytelling cultures. This offering is the ideal extension to the Business of Story, and I have become a certified partner delivering these proven programs. Why do purpose-driven organizations need to practice business storytelling now, more than ever, to amplify your impact? Because business is more complex than ever.  How do you describe your place in the world to your staff, employees, customers, shareholders and other stakeholders when so much external chaos impacts you?   Chaos like growing competition in this time of abundance A widening economic divide between the haves and have-nots The significant environmental and social impacts of climate change Social injustice and unrest A White House and its cronies that appear hell bent on alienating America from the rest of the world In fact, I spent 12 days in The Netherlands a couple of weeks ago working with our ASU students. Guess what the prevailing sentiment is towards our president? I heard this from business leaders, bureaucrats, and bartenders. They ask all in their own way: “How did you Americans let this happen and what are you going to do about it?” You don’t think this president is going to impact your business, think again. And what stories are you telling your employees to keep them all focused on your purpose to grow your sales and amplify your impact: the three things you actually have control over? I’m afraid power points, infographics, snapchats and tweets aren’t going to do it for you anymore. By the way, I reminded our students in Amsterdam that power points don’t kill audiences. Presenters using bullets in power points do. Don’t believe me? Just listen to Janine Kurnoff of the Presentation Company on Business of Story to learn how to bring storytelling to all of your communications so you can cut through the clutter and connect.   Or tune into Nick Gray of Museum Hack on how to bring adventure to your brand through storytelling. And on that note, take in my conversation with the ultimate conspirator to business success, Robert Rose on why you must turn your adjectives and adverbs into adventures in your story marketing. Stories connect in our disconnected world Another reason why story is more important now than ever is that our uberly connected world has created a massive malady. Attention Deficit Disorder is now a communicable disease, and we’re all the viruses. Our connected world has ironically made us all less connected in human terms. I had a fascinating guest on about a month ago. His name is Jordan Bower, a Transformational Storytelling Consultant, and Corporate Intimacy Expert. Ahhh, see his unique positioning… his fine point… his focused purpose: Transformational Storytelling Consultant and Corporate Intimacy Expert? On my show, Jordan told me about his girlfriend breaking up with him in the summer of 2010. Devastated, he did what we would ALL do in this circumstance: he walked from Seattle to Mexico along the Pacific Ocean.  Right? During his four-month odyssey to find himself, Jordan came across thousands of people. He shared coffee, meals, campfires, and beers with folks from all walks of life: from hobos and hillbillies to surfer dudes, to housewives, tech titans and I’m sure there was a social media guru or two in there as well. I asked him what the common theme was among these disparate people. What do you think he said? I asked him what the common theme was among these disparate people. What do you think he said? Jordan told me that to a person, the common sentiment was alienation and loneliness. He learned on his trek that these dopamine pumps we call iPhones and Androids, that promise to connect us with the world, actually create greater isolation. One intense symptom is FOMO, or the fear of missing out. What we’re missing in our over-communicated world is authentic, person-to-person interaction. If Gottschall said, “Our minds yield helplessly to the suction of story,” then I believe our hearts crave bonding with real people. Jordan’s point of people feeling alienated and lonely is not the first time I’ve heard this theme. But it struck me hard on this show. I even created a manifesto of sorts just to help me get my head around this phenomenon. I call it: The Virtual Connection Myth. "Our digital dopamine pumps artificially reward us for superficial online interactions masking an epidemic of alienation and loneliness people suffer as their storytelling skills atrophy in the absence of authentic human connection in the real world." OMG, am I suffering from jargon-monoxide? My point is this: The most powerful story will ever tell is in-person. If you can’t be in front of the water cooler with your audience, then the second most powerful story you can tell is first person, online. Tell me a story with a time stamp, when did it happen, a location stamp, where did it happen, real people as the characters. Give me action and adventure, surprise me, and then deliver your business point! And believe it or not, you can do this in 60 seconds or less.   On Thursday, June 26, I was giving a storytelling workshop for a bunch of  Dutch professionals who specialize in sustainability and the circular economy in Haarlemmermeer, Holland.  A young man named Max is an intern for one of the organizations and is about to graduate with his business degree in sustainability. I asked the gathering who their toughest audience was so we could work on stories to connect with them on their terms. Max told me it was his granddad. You see, his grandpa didn’t understand sustainability, didn’t believe in man-made global warming and told Max he was wasting his time with his foolish degree. I could tell he was crestfallen by not having his grandfather’s approval. So I instructed Max to use the Story Cycle to craft a story from his grandpa’s point-of-view and then challenged him to share his story over the weekend. I ran into Max four days later when our ASU cohort returned to Haarlemmermeer for another session. He had the widest smile on his face. I asked him “What’s up, dude?” He told me about having the conversation with his grandpa about climate change and how he used a hockey stick to demonstrate to the old man how carbon in our atmosphere has remained relatively balanced for millennia and then pointed to the curve end of the stick to demonstrate the man-made carbon we have pumped into the system over a short amount of time. “This was the first time my granddad ever understood what I was talking about,” Max proclaimed through his smile. “And I told him that fixing this problem is important to me and that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing.” I asked Max if his granddad likes hockey. “Loves it,” he said, with his smiling growing even wider. Smart young man, that Max. Understanding his audience and having such empathy for their point-of-view that he found a way to use a story to connect, change his beliefs, and earn his approval. By the way, I learned this basic structure to story with time and location stamps, characters, action, a surprise and point from my friends at Anecdote. And we cover it in great detail in our 6-month deliberate practice programs. The most invaluable FREE advice you'll ever get Now I’d like to help you clarify your brand story strategy, focus your purpose of growing your revenue and amplifying your impact. When I told my producer, Brian, who you met earlier in the show, about what I’m about to do, he actually said it might not work because it sounds too good to be true. Well, maybe. You’ll have to be the judge of that. What I am offering to you, with no strings attached, is a complimentary 30-minute phone call to demonstrate how quickly you can get your brand story straight. I promise it will be the most invaluable free advice for you, your business and organization that you have ever received. Register for your FREE Impact Call. I’ll help you clarify your story in 30 minutes or less. You have nothing to lose. What’s in it for me? I get to connect with real people, in real time and learn about your real needs. Our conversation, while helping you clarify your story to grow revenue and amplify your impact, will also help me better understand exactly what the market needs. What’s in it for me? I get to connect with real people, in real time and learn about your real needs. Our conversation, while helping you clarify your story to grow revenue and amplify your impact, will also help me better understand exactly what the market needs. This is a total win/win consulting call. You will be doing me a huge favor by helping me dial in my purpose: To help you live into and prosper from your most powerful story. This is a limited time offer, and I can tell you that not everyone is going to get the free impact call. If you’re in business just to make money, then I’d recommend you reach out to some of the other storytelling consultants. But if you’re into to truly amplifying your impact and empowering the people around you to live into and prosper from your story, then I’m your guy. Register now at our new and improved website, businessofstory.com. And if you want to get the most of the call, download your DIY Brand Story Workbook first. Outline yourstory. Then let's chat. And thank you for listening to this special, one hundred first episode of the Business of Story podcast. Gag, you’re probably hoping that I don’t return solo for another hundred shows. And one last request. We have 74 reviews on iTunes, and I’d love to push that over the 100 mark in celebration of our one hundred and first episode. Would you do me a huge and be one of those listeners that pushes us over the top of the century mark in reviews. It only takes minutes and would mean the world to me. I appreciate it. Finally, I want to remind you that regardless of what you do with your business, leadership and sales storytelling, that... "The most potent story you will ever tell is the story you tell yourself. So make it a good one." Thanks for listening, and until next Sunday, have a wonderful life.

I’m sure you can relate: Between family ties, work obligations, and my passions and hobbies, I often find myself wishing there were more hours in the day to tackle everything I want and need to get done. Especially if you own your own business, the portion of your life devoted to work obligations sometimes rules the roost, taking away precious amounts of time you could spend with family and friends.   Enter Jess Ostroff and her team of virtual assistants at Don’t Panic Management. Jess started working as a virtual assistant in 2009 (and eventually incorporating her business in 2011) because she wanted to help other people become more efficient. With that goal in mind, she has spent the better part of a decade guiding fellow entrepreneurs on the path to outsourcing all the day-to-day tasks that prevent them from focusing on their passions.   If you’ve been feeling overworked and overwhelmed, you won’t want to miss this episode. Tune in as Jess shares how finding the perfect virtual assistant you trust can help you scale your business for growth, be more intentional about your business, and get you back to doing the things you love most.   In This Episode The signs an entrepreneur is ready to outsource some of their workload How a virtual assistant can fit into your business model Which tasks you can (and should) outsource Why there is an assistant out there for every entrepreneur The importance of listening to your instincts   Quotes in This Episode “When you find someone that you really trust and that you can train and get really ‘on’ your team, there’s nothing better. Because you get so much of your time back and you get so much of your brain space back.” —Jess Ostroff   “A lot of people start their own businesses because.... [they] have a passion for something… And when your business becomes successful, all of a sudden you don’t even have time to work on that thing that you started your business for because all of the tasks of running that business get in your way.” —Jess Ostroff   “The cool thing is that there are so many different kinds of assistants out there now and so many different people who want to work virtually and have this lifestyle. So you can really find an assistant for anything that you want.” —Jess Ostroff   “Sometimes taking a risk is great, and it can work out really well for your business. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned… it’s listening to my gut and learning when to say yes, and more importantly when to say no.” —Jess Ostroff   “When you can slow down a little bit and be more intentional about your decision-making process and say, ‘Is this right for me,’ you’ll end up making better decisions for the long run.” —Jess Ostroff   Resources Don’t Panic Mgmt Email Jess Connect with Jess on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram  

Do you ever feel like you are completely maxed out? Where every second of your day is accounted for? You're putting in a minimum of 10 hours per day, but still feel like you only chipped away a fraction of your to-do list? You know you need help, but the thought of hiring an employee seems like more work than it's worth. Many of us feel this way. It's that growing pains before your realize how to successfully scale your business. In this episode I talk to Jess Ostroff, founder of Don't Panic Management, a virtual agency based in New York. She shares how she successfully implemented a virtual contractor model, grew her team to 15, and found more balance in her life. We also talk about how she has built and maintained company culture despite her team being spread throughout the country. Quote of the Week: “You don't build a business – you build people – and then people build the business.” ~Zig Ziglar For this week's Biz Hack and past episodes, head over to SuccessLab.fm. Next week I'm in the lab with Jenny Hill, founder and designer of J.Hill Artisan Felt. We talk about making 180-degree changes in your career. When to trust your inner voice and follow your deeper calling to success. Be sure to tune! Until then, have prosperous week!

The entrepreneurial path is inevitably paved with unexpected roadblocks and bumps, but it's also filled with opportunity should you choose to see it. That's exactly what Russ Perry, founder of Design Pickle chose to do. In this episode I talk with Russ about his entrepreneurial journey, which spans 10 years, how he overcame some tough decisions, such as shuttering his nine-year-old design and branding agency, and how he sort of reinvented himself and built a new business model that's kicking butt. Check out Russ's workshop EXPAND2016. It's on December 2, 2015...perfect timing for getting you set to do great things in 2016. Biz Hack: This one is not so much a tool, but a great read on productivity: "10 Lessons I Learned from a Year of Productivity Experiments". The author spent 12 months conducting various productivity experiments on himself and came up with the top 10 that suited him best. One key take away: Productivity isn't about how much you produce, it's how much you accomplish. For this week's Biz Hack and past episodes, head over to SuccessLab.fm. Next week I'm in the Lab with Jess Ostroff, founder of Don't Panic Management. We talk about how to build culture in a virtual agency, particularly when your team is divided by state lines. Jess is one of my favorite people in the world – and I only have two – I'm kidding, but this is a great episode so Be sure to tune! Until then, have prosperous week! Intro music in this episode: "They Just Don't Know" by Gyft. Outro music in this episode: "Magnolias" by Tapper.

Jess Ostroff is the Founder and Director of Calm at Don’t Panic Management, a virtual social media assistant agency which helps companies outsource administrative, bookkeeping, social media, and content marketing tasks so they can focus on growing their business. She is also the Managing Editor for Convince & Convert, a digital media and consulting company that provides high-impact counsel to many of the world's largest brands, and specializes in strategic planning for digital, content marketing, and social media.