Creative Warriors

“Before we can have a customer, we must first have a buyer.” That is one of my favorite lines from the book we’re going to discuss today.  It is a notion that is intuitively simple, but not initially obvious. Today I speak with author Carole Mahoney about her upcoming book Buyer First: Grow Your Business with Collaborative Selling. Carole explains how a buyer-centric experience starts from the very first interaction, and why it's essential to challenge traditional notions of sales. She reiterates that "selling is not something we do to other people; it is something we do with them," and explores how collaboration is key to creating a positive buyer experience. Carole shares common mistakes businesses make when creating buyer experiences, including relying on the product to sell itself, and offers valuable insights on how to approach sales with a buyer-centric mindset. Whether you're an entrepreneur or a sales professional, this conversation offers practical advice and actionable steps to help you put the buye

Being in the business of helping business owners improve the brand messaging on their websites and seeing the explosion of AI, I wanted to share my do's and don'ts of using AI for your website.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out! Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like

One of the things that intrigues me about the journey of success and being a high achiever is the internal challenges, often unexpected, that we face when where we end up in life is very different than where we started. In today’s episode, I talk with Anthony Trucks about his personal journey of transforming his identity and overcoming challenges. Anthony shares his own experience of feeling stuck between his current and desired selves, what he calls the "identity gap." He emphasizes the need to tap into something deeper and darker than positivity alone to overcome obstacles. Anthony offers valuable insights on changing your mindset, beliefs, and habits to achieve your goals. Join us as we discuss how to make an identity shift and bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. This conversation will inspire you to transform your identity and reach success beyond your expectations. Anthony Trucks is a former Foster Child, NFL Football Player, Competitor on American Ninja Warrior, Author, Shift

There’s a good chance that no matter how great you are at what you do, you’re likely to be overlooked if you don’t speak up on your own behalf.  Has it ever bothered you that someone else less qualified, less impactful, or even less sincere got attention that you think you deserve? As is often the case when you’re self-employed, the only person you have to hold responsible for that feeling is yourself.  Maybe you need to be a better advocate for yourself.  In today’s episode, I speak with Lisa Bragg about her new book, Bragging Rights. Lisa shares her insights on why it's important to speak up on your own behalf, even if it goes against societal norms of humility. We discuss the difference between self-aggrandizing and expressing pride in your work, and why waiting for someone to notice your work is no longer enough in today's noisy world. Being too humble can cost you opportunities; tune in to learn how to promote yourself effectively and grow your business! Lisa Bragg has literally written the book on how

This we know for certain. People have to feel confident that they are going to get the results they want before they buy into your offer. They likely even want tangible results either by clearly understanding your offer promise or because they already have a high level of trust and respect for you. In this episode I share my Get This Formula to help you find the clear and concise promise in your offer.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. Th

I’ve come to really like referring to limited thinking and mindsets as ceilings, because I think it really encompasses the problem. A limited mindset is a ceiling sitting on or close to your head, not enabling you the space you need to grow to your next level, particularly when it comes to money mindsets, which is what we're going to talk about today. My guest Israel Duran discusses the concept of a revenue ceiling, which can be both a hard barrier and a self-imposed mindset. He explains that to overcome this ceiling, you must become a different person and let go of the things that helped get you to where you are now. Israel offers three areas to focus on: mindset, toolset, and skillset, and emphasizes the importance of asking yourself who you need to become in order to break through the barrier. Whether you’re feeling stuck or simply looking to take your business to the next level, I’m sure you will find valuable insights and actionable steps in this conversation. Founder Israel Duran is known as the only “

Often we set goals, write them down, and maybe even create a vision board. We might even stick a post-it on our bathroom mirror intending to look at it goal every day. The problem is these things can eventually be easily overlooked. At the suggestion of a future podcast guest, Cara Brookins, let's consider how we can create a goal your brain can't ignore.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month

Often, in order to move forward, we need to unwind from the past. As I like to teach, we must let go of something in order to grab the next thing in our lives and businesses, or to change a fundamental way we look at the world. This is because what got us here won’t necessarily get us to where we want to go next. Today I speak with Ellie Shefi, who shares her insights on how we can unprogram ourselves from external expectations and create a clear personal vision that drives every aspect of our lives. Ellie explains how to develop an Impervious Mind: a rock-solid identity that can withstand adversity. She emphasizes the importance of exploring our motivations and values, practicing self-care, and intentionally choosing our language to shift our mindset and overcome obstacles. Ellie also shares her experience with intentional and aligned business diversification. I am positive our conversation will help listeners examine their personal vision and values to move forward in business and life.   Ellie Shefi is a

As small businesses, sometimes it doesn’t occur to us to reach as big as we could. If you’re a coach, consultant, or subject matter expert, there may be much bigger clients out there for you than you’re currently thinking. Or maybe you're already landing corporate clients and want it to be easier and more consistent. Today, my guest Angelique Rewers shares insights on how small businesses can reach bigger corporate clients. She encourages business owners to stop ruling out opportunities because they seem out of reach. Angelique stresses the importance of thinking from the point of view of the corporate decision-maker and becoming a resource within their network. I’m positive our conversation will offer ideas and strategies that are applicable to all small businesses seeking to reach clients bigger than their current market.   Angelique Rewers is the CEO and Founder of BoldHaus®, an Inc. 5000 company, who specializes in helping small and diverse businesses win and work with corporate clients. With over 25+ y

I find that purpose-driven and heart-centered business owners often have an instinct that they want to run their business differently.  They sense that they don’t like the way they see other people marketing their businesses, but aren’t sure what to do about it. Today I speak with Sarah Santacroce, who shares how she's challenging the status quo and revolutionizing the way we think about marketing. Sarah discusses the power of questioning assumptions, unlearning, and breaking habits to create a more connective and humane way of doing business. Sarah also shares her three phases of transformation and the 7 P's of Humane Marketing, showing us how we can put heart back into our businesses and build stronger relationships with our clients. If you're looking for a new approach to marketing that resonates with your values and connects with your clients on a deeper level, this episode is for you. Over a decade of running a successful LinkedIn Consulting business inspired a yearning in Sarah to create a global movem

If you sell your services or products, in any way pitch yourself, or reach out to let people know what you do (and everyone does), then this mindset shift will be valuable for you. The idea of being "resource minded" came up in a previous episode guest, Nikki Rausch and really resonated for me. It has already shifted the way I approach many things, I just had to share!   Contact Jeffrey – Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! Take the Self-Doubt Survey   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institut

I think sometimes we forget that being effective at sales is a learned skill. Maybe we think we’re naturally good at it, or have been doing it so long that we must be good at it, or we despise sales and stay away from it altogether. What I gained from reading Nikki Rausch’s book The Selling Staircase aligns perfectly with what we do here on The Self-Employed Life. Nikki emphasizes the need to study communication and pay attention to social cues in order to relate to potential clients, and stresses that sales is something you do with another person, not something you do to them. Nikki also shares her five steps of the Selling Staircase, providing valuable insights for anyone looking to improve their sales process.  Whether you're an experienced salesperson or someone who avoids sales like the plague, I guarantee my conversation with Nikki will offer a fresh perspective on the subject.   Nikki Rausch integrates her 25+ years of experience selling to such prestigious organizations as The Bill & Melinda Gate

What does it really take to live an unconventional life - the life that we live as self-employed business owners?  We’re going to explore that today with our guest, Mike Fata. Mike shares his inspiring journey of overcoming adversity and achieving success while prioritizing his mental and physical health. During our conversation, Mike delves into the topic of self-doubt and the difference between Impostor Syndrome and general self-doubts. He explains how self-doubt can hold us back and prevent us from achieving our full potential. Finally, we touch on the importance of being present and fully engaged in the moment, whether in business or in life. Mike reminds us that if we're constantly thinking about ‘the game’ while we're playing, we'll never truly be ‘good’ at the game. I know that my conversation with Mike Fata will give valuable insights into the mindset, habits, and strategies necessary for success in living an unconventional life as a self-employed business owner.   With over 25 years of experience in

We all know the phrase “it’s the journey, not the destination,” but how often do we really audit our lives to see how well we’re doing in all areas of life that lead to really enjoying the journey every day? In today’s episode, I speak to Cary Jack, a bio-hacking expert and creator of The Happy Hustle, about avoiding entrepreneurial burnout and finding balance in life. Cary encourages listeners to find joy in the journey and avoid glorifying “hustle culture”. Cary stresses that balance is the key to happiness and suggests that finding a sense of Blissful Balance should be a priority for everyone, not just self-employed business owners. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to avoid burnout and find happiness in their work and life. Cary Jack is a lifestyle entrepreneur, author, podcast host, professional actor/model, biohacker, eco-warrior, martial artist, and humanitarian striving to make a positive impact on this planet. He split time growing up on the beaches of Sarasota, Florida, and in the

It's amazing what we can continue to learn after years, even decades of being in business. I recently made a pretty big decision in my business and in making that decision became clear on three business lessons that I believe will serve you as well.   Contact Jeffrey – Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! Take the Self-Doubt Survey   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!   Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever fee

Everyone experiences highs and lows in life.  Owning your own business might make those highs and lows a bit more significant, and probably more frequent. I often find myself saying, “Phew! That was a rough hour!” But the next hour might be great. That’s how significantly quick the swings can be when you’re running your own business.  So what do we do with these highs and lows?  Can we learn to manage them a bit? To explore this question, I spoke with Steven Izen, the founder and CEO of Lokai and Elements of Balance. Steven turned a low point in his life into a successful business that has donated millions to charity. In our conversation, he shares how he achieves balance across all areas of his life. As self-employed business owners, we can all benefit from Steven's reminder to stay humble during good times and hopeful during bad ones.   Steven Izen is the Founder & CEO of Lokai, the iconic bracelet brand that inspires its community to find balance in life and has donated $10 million dollars to charity

To be self-employed, we need to be visionaries.  Our ideas guide us and lead us to do big things. It’s also important to ground the visions in evidence-based action steps.  Today we’re talking about the science side of business – an evidence-based approach to achieving exceptional outcomes. Today I speak to Christina Curtis about her new book, Choosing Greatness. She explains that our brains keep us on autopilot because they are designed to conserve energy. High-achieving people can choose whether or not to follow those patterns, and Christina gives us strategies to lean into the strengths of our patterns and interrupt them when they don’t serve us. As Christina says, the more self-aware we are about the brain activities that are behind the scenes, the more we can choose how we want to engage with our habits instead of letting them run the show. Christina Curtis is the Founder of Curtis Leadership Consulting based in Denver, Colorado. A thought leader on motivation and goal attainment, she regularly contribu