Podcasts about success there

As we wrap up another incredible year, I'm really excited to share the final episode of Selling to Corporate ®of 2024: 3 lessons learned from supporting corporate clients in 2024, the importance of a robust sales process, the joy of working on large customised projects and the benefits of consistent daily sales activities to avoid that feast-famine cycle.  This year has been a journey filled with invaluable insights, high-impact projects, and the joy of seeing our community thrive. I want to thank each of you for your continued support and engagement. Your feedback is invaluable, please keep sharing your thoughts to help shape future podcast episodes. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year! In this episode I'm sharing; Insights and trends for 2024 sales success. Exciting new projects in business development coaching. Embrace effective sales processes for future success. The importance of consistent daily sales activities to avoid the feast-famine cycle. The importance of a solid sales process, particularly during market shifts. Consistent communication styles across different client types. Importance of adapting sales processes to market changes, especially with increasing competition in 2025. Key Quotes; "Part of my job and probably the biggest part of my job is to identify new trends and opportunities to companies so that they can support their sales staff in increasing their performance by a couple of percent." 00:08:4600:09:00 "As a business owner, it's very easy to fall into that feast famine sales cycle where you end up with a lot of work and a lot of delivery at one point, and then you're too burned out, tired and overwhelmed to do any kind of business development." 00:26:4000:26:56 The Hidden Danger of Ignoring Sales Training: "Over 80% of people said that they wanted to increase their revenue in 2025, but there was such a high percentage of people who said that they don't invest in sales training, that they haven't historically allocated budget for sales training for themselves, and that they have not set a sales training budget for themselves in 2025." 00:35:5900:36:15 Investing in Success: "There is a big difference between, for me, investment and expense. And I think a lot of people as new business owners or business owners that have been in less than 5 years, look at investments like expenses. And so if you're thinking about any investments, whether it's sales training or anything else into your business next year, you need to be thinking not in terms of the initial cost, but in terms of what you think you're going to get back, what skills you're going to bring in." 00:40:2200:40:34 "Love Your Sales Process in 2025": "So in 2025, regardless of what else you do, you need to learn to love your sales process. You need to learn to put something in place that's going to work for you, for your business, for your capacity, for your personality, so that you can get the results that you want." 00:49:2600:49:42   Key Resources Mentioned in this Episode:   Tickets are now on sale here for the Converting Corporates Event 2025.   Grab your Sales Tracking Spreadsheet here.   Click here to watch my video on how to troubleshoot your sales process.!   Join The C Suite ® Self Study now! If you're looking to get the best support in selling your services to corporate organisations, not to mention email templates and proposal outlines so that you really can convert at much higher rates and sell your services more successfully then click here now.   Take the Selling to Corporate ® offer quiz and find out what the best offer is that you could sell to corporate.    Sign up here for the webinar on Five Simple Steps to Landing Corporate Clients.   Top 5 Business Development Questions: If you're looking to convert more business development calls into sales? You need to be asking the right questions and getting the best information to support future work. Download my Top 5 BDQs here and start getting quality information from your prospects.   Connect with me on LinkedIn.   If you've been consuming the content and LOVE the show, please make sure you take five minutes out of your day to leave a review.    Click here if you would like to listen to my recent TEDx talk.  

011 | 3 Surprising Traits That Make a Successful Leader with Joe Blackburn What makes a great leader? Joe Blackburn boils it down to 3 key traits that he's seen lead people to success time and time again. Joe is a Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Lion's Eye Coaching, with a track record of helping clients significantly increase their revenues. He's a former director at Merrill Lynch, where he managed a team of over 140 financial advisors and oversaw billions in assets.  Joe's expertise extends to various industries, including luxury retail and real estate, and he's worked with top executives at major corporations. With 25 years of experience, he's a sought-after national speaker on sales, wealth development, and leadership. Influencing Others The best way to lead is by example. If you have a team working under you, let them see you do the work. Keeping your standards high empowers people to be their best. If you're not happy with the quality of work being done, take responsibility and ask yourself how you allowed this to happen. When addressing board members, Joe's advice is to single out the most influential stakeholders–and remember that the loudest voice in the room isn't necessarily the most important. If you're making a request, be transparent about who it's for, why you want it, and what the benefit is.  The 3 Facets of Success There are 3 key components Joe works on with his coaching clients to help them maximize their potential. The first is your “self-ideal” or vision: how do you see yourself now and where do you want to be in the future? What's the gap between your current self-image and your ideal one? Successful leaders have clarity on this vision.  The second component is goal-setting. You need to hit goals consistently and on time. Joe continuously challenges his clients to expand and aim bigger–to “adjust the floor, not the ceiling.” The easiest way to do this is to compress the timeline. If your original goal was to hit $100,000 in the next six months, aim for $150,000 in three months. You'll be amazed by what you can accomplish with the pressure of a deadline. The last facet that all successful leaders have is self-responsibility. It's your job to own everything that happens to you, good or bad. Even when certain elements are outside your control, they're still within your responsibility.  Enjoy this episode with Joe Blackburn… Soundbytes 9:45-10:03 “If you are reasoning or rationalizing yourself into doing what you're already doing, it's really against you. So I'll start asking them and taking them through a series of questions on why it is they're doing that and the reason is fear. Complacency and fear.”  10:28-10:51 “There's no risk in doing something different versus doing what you're doing. Bad things can happen in either place. I just think people get in their shells and they start saying ‘This is the only thing I'm good at, this is the only thing I can do, this is the only way I can do it'. I'll use you as an example: it's not that you were afraid but I don't think that you could see how big this could become and how fast it could grow.” Quotes “I came to the realization that I didn't have to run someone else's play anymore. I didn't have to do what was expected of me.” “It's all risk, so why not do what you really want?” “Complacency is a worse killer than one of these diseases because it erodes you over time.” “80% of your success relies on clarity.” “Be unreasonable.” “You're capable of so much more than what you're doing.” “Whatever you allow is going to happen.” “Business isn't linear for long.”   Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Joe's website: https://realjoeblackburn.com/  Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-blackburn-4904227/   

Welcome back to our enlightening podcast! In today's episode, "Channeling Success: Integrating Spiritual Gifts with Business Acumen," we're venturing into the transformative journey of embracing our spiritual gifts in business. We will discuss about the intersection of spiritual practice and business acumen, especially for those on the path of Ascension. The Essence of Change: A simple change, like a new hair color, can signify a deeper, more profound shift in identity and purpose. It's about embodying the channel within, embracing the new Earth, and pioneering innovative approaches in business. Conscious Technology and Business: The episode highlights the concept of conscious technology in business, where spirituality and modern techniques intertwine to create impactful transformations, particularly for spiritual entrepreneurs, light workers, and leaders. Channeling in Business: This episode sheds light on how spiritual practices like Reiki, the Akashic records, and other energy work contribute significantly to business growth and personal development. Overcoming Barriers to Success: There are many common obstacles spiritual entrepreneurs face in achieving their financial goals. Energetics of Business: An exploration of the deep-seated issues beyond mere technicalities like copywriting or program structuring. The discussion revolves around the importance of addressing trauma, shame, and worthiness in achieving business success. Key Takeaways: The Holistic Approach to Business: It's not just about the mechanics of business but about aligning your energy, clearing traumas, and stepping into a space of clarity and worthiness. Importance of Clear Channeling: The episode underscores the significance of being a clear channel to attract ideal clients and achieve business success, especially in the new Earth paradigm. From Adrenaline to Alignment: A pivot from adrenaline-fueled business operations to a more aligned, energetically sustainable approach is discussed, emphasizing the need for a shift from the dopamine-driven business model. Visit https://www.drrobynmckay.com/ for insights into Robyn's journey and her passion for transformative spiritual guidance. Ready to work with Robyn & her channel Marisol? Book a call to start the process right here: https://DrRobynMcKay.com/call Enroll in my program Preparing the Channel today: https://robyn-mckay.myflodesk.com/preparingthechannel Join the Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/becomingthechannelbydrrobynmckay/

In this episode, Joe chats with Rob Moore, a remarkable serial entrepreneur, visionary, and author. Together, they chat about the journey of self-discovery and achievement. Rob's narrative is an inspiring odyssey, encouraging individuals to make decisions authentically and boldly embrace their true selves, even if it means taking calculated risks. Delve into the concept of setting unwavering standards rather than mere goals, showcasing how this transformative mindset shift can propel individuals toward unparalleled success. Rob also delves into the art of partnership, emphasizing the value of diversity and adaptability in entrepreneurial pursuits. Throughout the episode, listeners are guided through a narrative that encourages them to identify their unique strengths, continuously refine their purpose, and unlock their inner potential. Rob's profound insights extend to the realm of artificial intelligence, serving as a reminder of the crucial role humanity plays in shaping its technological destiny. This episode stands as a testament to the boundless possibilities that await those who dare to challenge conventions and chart their own extraordinary path. Sole Survivor Embracing Your Authentic Path: Imagine you're the last person on Earth when faced with decisions, would your decision change? Crafting Your Challenges Paving the Road to Your Destiny: Life becomes vibrant when you are solving problems that matter to you, instead of solving problems that matter to other people.  Goals vs. Standards Your Unyielding Commitment to Greatness: Goals are what you want to achieve in the future, but standards are the non-negotiables today.  Mirror of Creation The Mirror of the Universe:  The universe mirrors your intent. Pour your authentic self into every endeavor, and the world will respond in kind. Neutral Canvas Shaping Life's Gifts and Curses: Nothing in life is inherently a curse or a blessing. It is human perception that imbues events with meaning. Embrace the Journey Finding Beauty in the Unexpected: As we fixate on our rigid visions of life, we often overlook the beauty hidden in its organic evolution. Embrace the journey's unexpected turns. Strengths and Synergy Building Success Through Collaboration: our strengths are your unique gifts to the world. Outsource your weaknesses to those who shine in those areas, allowing your synergy to create something great Balancing Acts The Pitfalls of Meeting Yourself: When considering partnerships, remember that two of the same coin may not necessarily guarantee success.  Leap of Faith Kissing a Few Frogs: In the realm of business, not every leap leads to success. Be prepared to kiss a few frogs along the way. Sculpting Your Identity The Ever-Evolving Quest: Continue asking yourself questions about who you are and your purpose in life. Through relentless self-discovery and refinement, you will ultimately arrive at your destination. Entrepreneurial Odyssey Navigating the Paths to Success: There are three distinct archetypes of entrepreneurs: the lifestyle seeker, the in-trepreneur, and the empire builder. Technological Guardians Shaping the Fate of AI: With each technological revolution, its use rested in the choices of humanity. AI can be a force for good or ill, depending on our stewardship. The responsibility lies with us to shape the future for better or for worse.  Two Other Episodes You Should Check Out Discovering Fulfillment: Entrepreneurial Success & Contentment with Gregory Shepard Cracking the Code of The Natural Law: Amish Shah's Secrets to Hustle, Health and Healing Resources From Episode Rob Moore  Rob Moore Podcast Life Leverage How to Get More Done in Less Time, Outsource Everything & Create Your Ideal Mobile Lifestyle Money: Know More, Make More, Give More: Learn How to Make More Money and Transform Your Life Start Now, Get Perfect Later Contact Joe: joe@hustleandflowchart.com   Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Hustle & Flowchart Podcast! If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please head over to iTunes (or wherever you listen), subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you!

Welcome back to Mompreneur Success Podcast! Today we are joined by Deba Douglas. She is a real estate investor, A Mom, and God-believer. She quit her nine-to-five job to start her own real estate business. She loves helping people connect with the right investors in the real estate world.    [00:00 - 02:27] Opening Segment Deba Douglas is a successful realtor, investor, and mom of three. She now has a team of 10 real estate agents   She and her husband are investing in the development of land and property.  She feels God protects and guides her in bringing abundance into her life   [02:28 - 05:50] 3 Keys to Success There are three keys to success according to Debra:  The first one is “Invest in yourself” which means getting out of your comfort zone by meeting new people and going to new places.  The second key is “Focus” also known as “Tunnel vision” meaning focusing till obsession with your goal.  The third is a release of negative energy and people.    [05:51 - 08:22] Work-on-progress Deba has recently launched a course where she teaches all her secrets on real estate with her students.  She also connects them with investors and lenders from all over the country.  She is also building a small apartment complex with her husband.    [08:23 - 10:05] Closing words   Connect with Deba: links below! Check us out on our website, YouTube, and Instagram! links below! Final words   Key Quotes   “I know God wants me to do more and help more and provide more abundance, and that's what led me to where I am now.” - Deba Douglas   “Tunnel vision, that thing where that is all that you see, I think of it as the horse with the blinders on, right? Because you, you really, you need that. - Deba Douglas   Connect with Deborah Douglas by following her on Facebook and Instagram For more links check out linktr.ee/ddwellings.   Connect With Us! Follow us on Instagram @mompreneursuccessacademy and Youtube at the MOMpreneur Success Podcast channel   Visit our website www.mompreneursuccessacademy.com/podcasts and check us out on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/momprenuersuccesspodcast   If you're a MOMpreneur coach and/or health practitioner and are ready to leave behind the frustration and overwhelm and create clear messaging, an effective marketing plan, and grow to profitable, schedule a complimentary Business Strategy call with Denise at https://mompreneursuccessacademyllc.hbportal.co/schedule/613991b6f6d56f4b272d0430   If you'd like to be a guest on the MOMpreneur Success Podcast, please complete this questionnaire https://forms.gle/i25vNvdGqRkhQx8L9 Check out some business tools I swear by!  Canva  PLR.me  Eztree.me  Streamlined Podcast   *The links above are affiliate links to tools I use all the time and genuinely love  Follow us to get notifications for upcoming episodes. If you're enjoying our content, please leave us a review and let us know how we're doing!      

Anna David is the founder of Launch Pad Publishing and the host of the Launch Your Book podcast as well as the New York Times bestselling author of eight books. She has been a featured speaker at three different TED events and been published in The New York Times, Time and The LA Times, among many others, has appeared repeatedly on The Today Show, The Talk, The CBS Morning Show and dozens of other programs and has been written about in Entrepreneur, Forbes and Martha Stewart Living, to name a few.      In this episode, Karen and Anna discuss: Success Story of Anna Commit to Get Leads Everybody should have a book and know how to use that book to generate business.  Consult to Sell Providing value to prospective clients upfront is more likely to bring those who really want to work with you all the way through to bigger sales.  Connect to Build and Grow Connect with people in your field in unexpected ways - getting on podcasts is a great way to connect with people that you may never have connected with otherwise.  Success Thinking, Activities and Vision Growth is about being proactive - utilizing the tools and taking action on those tools and resources you have.  Sweet Spot of Success     "There are all sorts of ways a book can be repackaged. It can be a course, it can be a consulting business, it can be a TEDx talk. I'm a true believer that everybody should have a book, not everybody should write it themselves, but every entrepreneur should absolutely have a book, and know how to use that book to also build their business."- Anna David     *5 Minute Success - Listener Giveaway* Go to https://launchabestsellingbook.com/  to receive your FREE tips on launching your bestselling book!     Connect with Anna David: Website: www.launchpadpub.com  Show: https://www.launchpadpub.com/podcast  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annadavid/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annabdavid  Facebook: https://facebook.com/annabdavid        About the Podcast Join host Karen Briscoe each week to learn how you can achieve success at a higher level by investing just 5 minutes a day! Tune in to hear powerful, inspirational success stories and expert insights from entrepreneurs, business owners, industry leaders, and real estate agents that will transform your business and life. Karen shares a-ha moments that have shaped her career and discusses key concepts from her book Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes a Day: Secrets of a Top Agent Revealed.   Here's to your success in business and in life!     Connect with Karen Briscoe: Twitter: @5MinuteSuccess Facebook: 5MinuteSuccess Website: 5MinuteSuccess.com Email: Karen@5MinuteSuccess.com   5 Minute Success Links Learn more about Karen's book, Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes a Day   Karen also recommends Moira Lethbridge's book "Savvy Woman in 5 Minutes a Day"   Subscribe to 5 Minute Success Podcast   Spread the love and share the secrets of 5 Minute Success with your friends and colleagues!     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

“Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover” “Dress for Success” There are hundreds of phrases all providing “advice” on how you should present yourself to the world. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of conversations regarding men’s relationship with outward expression. This week, the Coaches, along with special guests Peter Nguyen of The Essential Man and Conscious Leadership/Business Coach Matt Shakir, go into the nitty-gritty of men’s outward appearance----------------------------------------Thanks, Peter and Matt for sharing your knowledge!@theessentialman https://bit.ly/3bimI0I@matthewshakir https://bit.ly/31Hca89----------------------------------------Special thanks to our Sponsor, Canibrands: https://canibrands.com/ Use Promo Code: COACHES20----------------------------------------Follow Us on Instagram!Justin @justinroeth - https://bit.ly/3hLUgqFJohn @johnromaniello - https://bit.ly/2YltMEPPurdeep @purdeepsangha - https://bit.ly/2AMcTdDBrian @coachbriannunez - https://bit.ly/2BhY7eQCraig @realcraigballantyne - https://bit.ly/3hQADO7----------------------------------------Reach us through our website - https://coaches-council.com/And be sure to follow Coaches Council's Instagram @coaches_council - https://bit.ly/2Nh1163

After overcoming drug addiction, PTSD from fighting the war in Iraq with the Marines (where one of his jobs was to walk in front of our vehicles to find explosives), depression and alcoholism that pushed him to the brink of suicide, Akshay Nanavati has since built a global business, run ultramarathons, and explored the most hostile environments on the planet, from mountains to caves to polar icecaps.      Combining his life experience with years of research in science and spirituality, he wrote a book called “Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth and Happiness.”      About the book, the Dalai Lama said “Fearvana inspires us to look beyond our own agonizing experiences and find the positive side of our lives.” All the profits from the book are going toward charity.      Akshay is now on a mission to help our entire human family build a positive relationship to suffering in order to live a life of boundless bliss.         In this episode, Karen and Akshay discuss:  Success Story of Akshay  Commit to Get Leads  The fear of reaching out is going to be there. That’s okay. Try anyway. You are not your thoughts, feelings, and experiences – you are the thinker of your thoughts, the feeler of your feelings, and the experiencer of your experiences.  Consult to Sell  Vulnerability bridges the divide of humanity – the more real and authentic you are about who you are, the more that connects.  Connect to Build and Grow  Systemize everything – transcend your feelings, rise above your feelings. Remove thinking from as many areas of your life as possible.  Success Thinking, Activities and Vision  There are no bad or good emotions or experiences – it is up to us to decide what we do with them.  Sweet Spot of Success     "There is always selling happening. Selling is serving. I cannot serve unless I sell whatever it is that I am selling."- Akshay Nanavati     *5 Minute Success - Listener Giveaway* Go to “Get the Secrets” at Fearvana.com to get updates and your FREE Fearvana pdf guide!     Connect with Akshay Nanavati:    Twitter: @fearvanalife Facebook: Akshay Nanavati Website: Fearvana.com Book: FEARVANA: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Healthy, Wealth, and Happiness YouTube: Fearvana LinkedIn: Akshay Nanavati Instagram: @fearvana     About the Podcast   Join host Karen Briscoe each week to learn how you can achieve success at a higher level by investing just 5 minutes a day! Tune in to hear powerful, inspirational success stories and expert insights from entrepreneurs, business owners, industry leaders, and real estate agents that will transform your business and life. Karen shares a-ha moments that have shaped her career and discusses key concepts from her book Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes a Day: Secrets of a Top Agent Revealed.    Here’s to your success in business and in life!     Connect with Karen Briscoe:   Twitter: @5MinuteSuccess Facebook: 5MinuteSuccess Website: 5MinuteSuccess.com Email: Karen@5MinuteSuccess.com   5 Minute Success Links   Learn more about Karen’s book, Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes a Day   Karen also recommends Moira Lethbridge's book "Savvy Woman in 5 Minutes a Day"   Subscribe to 5 Minute Success Podcast   Spread the love and share the secrets of 5 Minute Success with your friends and colleagues!     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.   

SUCCESS There are many definitions for success.It useful for you to look at yours and see if yours are realistic or not. I notice that lots of times when I am not happy I am comparing myself to others to see if I am successful or not. Is my bank...

Fundamentals of Success - There is only a few...

JJ is a prominent TV and media personality, whose previous features include co-host of TLC’s Freaky Eaters, 2 years as the on-camera nutritionist for weight loss challenges on Dr. Phil, and appearances on PBS, Dr. Oz, Rachael Ray, Access Hollywood, and the TODAY Show.   She also speaks regularly and has shared the stage with notables including TD Jakes, Tony Robbins, and Brendon Burchard. JJ is the author of four NY Times bestsellers, The Virgin Diet, The Virgin Diet Cookbook, JJ Virgin’s Sugar Impact Diet, and JJ Virgin’s Sugar Impact Diet Cookbook. Her most recent title is Warrior Mom: 7 Secrets to Bold, Brave Resilience.   JJ hosts the popular JJ Virgin Lifestyle Show podcast, with over 4.5 million downloads and counting. She also regularly writes for Rodale Wellness, Mind Body Green, and other major blogs and magazines.    In this episode, Karen and JJ discuss: Success Story of JJ Commit to Get Leads 90% of your business should come from partners.   Consult to Sell What you’re really doing is helping them decide a yes or a no. Consulting is helping them make a decision, not hover in no mans land of maybe. Connect to Build and Grow Work on your unique ability and get those on your team that are really good at what they do. Success Thinking, Activities and Vision Have an abundance mindset – our only limitations are the limits in our mind. Sweet Spot of Success     "There is more business out there than any of us could ever handle. There is such an abundance out there in the world. Reality is, competition makes us all better."- JJ Virgin     *5 Minute Success - Listener Giveaway*   Go here to receive your FREE 7 Day Stop, Drop, and Swap Challenge!     Connect with JJ Virgin:     Website: JJVirgin.com & MindshareCollaborative.com Book: The Virgin Diet & Warrior Mom: 7 Secrets to Bold, Brave Resilience Show: JJ Virgin Podcast     About the Podcast   Join host Karen Briscoe each week to learn how you can achieve success at a higher level by investing just 5 minutes a day! Tune in to hear powerful, inspirational success stories and expert insights from entrepreneurs, business owners, industry leaders, and real estate agents that will transform your business and life. Karen shares a-ha moments that have shaped her career and discusses key concepts from her book Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes a Day: Secrets of a Top Agent Revealed.     Here’s to your success in business and in life!     Connect with Karen Briscoe:   Twitter: @5MinuteSuccess Facebook: 5MinuteSuccess Website: 5MinuteSuccess.com Email: Karen@5MinuteSuccess.com   5 Minute Success Links   Learn more about Karen’s book, Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes a Day   Subscribe to 5 Minute Success Podcast   Spread the love and share the secrets of 5 Minute Success with your friends and colleagues!     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

Matt's annual, "What he read in the year" episode is here. This is a great place for a filtered reading list. Some familiar authors in this list and some you may not have had a chance to read. I love the One True Barbecue and how it applies to business. Have recommendations? Add them in the comments.  Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade by Robert Cialdini Anything on the science of influence is absolutely fascinating to me – whether it's about influencing fans, customers or myself.  Cialdini's book Influence is a classic, and this sequel/prequel is a must-read to understand how your sales team (and marketing/content teams) can set the conditions for influence and conversion better in 2017. The Only Sales Guide You'll Ever Need by Anthony Iannarino If it weren't for all the other great sales books on the market (this year and in recent years), I'd say the title of this book is 100% the truth. Anthony is one of the very best sales bloggers and speakers working today, and this book summarizes much of his very best advice.  I highly recommend expanding your sales library, but if there is just one book on the shelf, this should probably be it. The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute by Zac Bissonnette A fascinating and fast read, with numerous business lessons included.  What differentiates a trend from a fad?  How can you tell you have something sustainable and repeatable?  The story of the rise and fall (both fast & dramatic) of the Beanie Baby craze is chronicled with a great combination of business advice and juicy insider stories.  A fun read with value. High-Profit Prospecting: Powerful Strategies to Find the Best Leads and Drive Breakthrough Sales Results by Mark Hunter The most important, eternal, fundamental sales skill is prospecting.  Whether you're working ice-cold leads or warm inquiries from your marketing team, you're still prospecting.  Activity and volume isn't enough.  This book features new trends and research, plus a proven framework of habits to accelerate your sales pipeline-building results in 2017. More Sales, Less Time: Surprisingly Simple Strategies for Today's Crazy-Busy Sellers by Jill Konrath Every one of Jill's books have been fanastic, but this might be her best yet.  She's previously covered how to work with crazy-busy buyers, now she addresses the problem every single sales rep I know has – how to make best use of their time to increase active selling time, external impact and results. The One True Barbecue: Fire, Smoke, and the Pitmasters Who Cook the Whole Hog by Rein Fertel I'll give away the punchline – according to Rein, the only “true” barbecue is 1) whole hog, 2) cooked over wood in 3) a masonry pit.  A difficult combination for amateur BBQ enthusiasts to replicate, but this amazing book covers the history of whole-hog BBQ while simultaneously covering the history and anthropology of the Carolinas.  If you like BBQ or history or good story-telling, you'll like this book. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight What separates this book from so many other business autobiographies is its focus, candor and detail.  It's not an ego-driven puff piece, nor does it sugar-coat what growing a business is like.  The book starts with Phil's inspiration to start the business, and ends before the IPO.  In between, he highlights the numerous times Nike almost didn't make it, almost ran out of money, almost went out of business – yet somehow figured out (or stumbled into) how to keep moving forward. It's a story of humility and gratitude.  One of the best books I've read on the real story of entrepreneurship in a long time. The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eli Goldratt This book was originally written in 1984, but I re-read it earlier this year to reinforce Eli's Theory of Constraints.  Think about your business today – what's the #1 constraint keeping you from growing, that when alleviated would help everything else work more efficiently?  This book is a great example of business fiction (if you've read Five Disfunctions of a Team, you know the format). Spinach in Your Boss's Teeth: Essential Etiquette for Professional Success by Arden Clise This book is a differentiator.  It covers what all too often is a lost art of habits, manners, mannerisms and more that get noticed, differentiate you as someone special, and can material help you win more business.  Maybe not on your “mainstream” business reading list but it should be. Resilience: Hard-Won Wisdom for Living a Better Life by Eric Greitens Published as a set of letters to a struggling and fellow former SEAL, this book pulls deeply from ancient literature and lessons on what resilience means, how it applies to our lives, and how to apply it to make ourselves better – personally, professionally and in all points between.  This is the last book I read this year and might be my favorite of the bunch. REQUESTING YOUR ASSISTANCE - Trying to find who orignally said,  "The Path to Success: There is no elevator, you have to take the stairs."

There are no Secrets. In the first episode of The Bastards of Art Podcast, Matt Hodel and Jonathan Fournier share some insight into being successful as an Artist.  What’s the big Secret to Success? There are no Secrets! Many Artist decide their fate earlier on by thinking there is a “special something” that they lack…

A Special Passage for Dr. Theo From Brain Blocks: Overcoming the 7 Hidden Barriers to Success - “There is nothing more miserable than constantly living in fear. Challenges are perceived as threats. At the slightest deviation from the safe and familiar, alarms go off and hair stands on end. The space outside the comfort zone feels like a minefield. Fear keeps you confined in the cage of security.”   Understanding Fear We are all born with fear. It’s a complex but natural occurrence in the human existence. Fear alerts us toward risk. Fear tells us to stop what we are doing and to be scared. If we listen to the fear, it will go away; but then the opportunity for growth goes away also. We can stay confined or we can choose to overcome fear and push forward.   Pushing Forward to Realize our Dreams The size of our dreams is directly related to the size of our fear. The bigger our fear is, the smaller our dreams are. If we dream big our fear starts shrinking. As we start to age, our fear grows parallel with our responsibilities. Our dreams need to be adjusted to fit our new realities. If we feel the risk is too big, we may never take the necessary actions to make something happen. There are strategies we can inhabit to reduce our fears. We build our realities within our own minds.   We Deserve Love Loving ourselves can be a struggle. Our survival instincts want to eat our self- esteem to make us safer. If we learn to love ourselves fully, we will overcome fear and experience life to its fullest. A more in-depth conversation with Dr. Theo will follow in my next podcast. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Theo, you can visit his website, Dr. Theo or read his moving book, Brain Blocks: Overcoming the 7 Hidden Barriers to Success. And, I want to hear from you. Email me at ann@annpeck.com, visit my website, Ann Peck or follow me on twitter @iamannpeck. If you would like a copy of my ‘I Am Habits’ simply text IAmHabits (all one word) to 44222. I look forward to hearing from you!

“Everything good that's happened to me over the last five years is the result of starting a blog. Of putting my thoughts and words down on the page.” One of my favorite conversations so far, Corbett Barr (if that's his real name) is the real deal. Corbett and I spoke at length on this topic and it's one of my favorite conversations so far. I've wanted to get Corbett Barr (if that's his real name) on the show for a long time and when we finally made it happen, I didn't want to waste a minute of it. We really covered the gamut in this one, folks. We talked about taking risks and pursuing our dreams, audience building (how to do it and how NOT to do it), product building, entrepreneurship as a lifestyle, what “success” really is and so much more. Corbett is co-founder of Fizzle, a community and video training libraries for people working to become self-employed. He's also one of those guys who just exudes wisdom. It kind of pours our of him like sweat. So get read to get a little Corbett wisdom sweat on you. Here are some of my favorite bits from the show: On Creating Products and Success “There are a million ways to win, you just have to be at the right place at the right time” “You can only do so much to create a really great product and you never what thing is going to take off and what thing isn't and a lot of times the solution is to buy more lottery tickets because each project is essentially a lottery ticket and you can't get better at winning the lottery.” “It may be that your thing just isn't good enough.” On Icky Marketing Tactics “You owe it to yourself to examine every tactic your aware off and pick it apart and follow you're own internal compass.” “It is possible to create a really great product that goes nowhere if you're not willing to promote it at all” “When you say [these tactics] work, the problem is who do they work better on?” For some who is using [these tactics], they might win the short term game of getting more subscribers or whatever, but what they lose is is the influence game, over time.” “You do this sort of stuff long enough and you lose influence with the people that matter.” The Importance of Influence “Most people don't think for themselves. They just look to the clues, the influencers, the reviews, the social proof. So maybe what matters is not reaching each individual person who comes to your site be reaching the people whose opinion matters because that's how you're going to grow an audience anyway.” “Some of the people that are close to me and that I've worked hard to cultivate are worth 100,000 email subscribers.” On Blogging, Career Desperation and Branding “Everything good that's happened to me over the last five years is the result of starting a blog. Of putting my thoughts and words down on the page.” “I find that over time if put constraints on myself in terms of what the topic is, who I'm writing for and what goal it has to achieve, then I end up not enjoying the process so much and that's where friction happens and that's where a great project can sort of get stuck in the muck.” “People can sense desperation in your career.” “There's nothing to be scared of if you commit to living your life in the meantime.” “[Eventually] you learn that any sort of adversity is just another challenge and there's always a way around it.” “There's no reason the an