Podcasts about standing out

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott sits down with Andrew Cambria, agency owner, father of three and deeply rooted community leader serving Cicero and Camillus. Andrew shares the unlikely path that led him into insurance, including a failed deli venture on Long Island and how that early failure shaped his approach to planning, leadership and long-term thinking. What emerges is a powerful conversation about integrity, culture and why trust is the real product in a commoditized industry Andrew's role as a father and his support of local autism causes deeply shape the integrity and empathy behind his agency. He talks about bringing fun and authenticity into uncomfortable conversations, educating families before claims ever happen and the importance of telling the truth, even when it's not what clients want to hear. This is an episode about legacy, service and building a referral-based business rooted in real relationships.We Cover:• How early business failure shaped Andrew's disciplined, goal-driven approach• Why storytelling builds more trust than “selling” ever will• How to balance serious financial conversations with a human, approachable culture• The role community involvement plays in long-term referral growth• Why honesty and ownership are non-negotiables in a trust-based businessIf referrals are built on reputation, Andrew Cambria is a reminder that the best marketing strategy is simple: be real, serve well, and leave people better than you found them.---Episode Markers:(0:00) - Show Start & Introduction(1:00) - What Inspired Andrew?(2:00) - Surprises & Learning From Failure(4:00) - Standing Out in the Industry(5:15) - Educating & Building Trust(7:30) - Uncomfortable Conversations(9:00) - Family & Business(11:15) - Problem with 15 Minutes or Less(13:00) - Accountability & Community(14:30) - Early Supporters(16:45) - Welcoming New Businesses(20:30) - Charitable Work & Local Autism Organizations(25:00) - Legacy(26:55) - Insurance Misconceptions---Andrew Cambria's Links:Website - https://andrewcambria.comFB - https://www.facebook.com/TheCambriaAgencyInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/andrewcambria

In this conversation, Sabine Kvenberg and Sheila Slick explore the journey of becoming an author without traditional writing, the importance of visibility in business, and how technology, particularly AI, can assist in transforming spoken content into published works. Sheila shares her experiences as a serial entrepreneur and software developer, emphasizing the value of gamifying education and the unique propositions that entrepreneurs can offer. The discussion also highlights the role of podcasts in amplifying messages and the significance of networking through speaking engagements. I am Interest in speaking or attending event: https://forms.gle/gj3oV1KgG1G5Qn9h9 Chapters 00:00Becoming an Author Without Writing 08:58The Journey of Software Development and Education 18:03Visibility and Standing Out in Business 27:39Transforming Spoken Words into Published Works   Get in touch with Sheila: https://fivemilestones.com/   Connect with Sabine: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/SabineKvenberg  IG: https://www.instagram.com/sabinekvenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabine-kvenberg/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sabine.kvenberg.2025/      

In this episode of the Market Maker Podcast, Shah Malik shares a masterclass in how to stand out and succeed in finance, regardless of your starting point.Currently finishing his degree at King's College London and set to join Deutsche Bank full-time, Shah walks through how he broke into investment banking by focusing on execution, networking, and a relentless mindset.From turning retail jobs into winning talking points, to mastering online tests, to building meaningful relationships with senior bankers, this conversation is packed with tactical insights that go way beyond the typical “just network more” advice.Whether you're targeting spring weeks, summer internships, or full-time roles, Shah's framework for preparation, performance, and progression is one you'll want to take notes on.(00:00) Intro – Who is Shah Malik?(01:13) Growing Up Far from Finance(03:30) Discovering Finance Early(06:32) Exploring Banking, FinTech & Consulting(08:09) Mastering the Application Process(10:05) Cracking Online Tests(11:47) How to Convert Internships(14:41) Standing Out in Spring & Summer(16:11) Smart Networking (Without Overstepping)(21:36) Turning Retail Jobs Into Resume Assets(22:54) Linking Customer Service to IB Skills(25:17) Staying Ahead: Habits & Learning(27:02) Dealing with Imposter Syndrome(29:52) Building the Wize Foundation(32:51) Focus on What You Can ControlFind out more about the Wize Foundation

Host Steve Turk welcomes Sean McCarron, General Manager of Conrad Orlando at Evermore, to discuss Sean's path through luxury hospitality and what it takes to lead and open award-winning resorts. Sean shares how he entered hospitality through a Ritz-Carlton management trainee program at Pentagon City (placed as a bartender), discovered hotel school in Switzerland after soul-searching in college, and committed his career to luxury service. He explains his passion for food and beverage, his moves across cities and cultures, and his transition from Ritz-Carlton to Four Seasons via a recruited lateral move that led to 16 years with Four Seasons, multiple hotel openings, and progression into hotel management. Sean describes opening Four Seasons Baltimore as his first hotel manager role and later moving to Las Vegas, then leaving Four Seasons to become GM of Waldorf Astoria Orlando with Hilton, where he focused on training teams in luxury, building a people culture, improving service and guest loyalty, and achieving Forbes Four Star for the resort. He details joining Conrad Orlando nearly 19 months pre-opening as the first employee, leading the opening within the broader Evermore Orlando Resort featuring a 17-million-gallon, eight-acre freshwater lagoon, beach areas, vacation rentals, golf courses, and a spa, and emphasizes leadership through daily walkthroughs, balanced meetings, guest and team engagement, and the principle of “inspect what you expect.” Sean discusses Hilton's focus on technology and AI to make team members' jobs easier and free up time for guest relationships, how the resort differentiates itself as a destination beyond theme parks, and recent recognitions including AAA Five Diamond (2025), Forbes Four Star for the hotel and resort, Forbes Four Star for the spa, and a Top 20 ranking in Spas of America's Top 100 for the second year in a row. He closes with career advice: excel in your current role while acting for the job you want, continually ask what could be done differently or better, and never forget to give back through mentoring and development.00:00 Welcome to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast00:33 Sponsor Break: Lodgify All-in-One for Hospitality01:38 Meet Sean McCarran, GM of Conrad Orlando01:56 First Hospitality Job: Ritz-Carlton Trainee to Bartender02:27 Finding Hospitality: Hotel School in Switzerland & Love for Luxury04:16 Why Food & Beverage: A Lifelong Passion for Cuisine05:07 Moving Cities & Building a Luxury Career (Ritz-Carlton Years)06:15 Switching Brands: Recruited to Four Seasons + 16-Year Run07:55 From F&B to Hotel Leadership: Mentors, Openings & Becoming a GM12:21 Vegas Chapter: Hospitality Epicenter & Celebrity Chef Scene14:40 Leaving Four Seasons: Waldorf Astoria Orlando GM & Hilton Luxury18:45 Waldorf Highlights: Culture, Team Growth & Forbes 4-Star Win20:28 Building Conrad Orlando: Pre-Opening, Evermore Lagoon & Mega-Resort Vision24:55 Leadership Playbook: ‘Inspect What You Expect' + Daily Walks & Meetings27:56 Tech, AI & the Future of Hospitality Teams30:17 Standing Out in Orlando: Owning the ‘Off Day' as a Destination Resort32:41 Big Accolades: AAA Five Diamond + Forbes Four Star (Hotel & Spa)35:21 What's Next: Maturing the Resort & Raising the Bar37:04 Advice to Young Sean: Act for the Job You Want & Keep Giving Back39:34 Wrap-Up, Share the Episode + Sponsor: Biscayne Coffee

Today is a major milestone—Episode 600. My journey behind the mic began in 2012, and since then, this conversation has evolved from simple marketing tactics into the deeper pillars of leadership, communication, and storytelling. To celebrate, I'm flipping the script. I've invited my longtime friend and fellow 2012 podcasting pioneer, Mike Gerholdt, to take over the host's chair. We're going behind the scenes on everything I've learned over 600 episodes—from the origin story and terrestrial radio to the move to full video—to talk about what it really takes to build a podcast brand that lasts. What You'll Learn in This Episode - Why curiosity is the most important trait for a long-running podcast host - How to pivot your content from marketing tactics to leadership and storytelling - The evolution of media from terrestrial radio to short-form and full-length video - Why every modern brand needs an evangelist to foster two-way conversations - Strategic lessons learned from 13 years and 600 episodes in the podcasting trenches Episode Chapters (00:00) Flipping the Script for Episode 600 (01:29) Introducing Guest Host Mike Gerholdt (02:54) Why Every Brand Needs an Evangelist (05:55) The 2013 Podcasting Pioneers (08:27) The Evolution from The Work Talk Show to On Brand (09:38) Pioneering the Remote Work Conversation (12:45) Standing Out in a Saturated Market (15:33) From Radio Production to Personal Voice (17:21) Why Audio Conveys More Than Text (20:15) Curiosity: The Trait That Drives 600 Episodes (23:46) The Reality of Guest Pitches and PR Intermediaries (27:10) Avoiding the "Game of Dodgeball" with Multiple Guests (30:22) Why Real Conversations Don't Need Prep Calls (33:40) The Leap to Full Video and Short-Form Content (38:15) The "Human Element" in Modern Communication (42:30) Closing Thoughts on the Future of On Brand About Mike Gerholdt Mike Gerholt is the Senior Director of Salesforce Admin Evangelism at Salesforce. He leads a group of world-class Admin Evangelists who are helping Salesforce Admins realize their dreams by being technology leaders and advancing their careers. He's also the host of the Salesforce Admins podcast and someone I've been in the podcasting trenches with since day one. What Brand Has Made Mike Smile Recently? Mike highlighted HelloFresh as the brand that made him smile recently. He noted that the meal delivery service stood out during the pandemic and continues to impress him with small touches of appreciation, clear care in delivery, and a non-intrusive approach that never feels like a "used car salesman" pitch. He described the experience as receiving a "little smile in every box." Resources & Links Check out the Salesforce Admins Podcast. Connect with Mike Gerholdt on LinkedIn and (for fun) Instagram Listen & Support the Show Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart. Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show. Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode. Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips. On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network. Until next week, I'll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is a major milestone—Episode 600. My journey behind the mic began in 2012, and since then, this conversation has evolved from simple marketing tactics into the deeper pillars of leadership, communication, and storytelling. To celebrate, I'm flipping the script. I've invited my longtime friend and fellow 2012 podcasting pioneer, Mike Gerholdt, to take over the host's chair. We're going behind the scenes on everything I've learned over 600 episodes—from the origin story and terrestrial radio to the move to full video—to talk about what it really takes to build a podcast brand that lasts. What You'll Learn in This Episode - Why curiosity is the most important trait for a long-running podcast host - How to pivot your content from marketing tactics to leadership and storytelling - The evolution of media from terrestrial radio to short-form and full-length video - Why every modern brand needs an evangelist to foster two-way conversations - Strategic lessons learned from 13 years and 600 episodes in the podcasting trenches Episode Chapters (00:00) Flipping the Script for Episode 600 (01:29) Introducing Guest Host Mike Gerholdt (02:54) Why Every Brand Needs an Evangelist (05:55) The 2013 Podcasting Pioneers (08:27) The Evolution from The Work Talk Show to On Brand (09:38) Pioneering the Remote Work Conversation (12:45) Standing Out in a Saturated Market (15:33) From Radio Production to Personal Voice (17:21) Why Audio Conveys More Than Text (20:15) Curiosity: The Trait That Drives 600 Episodes (23:46) The Reality of Guest Pitches and PR Intermediaries (27:10) Avoiding the "Game of Dodgeball" with Multiple Guests (30:22) Why Real Conversations Don't Need Prep Calls (33:40) The Leap to Full Video and Short-Form Content (38:15) The "Human Element" in Modern Communication (42:30) Closing Thoughts on the Future of On Brand About Mike Gerholdt Mike Gerholt is the Senior Director of Salesforce Admin Evangelism at Salesforce. He leads a group of world-class Admin Evangelists who are helping Salesforce Admins realize their dreams by being technology leaders and advancing their careers. He's also the host of the Salesforce Admins podcast and someone I've been in the podcasting trenches with since day one. What Brand Has Made Mike Smile Recently? Mike highlighted HelloFresh as the brand that made him smile recently. He noted that the meal delivery service stood out during the pandemic and continues to impress him with small touches of appreciation, clear care in delivery, and a non-intrusive approach that never feels like a "used car salesman" pitch. He described the experience as receiving a "little smile in every box." Resources & Links Check out the Salesforce Admins Podcast. Connect with Mike Gerholdt on LinkedIn and (for fun) Instagram Listen & Support the Show Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart. Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show. Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode. Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips. On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network. Until next week, I'll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to episode 497 of the Recruitment Marketing and Sales podcast, and I am your host, Denise Oyston. Today, we are wrapping up our kick-off series for 2026 about the what and how of Standing Out this year. Over the past few weeks, we have covered mindset, visibility, and re-engaging your database. If you missed any of those episodes, go back and listen; they build on one another. This week, we are discussing something that can completely change how you approach your marketing: creating longer-form content that works harder for you. Now, before you switch off because you think this is going to be about writing 5,000-word essays, hear us out. This is actually about working smarter, not harder. It is about creating a single, substantial piece of content and getting maximum value from it. Whether that is a podcast, a report, a webinar, or a detailed blog post, the principle is the same. Create once, repurpose many times. So let’s get into it. The Pillar Content Approach Let us start by explaining what we mean by pillar content. A pillar piece is a substantial, detailed piece of content that demonstrates your expertise in your niche. It could be a comprehensive blog post or series. A thorough market report. A webinar where you go deep on a specific topic. Or a podcast episode where you really explore something properly. The keyword here is substantial. This is not a quick LinkedIn post or a two-paragraph update. This is something meaty that shows you really know your stuff. Why does this matter? Short-form content is brilliant at getting attention, but it is your longer-form content that builds trust. When someone engages with your quick posts and wants to know whether you actually understand what you are talking about, they will look for something more substantial. They want to confirm that you understand their sector and its challenges. Think about it from your own experience. When considering working with someone, do you look at their social media posts? Or do you dig a bit deeper? Do you read their blog? Listen to their podcast? Download their report? Of course you do. We all do. The research backs this up. 71 per cent of B2B buyers consume blog content before making a purchase decision. They want depth. They want evidence. They want to feel confident that you know what you are talking about. The Repurposing Model Here is where it gets exciting, especially if you are running a small team and do not have endless hours for content creation. The smartest recruitment companies we work with follow a simple principle: create one substantial piece of content, then repurpose it into multiple shorter pieces. Let us give you a concrete example. Say you record a 45-minute podcast episode about hiring trends in your sector. From that single recording, you could create six LinkedIn posts pulling out key insights. Two blog articles going deeper on specific points. A dozen short videos or audio clips for social media. An email to your database summarising the main takeaways. Content for your newsletter. And quotes and statistics you can use in proposals and pitches. That one piece of content has now given you weeks’ worth of material. And the beautiful thing is, it all came from the same source, so your messaging stays consistent. This approach ensures quality and depth before brevity. You are not scrambling to come up with something to post every day. You have already thought. Now you are just packaging it in different ways for different platforms. Why Podcasts Work So Well We would like to discuss podcasts, as they are particularly effective for recruitment businesses. Podcasts continue to grow in popularity, particularly with executives and founders, which is exactly the audience most of you are trying to reach. Decision-makers listen to podcasts during their commute, at the gym, or while walking the dog. It is a way to reach them when they are not at their desks, ignoring emails. But here is the bit that makes podcasts especially clever for recruitment businesses: they serve a dual purpose. First, they are relationship-building and positioning tools. When you invite someone onto your podcast as a guest, you are building a relationship with them while positioning yourself as the go-to person in your niche. And who might make a good guest? Often, your potential clients. Think about it. You reach out to a hiring manager or business owner in your niche and invite them to share their expertise on your show. That is a much warmer conversation than a cold sales call. You are offering them something valuable: a platform to share their knowledge and raise their profile. Second, podcasts are content engines. As we just discussed, one episode gives you material for weeks. The conversation generates ideas, insights, and quotes that you can use across all your other channels. And niche podcasts can reach very specific audiences. A show about scaling health tech companies. A podcast for legal practice managers. A series on finance recruitment trends. When you narrow your focus, you become the go-to voice for that specific audience. Other Forms of Pillar Content Podcasts are not the only option, of course. Let’s discuss other formats that work well. Market reports and salary guides are brilliant for recruitment businesses. You have access to data and insights that your clients and candidates find genuinely valuable. A well-researched report on salary trends or hiring challenges in your sector positions you as the expert. It also makes a great lead magnet: people will happily give you their email address in exchange for useful data. Webinars let you go deep on a topic while building your email list. You can invite guests, share screens, and answer questions live. The recording becomes an asset you can use long after the live event ends. A detailed blog series lets you explore a topic in depth across multiple posts. Titles such as “The complete guide to hiring fintech sales leaders” or “Everything you need to know about legal recruitment in 2026” demonstrate genuine expertise and attract readers seeking that specific information. The format matters less than the substance. What matters is that you create something substantial enough to demonstrate your expertise and generate enough material for repurposing. Quality Beats Perfection Now, we know what some of you are thinking. “This sounds great, but I do not have the time or resources to create professional-quality content.” Here is the truth: you do not need professional production values. What you need is valuable, consistent content. A podcast recorded on a decent microphone in your office is absolutely fine. A report created in Word or Canva will suffice. A webinar run through Zoom works perfectly well. The key is consistency and specificity, not production value. Your audience cares far more about whether your content is useful and relevant than whether it looks like a big agency made it. In fact, overly polished content can feel less authentic. People want to hear from real experts sharing real insights, not a slick marketing production. So do not let perfectionism stop you from starting. Good enough, published consistently, beats perfect, but never finished. Using AI Smartly We cannot talk about content creation in 2026 without mentioning AI. Yes, AI can help you create more content more efficiently. But here is the important bit: AI works best when you give it good raw material to work with. The companies that get AI right use it to increase output without sacrificing quality. They do not publish AI-generated content as-is. They use AI as a starting point, then make the content specific, opinionated, and genuinely useful. This is where your pillar content becomes so valuable. Record a podcast where you share your genuine expertise and opinions. Now you have rich source material that AI can help you repurpose into other formats. The insights are yours. The expertise is yours. AI helps you package it more efficiently. The human element, your knowledge, your opinions, your specific experience in your niche, that is what makes your content valuable. AI cannot replicate that. But it can help you get more value from it. Getting Started Without Overwhelm If you are new to creating longer-form content, the prospect can feel daunting. So let us make it simple. Start with what you know deeply. What questions do clients ask you all the time? What mistakes do you see companies making when they hire? What do candidates always want to know about your sector? You already have expertise. You need to capture it. Choose one format to start with. Do not try to launch a podcast, write a report, and run webinars all at once. Pick one. Get good at it. Build the habit. Then expand. If you want to start a podcast, the minimum setup is simpler than you think. A decent USB microphone, free recording software, and a hosting platform. You could be publishing your first episode within a week. If a podcast feels like too much, start with a detailed blog post. Write the definitive guide to something in your niche. Make it thorough. Make it useful. Then break it down into shorter pieces for your social channels. The most important thing is to start. Your first piece of content will not be your best. That is fine. You will get better with practice. But you cannot improve on something you have not created. Closing Let us conclude this series with a final thought. Over these four episodes, we have talked about mindset, visibility, re-engaging your database, and creating content that works harder for you. And if there is one thread that runs through all of it, it is this: the recruitment businesses that will stand out in 2026 are the ones that commit to consistently delivering valuable content. Not perfect content. Not content with massive production budgets. Just useful, relevant, consistent content that demonstrates your expertise and keeps you front of mind. Creating pillar content and repurposing it is one of the smartest ways to do this without burning out. One substantial piece becomes the engine that powers your marketing for weeks. So here is our challenge for you. Choose one pillar content format that appeals to you. Maybe it is a podcast. Perhaps it is a quarterly market report. Maybe it is a detailed blog series. Whatever it is, commit to creating your first piece in the next month. Then repurpose it. Get maximum value from the work you have done. And watch how much easier your content marketing becomes when you have a solid foundation to build on. That is, it’s for today’s episode, and that wraps up our Standing Out in 2026 series. Thank you so much for listening. If you have found this series useful, we would love it if you could share it with another recruitment business owner who might benefit. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to avoid missing future episodes. Until next time, keep creating, keep showing up, and keep recruiting brilliantly. See you next time. Thanks, Denise and Sharon How We Can Help If you want help building a content strategy that actually works for a small recruitment business, that is exactly what we do inside Superfast Circle. Our members receive done-for-you content they can use and adapt, frameworks for creating their own pillar content, and support from a community that understands the specific challenges of marketing a recruitment business. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you stand out in your market, book a call at superfastrecruitment.co.uk/call. We would love to chat about where you are right now and where you want to be. The post Standing Out in 2026: Creating Content That Works Harder appeared first on Superfast Recruitment.

He Made $41,000 in 90 Days with The Amazon Influencer Program .. How He Did itIn episode 143 of The Side Hustle Experiment Podcast  John (https://www.instagram.com/sidehustleexperiment/ ) and Drew  (https://www.instagram.com/realdrewd/) sit down with Ben (https://www.instagram.com/ben.phair/) Ben, a successful Amazon Influencer who made an impressive $41,000 in Q4 alone with only 1,800 videos. Ben shares his unique approach to product research, emphasizing the importance of finding products with high sales numbers and lower competition. He discusses strategies such as reviewing items from his home, identifying profitable variations of products, and creating engaging video content that stands out from the competition.Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the bell so you don't miss future episodes with top entrepreneurs and creators.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ben and His Success01:09 The Importance of Product Research03:20 Finding Profitable Product Variations04:44 Strategies for Standing Out in Video Content09:46 Leveraging Comparison Videos for Sales12:33 Understanding Creator Connections and Earnings Potential17:32 Tracking Best-Selling Products for Continued Success20:24 Final Thoughts on Product Investment Strategies24:24 The Journey of a Successful Product25:50 Adapting Strategies for 202627:57 The Power of YouTube in Revenue Generation30:25 Building a Community for Creators43:38 Advice for Growing Your Influence#AmazonInfluencer  #MakeMoneyOnline #sidehustleexperimentpodcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidehustleexperimentpodcast/ Listen on your favorite podcast platformYoutube: https://bit.ly/3HHklFOSpotify: https://spoti.fi/48RRKcPApple: https://apple.co/4bmaFOk Check out Drew's StuffInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/realdrewdTwitter: https://twitter.com/DrewFBACheck out John's StuffInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidehustleexperiment/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SideHustleExp FREE ResourcesFREE Guide: How to Make Money Reviewing Products https://bit.ly/3HIGFSP

How do you create true brand authenticity in wealth management? Matt Ackermann of Integrated Partners sits down with Liz Frtiz, the co-founder of F2 Strategy, at the Future Proof Conference to discuss the critical intersection of technology, marketing, and branding. Liz shares her experience co-founding F2 Strategy nearly a decade ago, noting that the firm is the largest pure-play wealth management tech consultancy, focused on helping firms build and execute their technology roadmaps. Key Insights: The Tech-Marketing Connection: Liz highlights that F2’s approach to technology strategy mirrors good marketing: both require firms to define their vision, target market, differentiators, and values. This process helps clients build a digital experience that stands out. The Marketer as Translator: Liz sees her role as a “translator,” taking the complex technical language of wealth firms and vendors and translating it into messaging that resonates with the end-client user, focusing on how the tech solves problems and improves their lives. The Power of an Authentic Brand: Building a strong brand requires authenticity. While channels like video and podcasts are popular, Liz advises advisors to identify their authentic self and be confident in the communication medium that feels most natural. Culture as Authenticity: She emphasizes that a true unique culture is built on authenticity, which leaders must encourage and model internally. Starting with small, honest admissions makes it a safe space for others to be their true self, which is less exhausting than “playing a character.” AI and Human Connection: Liz believes technology and marketing are now inseparable. She sees AI not as a replacement, but as a tool to deepen human connection. By handling operational tasks, AI creates the most valuable resource—time—allowing advisors to engage in “more humanness,” such as proactive client conversations and personal outreach. Standing Out in the AI Era: As AI-generated content becomes “table stakes” and generic, the authentic, “in-color” outliers, specifically the people who dare to be themselves and offer unique perspectives, will be easier to spot and will naturally attract attention and trust. Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results.  Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Integrated Partners, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. Liz Fritz is the Co-Founder of F2 Strategy and is a separate entity and not affiliated with Integrated Partners and LPL Financial.

Today, we are continuing our Standing Out in 2026 series. If you have been following along, you will know we started with mindset, then last week we talked about being more active and more visible. This week, we are talking about something that could be the fastest way to generate business this year, and yet it is one of the most neglected areas we see in recruitment businesses. We are talking about your database. Your past clients. Your old contacts. The people sitting in your CRM and your LinkedIn connections who already know who you are. Here is the thing: most recruitment business owners are so focused on finding new leads that they completely ignore the warm relationships they have already built. And that is like leaving money on the table. So today, we are going to talk about why your database is a goldmine, why it gets neglected, and how to re-engage those contacts in a way that feels natural, not awkward. So, let’s get into it. The Hidden Goldmine Let us start with a question. How many contacts do you have across your CRM and your LinkedIn connections right now? We are talking about past clients, placed candidates, people you have spoken to over the years, connections you have made at events, and all those LinkedIn connections you have built up over time. For most recruitment business owners, that number is in the hundreds, often thousands. Some of you listening right now have 5,000, 10,000, or even more LinkedIn connections alone. And yet, when we ask how many of those people have heard from you in the last three months, the answer is usually… not many. Here is why this matters so much. Database re-engagement is one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies available to you. These people already know who you are. They have worked with you, or at least had a conversation with you. They accepted your LinkedIn connection request. They do not need to be convinced that you are legitimate. The trust-building work has already been done. Email marketing has one of the highest returns on investment of any marketing channel, and the reason is simple: your list is an owned asset. You are not paying for ads. You are not fighting an algorithm. You are simply staying in touch with people who have already raised their hands and said, “I am interested in what you do.” One of our clients did exactly this. He focused on re-engaging his database with insight-focused emails, and within three months of sending his first campaign, he had secured £120,000 in new roles with a client he had not spoken to in ages. That is not a typo. £120,000 from people who were already in his database, just waiting to hear from him. The Awareness Cascade Let us talk about why these contacts are so much more valuable than cold leads. Think about the journey someone goes through before they decide to work with a recruiter. At the top, you have people who do not know you exist. They are completely cold. They have never heard your name, never seen your content, never had a conversation with you. Then you have people who are aware of you. They have seen your name around. Maybe they follow you on LinkedIn. Perhaps they met you at an event once. They know who you are, but they are not actively thinking about you. Then you have warm people. They have worked with you before or had a proper conversation. They trust you. They are not in buying mode right now. And finally, you have hot people. They have a need right now, and they are ready to pick up the phone. Here is the key insight: the people in your CRM and your LinkedIn connections are already warm. They are much further down that awareness cascade than any cold lead you could find. Which means they are far easier to convert when the time is right. The only thing you need to do is stay front of mind, so that when they do have a hiring need or they are ready to make a career move, you are the name that pops into their head. Why This Gets Neglected So if your database is such a valuable asset, why do so many recruitment business owners neglect it? We see a few patterns here. First, there is the obsession with the new. Something is exciting about finding new leads. It feels like progress. Reaching out to the same people again can feel like you are going backwards. But that is completely the wrong way to think about it. Those existing contacts are not old news. They are warm relationships waiting to be activated. Second, there is a lack of systems. Most recruitment business owners do not have a process for staying in touch with their database and LinkedIn connections at scale. They might reach out to individual contacts when they remember, but there is no consistent rhythm. No automated sequences. No regular touchpoints. And without a system, it just does not happen. Third, and this is a big one, there is the fear of being annoying. People worry that if they email their database or message their LinkedIn connections, they will be seen as pushy or salesy. They do not want to bother people. So they stay quiet. But here is the reality: if you are sending genuinely useful content, you are not being annoying. You are being helpful. People only get annoyed when you send them stuff that is irrelevant or purely self-promotional. And fourth, there is the data decay problem. Contacts go stale. People change jobs. Email addresses bounce. If you have not cleaned up your database in years, it can feel overwhelming just knowing where to start. The same goes for LinkedIn connections you made years ago and never followed up with. The Cost of Neglecting Your Database Let us talk about what happens when you do not stay in touch. That client you placed three candidates with two years ago? They have probably had vacancies since then. But if they have not heard from you, they might have used someone else. Not because you did a bad job, but simply because you were not front of mind when the need arose. That candidate you placed five years ago who is now a hiring manager? They could be sending work your way. But if they have forgotten about you, that referral is going to someone else. That LinkedIn connection who accepted your request three years ago, and you never messaged them again? They might have the perfect vacancy for you right now, but they do not even remember who you are. Every relationship that goes cold is a potential opportunity lost. And the frustrating thing is, these are not strangers. These are people who already know you, like you, and have worked with you or connected with you. The barrier to re-engagement is so much lower than starting from scratch with a cold lead. We see this pattern constantly. A recruitment business owner is so busy chasing new clients that they forget to nurture the ones they already have. Then, when the market gets tougher, they realise they have no warm pipeline. They have to start building relationships from zero, at exactly the moment when they are under pressure. That is a stressful place to be. What Effective Re-engagement Looks Like So, how do you re-engage your database without feeling awkward or salesy? The key is to lead with value, not with a pitch. Nobody wants to receive an email or a LinkedIn message that says, “Hi, just checking in to see if you have any vacancies.” That is not valuable. That is just asking for something. Instead, think about what you can give. What insights do you have about their market? What trends are you seeing? What challenges are other companies in their sector facing? What would be genuinely useful for them to know? The most effective email strategies we see are insight-focused newsletters that position you as a market observer rather than just a vacancy broadcaster. Share hiring trends. Talk about salary movements. Discuss regulatory changes affecting their niche. Give them something worth reading. Another approach that works brilliantly is plain-text messages from individual consultants, whether via email or a LinkedIn direct message. Not templated marketing emails with fancy graphics, but genuine, personal messages that share a specific story or insight. These tend to get much higher reply to rates because they feel like real one-to-one communication. And if you want to get more sophisticated, behaviour-triggered sequences work really well. For example, if someone downloads a salary guide from your website, that could trigger a three-part email sequence with related insights, a case study, and then an invitation to a call. It feels timely and relevant, not pushy. Re-engaging Past Clients Specifically Let's talk specifically about past clients, because they deserve special attention. These are people who have already paid you money. They trusted you enough to hand over a fee. That is a significant relationship. And yet, so many recruiters make a placement and then disappear. They move on to the next search, the next client, the next fee. The relationship goes quiet until someone happens to remember to pick up the phone. Here is a simple question: when was the last time you reached out to a past client to see how things are going? Not to pitch. Not to ask for work. To maintain the relationship. A quick check in every few months keeps you front of mind. You could share a relevant article. Congratulate them on the company news. Ask how the person you placed is getting on. These small touchpoints add up over time. And do not forget the referral potential. A happy past client is one of the best sources of new business. But they will only refer you if they remember you. Staying in touch keeps that door open. What to Say When You Have Not Been in Touch Now, let us address the elephant in the room. What do you say when you have not been in touch for ages? This is what stops many people. They feel awkward reaching out after a long gap. They worry it will seem strange or opportunistic. Here is our advice: do not overthink it. You do not need to apologise for being quiet. You do not need to explain why you have not been in touch. Just reach out with something of value. It could be as simple as: “Hi Sarah, I was thinking about you this week when I saw this article about changes in the finance sector. Thought it might be relevant to what you are dealing with right now. Hope you are well.” Or: “Hi David, I have been doing some research on hiring trends in your sector and thought you might find this interesting. Let me know if you would like to have a chat about what we are seeing in the market.” The key is to make it about them, not about you. Lead with value. Be genuinely helpful. The conversation will flow naturally from there. And honestly, most people will not even notice how long it has been. They are busy with their own lives. They will just be pleased to hear from you. Building a System That Works The real secret to database re-engagement is having a system. Because if it depends on you remembering to do it, it will not happen consistently. At a minimum, you want regular communication going out to your list. That might be a monthly newsletter with market insights. It might be a quarterly update on trends in their sector. It does not need to be complicated. It just needs to happen. For your LinkedIn connections, think about how you can incorporate regular touchpoints into your routine. Commenting on their posts. Sending a quick message when you see they have been promoted or their company is in the news. These small interactions keep the relationship alive. Beyond that, think about segmentation. Not everyone in your database needs the same message. Your clients care about different things than your candidates. People in finance have concerns other than those in tech. The more relevant you can make your communication, the better it will land. You do not need fancy technology to do this. Basic email tools can handle simple segmentation based on industry, job level, or how they entered your database. Even just splitting your list into clients and candidates is a good start. The goal is to create a rhythm of communication that keeps you visible without requiring you to think about it every day. Set up the system, generate the content, and let it run. Let us wrap up with this thought. Your database is not just a list of names. It is a collection of relationships you have built over years, sometimes decades. Every contact in your CRM, every LinkedIn connection, represents a conversation you have had, a placement you have made, a connection you have formed. Those relationships are valuable. But they only stay useful if you nurture them. The recruitment businesses that will stand out in 2026 are the ones that treat their database as the asset it is. They stay in touch. They add value. They keep those relationships warm so that when the time is right, they are the obvious choice. So here is our challenge for you this week. Pick ten contacts from your CRM or LinkedIn connections who you have not spoken to in the last six months. Reach out to each of them with something of value. Not a pitch. Just a genuine touchpoint. You might be surprised at how many conversations start. And how much business comes from simply staying in touch. That is it for today’s episode. Thank you so much for listening. Next week, we will be wrapping up this Standing Out series with an episode all about creating longer-form content that works harder for you. If you have ever thought about starting a podcast, writing a report, or building content that you can leverage across multiple channels, you will want to catch that one. Until then, go and re-engage those warm relationships. Your future self will thank you. See you next time. Thanks  Denise How We Can Help If you know you need to do more with your database but are not sure where to start, that is something we help with in Superfast Circle. Our members get done-for-you email content they can personalise and send to their list. They get the systems and templates that make regular communication straightforward. And they get the support of a community that understands exactly what it is like to run a small recruitment business. If you would like to find out more about how we can help you turn your database into a consistent source of business, book a call with us at superfastrecruitment.co.uk/call. We would love to chat about where you are right now and where you want to be. The post Standing Out in 2026: Re-engaging Your Database appeared first on Superfast Recruitment.

Stand Out on LinkedIn: Strategies for Speakers and CoachesSUMMARYIn this episode of the Professional Speaking Show, host John Ball engages with LinkedIn expert Michelle J Raymond to discuss the evolving landscape of LinkedIn and how speakers and coaches can navigate its complexities. They explore the challenges posed by AI-generated content, engagement pods, and the pressure to conform to viral trends, emphasising the importance of authenticity and genuine engagement. Michelle shares her insights on how to stand out in a crowded space by building real relationships and creating meaningful content that resonates with audiences. The conversation also touches on the necessity of maintaining an updated LinkedIn profile and the strategic use of various content formats to enhance visibility and engagement.Connect with Michelle and sign up for her LinkedIn Newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellejraymond/ and check out Michelle's podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-media-for-b2b-growth-linkedin-strategy-for-b2b/id1603908569TAKEAWAYSLinkedIn is becoming noisier and harder to trust, but authenticity can help you stand out.Building real relationships is more valuable than chasing viral trends.Your LinkedIn profile should be treated like your homepage; keep it updated and engaging.Engagement pods may provide short-term visibility but can undermine long-term credibility.Consistency in posting and genuine interaction are key to leveraging LinkedIn effectively.CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to LinkedIn Expertise02:16 Current State of LinkedIn05:29 Authenticity vs. Automation09:40 The Impact of AI on Content11:40 Standing Out in a Homogenised Space15:37 The Importance of Building Relationships19:04 The Temptation of Quick Fixes24:25 Integrity in Online Presence26:24 Building a Community on LinkedIn27:29 The Challenge of Engagement Pods29:39 Navigating LinkedIn's Algorithm Changes31:12 The Importance of Reciprocity on LinkedIn34:31 Strategic Commenting for Engagement36:54 Creating Effective Content on LinkedIn44:46 Maximising Your LinkedIn Profile52:30 Final thoughtsVisit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient.For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluenceThanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

How do you turn a beat-up cargo van and a funny name into a $300 million empire? Nick Friedman, co-founder of College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, joins UpFlip to reveal the blueprint behind one of America's most iconic service brands.From a summer side hustle to over 200 locations, Nick breaks down the exact systems used to survive the 2008 housing crash, COVID, and volatile markets.In this episode, you'll learn:The "Purple Cow" Strategy: Why a funny name and bright orange trucks were the ultimate "pattern interrupt" to dominate a crowded market.Guerilla Marketing: How to use your vehicle as a rolling billboard and secure high-visibility parking spots for free.The E-Myth Shift: The specific moment Nick realized he had to stop driving the truck to start building the business.The H.U.N.K.S. Acronym: How to build a world-class company culture using values (Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable, Service).Systems Before Scale: Why documenting simple tasks (like safety checklists) allowed them to franchise successfully."Who Not How": The mindset shift required to go from incremental growth to 10x expansion.The "Why, Where, Who" Framework: Why you must define your destination before worrying about the tactical "how."Loyalty Loops: How to turn a one-time moving customer into a lifetime referral source.Surviving Adversity: Lessons learned from launching a franchise model during the peak of the 2008 financial crisis.10x vs. 2x Planning: How to set audacious 10-year goals and reverse engineer them into quarterly "rocks."Timestamps:(00:00) Intro: From Cargo Van to $300M(02:15) The Origin Story: Winning a Business Plan Competition(05:40) Naming the Business & Standing Out(08:30) Guerrilla Marketing Tactics (The Rolling Billboard)(11:50) When to Transition to Paid Ads(15:30) Building a World-Class Customer Experience(18:45) The "E-Myth" Moment: Working ON the Business(22:10) The "Why, Where, Who" Framework(26:00) Overcoming the 2008 Crash & Adversity(31:15) The Fan Blitz: Best Books & Early MistakesTags:  Business scaling, Entrepreneurship, Home Services, College Hunks, Business growth, Business leadership, Customer retention, Junk HaulingResources:Grow your junk removal business today: https://www.upflip.com/course/moving-and-junk-removal-blueprintConnect with Nick: https://www.instagram.com/nickfriedman1/?hl=en

In this episode, Scott sits down with Bob Bartlett—insurance agency owner, community leader, and part-time rock band drummer—to talk about leadership, culture, service, and the art of being different in a crowded, commoditized industry. Bob shares how getting laid off pushed him into entrepreneurship, how he grew a thriving agency in Barre, Vermont during COVID, and why real conversations will always beat 1-800 numbers.The episode dives into what it means to build trust in a small town, how to recruit with purpose, and why values like honesty, balance, and community aren't just buzzwords—they're a business model. From hosting pumpkin giveaways to playing drums at weddings, Bob shows up fully as himself and inspires his team to do the same.

Today, we are continuing our Standing Out in 2026 series and talking about your visibility. If you caught last week’s episode on mindset habits, you would know we have been diving into the practical actions that will help you stand out in your market this year. Last week was all about what goes on between your ears and the thoughts you are having. This week, we are talking about what you actually do. Specifically, being more active and more visible. Here is the thing: most recruitment business owners know they need to be more visible. They know they should be posting, engaging, and showing up. But they are not doing it. They are too busy, too distracted, or waiting for things to calm down. Spoiler: Things do not calm down. So today we are going to talk about why visibility matters more than ever, what is getting in your way, and how the recruitment businesses that are winning right now are the ones that show up consistently. Key Takeaways: Recruitment Visibility in 2026 61-81% of potential clients check your LinkedIn and website before making contact — an outdated or inactive profile costs your business before you know they exist Visibility compounds over time: content you create today continues generating leads 12-24 months later, building familiarity and trust with future clients The “too busy” trap is a myth — waiting for things to calm down means your competitors become the default choice while you stay invisible Consistency beats perfection: two LinkedIn posts weekly outperform ambitious plans you abandon after a month Personal brands outperform company pages — buyers trust people, not logos, making founder-led content your most powerful marketing asset The Visibility Gap Let's paint a picture for you. Imagine two recruitment business owners. Both are brilliant at what they do. Both have years of experience. Both genuinely care about their clients and candidates. Both have all the knowledge they need to succeed. One of them posts on LinkedIn three or four times a week. Sends a monthly email to their database. Picks up the phone to past clients every few weeks. Shares insights about their market. Comments on other people’s posts. Shows up at industry events. The other one is busy. Really busy. They are on the phone all day with candidates. They are chasing clients. They are doing the work. But their LinkedIn has been quiet for six weeks. Their email list has not heard from them since last quarter. They keep meaning to reach out to that client who placed three candidates with them two years ago, but something always comes up. Now here is the question: when a hiring manager in their sector has a vacancy to fill, which one do you think comes to mind first? It is not even close. And here is what the research tells us. Between 61- 81 % of people will visit a website or social media profile before engaging with a company. That means your potential clients and candidates are checking you out online, whether you realise it or not. They are forming opinions about you based on what they see, or do not see, before you even know they exist. If they land on your LinkedIn and the last post was from three months ago, what does that tell them? If your website feels like it has not been touched in years, what message does that send? We are not saying this to make you feel bad. We are saying it because it is the reality of the market we are all operating in right now. Why We Get Distracted So, if visibility is so important, and we all know it, why do so many recruitment business owners struggle with it? We have been working with recruitment business owners for approaching eighteen years, and we have seen every version of this story. Here are the common patterns we see repeatedly. First, there is the delivery trap. You are so caught up in the day-to-day work of filling roles, managing candidates, and keeping clients happy that marketing always falls to the bottom of the list. And we get it. When you have a client on the phone with an urgent vacancy, that feels more pressing than writing a LinkedIn post. The problem is, urgent always beats important. And marketing is important, even when it does not feel urgent. Second, there is the overwhelm factor. Marketing advice is everywhere, and a lot of it is contradictory. Should you be on TikTok? What about a podcast? Are you supposed to be making videos now? For a small business owner juggling multiple responsibilities, it can feel paralysing. So you do nothing. Third, and this is a big one, there is the “I’ll do it when things calm down” myth. We hate to break it to you, but things do not calm down. There is no magical quiet period where you will suddenly have time to focus on your marketing. If you wait for the perfect moment, you will stay forever. And fourth, there is the shiny object syndrome. You start posting on LinkedIn, then you hear about email sequences, then someone tells you about webinars, then you read about a new platform, and before you know it, you have started five different things and finished none of them. Sound familiar? The Compound Effect of Showing Up Here is what we want you to understand: visibility compounds over time. The content you create today does not just work for you today. A blog post you write this week could still be bringing people to your website 12 or even 24 months from now. A LinkedIn post you put out on Monday might be seen by someone who is not ready to use a recruiter yet, but six months later, when they have a vacancy, your name pops into their head because they have been seeing your content regularly. This is the bit that so many people miss. Marketing is not about instant results. It is about building familiarity and trust over time. People need to see you multiple times before they remember you exist. They need to experience your expertise before they believe in it. We work with a recruitment business owner, Steve. He had been in engineering recruitment for 28 years! Twenty-eight years . But nobody knew who he was. He was working alone in a competitive market, relying solely on one-to-one business development. His LinkedIn sat dormant. His expertise was completely hidden. When he joined our Superfast Circle programme, the transformation did not happen overnight. He admits he stopped and started at first. But eventually, something clicked, and he committed to showing up consistently. Following the process. Using the monthly content. Posting regularly. Within a year, he had won eight new clients. He had generated over £26,000 in fees from LinkedIn alone. His connections were up 35 per cent. But here is the part that really gets us: after nearly three decades of contingency-only work, Steve secured two retained projects worth £36,000 in just two weeks. That did not happen because he learned a secret technique. It happened because he became visible. People could finally see his expertise. Clients were buying into his value before the fee conversation even started. What Being Active Actually Means Now, we want to be clear about something. When we talk about being more active, we are not talking about being everywhere, all the time, doing all of the things! That is a fast track to burnout, and it is not necessary. What we are talking about is a consistent, focused presence in the places that matter for your business. For most recruitment business owners, that starts with LinkedIn. It is still the single most important social platform for B2B. But here is what works: it is not about posting all your company announcements or sharing every vacancy you have. The most effective LinkedIn strategies are founder/MD/CEO-led or consultant-led. Posts that share opinions, lessons learned, and commentary on what is happening in your specific market. Something that makes consistent posting easier is having structured content themes. For example, you might do a weekly market update on Mondays. A candidate tip on Wednesdays. A client challenge you helped solve on Fridays. When you have themes, you are not staring at a blank screen, wondering what to say. You know what Monday’s post is about before Monday arrives. And here is something many people overlook: commenting on others’ posts is just as powerful as creating your own. If your target clients are posting on LinkedIn, and they probably are, then showing up in their comments with thoughtful insights is a high-impact way to get on their radar. IMPORTANT: The goal is not to sell in comments. It is to demonstrate your expertise and build familiarity over time. The keyword in all of this is consistency. You do not need to be perfect. You do not need polished videos and professional graphics. You need to show up regularly enough that people start to recognise your name and associate you with your specialist area. Personal Brand vs Company Brand While we are on this topic, let us touch on something our research made very clear: personal brands matter more than company pages. Buyers trust people more than logos. They respond to content where real human beings share their experiences, their opinions, their expertise. Your company page has its place, but it should not be your primary focus. If you are the founder or MD of a recruitment business, your profile should be the main hub for your content. The company page can amplify and support, but the human connection happens through your personal presence. And if you have consultants on your team, encourage them to build their own presence in their niche. One of the most powerful positioning moves we see is when someone becomes known as the go-to person for a specific thing. The person everyone thinks of for data roles in Manchester. The recruiter who really understands the legal sector. The one who knows the fintech market inside out. You do not need a big team to do this. You need two or three people who are willing to post consistently, share their opinions, and engage in conversations with potential clients. The Cost of Invisibility We want to spend a moment on what happens when you don't do this. Because sometimes we need to feel the cost of inaction to motivate ourselves to act. When you are not visible, you are relying almost entirely on reactive business development. You are waiting for the phone to ring. You depend on existing clients coming back and on referrals happening by chance. And that works, until it does not We have seen this pattern so many times. A recruitment business is ticking along nicely, busy with current clients, not really doing much marketing because there is no immediate need. Then something changes. A key client’s business slows down. A competitor wins away some business. The market shifts. And suddenly, that recruitment business owner realises they have no pipeline. No warm leads. No prospects who know who they are. Now they have to start building visibility from scratch, at exactly the moment when they are under pressure and stressed. That is a horrible position to be in. The feast-and-famine cycle that plagues so many recruitment businesses is almost always a visibility problem. When you are busy, you stop marketing. When work dries up, you panic and start again. Then it takes months to rebuild momentum. It is exhausting and completely avoidable. The Competitors Who Are Showing Up Here is another uncomfortable truth: while you are too busy to post, your competitors are not. The recruiters who are consistently visible in your market are becoming the default choice. They are the ones who come to mind when someone has a hiring need. They are building relationships with your potential clients through their content, even if they have never spoken to them directly. We had a client, Mark, who specialises in technical sales recruitment. He was struggling with his pipeline, feeling invisible in a crowded market. He decided to focus on what he knew best and created a three-part blog series that drew on his experience in engineering and sales. He was shocked at the response. Out of a couple of hundred people, he had around 25% respond with comments and feedback. People he had not heard from in ages were reaching out, saying, “Great article, I loved it.” Some wrote detailed paragraphs about how useful they found it. But here is the bit that matters that content started generating real business opportunities. Mark got a contract signed, submitted candidates, and had interviews ongoing. Within two months, he had eight to ten active roles and the potential to cover a full year’s revenue. That is the power of showing up and sharing what you know. The Permission to Start Small If you are listening to this and feeling a bit overwhelmed, we want to permit you to start small. You do not need to become a content machine overnight. You do not need to post twice a day or create videos every week. What you need is a minimum viable visibility plan. Something you can stick to. Maybe that is two LinkedIn posts a week to start with. Perhaps it is one email to your database every fortnight. Maybe it is setting aside 15 minutes a day to comment on posts from people in your network. The specific activities matter less than the consistency. Something small that you do every week will always beat something ambitious that you do for a month and then abandon. Finally The recruitment businesses that will stand out in 2026 are not necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the fanciest websites. They are the ones that show up consistently. The ones who become familiar. The ones who build trust over time by sharing what they know and demonstrating their expertise. Your competitors who are posting while you are too busy? They are building relationships with your future clients right now. The content you create today keeps working for you for months, sometimes years. That is the compound effect in action. And the best part? You do not need to do everything. You need to do something consistently. So here is our challenge for you this week. Whatever your minimum viable visibility plan looks like, start it. Not next Monday. Not when things calm down. This week. Because the only way to become front of mind is to be present, and the only way to be present is to show up. Thanks Denise How We Can Help You This Year If you know you need to be more visible but are struggling to make it happen on your own, that is exactly what we help with in Superfast Circle. Our members get done-for-you content they can personalise and use, so they are not staring at a blank screen, wondering what to write. They get the systems and frameworks that make showing up straightforward rather than overwhelming. And they get the support and accountability of a community that understands exactly what it is like to run a small recruitment business. If you would like to find out more about how we can help you build your visibility and stand out in your market, book a call with us at superfastrecruitment.co.uk/call. We would love to chat about where you are right now and where you want to be. The post Standing Out in 2026: The Visibility Gap – Why Some Recruiters Win Clients (And Others Remain Invisible) appeared first on Superfast Recruitment.

Radio Free 501c brought to you by Rogue Tulips Consulting and USAE News!Episode 313: Branding in a Noisy WorldHost: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, ACNP, LPEC, Principal, Rogue Tulips Consulting Guest: Lidia Varesco Racoma, Brand Strategist, Lidia Varesco Design Another wonderful conversation with Lidia -- this time we discuss branding in a noisy and distracting world! We dive deep into branding, strategy, and brand evolution, including the Three Pillars to Standing Out in a Noisy World. Lidia shares her formula about protecting and promoting your brand, which is Perception and Interaction, and reminds us of the importance of having a Brand Guide. What is your biggest concern about standing out in today's world? Share a comment! ​#usaenews #brand #brandtstrategy #reputation

What if the customer experience principles behind Disney-level service and NASA-grade operational excellence could be applied to your business, without increasing your costs? In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, host Zorina Dimitrova, Investment Matchmaker & Strategic Growth Advisor, sits down with Vance Morris, a customer experience expert who has worked with Disney, NASA, and the Kennedy Center.

Let me describe a morning that might sound familiar. You wake up. Before your feet hit the floor, you have already grabbed your phone. You are scrolling LinkedIn. Checking emails. A client has chased. A candidate has pulled out. There is a message from a team member about a problem. And suddenly, before you have even had a coffee, you are in reactive mode. Putting out fires. Responding. Reacting. Sound familiar? Here is the thing. That pattern of starting the day in someone else’s agenda is costing you more than just peace of mind. It is costing you momentum, marketing consistency, and, ultimately, the growth you know your business can achieve. In this episode, I will share seven daily mindset habits to help you lead with intention rather than firefighting. These are not fluffy “think positive” suggestions. These are grounded, practical habits designed for recruitment business owners juggling delivery and growth in a noisy, competitive market. Before I get into the habits, let me provide some context on what we are doing here. This episode is the first in a series of podcasts we are releasing over the coming weeks, all focused on one question: how do you stand out in your sector in 2026? If you have read our 2026 Marketing Trends Report, you will know that the recruitment landscape is shifting. The companies winning right now are not the biggest or the best funded. They are the ones who have chosen a clear niche, built authority in that space, and consistently deliver content and conversations that matter. In this series, we will cover practical strategies to help you do exactly that. We will talk about content, visibility, LinkedIn, business development, and building your personal brand as a recruitment leader. But we are starting here, with mindset. Because here is what I have learned after eighteen years working with recruitment business owners: you can have the best marketing strategy in the world, but if your head is not in the right place, you will not execute it. You will start strong and then drift. You will get busy with delivery and let the marketing slide. You will tell yourself you will do it next week, and next week never comes. Before we get into tactics, we need to align your mindset. Think of this episode as laying the foundation that everything else will build on. Why Mindset Matters in 2026 Let me explain why this matters more now than ever. 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most challenging and opportunity-rich years for recruitment business owners. The market is noisier than ever. AI is moving fast, and everyone seems to be talking about it. Clients are more cautious with their hiring budgets. Candidate expectations are shifting. And the companies that are winning? They are not the biggest. They are the ones who have built authority in a niche, who show up consistently, and who market their expertise rather than fill roles. Most recruitment agencies are still running on old habits. Reactive. Transactional. Short-term. That worked when there were more vacancies than recruiters. It does not work now. Here is what I have noticed working with recruitment business owners over the past eighteen years: the ones who grow sustainably are not necessarily the ones with the best tech stack or the biggest team. They are the ones who protect their mindset. They lead their business rather than letting it lead them. Let me share seven daily habits that will give you an edge. Habit One: Start with Intent, Not Your Inbox The first habit is this: start your day with intent, not your inbox. When you grab your phone and dive straight into email or LinkedIn first thing in the morning, you have handed control of your day to everyone else. Your brain immediately goes into response mode. You become a firefighter. And firefighters do not build businesses. They stop things from burning down. Here is the two-minute ritual I want you to try. Before you open your inbox, before you scroll LinkedIn, ask yourself one question: “What one outcome would make today a win for the business?” Not ten things. Not a to-do list. One outcome. Maybe it is: “Have two quality BD conversations with target hiring managers.” Or: “Create and post one useful LinkedIn update for my niche.” Or: “Finish the proposal for that retained brief.” Please write it down. Protect time for it. Then, and only then, open your inbox. Let me paint you a picture. Imagine a recruitment owner called Sarah. She runs a small tech recruitment firm. Every morning, she would wake up, check her email immediately, and within ten minutes she would be responding to a client query, resolving a candidate issue, and following up with her consultant about a CV. By nine o’clock, she felt exhausted, and she had not done a single thing to grow her business. Sarah takes two minutes before touching her phone. She writes down her one outcome. This week, it was: “Send three personalised messages to CTOs in my target companies.” She does that first, before email. And here is what happened. She is now having more conversations with decision-makers than she has in months. At the same time. Same effort. Completely different results. Because she started with intent, not in the inbox. Habit 2: Manage Your Thoughts; “Is That Really True?” The second habit is about managing your thoughts. And this one might feel a bit different, but stay with me. Here is the truth: your thoughts about your business are not facts. They are stories. And some of those stories are holding you back. You know the thoughts I am talking about. “Clients are not spending.” “No one is replying on LinkedIn.” “I am terrible at content.” “The market is dead.” When you have a thought like that, and you will because you are human, I want you to pause and ask two questions: “Is that really true?” “What else could be true here?” Let me give you some examples. “Clients are not spending.” Is that true? Some clients are spending. They are just spending with recruiters who have clearly positioned their value. Maybe the question is not whether clients are paying. Maybe it is whether you are visible to the right ones. “I am terrible at content.” Is that true? Or have you not yet practised? Are you comparing yourself to someone who has been posting daily for five years? That is not a fair comparison. “No one is replying on LinkedIn.” Is that true? Or did you send three messages last week and expect a flood of responses? What if you sent thirty intentional messages over the next month? This habit is not about toxic positivity. It is about reducing drama and opening space for constructive, problem-solving thinking. When you catch yourself in a stressful thought, challenge it. Ask: Is that true? What else could be true? You will be amazed at how much clearer you think when you are not trapped in your own stories. Habit 3: Data-First, Not Drama-First Habit three is about data. Specifically, it is about making decisions based on what is happening, not what it feels like is happening. Here is what I mean. Many recruitment business owners run their businesses on mood. One good placement comes in, and it feels like things are going brilliantly. A candidate pulls out, and suddenly everything is terrible. That is drama-first thinking. And it leads to inconsistent decisions. What I want you to do is create a tiny daily dashboard. Nothing fancy. Just four or five numbers you look at every working day. Here is what I would suggest: How many new roles came in this week? How many shortlisted candidates are active? How many BD actions did you take, such as calls, messages, and conversations? How many visibility actions did you take, such as LinkedIn posts, content, or comments on client posts? Every day, take two minutes to look at those numbers. And ask yourself one question: “What is this data telling me to stop, start, or double down on today?” Maybe the data shows you had a great week for candidate shortlists, but you made no BD calls. That tells you where to focus today. Maybe the data shows you have posted three times on LinkedIn and got decent engagement, but you have not converted that into any conversations. That indicates you should include a call to action next time. Data-first thinking keeps your marketing and business development intentional, rather than reactive. It removes the drama from your decisions. Habit 4: Consistency Over Heroics Habit four is one I come back to again with the recruitment owners I work with. It is about consistency over heroics. Here is the pattern I see. An owner gets busy with delivery. BD and marketing slide. The pipeline empties. Panic sets in. They do a “big push, a flurry of calls, a burst of LinkedIn activity. A few leads come in. They get busy with deliveries again. The cycle repeats. This feast-or-famine approach is exhausting. And it does not work. What moves a recruitment business forward is consistency. Small, repeatable actions, every single working day. I call these your “minimum viable consistent actions.” They are the things you commit to doing even when you are busy, even when you do not feel like it. Here is what that might look like. Thirty to sixty minutes of focused BD or relationship-building, every working day. No exceptions. One small visibility action every day, whether that is a LinkedIn post, a thoughtful comment on a client’s content, or a useful insight shared in a DM. Notice I said “small.” I am not asking you to write a 2,000-word blog post every day. I am asking you to show up, consistently, in small ways. Here is the mindset shift. Instead of saying “I will do a big push when it is quieter, because let us be honest, it never really gets quieter, say this: “I touch my growth levers every single working day, even when it is busy.” And here is the identity piece. Start telling yourself: “I am the kind of owner who shows up, even when I do not feel like it.” That statement changes everything. Because once you believe it, you act on it. And once you act on it consistently, your business grows. Habit 5: Lead Relationships, Not Just Transactions Habit five is about relationships. And this is where recruitment business owners have a massive advantage, if they use it. In a market where AI can automate sourcing, where job boards are commoditised, and where every recruiter has access to the same databases, what is your edge? Relationships. Real, human, trust-based relationships. But here is the thing. Relationships do not happen by accident. They happen when you intentionally nurture them. So here is the daily habit: one intentional relationship touchpoint per day. That is it. One. It could be a client, candidate, referrer, or team member. And the touchpoint does not have to be complicated. Maybe you send a useful market insight to a hiring manager you have not spoken to in a while. Perhaps you check in on a candidate after a tough interview. Maybe you send a quick voice note to a team member to say well done on something. Maybe you comment thoughtfully on a client’s LinkedIn post. The key is intentionality. You are not reaching out because you need something. You are reaching out because you are building a long-term relationship. Here is the mindset shift: every interaction is a brand moment. Every email, every call, every message either builds trust or erodes it. After each interaction, ask yourself: “Did I leave this person clearer, calmer, or better informed?” If the answer is yes, you have just deposited into your relationship bank. And over time, those deposits compound. Habit 6: Think Like a Strategist, At Least Once Per Day Habit six is about stepping back and thinking like a strategist. And I know that when you are in the weeds of delivery, strategy can feel like a luxury. But it is not. It is essential. Here is a question I want you to ask yourself at least once every day: “Is what I am doing right now owner work or consultant work?” Let me explain what I mean. Consultant work is delivered. It is sourcing candidates, filling roles, managing processes, and responding to client requests. It is important work. It pays the bills. But it does not grow the business. The owner’s work is different. It is a strategy. Positioning. Marketing. Systems. Key relationships. It is the work that creates leverage and long-term value. Most recruitment business owners I meet spend 90% of their time on consulting and 10% on owner work. And then they wonder why the business is not growing. The daily habit is simple. Check in with yourself: “What mode am I in right now?” If you have spent the whole day on deliveries, carve out 30 minutes for owner work. Even fifteen minutes. Look for one small system you can improve. A template that would save time. An email sequence you could automate. A briefing process that needs tightening. Small improvements, compounded daily, move you from heroics to scalability. Habit 7: Close the Day with a Reset The final habit is about ending your day well. Because how you close today shapes how you start tomorrow. Here is a short end-of-day routine I would encourage you to try. It takes five minutes or less. First, note three wins from today. They do not have to be big. Maybe you had a good conversation with a client. Perhaps you posted on LinkedIn and got some engagement. Maybe you finally finished that proposal. Write them down. Second, note one lesson or improvement idea. Something you learned, something you would do differently, something you spotted that could be better. Third, decide on the one outcome that would make tomorrow a win. Sound familiar? Yes, this is where you set your intent for the next day, so you don’t have to figure it out when you are half-asleep tomorrow morning. Here is why this works. It builds momentum. Instead of every day feeling like a blur, one crisis rolling into the next, you start to see progress. You see wins stacking up. You see lessons accumulating. You see yourself improving. It creates a clear boundary between work and home. When you have closed the day properly, you can switch off. That is not a luxury. It is how you sustain this for the long term. INTEGRATION: Being Realistic Alright. I have just given you seven habits. That might feel like a lot. So let me be realistic with you. You will not do all this perfectly. Not tomorrow. Probably not next month. And that is okay. Here is what I would suggest. Pick one or two habits to start with. Just one or two. If I had to recommend a starting point, I would say: begin with “Start with Intent” and “Is That Really True?” Those two habits alone will shift how you show up every day. Commit to practising them every working day for thirty days. Not perfectly, just consistently. You will slip. There will be mornings when you grab your phone before you have even thought about intent. There will be days when you spiral into a stressful thought and forget to challenge it. That is not failure. That is part of building a new normal. The goal is not perfection. The goal is progress. Small, consistent improvements. Showing up, even when you do not feel like it. Catching yourself in old patterns and gently redirecting. Over time, these habits become automatic. They become part of who you are as a business owner. And when that happens, your business changes, not because you worked harder, but because you led smarter. Remember: the companies winning in 2026 are not necessarily the largest or best funded. They are the ones led by owners who protect their mindset, show up consistently, and play the long game. You can be one of them. What Next: Your Action Steps Here is what I would like you to do. Right now, or as soon as this episode ends, choose one habit from today’s episode. Just one. Please write it down. And commit to practising it every working day for the next thirty days. Then, if you are up for it, share which habit you chose on LinkedIn. Tag us. We would love to hear which one resonated with you and cheer you on. This is just the first episode in our “Standing Out in 2026” series. In the upcoming episodes, we are going to build on this foundation with practical marketing and visibility strategies, the tactical stuff that turns mindset into momentum. Make sure you are subscribed so you do not miss any of them. Thank you for listening. I know your time is precious, and I hope this has been genuinely useful. Now go and decide: what one outcome would make today a win? Thanks Denise How We Can Help You This Year Knowing what to do is one thing. Doing it consistently is another. If you are ready to build these habits but want support staying on track, that is exactly what we help with inside Superfast Circle. Our members get done-for-you content, monthly coaching calls, and a clear system that makes showing up and getting noticed straightforward rather than overwhelming. No more feast-or-famine marketing. No more “I will do it when it is quieter.” If you have been thinking about getting proper support with your marketing this year, book a call and let us show you how it works: www.superfastrecruitment.co.uk/call The post Standing Out in 2026 Episode One: Mindset Habits Every Recruitment Business Owner Should Practice Daily in 2026 appeared first on Superfast Recruitment.

In 2026, everything is fake — fake content, fake influencers, fake engagement. But here's what's always been true: story is what takes "not selling" to "selling." Van Gogh died unknown with 900 paintings worth nothing. Frida Kahlo was overshadowed by Diego Rivera for decades. The Impressionists were literally mocked. Same artwork. Different story. In this episode, we look at what changed — and how you can apply the same framework to your art in the age of AI. Links Mentioned: Lulu Meservey's "Standing Out in 2026" The woman who turned Van Gogh from worthless to $10 billion

SummaryIn this conversation, Jonathan Rosenfeld, an attorney and entrepreneur, discusses the evolving landscape of law and marketing, particularly the impact of AI on the legal profession. He emphasizes the importance of standing out in a competitive market, leveraging niche marketing strategies, and utilizing platforms like YouTube for growth. Rosenfeld shares insights on the significance of personal relationships in business, the need for responsiveness, and the necessity of adapting to changing marketing techniques. He concludes with advice for young entrepreneurs on networking and building a brand.TakeawaysAI can generate vast amounts of content, but verification is crucial.Building personal relationships is key in the legal field.Responsiveness to client needs differentiates successful firms.Marketing strategies must evolve with technology and consumer behavior.Niche marketing can enhance SEO and client engagement.YouTube is a powerful tool for establishing expertise and trust.Tracking lead generation is essential for business growth.Networking remains a vital component of business success.Adapting to market changes is necessary for survival.Building a brand should be a daily focus for entrepreneurs.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Jonathan Rosenfeld and His Journey04:43 The Role of AI in Law and Marketing07:36 Standing Out in a Competitive Legal Market10:38 Building Relationships in Legal Practice13:23 Adapting Marketing Strategies for the Future16:37 Niche Marketing in Personal Injury Law19:37 The Importance of Expertise and Client Trust27:53 Strategic Marketing Adjustments30:42 Exploring Offline Marketing Tactics34:05 Tracking Lead Generation Effectively34:42 Diversifying Income Streams for Growth37:59 Embracing New Technologies and Platforms45:58 Networking and Building Relationships49:39 Final Thoughts and Contact InformationCredits:Hosted by Ryan Roghaar and Michael SmithProduced by Ryan RoghaarTheme music: "Perfect Day" by OPM  The Eggs Podcast Spotify playlist:bit.ly/eggstunesThe Plugs:The Show: eggscast.com@eggshow on X and InstagramOn iTunes: itun.es/i6dX3pCOnStitcher: bit.ly/eggs_on_stitcherAlso available on Google Play Music!Mike "DJ Ontic": Shows and info: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠djontic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@djontic on twitterRyan Roghaar:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rogha.ar

In this episode, Gene Hammett interviews AJ Cassata, founder of Revenue Boost, about AI-driven lead generation in B2B marketing. AJ emphasizes the collaborative use of AI in sales, warns against full outsourcing, and explains his "10-80-10 rule." He discusses the effectiveness of outbound strategies like cold emailing and LinkedIn messaging, stressing the importance of personalization and audience segmentation. AJ recommends tools like Clay.com for automating outreach and concludes with key factors for successful campaigns, urging listeners to embrace AI while maintaining human oversight and persistence. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 1:15 The Power of AI in Sales 2:57 Challenges in B2B Sales 5:10 Email vs. LinkedIn Effectiveness 8:35 Standing Out on LinkedIn 11:24 Leveraging AI for Personalization 14:18 Common Mistakes in AI Outbound 17:13 The Future of AI in Outbound 20:33 Enhancing Sales with AI 21:57 Key Takeaways for CEOs AI in Modern Sales — Collaboration Over Automation Gene speaks with AJ Cassata, founder of Revenue Boost, about using AI in B2B outbound sales. AJ explains that AI should be treated as a collaborative partner rather than a replacement for human judgment. He cautions against fully outsourcing sales and marketing to AI due to its tendency to "hallucinate" or generate inaccuracies. AJ introduces his "10-80-10 rule," where humans control strategy and final review while AI handles execution at scale. Why Outbound Sales Still Works AJ breaks down why outbound sales, cold email, cold calling, and LinkedIn outreach remain a highly effective and cost-efficient lead generation channel. He emphasizes the importance of testing different approaches and targeting specific industries or companies to generate high-quality leads. The conversation compares email and LinkedIn outreach, noting LinkedIn's higher response rates but lower scalability versus email's broader reach and lower engagement. Personalization, Empathy, and Common Mistakes The discussion turns to practical outreach tactics, with AJ stressing the importance of deep personalization through prospect research and industry understanding. He advises focusing messaging on the prospect's needs rather than promoting services. AJ outlines common AI-powered outbound mistakes, including low outreach volume, generic messaging, and poor audience segmentation, reinforcing that tailored messaging is critical for resonance. Tools, Strategy, and Keys to Success AJ highlights tools like Clay.com that support AI-driven lead research and personalized outreach. He discusses AI's evolving role in sales, particularly for tasks like scheduling and qualification, while underscoring the continued need for human oversight. As the episode concludes, AJ shares five key drivers of outbound success: list quality, messaging, offer strength, outreach volume, and email deliverability. He encourages leaders to experiment, iterate, and remain patient when leveraging AI-powered outbound strategies to grow their sales pipeline. Key Takeaways AI is a force multiplier, not a replacement. AI delivers the best results when paired with human strategy, oversight, and decision-making rather than fully automating sales and marketing functions. Outbound sales remains a high-ROI growth channel. Cold email, cold calling, and LinkedIn outreach continue to produce quality leads at a lower cost compared to many inbound or paid marketing channels. Strategy should follow the 10-80-10 rule. CEOs should stay involved in setting direction and reviewing outcomes while leveraging AI for scalable execution in the middle. Personalization drives performance. Outreach that demonstrates understanding of a prospect's business and challenges consistently outperforms generic, AI-generated messaging. Volume and focus both matter. Effective outbound requires sufficient outreach volume paired with clear segmentation and targeted messaging to avoid diminishing returns. Technology enables scale, not shortcuts. Tools like AI-powered research and personalization platforms can accelerate outbound efforts, but poor inputs still lead to poor results. Human oversight reduces AI risk. AI can hallucinate or make incorrect assumptions, making review and refinement essential before deployment. Five factors determine outbound success. List quality, messaging clarity, offer strength, outreach volume, and email deliverability must all work together for consistent results. Iteration beats perfection. Sustainable outbound success comes from continuous testing, learning, and refinement rather than one-time campaign execution. Leadership mindset matters. CEOs who embrace AI experimentation while maintaining accountability and patience are better positioned to build predictable, scalable pipelines. Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at training.coreelevation.com to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. Explore More: training.coreelevation.com Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

In this expert interview, Sarah Doody is joined by Patrick Neeman, Director of UX & AI Experiences at Workday, to pull back the curtain on how UX hiring actually works today—and where candidates are getting tripped up.Patrick brings a rare perspective: he's led UX teams, taught UX at General Assembly, worked inside applicant tracking systems, and now hires designers in an AI-driven product environment. Together, Sarah and Patrick unpack the biggest misconceptions about ATS systems, why portfolios often fail the six-second test, how soft skills influence hiring decisions, and what senior designers really need to focus on to stand out in today's market.This episode is especially valuable if you're making it to interviews but not offers, feeling unsure how AI fits into your skillset, or questioning whether your resume and portfolio are helping—or hurting—you.What You'll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why companies are often bad at hiring—and how that impacts candidates✔️ The truth about ATS filters, knockout questions, and resume formatting✔️ Why two-column resumes fail ATS systems (and what to do instead)✔️ What hiring managers notice in the first 6 seconds of reviewing a resume✔️ How soft skills like alignment, collaboration, and communication influence hiring✔️ Why decks often outperform portfolio websites in UX interviews✔️ How AI tools like Lovable are changing expectations for prototyping✔️ The role of “weak ties” in landing jobs—and why relationships matter more than applications✔️ Red flags candidates should avoid during interviews and outreach✔️ Why being “nice to work with” is a real career advantageLinks From This Episode:Patrick's Book: uxGPT: Mastering AI Assistants for User Experience Designers and Product Management ProfessionalsPatrick's Article: What's makes an effective UX professionalPatrick's Article: What's your Ideal Designer Profile?The Strength of Weak Ties: A Network Theory RevisitedThe ADP Checklist: Resources about Resumes, Portfolios and Interviews for UX ProfessionalsTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Sarah Doody and Career Strategy Lab00:38 Welcoming Patrick Neiman: Insights into UX Hiring01:19 Patrick's Background and Experience04:19 The State of the UX Job Market07:21 The Importance of Writing Skills in UX08:49 Applicant Tracking Systems and AI in Hiring13:28 Contract Roles in UX: Myths and Realities14:42 Standing Out as a UX Candidate17:48 Soft Skills: The Superpower of UX Professionals22:05 Tips for Early Career UX Designers24:15 Prototyping vs. Figma: The Future of Design24:28 The Value of Personal Projects in Portfolios24:57 Challenges in Redesigning Complex Systems26:10 Misconceptions About Hiring Software27:23 The Six-Second Resume Test29:16 Networking and the Power of Weak Ties33:10 Tips for Advancing in Your UX Career41:46 Balancing Figma and AI-Assisted Design Tools43:21 Final Thoughts and Advice for Job Seekers

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes of WorkHero discuss with guests Kimberly Sevilla, Founder of Shelter Air and Peter Troast, Founder & CEO of Energy Circle LLC, how to craft a compelling brand identity, build a high-impact website, and leverage AI for content creation. Whether you're launching a new HVAC business or revamping your marketing strategy, this episode provides critical insights on standing out in a saturated market. Kimberly shares her expertise in targeting the right customer through a tailored visual identity. Peter brings years of experience in website development, SEO, and digital branding strategies for service businesses.   Expect to Learn - How to create a strong visual identity that reflects your HVAC business values. - Tips on using AI and freelance platforms for affordable branding and logo creation. - Best practices for building a functional, story-driven HVAC website. - The value of storytelling and blogging for local SEO and customer engagement. - Balancing authenticity with automation in customer communication.   Episode Breakdown with Timestamps [00:00:00] – Introduction to the Episode [00:01:27] – Welcome to HVAC Know It All [00:01:52] – Visual Branding Fundamentals [00:04:23] – Standing Out in a Sea of Sameness [00:07:32] – DIY Branding Tools & Advice [00:10:29] – AI vs Human Touch in Branding [00:11:44] – Storytelling as a Marketing Tool [00:15:30] – Making Contact Easy for Emergencies   Follow Kimberly Sevilla on:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlysevilla Company's Website: https://shelter-air.com/ Company's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelterair Company's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShelterAir/ Company's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelter.air/?hl=en   Follow Peter Troast on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petertroast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petertroast/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peter.troast/ Company's Website: https://www.energycircle.com/home-page Company's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-circle-llc   Follow Furman Haynes on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/furmanhaynes/ WorkHero: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workherohvac/   Follow Gary McCreadie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/  

What does it really mean to be yourself at work without hiding, performing, or shrinking to fit expectations? In this Finding Brave conversation, we explore why authentic presence is not a soft skill or a personal indulgence, but a powerful leadership practice that builds trust, connection, and impact in today's fast-moving, emotionally complex workplaces.   Today's inspiring guest is Claude Silver, the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, where she partners with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk to shape culture and leadership at scale. A sought-after speaker and the author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart, Claude brings a deeply human lens to leadership that is grounded in emotional intelligence, courage, and self-awareness. Her work challenges the outdated belief that professionalism requires emotional distance or self-erasure. In this wide-ranging and deeply personal discussion, Claude shares formative stories from her own life that shaped her understanding of authentic presence. Together, Kathy and Claude unpack what authenticity looks like in real moments at work, from navigating difficult conversations to noticing the inner "song" that shapes how we show up. Claude breaks down her three emotional pillars, namely, emotional optimism, emotional bravery, and emotional efficiency, and explains how emotions can guide more grounded and courageous leadership. The episode also explores why leading with heart matters more than ever in an AI-driven, always-on world, and how taking up space, asking for what you need, and speaking honestly can transform both individual careers and workplace cultures. Listen in and consider what might shift if you gave yourself permission today to be fully seen and fully heard at work!   Key Highlights From This Episode: Introducing Claude Silver and what's missing from how we talk about authenticity. [00:59] Why being authentic is a privilege and the power of knowing yourself. [06:40] How early experiences with dyslexia shaped Claude's self-image and personal growth. [10:18] A pivotal Outward Bound moment that revealed the power of changing the "song" in your head. [13:56] [18:05] What authentic presence really looks like beyond theory and performative professionalism. [23:27] Claude's three pillars: emotional optimism, emotional bravery, and emotional efficiency. [30:47] Leading with heart in an AI-driven world that often feels rushed, disconnected, or dehumanizing. Why taking up space, speaking honestly, and being fully human changes work and culture. [33:35] For More Information: Claude Silver Claude Silver on LinkedIn Claude Silver on Instagram   Links/Resources Mentioned in Today's Episode:  Claude Silver's book, Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart   What it means to be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Kathy's Finding Brave interview with Andre Solo on "Being Highly Sensitive is a Super Power: Embrace and Leverage It" and Kathy's article "How I Found Out I'm a Highly Sensitive Person and Used It To Change My Life"   ——————— READY FOR A HUGE SHIFT TO ACHIEVE MORE SUCCESS, IMPACT AND FULFILLMENT IN YOUR CAREER? Work with Kathy and get hands-on, transformative CAREER & LEADERSHIP GROWTH COACHING SUPPORT today! Join me today in one of my top-requested career and leadership growth 1:1 coaching programs and take 20% off the price this week with coupon code 'FBRAVE20' as my thank-you for tuning in! Visit my Career Help page, or click the links below for more information and to register today and save 20%:   – Jumpstart Your Career Success (3 sessions) – Career & Leadership Breakthrough program (6 sessions) – Build Your Confidence, Success and Impact (10 sessions)   ——————— GOT A BURNING CAREER OR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH QUESTION? Ask me on Hubble I'm thrilled to join the Hubble Expert Advisory group, a space for thoughtful conversations and honest advice on life, work, business and career challenges. I often hear from people worldwide seeking guidance on careers, leadership, personal growth, and making a bigger impact. Now, connecting and answering your questions is easier than ever—Hubble lets you book a one-off call or recurring sessions with me.   Book some time with me here on Hubble - I'd love to support your top goals: https://app.hubble.social/kathycaprino    ——————— Order Kathy's book The Most Powerful You today! In Australia and New Zealand, click here to order, elsewhere outside North America, click here, and in the UK, click here. If you enjoy the book, we'd so appreciate your giving the book a positive rating and review on Amazon! And check out Kathy's digital companion course The Most Powerful You, to help you close the 7 most damaging power gaps in the most effective way possible. Kathy's Power Gaps Survey, Support To Build Your LinkedIn Profile To Great Success & Other Free Resources Kathy's TEDx Talk, Time To Brave Up & Free Career Path Self-Assessment Kathy's Amazing Career Project video training course & 6 Dominant Action Styles Quiz   ——————— Sponsor Highlight I'm thrilled that both Audible.com and Amazon Music are sponsors of Finding Brave! Take advantage of their great special offers and free trials today! Audible Offer Amazon Music Offer   Quotes: "Who are you when you're brushing your teeth in the morning? There are no kids around, maybe no dog around, it's just you spacing out brushing your teeth. To me, that is very indicative of who we are, when we are our real selves." — Claude Silver [0:04:22] "We are human, and this is the experience we're having. So why not be open about that?" — Claude Silver [0:05:20] "I think that it is an enormous privilege to get to know yourself. [And it] is something that is our birthright." — Claude Silver [0:08:48] "I don't need to see you as anything other than you are, because who you are is who I want to get to know. Who you are is who I'm going to hold space for. I don't want you to act like a PhD or pretend that you have a following of a million people on social media." — Claude Silver [0:18:37] "Emotions are guides. Emotions are data. It is not who we are." — Claude Silver [0:23:53] "Ask questions. Add your two cents. If you're in the room, be big in the room. Share something. You have an idea that no one else has mentioned. I'm sure of it." — Claude Silver [0:34:03]   Watch our Finding Brave episodes on YouTube! Don't forget – you can experience each Finding Brave episode in both audio and video formats! Check out new and recent episodes on my YouTube channel at YouTube.com/kathycaprino. And please leave us a comment and a thumbs up if you like the show!

In this episode, our Podcast Producer Maddie Stiles interviews our host Rick... The post Standing Out in Canadian Business with Rick Spence first appeared on Startup Canada.

If you've ever felt your heart race before a presentation, struggled to find the right words in a high-stakes conversation, or worried you're not being heard at work, this episode is for you.My guest is Matt Abrahams, a world expert in communication, Stanford lecturer, and host of the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. In this episode, he shares a powerful, practical approach to overcoming the most common challenges in public speaking and everyday communication.We explore how to manage anxiety, stop over-relying on slides, and shift from performance mode to connection mode. Matt explains why memorizing a script often makes us more nervous and offers a better alternative: structure over script. He breaks down how to recover gracefully when your mind goes blank, eliminate filler words like “umm” and “you know,” and use storytelling to make your message more memorable and persuasive. We also dive into how to be seen and heard at work without sounding self-promotional, and how to build spontaneous speaking skills that make meetings and conversations feel less stressful and more natural.Enjoy this masterclass in how to speak up – without freaking out.0:00 Introduction & Setting the Stage0:36 Presentation Mistakes & Audience-Centric Communication2:34 The Power of Storytelling6:53 Managing Nerves & Building Confidence17:23 Standing Out at Work & Building Credibility21:40 AI in Communication: Opportunities & Pitfalls29:02 Evolving as a Communicator & Final Advice31:21 Outro & ResourcesGet your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/ 

Claude Silver: Be Yourself at Work Claude Silver is on a mission to revolutionize leadership, talent, and workplace culture. She is Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and partners with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk to drive their success. Claude has earned Campaign US’s Female Frontier Award, and AdWeek’s Changing the Game Award and she's the author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart (Amazon, Bookshop)*. We've all heard the advice to be ourselves at work. It's easier said than done. In this conversation, Claude and I explore how we can actually move past some of the unhelpful self-talk so that we can show up better, faster. Key Points We all have songs that play in our heads. When the song isn't working, it's time to change it. Labels are for soup cans, not people. Stop treating negative self-talk as gospel. Begin by identifying the label you've put on yourself that's harming you. When it's hard to see a harmful label, use times of either reflection or agitation to help surface it. Find the internal evidence for this label and record what confirms this belief and also what challenges it. If that's hard, invite someone else (a partner, friend, or therapist) to help you see it more objectively. Evolve by creating a new mantra for who you are becoming. If it doesn't seem doable today, ask yourself if you can envision it being true in the future. Resources Mentioned Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart by Claude Silver (Amazon, Bookshop)*. Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Tame Your Inner Critic, with Tara Mohr (episode 232) How to Stand Up for Yourself, with Sunita Sah (episode 715) When It Feels Like You Don't Belong, with Muriel Wilkins (episode 756) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary interviews Eric Ritter, CEO of Digital Neighbor and digital marketing professor, about law firm growth through effective SEO and branding. Eric shares his journey into legal marketing, the importance of defining an ideal client, and how law firms can stand out in a crowded market. They discuss AI's impact on legal marketing, the value of continuous learning and coaching, and practical strategies for work-life balance. Eric emphasizes building authentic brands and sustainable marketing systems, offering actionable advice for lawyers seeking fulfillment and long-term success.Eric Ritter is the CEO & Founder of Digital Neighbor, a nationally recognized SEO and digital marketing agency specializing in law firm growth. With over a decade of experience, Eric is a leading authority in legal marketing and AI-driven client acquisition. Known as "The SEO Sommelier," he simplifies complex digital strategies to drive growth for law firms.Eric is an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida, teaching digital marketing. He has also been featured in Authority Magazine, Search Engine Watch, and Porch. He hosts The Search Bar Podcast and leads Sip & Search, a networking series for attorneys.In addition to his professional work, Eric is actively involved in the community, serving on multiple nonprofit boards in the Tampa Bay area.Eric's Journey into Legal Marketing (00:02:10) The SEO Sommelier Concept (00:03:07) Myth 1: The Ideal Client Profile (00:04:28)SEO Focus and Resource Allocation (00:06:11)Standing Out in a Crowded Market (00:06:56) Myth 2: All Cases Are the Same (00:09:08) Consistency and Lawyer Involvement in Marketing (00:10:48) Digital Neighbor's Differentiation (00:12:44) Teaching and Staying Current (00:13:46) AI's Impact on Digital Marketing (00:15:06) The Future of Digital Marketing (00:16:58) Answer Engine Optimization (00:20:17) Sustained Law Firm Growth vs. Burnout (00:21:15) The Value of Coaching and Professional Development (00:22:44) Lawyer Fulfillment and Avoiding Burnout (00:24:19) First Steps for Established Law Firms (00:25:04) Work-Life Balance and Delegation (00:26:16) Recharging and Hobbies (00:28:02) Transformation Through Marketing (00:29:44)Would you like to learn what it looks like to become a truly Free Lawyer? You can schedule a complimentary call here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-callWould you like to learn more about Breaking Free or order your copy? https://www.garymiles.net/break-freeYou can find The Free Lawyer Assessment here- https://www.garymiles.net/the-free-lawyer-assessment

We love to talk about authenticity at work… right up until someone actually shows up as their full, messy, human self and makes everyone clutch their pearls. In this episode, we unpack what it really means to be yourself at work with Claude Silver — the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart. We get into the difference between authentic presence vs. executive presence, why “that's just who I am” is usually “fear” in a cute outfit, and how to stop armoring up at work without turning every meeting into group therapy. We talk about perfectionism, people-pleasing, power dynamics, calling people in (instead of just calling them out), and what it actually costs you and your company when you leave the real you at home. If you've ever wondered how to bring your heart into a workplace that's still obsessed with your hustle, or how to belong without shrinking or pretending, this conversation is your permission slip to stop faking it and start leading from the heart. We Explore: What authenticity at work really means (and why it's not “I say whatever I want, whenever I want”) The difference between confidence and authenticity – and why you need both How Claude defines authentic presence and why “executive presence” is starting to feel outdated Perfectionism as a confidence derailer and how it quietly kills trust, connection, and creativity How to share your real life (kids, chaos, hard mornings) at work without oversharing or dumping Navigating power dynamics when a client, boss, or leader says something that goes against your values How to find “your people” at work Gen Z and Gen Alpha aren't being “difficult” — they're just done with workplaces that value performance over personhood. They expect companies to evolve, not the other way around. If leaders want to keep and motivate this generation, they need to ditch command-and-control and lead with humanity. Authenticity isn't a bonus anymore — it's the baseline. Thank you to our sponsors! Get 20% off your first order at curehydration.com/WOMANSWORK with code WOMANSWORK — and if you get a post-purchase survey, mention you heard about Cure here to help support the show!  Sex is a skill. Beducated is where you learn it. Visit https://beducate.me/pd2550-womanswork and use code womanswork for 50% off the annual pass. Connect with Claude: Book Website: https://www.beyourselfbook.com/  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casilver/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/claudesilver/?hl=en  Related Podcast Episodes Work Shouldn't Suck: How to Make It Good with Moe Carrick | 356 15 Lies Women Are Told At Work with Bonnie Hammer | 330 The Hard Truths Of Entrepreneurship with Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon | 313 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!

Are you trying to set teen boundaries without your child calling you “controlling” or “the worst parent ever”?If you want your teen to live by high standards—around tech, food, friends, habits, and lifestyle—you can't just make it your standard and enforce it. It has to become their standard. In this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life Podcast, Greg and Rachel break down exactly how they helped their own teens buy in so deeply that they now say things like, “I'm not putting that garbage in my body,” or “I don't waste my life on that.”Instead of rules and power struggles, they show you how to prioritize relationship over rules, lean on unconditional love, and teach the laws that govern health, happiness, success, and addiction—so your kids see for themselves where certain choices lead. When teens understand the why behind your standards, they stop feeling controlled and start choosing those standards for themselves.You'll also hear how the Dennings have intentionally made real life more compelling than video games or junk food—often inviting friends along for the ride—so the “different” lifestyle isn't a punishment, it's an upgrade.If you've ever wondered, “How do I hold the line without wrecking the relationship?” this conversation will give you a new framework: less control, more conviction—and a family standard that everyone owns.

Standing Out in a Tough Economy|Positioning, Offers, and Local Search Moves that Win w/ Wes TowersWes Towers runs Uplift 360, a digital agency for builders and trades. His focus is simple: smarter websites, practical SEO, and growth you can measure. He earned his playbook on real jobs, not in theory, and now helps others skip the painful lessons.Links:https://uplift360.com.au/https://www.instagram.com/uplift_360/Tags:Business Growth,Construction,Digital Marketing,Entrepreneurship,Marketing,Religion & Spirituality,Search Engine Optimization (SEO),Small Business,Web Content,Web Design,Standing Out in a Tough Economy w/ Wes Towers,Phantom Electric Ghost PodcastSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rssSubstackhttps://substack.com/@phantomelectricghost?utm_source=edit-profile-page

Greatness comes with a price—but what if that price isn't punishment, but preparation?  In this episode, I reframe the "tax" of greatness as an investment in your future self, showing how every setback, rejection, and lonely morning is actually a deposit into the account of discipline, patience, and faith that compounds over time. I discuss how standing out invites resistance—from critics, loved ones, and even yourself—and why that's proof you're on the right path.  In this episode, you'll learn: How to reframe "suffering" as harnessing your inner strength. Why greatness requires isolation—and how to find peace in it. The crabs in the bucket analogy and how to avoid being pulled down. How to manage criticism and stay confident when others doubt you. The difference between emotional fuel and sustainable focus. Why setbacks are simply the market dips of your personal growth. How to make daily "deposits" into the bank of discipline and belief. If you've ever felt misunderstood, lonely, or doubted while chasing your goals—whether in golf, business, or life—this episode will help you reconnect with your purpose, stay the course, and trust that your effort will pay dividends when the time is right. Get your pencils ready and start listening.  P.S. Curious to learn more about the results my clients are experiencing and what they say about working with me? Read more here. Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter Download my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording. High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course.  Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist Key Takeaways: The price of greatness isn't a penalty — it's an investment plan for your future self that pays exponential returns. Loneliness and isolation aren't setbacks; they're sacred opportunities to realign with your values and purpose. Judgment from others reflects their stagnation, not your misdirection. Stay focused on your path, not their opinions. Replace the word suffering with harnessing — each moment of adversity strengthens resilience, focus, and faith. While most people panic during life's "market dips," the great ones double down, trusting time, consistency, and themselves. Key Quotes: "Every bit of pain, doubt, persistence, and every morning you don't feel like doing jack shit — that's interest your future self will cash in as peace, freedom, and fulfillment." "The higher you climb, the thinner the air — and fewer people can breathe at that altitude. Most turn back, not because the view isn't worth it, but because they never conditioned themselves to handle the elevation." "The criticism, judgment, and resentment you face aren't punishments — they're proof you're leaving the bucket while everyone else is still clinging to comfort." "Every time you suffer through rejection, failure, or frustration, you're not breaking down — you're harnessing the strength, patience, and faith required to rise." "When the pressure hits, the critics get loud, and your beliefs start to waver — remember, you're not being punished. You're being prepared." Time Stamps: 00:00: The Cost of Greatness 02:41: Reframing Suffering as Harnessing 05:26: The Isolation of Standing Out 08:14: The Crabs in the Bucket Analogy 10:52: Navigating Loneliness and Misunderstanding 14:47: Embracing Fear and Uncertainty 18:25: The Power of Emotional Energy 20:50: Investing in Your Future Self 23:32: The Journey of Self-Discovery

Ready to grow your clientele & revenue? Download "The 20 Client Generators" PDF now and get instant access to strategies that will fill your calendar with potential clients. No complicated tech, no lengthy processes—just real strategies that work. https://info.patrigsby.com/20-client-generators Do you want to stop chasing leads and start attracting them instead? Get Instant Access To The Weekly Client Machine For Just $5.00! https://patrigsby.com/weeklyclientmachine Get Your FREE Copy of Pat's Fitness Entrepreneur Handbook! https://patrigsby.com/feh  --- Mastering Organic Marketing: Lessons in Standing Out In today's episode, Pat Rigsby discusses the increasing difficulty of standing out with organic content amidst the rise of AI-generated material. He shares insights from his wife Holly's successful engagement on social media. Holly, having had a top-selling fitness product and maintained a large customer base, managed to generate strong engagement with personal, relevant, and authentic posts. Pat emphasizes the importance of defining a clear target audience, building relationships, and truly engaging with followers. Tune in for actionable strategies to enhance your organic marketing efforts in a noisy digital landscape. 00:00 Introduction: The Challenge of Standing Out 01:05 Case Study: Holly's Success Story 03:49 Key Strategies for Engagement 05:57 Building Authentic Relationships 08:01 Conclusion: Blueprint for Organic Marketing

AI is not just a distant concept but a force that quietly transforms how nonprofits create, communicate, and connect. The key to successful adaptation of AI technologies is embracing imperfection, letting AI spark direction, structure, and scale, even when the first draft isn't perfect. As the sector evolves by the week, adaptability becomes the ultimate advantage for nonprofits in staying discoverable, relevant, and ready for what's next.    Nathan and Scott open this week's conversation coming live from the Association Philanthropy Healthcare Conference at Aurora, Colorado. They first discuss the striking parallel between today's AI revolution and the industrial revolution, both highlighted by innovation and concentrated power, but unlike in the past, the AI revolution is instant and global. Then Scott shares his perspective on the limitations of AI. As formidable a tool as AI might be, when it comes to sensitive concepts like therapy and reasoning, AI cannot play the full functioning role of a human therapist and make us feel safe, heard, and seen. Furthermore, Nathan talks passionately about finding clarity in a noisy world where you have to slow down and find the intentional stillness where purpose takes shape. He further advises people to find their ‘one thing,' which isn't a luxury but the foundation for future leadership.     Further into the episode, Nathan and Scott also discuss the following topics: the hope of new generations finding the balance between technology and human connection, the importance of staying anchored to personal values, the emergence of new AI technologies, the importance of experimenting and figuring out the potential of AI, the necessity of establishing AI governance policies, and more.       EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS    [02:45] Coming live from the Association Philanthropy Healthcare Conference.   [08:00] AI revolution vs. industrial revolution.  [10:41] Gen Alpha - A “renaissance” of balance between technology and human connection.  [15:50] Limitations of AI as a therapist.   [18:23] Figuring out and staying anchored to personal values.   [22:30] Defining your ‘one thing'.   [27:42] The rise of Artificial General Intelligence.   [35:15] Going beyond the surface level of AI and identifying its potential.   [38:40] The release of ChatGPT Atlas browser.  [43:05] Establishing AI governance policies.   [49:30] Visibility and credibility in the AI era.   [51:00] Smart compose feature in Gmail.   [59:14] Practical adoption, creative process, and balancing efficiency in agentic AI.   RESOURCES    IRREPLACEABLE: The Art of Standing Out in the Age of Artificial Intelligence  by Pascal Bornet  amazon.com/IRREPLACEABLE-Art-Standing-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1394264402   Connect with Nathan and Scott: LinkedIn (Nathan): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn (Scott): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fundraising.ai/⁠⁠

Learn how today's guest went from eBay to AI-driven marketing. Discover his secrets to LinkedIn growth, UGC blitz campaigns, trade show ROI, and mastering AEO optimization. Rob Stanley, a trailblazer in the e-commerce realm since the late '90s, shares his unique journey from selling parts for Palm Pilots on eBay to pioneering iPhone repair sales via YouTube. With nearly three decades of experience, Rob uncovers the secrets behind maximizing LinkedIn presence and the power of user-generated content strategies. He also recounts his remarkable transformation from being the "money man" to collaborating with companies challenging giants like Shopify. His stories are not just about past achievements but offer a roadmap for today's e-commerce professionals looking to make a mark in a dynamic industry. Our conversation takes an exciting turn as we explore the captivating world of trade shows and the art of standing out. Rob shares vivid anecdotes on how to create unforgettable trade show experiences, emphasizing the need for creative hooks and interactive booth presentations to capture attendees' attention. Further, we dive into the art of crafting compelling LinkedIn posts that spur engagement, complete with insights on using varied content types and scheduling tools to maintain a vibrant online presence. With Rob's clever strategies, listeners will find themselves equipped with the tools to transform their LinkedIn and trade show tactics into genuine business growth. In the final segment, Rob and Kevin explore the future of e-commerce, with a spotlight on AI optimization tools and emerging trends. We discuss the innovative potential of Super User-Generated Content and the evolution of e-commerce platforms, such as Miva. Rob offers compelling insights into how AI tools are reshaping search engine strategies, ensuring that brands stay visible in an increasingly digital world. From driverless technology to the evolution of sales dynamics, Rob's expert perspective provides a glimpse into the future, urging listeners to stay ahead of the curve in this ever-evolving landscape.  In episode 471 of the AM/PM Podcast, Kevin and Rob discuss: 00:00 - E-Commerce Journey With The "Money Man" Rob Stanley 07:51 - Discussion on Trade Shows and Feedback 08:46 - Maximizing Trade Show ROI 14:00 - Standing Out at Trade Shows 18:23 - Maximizing LinkedIn for E-Commerce Success 20:01 - Maximizing LinkedIn Engagement Strategies 24:41 - Promoting Brands and Products on LinkedIn 31:06 - Strategic Super UGC Marketing Blitz 38:11 - E-Commerce Industry Trends and Insights 44:33 - AI Optimization Tools for E-Commerce 48:47 - Chat GPT and AEO Rise 53:40 - Evolution of E-Commerce and AI 55:10 - Social Media Reach Out Tips

On this Live Greatly podcast episode, Kristel Bauer sits down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and the author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart. Tune in now! Key Takeaways From This Episode: The importance of self-awareness Being able to be authentic at work The importance of knowing what is not work appropriate A look into Claude's book, Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart Leadership tips ABOUT CLAUDE SILVER: Claude Silver is on a mission to revolutionize leadership, talent, and workplace culture. She is the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and partners with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk to drive their success. She is the author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart (Harper Business; October 28, 2025). Silver has earned Campaign US's Female Frontier Award and AdWeek's Changing the Game Award and she electrifies audiences at national and international conferences and at organizations, including Meta, Google, US Government agencies, and the US Armed Forces. She has been interviewed on dozens of podcasts and featured in The New York Times, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. Silver lives in New Jersey with her wife and two young children. Connect with Claude Order Claude's book: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Yourself-Work-Groundbreaking-Standing/dp/0063392437 Website: https://www.claudesilver.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casilver/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudesilver/?hl=en About the Host of the Live Greatly podcast, Kristel Bauer: Kristel Bauer is a corporate wellness and performance expert, keynote speaker and TEDx speaker supporting organizations and individuals on their journeys for more happiness and success. She is the author of Work-Life Tango: Finding Happiness, Harmony, and Peak Performance Wherever You Work (John Murray Business November 19, 2024). With Kristel's healthcare background, she provides data driven actionable strategies to leverage happiness and high-power habits to drive growth mindsets, peak performance, profitability, well-being and a culture of excellence. Kristel's keynotes provide insights to "Live Greatly" while promoting leadership development and team building. Kristel is the creator and host of her global top self-improvement podcast, Live Greatly. She is a contributing writer for Entrepreneur, and she is an influencer in the business and wellness space having been recognized as a Top 10 Social Media Influencer of 2021 in Forbes. As an Integrative Medicine Fellow & Physician Assistant having practiced clinically in Integrative Psychiatry, Kristel has a unique perspective into attaining a mindset for more happiness and success. Kristel has presented to groups from the American Gas Association, Bank of America, bp, Commercial Metals Company, General Mills, Northwestern University, Santander Bank and many more. Kristel has been featured in Forbes, Forest & Bluff Magazine, Authority Magazine & Podcast Magazine and she has appeared on ABC 7 Chicago, WGN Daytime Chicago, Fox 4's WDAF-TV's Great Day KC, and Ticker News. Kristel lives in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area and she can be booked for speaking engagements worldwide. To Book Kristel as a speaker for your next event, click here. Website: www.livegreatly.co Follow Kristel Bauer on: Instagram: @livegreatly_co LinkedIn: Kristel Bauer Twitter: @livegreatly_co Facebook: @livegreatly.co Youtube: Live Greatly, Kristel Bauer To Watch Kristel Bauer's TEDx talk of Redefining Work/Life Balance in a COVID-19 World click here. Click HERE to check out Kristel's corporate wellness and leadership blog Click HERE to check out Kristel's Travel and Wellness Blog Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are intended for informational and educational purposes only. Always seek the guidance of your physician for any recommendations specific to you or for any questions regarding your specific health, your sleep patterns changes to diet and exercise, or any medical conditions. Always consult your physician before starting any supplements or new lifestyle programs. All information, views and statements shared on the Live Greatly podcast are purely the opinions of the authors, and are not medical advice or treatment recommendations. They have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. Opinions of guests are their own and Kristel Bauer & this podcast does not endorse or accept responsibility for statements made by guests. Neither Kristel Bauer nor this podcast takes responsibility for possible health consequences of a person or persons following the information in this educational content. Always consult your physician for recommendations specific to you.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart. Together, they unpack what it really means to lead with humanity in today's workplace. Claude shares stories from her own journey—from leaving a two-decade advertising career to building one of the most human-centered cultures in business—and offers practical wisdom for leaders who want to foster authenticity, connection, and belonging on their teams. Listeners will come away inspired to lead with heart, embrace imperfection, and create workplaces where people can show up as their true selves. Key Timestamps [00:02:00] Claude's bold career pivot and how she discovered her calling as Chief Heart Officer [00:04:30] The truth about workplace conformity and why authentic leadership is a competitive advantage [00:06:00] A pivotal moment at VaynerX that showed the power of inclusion and belonging [00:08:00] How leaders can help their people see their potential by moving ego to the back seat [00:11:00] The link between authenticity, trust, and happiness at work [00:13:00] The hidden cost when employees feel the need to "shrink" instead of being themselves [00:15:00] Claude's concept of emotional optimism and how optimism, bravery, and efficiency fuel resilient teams [00:19:00] Practical tools to stop workplace anxiety and get grounded in the moment [00:24:00] The difference between fitting in and belonging—and how leaders can help people claim their space [00:27:00] Why humility is the foundation of effective leadership [00:30:00] How imperfection and vulnerability build real trust [00:33:00] Collective vulnerability as a cultural agreement for authenticity [00:36:00] The hardest part of heart-centered leadership and how Claude continues to grow in clarity [00:38:00] The biggest mindset shift in leadership—seeing through the lies we tell ourselves [00:40:00] Rediscovering emotional intelligence as a leadership superpower [00:41:00] The real ROI of bringing humanity into the workplace A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

 This episode with Jason James from Tezi briefly vanished from Spotify. Don't ask us why. But it's too good to not share again. So here's Jason unpacking the future of recruiting. Please enjoy.Jason James doesn't sugarcoat it: recruiting coordinators and sourcers won't exist in 5 years. In this episode, James (Co-founder and COO of Tezi) sits down with Kelli and Nolan to discuss how to screen 3000 applicants in minutes, why most great resumes just rode the elevator up at hypergrowth companies, and why AI bias audits set a higher standard than humans ever could.Support our Sponsors:Ethena is the compliance training platform built for modern workplaces. Visit goethena.com/heretics and get 10% off your first year.Metaview is the AI platform built for recruiting. Check it out: https://www.metaview.ai/heretics* Our suite of AI agents work across your hiring process to save time, boost decision quality, and elevate the candidate experience.* Learn why team builders at 3,000+ cutting-edge companies like Brex, Deel, and Quora can't live without Metaview.* It only takes minutes to get up and running.KEEP UP WITH JASON, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDINJason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasontezi/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/—Tezi: https://tezi.ai/-For coaching and advising inquire athttps://kellidragovich.com/—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(01:55) Meet Max: The AI Agent Replacing Recruiting Busywork(03:16) AI Bias vs Human Bias: Which Is Fairer?(06:08) Human-in-the-Loop: AI Recommends, Humans Decide(07:34) AI Interviews at Top of Funnel: What Works, What Doesn't(11:00) Standing Out in a Crowded AI Recruiting Market(14:26) Sponsors: Ethena & Metaview(17:18) “RCs and Sourcers, Find Something Else”(20:30) The New Grad Opportunity: Alpha in a Tough Market(22:23) “Riding the Elevator Up”: The Resume Pedigree Problem(24:26) How to Spot Resume Riders vs Real Contributors(26:00) 100-Hour Weeks and the 9-9-6 Culture Debate(30:00) “The Best Culture Is Growth”(31:00) Tezi's Culture: Committed to Calm, Team of Adults(34:00) What's Next for Tezi?(34:56) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

RS Raghavan, CEO and Co-Founder of Animaker, joins the podcast to share how his passion for visual storytelling inspired a platform that makes video creation as easy as building a PowerPoint. RS explains how Animaker has evolved from a simple editing tool into an AI-powered platform that lets anyone generate videos from text prompts, turning what once took weeks into minutes. He discusses how marketers use video to boost engagement across sales, training, and social media, and why storytelling remains the key to standing out. He also touches on the importance of brand consistency, creativity, and continuous learning, offering practical insights for marketers looking to harness the power of video in a fast-changing digital landscape. About Animaker Animaker is one of the world's leading AI-powered creative platforms that helps businesses build studio-quality videos in minutes. From L&D professionals & trainers, marketers to educators, entrepreneurs and enterprises, anyone can simplify video creation and marketing at scale with Animaker and its suite of AI tools. Serving over 30Million users worldwide, Animaker's AI suite includes Steve AI, Vmaker AI, Show (AI Marketers), and Picmaker that enables organizations to harness AI for smarter storytelling, faster content productions, and stronger customer engagement. About RS Raghavan RS Raghavan is the CEO & Co Founder of Animaker Inc, a leading double AI patented SaaS startup in the visual content creation space with over 30M + users. With a background in technology and a passion for creativity, Raghav has helped numerous Fortune companies run successful marketing & video campaigns and L&D training sessions. He strongly believes creativity can solve big problems and has delivered keynote talks at top conferences worldwide. RS has received several accolades, including the CII Startupreneur Award and Tech Entrepreneur of the Year He is also involved in initiatives like Say No to Cancer and Education for All. Time Stamps 00:00:18 - Meet RS, CEO and Co-Founder of Animaker 00:03:06 - Creating Videos with Animaker 00:04:44 - Simplifying Video Production 00:07:38 - Standing Out in a Crowded Video Space 00:12:50 - Video's Role in the Sales Process 00:16:02 - Design Teams vs. DIY Video Creation 00:18:50 - Future Trends in Video Marketing 00:21:13 - Final Thoughts and Marketing Advice Quotes "Standing out comes from the story. You can literally have the same character, same background, same all of it. But still, you want to create the engagement that comes from the story." RS Raghavan, CEO and Co-Founder of Animaker. "If you're doing a product launch, have a nice video to it. There is no excuse of not having a video to any of your product launches in the initial days." RS Raghavan, CEO and Co-Founder of Animaker. "Marketing starts before even your product development starts. The moment a feature or something we have developed, the first thing goes in my mind is like, how come the customer is going to receive it?" RS Raghavan, CEO and Co-Founder of Animaker. Follow RS: RS Raghavan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsraghavan/ Animaker website: https://www.animaker.com/ Animaker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animaker/ Follow Mike: Mike Maynard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemaynard/ Napier website: https://www.napierb2b.com/ Napier LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/napier-partnership-limited/ If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to our podcast for more discussions about the latest in Marketing B2B Tech and connect with us on social media to stay updated on upcoming episodes. We'd also appreciate it if you could leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform. Want more? Check out Napier's other podcast - The Marketing Automation Moment: https://podcasts.apple.com/ua/podcast/the-marketing-automation-moment-podcast/id1659211547

In this special episode of Change Wired, I sit down with Claude Silver, the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, to celebrate the launch of her new book, Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart.Together, Angela and Claude unpack how to build cultures of belonging -where people don't just fit in, they flourish. 

AI has flooded the world of podcasting, making it more competitive and crowded than ever before. Thankfully, there's a way that podcasters can stand out by simply being themselves. In this episode, Alex Sanfilippo shares that the best way to stand out in the world of AI is by embracing your humanity and doubling down on your own unique creativity. Get ready to stand out more than you ever have as a podcast host or guest without having to sell your soul!MORE FROM THIS EPISODE: HTTPS://PODMATCH.COM/EP/354Chapters00:00 The Inbox Dilemma: AI's Impact on Communication07:29 Standing Out in the Age of AI: Key StrategiesTakeawaysAI is increasingly influencing communication, leading to frustration in personal interactions.Human-created content resonates better with audiences than AI-generated content.Direct communication should always be human to human to foster genuine connections.AI should be used to save time, allowing creators to focus on their creative efforts.Creativity is a muscle that needs to be exercised to avoid losing it.Podcasters should prioritize their unique voice in their content.AI can assist with administrative tasks but should not replace human creativity.Engagement and connection are key to standing out in a crowded space.The human element is irreplaceable in content creation and communication.Using AI effectively means leveraging it without losing one's personal touch.MORE FROM THIS EPISODE: HTTPS://PODMATCH.COM/EP/354

IN EPISODE 247:There's nothing wrong with showing some emotion at work - as long as we do it right. In Episode 247, Claude Silver, the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, talks about the importance of emotional expression in the workplace. We discuss why showing up authentically can lead to a more human and productive work environment. Claude introduces three pillars of emotional engagement: emotional optimism, emotional bravery, and emotional efficiency, and emphasizes the significance of good citizenship within teams. ABOUT CLAUDE SILVER: Claude Silver is  the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX where shepartners with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk to drive their success. She's the recipient of several awards, including AdWeek's "Changing the Game Award," and has helped organizations like Meta, Google, and the US Armed Forces improvetheir talent and workplace culture. Claude is the author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart.

"When you have trust, sky's the limit. When you have trust, that's when you're gonna build resiliency."In this episode, Bradley Hamner sits down with Claude Silver, the world's first Chief Heart Officer and the number two executive at VaynerX to Gary Vaynerchuk. Claude shares her unconventional journey from New York to Santa Fe to San Francisco, London, and back to New York, and how these experiences shaped her approach to leadership and human-centered business culture.As the author of the forthcoming book "Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart," Claude debunks the myth that authenticity is a weakness in the workplace and shares practical insights on building psychologically safe, high-performing teams.Key Topics Discussed:Claude's Origin Story.Building Authentic Workplace Culture.Leadership and Vulnerability.Hiring for Culture Fit.Performance and Empathy.Remote and Hybrid Work Considerations.Connect With Claude SilverGet your copy of Claude's new book, "Be Yourself At Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart" at https://beyourselfbook.com/Email: claude@claudesilver.comWebsite: ClaudeSilver.comConnect With UsGet the newsletter every Friday: https://BlueprintOS.com/assets Subscribe on YouTube for video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@_abovethebusiness New episodes drop every Monday & Friday.If you found value in this episode, share it with just one other business owner who might benefit. Remember—building a community happens one person at a time. Subscribe, like, and comment with your biggest takeaway from this episode!Thanks to our sponsors...BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we're just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we've got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Make sure you mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast to get 50% off your one time onboarding fee!Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media...

Most business owners pour time and money into marketing, only to feel burned, confused, or frustrated by weak results. They've tried agencies that overpromise, ad spend that doesn't convert, and websites that look great but don't sell. What if your marketing could finally work—consistently, predictably, and profitably? In this workshop-style episode of The Better Than Rich Show, Mike Abramowitz sits down with John Logan, founder of Greenlit Growth and creator of the Marketing Machine Playbook. A former cybersecurity specialist turned StoryBrand-certified strategist, John helped one client grow from $3 million to $25 million in under three years by simplifying marketing into a clear, repeatable system. He shares how to build a marketing “machine” powered by clarity, automation, and measurable strategy—so your marketing finally drives real growth instead of guesswork. Timesatamp [00:00] – The Truth About Marketing Accountability [05:21] – How Marketing Really Works (The Car Analogy) [10:11] – Step 1: Clarify Your Message with StoryBrand [14:14] – Step 2: Build a Homepage That Converts in 5 Seconds [18:24] – Picking the Right Call-to-Action [22:34] – Step 3: Systems That Capture, Nurture, and Convert [28:18] – How to Nurture Without Annoying People [34:39] – Step 4: Build a Strategy with the G.R.O.W.T.H. Framework [44:00] – Standing Out from the Competition [51:49] – Step 5: Create Content That Compounds Over Time  Key Quotes “You need someone responsible, accountable—and the buck stops with them when it comes to marketing.” “If your message isn't clear, your marketing won't work.” “Marketing is supposed to grow your bottom line—not just your followers.” “Stop chasing new leads and start nurturing the ones you already paid for.” “Why have a flawed system when you can have a flawless process?” “Be the pink van in a sea of white ones—stand out or get ignored.”  Key TakeawaysClarify Your Message Before Anything Else – Use the StoryBrand one-liner to make it instantly clear who you help and how. Build Infrastructure, Then Market – Website → Systems → Automations → Strategy → Content—in that order. Nurture for the Long Game – Create automated, educational touchpoints that keep you top-of-mind for years. Measure Marketing by Revenue, Not Likes – Marketing that doesn't move profit is just noise. Track ROI and 90-day targets.  Links Mentioned Free Marketing Playbook: GreenlitGrowth.com  StoryBrand AI Trial: StoryBrand.com  

Jason James doesn't sugarcoat it: recruiting coordinators and sourcers won't exist in 5 years. In this episode, James (Co-founder and COO of Tezi) sits down with Kelli and Nolan to discuss how to screen 3000 applicants in minutes, why most great resumes just rode the elevator up at hypergrowth companies, and why AI bias audits set a higher standard than humans ever could.Support our Sponsors:Ethena is the compliance training platform built for modern workplaces. Visit goethena.com/heretics and get 10% off your first year.Metaview is the AI platform built for recruiting. Check it out: https://www.metaview.ai/heretics* Our suite of AI agents work across your hiring process to save time, boost decision quality, and elevate the candidate experience.* Learn why team builders at 3,000+ cutting-edge companies like Brex, Deel, and Quora can't live without Metaview.* It only takes minutes to get up and running.KEEP UP WITH JASON, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDINJason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasontezi/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/—Tezi: https://tezi.ai/-For coaching and advising inquire athttps://kellidragovich.com/—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(01:55) Meet Max - The AI Agent Replacing Recruiting Busywork(03:16) AI Bias vs Human Bias: Which Is Fairer?(06:08) Human-in-the-Loop: AI Recommends, Humans Decide(07:34) What Works, What Doesn't in AI Interviews at Top of Funnel(11:00) Standing Out in a Crowded AI Recruiting Market(14:26) Sponsors: Ethena | Metaview(17:18) “RCs and Sourcers: Find Something Else”(20:30) The New Grad Opportunity(22:23) “Riding the Elevator Up”: The Resume Pedigree Problem(24:26) How to Spot Resume Riders vs Real Contributors(26:00) 100-Hour Weeks and the 9-9-6 Culture Debate(30:00) “The Best Culture Is Growth”(31:00) Tezi's Culture: Committed to Calm, Team of Adults(34:00) What's Next for Tezi (34:56) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

Building relationships with your audience, thriving as a content creator in a crowded market, and adapting to AI with Stephanie Woodin from Raptive. Welcome to episode 540 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This is the first episode of Can't Be Automated: A Raptive Series on Scaling, Standing Out, and Staying Human. To kick-off the series, Bjork interviews Stephanie Woodin from Raptive. Authenticity, AI, and Audience Connection This week, we're joined by Stephanie Woodin to pull back the curtain on her brand-new podcast with Raptive, Ctrl+Alt+Ask, and dive into the fast-changing world of the creator economy. Stephanie has spent years working with top creators at Raptive, and now, as the host of Ctrl+Alt+Ask, she's taking calls from creators to talk about everything from burnout and branding to revenue strategies, AI, SEO, and more. She's the perfect person to chat with Bjork about the unique challenges creators face today. In this episode, Bjork and Stephanie unpack what it takes to thrive as a content creator in a crowded space, how AI is reshaping the industry, and practical ways to grow and connect with your audience. Three episode takeaways: Authenticity is key to standing out —Stephanie shares how standing out today means showing up as your real, relatable self. Authenticity is key to building trust, positioning yourself as an expert, and staying ahead of AI-generated content. Building relationships with your audience is crucial — Success isn't just about great content, it's about connection. Stephanie explains how treating your audience like real people (because they are!) can transform your brand and build long-term loyalty. How AI is transforming content creation and brand deals — Stephanie breaks down how AI is shifting the way brands work with creators — and why being the “face” behind your blog or business matters more than ever. Resources: Raptive Ctrl+Alt+Ask Search Quality Rater Guidelines: An Overview 424: The Future of Content Creation (and Protection) in a World of AI with Paul Bannister from Raptive 410: AI, Third-Party Cookies, and Changes in Video Advertising Standards with Paul Bannister from Raptive 352: How to Optimize Your Ad Revenue with Paul Bannister and Courtney Kahn from AdThrive Inspired Taste Email Stephanie at Ctrl+Alt+Ask Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Raptive. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Welcome back to the show! Today we're unpacking some game-changing YouTube updates that could shift how creators and business owners show up online. Let's just say… things are no longer as simple as “just hit Go Live.” YouTube's rolling out new tools—some exciting, some unexpected—that could help you stand out, connect deeper, and maybe even turn casual viewers into loyal fans… or paying clients. We're sharing what we've seen behind the scenes, how it's impacted our own livestream strategy, and why now might be the best time to go live—even if you never have before. Plus: a quick-fire rundown of what's working in live content right now. If you've ever wondered “Is live really worth it?” or “How do I actually make it work for my brand?” — this one's for you. Hit play. What you hear might just change your next move. Also don't forget to go to bizbros.co/monetize some of the available Free spots for the challenge this week! Timestamped Overview: 00:00 "Content Creators and Audience Bonds" 05:48 "Online Connections and Authenticity" 07:03 "Tech Trends and Ethical Tools" 11:42 Unified Multi-Format Streamin 16:02 "Interactive Live Sports Streaming" 19:42 AI-Generated YouTube Highlights 21:05 Evolving Trends in Attention-Grabbing Clips 24:21 Standing Out in Social Media 28:49 "Business Opportunities in Vertical Media" 31:37 "Live Stream Prep Tips" 36:08 "Live Streaming: Low-Lift Strategy" 37:02 "Free Content Clarity Challenge”

A one-person poker roguelike sold seven million copies and outperformed studios with hundred-million-dollar budgets. In this episode, Playstack CEO Harvey Elliott joins Michail Katkoff to break down how they discovered Balatro, what makes a modern indie publisher truly valuable, and why the next wave of hits will come from focus—not funding.02:07 Understanding Bellatro's Success: Metrics and Engagement04:50 The Indie Developer vs. Publisher Dynamic08:11 Finding the Right Fit: Indie Publishers and Developers17:20 Standing Out in a Crowded Market: Indie Publishing Strategies23:22 AI in Game Development: Opportunities and Challenges33:26 Post-Launch Support: Keeping Games Alive38:15 Creative Game Integrations and Developer Relationships41:05 Royalty Structures and Developer Support47:09 Negotiating Publisher Agreements and Revenue Shares50:41 Funding Models and Developer Financial Security56:27 Budgeting for Indie Games and Financial Viability

#BuyingABusiness #ProprietarySearch #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BusinessAcquisition ***New Video Alert! Forbes magazine shares a secret that increases your odds of getting an interview by 115%. AND- it applies directly to those looking to buy a business as well. Check it out in this week's new video: https://youtu.be/5Nt8QvY1hX4 Cheers See you over on YouTube David C Barnett #smallbusiness #mergersandacquisitions #M&A Get a job in a business you want to buy: https://youtu.be/oTObbWYtkl0 * CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Why Buying a Business is Like Job Hunting 03:30 The Forbes Article | Tailored Resumes & ATS Filters 06:10 Parallels Between Job Search & Proprietary Business Search 08:00 First Impressions & The Buyer Resume 11:00 Gatekeepers, Brokers & Getting Ghosted 13:00 Clarity and Focus in Your Business Search 16:30 Why “Spray and Pray” Doesn't Work 20:00 Standing Out in a Crowded Buyer's Market 22:30 Defining Your Ideal Business Profile 25:00 Building Credibility with Sellers & Lenders 28:30 Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Outreach 31:00 Case Study | Hiring My Own Analyst 34:00 Tailored Outreach vs. Mass Emails 37:00 Lessons from John Bly & CPA Firm Acquisitions 40:00 Practical Steps for Proprietary Search Success 44:00 Building Sales & Business Experience Before Buying 47:00 How to Customize Your Buyer Pitch to Sellers 50:00 Why You Must Impress Business Owners First 53:00 Wrapping Up | Job Search Lessons for Business Buyers 56:00 Resources for Buyers & Sellers | BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com #BuyingABusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessAcquisition #SmallBusiness #ProprietarySearch #BusinessBuyerAdvantage #EntrepreneurshipTips #DealMaking #BusinessGrowth #ExitStrategy #businessstrategy ** - Join David's email list so you never miss any new videos or important information or insights, RECEIVE 7 FREE GIFTS!!- https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com **** Do Business with David using these incredible internet links... - David's Blog where you can find hundreds of free videos and articles, https://www.DavidCBarnett.com - Book a call with David and let him help you with your project, https://www.CallDavidBarnett.com - Learn how to buy a successful and profitable business in a risk-controlled way https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com - Get help selling your business, https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com - Get better organized in your business, https://www.EasySmallBizSystems.com - Learn to make better cash flow forecasts and write incredibly effective business plans from scratch!, https://www.BizPlanSchool.com - Learn to build an equity asset with insurance! visit https://www.NewBankingSolution.com -Did you sign up for an expensive Merchant Cash Advance for your business and now struggle to make the payments? Find out how you can negotiate your way out at https://www.EndMyMCA.com

Welcome back to Your World of Creativity, the show where we dive into the minds of creative leaders around the globe. I'm your host, Mark Stinson. Today, we're exploring the intersection of creativity, branding, and personal growth with someone who's built unforgettable brands from the ground up.Our guest today is Judy Winslow, known as The Brandologist. With more than three decades of experience in marketing and branding, Judy's helped Fortune 100 companies and visionary entrepreneurs build powerful brands that leave lasting impressions. She's the author of Ignite Your Faith and Third Act Encore, and she brings a unique blend of marketing strategy, personal development, and innovation to her work.Judy's Website @jWINSceoPRO on Instagram Judy's Facebook page 1. The DNA of a Memorable Brand“Judy, your clients often come to you seeking that ‘it factor'—something to make their brand unforgettable. In your experience, what are the key ingredients that turn a brand into an emotional, authentic, and lasting connection with its audience?”2. Aligning Purpose with Profit“You often say that it's a disservice not to share your unique gifts with the world. How do you help clients align their purpose and passion with a profitable brand strategy, especially in industries like health, wellness, and personal development?”3. Standing Out in a Crowded Market“In a world of endless noise and digital clutter, what's your advice to someone trying to get their voice heard and their brand noticed—without falling into gimmicks or losing authenticity?”4. Building the Brand from Within“You've said that confidence and clarity are crucial in brand-building. How do you guide individuals—especially solopreneurs or creatives—through the inner work of discovering their true gifts and strengths?”5. The Brandologist's Legacy: What Lasts?“You've worked with icons from Cover Girl to Yves Saint Laurent and now with inspired entrepreneurs. What have you learned about the evolution of branding—and what do you think it takes to really leave a legacy?”This episode was brought to you by White Cloud Coffee Roasters—because bold ideas deserve bold coffee. Get 10% off your first order at WhiteCloudCoffee.com with the code CREATIVITY at checkout.Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review Your World of Creativity on your favorite podcast platform. And join us again next time as we continue unlocking your world of creativity.J. Winslow is “The Brandologist”, developing strategies to build your business & life. With 3+ decades of experience and a 93% success rate, she's won numerous awards, co-founded a marketing firm in NYC working with Fortune 100s to start-ups, founded TEDxSarasota and is an International Best Selling author and speaker. Her global roster of CEOs and Founders focuses on impactful innovation, leadership and brand expansion. She's appeared on ABC TV, SmileJamaicaTV and is a frequent podcast guest.

Today's episode is for the scrappy, heart-on-fire entrepreneur who knows there's treasure hidden in places no one else dares to look. You see, I grew up learning to spot potential where most saw "junk." From yard sales with my dad to watching my mom transform discarded plants into a blooming garden, I learned that value isn't about what something looks like—it's what you make of it.And guess what? That's the SAME mindset I use to build my business.In this solo episode, I take you on a trip down memory lane—back to Kmart garden centers, tiny motorhomes, and our thousand-square-foot family home—to share the unexpected ways my childhood shaped how I show up as a CEO. I talk about what it means to “sift through the dirt” and why being willing to do what others won't is the ultimate business edge.We cover:The unexpected connection between thrifting and scalingWhy you need to embrace imperfect, slow growthMy 3-part content plan that gets me results (and it's NOT glamorous!)How to treat your “weeds” like potential bloomsThis episode isn't just about nostalgia—it's about real business strategy rooted in grit, consistency, and seeing what others overlook. So whether you're bootstrapping or bossing up, know this: the gold is in the dirt... you just have to be willing to dig.Click play to hear all of this and:[00:00] Why You Must See Opportunity Where Others Don't [02:52] The Dirt Kmart Tried to Throw Away [05:39] The Business Lesson in Cultivating What Others Discard [08:12] Why Posting Daily is ‘Digging in the Dirt' [10:47] The Secret to Standing Out? Doing What Others Won't