Becoming Preferred: Recent Episodes

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SEASON: 7 EPISODE: 3

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast dedicated to helping you level up your game and become the best version of you.

Normally, we spend our time developing strategies for market dominance, leadership, and business growth. But true success isn't just about what you accomplish on paper—it's about how you show up as the highest, best version of yourself in every area of your life.

That’s why today’s episode is part one of a special two-part series. This week, we’re laying the foundation by focusing entirely on personal development. We’re joined by Nima Rahmany to explore what it means to become 'trigger-proof,' break intergenerational patterns, and build genuine emotional safety.

Then, be sure to tune in next week for part two, where we’ll build on these insights and pivot the conversation directly toward professional development! So, let's get into part one—join me for my conversation with Nima Rahmany.

Guest Bio:

Nima Rhamany helps high-performing individuals, couples, and families heal relational wounds, regulate their nervous systems, and become trigger-proof in love, leadership, and connection.

Formerly a chiropractor, Nima now guides clients through somatic and shadow integration to interrupt unconscious relational patterns and create emotionally safe, co-regulated relationships. Nima's work blends neuroscience, polyvagal theory, attachment theory, and transformational coaching to help people build more secure, authentic connections.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://becometriggerproof.com/
• Product Link: https://becometriggerproof.com/shop/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:35 By the age of 13, I was like hellbent on becoming a chiropractor

05:13 I inherited this intergenerational angst of this constant feeling of hypervigilance

10:02 This is what they call the anxiety alarm loop

14:56 It was like the universe gifted me this experience...

17:16 There's no gap between stimulus and response if you're carrying shame

22:01 The true test of somebody's teaching of something is what are they living?

24:40 What you're talking about is the concept of creating emotional safety

27:26 The first thing is when I put an expectation on myself to make a quick turnaround...

30:15 There's an unconscious covert expectation that we have

35:32 The problem is actually called enmeshment

38:00 Just normal experiences of people with different values

44:46 What would love do?

46:28 A true successful person, I look at the way their partner looks at them

47:19 The website is becometriggerproof.com

Connect Socially:

Facebook: facebook.com/nimarahmanyofficial

Instagram: instagram.com/nimarahmanyofficial

YouTube: youtube.com/@NimaRahmanyOfficial

Free Gift from Nima

Email: support@becometriggerproof.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 7 EPISODE: 2

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast for business professionals and entrepreneurs who want to level up their game and become preferred in the markets they serve.

If you run a B2B company, there’s a high probability you’ve hit a very specific growth ceiling: you built a fantastic business through relationships and word-of-mouth, but the moment you try to scale beyond referrals, your marketing completely stalls out. You keep tweaking your website, changing ad agencies, and wondering why it’s not converting.'

Our guest today says the problem isn't your marketing tactics; it's that you are performing the wrong show. Matt Wolfe is a brand strategist, Partner at Brand3, and one of the country's most experienced StoryBrand Certified Guides, having transformed the messaging of over two hundred and fifty organizations across thirty industries.

But what makes him truly unique in this space is his background: before moving into full-time marketing, Matt spent twenty-five years on professional stages, including Broadway. He understands better than anyone alive why some scripts grip an audience and others cause them to walk out by intermission. Today, we are unpacking his 'Brand-First Rule,' how to scale a relationship-driven B2B beyond referrals, and how to make your marketing look less digital and significantly more human. Join me for my conversation with Matt Wolfe.

Guest Bio:

Matt Wolfe spent 25 years on professional stages, including Broadway, before pivoting to full-time marketing. That path looks like a detour until you hear him explain why a business’s brand message works the same way a script does. Every word either earns an audience’s attention or loses it, and most companies are performing the wrong show.

Today, Matt is a Partner at Brand3 and one of the most experienced StoryBrand Certified Guides in the country, with work across 250+ organizations in more than 30 industries. He helps B2B leaders who’ve built businesses on strong word-of-mouth figure out why their marketing doesn’t reflect that fact - and fix it at the source. Brand3’s Scale Beyond Referrals program helps relationship-driven B2Bs tell a story that connects with their ideal clients. In a world that’s growing more digital, his team makes marketing more human - and makes B2Bs the obvious choice to their ideal clients.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.brand3.net/
• Website: https://www.mattwolfemarketing.com/
• Product Link: https://www.brand3.net/ways-to-engage/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:40 You have this fantastic phrase where you say that most B2B companies are performing the wrong show with their marketing

05:05 That's really all that is at the end of the day, is the right story to the right people

06:36 StoryBrand says make your audience the hero of the story

07:53 I think StoryBrand has moved the needle on that conversation

11:43 I'm going to make this bold statement, and then I'll qualify it: Demographics don't work

13:47 At the end of the day, these sales only happen through carefully built trust and relationships

17:02 We've been using the phrase: trust recession

19:30 You have a strict brand first rule that says, "Stop marketing a message you haven't built yet"

21:22 The game's going to be won or lost on that header and whether or not that says to somebody, "I'm telling your story"

23:39 Good marketing is shining the spotlight back on the ideal client

25:06 If you don't articulate the problem that they're facing, there just is no story

26:57 We just have to keep asking the question, how will this digital thing that we're doing now lead to a human encounter?

32:36 If you do this right, you're putting more humans in front of the right ideal client humans to have these great encounters

36:03 We were like, "Why aren't we telling that story?"

38:34 Matt Wolfe, the website is brand3.net

38:41 Your personal website as well mattwolfemarketing.com

38:58 You can also go to scalebeyondreferrals.com

39:13 We have a podcast called The CEO's Heart for Service

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/MattWolfeMarketing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brand3marketing/

The CEO's Heart for Service Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceos-heart-for-service-scaling-business-without/id1896298694

Email: mwolfe@brand3.net

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 7 EPISODE: 1

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast designed to help ambitious business professionals and entrepreneurs build unshakeable client trust, scale their impact, and become preferred in the markets they serve.

If you run a professional services firm, an agency, or a consulting practice, you’ve likely fallen into a very common trap: you try to win clients by being the smartest person in the room. You show up to pitches armed with deep expertise and immediate answers, only to wonder why the client chose someone else.

Our guest today says that over-indexing on your own 'smartness' is the fastest way to kill a deal. Scott Armstrong is a marketing veteran, global agency founder who scaled his business to over twenty-two million dollars, and the mastermind behind Win The Question.

He is also a self-reformed 'expert' who learned how to build trust the hard way. His upcoming book, From Asshole to Ally, is a field manual on how highly qualified professionals accidentally lose trust and exactly how to get it back. Today, we’re unpacking how to stop relying on rare 'rainmakers,' how to coach trust as a tactical skill across your entire team, and how to shift from pitching answers to truly winning the question. Please join me for my conversation with Scott Armstrong.

Guest Bio:

R. "Scott" Armstrong has spent 38 years learning what most ambitious professionals figure out the hard way: it's not about you. Scott is the founder of Win The Question, where he teaches ambitious professionals how to build trust by reducing their natural self-orientation and working to win the question before the answer.

Scott's book "From Asshole to Ally: How Ambitious Professionals Lose Trust and How To Get It Back" is the field manual and it will be launch in the fall. He lives at the end of a dirt road in Creemore where he trusts his neighbors and his motorcycle.

Resource Links:

• Website: winthequestion.com
• Product Link: https://www.winthequestion.com/book

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:20 I hadn't really learned yet how to build trust, I just learned how to hustle

04:27 Trust has a math to it, or professional services trust at least has a math to it

05:15 Trust is really the shift from about me to about you

07:31 Your upcoming book has a brilliantly provocative title, From Asshole to Ally

10:30 What does it mean to win the question in a high-stakes client meeting?

12:12 Stephen Covey's fifth habit, "Seek first to understand, then seek to be understood."

14:23 Often the managing partner or the leader of the firm doesn't even really know what skills they're using successfully to build trust

16:28 Ask before you answer

17:05 You should be learning from my mistakes rather than my successes

20:28 At the top of my page, I just put a little reminder, "Shut up," that's my first prep note

22:38 Using that methodology, we lost a $10 million account in a review, and won it all back and more 12 months later

25:08 Give me 45 minutes to come and have a conversation, and then we'll craft a perfect solution for you based on that conversation

27:52 He was better at asking questions than I was, and his big win question's a real simple one

31:30 One of the things I like about your podcast is how much research you all do

34:05 Bottom line is if you're putting deposits into that relationship bank account on an ongoing basis, they don't divorce you when the proverbial hits the fan

37:49 The tagline for that company is not go fast, don't die, it's really go fast, go far

39:47 You might have a weather forecast, but it can change

42:10 You can literally these days run Otter on a call or in the meeting itself... after the meeting is over, will tell you not only how often did you speak versus when your client spoke...

42:49 The book is From Asshole to Ally: Why Ambitious Professionals Lose Trust and How to Get It Back by Scott Armstrong. (available Q4)

43:33 Scott Armstrong at winthequestion.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rscottarmstrong/

Email: scott@thewtq.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 36

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast for ambitious entrepreneurs and business professionals who want to level up their game and become the best version of you.

Every week, we talk about how to become preferred, but let me ask you a tough question: You might be building a brand that customers love, but are you building a business that an investor would actually buy?

Whether you’re an established entrepreneur looking for an exit strategy, an investor looking for high-yield cash flow, or a professional wanting to skip the startup phase and buy an existing company, today’s episode is your ultimate playbook.

Joining us is David C. Barnett, an international private transaction consultant, 3-time best-selling author, and the master strategist behind 11 books on business acquisitions, financing, and valuation.

Today, we are pulling back the curtain on how businesses are actually bought, sold, and valued in the real world. Join me now for my conversation with David Barnett.

Guest Bio:

David Barnett has been working with small and medium sized businesses for over 20 years. He has helped entrepreneurs buy and sell them. He has helped them grow. He has helped people finance them.

David is the host of a YouTube channel with hundreds of videos about buying, selling, financing and managing small and medium sized businesses and can be found anytime at his blog site www.DavidCBarnett.com.

Resource Links:

• Website: www.DavidCBarnett.com
• David's Books: https://www.investlocalbook.com/p/buy-book.html
• Product Link: https://www.investlocalbook.com/p/courses.html

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:13 It seems very obvious to me, and I didn't understand why they didn't see what I saw

07:07 I was with the Yellow Pages for about seven years, it was fantastic

10:46 If they don't pay for it, they don't value it

13:54 People seem to have a lack of imagination

19:06 All you're doing if you overpay for a business is you're trading startup risk for financing risk

20:40 There isn't anyone who is cautious, intelligent, and wise who's willing to write a check for that business

23:23 Would you like to hear some sobering statistics?

24:53 Cashing out of a business is something that happens in Silicon Valley, i's, it's really a unicorn story

29:15 Let me get something absolutely clear, it is possible for somebody to buy a business with none of their own money

30:15 How do you expect to trade nothing for something of great value...

31:28 I'll say, "What's the debt to equity ratio on your opening balance sheet?"

34:27 Do you know what it's called when you run a household profitably

38:57 Can you invest in a small business and outperform things like the stock market and all those other kinds of things?

41:05 You can actually get paid to learn about businesses by going and working there

43:25 Whether or not you're going to be able to sell your business comes down to two questions

46:01 The top 5 reasons small, privately controlled businesses go up for sale are...

43:37 You authored a book called 21 Stupid Things People Do When Trying to Buy a Business

47:05 You become the end of all blame-chains

49:08 If you're buying, selling, or starting, davidcbarnett.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbarnettmoncton/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidCBarnett

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbarnettmoncton/

Email: info@alpatlantic.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 35

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast for business professionals and entrepreneurs who want to stand out, level up their game, and become the best version of themselves.

Every leader listening to this wants three things: flawless operational excellence, absolute team accountability, and a bulletproof culture. Yet, so many organizations get it completely wrong. They mistake rigid compliance for culture, and they mistake punishment for accountability.

Our guest today cracked the code on how to align these elements to drive massive enterprise value. Brian Fielkow is a veteran corporate executive, the former CEO of Jetco Delivery, and an organizational performance expert who has spent three decades leading companies in high-risk, high-hazard industries.

He’s the author of the upcoming book, Making Safety Happen, but today, we are exploring the universal business principles that apply to any company—from startups to tech giants. We’re talking about how to break down silos, build unshakeable employee trust, and design bulletproof processes that eliminate dangerous shortcuts. Join me for my conversation with Brian Fielkow.

Guest Bio:

Brian L. Fielkow is a recognized business leader, board director, and advisor known for transforming how organizations manage safety, risk, and performance. He leads a national team supporting thousands of companies in strengthening culture, improving safety outcomes, and driving profitable growth across high-consequence industries. A sought-after international speaker, he is widely respected for translating safety leadership into practical business strategy.

Previously, as CEO of Jetco Delivery, he built one of North America’s most admired logistics companies, earning national recognition for its safety culture. He is a recipient of the National Safety Council’s Distinguished Service to Safety Award and was named one of the Houston Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs. His insights have been featured in leading publications including The Wall Street Journal, Inc., Entrepreneur, and other leading business publications.

His new book Making Safety Happen, is available for sale on Amazon.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://brianfielkow.com/
• Product Link: https://brianfielkow.com/author-books/
• Product Link: http://brianfielkow.com/on-demand-courses/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:02 They pay a premium not necessarily for what you sell, but for how you deliver, for your reliability

06:37 I don't know with 100% turnover how you create a stable, predictable offering

07:52 Price can only be important if it's an apples to apples competition

08:43 Price is never the issue, unless it is the issue, and when it's the issue, it's the only issue

11:11 You talk about a direct connection between culture, accountability, and operational excellence

12:03 We had our drivers, our professional drivers write the handbook

13:10 Continuous training on the core processes to me is more important than trying to find a new topic every week

16:01 I figured that if I held myself to those standards, I would've had to fire myself in the first week because I make a lot of mistakes

18:45 Sometimes it's as simple as who you invite to the table

21:13 Leadership is how you show up

21:57 Everything improved because we broke down the silo, we opened up the lines of communication and built trust

24:38 You've got to remember that your employees are your representative to your customers and other stakeholders

27:22 If there's a better way of doing things, we keep our minds open and we adjust the process

29:15 The fact that something didn't go wrong, doesn't mean the process is a good one, it just might mean you're lucky

31:14 I recommend to your audience: The Checklist Manifesto

31:52 We need to be reminded more than we need to be taught

33:45 You only have one chance, and only one, to make a first impression

35:40 This is a journey with no finish line

37:31 The website is brianfielkow.com

38:00 brian@brianfielkow.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfielkow/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYzVEB9dcSsuHeDFpuDamIw

Email: info@brianfielkow.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 34

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to grow their business, level up their game and become preferred in the markets they serve.

Let’s be honest: in today’s market, growing your revenue is only half the battle. The real danger? Growing so fast that you break your own business. When your logistics fracture, your software stacks multiply, and your profit margins start bleeding cash, marketing success can quickly turn into an operational nightmare.

Our guest today is the man who steps in when guesswork fails. Michael Kleinmann is a seasoned D2C operator, founder, and fractional C-suite executive who has built and scaled multiple businesses to the mid-eight-figure mark. He is a master at turning back-end infrastructure, fulfillment, and supply chains away from boring cost centers and into lethal competitive advantages.

Whether you are running an e-commerce giant, scaling a subscription model, or just trying to protect your margins in a shifting economy, today’s conversation is a blueprint for logic-driven execution. Please join me for my conversation with Michael Kleinmann.

Guest Bio:

Michael Kleinmann is a seasoned direct-to-consumer (D2C) operator, founder, and executive advisor with more than two decades of experience building, scaling, and modernizing seven- and eight-figure e-commerce and subscription brands. A true pioneer in the digital retail space, Michael launched Freshpair from his New York City apartment in 2001, transforming it into a category leader with over 30,000 SKUs and even founding "National Underwear Day" before its successful acquisition. In 2012, he repeated his success by launching Underwear Expert, growing it from a massive content marketing platform into a high-performing subscription powerhouse driven by proprietary curation technology.

Today, Michael steps into organizations as a fractional C-suite executive, transforming logistics, fulfillment, and operational infrastructure into true strategic assets. He brings deep, end-to-end expertise across product, tech stacks, marketing, and supply chain management, replacing guesswork with practical, logic-driven execution. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for engineering creative solutions to complex operational bottlenecks—delivering massive freight cost savings, optimizing 3PL partnerships, and turning around struggling business processes.

Michael is far from your typical, surface-level consultant. Having worn every imaginable hat over 25 years of hands-on business building, he knows exactly how to align infrastructure with rapid revenue growth while ruthlessly protecting profit margins. He joins us to share his proven systems for navigating the realities of scaling and removing the friction from modern e-commerce operations.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.mkinc.com/
• Product Link: https://www.mkinc.com/services

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:40 I gravitated towards technology and business

04:41 We had just about every hurdle you can think of

06:12 I created National Underwear Day

08:20 How do you get from zero to 100 with next to nothing or maybe fumes?

10:38 I want to hear the problem from their perspective; that doesn't mean that that's what the problem is

15:11 There's a lot of analytics that you can get about different things to try to see if B2C makes sense

17:03 I was reading this morning that there's 73,000 3PLs in the United States

20:35 By moving to a 3PL, you can get your costs lower than if you did it yourself

21:48 Amazon is a shipping carrier that you can use separate from selling on Amazon

24:42 If you want to pick something easy to do, don't have a direct-to-consumer brand

28:40 I think asking for help is difficult

33:20 I just went through the whole entire business and tried to simplify everything

38:53 I think there's a lot more opportunity, but it's different

40:00 mkinc.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelkleinmann/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@poweredbymk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poweredbymk

Email: mk@mkinc.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 33

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast designed to help you become the best version of you.

Let’s be honest: most entrepreneurs start a business out of a deep passion for a craft, not a love for spreadsheets. But as your business scales, relying on gut instinct or simply checking your bank balance to see if you're successful becomes a dangerous game. If you’re only looking at your numbers once a year at tax time, you aren't driving your business—you’re just reacting to it.

Our guest today is here to take the fear out of finance. Danielle Hayden went from working behind a salon chair to earning her CPA and stepping into the corporate boardroom as a CFO. Today, she is the founder of Kickstart Accounting Inc., where her team of nearly 50 professionals has helped thousands of small business owners transition from emotional guessing to data-driven confidence.

Whether you are trying to price your services for true profit, looking to make your next big hire, or ready to step into your true power as a CEO, today’s conversation is an essential roadmap for turning financial clarity into a massive competitive advantage. Please join me for my conversation with Danielle Hayden

Guest Bio:

Danielle Hayden started her career behind the salon chair. Working as a hairdresser, she discovered she had a knack for using numbers to help herself and the people around her hit their goals. That instinct sent her back to school, through a CPA and a master’s in accounting, and into the corporate boardroom as a CFO. After more than a decade there, she left to build Kickstart Accounting Inc., where her team is nearly 50 now and has served thousands of small business owners through bookkeeping, CFO services, and tax preparation.

Danielle’s approach starts with the foundation: clean books, the right systems, and a clear picture of cash and profit. From there, she teaches business owners to use their numbers every month, not just at tax time. For owners who have been avoiding their finances or running on gut instinct, she gives them the tools to lead with data.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/
• Product Link: https://envisioncfo.org/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:38 I left high school with no interest in math or numbers or accounting

05:00 I keep on using the words tool in our toolbox, and I do that very intentionally

07:19 I think you call it 'tax time only accounting'

08:58 My mission is that every single business owner looks at their numbers every single month

10:42 A lot of the bad habits that we have in business, they're probably because we have bad habits personally

12:10 Four key performance indicators that you're looking at every single month

13:59 So I have a confession that I am guilty as well, okay? I am what I call a free spender

15:14 Answer these three questions: What just happened? Why did it happen, and what am I going to do about it?

23:10 Make sure that your bookkeeping is accurate first, and then go play in AI with those accurate financial statements instead of doing it the other direction

24:40 Do not go dump a product line just because it's not profitable

27:29 Why did you make the choices that you made?

29:58 We need to understand what we're spending and why, and then use that same data to properly price ourselves

31:33 Bookkeeping is looking backwards, and CFO is looking forward

34:50 The website is kickstartaccountinginc.com and from there you can get over to the envisioncfo.org.

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-hayden-kickstartaccounting/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kickstartaccountinginc/

X: https://x.com/kickstartacct

CEO Numbers Network Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ceo-numbers-network-with-danielle-hayden/id1574515604

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kickstartaccounting/

Email: danielle@kickstartaccountinginc.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 32

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where help you become the best version of you.

If you are an entrepreneur or a business professional, you know that scaling a company often comes with a massive cost. Too many high-performers find themselves financially successful but time-poor, stress-ridden, and completely disconnected from the life they originally set out to build.

Well, today’s guest is here to change that script. He is an elite wealth strategist, founder of Michels Family Financial, and author of the powerhouse new book, Rich by Choice. Nick has a fascinating story that spans from childhood financial hardship and working on a Texas golf course, to playing professional basketball overseas, and turning down a massive $8.1 million corporate signing bonus just to ensure his advice remained entirely independent, transparent, and focused on his clients' best interests.

Today, we are discussing how to align your revenue with your deepest values, protect your hard-earned assets from advanced tax leaks, and use the 'Rocking Chair Test' to design a life of radical generosity and freedom. Get ready to take back control—please welcome to the show, Dr. Nicholas Michels!

Guest Bio:

Nick’s journey began in both abundance and hardship, an experience that taught him early on the profound influence money has on life and relationships. Outside his work, Nick is a devoted husband to his wife, Chelsea, and a proud father to their four children, Daegen, Kinsley, Brooks, and Everly. Together, Nick and Chelsea are deeply committed to giving back through the Michels Corporation, their charitable foundation that supports youth education, families in need, global missions and causes close to their hearts.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://michelsfamilyfinancial.com/
• Product Link: https://richbychoicebook.com/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:05 Coming from humble beginnings, there was no college fund waiting for me

03:48 I encourage all kids to get internships, because you learn so much

05:50 One thing that I love about this work is because I get a backstage pass into people's lives

07:24 Your book is titled Rich by Choice

09:50 Most people are financially busy, but they're emotionally broke

11:50 It finally boiled down for me it was really about freedom

14:33 When you stop for a second and say, "Okay, where are things going?"

18:56 You talk about money first being a blessing and a curse

19:41 I had pretty quick success, and it had nothing to do with me

21:02 If you're an entrepreneur, you've got to understand who you're helping, how you are helping them, and how many times you can get in front of them and say, "Hey, I'm so and so. This is how I can benefit your life."

22:53 All my clients are wonderfully different

23:05 We have 6 key areas that we help people

25:14 You utilize this concept called the rocking chair test

28:03 What could be a great answer for you could be a terrible answer for someone else

29:15 I think this is so important, is who do you become?

32:22 I had a chance to play professional basketball in Europe

33:52 AI is not the issue, irrelevance is

34:56 Your goal is to be an expert in your field

37:57 I call it outwardly successful, inwardly stressed

39:25 I say the juice has to be worth the squeeze

40:30 Rich by Choice: Take Back Control, Master Your Money, and Design the Life of Your Dreams

42:31 There's so many areas where luck can come into play

43:49 Once you understand and have confidence and clarity on the direction you're going- that's when there's joy

45:49 If you don't have purpose, I believe the soul dies and we die pretty quickly

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/michelsfamilyfinancial

Facebook: Michels Family Financial https://www.facebook.com/michelsfamilyfinancial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelsfamilyfinancial/

Email: nick@richbychoicebook.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 31

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we help you level up your game and become the best version of you.

Most people spend their lives reacting to the calendar, trapped in a grind that never seems to end. But what if you could rewire your internal rhythm to unlock your potential, not just in business, but in every dimension of your humanity?

My guest today, David Fullmer, has moved beyond the "empire-building" phase of entrepreneurship to solve a much bigger problem: the human one. As the creator of Becoming Seven—or B7—David has cracked the code on a life cadence that aligns our modern existence with a 4,000-year-old psychological blueprint. He isn’t just teaching personal development; he’s leading a movement to transform millions of lives by helping ordinary people step into the extraordinary, authentic selves they were created to be.

If you’ve been feeling maxed out, stuck in the daily grind, or wondering how to scale your business without sacrificing your life, your health, or your purpose—this episode is for you. Join me for my conversation with David Fullmer.

Guest Bio:

David Fullmer is a husband, father, businessman, author, public speaker, and superhuman problem solver. He operates multimillion dollar businesses from his location in Hawaii, with branches in 19 U.S. States in the commercial roofing side. He’s led a life of service in his community by putting on no less than two free roofs a year over the past five years for needy families. David is a cofounder of the nutrition company Ox Superfoods. He is also an avid investor, and entrepreneur consultant for many companies striving to reach new heights. He has trained thousands of sales professionals, and assisted thousands of individuals in the pursuit of their dreams. Additionally, David has spent years helping the youth of America set goals and strive for excellence. Recreationally, David is a surfer, motocross rider, and holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Finally, David is the founder and developer of the B7 superhuman rhythm detailed in his new book, Becoming 7. It is a life cadence that changes the trajectory of every human being who practices it. David is committed to personally changing the course of the lives of over 5 million people by 2030.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.becomingseven.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX2ZGQ42

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:31 I went to four different youth incarceration programs

06:05 Every time I was in a youth program, I excelled

08:05 When I was about 7 years old, 8 years old, I was listening to Jim Rohn tapes in my dad's cherry drop-top convertible sports car

10:32 As parents, we say things to our kids repetitively and we just think, "Oh, they're not getting it. They're not getting it." I'm telling you, they're getting it.

15:10 She (my mom) worked very, very hard and taught me principles of forgiveness, sacrifice, and love

18:55 Service is so universal and it doesn't matter what faith, what religion, it doesn't matter

19:36 I was 28 years old, and I was a millionaire, and I was racing motocross almost full time

21:26 One thing I've learned is that everyone wants to talk about their successes, and they don't talk about failures

22:53 Superhumans come to a point when they see a problem, they see an opportunity

24:40 This year I did a challenge, 100 days, 5:30 AM, for everyone on my socials

28:22 When I found out that more people had heart attacks on Monday morning from 8AM to noon than any other day, my brain just blew up

31:41 Our brains can't distinguish between what's fiction and what's real

33:10 the book again is called Becoming Seven: The Superhuman Rhythm by David Fullmer

Connect Socially:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568176791201

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@becomingseven

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@becomesevenofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidfullmerofficial/

Email: becomeseven808@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 30

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast that helps you become the best version of you. Throughout our careers, we often talk about the importance of business pivots, but we rarely discuss the profound skill of personal reinvention.

Today’s guest is Coach Jay Sargeant—entrepreneur, teacher, reinvention coach, and author of SHIFT: The Gift of Reinvention. Across seven careers—from community organizer to tennis pro to business builder and coach—Jay has spent a lifetime studying how people transform themselves.

At 78 years young, Jay is the creator of The Shift Project, and he believes that life’s second half can truly become your masterpiece. He helps high-achievers recognize the hidden patterns in their lives, proving that staying relevant isn't about the credentials on your wall—it’s about your hunger, your adaptability, and your willingness to begin again. Jay is here to show us that most major transformations change one conversation and one uncomfortable moment at a time. Please join me for my conversation with Coach Jay Sargeant.

Guest Bio:

Coach Jay is the author of Shift: The Gift of Reinvention and the creator of The Shift Project. Across 78 years and seven careers, he has learned that reinvention is not a one-time event-it is a skill developed through courage, adaptability, persistence and the willingness to begin again. Through his stories and insights, Coach Jay helps audiences recognize hidden patterns in their lives and understand that it is never too late to shift into a new chapter.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.theshiftproject.academy/
• Product Link: https://www.theshiftproject.academy/thecohort

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:46 We're going to talk about your book

04:57 Got me in trouble all the time, but set me up for everything I have ever done in this lifetime

06:37 When I was 16, I went and bought a 1958 Oldsmobile, black, red leather seats and white convertible top

08:00 I didn't write the book for anybody to read other than my great-grandchildren

10:43 My mom and dad were serial entrepreneurs; they were dreamers

12:58 Credentials are overrated

18:22 I don't want to stay in franchising, I've already done it

19:43 The name of the book was Frogs Into Princes, the seminal work of Richard Bandler and John Grinder

20:37 I took the chance that I suggest entrepreneurs do, you've got to see the signs before they're vivid, before it's real

21:55 Confidence is often rented before it's owned

25:08 If you want someone to give a speech that gets people to do something, I am your man, and I can prove it

26:45 I start people off with, "What are your assets?"

29:22 You can't make your next fortune in your living room

34:35 It all began because I took a bad meeting, and I spoke up for myself

36:36 I understood it was about building a relationship

38:43 My mantra is: sell one thing to somebody tomorrow

42:51 My counsel is move, don't get stuck on credentials, move like crazy, and it is never, ever, ever too late

43:30 Take nothing for granted, find what you love, find what you're good at

45:38 The book is called Shift: The Gift of Reinvention by Jay Sargeant

Connect:

Email: TheShiftJay@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 29

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred. The podcast designed to help you level up your game and become the best version of you.

Our guest today built her career inside billion-dollar finance institutions before launching her own growth agency, Cottn Owl. Esther Stewart is a Business Growth Strategist who spent eight years as a Fortune 500 associate, training 7 and 8-figure executives in white-glove sales, client retention, and institutional-grade strategy.

Today, she architects high-converting paid acquisition systems for businesses who want predictable revenue without diluting their positioning. Esther’s philosophy is simple: premium clients do not buy hype; they buy certainty.

In this conversation, we’re diving into why most high-ticket marketing fails, how to attract premium clients without the gimmicks, and what it really takes to build scalable certainty in your business. Please join me for my conversation with Esther Stewart.

Guest Bio:

Esther Stewart is a Business Growth Strategist and founder of Cottn Owl, where she architects high-converting paid acquisition systems for founders selling premium offers. A former Fortune 500 finance associate, Esther spent eight years inside billion-dollar institutions training 7 and 8 figure executives in white-glove sales, client retention, and institutional-grade growth strategy. Today, she works with coaches, doctors, consultants, therapists, and high-level service providers who already have strong offers and want predictable, scalable client acquisition without diluting their positioning.

After leaving a multiple six-figure corporate career in 2023, Esther built two multi five-figure per month businesses using one offer, one sales system, and disciplined infrastructure. Her philosophy is simple: premium clients do not buy hype, they buy certainty. Esther teaches founders how to build strategic sales systems, refine positioning, and scale through paid traffic in a way that protects brand equity and supports long-term growth.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://cottnowlofficial.com/
• Product Link: https://cottnowlofficial.com/leaderscircle

Insight Gold Timestamps:

05:32 In the midst of that realizing that while I love that, it was time for the next step

07:30 Premium clients don't buy hype, they buy certainty

09:28 You're selling you at the end of the day

11:02 You've got to be a product of the product

13:03 They want to jump straight to what the biggest names in the industry are doing without putting in the time

15:08 Concept called 'lead cow theory'

19:24 I was also willing to hear no

23:24 They are so reluctant to leverage advertising because there's this online bias with marketers

24:35 The value that you bring to your clients is the relationship

27:46 So, when I tell people that you don't have to spend a lot on ads to see success, you do not, because I'm living proof of that

29:07 I'm clear that none of this was easy, and it took me getting really uncomfortable to get good at what I was doing

33:09 The only difference between spending $10 a day in ads and $100 a day in ads on Meta is how many people you reach

36:02 When you expand how much you spend on meta ads, the exact same ad is now going to go to a much, much broader audience

39:10 When is a founder truly ready for paid acquisition?

40:58 I would argue that everyone should be running ads

43:14 The relationship is never going to be replaced by AI

46:16 It's cottnowlofficial.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherstewart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cottn-Owl/100090193514131/

Podcast-The Shifting Road of Business: https://open.spotify.com/show/2teA8oeVPUUREUaJPWxRBO

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmEstherStewart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cottnowlofficial/

Email: hello@cottnowl.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 28

Episode Overview:

Welcome to Becoming Preferred, the show where we level up your business and become the best version of you. Today we are tackling the one tool that separates iconic brands from the 'white noise' of the marketplace: Story.

Our guest today is an Emmy Award-winning advertising veteran who has spent over forty years proving that story isn't just a creative exercise—it’s a growth engine. Park Howell is the founder of The Business of Story and the creator of the StoryCycle System™, a framework that has helped brands scale by as much as 600 percent.

He’s the author of Brand Bewitchery and has just pioneered a way to merge human emotional intelligence with AI through his StoryCycle Genie™.

If you’ve ever felt like your message is getting lost, or if you're struggling to explain your value with a 20-slide deck, this episode is for you. Park is going to show us how to use 'Artful Intelligence' to sharpen your positioning, reduce the cost of brand development, and ultimately, help you win the battle for the mind of your customer. Join me for my conversation with Park Howell.

Guest Bio:

Park Howell is the founder of The Business of Story and creator of the StoryCycle System™, a proven brand narrative framework that has grown purpose-driven brands by as much as 600 percent. An EMMY Award-winning advertising veteran with more than four decades in the industry, Park hosts the Business of Story podcast, authored Brand Bewitchery, and co-authored The Narrative Gym for Business.

He recently co-created the StoryCycle Genie™, an AI-driven (Artful Intelligence), narrative-native platform designed to help agencies and consultants craft powerful brand strategies in minutes instead of months.

Today, Park helps agency principals turn storytelling into a scalable growth engine. By combining emotional intelligence with AI, agencies can amplify impact, sharpen positioning, and dramatically reduce the time and cost of brand development. For firms looking to grow revenue without adding headcount, his frameworks and tools provide a practical path to smarter, faster, more profitable brand strategy.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://businessofstory.com/
• Product Link: https://businessofstory.com/storytelling-resources/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:03 I knew I'd starve as a composer, but thought I could make it in the ad world

05:44 What is a brand? It's the story people tell about you when you are not in the room

06:52 Why is story so important, and why is it so effective

08:36 People buy first with emotion and back it up with logic,second

10:55 When I looked at the hero's journey, Michael, I said, "Oh my God, well, this is a customer journey."

14:04 What do you stand for in the world that makes you stand out

15:34 The AND, statement of agreement, is your setup. The BUT, statement of contradiction, is the problem, and the THEREFORE, statement of consequence, is your way forward or your call to action

17:45 You basically deliver or manifest what I call the three forces of trust-building

20:14 But people will buy into a story

23:18 The reason I bought it is not so much because it was a Rolex...

27:00 You are not the center of your story, your audience always is

30:25 Go and look at your bio, and rewrite it as an And/But/Therefore (LinkedIn)

32:57 You've talked about 400%, 600%

37:34 Yeah, we're all homo sapiens storytelling apes, aren't we?

42:26 So, it's a tool specifically to help you develop world-class branding and make you stand out in the world very, very quickly

45:03 You can go to storycyclegenie.ai

47:05 I've got my Business of Story podcast every Monday

47:14 Go test your brand's story, storycyclegenie.ai

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkhowell/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessOfStory/

X: https://x.com/ParkHowell

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Businessofstory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessofstory/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/business-of-story/id1012379862

Email: park@businessofstory.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 27

Episode Overview:

Welcome to another episode of Becoming Preferred, the show where we dive deep into the strategies that help you level up your game and stay relevant in an ever-shifting marketplace.

I am happy to introduce our guest today, a man who sits at the intersection of high-level software innovation and human-centric design. Ghazenfer Mansoor is the CEO of Technology Rivers, a powerhouse firm known for building everything from HIPAA-compliant healthcare tech to cutting-edge AI solutions.

But Ghazenfer doesn’t just build software; he understands the psychology of why we use it. He is the author of Beyond the Download, where he breaks down the alchemy of creating mobile apps that people actually love and share. Beyond his technical expertise, he’s a fellow storyteller as the host of the Lessons from the Leap podcast, uncovering the raw failures and bold breakthroughs that define the entrepreneurial journey.

Whether you’re looking to scale your startup, automate your processes, or simply build a brand that resonates, you’re going to want to take notes. Join me for my conversation with Ghazenfer Mansoor!

Guest Bio:

Ghazenfer Mansoor is the CEO of Technology Rivers, a software development firm recognized in Washington, D.C. for creating AI-powered solutions, innovative SaaS products, and HIPAA-compliant healthcare technologies. He helps startups and service businesses scale faster, automate processes, and build technology that drives real-world impact.

As the author of Beyond the Download: How to Build Mobile Apps That People Love, Use, and Share Every Day, he shares practical insights and proven strategies to help app developers and entrepreneurs build mobile apps that not only acquire users but keep them engaged and growing.

In addition to being a thought leader and speaker, Ghazenfer hosts the Lessons from the Leap podcast, where he uncovers the bold decisions, failures, and breakthroughs that shape entrepreneurial success.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://ghazenfer.com/
• Business Website: https://technologyrivers.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Download-Build-Mobile-People/dp/B0GP9T86DZ/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:17 Technology's changing with amazing speed

04:58 To your point, it can be disruptive if we don't evolve

05:07 In your latest book, Beyond the Download...

08:03 How are you competing? Are you competing on people? Are you competing on pricing?

09:21 You want to look at what are the bottlenecks in your business?

13:44 I think security ought to be a feature, not a footnote

16:02 The focus has to be building the product the right way the first time, so that you can focus on growing your business

17:45 You build the foundation, you have the sketch, and then you gradually scale

21:00 It's not easy for existing users of other products to just switch to your product

22:56 So it's about what is missing in the industry

26:04 Everybody is trying to get into the AI race, which is exciting, but at the same time, some people are scared to take that leap

26:15 On our Lessons from the Leap (podcast)

28:11 So I think as a society, we have to evolve our EQ...

32:19 There's something called RAG, (Retrieval Augmented Generation)

34:20 It's ghazenfer.com and technologyrivers.com is your company

34:33 Beyond the Download: How to Build Mobile Apps that People Love, Use, and Share Every Day

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmansoor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/techrivers

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@technologyrivers

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techrivers/

Lessons from the Leap Podcast: https://ghazenfer.com/lessons-from-the-leap/

Email: GMansoor@TechnologyRivers.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 26

Episode Overview:

Welcome to another episode of Becoming Preferred, where we examine the traits, strategies, and mindsets that will help you become the best version of you.

Today, we are looking into a topic that is often misunderstood: the intersection of high-stakes business growth and global responsibility. Our guest today is a master of navigating that nexus. Mark Coleman is an award-winning author, a strategic advisor with over 25 years of experience, and a leading voice in sustainable change management.

Mark works at the front lines of the energy transition, helping organizations navigate a world that is becoming rapidly decarbonized, digital, and decentralized. His latest book, Planet Pragmatism: The New Path to Prosperity, challenges us to move beyond the rhetoric and build enterprises founded on dignity, trust, and accountability. Whether you are an entrepreneur looking for the next economic edge or a corporate leader managing complex environmental risks, Mark is here to show us how principled leadership is the ultimate competitive advantage. Join me for my conversation with Mark Coleman.

Guest Bio:

Mark C. Coleman is an award-winning author and recognized voice as a business and leadership advisor, entrepreneur, and educator on sustainable change management and enterprise development. He is inspiring the “now and next generations” to discover, develop, and deploy principled leadership through dignity, trust, and accountability. As a practitioner with more than 25 years’ experience, he has served as a strategic advisor to leading academic, industry, emerging enterprises, and government-based organizations on the convergence of societal change, environmental risk, and sustainable innovation.

Mark currently serves as Director of Advisory and Innovation within TRC’s Advanced Energy (AE) business segment where he works with leaders across the organization and with partners and clients, to strategically advance best-in-class integrated solutions to complex energy challenges. Through intentional design and delivery of transdisciplinary teams, Mark works at the nexus of energy and environmental innovation and the emergent sustainable economy, marked by solutions which are decarbonized, digital, decentralized, and which also embody social impact, environmental justice, and economic equity at their foundation.

Mark’s 4th book, Planet Pragmatism: The New Path to Prosperity, was published in July 2025. He also serves as an adjunct instructor of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprise at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University where he teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in Sustainable Enterprise. He resides in the Finger Lakes region of New York with his wife and two sons.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.markcolemaninsights.com/
• Business Website: https://www.cmm-insights.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Pragmatism-New-Path-Prosperity/dp/1958233439

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:35 Probably like most graduating seniors, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life

06:30 I work hard, I think, to try to bring that sense of unbiased, independent perspective

07:21 Think about the lens by which they bring to the world

08:19 Your latest book is titled Planet Pragmatism

10:45 What's near and dear to the customer?

12:03 My premise of this book is that prosperity broadly is under assault

14:06 Right now people feel as if they don't have that high quality of life

15:19 It's not about compromise, it's about, as you say, realistic innovation

20:54 Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past

24:50 This idea that we need to have a Preventive, Predictive and Proactive Posture towards how we're living in the moment and how we're focused on the future

26:23 No business exists without some foundation and grounded principles in their why, as Simon Sinek would say it

28:31 I think that we have to lean into the humanity that exists within how we design, engineer, and bring enterprise together for the world

32:27 I think we're at a place where no idea necessarily is bad...conceivably

34:40 It also has to be the type of leadership that says, "That's a great idea. Go build it. Go take that on!"

35:24 The latest book is called Planet Pregnatism: The New Path to Prosperity by Mark C. Coleman

35:30 The website is markcolemaninsights.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcolemannow/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MarkColemanInsights/

Email: mark@cmm-insights.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 25

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we help you level up your business and become the best version of you. We talk a lot on this show about how individuals can become the preferred choice in their industry. But what about the ecosystems we build? What happens when a company grows so fast that it starts to consume the very people who made it successful?

Our guest today has seen the 'dark side' of rapid growth from the front row of corporate America. Bruce McLeod is the founder of Company Connections and the author of The Healthy Company Framework. Bruce has developed a revolutionary approach to business that doesn't start with the balance sheet or the C-suite's wealth—it starts with the health of the employee.

Today, we’re going to discuss how to heal your organization, why 'people-first' is actually the ultimate growth hack, and how to build a legacy that lasts far beyond the next quarterly report. Join me for my conversation with Bruce McLeod.

Guest Bio:

Bruce McLeod is the author of The Healthy Company Framework and founder of Company Connections, a professional services organization designed to help companies and individuals who want to change their business and their life for the better.

Bruce has spent over a dozen years in corporate America. In those years, he had a front-row seat to the negative effects rapid growth has on companies. From increased customer drops, high turnover and burnout of top talent, and the inability to solve new problems with new solutions, he developed and implemented an infinitely scalable framework that addresses these problems.

And, unlike most approaches that focus on shareholder value or C-suite wealth, his solution starts with taking care of the people responsible for getting the work done: the employee. By healing the individual, companies are able to increase customer satisfaction, retain superstar employees, and leave a lasting legacy.

Bruce is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and is happily married to his wife Emily.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.company-connections.com/
• Product Link: https://a.co/d/8iLAMEO

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:57 I eventually realized that I'm most successful when I put all this stuff together

06:46 You can't have a healthy company without healthy employees

10:22 I do talk about boundaries a good bit

12:31 If I have people that really want to work here and are really connected to where I want to take this business, you end up at with a whole lot of wins

16:59 You call it healing the individual to save the company

20:43 That's the first principle, is having a good foundation

22:47 So, I think you've got two kinds of superstars

24:37 You have to know who hands me work and am I communicating with them in a way that makes sure they're equipping me well

28:25 What are we doing? Who is it for? How does it provide value?

32:41 A lot of companies and a lot of people are really good at reacting

34:19 Let's get everybody to think problems are solved two ways: reactionary and proactive

36:55 Let's talk about identifying the neglect early

38:48 How is your job impacting your life?

40:05 We've got company-connections.com

40:17 Look for the Healthy Company Framework

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbmcleod

Email: rbruce.mcleod@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 24

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred. The podcast to help you level up your game and become the best version of you. Today, we are joined by a returning guest who has reached the literal summits of the corporate world.

He’s been a senior leader at Salesforce, PayPal, and Oracle, and he literally wrote the book on Sales Enablement. But today, we’re talking about a different kind of mastery. Imagine reaching the peak of your career, only to wake up surviving a stroke with a 2% chance of survival.

Roderick Jefferson is back with us to discuss his powerful new book and movement, Stroke of Success™. This isn't just a survival story; it’s a strategic roadmap for every entrepreneur and executive who has ever traded their health for a headline or their peace for a paycheck. We’re going to talk about how to redefine resilience, why 'wholeness' is the ultimate KPI, and how to build a life that is as successful on the inside as it looks on the outside. Join me for my conversation with Roderick Jefferson.

Guest Bio:

Roderick Jefferson is a senior executive with over 25 years of experience in sales enablement leadership. He is also an acknowledged practitioner and a global keynote speaker. He understands how to create bridges between internal organizations to empower sales to exceed expectations.

Recognized for his expertise, Roderick has earned numerous accolades, including being named among America’s Best Speakers by Selling Power Magazine, receiving the Sales Enablement Lifetime Achievement Award, and recognition as a Top Black Executive Leader. He is also a founding member of the Sales Enablement Society.

He frequently presents at industry events and is the author of the Amazon #1 new release and bestselling books, Sales Enablement 3.0: The Blueprint to Sales Enablement Excellence™, The Sales Enablement 3.0 Companion Workbook™, and Stroke of Success™.

Roderick has served on several Advisory Boards, including Autobound, Capella University, DemandFarm, Koridor, Leadoff.ai, National Speakers Association (NorCal), Sales for the Culture, Selleration Inc., and Walli Hr.

Roderick has held roles in executive leadership, sales, sales enablement, operations, and customer service at 3PAR, AT&T, BusinessObjects, Magnit, Marketo, Oracle Marketing Cloud, NetApp, Netskope, PayPal, Roderick Jefferson & Associates, Salesforce, Siebel Systems, and Siteimprove.

When he’s not working on consulting projects or onstage delivering a keynote, he can be found perfecting the art of barbecuing or playing bocce in his backyard with his family.

Regarding my signature topic, keynote, and bestselling book, they have shifted from AI, sales, and the current state of selling to something I call “Stroke of Success™.” You can learn more here.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://roderickjefferson.com/
• Stroke of Success Book: https://www.roderickjefferson.com/stroke-of-success
• Sales 3.0 Book Link: https://roderickjefferson.com/book
• Sales 3.0 Companion Workbook: https://roderickjefferson.com/companion-workbook
• Keynote Speaker Highlight Reel: https://bit.ly/3zRVNJa
• Social Media Channels: https://linktr.ee/roderickjefferson

Insight Gold Timestamps:

06:52 I was at 22% heart function that gave me 2% chance to live

10:22 From the American Stroke Association, that one out of every four people, not just Americans, but people over the age of 25 in the world, will incur a stroke and you many not even know it

11:43 What was the first corporate habit you realized you had to permanently delete to protect your new life?

14:14 Literally I'm recharging my batteries every day rather than waiting until the weekend to recharge

17:30 Money just buys independence

18:25 Stop thinking that you're irreplaceable at work because you're not, and start acting like you're irreplaceable at home

20:17 I believe selfishness, if you do it right, it becomes self-care

22:35 If it's not something that you're putting out that's going to help others, then it's just marketing

26:35 I had to learn how to be present

29:48 Can you look in the mirror and say you like yourself, the person that's looking back at you?

34:19 Was I productive or was I just busy?

35:44 In your book you talk about relationships as being critical as achievement is

38:19 How well can you say you really knew the hopes, dreams, and experiences of your grandparents?

40:50 That's what I want my legacy to be, how I made people feel

41:27 Send folks to roderickjefferson.com because then you'll get a signed book and I can get that out to you

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roderickjefferson/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Npxk-Ws48

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roderick_j_associates/

Roderick's Sales Enablement Spotify Podcast Playlist: https://tr.ee/tywJiGJxdg

Sales Enablement Online Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/applying-the-art-and-science-of-sales-enablement/?referralCode=6CF22D97C842CCC0E07C

Social Media Channels: https://linktr.ee/roderickjefferson

Email: roderick@roderickjefferson.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 23

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we interview the brightest minds in business today to help you level up your game and become the best version of you.

If you are an entrepreneur or a marketing leader, you’ve repeatedly heard the mantra 'do more with less'. But our guest today says that’s the wrong goal. She believes we shouldn't just be doing more; we should be redesigning the work itself.

Lisa Cole is the Chief Product, Marketing, and AI Officer at 2X, where she heads their AI Center of Excellence. With over 20 years of experience and three major B2B transformations under her belt, Lisa has become the 'secret weapon' for CMOs looking to bridge the gap between human creativity and machine efficiency. She is the author of Brand Gravity, The Revenue RAMP, and her highly anticipated new book, The Limitless CMO.

Today, we’re going to talk about how to move from being a 'cost center' to a 'revenue engine,' the reality of AI adoption , and how to build a brand that has enough 'gravity' to pull customers toward you without you having to chase them. Join me for my conversation with Lisa Cole.

Guest Bio:

Lisa Cole is Chief Product, Marketing & AI Officer and Head of the AI Center of Excellence at 2X. For more than 20 years, Lisa has helped B2B marketing leaders achieve more with less by redesigning how marketing work gets done through strategic outsourcing, AI adoption, and performance management.

Lisa has led three major B2B marketing transformations, including award-recognized work, and she’s been a trusted advisor to CMOs for nearly 16 years. She’s also the author of Brand Gravity, The Revenue RAMP, and her newest book, The Limitless CMO.

Resource Links:

• Website: www.lisacole.ai
• Company Website: https://2x.marketing/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:31 I shifted and pivoted into marketing

06:13 I remember when I started the very first question a company would ask is, should I have a website?

08:36 The underlying principle there is still true, you actually have to ask them

11:07 By the time they've actually made that decision to engage with your brand directly...

12:43 Marketing is the one that makes sure that you are both findable, understood, and chosen

16:21 Could marketing do a better job of being proactive with that, with the sales department?

20:24 The premise behind brand gravity is...

23:33 No better time to be a founder or entrepreneur, if you're comfortable with just putting your point of views, and your secret sauce out in the world

25:52 Your superpower is going to be wherever is uniquely human

28:02 Are there some must haves that small businesses should have?

31:53 The most common piece of feedback I get is...

32:22 My measure of success here is engagement

34:27 You have to be okay with change

36:10 And you argue for redesigning how work gets done instead of just working harder

37:37 My favorite question to ask is, how long does it take for you to get a campaign from an idea into market?

40:02 You head the AI Center of Excellence at 2X

42:04 The new book's called The Limitless CMO

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisacole01

Twitter (X): https://x.com/CMOInnovator

Company: https://www.youtube.com/@2xmarketing

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thelimitlesscmo

Email: lisa.cole@2X.marketing

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 22

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast dedicated to the high-level strategies that transform professionals and level up performance.

Today, we are exploring a truth that every professional eventually hits: Success isn't just about what you do; it’s about the clarity with which you lead. Many leaders reach a plateau not because they lack resources, but because they are navigating through the 'fog' of doubt, rapid growth, or shifting industries.

Joining us is someone who has mastered the art of the pivot and the science of leadership. Thomas Passalacqua is a certified Executive Coach and the founder of Ascend Professional Pathways. From his early days as a founding teacher in New York City to driving high-stakes mergers and acquisitions and executive coaching, Thomas has seen firsthand how the right mindset can turn a 'good' professional into an 'elite' leader.

In this episode, we’re going to help you identify your own blind spots, overcome the silent fears that stall growth, and learn how to align your daily decisions with your highest professional goals. Join me for my conversation with Thomas Passalacqua.

Guest Bio:

Thomas Passalacqua is a certified Executive Coach who specializes in customized professional & leadership development. With a master’s in education, Thomas started his career as a founding teacher in New York City. He then transitioned into dental manufacturing sales, where he was an award-winning consultant who trained and mentored other sales professionals.

Transitioning again, Thomas was the director of business development for a growing dental group practice in the Northeast where he led sales and marketing for mergers & acquisitions. In his executive coaching and professional training platform, Ascend Professional Pathways LLC, he enables various industry leaders to gain clarity and improve their business leadership skills.

Thomas' clients are empowered to reach the next level in their businesses and careers by overcoming doubts, fears, and uncertainty and making strategic decisions to better align with their goals.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://ascendpropathways.com/
• Product Link: https://ascendpropathways.com/executive-coaching

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:44 I found myself being relevant to my fellow classmates and seeing them take my advice

06:41 The pathway reference really is a nod to the individual coach and because there are multiple directions

09:49 My main focus is, okay, what do we do moving forward?

12:01 What kinds of things do you see for obstacles that are common?

13:58 The 'why' behind it all is important

16:10 If you have a question, you can most likely find the answer to it in this day and age

18:31 I wanted to follow my own expectation and blaze my own path

22:35 If your default is an excuse, then that's a red flag to know that you're operating from a doubt or a state of fear

25:17 Vision work is huge

28:44 Let's talk about clarity and getting clarity, but also clarity as a competitive advantage

32:20 You've already proved to yourself that you can go from where you were to where you are...

38:36 In this day and age, there's more tools and resources and information

41:33 What's a good step that they can take?

42:18 You have resources, and you have the skills and capabilities already within you, you just have to uncover what's blocking you

42:38 My website ascendpropathways.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspassalacqua/

Email: thomas@ascendpropathways.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 21

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast for the professional who wants to level up their skillset and focus on continuous improvement. Today, we’re tackling the silent killer of professional peak performance: The Invisible Quicksand.

We spend our lives optimizing our businesses, our processes, and our leadership teams. But what happens when you are being held back by a disorganized home? What is the cost of the 'mental clutter' that follows you from the kitchen table to the office?

Our guest today is a powerhouse who transformed from a stay-at-home mom at forty to the CEO of a million dollar empire. Lisa Woodruff, the founder of Organize 365 and host of a podcast with over 24 million downloads, believes that organization isn't a personality trait—it’s a learnable, high-level business skill.

She’s here to show us how to bridge the gap between household management and professional scaling, and to give us a sneak peek into her upcoming book, Escaping Quicksand. If you’ve ever felt like you’re winning at work but sinking at home, this conversation is your lifeline. Join me for my conversation with Lisa Woodruff.

Guest Bio:

Lisa Woodruff is the founder & CEO of Organize 365. Lisa and 87% of Americans believe organization is a learnable skill. Yet less than 18% of those same Americans feel they are organized.

As the host of the top-rated Organize 365 Podcast, with 24 million downloads & counting, Lisa shares strategies for reducing the overwhelm, clearing the mental clutter, and living a productive and organized life.

Resource Links:

• Website: http://organize365.com/
• Product Link: https://organize365.com/escapingquicksand/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:34 I started to really think back on, what was my story going to be

06:22 I realized I was a professional organizer

08:28 My PhD is on the invisible load and the cognitive load of organizing

10:11 I'm an educator and so I'm going to give you a lot of options

14:39 Organization is a learnable skill

16:31 In my opinion, your child's bedroom is their mini apartment

19:55 I had to grow those muscles of being a business owner and doing the work of the business

20:30 Let's talk about your upcoming book, Escaping Quicksand

26:54 It's not a department, it's a whole separate business, the household is the economic entity

28:12 My higher and best use is being strategic

30:34 I took all of my bank statements from Wells Fargo, dumped them into an AI tool (Claude)

31:55 Organization happens in analog, productivity happens in digital

34:58 What's the number one organizational lie that keeps people and entrepreneurs stuck in that gap?

39:48 I realized in hindsight, once I firmly went into excellence versus perfectionism, is not accepting others' judgment of myself

44:55 You have so much more control than you think you do...at home

46:10 Just really think through, is the improvement really the improvement you want?

48:11 Website is organize365.com

48:38 Get organized and you get your time back

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawoodruff/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2w8BMBq25cswE7mVRX1bDA

Instagram: http://instagram.com/organize365

Lisa's Podcast: https://organize365.com/podcast-landing-page/

Email: Lisa@organize365.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 20

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast for high-achieving professionals and entrepreneurs who want to level up their game and become the best versions of themselves.

Today, we are exploring a topic that is fundamental to our success, yet one that many of us often fail to properly plan: our financial foundation. Joining us is someone who brings a rare level of discipline to the table. Jeffrey Panik is a Master of Science in Financial Services and a Certified Financial Planner with over 25 years of experience.

But Jeffrey’s perspective wasn't formed in a boardroom alone. As a first-generation college student who served in the U.S. Army to pay off his student loans, Jeff carries a 'military-grade' perseverance into his work today. He is the founder of Balance Wealth Partners and the author of The Future is Now, a guide designed to demystify the 'financial fog' that many business professionals face.

In a world of volatile markets and AI-driven advice, Jeff is here to show us why human relationships and operational discipline are your greatest investment assets. Join me for my conversation with Jeffrey Panik.

Guest Bio:

Jeffrey Panik, MSFS, CFP®, is a financial advisor with over twenty-five years of experience helping hundreds of families, individuals, and small businesses strategically manage their assets and plan for long-term success. The first in his family to attend college, Jeff also served in the U.S. Army, which paid off his student loans and instilled the discipline and perseverance he carries into his work today. He began his career as a financial advisor trainee at a large brokerage firm and has since built a thriving practice dedicated to empowering clients with financial literacy and confidence.

Though he grew up in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Jeff has lived in Atlanta, GA, for more than two decades with his wife Rebecca. Outside of work, he enjoys family time, traveling, reading, and all types of sports.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.balancewealthpartners.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CS8GNF1H?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_Z8DJA5H6R0DJ0ZJMZVDP&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_Z8DJA5H6R0DJ0ZJMZVDP&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_Z8DJA5H6R0DJ0ZJMZVDP&skipTwisterOG=2

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:36 I still wasn't really sure what I wanted to do and I made the decision to go in the Army

06:54 When you're dealing with money, it's an extremely emotional topic

09:31 It's important to distinguish yourself from everyone else

12:51 The value now is automation

16:30 I think it's a matter of balance, whether it's in your work life, in your family, or in retirement

20:56 As entrepreneurs, as young investors, maybe people just listening where should we be focused?

24:16 Let's talk about legacy and family wealth

24:50 I think the essential piece of finance really is communication

27:37 Things are going to become what I would say more commoditized

30:11 It's a good idea if you interview three or four different advisors

30:33 Your book, Your Future is Now: An Introductory Guide to Managing your Finances

33:38 You plan for the worst and if you do that, everything ends up usually working out pretty well

35:16 It's small steps, but you have to take the first step

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeffpanik

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@balancewealthpartners

Email: jeff@balancewealthpartners.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 19

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we talk to the business professionals who are preferred in the markets they serve. Today, we are diving into the intersection of high-stakes strategy and operational discipline.

Our guest today is a literal 'Top 10' leader. Sarah Jeanneault is the VP of Marketing at ProcedureFlow and a veteran of the fintech and technology worlds. With over 20 years of experience—including leading multi-billion dollar asset growth and successfully exiting two fintech ventures—Sarah knows exactly what it takes to scale a business without losing the customer experience.

But here is why you need to listen closely today: Sarah is an expert at solving the 'knowledge gap.' In an era where everyone is chasing AI, Sarah advocates for a 'knowledge-first' strategy. She helps organizations in the most complex, regulated industries—like finance and healthcare—turn messy, unstructured data into visual, repeatable success.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to build an exit-ready engine or a professional aiming to stay relevant in the age of AI, this episode is your blueprint. Join me for my conversation with Sarah Jenneault.

Guest Bio:

Sarah Jenneault is a seasoned executive leader with over two decades of experience driving scalable growth platforms and operating models within highly regulated industries, such as finance and healthcare. She has partnered closely with leadership to align go-to-market strategies, technology, and customer operations, directly supporting multi-billion-dollar AUM growth. A former educator with a Master’s in Education, Sarah uniquely applies teaching skills to change management, helping organizations navigate the "creative constraints" of regulation to move from being a commodity to a preferred brand.

Throughout her career, Sarah has overseen end-to-end commercial operations, building cross-functional teams and managing multi-million-dollar budgets to scale efficiently without sacrificing customer experience. Her approach centers on building "durable operating systems" and integrated growth engines that connect data, digital modernization, and customer insights. Having successfully exited two fintech ventures, she emphasizes that structured knowledge is an essential "operational layer" that significantly increases enterprise value during an acquisition.

Currently, Sarah focuses on helping organizations move toward a "knowledge-first" AI strategy to overcome the hurdles of unstructured data. At ProcedureFlow, she advocates for converting complex, text-heavy processes into easy-to-follow visual guides, which allows companies to onboard new hires in days rather than months. By treating internal knowledge management like the essential "backbone" of a company, Sarah helps businesses achieve optimal, repeatable outcomes and sustained revenue growth.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://procedureflow.com/
2. Product Link: https://procedureflow.com/industries/contact-center

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:08 It's our job as leaders to facilitate that conversation in a room

07:26 We want our B2B customers to be set up for success

08:25 Everybody thinks right now that AI is going to solve everything

10:23 I'm very pro AI, there's a lot of really great success stories out there

13:10 Think about, what do you really want AI to do for you

15:04 We naturally read in an F pattern

18:25 You have multiple generations of people working in organizations who all have organized their information in very different ways

22:43 Every entrepreneur should be working with the idea that you want to exit

25:39 I do love sourdough and also, I am a little obsessed with just making it better and better

31:00 Wherever you are in your journey, it's okay

33:54 It's not something I ever realized I really needed, but it is making such a critical difference

34:52 If we move too fast, too hard, AI starts hallucinating, it starts making things up

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iam-sarah-potter/?originalSubdomain=ca

LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/procedureflow/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/procedureflow

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUXqqLeUImuk3jJ9tKc3nzw

Email: sarah.jeanneault@procedureflow.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 18

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to another episode of Becoming Preferred, the show dedicated to helping you stand out in a crowded marketplace by becoming the provider—and the leader—of choice.

Today we are joined by Coach Jim Johnson, a returning favorite who truly understands what it means to lead under pressure. He’s a hall-of-fame basketball coach, and a world-class speaker, but whether he’s in a locker room or a boardroom, Coach Jim Johnson knows that winning isn't just about the score—it’s about the soul of the team.

Today, we’re breaking down his powerful framework, The 8 Cs of Leadership, to find out how you can earn the right to be followed and how to stay relevant in an ever-changing professional landscape. Join me for my conversation with Coach Jim Johnson.

Guest Bio:

A Legacy of Championship Leadership Coach Johnson is a legendary figure in New York high school basketball, boasting an incredible career record of 428-221. Over two decades, he led the Greece Athena Trojans to 11 divisional titles and a staggering 66-5 record in his final three seasons alone. A multi-time Coach of the Year and recipient of the National Sportsmanship Award, his tenure was defined by consistent excellence, including 22 winning seasons out of 23 and leading his team to the #1 ranking in New York State.

The "Magic" of Teamwork and J-Mac Beyond the win-loss column, Coach Johnson is widely recognized for his unique partnership with Jason "J-Mac" McElwain. From the viral "magic" of J-Mac’s legendary shooting performance to their collaborative coaching years that followed, their story has been featured nationally on CBS Sports. Johnson’s program was built on a foundation of unselfishness, where players celebrated each other's successes as much as their own—a culture that propelled the Trojans to three consecutive Section V Championships.

Inspiring the Next Generation After 33 years as an educator and 20 seasons on the court, Coach Johnson has transitioned his expertise into professional speaking. Through his presentations, “Dreams Really Do Come True” and “Leadership Lessons from Half-Court,” he now travels the country sharing insights on goal setting, teamwork, and leading by example. He brings a lifetime of experience in human potential to businesses and educational organizations, proving that the lessons learned on the hardwood are the keys to success in life.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://coachjimjohnson.com/
2. Product Link: https://coachjimjohnson.com/inspirational-motivational-book-products/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:15 We want to unite people, not divide them

04:57 The other thing I think is really important with character is being willing to admit when you make a mistake

07:34 Are you a person worth following?

10:52 Do your people know that you care about them?

14:51 Stephen Covey said, seek first to understand before being understood

18:05 Why I say clarity is kindness...

19:12 Confidence versus arrogance

20:48 People want to feel like they're being heard

22:25 As a leader, you have to admit when you're wrong, and that that's a very hard thing to do

25:59 If we don't get better, people are going to pass this right by

28:36 Really sharing that curiosity every day

29:07 You make the distinction between listening to understand versus listening to respond

34:46 My big thing with challenge is that it starts with setting some really high standards that as a leader you've got to be living and sharing

38:20 I do think you have to have some boundaries and some non-negotiables

40:00 Are you the same person of a high level of integrity at home as you are in the marketplace?

42:19 The website is coachjimjohnson.com

42:35 I've actually connected with a few people that are on a kindness movement

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjimjohnson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachJimJohnson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachjimjohnson

Blog: https://coachjimjohnson.com/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachJimJohnson1

Email: jjhoops@rochester.rr.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 17

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the show where we deconstruct the strategies that help you become the preferred choice in a crowded marketplace.

Now, we’ve all seen it: companies spending thousands on leadership retreats that result in a 'high' for three days and then… total stagnation. The missing piece isn't talent; it’s resistance.

Today, we are welcoming back, Mike Irving. Mike is the founder of Advanced Business Abilities, and he’s cracked the code on 'Resistance Removal'—a framework that delivers tangible leadership results in weeks, not years.

Today, Mike is pulling back the curtain on his Three Pillars for Success and revealing why communication is the ultimate foundation for developing a team of leaders, rather than a team of followers.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your own edge or scale your team’s performance, this episode is your roadmap. Join me now for my conversation with Mike Irving.

Guest Bio:

Mike Irving is the founder of Advanced Business Abilities, a coaching company designed for established business owners who know they’re capable of more—but haven’t yet found a support system that truly meets them where they are.

With over two decades of leadership experience—from launching his first business at 21 to managing a national sales force of over 300—Mike understands the highs of entrepreneurial success and the hidden costs that often come with it: burnout, disconnection, and stalled progress.

Frustrated by one-size-fits-all coaching programs that glossed over individual nuance, Mike set out to build something different. The result was Advanced Business Abilities: a coaching platform that combines deeply personal insight with practical, strategic execution.

One of the unique aspects of ABA’s methodology is the Success Predictor Profile—a proprietary tool backed by 50+ years of scientific research—that helps easily and efficiently identify a person's strengths, weaknesses, and blindspots and allows ABA to give business owners a custom blueprint for growth, performance, and alignment.

Today, Mike works with owners leading teams of 5 or more, who are not just chasing revenue but want to lead with integrity, improve decision-making, and grow without sacrificing their health or values. His approach resonates with founders who are practical, values-driven, and actively investing in their long-term success.

Whether he’s coaching in a boardroom or speaking on a podcast, Mike brings a refreshingly honest, grounded voice to the leadership conversation—always focused on helping others do the work that actually works.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://advancedbusinessabilities.com/
2. Product Link: https://advancedbusinessabilities.com/individual-sales-coaching/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:34 We know the things that we should be doing, we just don't always do them

05:04 I got to a place where there was enough pain that I was going, man, I don't know what to do

05:54 We've got a diagnostic tool that I call the Predictor Profiles

15:10 While I had a zero attention to detail, I also had a zero on patience

16:34 If I don't change this about me...

20:11 You are the king or the queen on the throne In your world

20:56 Outwitting the Devil, in my opinion, is the best book Napoleon Hill ever wrote

24:35 The education system that we've been through does not teach an individual how to think

25:23 Resistance fundamentally sits in moments that we're unwilling to experience

27:13 I call the framework the foundations of successful self-leadership

29:26 How do you get people to start taking responsibility for their outcomes and results in life?

32:13 The website is advancedbusinessabilities.com

32:25 People can do that completely free of charge if they go to audit.advancedbusinessabilities.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irvingmike/

Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-business-abilities/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedBusinessAbilities/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChbg_ESzS4rqG-Ew_DJ_utA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advancedbusinessabilities/

Email: mike.irving@advancedbusinessabilities.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 16

Episode Overview:

Welcome to another episode of Becoming Preferred. Today we’re diving into a topic that every entrepreneur and professional eventually grapples with: the difference between building a high-income career and building true, lasting independence.

Our guest today is a master of the systems behind success. Ron Kmetovicz is a seasoned engineer with roots at Hewlett-Packard and Stanford, but he’s also a powerhouse entrepreneur and investor who has spent decades distilling complex financial principles into a blueprint for freedom.

He is the author of Ghost Money: The Pathway to Financial Independence. Today, he’s here to show us how to stop trading time for dollars and start building "Ghost Money"— that invisible, compounding engine that works for you while you sleep. Whether you're looking to scale your first business or you're planning your legacy, Ron’s engineering approach to wealth is exactly what you need to take full control of your financial future. Join me for my conversation with Ron Kmetovicz.

Guest Bio:

Ron Kmetovicz is a seasoned engineer, entrepreneur, investor and financial mentor with a passion for empowering the next generation. Holding a BSEE from The Pennsylvania State University and a MSEE from Santa Clara University, complemented by business training at Hewlett-Packard and Stanford, Ron built a dynamic career at the Ionosphere Research Lab, Goodyear Aerospace, and Hewlett-Packard before launching multiple successful businesses.

A proud husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he brings decades of real-world experience to Ghost Money: The Pathway to Financial Independence. At 78, Ron remains an avid mountain biker, hiker, and traveler, embodying the energy and independence he inspires in readers. His mission? To guide young people away from waiting for handouts and toward building their own dynamic financial futures.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://ghostmoneythebook.com/
2. Product Link: https://ghostmoneythebook.com/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:41 I was off to get my engineering degree at Penn State

08:38 You've written a book called Ghost Money and coined the term Ghost Money

09:28 When you build that kind of structure in your life where you're not dependent on a paycheck to paycheck, single revenue stream, you're on your way to financial independence

12:23 Long term investing for me is something I've just personally done for 50 years

17:07 Behavior is the key word

18:51 A couple of failures early on in life are good for you

23:49 It's the exposure to life's circumstance and the ability to see yourself in those circumstance...

24:45 When you grow up in a single revenue stream family you're learning survival tactics

29:18 I think there's a difference between good debt and bad debt

33:19 Health is the foundation, the rest is the enjoyment

36:32 I do believe that there is good money to be made if you know how to do it, and if you're disciplined to do it

40:54 My take on investing is invest in only those things that you understand

44:44 The book is called Ghost Money, the Pathway to Financial Independence

44:55 We've got the website at GhostMoneythebook.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-k-34218017/

X: https://x.com/GhostMoneyEdu

Email: ron@ghostmoneythebook.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 13

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast for entrepreneurs and professionals who are tired of being an option and are ready to become the preferred provider in the markets they serve.

Our guest today is a man who doesn't just build businesses; he builds ecosystems of opportunity. Reed Nyffeler is the Co-Founder and CEO of Signal, a global security powerhouse that he scaled from a local startup into a massive franchise network spanning hundreds of locations.

But Reed isn't your typical 'grind-until-you-break' CEO. He is a lifelong entrepreneur who believes that a business should serve your life—not consume it. Through his books Lead Exponentially and Transform Through Purpose, he teaches leaders how to step out of the daily whirlwind and into a role of true stewardship.

Today, we’re going to deconstruct how he professionalized a fragmented industry, why he’s obsessed with lowering the barrier of entry for the next generation of leaders, and how you can stop being a 'superhero' in your business so you can finally start being a leader. Join me for my conversation with Reed Nyffeler.

Guest Bio:

Reed Nyffeler is a lifelong entrepreneur with a passion for developing the next generation of leaders, finding solutions, and implementing growth strategies. Reed is the CEO and founder of Signal, a fast-growing, industry-leading security services franchisor with a mission to provide peace of mind to pursue passion in life. Reed also founded Filtergo, a national HVAC filter replacement service designed to simplify air care for businesses and Framebrand, a franchise development company that helps franchise brands scale more effectively. He is the author of Transform through Purpose: Your Path to Living an Authentic and Intentional Life.

Grounded in faith, Reed has learned to identify his priorities and live with purpose in every area of his life. He carefully balances his professional aspirations with time spent enjoying and connecting with his happy, thriving family of six.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://reednyffeler.com/
2. Website: https://www.teamsignal.com/
3. Product Link: https://reednyffeler.com/#book

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:10 Always trying to find a better way to solve a problem

03:08 I'm going to find a solution and live with the positive and negative consequences

05:33 Whoever you are blaming owns your decision

06:42 I think if you blame somebody else, you disempower yourself

07:11 That ties back to my book Lead Exponentially actually

09:17 If you don't bring the energy to the business, it will either take energy from you or it won't require any energy

11:48 You talk about the six month test

14:41 Once you're an entrepreneur and you figure out your business, you figure out a way to communicate the vision so it's not lost

15:33 30 minute blocks are an appropriate cadence

19:00 Everything starts with the mindset

21:23 It was designed not working around the problems, but designing the experience around the technology

22:21 In the era of artificial intelligence, authenticity is the currency

25:08 What's the thing that only I can do in this business?

27:13 Everything we fill our time with, it's at the expense of something else, so make sure it's worth that expense

30:48 The purpose is consistent, the application is what changes

33:25 Let's talk about generational impact over revenue

37:19 Baby boomers, they wanted the most amount of income for their time

43:25 What needs to change here, and how can I use technology to do that disruption?

43:30 The book is called Lead Exponentially, Your Path to Developing Authentic and Intentional Leaders

43:56 You have the ability to define your future

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reednyffeler/

LinkedIn Business: http://linkedin.com/company/teamsignal/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamSignalFG/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TeamSignalFG/

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Vxli8ajETu4LBAezHDwms

Email: rnyffeler@teamsignal.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 14

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we talk to the leaders who aren’t just playing the game, they are redefining it. We all want to reach the summit of our careers, but how many of us lose ourselves on the climb? Today’s guest has mastered the art of scaling mountains, literally and figuratively, without losing his peace of mind.

Saahil Mehta is a global citizen, a serial entrepreneur managing businesses across two continents, and a success coach for the world's most ambitious leaders. He is an author, a keynote speaker, and a passionate mountaineer who has taken the lessons learned in the thin air of the Himalayas and applied them to the high-stakes world of multimillion-dollar business.

Through his 'Break Free' system and his work with Stakeholder Centered Leadership, Saahil helps entrepreneurs unlock their ultimate potential. His mission is simple: to show you how to lead with total clarity, nurture meaningful relationships, and live what he calls a 'Zero Regret' life.

He’s here to show us how to climb faster while staying healthier. Join me for my conversation with Saahil Mehta.

Guest Bio:

Saahil Mehta is a global citizen, serial entrepreneur, author, keynote speaker, success coach for ambitious leaders, and a passionate mountaineer. Balancing businesses across two continents, family, and passions has taught him firsthand the challenges ambitious leaders face. He helps leaders unlock their potential and live a zero regret life with ultimate clarity and peace of mind.

Saahil believes that true success is holistic: climbing your summits faster while staying healthy and nurturing meaningful relationships, a balance that often feels out of reach. His coaching combines his Break Free system with tools from Marshall Goldsmith’s Stakeholder Centered Leadership and conscious communication practices to boost clarity, momentum, and team performance. He also shares leadership lessons from the mountains to inspire others to reach their personal and professional peaks.

Saahil has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs and leaders across 20+ countries, guiding multimillion-dollar businesses through coaching, workshops, keynotes, and retreats. Global brands and leadership networks trust him to deliver insights and tools that inspire lasting transformation.

Saahil's mission is simple: to help ambitious leaders lead with clarity, redefine success, unlock their potential, and live a zero regret life.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://www.saahilmehta.com/
2. Product Link: https://www.saahilmehta.com/work-with-me/
3. Book Link: https://amzn.in/d/gsmcsMK

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:55 You created what you call the Zero Regret Framework

05:49 Rich has many definitions, but I only focused on the wealth rich

07:31 I came across this book by Hal Elrod, The Miracle Morning

11:34 How does that decluttering process start?

13:03 I started replacing 'need' with 'want'

15:34 There's a lovely exercise I can share

18:04 What I love about what you're saying is you realize there's also different areas of decluttering

20:35 He talked about how he didn't buy anything for a year

24:12 It was just about getting comfortable in my own skin

24:58 If you don't detach before you declutter, you will have regret

25:27 When I started saying no to these things, it's because the yeses on the other side were far more important for me

30:20 How many of us share the same definition of success?

31:59 What are you carrying in your backpack as you go up these mountains?

34:01 How do you make it bite size so it's chewable

35:34 The disease that people are suffering from today...

38:18 I was a people pleaser

40:44 A lot of people think you declutter and life is going to be great

42:14 Most people find utility in something when it's about to be thrown away

42:31 www.saahilmehta.com/success

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saahilmehta/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saahilmehtaofficial

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/saahilmehta

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SaahilMehtaOfficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saahilmehtaofficial/

Webinar – The Exponential Success Blueprint by Saahil Mehta:

https://www.saahilmehta.com/webinars/the-exponential-success-blueprint/

Email: saahil@saahilmehta.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 13

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast dedicated to helping you move from being an option to being the preferred choice in your industry.

If you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or a professional, you know the market is saturated. The only thing that truly differentiates you isn't your product; it’s your story. How clearly you tell it determines your entire ceiling for growth. That’s why I am thrilled to welcome a man who is the master architect behind some of the world's most influential narratives. Our guest today is Bill Blankschaen, the founder and Chief Story Architect of StoryBuilders.

Bill is a New York Times Bestselling writer, and his work impacts millions. His client roster reads like a masterclass in influence: we’re talking John C. Maxwell, Kevin Harrington from Shark Tank, Michael Hyatt, Zig Ziglar's family, and countless corporate leaders and successful business coaches. They all go to Bill to refine the single most valuable asset they have: their narrative.

Bill and his team craft books and learning experiences that turn ideas into greater impact, greater influence, and significantly greater income.

He’s here today to discuss the roadmap laid out in his new book, Your Story Advantage: A Proven Path to Maximize Your Impact, Influence, & Income. Join me for my conversation with Bill Blankschaen.

Guest Bio:

Bill is the founder and Chief Story Architect of StoryBuilders, a creative team of storytellers who share his passion for helping people live a story worth telling and serving them with excellence in genuine, high-trust relationships.

StoryBuilders tells stories that make the world a better place by creating compelling books and learning experiences that turn ideas into greater impact, influence, and income.

A New York Times Bestselling writer, Bill and his team work with a variety of influencers like John C. Maxwell and Maxwell Leadership, Kevin Harrington from Shark Tank, Lewis Howes, Michael Hyatt (Full Focus), Rory and AJ Vaden, Zig Ziglar and family, Jeff Allen, Stu McLaren, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, business coaches and consultants, political figures, cultural voices, athletes, comedians, fitness gurus, psychologists, and even faith leaders at some of the largest churches in America.

The books, resources, and experiences they have created have already impacted millions of people—and they’re just getting started!

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://mystorybuilders.com/
2. Product Link: https://amzn.to/47JMfiy

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:27 I can sit down and blow through a book in a matter of hours

04:49 Your breakthrough begins when you start with your story

07:02 That's why I like to lean into what I created called the storytelling structure

08:45 Your message, whatever it is that you're sharing, is about you, but it is not for you

10:10 We like to say that we tell stories that make the world a better place

10:40 As I like to say, if you want to elevate, you have to collaborate

12:59 I call it the confidence trap

16:48 Once you get clarity, then develop it out, and then monetize it from there

18:21 The amount of information in the world is doubling every day now

20:44 What's a typical, average process?

22:23 We believe every story matters, and every story is different and unique

23:41 The very first question I ask any of these people that we work with when it comes to creating a book...

26:11 We have 6 book starter questions

30:37 Every story is unique, every story is different

33:04 Is it the beginning of an idea or has it actually been fully developed?

36:10 mystorybuilders.com/story

36:25 The book is called Your Story Advantage

36:32 Yourstoryadvantage.com

37:46 I'm strategically at my best when I'm creatively, questioning, connecting and then communicating in the context of my beliefs

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billblankschaen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestorybuilders/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mystorybuilder

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my_storybuilders/

Email: bill@mystorybuilders.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 12Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we talk to the leaders and visionaries who refuse to settle for 'good enough.' Today, we’re tackling a psychological trap that captures thousands of high-performing professionals every single year. It’s called 'The Dependence Dilemma'. That invisible ceiling of financial obligations and the false sense of security that keeps brilliant people stuck in survival mode.

Our guest today is a man who didn't just break that ceiling; he shattered it. He started in the classroom as a high school math teacher, crunching numbers just to make ends meet. But he decided to stop playing it safe and started playing it big.

That shift led him to found a direct sales empire that has cleared over a billion dollars in global sales. He is a world-renowned philanthropist, a cancer survivor who turned his battle into a multi-million-dollar research mission, and the author of the transformative new book, Life of Your Dreams.

He’s here to show us that the gap between where you are and where you want to be isn't a matter of luck—it’s a matter of mindset and seven specific, transformative steps. Join me for my conversation with Mark Pentecost.

Guest Bio:

Mark Pentecost went from being a high school teacher to becoming a billionaire, a nationally-recognized philanthropist, and a world-renowned thought leader.

From founding a direct sales company that has surpassed over a billion dollars in sales globally, to surviving cancer (and donating millions of dollars toward cancer research along the way), Mark knows just how precious life is and has dedicated his own life to helping other people achieve their dreams.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://pentecostgroup.com/our-story/
2. Product Link: https://pentecostgroup.com/life-of-your-dreams-book/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:50 In your new book, Life of Your Dreams

03:04 I was one of those guys always reading a book

05:29 He said, if you don't do something different, in 20 years, you're going to be doing the same thing with the same issues

08:19 My daughter had come and said, D ad, we've got to tell your story

11:18 I didn't know I was an entrepreneur until later in life

12:55 If you're not happy then nobody around you is happy

16:41 He (my grandpa) would say, Mark, you can't force a horse to drink, but you can salt the oats

17:11 I have a whole chapter on Say It and See it

19:22 Being a CEO was like a head coach

21:01 I decided to live on the offence, and that changed everything

23:33 I would start naming our issues

25:00 I realized sometimes my greatest strength was my greatest weakness

27:39 Do you have a rudder on your ship or is the wind just blowing you wherever you go?

29:37 My point today is if you really want something, there's ways to do it

29:55 in the book, I call it Grit-Q. What is, I don't care about your IQ, what's your Grit-Q?

30:58 I think dreaming is like a muscle, the more you dream, the bigger it gets

33:17 Life's full of pivots

34:50 I always say the dream you're most proud, is the one you're afraid to say out loud

36:12 You know, the scariest day and the best day of my life was the day I resigned and walked out

38:41 But when's enough, enough?

42:22 You've got this, but you've got to get in the game

43:51 The book is called Life of Your Dreams

44:05 The website pentecostgroup.com

44:21 We started Impact Professionals which is like Netflix for entrepreneurs

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbpentecost/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.pentecost.14

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themarkpentecost/?hl=en

Email: pent@pentecostgroup.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 11

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast that arms you with the strategies to stop chasing and start attracting your ideal clients! I’m your host, Michael Vickers, and if you're a business professional or entrepreneur, you know the struggle: you have an incredible service, but cutting through the noise to establish yourself as the trusted authority feels impossible.

Today, we are tackling the single most powerful B2B platform: LinkedIn. It’s time to stop using your profile as a dusty online resume and start transforming it into a definitive lead generation engine. Our guest and his team have cracked the code on building genuine authority and measurable revenue through a high-conversion LinkedIn strategy. He's here to share the secrets to becoming the preferred provider in your niche.

We’re diving into everything: from the critical shift your profile must make, to the high-converting framework for direct messaging, and Shay's simple, actionable advice you can implement today.

Get ready to take notes, because this episode is how you master the art of B2B LinkedIn. Join me for my conversation with Shay Thieberg!

Guest Bio:

Shay is the Co-Founder of MAIA Digital - a LinkedIn Marketing Agency. Specializing in LinkedIn marketing, Shay holds a Masters degree in Social Psychology & Decision-Making. Shay is among 30 Global LinkedIn Certified Experts and Faculty members at Reichmann University where he teaches “B2B Marketing for Tech”.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://team-maia.com/
2. Product Link: https://team-maia.com/b2b-linkedin-strategy/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:31 That was a lesson that I learned by myself that I can control my own life and path

05:21 My ADHD is my superpower

07:43 LinkedIn picked me

10:07 So, we're calling it the LinkedIn trifecta

11:33 The only thing that I did is post valuable insightful tips, hacks, and content for people to be able to use

17:16 I'm calling it T to B: Trust to Business

18:43 He wrote the post, I'm riding his wave, but I'm writing a thoughtful comment

23:00 I built a program that analyzes your entire LinkedIn analytics

24:37 And it's got to be authentic and you've got to be transparent with it

25:58 Stop thinking about posting content and start thinking about sharing your thoughts

28:58 I'm also a certified psychologist

34:36 People want to purchase, they don't want to be sold

38:10 The main two mistakes that people actually do...

39:21 Try to diversify your content because eventually people buy from people

41:17 I'm measuring my LinkedIn success, my ROL (Return On LinkedIn) by the amount of messages that I'm getting in my inbox

46:30 The website is team-maia.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shay-thieberg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAIA.DIGITAL.LINKEDIN

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maia-digital

TikTok: @maiadigital_

Instagram: @team.maia.linkedin

LinkedIn Post Ideas & Examples: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/30-linkedin-posts-ideas-examples-shay-thieberg/

Email: shay@team-maia.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 9

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we help you become preferred in the markets you serve. If you thought the flower business was quaint, slow, or low-tech, get ready for a wake-up call. Our guest today is Michael Jacobson, CEO of French Florist. He didn't just take over an old business; he engineered a dramatic transformation. Starting from a struggling $600,000 operation, he built a high-performance franchise model that now generates millions in annual revenue and triples the profitability of traditional flower shops. Michael’s mastery is the fusion of timeless artistry with modern operational technology.

In this episode, Michael is going to share his framework on how to spot a broken business model ready for 10x growth and how to design a high-tech performance franchise that protects quality while maximizing margins.

If you’re ready to learn how to apply disruptive tech and scalable systems to any industry, old or new, you’ve come to the right place. Join me for my conversation with Michael Jacobson.

Guest Bio:

What’s possible in one of the world’s oldest industries. Under Michael Jacobson's leadership, French Florist has transformed the traditional flower shop model by putting technology, innovation, and operational excellence at the heart of its franchise system. The results speak for themselves: French Florist franchise locations generate triple the revenue of standard flower shops—while operating at higher margins.

With a career spanning entrepreneurship, investment, and leadership, Michael is passionate about helping the next generation of business owners succeed through entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA). He brings a fresh perspective to how small business ownership can be reinvented for the modern age, leveraging digital tools, streamlined operations, and strong brand strategy to unlock sustainable growth.

Michael’s mission is simple: to empower franchise owners with a proven system that blends timeless beauty with cutting-edge innovation. Whether speaking about the future of franchising, how technology reshapes consumer-facing industries, or why flowers are a surprisingly powerful business opportunity, Michael shares candid insights that inspire entrepreneurs to think bigger and build smarter.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://www.frenchflorist.com
2. Product Link: https://frenchfloristfranchise.com/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:53 I found that intersection between how to live a purposeful life and a life full of intentionality

09:08 We're in the business of love

10:02 You've coined a phrase, entrepreneurship through acquisition and creative playbook

12:27 We want to build something for the world that's kind of fun and cool

19:33 It was really cool, just solving actual real pain points

20:01 The root of everything is how do we enhance the client experience?

25:16 As a franchisor, our primary responsibility is creating a community of owners

26:49 95% of startups fail

27:43 What I look for is what's your why?

29:23 How do you avoid getting distracted by shiny objects?

30:35 Saying no is more important than saying yes

31:39 Tom Peters, who's the management guru, who wrote In Search of Excellence

34:56 What we want to do from a feelings perspective, is just help remind people that no reason is the best reason

36:05 What's the single, most valuable lesson that you learned from scaling French florist?

36:32 My biggest job right now is to ensure that we have the brightest minds in our organization

36:48 The website's frenchflorist.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrichardjacobson/

LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/french-florist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frenchflorist

Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/frenchflorist/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/french-florist-los-angeles

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frenchflorist/

Email: michael@frenchflorist.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 9

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we focus on the mindset and strategies that help you become preferred in the markets you serve.

Our guest today has built a legacy on that very concept. For over 30 years, he co-founded and grew 1-800-DENTIST, a company that generated over one billion dollars in revenue by solving a simple, painful customer problem. He's an expert in making a brand remarkable.

But here's the kicker: He’s spent the last decade distilling that business success into a personal superpower that anyone can learn.

Fred Joyal is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Superbold: From Under-Confident to Charismatic in 90 Days.

Fred has the rare experience of both conquering a niche industry and teaching the mindset to repeat that process. Get ready to learn how to inject boldness into your business, your team, and your life. Join me for my conversation with Fred Joyal.

Guest Bio:

Fred Joyal is the co-founder of Futuredontics, the parent company of 1-800-DENTIST, which, over 30 years, generated over $1 billion in revenue. He is currently a business advisor and keynote speaker. His latest book, Superbold: From Under-Confident to Charismatic in 90 Days, is an Amazon and Wall Street Journal bestseller. He is also the author of two books for the dental industry, Everything is Marketing: The Ultimate Strategy for Dental Practice Growth, and Becoming Remarkable: How to Create a Dental Practice Everyone Talks About.

Fred has been a keynote speaker for his industry for over 15 years, and now speaks on the power of boldness and how anyone can harness it to radically increase their success and fulfillment in life. His humble brags are he once beat Sir Richard Branson in chess and was also a question on Jeopardy.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://www.fredjoyal.com
2. Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Superbold-Under-Confident-Charismatic-90-Days/dp/1544523076

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:25 I got introduced to the advertising world by a friend of mine who was a storyboard artist

05:49 When you create a great culture, the employees sustain it

08:27 We were smart about the advertising, but the marketing side was to create that first impression

09:26 With any business, you've got to identify the problem

09:37 That's why the title of my first book was Everything is Marketing

11:08 The more senses you can employ in the experience, the better the experience

11:16 Let's talk about your latest book, your bestseller, SuperBold

13:44 We fear making mistakes, we fear failure, we fear embarrassment, we fear rejection

15:08 The bolder you are, the more you discover unexpected things

18:01 When do you know you've really gotten as bold as as you want to be?

19:17 I was with a group of business people and we had rented one of Richard Branson's islands

26:15 When you're building your boldness muscle, you have to control the intensity of it

28:15 Human connection is going to become your most powerful future proofing tool

30:55 Boldness is such an essential component of it (social media)

33:42 Website is fredjoyal.com

33:45 The Boldness Quiz

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredjoyal/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realfredjoyal

X: https://x.com/fredjoyal

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FredJoyal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fredjoyal/

Podcast: https://www.fredjoyal.com/podcast

Email: fredjoyal@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 8

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast dedicated to helping you reach your highest professional potential. Today, we're talking about the ultimate business credential: the high-impact non-fiction book.

Our guest has mastered the art of turning expertise into intellectual property. He's a #1 national bestselling author himself, a Harvard-trained scholar, and the CEO of a firm that helps public figures and top professionals land deals with major publishers. He is the person leading literary agents and corporate leaders call when the message must be perfect.

Kevin Anderson is here to reveal the secrets to leveraging your knowledge. He'll show you why a quality book is the single most effective way to elevate your authority, attract premium clients, and transform your business model.

If you have a powerful message that needs to be heard, Kevin is the bridge between your expertise and the bestseller list. Let's learn how to make your book the foundation of your legacy. Join me for my conversation with Kevin Anderson.

Guest Bio:

Kevin is an accomplished ghostwriter, #1 national-bestselling author, editor, and entrepreneur with a wealth of industry knowledge and professional experience. He has worked with numerous bestselling and award-winning authors, prominent literary agents, Big-5 publishers, and a long list of public figures, successful professionals, and aspiring authors. He is also a contributing author by invitation to Publishers Weekly’sBook Publishing Almanac 2022: A Master Class in the Art of Bringing Books to Readers and the author of the #2 Wall Street Journal, #1 Barnes & Noble, and #1 Amazon bestseller, PhDone: A Professional Dissertation Editor’s Guide to Writing Your Doctoral Thesis and Earning Your PhD.

Both a creative writer and a scholar, Kevin earned his master’s degree at Harvard University with a concentration in literary theory and criticism. While at Harvard, he studied under Poet Laureate and critical theorist, Professor Michael D. Jackson, and honed the literary criticism skills upon which he built his career in the book-writing and editing business.

As CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Kevin oversees all operations at our firm. He enjoys working closely with clients and makes himself readily available by phone and email throughout the planning, ghostwriting, editing, and publishing process. He is an invaluable resource and dedicates his time and expertise generously to ensure our clients receive the best quality service in the industry.

When he’s not collaborating with authors, agents, and publishers, you may find him reading Nabokov, Cormac McCarthy, or Proust; surfing the northeastern shores; composing music; fishing for striped bass; debating philosophy; brewing Belgian-style beer; wakeboarding with his family and neighbors; or enjoying the arts, culture, and food of a faraway place. Of all life’s pleasures, Kevin most enjoys the adventures he shares with his wife and their four children.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://www.ka-writing.com/
2. Product Link: https://www.ka-writing.com/book-coaching/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:29 The other misconception that a lot of people have with ghost writing...

05:59 We meet authors wherever they're at

07:43 It's not having a bestseller for bestseller's sake

09:09 Authority that comes with being a published author

11:01 From a credibility point of view for consultants, for coaches, entrepreneurs, it's a great lead in for that

13:38 I never advise clients, especially in the nonfiction space, that the goal should be making money on book sales

18:15 Nothing says authority or expertise like a book

21:02 Audio books have become extremely popular

22:34 The most important thing is that you have a really great product in the end and that you've done it the right way

23:13 You're not going to grow if you don't learn to leverage

25:07 Studies that show that 80% of of Americans have thought about writing a book, but less than 1% ever finish one

27:15 There's a lot of legal issues when it comes to using AI to write a book

29:30 In terms of writing good books, it has to have something to say that's meaningful

30:35 You can never edit yourself

33:30 The website's ka-writing.com

34:20 Never being afraid to try something new, never being afraid to fail, I think that's been a guiding principle through my entrepreneurial journeys in general

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghostwritereditorkevinanderson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevinAndersonAssociates

X: https://x.com/KAWriting

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kawriting/

Email: info@ka-writing.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 7

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we equip you to lead with influence, not just authority. If you’re an entrepreneur or business professional whose growth is stalled by employee turnover, poor communication, or the sheer struggle of transitioning from a high-performing doer to an effective leader, then you're going to enjoy this episode.

Today, we are happy to welcome Courtney Ramsey, a renowned leadership development expert, speaker, and consultant who has spent two decades transforming companies.

Courtney's mission is simple: to stop the bleeding caused by low engagement and high turnover by giving leaders the concrete communication and people skills they desperately need. She doesn't just talk theory; she delivers tangible, behavioral shifts that save companies millions. Get ready to learn how to master the art of tough feedback, delegate strategically, and truly lead the team that's destined to become your dream team. Join me for my conversation with Courtney Ramsey.

Guest Bio:

Courtney Ramsey is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the Learning & Development and Human Resources fields. Courtney brings a wealth of knowledge to audiences with her experiential programs that have a real impact on business results and inspire change.

Over the years, she has successfully trained tens of thousands of associates in various areas such as leadership, business management, conflict resolution, communication skills, and operations helping companies like JCPenney, Toyota, Populus Financial Group, and Zales Corporation save millions of dollars.

Courtney is the author of the book, Share Your Genius: 35 Tips to Create Training That Transforms. In it, she provides trainers with the tools they need to create engaging and effective training sessions.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://courtneyramseyspeaks.com/
• Product Link: https://courtneyramseyspeaks.com/services/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:48  Professional development, helping people be better, that's what I love

05:50  No one's brave enough to have the tough conversation

10:32  I still think there's a pretty big bias out there in terms of promoting women up

12:21  There's really no defining line anymore of what is personal, what is work, it's so blended

13:47  You call this taking off the cape moment

15:57  Many leaders struggle to delegate because their fear of failure or inefficiency

18:17  That inverted pyramid approach to where the leader is essentially at the bottom...

19:58  You've got a popular TEDx talk calledWhy We Hit the Snooze on the Conversations that Matter

22:30  Is there a distance that leaders ought to maybe maintain and keep in order to be able to have that firewall

25:16  I call that setting your intention and saying your intention out loud

27:01  We do still see those people who don't quite get that things have changed in the last 20, 30 years

29:26  ChatGPT and the other AIs are pretty decent at being leadership coaches

30:37  So, every generation has its own learning style

32:30  You speak on the need to speak up and say it

33:47  Call the elephant out in the room

35:10 The one thing I would encourage people to start doing today to make a huge impact on your leadership is to stop avoiding the uncomfortable

36:34 The website is courtneyramseyspeaks.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clramsey/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CourtneyRamseySpeaks/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_cramsey/

Email: Courtney@CourtneyRamseySpeaks.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 6

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we help you climb the revenue ladder and become the preferred provider in the markets you serve.

Today, we're tackling a challenge every modern business leader faces: You have a passionate purpose, but does it actually move the needle? What if your brand could prove that activism and social impact don't just inspire; they reliably sell, grow market share, and reduce customer churn? Our guest is here to show you exactly how to do it.

Neil Callanan is the founder of LooseGrip and the brilliant mind behind the Grasp Impact Framework. His work sits at the critical intersection of marketing, activism, and analytics. He doesn't just talk about having a mission; he equips you with the tools to measure what truly matters.

Get ready to learn how the most impactful brands are connecting their values to tangible business growth. Join me for my conversation with Neil Callanan.

Guest Bio:

Neil Callanan is the founder of LooseGrip and the creator of the Grasp Impact Framework, a system that helps mission-driven brands connect storytelling with measurable outcomes. Since 2009, he has guided organizations from global giants like Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s to emerging value-focused companies, showing how to align their campaigns with tangible business growth and impact.

Neil’s work sits at the intersection of marketing, activism, and analytics. Where most teams drown in disconnected data or rely on anecdotes, he helps leaders find the middle ground—inspiring teams by turning data into stories, and stories into metrics that stand up in boardrooms.

His goal is simple: equip leaders with tools to measure what truly matters so they can do more of it.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://loosegrip.net
• Website: https://www.graspyourimpact.com/
• Product Link: https://loosegrip.net/services/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

05:03  A little bit of intention and a little bit of luck

06:41  There are stories that need to be told

09:12 When we're figuring out whether a client's a good fit for our framework

10: 56 When people are connected with our brand, they buy more of our stuff

11:48  Most companies get stuck by not starting

14:11 They're kind of topic agnostic

15:20 I know you hate spreadsheets and you kind of pride yourself on hating spreadsheets

15:51  What would the perfect experience be?

19:20  I chair the board of a nonprofit called the I Am Able Foundation

23:22 We love to talk about data in the form of Legos

25:00 If you can turn that data into a story, I think you can connect with your audience a whole lot more

26:37 If I could know anything, what would I want to know?

30:04  Why did I choose Big Brother?

30:56  I think a lot of people are really inherently altruistic and they actually want to help other folks

33:24  If they get the value out of it, and we get to bring our best selves to the project, that's the win

34:44  You talk about writing through grief

34:55  My wife and I lost our son Shea, he was 4 1/2

35:43  I wrote a lot about the journey

42:12  AI has not yet replaced us entirely, but I think it has gotten a lot better at doing the first 60% of the work

43:13  Websites are graspyourimpact and we got loosegrip

43:23 On LinkedIn as well

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilcallanan/

Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/loosegrip/

X: https://x.com/loosegrip

Email: Neil@LooseGrip.net

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 5

Episode Overview:

Welcome to the Becoming Preferred Podcast. Today, I am bringing you a special replay of one of my favorite conversations, and the timing couldn't be better. We just celebrated Thanksgiving a few days ago. For many of us, it was a time to gather with friends and family, share a meal, and reflect on our blessings.

But here's what I've come to believe. Gratitude isn't meant to be a once a year event. It's a practice, a daily discipline that shapes how we see the world, and how we move through it. Every morning as part of my journaling routine, I'm prompted with a simple question, what am I grateful for? And I've discovered something profound in that practice.

When you start your day with gratitude, you position yourself to see abundance. Not because your circumstances magically change, but because your perspective does. Now here's the thing. Gratitude is easy when life is good, but what about when you're in the middle of a storm? What about when the diagnosis is devastating? When the relationship is fractured? When the business is struggling? Can gratitude still work then?

That's exactly what my guest, Sandie Eggers helps us understand. Sandie learned the transformational power of gratitude during one of life's hardest seasons, her husband's terminal illness. And what she discovered wasn't just a coping mechanism, it was a way to navigate adversity with strength, clarity, and even joy.

So whether you're riding high from a wonderful Thanksgiving, or you're carrying a heavy burden into the season, I believe this conversation will meet you right where you are. Gratitude isn't about ignoring your struggles. It's about finding solid ground in the middle of them. Enjoy this conversation with guest, Sandie Eggers.

Guest Bio:

“Do nothing and be dead in a few days,” were the words Sandie Eggers heard from her husband’s surgeon, words that began her greatest season of challenge to date.

The two main things that enabled Sandie to weather this life storm were God and the transformational power of gratitude. Sandie is passionate about helping others by sharing what she’s learned so that they, too, can better navigate through their own life storms.

In addition to having authored the book, “Live Boldly and Embrace Joy” about her life-altering experience, Sandie also shares her knowledge through online courses, webinars, and workshops. She speaks to civic, religious, and corporate groups.

FUN FACT:

Sandie now lives in the low country. By God’s grace and blessing, she has achieved one of her personal goals: living in a place where the only “white stuff” she sees is beach sand.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.yourlifeabundant.com
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Each-Day-Joy-Laughing-ebook/dp/B00LK9WKVC

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:37 The greatest adversity that I'd gone through was the terminal illness of my husband

05:55 While we couldn't control this monster called cancer….

07:11 It's easy when we're living in an environment like we're living

09:38 Your work centers a lot on fostering an attitude of gratitude

11:12 You talk about gratitude being a practice

12:12 There's some specific techniques that you can use when you're a pessimist

14:09 You can begin to see the good out of a very bad situation

14:24 Declare an International Be Kind to (Fill in Your Name) Day!

15:40 Having gratitude to something outside yourself

18:48 How does the mechanism of gratitude get us out of that place, that negative space?

20:40 There's physical benefits, though, that come from having gratitude as well

24:06 How can we then cultivate gratitude, not only for the good things in our lives

25:40 Hey, thanks so much, I appreciate you

26:22 Remember that you’re not alone

27:55 Your book, Embrace Each Day with Joy

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/your-life-abundant

Email: sandra.eggers@protonmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 4

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we dissect the strategies and mindset of those who are not just successful, but irreplaceable in their markets they serve. Today, we have a true master of motivation and persuasion. Our guest is Mike Lipkin, president of Environics and a strategic coach to global CEOs, and the author of 18 books on leadership and high performance, including his latest book, The Potentiator.

What makes Mike’s approach unique is his foundation in deep, social values research. He doesn't just rely on generic platitudes; he uses proprietary data on human behavior to show you exactly how and why people make decisions, trust certain leaders, and choose one provider over others.

For our audience of entrepreneurs and business professionals, Mike is here to help us unlock the ultimate skill: how to create value from thin air, communicate with irresistible conviction, and transform every single conversation into a high-impact, trust-building event.

If you are ready to stop chasing clients and start magnetically attracting opportunities, this is your masterclass. Join me for my conversation with Mike Lipkin.

Guest Bio:

Mike Lipkin helps clients navigate complex change, build strong teams and develop their personal brands/executive presence.

Mike is super-curious about clients’ hopes and dreams. He makes every conversation an uplifting experience. He uses metaphors and models to illuminate key messages. He focuses on immediate actions, while planning long-term strategies. Mike helps his clients tell their authentic story. In short, he excites clients into effective action. He is also always accessible – 24/7/365.

Mike was a senior executive at WPP Advertising for 10 years. In 2002, he founded a joint venture communication and training company with Environics, a leading research house. He is also a strategic coach to CEOs of top tier companies and a marquee keynote speaker, delivering over 50 sessions per year.

Mike is proud of his longstanding coaching relationships with CEOs and senior executives of world-class companies. He has written 18 books on leadership and high performance. He has also grown a multi-million dollar company from scratch. He has received feedback from hundreds of people that he has materially improved their lives.

Mike works with anyone who has a passion for personal evolution. His clients range from leaders of billion dollar multinationals to leaders of small companies. He also works with managers at all levels – individually and in groups.

Mike is a voracious reader of current affairs, personal biographies, and crime fiction. He works out seven days a week on the Peloton and Cross Trainer. He loves to travel with his wife to stylish destinations like Greece, France and Italy. He likes hiking in beautiful places. He mentors young talent and new immigrants to Canada.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.mikelipkin.com/
• Product Link: https://www.mikelipkin.com/books/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:40 I wanted to be a speaker, and yet I also had a stutter

05:47 I got depressed, I literally got clinically depressed

06:29 He wrote a book called Darkness Visible about his experience with depression

06:37 I thought, well, I'm going to write my own book on depression, and I called it Lost and Found, My Journey to Hell and Back

08:38 You need to have a strategy, and the best strategy I can provide anyone is the Ted lasso strategy

09:52 We are living at a time of what I brand EVAC, that's Extreme Volatility, Anxiety, and Chaos

10:15 You Belong Here

10:22 There are four hormones that enables the brain to operate at its best

11:43 Ultimately, dopamine comes from helping others; it's called "the helper's high"

13:29 Woody Allen once said, I've had many problems in my life, and most of them never happened

15:05 Every day without pain is a great day

17:29 I wrote a book called The Potentiator

18:18 I know that the most valuable currency is reciprocation

21:09 I am someone who knows I'm only as good as the people I surround myself with

22:21 The most rewarding words I can ever hear is, Mike, you helped me do things I couldn't have done on my own

25:14 I'll just focus on the 3 key ways to be change ready

27:03 I'm in the process of writing an amazing book right now, it's called By Accident On Purpose

27:20 Things that start as an accident can turn into your life purpose

28:20 Go to YouTube and watch the Steve Jobs Stanford commencement address

28:58 "Food always tastes best when you're hungry." (Warren Buffet)

31:22 Successful executives, they look for the challenge, they believe in their ability to meet the challenge...

33:04 You've got to keep moving forward, even though you may have more than a 2% chance of an excruciating failure...

34:37 Keep on seeing every day as day one, around your ability to develop that muscle

35:41 It's mikelipkin.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelipkin/

(X): https://x.com/mikelipkin

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0wlN49LZjGgnC67s4Vg5CQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike.lipkin/

Email: Mike.Lipkin@environics.ca

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 3

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast dedicated to transforming how you build, scale, and lead your business. Today, we have an entrepreneur whose journey proves that massive growth isn't about working harder; it's about building smarter.

Our guest is Tyler Dunagin, a multifaceted founder, operator, and inventor. His success story is a masterclass in market selection and systemization. He took a historically manual service industry—and transformed it into a scalable, tech-enabled enterprise.

Tyler doesn’t just chase revenue; he builds ecosystems. He focuses on purpose-driven solutions and culture-first leadership.

If you're an entrepreneur looking to escape the "one-person hustle," or a business professional seeking the blueprint for achieving nearly 1000% growth through operational efficiency and an impressive long-term vision, this episode is your strategic guide. Join me for my conversation with Tyler Dunagin.

Guest Bio:

Tyler Dunagin is a seasoned entrepreneur who has built and scaled multiple seven-figure companies, including Turnserv, a platform revolutionizing property turnover processes for the housing industry. His portfolio features brands like ApartmentPainters.com, LiquidLiner.com, and ApartmentFlooring.com, each designed to solve specific operational challenges in single-family and multifamily housing.

With a track record of turning underperforming ventures into profitable enterprises, Tyler combines innovation, patented technology, and scalable systems to drive growth. He also shares his insights on entrepreneurship and market trends through podcasts, interviews, and blogs.

Outside of business, Tyler is a devoted father and Cleveland sports fan who enjoys restoring vintage cars and collecting sports cards with his sons.

Resource Links:

• Website: Dunagincollective
• Product Link: Turnserv

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:36 I've always been doing things as an entrepreneur

04:29 Eventually we were buying houses with these investors and flipping them

05:14 In the moment, it's tough to learn AND do

05:30 I got everything I asked for, and I don't like it at all

08:11 50% of renters move every single year

11:09 I got his blessing and I jumped out of corporate America

14:52 It is really hard to scale a business, to scale beyond one's own hands

15:37 I wanted to find something that was essential to everybody's daily life

18:33 We made it convenient, with a customer journey in mind

21:06 I think the very first thing is you have to understand their why

25:30 Being curious and trying to do something better in general

27:06 Giving them back more meaningful time in their day

28:50 You advise entrepreneurs to keep a visible list of delusional long-term visions

30:51 You can't work on what could be, when you are too overwhelmed by what is

32:08 I think that time lives in the margins

32:48 If it's only monetary, it's short-lived

35:53 You have to, have to, have to, understand where you're going

39:05 The second I'm into something, I'm all in

39:39 I view it more as work-life integration

42:19 The website is dunigancollective.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerdunagin/

Twitter (X): https://x.com/tylerjdunagin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerdunagin/

Email: tdunagin@turnserv.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: Book Michael Vickers

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: Rainmakerdigitalsolutionsrainmakerdigitalsolutions.com

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 2

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast dedicated to uncovering the strategies that make entrepreneurs and professionals the emotional favorite in the markets they serve.

Today, we’re shifting our focus from the boardroom to the hockey rink, but the lessons remain intensely relevant. Our guest today is Allan Kreda, a seasoned journalist with nearly two decades covering finance and the NHL for giants like the Associated Press, the New York Times and Bloomberg News. Allan has mastered the art of extracting the core truth, whether from a quarterly earnings report or a locker room.

He’s here to talk about his latest project: the book, Ken Morrow: Miracle Gold, Four Stanley Cups, and a Lifetime of Islanders Hockey. Morrow is one of the most uniquely accomplished athletes in history, winning the Olympic 'Miracle on Ice' gold, and the Stanley Cup in the same year.

We aren't here just for hockey stories, though. Allan's journey from investigative journalist to co-author provides a blueprint for every professional. Join me for my conversation with Allan Kreda.

Guest Bio:

Allan is a storyteller, author, and speaker who deeply values empathy and connection. Specializing in biographical storytelling, he seeks to ask the right questions and attentively listen to his subjects in order to craft accurate and heartfelt stories that honor their experiences.

Growing up in Brooklyn in the 70s, Allan developed a strong passion for hockey. He fondly recalls attending New York Rangers games with his father and brother, witnessing legendary players like Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield, and Rod Gilbert taking the ice. This formative experience instilled in him a lifelong love for the sport and a commitment to sharing the stories of those who have dedicated their lives to the game.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.allankreda.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Ken-Morrow-Miracle-Lifetime-Islanders/dp/1637276435

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:27 The professor at the time said, well, you've got to do something in the real world

04:51 I've always been about the long game, like long process, practice and process and incremental progress

07:58  What was the core compelling narrative gap that you identified that made this book a necessary project?

10:50  All he did is work at it, and quietly excel

11:22 That was 1980 with the Miracle on Ice

13:55  Memories vary

16:45  You can get involved with that story and then the lessons are learned

18:39  They might not always like it, but they can trust it

21:03 There's no limit to research

22:42 You started by listening, not interviewing

26:50  You kind of know when you have it, and you know when you don't quite have it

29:32 She was going through it with a different eye

31:30  If you're working with someone at a publishing house that's working with you, you're 80% there

32:06  It's like the endless term paper that never ends

34:44  Playing through pain, uncomplaining, and for the team

36:07  Always turning the page, always looking to the next game, thinking long term, not fearing losing

40:24  The perseverance sort of creates moments of happenstance

40:38  True success is really defined by compound persistence and consistency

41:17 The book is called Ken Morrow: Miracle Gold, Four Stanley Cups and a Lifetime of Islander Hockey

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-kreda-6a73942/

X: https://x.com/akreda

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajkreda

Email: akreda@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 1

Episode Overview:

Welcome to Becoming Preferred, the podcast for entrepreneurs and business leaders dedicated to building a life of purpose and prosperity. Today, we have a guest whose journey proves that the most valuable lessons are often learned in the fire. My guest is Bennett Maxwell, a serial entrepreneur who went from door-to-door selling to building a nationwide franchise empire with Dirty Dough. He's a master of turning adversity into a competitive advantage, navigating a high-profile legal battle that ultimately propelled his brand into the national spotlight.

But his story is more than just business. Bennett is an advocate for mental health and believes that true success is about building a business that supports your life, not consumes it. Today, we're talking about how he built a franchise system from the ground up, the critical mindset shifts required for explosive growth, and why he’s now focused on helping other entrepreneurs find their path to financial freedom. Get ready to learn the business playbook from a man who's seen it all. Join me for my conversation with Bennett Maxwell.

Guest Bio:

Bennett Maxwell is an entrepreneur and investor that likes to move fast and grow with other like-minded leaders.

Bennett is a serial entrepreneur, franchise mentor and mental‑health advocate. After exiting multiple companies (including Dirty Dough Cookies), Bennett now helps aspiring entrepreneurs build wealth through franchising while staying mentally resilient.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://bennettmaxwell.com/
• Product Link: https://bennettmaxwell.com/franchise/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:31 I had purchased Dirty Dough with the intent of franchising it

05:54  Even working within an organization, you can still be an intrapreneur

07:19 T he emotion's typically attached with the journey rather than the destination

09:22 A lot of people  are chasing the thing that's going to fix their life

12:21  I've contemplated bankruptcy more days than I want to admit

14:39  I hired really good advisors that had been in the game

17:40  I guess the new mission statement is freedom from constant thought to live a life of ease and gratitude

22:46  I've always been able to do what I need to do whenever I need to do it

25:58  I couldn't fully enjoy it because I could never be present

29:54  Tell everybody what you're doing and try to find really good advisors

34:10 What are your goals?

35:54  it's really hard, I think to start something, because you just don't know what you don't know

38:29 Your website bennettmaxwell.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-maxwell-703717126/

Twitter: https://x.com/bennettmaxwell0?lang=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bennettmaxwell35

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyho7xB9vJbK7lsYCKz0iYw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bennettmaxwell35/?hl=en

Podcast - Deeper Than Dough: https://bennettmaxwell.com/podcast/

Email: bennett@franchiseki.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 36

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast, where we help you become the emotional favorite in your market. Today we are in for a masterclass on a topic that is the very foundation of all business success: marketing. My guest is someone who has spent his entire career at the intersection of brand strategy, consumer behavior, and marketing innovation.

We have the privilege of sitting down with Greg Licciardi. As the Vice President of Sponsorships and Partner Programs at the Association of National Advertisers, the ANA, he works with some of the most influential brands in the world, helping them elevate their campaigns and connect with their audience. With an MBA from Fordham and over a decade of experience as an Adjunct Professor of Marketing, he’s not just a practitioner; he's an educator who understands the principles behind what works. He’s also the author of the new book, The Holy Grail of Marketing. From American Express to Univision, Greg has consistently delivered award-winning results and today he's here to share his hard-won wisdom with all of us. Get ready to rethink how you approach your marketing efforts. Join me for my conversation with Greg Licciardi.

Guest Bio:

Greg Licciardi received his MBA from Fordham University and his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University. He has been an Adjunct Professor of Marketing at Fordham and Seton Hall universities for the past ten years.

As Vice President of Sponsorships and Partner Programs at the ANA, Association of National Advertisers, he consults with leading brands on how to elevate their marketing campaigns using the ANA's vast resources and events. He has also held senior leadership roles at American Express, Univision and Worth Media Group where he has won numerous awards.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://holygrailofmarketing.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Grail-Marketing-Greg-Licciardi/dp/B0F8KP9TNK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4EP267K9ERYG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gylKSSBpgd1EJTYsGOSWvsJ-OmqnSJ8W62eDJe8pD3d7tcz7MXDrpeX9AtE_ziw1KqzF_wMbRCy4EPL2ypRVQq4nYCMnoAOSol0dAEWtqSGlh9vfeJ74nYHuWGWqmlIKw3W-DIs

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:37 This is a really good question because marketing has changed greatly

06:11 Your book is entitled The Holy Grail of Marketing

07:19 I  started researching other companies that were doing it really well

10:06 My goal with the book is to make it the must read modern day marketing book

11:08  I love the whole point of the right message at the right time, with the right individual and in the right environment

12:04  That's the positive side of AI, personalization with authenticity

14:18  How can we stop the customer from burning calories?

16:18 In that chapter I write about how sales and marketing are increasingly converging

21:10 I still teach the four Ps of marketing: Price, Product, Placement, and Promotion

23:30  I write about that in the book. I'm so happy you brought that up...the why

24:24  He calls it, What's your because?

25:30  A lot of today is about storytelling

28:05  Brands can't lose sight of the value of brand purpose

30:26  One campaign doesn't fit all niches

33:02  You also have to be a good networker

35:31  Don't always take the shortcut

36:19  The website is holygrailofmarketing.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greglicciardi/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greglicciardi/

Email: greglicciardi@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 35

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast! Do you ever feel like you've hit a ceiling in your business or career? You're successful, you've got a great team, but there's a nagging feeling that you're capable of more—if only you could get unstuck. Our guest to day understands that feeling better than anyone. He's the founder of Advanced Business Abilities, a coaching company built specifically for established business owners and professionals who are ready to b reak through to that next level of growth without sacrificing their health or their values.

With over two decades of leadership experience—from launching his first business at 21 to managing a national sales force of over 300—he knows the entrepreneurial journey from the ground up. He's ditched the generic, one-size-fits-all approach to coaching in favor of something deeply personal and effective and he brings a refreshingly honest and grounded voice to the conversation, and he's here to help us do the work that actually works. Please join me for my conversation with the founder of Advanced Business Abilities, Mike Irving.

Guest Bio:

Mike Irving is the founder of Advanced Business Abilities, a coaching company designed for established business owners who know they’re capable of more—but haven’t yet found a support system that truly meets them where they are.

With over two decades of leadership experience—from launching his first business at 21 to managing a national sales force of over 300—Mike understands the highs of entrepreneurial success and the hidden costs that often come with it: burnout, disconnection, and stalled progress.

Frustrated by one-size-fits-all coaching programs that glossed over individual nuance, Mike set out to build something different. The result was Advanced Business Abilities: a coaching platform that combines deeply personal insight with practical, strategic execution.

One of the unique aspects of ABA’s methodology is the Success Predictor Profile—a proprietary tool backed by 50+ years of scientific research—that helps easily and efficiently identify a person's strengths, weaknesses, and blindspots and allows ABA to give business owners a custom blueprint for growth, performance, and alignment.

Today, Mike works with owners leading teams of 5 or more, who are not just chasing revenue but want to lead with integrity, improve decision-making, and grow without sacrificing their health or values. His approach resonates with founders who are practical, values-driven, and actively investing in their long-term success.

Whether he’s coaching in a boardroom or speaking on a podcast, Mike brings a refreshingly honest, grounded voice to the leadership conversation—always focused on helping others do the work that actually works.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://advancedbusinessabilities.com/
• Free Discovery Session: https://advancedbusinessabilities.com/individual-sales-coaching/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:36  I found a job that I could learn how to do, going door to door, doing sales and commission only

04:36  What does it take to be successful today?

08:19  If I have resistance within me, that resistance can and will activate resistance in the other person

08:40 You developed the Success Predictor Profile

12:28  It's kind of like looking at a person through the analogy of a helicopter

14:19  Identifying if there are blind spots in general, competency is super important

19:45  One of the things I was very interested in is what you call the psychology of effortless selling

22:11  My definition for sales: Sales is effective communication towards action and commitment

24:59  One of the first questions that I ask every time...

26:15 Those stepping stones are attention, interest, desire, action, and commitment

28:31  It's really the art of the questions

31:19  Really comes down to the person's willingness to be completely open, honest, and transparent

33:16  There's a part of that process that is the result of win-lose thinking

35:02  It's a lie that most people believe, that in order to be successful or earn more money, I have to work harder

36:25  I often call it 'unseen leadership'

37:31  The first thing is to continue to work on yourself

38:14  I've never, ever, in my life, seen an opportunity wandering around on its own

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irvingmike/

Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-business-abilities/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedBusinessAbilities/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChbg_ESzS4rqG-Ew_DJ_utA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advancedbusinessabilities/

Email: mike.irving@advancedbusinessabilities.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 34

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we talk to the people and hear the stories and insights that can help us build better professional and personal lives.

Have you ever wondered what separates a good idea from a truly brilliant one? Or how some companies seem to effortlessly innovate while others struggle to survive? Our guest today has made it his life’s work to answer those very questions.

Today, we're joined by Alan Gregerman, a renowned author, speaker, and consultant who believes we all have the capacity for genius. Alan isn't just about big ideas; he's about unlocking the incredible potential that exists within each of us and the organizations we're a part of. He’s going to share how a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us can lead to breakthroughs we never thought possible.

Whether you're an entrepreneur looking for that next big idea or a business professional trying to foster a culture of innovation, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss. Get ready to rethink how brilliance actually happens and discover the keys to becoming more creative, innovative, and successful than you ever imagined. J oin me for my conversation with Alan Gregerman.

Guest Bio:

Alan Gregerman is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, consultant, teacher, researcher, and community volunteer who is constantly trying to figure out how to unlock the genius in all of us and all of the companies and organizations we work for.

Alan believes that we all have the ability to be way more creative, innovative, and successful than we ever imagined by having a better understanding of ourselves, the world around us, and how brilliance actually occurs.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://alangregerman.com/
• Product Link: https://alangregerman.com/resources/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

05:00  I think it was your first book, The Necessity of Strangers came out in 2013

05:41  The simple notion that 99% of all new ideas are based on somebody's thinking

08:10  We're all innovative if we're curious

09:23  We often think about innovation as you know, who's got a brilliant idea

11:37  I would never start an innovative thinking session in a room with a bunch of people who come in with what they know and their expertise

13:55 I start with purpose

15:02  So, what you've done is you've paid to figure out how to be the best of the worst

16:50  I ask audiences sometimes when I'm speaking, what if Apple got into your business? What would that look like?

19:04  They need to put their best customers at the center of their business, and they need to design around them

23:34  What kind of questions should they be asking to gain truly valuable insights?

24:22 The second is what I call serendipity

25:17 Strangers matter because they think differently than I do and my friends do

27:35 We need to eat our lunch before someone else does

29:06  I don't think being clever and curious costs money

30:39  We're going to get out there and figure out how to be more amazing together

32:23 We can't behave as though the world is going to stand still

37:00  We have to create cultures in which we're open to these ideas and willing to give them a fair test

39:36  The reality is every business can sharpen its pencil

40:12  Releasing a new book called Wisdom of Ignorance

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-gregerman-a33b236/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alangregerman5885

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agregerman/

Blog: https://alangregerman.com/blog/

Email: innovate@venture-works.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 33

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast dedicated to empowering you to become the preferred choice in your industry, your business, and your life. Today we're tackling a topic that is essential for every entrepreneur and business professional striving for significant growth: momentum. We all have ambitious goals, but sometimes the path forward feels muddled by roadblocks, self-doubt, or just plain inertia. How do you consistently take action that truly matters? How do you move forward with genuine clarity and unwavering confidence?

Our guest today is an expert in exactly that. She helps individuals unlock their potential by teaching them how to build and leverage momentum. She's going to share actionable strategies to overcome those persistent roadblocks and propel you towards your most important objectives. Get ready to shift from dreaming to doing, with purpose and power. Please join me in welcoming the incredible Cat Mulvihill!

Guest Bio:

Cat Mulvihill is an acclaimed expert dedicated to helping business professionals and entrepreneurs transform their ambitions into tangible achievements. With a focus on "Using Momentum to Take Meaningful Action Towards the Goals That Matter," Cat empowers her clients to navigate challenges, conquer self-doubt, and consistently move forward with clarity and confidence. She understands the unique pressures faced by leaders and founders, providing practical, actionable strategies to overcome analysis paralysis, leverage small wins, and sustain progress even amidst demanding schedules.

Through her insightful coaching and proven frameworks, Cat equips individuals to identify their true priorities, dismantle roadblocks, and build unstoppable momentum towards their most significant personal and professional aspirations. Discover more about her work and how you can build your own momentum at CatMulvihill.com.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://catmulvihill.com
• Product Link: https://catmulvihill.com/work-with-me/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:12 In 2024, I finally was diagnosed with ADHD

05:17 This idea of the Momentum Formula and that there are three different roadblocks and then there are three different approaches

07:32 You've got Method, Mode and Mindset

10:14 A lot of people know what to do, but they don't actually have a method or a plan in place

11:57 I call it BEEP: Biology Expectations, Environment, and Preferences

12:39 We all naturally either meet or resist expectations

16:18 I think where traditional advice starts to fail us is that they don't look at the why not

19:38 How important is it to have a clarity of your values and your mindset and linking that behavior to values?

22:45 I believe we all have blind spots

26:44 There was still a cost because the indecision was a cost

28:40 Over time, your preferences may change

30:32 H ow do I make it shiny and new?

32:36 I have actually reached out and said to another person, Hey, do you wanna be an accountability buddy on this?

34:47 I think that it's really important to embrace discernment

36:13 Your intuition's really quiet and fear is really loud

37:37 Are there specific practices you recommend for revitalization?

40:20 When you start to focus on some of those foundational habits...

43:25 Stay curious and to sort of step into the role of an observer

45:02 The website's catmulvihill.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mulvihillcatherine/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/catmulvihill

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/catmulvihill

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catmulvihill

Email: connect@catmulvihill.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 32

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast, the show dedicated to helping you achieve more and reach your highest potential. Today, we have an incredible guest who is going to challenge everything you think you know about success and productivity.

In our fast-paced world, we're taught that being busy is a badge of honor, but what if that very belief is holding you back from your true potential? Our guest is here to show us a new way. Peggy Sullivan is a renowned keynote speaker, author, and researcher who has dedicated her life to helping individuals and Fortune 500 companies break free from the "hustle culture."

As a self-proclaimed "busyness addict in recovery," Peggy has developed a transformative, research-backed methodology called the "Busy Busting Framework," which she outlines in her latest book, Beyond Busyness: How to Achieve More with Less. Get ready to rethink your approach to work and life, as Peggy shares her powerful insights on how to achieve peak performance without sacrificing your well-being or happiness. Join me now for my conversation with Peggy Sullivan.

Guest Bio:

Peggy Sullivan is a renowned keynote speaker, author, researcher, and expert in the field of overcoming busyness and achieving peak performance. With years of extensive research and a transformative methodology, Peggy has helped individuals and organizations unlock their true potential without compromising well-being or happiness. Her research-backed framework has been successfully implemented by numerous individuals, teams, and Fortune 500 companies, including Google, Bank of America, Blue Cross BlueShield, and Ingram Micro.

Driven by her mission to shift the narrative from busy to fulfilled, Peggy is dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses to prioritize meaning and happiness over the Huscle Culture. In her latest book, "Beyond Busyness: How to Achieve More with Less," she teaches her signature Busy Busting Framework, a practical three-step methodology that has already benefited thousands, guiding them away from the busy treadmill and towards a life filled with intention, fulfillment, and remarkable outcomes.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.peggysullivanspeaker.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Busyness-Achieve-Doing-Less%EF%BB%BF/dp/B0DGMPZTBG

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:23 I think you wrote your book, Achieve More by Doing Less. Break Free From the Busyness Trap, for me

03:22 I had four wake up calls

05:55 My dad and his family escaped the Holocaust

07:44 I knew I had a problem, but I didn't know what the solution was

09:10 We identified 25, what we call busy habits, low value activities

09:53 Whenever you're trying to change an addictive behavior, you have to replace it with dopamine

11:04 An interesting concept that you introduced was the concept of time poverty

11:44 We forget about how busyness impacts our colleagues, our friends, our workers, our families

13:52 And there are so many "times sucks"

15:20 It takes the average person 23 minutes to reclaim the mental state that they were in

17:52 I researched over 12,000 people to understand what values equate to quality of life

19:35 How do we get our mojo working in the right direction?

20:20 Being in customer service is a really hard job

22:07 I believe that values are very universal

25:01 In 2023 you came out and created the busy report

28:07 It takes daily diligence

28:37 What would you do with five to seven hours if you had new found time?

30:00 Human connection is the most important currency we have

31:52 Knowledge is power

32:30 The challenge is, when you're in the middle of it, sometimes you don't see

33:23 We can self-correct, but we need to become self-aware

34:03 Check out peggysullivanspeaker.com

35:19 As soon as you start to subtract low value things, you already feel relief

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggyasullivan/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peggysullivanspeaker

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyVk8tpyJYL_aqyqb6HOLGA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peggysullivanspeaker/

TedX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo1Bmz8q-BM

Email: peggy@peggysullivanspeaker.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 31

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast for professionals and entrepreneurs who are ready to build their expertise and dominate their industry. Have you ever felt like you're doing all the right things, but still not getting the results you want? What if the key to unlocking your next level of success isn't about working harder, but about understanding the invisible habits of thought that are running the show?

Our guest today is a world-class expert on this very topic. She is a best-selling author of the book I See You. Her work is all about helping individuals and organizations achieve more without burning out by aligning their thoughts with their goals. She is on a mission to help people get out of their own way so they can build a life and a business they love. Please join me for my conversation with Amy Kemp.

Guest Bio:

Amy Kemp is the owner and CEO of Amy Kemp, Inc. In her work within this growing company, Amy helps leaders and business professionals understand how deeply “thought habits” impact every part of their work and lives.

As a certified Habit Finder coach, Amy has led over 400 female business leaders through a four-month small group engagement called Encounter. This experience is designed to help clients replace subconscious thought habits that are no longer serving them with more healthy ones. She has worked through the Habit Finder curriculum with hundreds of leaders in one-on-one settings and with leadership teams at small and large companies.

In addition, Amy teaches two engaging online courses each year in the fall and spring that are designed to challenge and expand her clients’ understanding of themselves and to welcome new, curious people into the scope of her work. Some of the most popular topics in her library of offerings are “Money Is a Mirror” and “A Boundary Is Not a Wall.”

Finally, with the launch of her first book, I See You: A Guide for Women to Make More, Have More, and Be More – Without More Work, on February 29, 2024, Amy has created an opportunity for everyone to learn and engage with her and the principles that guide her coaching.

Resource Links:

• Website: www.amykemp.com
• Product Link: https://amykemp.com/habit-finder-assessment/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:47 Nobody in here is smarter than anyone else

07:24 Your work really revolves around the idea fundamentally that thought creates habit, and habit creates results

09:30 We're hardwired to survive

10:35 In the title of your book, I See You, A Guide for Women to Make More, Have More and Be More...Without More Work

12:04 The core message of the book is that you can't outwork your thought habits

12:51 Women generally still carry the absolute majority weight of the unpaid labor in our world

14:40 If in fact you're choosing to do the unpaid labor...

16:40 I think families are businesses

18:50 There has to be an intentional division of that labor that isn't just falling on one person

21:23 Your work with the Habit Finder Assessment is really the cornerstone of your coaching

23:25 Everyone has a wall when you first encounter them

24:50 You need to have more guilt free play

27:11 That's the kind of energy that grows a business or that grows your leadership

31:20 If you want to sustain any kind of discipline in that way, it has to be connected to a deeper value or a deeper purpose

31:35 Playtime is an investment in growing my income and impact and influence

32:17 The world has a lot of external noise around what is success. For me, there's three pillars

33:15 Eventually, when you resist structure for long enough in those areas, structure imposes itself upon you

34:28 It's about knowing what you want to create, and then being intentional about creating it

37:31 You have to define what's success to you, none of it is going with you

38:19 I would pay attention to the opportunity for personal or professional growth that's right in front of you

39:22 The website's amykemp.com

Connect Socially:

Book: https://www.amazon.com/See-You-Guide-Women-More-Without/dp/1774584425/ref=sr_1_1

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amykempinc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amykempinc/

Email: hello@amykemp.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 30

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred podcast. The podcast dedicated to providing business professionals and entrepreneurs with the strategies and mindset to not just succeed, but to truly thrive and create the life they desire. Today, we have a guest whose journey completely redefines conventional wisdom. He's a living testament that success isn't confined to traditional paths. In fact, sometimes, the most profound insights come from those who forge their own way.

Our guest is Ken Rusk, the bestselling author of "Blue-Collar Cash," host of the "Comfort, Peace & Freedom" podcast, and the visionary behind "The Path to a Successful Life" course. Ken built a remarkable empire and a life of purpose over four decades, all without a for mal higher education. He's not just building businesses, he's building lives, and fostering a truly employee-centric culture. Get ready for an incredibly insightful conversation that will challenge your assumptions and empower your professional journey. Join me now for my conversation with Ken Rusk.

Guest Bio:

Ken Rusk is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker who achieved WSJ Bestseller status with "Blue-Collar Cash" during the pandemic. He hosts the podcast "Comfort, Peace & Freedom" and empowers individuals through his impactful course, "The Path to a Successful Life."

Ken's unique journey includes appearances on Fox & Friends, Tucker Carlson Tonight, and America's Newsroom. His insights have been featured in Forbes, USA Today, Fox Business, and more. Without formal higher education, Ken's diverse accomplishments include awards like Top Workplaces in Ohio and numerous Franchise of the Year honors.

As the founder of Rusk Industries, he collaborates with notable figures and supports charitable organizations. With over four decades of experience, Ken continues to inspire through speaking engagements. He's currently working on a book about fostering employee-centric business culture for growth.

Resource Links:

• Website: kenrusk.com & veteransuccess.org
• Product Link: https://courses.kenrusk.com/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:21 Your book, Blue Collar Cash

05:44 Did you have a paper route?

08:32 You learn by what you see sometimes

10:20 I wish they would put out the same statistics that they do for professional football players

15:37 What was the biggest lesson I got out of college?

19:04 The law of supply and demand never fails us

21:12 I don't necessarily care what you do for a living as much as I care what you do with what you do for a living

22:39 Focus on the people, not the product

23:22 I've always thought that you had to go to college to be smart enough to be an entrepreneur

25:16 I call it putting a rudder on your boat

26:54 I practice being grateful

29:46 We're going to walk a higher tightrope, but we're going to raise the net

31:23 What's the lesson here? What's the opportunity?

33:05 There's always multiple pathways of things that are happening at the same time

34:28 That's kind of how I create the balance, by starting with the dessert and putting the meal second

35:51 The work intensifies, if you plan it within your fun

37:27 When you can love your work, secure your future, and find happiness for life, how does it get better than that?

39:56 Spontaneity is an amazing thing that people don't give credit for

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://courses.kenrusk.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KenRuskOfficial/

Twitter (X): twitter.com/KenRuskOfficial

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCobMStuxuarzLDFSMgX7u0A

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenruskofficial/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kenrusk.official

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comfort-peace-freedom-with-ken-rusk/id1660815664

Email: ken@kenrusk.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 29

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast. The podcast that helps business professionals and entrepreneurs go from being just another option to being the emotional favorite. Today we're addressing a topic that so many of us navigate daily: the power of quiet leadership. The business world often celebrates the loudest voice in the room, but what if the most powerful leaders are actually the ones who are thinking, listening, and observing?

Our guest today is a living testament to this idea. With over two decades as a successful product and technology executive, he's led teams and scaled startups, but he's here today as the voice of the quiet thinker. He's the host of the Powerful Introvert podcast and newsletter, and he's on a mission to help introverted professionals and leaders embrace their natural strengths and thrive on their own terms. Please join me for my conversation with Greg Weinger.

Guest Bio:

What if the best leaders weren’t the loudest voices in the room?

Greg Weinger has spent over 20 years proving that introverts and unconventional thinkers can thrive in leadership. A seasoned product and technology executive, he has helped scale startups 10X to $70M+ in revenue, leading teams that build market-leading digital products and drive business growth. A Stanford graduate, he studied English literature, creative writing, and software engineering—giving him a unique ability to blend technical expertise, storytelling, and strategic thinking to make complex ideas accessible and actionable.

Greg is the author and host of Powerful Introvert, a Substack publication and podcast dedicated to helping introverts unlock their leadership potential. A sought-after speaker, he challenges outdated leadership norms and explores how organizations can create inclusive leadership structures that embrace diverse working styles.

He is also deeply interested in the intersection of technology and personal wellness, exploring how wearable biometrics and machine learning can optimize meditation, mindfulness, exercise, and sleep to help leaders operate at their best. His mission is to redefine leadership by prioritizing self-awareness, leveraging introverts’ strengths, and creating space for different leadership styles to thrive.

Greg speaks with depth, clarity, and a touch of irreverence, delivering insights that challenge assumptions, spark new ways of thinking, and provide practical takeaways for better leadership and performance.

Greg lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife of 25 years, their two cats, and their golden retriever, Mervin. He is a proud father of two college-aged children.

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:11 Introverts are looking inwardly first

02:21 Extroverts, the bias is outward first, they're acting, they're emoting

04:39 They talk about ambiverts

07:02 The more prepared introverts are, the generally the better off they are going into a situation

08:23 So, what are the most damaging misconceptions about introverted leaders

09:04 Just because they're quiet doesn't mean that they don't have anything to say

12:58 Why do we have such a bias towards the extroverted leader?

14:47 There are absolutely ways to do this in a way that are authentic to you

16:32 My personal practice, I wake up earlier and I am meditating for 40 minutes to an hour

20:05 How should we approach to make that introvert feel comfortable or that extrovert feel comfortable?

21:17 Introverts like authenticity

23:25 What's your advice for turning self-doubt into a source of confidence and credibility?

25:29 When you're vulnerable, you're speaking your truth, that's authentic

27:10 The phrase is: Let the puppy tire itself out

28:18 It's a constant practice to be as present as we can

30:45 There's never been a better time to understand yourself, accept yourself, and have support for becoming the leader that you ought to be

31:47 I started this podcast called Powerful Introvert

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryweinger/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@powerfulintrovert

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powerful_introvert

Podcast: https://www.powerfulintrovertpodcast.com/

Email: gweinger@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 28

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast, the show dedicated to helping you master your mindset, amplify your influence, and become the undisputed champion in your field. Today, we have a great guest who embodies the fighting spirit of true success. He’s a former professional boxer who has taken the discipline, resilience, and strategic thinking of the ring and translated it into a powerful framework for entrepreneurs and business professionals.

My guest is a high-performance coach, a motivational speaker, and the founder of the Man Challenge. His philosophy isn't just about winning; it's about preparing to win, recovering from setbacks, and fighting like a pro in every aspect of your life. Join me for my conversation with the extraordinary Gavin Lance Topp.

Guest Bio:

Gavin Lance Topp is a former professional boxer who began his journey with 19 amateur fights, drawn to the sport for its physical and mental challenges. He went on to win and defend the Australian Junior Middleweight Title, and after a comeback in 2005, fought five international opponents before earning a World Title Eliminator bout in Germany. At his peak, he was ranked 12th in the world

Then in 2009 founded the Fight Like a Pro Rite of Passage Program — a transformational experience designed to help men rise into their full potential as husbands, fathers, and leaders.

After leading over 3,000 men through the program, Gavin authored A Rite of Passage, which has sold thousands of copies worldwide. Then in 2019 was inducted into Queensland boxing Hall of Fame. This journey led to the creation of the Man Alive Experience, an online mentorship platform connecting with men across the globe.

Resource Links:

• Website: www.gavintopp.com
• Product Link: https://gavin-topp.mykajabi.com/manchallengetickets

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:42 W hen you're the new kid in town, sometimes you've got to fit in

05:51 Unless my heart was in it, I'm not doing it

06:56 You either compete or you create

08:24 My first book, A Rite of Passage for the Modern Man

08:57 There's 3 men inside every man

11:22 There's always more in a man than what he realizes

13:11 An angry guy is an easy guy to fight...he's predictable

16:33 What are your character traits that you can a hundred percent rely on?

17:35 When the dream is big enough, the odds don't matter

20:54 When you communicate a message that's attached to your purpose, that inspires people

22:52 There's more in you, you can do more, you can become more, you can achieve more

23:48 It's about coming up with the right questions, so then you get the right answers

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintopp-fightlikeapro/overlay/contact-info/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076350442592

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gavinlancetopp

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gavinlancetopp?igsh=MW1xanN6OTlsejMxbA==

Podcast Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wN5lgb1ixa84lN61IU6gc?si=1671c3f806154dd2

Email: gavin@ariteofpassage.online

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 27

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast, where we bring you the insights and strategies to help you elevate your business and become preferred. Today, we have a true expert of sales and entrepreneurship joining us.

Glenn Poulos is here to share his unparalleled wisdom on sales strategy, consumer behavior, and how to build truly successful companies. Get ready to take notes, because Glenn is about to drop some serious insights. Join me for my conversation with Glenn Poulos.

Guest Bio:

Glenn Poulos is the co-founder, Vice President, and General Manager of Gap Wireless Inc., a leading product and service distributor for the mobile broadband and wireless markets. With over three decades of experience in sales, he has spent thousands of hours in the field or on the phone with customers and working with salespeople to help create several very successful companies.

After entering the sales field in 1985 as a Technical Sales Rep, Glenn founded his first company, mmWave Technologies Inc. in 1991 and simultaneously served as President of Anritsu Electronics Ltd. for 9 years. Using his extensive knowledge and experience in the industry, he lectures groups on sales strategy, consumerism, and what motivates people at a raw emotional level.

Glenn lives near Toronto in Ontario, Canada, where he enjoys hiking, skiing, and playing pickleball.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://glennpoulos.com/
• Product Link: Never Sit in the Lobby
• Product Link: Profit Powerhouse

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:39 You wrote a great book called Never Sit in the Lobby

02:15 I got thrown out of the Canadian government for working too hard

04:20 There's three things that you need in order to become an entrepreneur

06:40 The reason you're hitting the wall and bouncing off is because you're scared

09:35 I've learned far more from my failures than I ever have my successes

12:08 Even if you do fail, it's not a permanent situation

16:13 I'm not a PhD in balance

18:06 I call it the $12 million problem

19:18 Until you can give it up and you can put the right person in the right seat, you can't scale the business

21:48 My mom had a saying, which was, 'Don't don't focus on what you lose. Focus on what you get to keep'

24:00 For me it's always about leverage

25:38 The area that you want to focus on is like process first, and then people second

29:19 Find the right person to head up that process and scale it

32:25 I invariably want to fall asleep reading legal documents

34:07 In the hands of the best person, you'll still get the better result

37:06 The one thing that I think will never change

38:25 People buy from people

40:59 W hen there's something in it for you, your ability to absorb information, goes up significantly

43:03 A lot of failing salespeople, they make the mistake...

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-poulos-45bab86/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glenn.poulos

Twitter (X): https://x.com/GlennPoulos

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glenn.poulos/

Email: glenn.poulos@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 26

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast. The show that's dedicated to helping you become the preferred choice in your industry, and in your life. Today, we have a truly remarkable guest who embodies the spirit of a long term vision, profound transformation, and impactful leadership.

Our guest, David J. Greer, is a 40-year veteran of the entrepreneurial world. He joined a young software startup at just 22, and for two decades he helped build it into a global powerhouse. After a powerful exit, David embarked on a two year sabbatical, sailing 5000 miles in the Mediterranean with his family. A journey that reshaped his perspective on success and life. David is a highly sought after entrepreneurial coach and facilitator. He's a true expert on cultivating high performing cultures, empowering people and crafting strategic plans that lead to high growth businesses. Join me for my conversation with David Greer.

Guest Bio:

David J. Greer is a 40+ year entrepreneur. At 22, he joined a young software startup, stayed 20 years, becoming co-owner, while building the company into a global powerhouse. After selling out of that business, he and his wife took a break, commissioning a sailboat in the South of France and home schooling their three children for two years while sailing 5,000 miles in the Mediterranean.

Since then, David has been an angel investor, senior executive helping entrepreneurial friends of his, and since 2015 he has been an entrepreneurial coach and facilitator. David is an expert on culture, people, and strategic planning to create high performing and high growth businesses.

David has 15 years of continuous sobriety, which is why he focuses on helping entrepreneurs who struggle with alcoholism and/or addiction.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://coachdjgreer.com/
• Product Link: https://coachdjgreer.com/book/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:03 That's the essence of marketing and selling

04:22 While sailing more than 5,000 miles, 10,000 kilometers in the Mediterranean

06:34 I'm all in or all out

07:26 I'm an alcoholic, and I'd been a daily drinker for at least 20 years

11:13 I wrote my book, Wind In Your Sails: Vital Strategies that Accelerate your Entrepreneurial Growth

14:39 We were incredibly customer focused

16:45 We found out there were 5 really common things that people had problems with

23:16 Go out 3 to 5 years and pick a future date. What is your business going to look like on that date?

24:56 People, strategy, execution, and cash

28:06 I think those of us who really get to a certain level of performance realize it's the calendar or nothing

29:19 Work always expands to the time we allow for it

29:56 It took you longer to procrastinate

30:43 Lets more employees say no to those things that don't matter

33:37 So go 10X where you can go 10X

35:41 At the end of the day, the customer experience is about what do they feel?

35:49 Branding is what do people feel about you, and what do they say about you, when you are not in the room?

37:24 Strategic planning is a hundred page binder that sits on a shelf and no one ever looks at it

40:33 I'm really strong on weekly meetings with my team

41:38 You don't have to be so serious

41:55 Everything in life and in business is an experiment

43:49 I want you to know there is always light at the end of the tunnel

45:14 The website is CoachDJGreer

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgreer/

Twitter (X): https://x.com/djgreer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachdjgreer/

Blog: https://coachdjgreer.com/blog/

Email: david@coachdjgreer.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

View Details

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 25

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast, where we bring you the insights you need to stand out from the competition and thrive. Today, we have an incredible guest who has not only witnessed but actively shaped the evolution of marketing over the last few decades. From the very early days of the internet our guest has been at the forefront, adapting and innovating.

He's Gee Ranasinha, the CEO of KEXINO, an award-winning marketing agency that has been the secret weapon for over 400 startups and small businesses across 20 countries. Gee and his team help these businesses achieve the holy grail of success: growing awareness, reputation, trust and sales.

Prepare to extract some serious wisdom from a seasoned pro who understands exactly what it takes to become preferred in today's complex market. Join me for my conversation with Gee Ranasinha.

Guest Bio:

Gee has been in marketing since the days of dial-up internet and AOL CDs. Today, he’s the CEO of KEXINO, an award-winning marketing agency. Over the past 16 years KEXINO has helped over 400 startups and small businesses in around 20 countries grow awareness, reputation, trust – and sales.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute Of Marketing, Gee is also Visiting Professor at two business schools, teaching Marketing and Behavioral Economics to final-year MBA students.

Outside of work Gee loves to cook, listens to music on a ridiculously expensive hi-fi, and plays jazz piano very badly.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://kexino.com/
• Product Link: https://kexino.com/services/marketing/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

05:50 A differentiator at the beginning was that we would lead with a business problem

08:43 Nothing every dies, it just gets fragmented

11:04 The vast majority of our total addressable market is not ready to buy at that exact specific time

13:47 The marketers of their day understood how we as buyers considered and remembered brands at the point of purchase

15:00 Thinking Fast and Slow

18:49 One of the biggest obstacles we face is ignorance of what marketing is

21:11 Nobody spent any time on the single biggest factor of any website that drives conversion

25:08 The reason it sounds too good to be true is because it is too good to be true

29:18 A thing called the 'sunk cost fallacy'

31:54 Price isn't necessarily the deciding factor, as how buyers perceive value

34:20 I would say the lion's share of the reason why a B2B sale happens is not because you are selling the best product...

37:34 The biggest competition is sometimes is not doing anything

38:51 Four words: Talk to your customers!

39:08 Our customers are our biggest advocates

40:30 A fantastic question to ask an existing customer...

42:01 The best way people can find you if they wanna reach out to you is kexino.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranasinha/

Twitter (X): https://x.com/kexino

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@wearekexino

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Kexino

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearekexino

Email: gee@kexino.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

View Details

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 24

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast. In today's dynamic business landscape, simply doing business isn't enough to stand out. To truly thrive, to become the preferred choice, you need a strategy that elevates your brand, optimizes your operations, and magnetizes your ideal clients. But how do you make that leap from overwhelmed entrepreneur to empowered CEO? How do you build a business that truly "rules" your market?

Today, we have an absolute master of business strategy joining us.Someone who has guided countless entrepreneurs and leaders to not just survive, but to profoundly succeed. She's the brilliant mind behind Your Biz Rules. A speaker, author, and an undeniable force in helping you transform your vision into a profitable, scalable reality. Get ready to unlock the secrets to become truly unstoppable. We're thrilled to welcome the incredible Leslie Hassler!

Guest Bio:

Leslie Hassler is the powerhouse behind Your Biz Rules, a consultancy firm transforming small businesses into freedom-generating machines. Leveraging 17 years of entrepreneurial experience and a strong background in marketing, finance, and leadership, Leslie guides businesses toward predictable profits and sustainable growth. Your Biz Rules offers comprehensive business audits, the Profitable Growth Incubator program, private consulting, and Fractional CFO services. The firm is celebrated for igniting transformative profitable growth, reshaping businesses to fulfill the owner’s vision, and enabling clients to break through financial barriers.

Leslie’s holistic approach prioritizes profitability and a balanced quality of life for business owners. She is the author of First This, Then That and the upcoming Scaling Rich™, Recognized on stages across the U.S., including NAWBO and WBENC, Leslie is also a Past President of NAWBO DFW and an alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business program. A mother of two and avid traveler, Leslie brings a well-rounded perspective to her work. Her mission is to ignite the potential within business owners, empowering them to conquer challenges, unlock unprecedented growth, and build a life of abundance and balance.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.yourbizrules.com/
• Product Link: https://www.yourbizrules.com/fractional-cfo-services/
• Resource: https://www.yourbizrules.com/becoming-preferred-podcast/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:22 You have the domain yourbizrules.com

04:28 Your business does need rules

06:27 In order to scale, you are going to need some core element of scalability

06:55 Systems, processes, technology, and people are core

07:58 You do speak about having a crystal clear ideal client definition

09:50 This falls under the adage of 'a confused mind does not buy'

10:18 We focus on psychographics, not demographics

11:20 Clarity is what helps distinguish you from the next person

12:30 At the end of the day, people are trying to buy solutions, they're not trying to buy work

15:35 I find that 99.99% of the people out there do not feel like their numbers people

18:53 Nobody needs more work, we need more ease

20:01 What you'll see is, we get you, we've got you, we've gone through something similar

22:37 Basically, you are making a client promise

26:19 E very interaction should reinforce that brand's promise and personality

26:24 Inconsistency erodes magnetism

27:34 One of our values is generosity

31:50 How many of you send out thank you notes?

34:59 If you haven't done the work, the preparation to get there...

35:34 If I were to come in and double, triple, or quadruple your business today, what would break tomorrow?

38:55 How do you move that relationship along?

40:10 I n order to grow, you've got to let go

40:58 You have to have the clarity in order to be able to focus

43:51 I call it my CEO days

46:00 I think we need to embrace the trend to become less time bound

46:36 I learned a long time ago, I'm actually not in control

47:38 If you're playing by last year's rules, you'll get last year's results

48:43 We have a special page just set aside for your audience, itt's going to be at yourbizrules.com/preferred

49:45 The website's yourbizrules.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliehassler/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YourBizRules

Twitter (X): https://x.com/YourBizRules

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeslieHassler

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslie.hassler/

Email: leslie@yourbizrules.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 23

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast dedicated to empowering business professionals and entrepreneurs to achieve their highest potential. Have you ever felt that true leadership extends beyond just strategies and spreadsheets? That there's a deeper, more profound dimension to unlocking peak performance and genuine impact?

Today, our guest has dedicated decades to exploring exactly that. Dr. Ron Stotts is a three-time bestselling author, with a PhD in Psychology. Ron isn't just an academic; he's a transformational guide who has delved into ancient wisdom, cutting-edge neuroscience, and the very essence of human potential. He's supported thousands in navigating their toughest challenges and stepping into their greatness. Prepare to shift your perspective on what it truly means to lead, live, and become preferred. Join me now for my conversation with Ron Stotts.

Guest Bio:

Ron is a three times bestselling author with a PhD in psychology and a Dr. of Chiropractic. He’s explored the depths of ancient wisdom and the latest in psychological, neurological studies, and leadership as he guides entrepreneurs and executives into the highest levels of conscious leadership.

Ron spent the last five decades exploring the deepest caves and soaring heights of both personal and spiritual journeys. He is intimate with all aspects of the territory. As a transformational guide, he has supported thousands of others on their journey as they’ve moved through their most difficult challenges and developed their greatest potential.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://ronstotts.com/
• Product Link: https://ronstotts.com/leadership-books/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:10 Recognizing that the answers were within myself

03:56 It was the worst best year of my life

07:47 T he biggest problem I see in leadership

09:25 One of my mentors, Buckminster Fuller

12:44 Meditation is always about a single pointed focus

14:10 That's the art of life, is to use breathing as your indicator

15:18 All I have to do is breathe and be curious, and that allows me to be present and conscious

20:12 My ego's only job is to make sure that I'm breathing, being curious and present

22:00 When you breathe, you feel, and so I don't want to feel, so I'm going to quit breathing

24:36 Are you willing to be yourself? And most people, hell no!

25:42 Their leadership is about really bringing out the best in others

25:57 Your level of consciousness determines how you see, experience, and react to everything in your life

28:18 Are there typically catalysts with the people you work with?

28:29 They have to be afraid enough, or excited enough

31:05 You have to have meaning in your life as a leader

33:20 Celebrate where you are

35:20 The lobster story is...

36:59 Breathe, just breathe

37:59 I call it the Stop Process

38:08 If you don't stop and heal your past...

38:54 Start with your biggest challenge

39:34 Quiet your mind enough so you can access big mind thinking

40:22 I live my life breathing and being curious and present

42:18 The website is ronstotts.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ron-stotts-14143236/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrRonStotts

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNV6D59C3InwlZmpAOVls_g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronstottsofficial

Email: ron@ronstotts.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 22

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred Podcast! Today, we have a true titan in the world of digital marketing and growth—a master architect of scale renowned for transforming data into undeniable results. If you're a business professional or entrepreneur seeking your next breakthrough, looking to optimize customer acquisition, or aiming to understand the mechanics of sustainable scaling, you're in for a treat.

Our guest is the visionary founder of Round Barn Labs, a growth marketing agency that has been instrumental in scaling some truly impressive businesses. He is also the brilliant mind behind the "Always Be Testing" podcast and the insightful "Flywheel" blog on Beehiiv. He lives and breathes experimentation, data-driven decisions, and building lasting momentum. Join me now for my conversation with Tye DeGrange.

Guest Bio:

Tye DeGrange is the Founder and CEO of Round Barn Labs, a leading growth marketing agency specializing in affiliate and influencer marketing for top tech brands, including Grammarly, Nextdoor, Meta Quest, and Atlassian. With 20 years of experience in performance marketing, Tye has driven growth for startups and Fortune 500 companies across e-commerce, B2B SaaS, and Consumer Tech. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a degree in History, Tye began his career at Sequoia-backed AdBrite, one of the first ad networks. Under his leadership, Round Barn Labs has earned accolades such as Boutique Agency of the Year and recognition as a Top 30 Global Affiliate Marketing Agency.

Based in Austin, TX, Tye is passionate about building growth-focused teams and identifying innovative revenue opportunities. Outside of work, he enjoys playing tennis, exploring Austin with his wife Blaine, and spending time with their two young children, Hayward and Gray.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.roundbarnlabs.com/
• Product Link: https://www.roundbarnlabs.com/services-2/affiliate-marketing-agency

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:28 Your motto line, Elevate Trust and Embrace Influence

03:46 What's the evolution that you've seen and where do you see it moving to?

07:00 Are you monetizing effectively in a competitive way?

07:43 Is this juice worth the squeeze for you, all in, not just media costs

11:09 Your podcast is called Always Be Testing

14:08 First and foremost, you want to have kind of a solid tracking platform

14:18 Trust is really essential to everything we do

17:37 If it was taken away, would you have gotten that customer anyway?

18:06 Priced right is half sold

22:05 On paid search, is that still relevant

24:20 I also read Jim Collins' book, Good To Great

29:23 You might have a bigger impact than you realize

32:30 Affiliate tends to be a lot of cat herding, a lot of moving parts

34:28 You talk about embracing a culture of relentless experimentation and learning

36:10 The website is roundbarnlabs.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/round-barn-labs/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyedegrange/

Twitter (X): https://x.com/RoundBarnLabs

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlwaysBeTestingPodcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3bXEq0WGtkLiQn7K1PUVCh

Tye Degrange's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/always-be-testing/id1700913215

Blog: https://the-flywheel.beehiiv.com/

Email: tye@roundbarnlabs.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 21

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast, where we look into the strategies and mindsets that drive success for business professionals and entrepreneurs. Today, we have an extraordinary guest who embodies justice, advocacy, empathy, and results: Tad Nelson.

Tad is a legal luminary with over 33 years of experience in criminal and family law. What sets Tad apart is his unique blend of sharp legal acumen and forensic science expertise, allowing him to transform daunting legal crises into pathways of empowerment. He’s not just about conventional representation; he’s about genuine advocacy with precision and profound understanding of the human experience.

In this episode, we're going to extract invaluable lessons from his astounding 400 trials – a treasure trove of wisdom applicable far beyond the courtroom, to every high-stakes decision and challenge you face in your business and entrepreneurial journey. Get ready for some powerful insights!

Guest Bio:

Step into the world of Tad Nelson, a renowned legal mind with a flair for turning daunting legal crises into pathways of empowerment and transformation.

Distinguished by his unique blend of legal acumen and forensic science, Tad's approach goes beyond conventional representation—it's about genuine advocacy with empathy and precision.

Whether unraveling complex divorce cases or high-stakes criminal defenses, Tad believes in empowering his clients through compassion, relentless dedication, and a profound understanding of the human experience.

Discover Tad Nelson's unique perspective on law, life, and the quest for justice in a way that promises to captivate and engage every listener.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://tadlaw.com/
• Free Consultation: https://tadlaw.com/contact/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:40 I've always wanted to be a lawyer

03:28 The three most important things of being lawyer

04:06 You know, the biggest complaint with lawyers in the world, is communication

05:30 The reality of today's world, you can't make everybody happy

07:02 First thing, never make any assumptions

08:08 It takes 50% of the time to do 90% of the work

10:53 So many people don't realize that you can give too much information

13:53 People are good, by and large people are

16:36 The number one place that you find consensus

22:06 Whatever's going on in your business, can't affect your product

23:57 You need to establish boundaries

24:46 I don't live to work, I work to live

28:30 From our initial conversation, we lay out a path that we're gonna follow

28:40 The way you build up trust is, you do what you say you're going to do

29:36 Once they start trusting me for doing what I'm gonna do, then they'll start trusting my opinion

31:43 If there's something that you think that needs to be addressed, get it addressed

32:30 We use Otter AI, every conversation I have is recorded, summarized, and put in their digital file

35:59 The domain is tadlaw.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tad-nelson-437b63b/

Blog: https://tadlaw.com/blog/

Email: chaos@tadlaw.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

View Details

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 20

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred Podcast. In this episode, we have a true financial powerhouse in the studio, ready to illuminate the often-murky waters of cash flow and profitability

Stephanie is not just a CFO; she's a business owner herself, giving her a unique, boots-on-the-ground perspective on the challenges you face every day. Through her company, New Light Financial Solutions, Stephanie has a knack for seeing right through the surface-level issues and identifying the core reasons why your business might be struggling with profitability and cash flow.

Stephanie doesn't just diagnose the problem; she provides a clear path to fixing it. If you've ever felt like you're working harder but not seeing the financial results you deserve, get ready to unlock the secrets to a healthier, more profitable business. Join me for my conversation with Stephanie Smith.

Guest Bio:

Stephanie Smith is a CFO and a business owner. She uses her financial background to help business owners take the one clear path to generating more cash in their business. Being in the financial world, she can look at a business and spot the underlying reasons why it is not profitable and has poor cash flow. And... more importantly, she knows how to fix it.

Resource Links:

• Website: www.newlightfs.com
• Product Link: https://newlightfs.com/resources/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:28 My favorite subject was calculus

02:44 If you feel like you need a "just in case thing", then maybe that's not the right path

06:01 We don't always take the time to evaluate how the cash is supposed to be moving through our business

07:30 Where to begin is really following the money

09:27 We actually do Profit First in our business for ourselves

10:48 Why a business can be profitable but still struggle with cash flow

13:26 It's cheaper to get a customer who already knows, trusts and has bought from you, to buy from you again

16:32 H ow much is it actually costing you to sell something?

20:47 I've heard people say, you know, set a a financial date with yourself, with your business

22:26 What every CFO does should be similar regardless of the size

24:33 It's a good idea to start talking with a financial planner about other things that you can do with the business' money

25:56 You should definitely not base all your decisions off of your bank account, or based on the profit number that you have on your financial statements

27:56 I have a podcast that I run called Getting to the Bottom Line

31:53 If they want to reach you, it's newlightfs.com

32:03 We also offer a free Cash Flow Strategy

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieporcellosmith/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanieporcellosmith/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newlightfs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newlightfs/

Stephanie's Podcast Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5WTE9D35Qv2n46vqCoM7nW3EHd-ZuD5Z

Email: stephanie@newlightfs.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

View Details

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 19

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred Podcast. In this episode, we have not one, but two incredible minds joining us. A dynamic duo who have dedicated their careers to empowering business professionals and entrepreneurs like you to achieve remarkable success through the world of franchising

Jack and Jill Johnson are the powerhouse co-founders of The Franchise Insiders! Together, they bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record in guiding individuals to build generational wealth and gain genuine professional freedom through strategic franchise ownership.

So, if you have ever dreamed of owning your own business, or want to explore the potential of franchise ownership and learn how to build wealth and freedom on your own terms, join me for my conversation with Jack & Jill Johnson.

Guest Bio:

Jack Johnson, Founder of The Franchise Insiders, has empowered over 600 executives to achieve franchise success, build generational wealth, and gain professional freedom. With a proven track record in franchising, Jack played a key role in building and selling Home Care Assistance for $130M, where he helped grow the brand into a global powerhouse with 200+ high-earning franchisees. As the owner of Pink's Window Services, he brings both franchisor and franchisee perspectives to his mentorship. His earlier leadership roles at MGM Resorts International, Brand Ltd., and ConnectedBrands have shaped his expertise in business development, marketing, and strategic growth. Alongside his wife, Jill, Jack provides personalized, data-driven franchise consulting backed by years of industry success and deep professional relationships.

Jill Johnson, Co-Founder of The Franchise Insiders, has guided hundreds of entrepreneurs to achieve business ownership success through personalized, data-driven franchise consulting. With a strategic background in marketing, business development, and account management, Jill’s career spans leadership roles at top companies including IBM, Zeta Global, Power Efficiency Corporation, TakeLessons.com, and Wynn Las Vegas. At The Franchise Insiders, she and her husband, Jack, have built a trusted system to help clients find the perfect franchise match, leveraging extensive industry insights and personalized mentorship. Jill’s diverse experience, including franchise ownership and executive coaching, empowers her clients to make confident, informed investment decisions for long-term success.

Jack & Jill Johnson - Co-Founders of The Franchise Insiders - Together, Jack and Jill provide data-driven, personalized franchise consulting, leveraging deep industry connections to help clients make informed, confident investment decisions. This powerful duo is eager to speak about creating Generational Wealth Creation, having real freedom, and how to live life on your own terms through business ownership.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.thefranchiseinsiders.com/
• Product Link: https://www.thefranchiseinsiders.com/howwehelpyou

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:01 Franchise ownership is not passive, it is not a passive asset

06:11 The right franchisor can teach you so much about business ownership

07:24 Not everyone's cut out to be a business owner, and so franchising helps you be the business owner that you want to be

09:01 When a couple wants to start to get into a franchise

10:55 The All In podcast had the CEO of of Google on last week

13:12 You need to make sure you're well funded

17:08 The classic franchise investment mistake is this...

18:21 If you open up a franchise disclosure document and there is no item 19, close the franchise disclosure document

21:05 There's a great book, by the way, called The Wealthy Franchisee by Scott Greenberg

22:16 And so we work with some established brands that we love

23:48 What is the biggest challenge for employers? Employees!

26:08 A lot of people think that franchise fees are a profit center for the franchisor, and they're not

26:30 One of the most important questions you can ask is: How robust is your support team?

27:42 It's fun to work, when it's your business

28:14 Working on the business, not in it, is crucial

30:17 Is this person, someone that can play well with others and operate well within this sort of structured framework?

31:27 Franchise ownership is for people that like structure and support

32:17 One of the beauties of franchise ownership is if you try it and it's not for you, sell it

34:45 When you're looking at a business, ask yourself this question, Does somebody need this business?

36:40 The website's thefranchiseinsiders.com

Connect Socially:

Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefranchiseinsiders/

Jack's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefranchiseinsiders/

Jill's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillstrasserjohnson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefranchiseinsiders

Twitter: https://x.com/JackInsiders

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi67lio6ORFwnN0DcZL_DmQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefranchiseinsiders/?hl=en

Jack & Jill's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-franchise-insiders-inside-scoop-podcast/id1555258626

Email: info@thefranchiseinsiders.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 18

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred Podcast. In this episode, I will be speaking with the incredible Brandi Heather. Brandi is an award-winning former college professor who has transformed into a leading voice on the science of play at work. With over two decades of experience across business, education, and healthcare, she now travels the globe, showing professionals how play can unlock mental wellness, genuine connection, and build resilience.

Brandi doesn't just talk the talk; she truly activates play in her engaging keynotes and training sessions, all grounded in fascinating neuroscience and physiology. So, get ready for some insights that might just change the way you work and live! Join me for my conversation with Brandi Heather.

Guest Bio:

Brandi Heather is an award-winning former college professor, turned play scientist and thought leader on the science of play at work. With over 25 years of experience in business, education, and healthcare and making people smile, she speaks globally on how play fuels mental wellness, authentic connection, and resilience. But Brandi doesn’t just talk about play—she activates it. Her keynotes and training experiences, grounded in neuroscience and physiology, give professionals the tools to reset their stress response, restore their energy, and rethink how they lead, serve, and shine.

Brandi's talks are immersive, unforgettable experiences where audiences build personalized and collective solutions for burnout prevention, joy retention and innovation in real time. Side effects have included: spontaneous creativity, uncontrollable laughter, contagious enthusiasm, and unexpected conversations with fascinating humans. It’s the most fun you can have in a day of work. Come out and play.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.brandiheather.com
• Product Link: https://www.brandiheather.com/product-page/minicourse-what-is-play

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:37 W hen students were in play, they were learning more

05:50 T hey would get up at 7:00 AM with hangovers to come to my class

06:34 T he people who are really good at what they do, have an element of play to it

10:05 W hat kinds of things constitute play?

12:08 One of the highest sales activities you can possibly do if you're in professional selling, is to do something playful with a client

14:12 Simply ask, When you're not working 12 hours a day, what do you do for fun?

17:09 When was the last time you did something so good that you lost track of time?

17:38 So those three things for me is....

19:54 How does play facilitate deeper and more meaningful connections among colleagues and within our teams?

20:18 That's what play opens up, it opens up a curiosity

21:57 Play is directly connected to how we cope and how we take care of our mental health

25:12 How does play contribute to fostering creativity and innovative thinking within individuals and organizations?

27:44 Figure out what your play is first

28:05 What's one thing at work you could do all day?

30:42 There's 3 things that we can really do

32:38 You don't have to schedule it, you have to start by noticing it

35:05 You offer a mini course, which I thought was interesting, called What Is Play

36:06 People ask all the time, how do you play in such a serious world?

37:00 So my hope for the future of play and for understanding our playful intelligence is...

37:44 It's brandiheather.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandiheather/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToPlayToday/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi__heather/

Email: info@brandiheather.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 17

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast. Today, we're diving deep into the fascinating world where data meets dynamic creativity, and trust me, you won't want to miss this conversation. Our guest today is Kenny Ridgell, the brilliant mind behind Ridge Media. Kenny isn't your typical marketing guru; he approaches the game with the precision of a scientist, meticulously blending data, innovative strategies, and compelling creative to deliver tangible results.

Kenny has a knack for taking the intimidating world of marketing analytics and making it accessible, showing founders, business professionals, and CEOs how to transform those numbers into real revenue. If you've ever felt lost in the sea of marketing jargon or wondered how to make truly data-driven decisions that impact your bottom line, then you're in the right place. Get ready to gain some serious insights as we explore Kenny's unique approach and uncover actionable strategies to revolutionize your marketing efforts. Join me for my conversation with Kenny Ridgell.

Guest Bio:

Kenny Ridgell is a data-driven marketing entrepreneur who has spent the better part of a decade merging art, science, and innovation into measurable growth strategies for his clients. After beginning his academic career as a biochemistry major, Kenny discovered a passion for business and marketing at the College of Charleston, where he graduated with honors. This distinctive blend of analytical rigor and creative thinking led him to launch Ridge Media in 2014 while still a student, ultimately shaping a unique approach to marketing that prioritizes experimentation, evidence-based decision-making, and tangible returns.

Under Kenny’s leadership, Ridge Media has grown into a firm that stands apart by applying the scientific method to the marketing landscape. Each campaign is viewed as a hypothesis to test, a puzzle to solve. By combining strategic storytelling with systematic experimentation, Kenny and his team have consistently cut through digital noise and driven meaningful, sustainable revenue growth for an array of businesses.

What sets Kenny apart is his ability to translate complex marketing analytics into actionable insights that resonate with founders, CEOs, and business owners alike. He’s dedicated to simplifying the marketing process—focusing on what works, discarding the fluff, and ensuring every decision drives measurable results. His curiosity, adaptability, and relentless pursuit of excellence make him an engaging thought partner for any podcast host looking to uncover the secrets behind successful, data-driven digital marketing.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://ridgemediallc.com/
• Product Link: https://ridgemediallc.com/services

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:50 I was solving problems for business owners, they actually wanted to be solved

05:20 If you can connect those dots, you can keep customers

07:48 They just weren't tying the dots together, showing them how whatever their campaign was doing and how it was performing was affecting the bottom line

10:17 Some of these different tools we have, one of them is called CallRail

13:15 We call it an ecosystem

14:37 There's another thing called Pearl Diver

16:35 You move them right past that into the programmatic advertising, which would be Stack Adapt

19:41 I think on the front side you've got to figure out what is your conversion rate

20:48 What's the most efficient spend for your marketing?

24:30 I think it's totally based on who your customer is

26:44 Can you share an example of a client success story?

30:55 AI helps you become a Superpower Human

36:17 I think the main thing is trying to understand that everyone's different

36:42 Finding people that were good in areas where I was weak

37:32 Not being afraid to put yourself out there, regardless of what industry or what you're getting into

40:48 The website is ridgemediallc.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-ridgell/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ridgemediallc/

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/showcase/6268406

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridge__media/

Email: kenny@ridgemediallc.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 16

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the 'Becoming Preferred' podcast, the show dedicated to empowering business professionals and entrepreneurs to become preferred in the markets they serve. Today we're diving into a topic foundational to sustained success, yet often overlooked in the relentless pursuit of business growth: our health and well-being.

It's no secret that we're living longer, but are we living healthier? Many of us wait for the engine light to come on – that health crisis – before we prioritize our well-being. But what if we could proactively optimize our health, energy, and mental clarity, not just for longevity, but as a strategic advantage in our entrepreneurial journey?

My guest today has dedicated his life to understanding how our bodies and minds can perform at their peak, focusing on natural, sustainable methods that build true vitality. Join me for my conversation with founder and CEO of Strength Geneisis, Dr. Derek Alessi.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Derek Alessi is a health and fitness expert with nearly 30 years of experience helping people lose fat, reduce medications, and optimize their health—especially for adults over 45. After transforming his own health as a teenager, he earned a doctorate in health and physical education and a master’s in nutrition, dedicating his career to sustainable, science-backed wellness.

A frequent media guest with over 2,100 TV and 400 radio appearances, Dr. Derek simplifies fitness and nutrition, helping people take control of their health for life.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://strengthgenesis.com/
• Product Link: Mac oil - https://strengthgenesis.com/products/macadamia-nut-oil?variant=39585604731072
• Salad Dressing: https://strengthgenesis.com/products/origin-salad-dressing-marinade

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:30 I hit a high weight of 244 pounds in high school

04:47 I did know that any food that was convenience food, if it came in a can of bag or a box, I probably shouldn't be eating it

06:55 It's so difficult and impossible to change society, especially quickly, but you can change you

09:14 If I don't put this time in for me, I won't have anything for them

11:58 So often people want to jump right into strategy

12:33 Why are you worth saving?

12:55 The average person that starts a Keto diet lasts 11 days

17:06 If you knew you were gonna live to 150, would it change the decisions you're making now?

20:09 You're talking about accountability and tracking progress

23:08 When it comes to exercise, it's like the best antidepressant ever

26:20 I would say, I want you to start listening to podcasts while you're lifting weights

27:56 I want every tomorrow to be easier, and we're gonna make it easier by establishing these patterns

30:48 It's a series of habits

33:36 When you're resilient, you can rebound

34:56 I really can't stand it when I shoot myself in the foot

37:20 The slogan was: Better for the body, better for the planet

38:47 It's taking the practices of other businesses and adopting them for yourself

40:02 Go to strengthgenesis.com

40:32 You want to take care of your health before it's gone, because you want your health to take care of you

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-alessi-phd/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strengthgenesis/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strengthgenesis/

Email: support@strengthgenesis.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 15

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred Podcast, the show dedicated to fueling the drive of business professionals and entrepreneurs like you. Today, we have a guest who is a true architect of achievement, a guiding force for growth, and a master of strategic advancement.

She's the visionary behind Forge Ahead, a company dedicated to empowering businesses and leaders to not just meet their goals, but to shatter them. With a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial journey, she brings a wealth of experience in transforming challenges into triumphs and potential into profit. Whether you're looking to refine your leadership, optimize your team, or strategically scale your operations, her insights are invaluable. Join me for my conversation with Courtney De Ronde.

Guest Bio:

Courtney De Ronde is the CEO of Forge Financial and Management Consulting and the creator of the Simple ScaleUp System™. She helps business and nonprofit leaders use a proven system to take charge of their personal and organizational development so they can fulfill their purpose and lead their organizations to do the same.

With 20+ years as a CPA and 15 years as a business leader, Courtney has firsthand experience running, scaling, advising, and serving small businesses. Today, she shares that knowledge as a speaker and consultant with her team at Forge. Recognized for her expertise in business intelligence, leadership, corporate finance, and productivity, Courtney presents at conferences and events nationwide. When she’s not helping companies grow, she enjoys time with her husband and three children on their latest family road trip or at home in Des Moines, Iowa.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.forgeahead.com/
• Product Link: https://www.forgeahead.com/services/business-coaching-and-training/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:35 I took an accounting class and it just clicked

02:50 Finances can feel like a foreign language

04:36 You keep thinking, I'll just keep doing what I did to get here

06:55 One of the biggest bottlenecks is that they're trying to do everything themselves

08:48 Empower other people to lead in this organization

10:28 I have to tell them, it's not going to be me to serve you

13:44 We call it the Simple Scale Up system, we really talk about four main areas of a business that you need to focus on when you're scaling

17:43 Anytime that a business is reliant on a certain personality, or their skillset, their connections...

18:35 The size of your business is going to be limited by your capacity

20:20 You need to be able to follow the money through the organization

20:49 We also have a group coaching program called Scaling Leader

21:14 Four Steps to Scalability

22:50 If we look at information that's not accurate or trustworthy, it won't matter

26:34 You need the insights that come from the data

28:50 Their less crucial tasks, like the tedious email monitoring and things like that, for times of day where they have less energy

30:28 The biggest difference between for-profit and nonprofit

30:48 Nonprofit is not a business model, it's a tax status

32:48 A great place to start is to define who you are, and where you want to go

33:20 When you know who you are, and you know where you're going, you can use those two things, your values and your vision, as a filter for decisions

35:02 Whatever happens here is on me

36:36 Most people want to help each other out

37:41 One of the things we talk about in the Simple Scale Up System is the shift from relying on instincts, to relying on insights

38:03 Instincts are based on our experiences and our emotions

40:08 Our website is: forgeahead.com

40:47 We have an assessment called the Business Intelligence Grader

41:32 Contact courtneyd@forgeahead.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyderonde/

LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/forgefmc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forgefmc

Email: courtneyd@forgeahead.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 14

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred Podcast. The show is dedicated to equipping you with the insights and strategies to become preferred. Today, an absolute powerhouse is joining us to share with us strategies and insights to help us with our presentation, sales, marketing and persuasion capabilities.

He's a popular author, an international speaker, and a consultant who has empowered countless individuals and organizations to achieve unparalleled success through the art and science of persuasion. His work cuts through the noise, providing actionable frameworks to communicate more effectively, negotiate more strategically, and ultimately, close more deals.

Get ready to unlock the secrets of influence, because this conversation is about to change the way you think about communication and impact. Join me for my conversation with Dr. Yaniv Zaid.

Guest Bio:

Since 2003, Attorney and economist Dr. Yaniv Zaid – “Doctor Persuasion” – an international expert in the field of persuasion, has been a highly sought after consultant and lecturer, teaching others how to improve their marketing, presentation, sales and persuasion skills.

He has given over 2,500 lectures and workshops in 4 continents, and provided personal and business consulting services to over 950 companies and businesses in all fields, including banks, insurance companies and financial institutions, communication, cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies, high-tech and real estate companies, factories and product manufacturers, consulting and service companies, academic institutions, government ministries, the security industry, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations and professional bureaus.

The aim of his activity is to improve the marketing, sales, negotiation, presentation, speaking and persuasion capabilities of the managers and employees.

Dr. Yaniv Zaid has won 3rd place in the world championship for individual speakers and participated in the semi-finals of the European championship for group speakers.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.persuasion.co.il/en/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dr.-Yaniv-Zaid/author/B009SNHYB8?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1741647487&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:56 I started writing notes, and the notes became lectures, and lectures became books

03:13 The Amazon bestseller list, it's called Public Speaking (in English)

04:41 The customers would like to talk about them, not about you

05:41 How do your clients think?

06:22 Today it is about inspiration and not desperation

07:55 You need to be Batman, and not Superman

10:13 If you invest in yourself, AI won't replace you

11:31 Every expert is a student

11:56 Use AI to help you maybe get ideas or something like that, but invest in yourself

14:30 It's a tool that's called social proof

16:05 You can always become an expert by telling me achievements you've done

17:14 If the conference brought this guy to lecture, he is probably an expert

18:46 Always think creatively, not competitively

20:38 This is the advantage of the digital era, for example: LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, mailing lists

23:04 If I exist in the market for 40, 50 years, I need to let's say, evolve all the time, and learn new tricks, new tactics, new platforms all the time in order to stay relevant

23:58 Soft selling, I'm not trying to sell you something, I tell you stories, and you buy

24:30 There is a line of lectures in the high tech companies, it's called F$%# Up Nights

25:21 I'm just offering you stories, and people love stories

27:44 I think people think for the short term, not for the long term

29:22 We talked about the Know, Like Trust mechanism

30:45 The most important rules in sales and marketing is first, love your clients

32:56 Find the ideal client and find their problems and needs

33:17 Don't try to be someone else, try to be the best version of yourself

33:51 The relationship starts when you land that customer

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanivzaid/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drpersuasion

Twitter (X): https://x.com/yanivzaid?mx=2

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/YanivZaid

Instagram: https://instagram.com/yanivzaid

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yaniv_zaid

Email: yaniv@yanivzaid.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 13

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast. Building a vibrant culture with happy people working to their full potential can be a real challenge. Today, we're joined by Nicole Greer, CEO of Build a Vibrant Culture™. Nicole's not just talking theory; she's giving us the practical, actionable steps to transform our teams.

Nicole isn't just a leadership and organizational development expert; she's a culture architect, a catalyst for transformation, and the visionary force behind Vibrant Coaching. She's going to break down her methodology, and give us the tools to create work environments where people truly flourish. Get ready to listen to a conversation that is going to be packed with wisdom and insights to transform your business. Join me for my conversation with Nicole Greer.

Guest Bio:

As CEO of Build a Vibrant CultureTM, Nicole Greer helps individuals, corporations, government, and non-profits become leaders who fulfill a mission, energize their teams, and build a vibrant culture. Using the S.H.I.N.E. Coaching Methodology™ and training programs, Nicole offers foundational tools and uncommon wisdom.

Resource Links:

• Website: www.vibrantculture.com
• Product Link: https://vibrantculture.com/assessments/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:31 I read a book a long time ago, and it said that, culture eats strategy for breakfast

04:51 I think people are so confused about the definitions, but this is the vibrant definition, the Nicole Greer definition

06:48 What is it like to experience you?

08:35 Core values are almost like our belief system

10:44 When we achieve that, we'll figure something else to accomplish

13:25 What about if you work for an organization that is visionless?

13:55 I have never been anywhere where I didn't look around and go: things could be better around here

15:42 People aren't very good about promoting themselves

18:21 Prior to project management software, we used to have to take notes

18:53 I call it IRP!

20:34 So, we're making a memory of the future

22:15 If it was legal, and we thought we could pull it off, we did whatever it took

24:55 We have to clean up this place because aesthetics matter

27:15 If you have what I call 'eagles'

28:47 Here's what leaders need to do

29:01 I take them through the S.H.I.N.E. Coaching methodology

30:32 One day they're going to say, "You want to be the manager, the sales manager?"

33:06 Here's the thing about conflict...

33:58 We have fight, flight, freeze, and deflect

34:56 We need to do what I call Employee Performance Management

36:22 Team is a verb, not just a noun

38:45 So I call it Vibrant Identity

40:20 What is most important on a team? Making good choices for the team

41:40 The website's VibrantCulture.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/build-a-vibrant-culture-nicole-greer/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuildAVibrantCulture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolegreervibrantculture/

Free Discovery Session: https://vibrantculture.com/contact/#discovery

Nicole's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-a-vibrant-culture-podcast/id1544479087

Email: nicole@vibrantculture.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 12

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast! We have a true connector and amplifier of voices joining us – Dana Lindahl. Dana is the founder of a leading podcast booking agency and has become the secret weapon for countless founders, executives, and industry leaders looking to share their stories on top podcasts. He doesn't just book appearances; Dana crafts messages that resonate and builds strategies that deliver real results, helping his clients grow their influence and connect with the audiences that truly matter.

Now, Dana's stepping into the spotlight himself, and he's here to share his insider knowledge on personal branding, the power of thought leadership, and the art of captivating an audience. Get ready for some actionable insights and relatable stories straight from the trenches of building a successful business. So, whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a budding thought-leader, or simply curious about the power of podcasting, you won't want to miss what Dana Lindahl has to share. Join me for my conversation with Dana Lindahl.

Guest Bio:

Dana Lindahl, founder of a leading podcast booking agency, is all about connecting thought leaders with the audiences who need to hear them. With a knack for spotting great stories and amplifying them to their fullest potential, Dana has helped countless founders, executives, and industry leaders snag the spotlight on top podcasts. Drawing on years of experience, Dana knows exactly how to craft a message that clicks and a strategy that works.

But Dana doesn’t just book podcasts—he transforms them into game-changers. Seeing podcasts as a powerhouse platform for storytelling and engagement, Dana has guided clients to grow their influence, connect with the right people, and drive real results. It’s this no-nonsense, results-driven approach that’s made him the go-to partner for leaders looking to step up their game and make an impact.

Now, Dana’s flipping the script and hitting the mic himself. On his podcast tour, he’ll dive into the art of personal branding, the power of thought leadership, and the secret sauce behind nailing audience engagement. Whether it’s talking entrepreneurship, leadership, or the ever-changing world of podcasting, Dana brings relatable stories, sharp insights, and actionable advice straight from the trenches of building a successful business.

When he’s not connecting leaders to their audiences, Dana’s all about helping people unlock their potential with creative, strategic thinking. A champion of empowering others to own their narratives, he blends practical tips with an infectious enthusiasm that makes success feel within reach. Whether you’re a founder, a business owner, or an aspiring podcaster, Dana delivers advice that sticks and stories you won’t forget.

Resource Links:

• Website: legendaryleadgen.com
• Website: leadbites.com
• Product Link: https://leadbites.com/services/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:48 I said I wanted to be a writer

05:05 We always hear, a rising tide raises all ships, well, the opposite thing is also true

08:36 What is your purpose for wanting to do more podcasts

11:11 Broaden the audience

12:16 What's one most crucial step that they should take to clarify their brand message

14:42 People remember stories so much better than they remember numbers and facts

16:35 I t's really about that engagement

18:17 R ather than sending them to your LinkedIn

22:15 So, for the people who are just very nervous about this sort of thing

24:36 T he written word doesn't convey itself in the same way that the spoken word does

26:47 The modern B2B buyer is doing most of the research before they even talk to somebody in sales

29:52 If there's ways that you can be writing about trends within your industry

31:01 Just being consistent and doing a lot of appearances

32:32 If people just shift their mindset on this: I'm doing marketing work

34:10 Can you share a brief success story?

35:48 Just start small, and build from there

37:02 LegendaryPodcasts.com

37:19 Go to LegendaryPodcasts.com/Becoming-Preferred you'll be able to download a free guide

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-lindahl/

Email: dana@legendarypodcasts.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 11

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the podcast and get ready for an insightful conversation with a true relationship-building guru! Our guest today, John D. Hanson, has built his incredible career on the foundation of "win-win relationships," and he's here to share his secrets.

You will learn how to cultivate these genuine connections in our fast-paced world, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, where John himself built a global network of over 30,000 from zero in just a few years – a journey we'll be unpacking for actionable steps you can take today.

So, if you're in sales, marketing, or simply looking to build stronger, more impactful relationships, you don't want to miss this. Join me for my conversation with John D. Hansen.

Guest Bio:

John D. Hanson has always prioritized Win/Win Relationships in Sales, Leadership, Customer Service, the Military, Non-Profits, Marketing, and LinkedIn. Starting in 2016 with zero connections, John grew his global network to over 30,000 professionals, showcasing the power of LinkedIn and 5th Dimensional Customer Experience.

As a dynamic speaker, B2B business coach, global author, and workshop innovator, John partners with entrepreneurial leaders and businesses driven by curiosity and courageous action. His programs—featuring high demand, transformational topics like Leveraging LinkedIn, Heroic Leadership, Earning Trust, 5th Dimensional Customer Experience, and

Empathy: Your Service Superpower—consistently deliver transformative value.

For 2025 and beyond, John’s mission is to equip 10,000 growth-minded, tech-focused small businesses with customized growth plans by 2030 through Growth Navigator Pro, an AI-powered tool delivering clarity, strategy, and results.

Join the movement to help entrepreneurial small businesses thrive. Refer a fellow visionary or growth-minded entrepreneur, and together, we can create a ripple effect of innovation, success, and lasting impact.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.johndhanson.com/
• Product Link: https://www.johndhanson.com/resources

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:10 What I learned was if I leveraged all the tools available to me that I could have success

04:59 If someone does this, they'll be automatically in the top 1% or less of all LinkedIn connections

07:53 Too often we get into the pitching right away

08:21 Number one is to optimize their profile first

11:24 What's in it for me is what drives all of us, and I think it's what intrigues us too

12:40 You're not allowed to tell your paying customers, they're not the most important customer

13:35 You're the most important customer

15:37 You're launching a new service: Growth Navigator Pro

16:19 It's not going to replace people, but I think it's going to replace the things that people shouldn't be doing

20:05 F athom or Otter AI both have automatic note takers (get links)

21:22 Empathy is a key part of your philosophy, you even call it Service Superpower

24:28 The reason why I put curiosity as one of those kind of non-negotiables

25:02 They call it the curiosity gap

27:01 So ask questions, read books, do your personal R&D, and get better

28:00 Video content on LinkedIn is viewed 20 times more than any other kind of content

28:22 In order for it to be effective, it needs to be authentic and not distracting

31:04 The question we always get asked is, well, what should I post?

33:50 If I'm just there to sell the most expensive thing, or the thing that makes me the most money, they'll be able to tell that

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-d-hanson-heroic-success/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatingpeopleandbusinessestoheroicsucces

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@john.d.hanson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_d_hanson/

Email: john@7waysmenu.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 10

Episode Overview:

Welcome to another episode of Becoming Preferred, where we explore the latest strategies and tactics to help you level up your knowledge and improve your skills. Our guest is Scott McCrady, the CEO of SolCyber. With over 25 years of experience, Scott has been at the forefront of protecting people and businesses around the globe.

In this episode, we'll delve into the misconceptions that small businesses, entrepreneurs, and business professionals have about cybersecurity, and discuss the impact of human behavior on cybersecurity breaches. Scott will also provide actionable advice on tackling ransomware threats and securing remote work environments. So, whether you are an entrepreneur, a business professional, or simply interested in learning more about cybersecurity and how to protect yourself, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Please join me for my conversation with Scott McCrady.

Guest Bio:

With 25 years of experience working in the networking, telecommunications, and information security space, Scott McCrady is currently serving as the CEO of SolCyber Managed Security Services. Scott has worked with large companies and start-ups, among them IBM and EDS, where he held Security Engineer and Team Leader positions (US and London).

Previous to SolCyber, Scott built the Asia-Pacific-Japan business at Symantec; he ran the global Managed Security Service, and the Symantec and Accenture Joint Venture. Scott then transitioned to FireEye pre-IPO to create their global MSS and System Integrator, and traveled to Singapore to help build their APJ business. After a successful run with FireEye, Scott helped spin out SonicWall from Dell to private equity and reconstitute the business into a profitable, cash flow-positive entity.

This experienced guest wants to tell start-up founders, IT Security Managers, CISOs, and other cyber risk management enthusiasts how cybersecurity is improving technology services. He simply wants to make our listeners' life easier, more successful, and safer!

Resource Links:

• Website: https://solcyber.com/
• Product Link: https://solcyber.com/security-journey/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:03 Cybersecurity has become a big business

05:20 Over 50% of small businesses that get breached go out of business within 2 years after a breach

05:54 What's the biggest mistake that they make when it comes to cybersecurity?

07:21 What happens in cyber is everyone just sort of forgets about these layers of defense

10:01 Two casinos, big casinos, in Vegas were breached

13:21 T he technologies around cyber are really good

13:27 The attackers generally tend to login, not break in

15:43 W e used to call it the crunchy exterior with the soft gooey middle

17:18 I s AI good for cybersecurity?

19:54 Cyber insurance is a great thing to have, especially for small, medium businesses

23:32 You can also go to third parties that have what we call vCISO, Virtual Chief Information Security Officers

26:36 You can do it...Is it worth your time?

30:21 The biggest problem we have right now...

32:22 F or most organizations, it's probably a very good idea to use the Cloud

36:53 W hat I tell everybody is, you've got to think about the vertical

37:10 The thing that most companies should really think about is, what's your core vertical?

39:06 Figure out what the basics are, or have somebody that can help you with the basics

40:31 A term called EDR evasion techniques

41:10 You've also got a mobile MDR

42:13 Mobile is becoming the single biggest vector to get ahold of the credentials and the IDs

42:34 If anybody wants something truly fun, go look up Pegasus mobile attacks. It is a rabbit hole that is fascinating

42:57 It’s solcyber.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmccrady/

LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solcyber/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solcybermssp

Twitter (X): https://x.com/SolCyberMSS

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0YRGrauXqhQRgFcqCCcm4e?si=872fab72886640b8&nd=1&dlsi=e28253273f5447b1

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@solcyber

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solcyber_mssp/

Email: scott@solcyber.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 9

Episode Overview:

On today’s episode, we have a fantastic guest joining us who knows exactly what it's like to feel completely drained and overwhelmed, and more importantly, how to break free.

Beverly Beuermann-King is an expert in guiding individuals and organizations from that state of burnout and stress, to a place of true resilience and vibrant engagement.

With years of experience and a wealth of knowledge, Beverly is here to share her invaluable insights. In this episode, we're diving deep into practical strategies to truly work smart, and most importantly, live smart. Get ready to transform the way you approach your work and life! Join me for my conversation with Beverly Beuermann-King.

Guest Bio:

For over 20 years, Beverly Beuermann-King has specialized in stressed out, over-extended, and struggling teams, by helping them to control their reactions to stress, build resiliency against workplace challenges and live healthy, successful lives through her S-O-S Principle™. As a professional resiliency and wellness management consultant, she uses her humorous and energetic style to provide well-researched, down-to-earth tips and strategies that fit into an already busy life. She takes the complicated and makes it simple for teams to implement.

Beverly works with corporate teams, front-line workers, agencies and association audiences who want to reduce stress, build resiliency, improve communication and be more engaged.

Whether you are looking for a consultant, keynoter, panel moderator, virtual presenter, or workshop at your conference, Beverly will ensure that your team has the right tools and knowledge to become more resilient, healthier and productive.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://worksmartlivesmart.com/
• Product Link: https://worksmartlivesmart.com/stress-wellness-resources/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:21 When we talk about stress

04:21 When we share our tools of how we've overcome or how we've coped

06:17 From burned out and stressed out, to resilient and engaged

06:53 The buckets are Situation-Ourself-and Support (SOS)

09:05 Jennifer Moss talks about burnout and the six kind of contributors

10:35 Do they have the right people, in the right job, right now?

11:28 Values are the rules of engagement

13:02 Are you willing to hire, fire, and promote based on those values?

13:20 Great new website

14:13 Strategic Hope has components to it

18:36 Wellness Wednesday eNewsletter

19:20 Understand what the payoff is

20:10 There are certain industries that are set up to build toxicity

22:00 Disengagement, you've talked about distraction, and you've talked about dread....you call them the three Ds

23:59 When you're communicating around change, are you giving people the right information?

25:51 The pandemic has really pushed mental health conversations ahead by years

27:08 Are you seeing threats that are external to this?

28:19 You say it best: Healthy minds plus healthy relationships equals a healthy workplace

30:47 The website is worksmartlivesmart.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverlybeuermannking/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Work.Smart.Live.Smart

Twitter (X): https://x.com/sostostress

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BeverlyBeuermannKing

Email: info@worksmartlivesmart.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 8

Episode Overview:

On this episode of Becoming Preferred, we’re tackling a challenge every growing business faces: scaling without chaos. My guest, Nick Foy, is here to show us how. Nick is an expert in aligning technology to build seamless processes, helping businesses escape the disruption that comes from disconnected solutions.

Nick’s passion lies in empowering businesses to scale efficiently, creating streamlined workflows that eliminate bottlenecks and foster sustainable growth. He’ll be sharing his insights on how to leverage technology strategically, ensuring your systems work for you, not against you. If you’re ready to unlock your company’s potential and build a foundation for seamless scaling, join me for my conversation with Nick Foy.

Guest Bio:

Nick Foy is the Founder, CEO, and Chief Evangelist of Silverdale Technology, which provides access to world-class processes, systems, and change management methods regardless of their size or budget. Going against the grain of the ERP industry, Nick and his team are 'democratizing ERP' with their unique perspectives, such as their standard business process library, fixed price implementation and money-back guarantees.

Nick is well placed to do so, with over 30-years of experience in business and technology consulting and leadership positions, particularly in logistics and supply chain, at Amazon, Capgemini Consulting, ModusLink Corporation, 3663 First for Foodservice, and The Glenmorangie Distillery Company.

Born in Scotland and currently living in rural Washington, USA, Nick is a frequent traveler, having made it all around the US, Europe, and Asia for work. He also spares time for his interests, such as being an aspiring guitar player, whisky sampling as a hobby, and being an early adopter and owner of a large tech graveyard of discarded first editions.

Resource Links:

• Website: SilverdaleSilverdale: Expert Odoo Partner for Seamless ERP Solutions
• Product Link: SilverdaleComprehensive Odoo Audit Services | Silverdale

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:51 Building processes is not a priority

06:58 Just keep asking why until you actually get to the root cause

08:38 You should spend way more time understanding the problem

10:25 Processes have a half-life

12:59 BPMN.io Business Process Model and Notation

13:32 If you can't see it, you can't optimize it

17:13 We are an official Odoo partner. Odoo is an all in one business software

18:49 Don't try and do it yourself

21:24 What are you missing out on?

22:35 What's the role of company culture in a successful process or tech implementation?

24:52 W hat's the one piece of advice you'd give to a business owner who feels completely overwhelmed...

26:03 Frustration doesn't help at all

27:49 What it allows you to do is to do more, and to do better (AI)

29:29 I t's never too early, but it's always too late

31:37 If you are willing to adapt and adopt some of those processes, actually the engagement can be quite lightweight

32:28 Silverdale.us

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickfoy/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silverdaletech/

Email: somroo.hassaan@silverdaletech.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON:5 EPISODE: 7

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, and get ready to supercharge your sales strategy! Today, we welcome Ken Lundin, a true sales powerhouse. With over 20 years of experience, and a staggering $1 billion in revenue generated, Ken brings the science of sales to life. He's not just talking theory; he's delivering results.

Author of "Strategic Selling Unleashed," Ken's insights have graced Forbes, stages, and podcasts worldwide. If you're ready to transform your sales approach and unlock explosive growth, then you're in for a treat. Join me for my conversation with Ken Lundin.

Guest Bio:

Ken Lundin, President and Founder of RevHeat, has a passion for helping others navigate their sales challenges. With over 20 years in the industry, Ken has weathered multiple market shifts and understands the strategic pivots necessary to thrive in uncertain times.

A firm believer that sales is a science and that it is possible to systematically and predictably grow sales, Ken's record bears witness to the effectiveness of his approach. He has generated over $1 billion in sales and earned a reputation as a business growth expert.

Ken has developed roadmaps, frameworks and processes to help businesses master the critical stages of growth essential for success in any environment. His insights and experience have led to multiple keynote speeches, citations in Forbes online, and many podcast appearances. He has also shared much of his learning in his recent book, "Strategic Selling Unleashed."

Ken's innovative methods and strategic acumen make him an ideal podcast guest for shows catering to senior executives looking to supercharge their sales teams and achieve unparalleled market success.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://revheat.com/
• Product Link: https://revheat.com/sales-services/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:06 Strategic Selling Unleashed

07:29 You're a strong advocate for the science of sales

10:16 Do you have tools that help with that?

11:59 It's part of our perfect meeting framework

13:32 We went from the average deal having 6 people influence…

14:05 Anytime somebody makes a buying decision, they have personal and professional risk

15:46 There's a massive fear of change

16:50 If you can de-risk a deal, you can shorten sales cycle times pretty significantly

17:28 How do you make it so you appear to be the most likely company on the planet who understands their needs

20:44 Do you want to know the number one way to accelerate sales? Get them to be 10% better!

25:10 Would you rather be liked or loved, more than respected and trusted?

26:27 The elite are always trying to figure out why they'll buy, and the average seller's just trying to get them to the next step in the process

28:12 The number one thing nobody's talking about

31:05 How important is personal branding for sales success in today's environment

34:26 It’s RevHeat.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kglundin/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kglundin?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXrDyJgLNoAgz2zqOlEKayA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kglundin/

Email: ken@revheat.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 6

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred! Today, we're diving deep into the art of customer connection with a true visionary. Get ready to meet Katie Smith, the Queen of the Customer Journey! Katie transforms marketing chaos into strategic success, empowering businesses to build meaningful relationships and promote real values. She's not just about clicks and conversions; she's about crafting experiences that resonate.

Katie understands that in today's world, consumers crave authenticity and connection. She'll be sharing her insights on how to build a customer journey that not only drives sales, but also fosters a sense of community and shared purpose. If you're ready to ditch the stagnant strategies and embrace a more impactful approach, you're in the right place. Join me for my conversation with Katie Smith.

Guest Bio:

Katie Smith, known as the Queen of the Customer Journey, is a visionary marketer dedicated to transforming chaos and stagnation into strategic success. Her approach empowers businesses to connect with consumers, promote shared values, and be a force for good in today’s world.

Based in Livingston, Montana, Katie infuses her love for adventure and public lands into her work. With a background in environmental science and psychology, Katie’s unique journey from outdoor guiding to a Masters in Public Relations led her to found Wild Path Consulting, where she assists rebels and disruptors in bringing their business visions to life. Dedicated to providing the best experience for the customer, Katie crafts tailored marketing strategies that align with company goals, fosters strong teams, and drives sustainable growth.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://followthewildpath.com
• Product Link: https://followthewildpath.com/sustainable-marketing-services/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:33 You're known as the Queen of the Customer Journey

04:54 First of all, what is your business goal?

06:35 The customer journey

07:46 It’s really based on the customer's need for knowledge

09:46 So, the problem is that we're dealing with people

11:43 The great thing about PR is that it's not my company telling you that this is great

16:03 So, if you were to hire an agency who had strategy

17:49 What are the first steps they should take to reignite that growth?

18:47 Keep an eye on the morale of your team

19:50 I think with brands, you can have a personality….

22:42 We're in such an interesting time in marketing right now

24:39 Something that I think people get really stuck in

26:50 N umber one, you can't do it all, and tactics are interchangeable

30:18 Some brands are doing great things

30:44 W hat's the purpose of what you're doing

31:49 The other thing about the customer journey is that each individual stage in the journey has a goal

32:53 What a crazy time to be in marketing and sales right now

33:55 www.followthewildpath.com

34:13 Search Katie Smith Wild Path (on LinkedIn)

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-smith-2077a9a/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/followthewildpath/

Podcasts: https://followthewildpath.com/podcastblog/

Email: katie@followthewildpath.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 5

Episode Overview:

Crisis can strike at any moment. Are you or your business crisis capable? My guest today will share with us strategies and tactics to become crisis capable, how we can build our capacity to survive, and succeed in every environment.

She will also be sharing her key messages on how to approach negotiations as relationship-building opportunities, how to think through scenarios and formulate a plan in advance, how to notice details that others may overlook, how to leverage your EQ to remain calm and navigate difficult conversations, and how to lean into your intuition and follow any hunch.

Fabiana is a passionate advocate for negotiation, and she is committed to helping others to develop the skills they need to succeed in any situation.

Please join me for my interesting conversation with Fabiana-Lacerca-Allen.

Guest Bio:

Fabiana Lacerca-Allen is the Senior Vice President of Compliance at Aimmune Therapeutics, a Nestle Health Science corporation, a biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for potentially life-threatening food allergies.

Practicing law and compliance for more than 30 years, Lacerca-Allen's passion as a compliance leader stems from values instilled in her at an early age and have helped to shape her career path as a global thought leader in law and compliance. In addition to leading the compliance team at Aimmune, Lacerca-Allen serves as a member of the Board of Directors and an audit Committee member at Shield Therapeutics plc.

Lacerca has a track record of building and implementing successful compliance programs across Fortune 100 organizations, particularly within pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries. Her expertise includes negotiating and implementing corporate integrity agreements, deferred prosecution agreements and consent decrees for U.S. corporations with extensive global operations.

Prior to her roles at Aimmune , Lacerca-Allen was the Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at Elan where she had global responsibilities in strategic initiatives and implementation of compliance programs. And prior to this, she held roles as a Board Member at ArthroCare, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at Mylan, Director of Compliance at Bristol Myers & Squibb and Senior Counsel at Microsoft.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://fabianalacercaallen.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Crisis-Capable-Building-Capacity-Environment-ebook/dp/B0D9BY131H

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:02 We're all going to die, so don't worry about it. Worry about what you're going to live for

04:24 You overheard a conversation with your father

06:04 He said, That's why you should only get information when you can do something about it

07:54 Most people follow action

09:45 Somebody asked me, How do you choose people to work with?

11:43 I think intuition is important, as a marker to pay more attention

14:05 D on't collect regrets

17:29 There's no situation that's not a win win, that's sustainable

19:58 Your bottom line is, you have to be willing to walk out of anything, period

23:18 One typical mistake I found

23:50 We have more in common than not

25:21 What are the three things that people that don't like you will tell me about you?

28:25 I say, Act with integrity and accept the results

30:16 The book is called Crisis Capable, Building Your Capacity to Survive and Succeed in Every Environment

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flacerca/

Twitter: https://x.com/flacercaallen?lang=es

Email: mflacerca@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 4

Episode Overview:

The digital landscape is constantly shifting, making it harder than ever to connect with your audience and achieve your goals. With the rise of AI, the explosion of voice search, and the ever-increasing demand for personalized experiences, how can marketers stay ahead of the curve? How can businesses adapt to emerging technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality?

That's why we've invited a true expert to help us unpack these complexities. Joining us today is Brook Shepard, the founder and CEO of Mason Interactive, a leading digital marketing agency that's helped countless businesses navigate the digital world.

Brook will be sharing his insights on these critical questions and more as we explore "The Future of Digital Marketing: Trends Shaping the Industry in 2025 and Beyond." Get ready for a deep dive into the strategies and solutions that will define the future of marketing.

Let's welcome to the show, Brook Shepard!

Guest Bio:

Brook Shepard is the founder of Mason Interactive, a premier digital marketing where data, design and strategy come together to drive exceptional results for clients. With over a decade of experience driving measurable results, Brook has established himself as a trusted partner for businesses looking to scale. Under his leadership, Mason Interactive has grown into a full-service agency that collaborates with clients in industries ranging from e-commerce to healthcare, leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights to deliver impactful campaigns.

Brook's expertise lies in crafting marketing strategies that align with his clients' unique business goals, ensuring sustainable growth and ROI. A thought leader in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, he frequently shares his insights on trends like AI in advertising, omnichannel strategies, and the future of customer acquisition. Passionate about education, Brook is committed to helping brands and individuals navigate the complexities of modern marketing, empowering them to achieve their fullest potential.

When he's not driving growth for his clients, Brook is a sought-after speaker and podcast guest, where he discusses topics like the intersection of creativity and analytics, scaling businesses in competitive markets, and his entrepreneurial journey. He brings an engaging and practical perspective to the table, making his insights valuable for marketers, founders, and business leaders alike.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://masoninteractive.com/
• Product Link: https://masoninteractive.com/our-offerings/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:04 I left and I started Mason in 2008 with zero clients and zero dollars

04:24 It hasn't been a straight climb and I'm not at the top of any mountain

06:09 My first big client was ITT technical Institute

08:57 If you're dealing with a limited, finite pool of people

11:28 You’ve got 5 generations of buyers

13:31 The trends are to diversify

16:57 The concept of delivery consultants

18:44 The soft skills are becoming more and more important

21:23 We try to be a place where data, design, and strategy come together

22:55 It's the ads job to get you to the website, I think, and it's the website's job to convert you

25:16 If I was starting a B2C brand, the first thing I would do

27:38 This is my opinion masquerading as an insight

32:40 Because it's never the primary ideas

33:13 Every client wants to test ads until the ads start getting tested

38:55 I think that the danger of in-house is that skill sets go bad very quickly

40:21 To future proof your efforts….

41:27 I need to figure out how many new clients I'm going to need, and assign a goal to it

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brshepard/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masoninteractiv

Twitter (X): https://x.com/MasonInteractiv

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb7FDzEYbBLYPCmwnM52Mgg

Email: brook@masoninteractive.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 3

Episode Overview:

Are you, your team, or your organization struggling with high levels of workplace stress and burnout? Are you seeing rising conflict and declining team morale? Are you experiencing poor mental health and productivity issues?

My guest today will share strategies to intervene, stabilize and revitalize team harmony, growth, resilience, and well-being. Please join me for my conversation with best-selling author, speaker and coach, Joyce Odidison.

Guest Bio:

Joyce Odidison is a renowned workplace wellness expert, conflict analyst, leadership coach, keynote speaker, and author of seven books. With over 27 years of experience, she has dedicated her career to helping organizations, teams, and individuals build resilience, reduce workplace toxicity, and foster well-being.

As the Founder and CEO of Interpersonal Wellness Services Inc., Joyce has pioneered innovative strategies that empower leaders and teams to navigate workplace stress, burnout, and interpersonal conflicts effectively. Her holistic approach integrates neuroscience, interpersonal neurobiology, interpersonal wellness, and conflict resolution, making her a sought-after expert in workplace well-being, resilience, and leadership development.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://joyceodidison.com
• Website: https://interpersonalwellness.com
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/author/B003V5JGG0?ingress=0&visitId=fc2d0863-a190-4ef8-a013-43d4132143d6&ref_=ap_rdr
• Ultimate Team Resilience Guide (Free Copy): https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/SUeB1JQXtswWzY5JF1Xt

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:55 I've always been that curious person trying to find a better solution

02:47 I created the pre-mediation concept

06:23 My emotions are things that I experienced, they're not who I am

09:50 Parenting is what's caught, not necessarily what's taught

10:54 What's work life balance?

12:47 When we lose control, then we feel out of balance

15:30 How can business leaders spot early signs of burnout in their teams?

17:02 There's a difference between people who have a job, and people who have a profession

17:16 We have to ensure that work is tied into people's passion

19:06 Don't work through your lunch break and your coffee breaks

19:43 It's not the work that I'm doing that's burning me out

23:28 At the end of the day, it's about being resilient

24:55 Why do we not have those resilient minds?

27:49 There's a lot of ways to value my time and to use my time creatively to add value

31:05 My 7th book is A Marriage That Thrives

32:46 The grass isn't always greener, it's greener where you water it

33:54 W hen you learn, you grow your spirit

37:08 How do I give my employees more control over their day?

38:48 Our Emotional Wellness Cleanse

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyceodidison/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyceodidisonbiz/

Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/joyceodidison/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joyceod46

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1dzu9D8dq0457R1vh4K6LA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyceodidison/?hl=en

Email: joyce@interpersonalwellness.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 2

Episode Overview:

Marketing and positioning your products or services in a congested marketplace can be challenging. Today, we're diving into the world of strategic marketing and PR with Wayne Stanley.

As the founder of Bowe Digital, Wayne helps businesses cut through the noise and build impactful brands. He's a master at crafting compelling narratives and driving real results. Get ready for insights you can use, straight from the digital trenches. Join me now for my conversation with Wayne Stanley.

Guest Bio:

Wayne M. Stanley is the owner of Bowe Digital, a marketing agency offering custom services for small businesses with hundreds of clients all around the United States. Bowe Digital works with businesses of all shapes and sizes on website creation, email marketing, social media, video, design and much more.

In 2023, Bowe Digital was named one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana for the second year in a row by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Wayne received the 2023 October Research "Exemplary Leadership Award" during the National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) for his contributions to Bowe Digital and the title Industry as a whole. Additionally, Wayne was named a 2023 Marketing Leader by HousingWire in recognition of his leadership in marketing within the real estate industry as a whole.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.bowedigital.com/
• Product Link: https://www.bowedigital.com/services/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:25 You've got to know where your customers are

05:36 What's the biggest mistake that you see small businesses making with their marketing?

06:57 There's a lot of distrust purely because there's a lot of misunderstanding

09:40 You have to figure out how to start small to move forward

11:00 If you've ever gone fishing, you know, I say all the time, if the bobber moves, then we stay put

15:59 I do think that telling your story is extremely important

19:21 T he story becomes really important

21:06 You want an emotional connection with your story

22:57 I think that a small thing that you should do

24:40 What are some of the biggest misconceptions businesses have about PR?

27:38 One of the tools I love for small and medium sized businesses is HotJar

29:32 W hat are some key factors they should consider?

31:22 Our rule is to always say yes first

33:03 There's a whole educational side of TikTok that is just absolutely huge for people

36:46 What's the one piece of advice that you would give every business owner?

38:32 The website is bowedigital.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waynemstanley/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waynestanley/

Email: wayne@bowedigital.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 1

Episode Overview:

Ever feel like your company's stuck in a rut? This week, we're talking with an expert who helps even the best companies get unstuck. He’s worked with some of the biggest names out there, and he knows that sometimes, it takes an outsider's perspective to see what's really going on.

He'll be sharing his insights on why even seasoned teams need fresh training and guidance in today's rapidly changing business world. Get ready for some game-changing advice with author, speaker and coach, Sam Mallikarjunan.

Guest Bio:

Sam Mallikarjunan is a growth strategist, entrepreneur, and the Growth Lead at agent.ai. He is the former CEO and co-founder of OneScreen.ai, a marketplace for out-of-home advertising, and previously served as Chief Revenue Officer at Flock.com and Head of Growth at HubSpot Labs, where he drove significant customer acquisition and revenue growth.

Sam is a former professor at Harvard University, where he taught Advanced Digital Marketing and Innovation, and he currently shares his expertise as a LinkedIn Learning Instructor. He is also the co-author of the bestseller Inbound Commerce - How to Sell Better than Amazon, and frequently offers insights on AI, marketing, and business strategy.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://agent.ai
• Website: https://www.mallikarjunan.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Inbound-Commerce-Sell-Better-Amazon-ebook/dp/B00C2TJQ16/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3I9DG7WJFAM14&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0j-S9y_pz53zSIRcMxA7a4p2Pg6Qd-2LXlECmsaKizDGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.K8McvllKtWR9LY41Sa0O0FcqjnehotQUAvCwBJTBGXA&dib_tag=se&keywords=inbound+commerce+sam+mallikarjunan&qid=1739840370&s=books&sprefix=inbound+commerce+sam+mallikarjunan%2Cstripbooks%2C123&sr=1-1

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:50 I ended up working at HubSpot for about 7 years

04:35 B e willing to kill ideas really quickly

05:08 Appreciate the independence of a team

05:42 The smaller team of higher quality people is going to win every time

06:13 Whoever chases two rabbits is going to catch neither

09:29 I t's remarkably hard to get people to change their habits

10:28 F ear and greed are just great motivators of human behavior

12:02 I n your bestseller, Inbound Commerce

13:33 What was the most critical digital marketing concept?

18:02 You probably have a pricing problem more than you realize

18:26 If you get somebody to pay up front, they're less likely to cancel long term

20:05 U se the currency of the client

22:07 If you can figure out what somebody else is charging for and figure out a way to make it free

23:24 So Freemium didn't exist when HubSpot launched

24:44 My favorite thing about AI is it gives every person access to a breadth of skills

27:50 It’s actually not a great time to be a very large company

31:26 Just go over to agent.ai. we actually just launched a community platform there

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallikarjunan/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Agentai/61561787124174/

Twitter: https://x.com/AgentDotAi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mallikarjunan/

Email: sam.mallikarjunan@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 36

Episode Overview:

Ever feel like you're not quite living up to your full potential? My guest today is Jane McCarthy, a force of nature dedicated to helping you clear mind clutter, embrace your strengths and thrive with hope.

Jane's a coach, speaker, and strategist who empowers individuals to unlock their hidden talents and create a life they truly love. Get ready to be inspired as we dive into Jane's powerful strategies for maximizing your potential, and living your best life. Join me now for my conversation with Jane McCarthy.

Guest Bio:

With over 30 years of experience, including a trailblazing career at Verizon, Jane McCarthy is a HOPE Activator who empowers people to clear mind clutter and embrace their strengths. A pioneer in telecommuting and job sharing, Jane’s speaking and workshop facilitation are filled with positivity, infectious enthusiasm, and unwavering support.

Jane’s inspired audiences of 700K globally with her message of HOPE: Holding On to Positive Energy. As the founder of JaneSTORM, she connects people and ideas, guiding them to lead with heart and achieve success, both live and virtually.

Resource Links:

• Website: Janestorm.com
• Product Link: https://www.janestorm.com/deckofhope

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:41 They said, “When you show up, we don't brainstorm, we JaneStorm!”

04:37 Don Clipton said 50 years ago, “What would we do if we focused on people's strengths instead of their weaknesses?”

06:15 You're kind of renowned for what you talk about as the top 5 strengths

08:22 You talk about maximizing potential

09:03 W hat is the story you're telling yourself?

11:50 All anybody ever wants is to be seen, heard, valued, and understood

14:54 I learned about David Hawkins, who is a scientist

16:26 Knowing what people do well and then having them focus on that

18:47 You always want to come from ‘how’ and ‘what’ questions

20:10 DEI is a trigger word

22:36 How do you want to hold on to positive energy in a team?

23:26 When you become a strengths based culture

25:29 Have you determined an origin for the strengths?

27:30 Are some of these attributes or strengths more important than others to develop?

30:08 It's knowing your audience

33:24 What's required to fix it and create the transformation that's required

35:21 I think you made a very important point where we have to put ourselves in the other person's shoes

36:18 Jane Storm, positive force for your future

37:29 That is my superpower: looking at things absolutely from the glass is half full

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-mccarthy-janestorm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaneStormHopeActivator

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@janestorm6033

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janestorm_hopeactivator/

Email: Jane@Janestorm.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 35

Episode Overview:

Ever feel like you are working hard, but not always smart? This week on Becoming Preferred, we're diving into the world of sales enablement with Dr. Stefanie Boyer, a true expert in the field.

Stefanie helps businesses equip their sales teams with the tools, resources, and strategies they need to close deals and boost revenue. She's here to break down what sales enablement really is, why it matters, and how you can implement it in your own organization. Get ready to transform your sales performance with my guest, Stefanie Boyer.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Stefanie Boyer, Professor of Marketing at Bryant University, is the Co-Founder of RNMKRS, a virtual platform for training and assessing sales talent. She is Executive Director of the Northeast Intercollegiate Sales Competition, linking organizations with top talent, and is the recipient of the prestigious American Marketing Association Sales Educator of the Year Award. Stefanie coauthored The Little Black Book of Social Media, Strategies to Ignite Your Business, Influencer, and Professional Brand. She brings unique and valuable experience to the classroom and to organizations that want to build their client base.

Since 2003, Dr. Boyer has held various roles in training and developing sales professionals working in sales and preparing to go into sales. Her expertise leverages self-directed learning philosophies to help organizations get more out of their training resources. What does that mean? Your team will learn more effectively and efficiently and you will see an improvement in performance when you use this approach. Dr. Boyer uses an adaptability approach to training teams to shorten their decision making cycle and capitalize on revenue opportunities.

Dr. Boyer created a sales movement at Bryant University with a sales minor, various sales competitions and events, a vibrant sales team and mentorship programs. She strives to bring together the brightest sales students and leading sales organizations in the northeast and expanding around the country for networking, recruiting, competition and skill-building.

Dr. Boyer has won several teaching, innovation, research and service awards over the years in the sales field.

You can find more information about her research and the training she does in the following outlets: Wall Street Journal, Sales Education Foundation Annual Magazine, Journal of Business Research, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Selling, International Journal of Education, Journal of Marketing Analytics, Journal of Self-Directed Learning, Marketing Management Journal, Journal of Marketing Channels, Journal of Business to Business Marketing, Journal of Managerial Issues, Journal of Marketing Education, Journal for Advancement of Marketing Education, Academy of Marketing Studies Journal, International Journal of Sales, Marketing and Retailing, and the Journal of Research and Interactive Marketing, among others. B.A., M.B.A., Ph.D. University of South Florida.

Resource Links:

• Website: Website: https://www.bryant.edu/academics/faculty/boyer-stefanie
• Product Link: The Little Black Book of Social Media

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:03 Newer sellers are not necessarily getting the kind of coaching and support that they need

06:36 When it comes to AI versus a salesperson

08:03 AI needs oversight

09:39 Whatever you're using AI to help you with

11:05 Is there anyone doing it well?

12:58 What are some of the under the radar AI power tools

14:17 T he data is really important

15:38 Being able to ask the right questions to your AI

16:48 If you go to Google, they've got Gemini

20:53 I think you could give away every single piece of your content for free

22:00 The Little Black Book of Social Media

23:14 It really is about the conversation

25:39 People buy into people first

27:20 I had people rate themselves on the skills that are important in sales

29:40 Let's do a better job of finding the right people first

32:42 Rainmakers is RNMKRS.com

33:49 In order to get people to be really good at sales, they have to practice selling

37:39 I've been studying how people learn for over 22 years now

40:10 The conversation is everything

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/bryant-university

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drstefanieboyer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bryantuniversity

Twitter: https://x.com/DrSBoyer

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BryantUniv

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryantuniversity/

Email: sboyer@bryant.edu

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 34

Episode Overview:

Are you experiencing adversity or challenges, personally or professionally? Life’s storms are inevitable. These storms affect us by bringing anxiety and worry, depression, and lack of motivation. They rob us of our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Either you are just coming out of one, you are currently in one, or you will soon be in one.

We cannot escape them, but learning how to navigate them is the key. To help us cultivate gratitude, even in adversity, is speaker and life coach, Sandie Eggers.

Guest Bio:

“Do nothing and be dead in a few days,” were the words Sandie Eggers heard from her husband’s surgeon, words that began her greatest season of challenge to date.

The two main things that enabled Sandie to weather this life storm were God and the transformational power of gratitude. Sandie is passionate about helping others by sharing what she’s learned so that they, too, can better navigate through their own life storms.

In addition to having authored the book, “Live Boldly and Embrace Joy” about her life-altering experience, Sandie also shares her knowledge through online courses, webinars, and workshops. She speaks to civic, religious, and corporate groups.

FUN FACT:

Sandie now lives in the low country. By God’s grace and blessing, she has achieved one of her personal goals: living in a place where the only “white stuff” she sees is beach sand.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.yourlifeabundant.com
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Each-Day-Joy-Laughing-ebook/dp/B00LK9WKVC

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:44 The greatest adversity that I'd gone through was the terminal illness of my husband

05:02 While we couldn't control this monster called cancer….

06:18 It's easy when we're living in an environment like we're living

08:45 Your work centers a lot on fostering an attitude of gratitude

10:19 You talk about gratitude being a practice

11:19 There's some specific techniques that you can use when you're a pessimist

13:16 You can begin to see the good out of a very bad situation

13:32 Declare an International Be Kind to (Fill in Your Name) Day!

14:47 Having gratitude to something outside yourself

17:56 How does the mechanism of gratitude get us out of that place, that negative space?

19:47 There's physical benefits, though, that come from having gratitude as well

23:12 How can we then cultivate gratitude, not only for the good things in our lives

24:47 Hey, thanks so much, I appreciate you

25:30 Remember that you’re not alone

27:03 Your book, Embrace Each Day with Joy

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/your-life-abundant

Email: YLA-info@protonmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 33

Episode Overview:

Marketing can be tricky, and expensive if you get it wrong. Choosing the right strategy, and agency partners can be a real game-changer. That’s where my next guest comes in. His company has vetted over 800 marketing agencies to find the best at what they do.

If you are looking to save time and money finding the perfect agency or contractors for business, then you are going to enjoy my conversation with the founder of CJAM Marketing, Behdad Jamshidi.

Guest Bio:

Behdad Jamshidi started CJAM Marketing after realizing that most companies don’t know how to evaluate the value of a marketing agency or assess their own needs. Since every business is different not only in their needs but where they are at in the growth process, it isn’t a one size fits all. In the past 5 years, Behdad (or Bee) has met with and assessed 971+ marketing agencies and vetted them down to a lean 100+ preferred partners across all marketing niches.

After pairing hundreds of businesses with the right partners, he’s found his skillset lies in the matchmaking process. Featured in MarketWatch, Bloomberg, National Post and the Financial Post, Bee’s unique background in marketing, engineering, consulting, leadership, sales and strategy, has allowed him to serve as the conduit between business owners and the marketing teams they need.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://cjammarketing.com/
• Free Consultation: https://cjammarketing.com/book-a-call-general/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:22 I ended up working for a company called Telus

03:43 There's a gap between marketing agencies

05:52 Most businesses only do one meeting before they end up hiring the marketing agency

08:41 Some of the biggest mistakes I see

10:32 You talk about chemistry as a key factor and how important it is

12:21 Let's talk about price

16:15 So, a couple of the red flags that you'll get

18:04 How important is it to find an agency with niche or niche expertise

20:00 When you talk about the references

22:07 Should businesses or your clients be wary of the agencies that promise guaranteed results?

25:10 Basically you need a marketing executive with an understanding of sales

28:18 You've got to go back to the drawing board

31:28 if you want great customer service, be a great customer

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cjam-marketing/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cjammarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjammarketing/

Email: bjamshidi@cjammarketing.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 32

Episode Overview:

Ready to build a thriving business without sacrificing your life? If you want to transform your business into a well-oiled machine by implementing the right processes and systems that drive efficiency and growth, so that you can spend less time struggling and more time achieving the results you’ve always envisioned, then you are going to enjoy my conversation with author, speaker and coach, and founder of the Business Accelerator Institute, James Brown.

Guest Bio:

James is the CEO and Founder of Business Accelerator Institute and Perseverance Squared. He launched his first business in 1994, quickly expanding it to multiple top-performing locations with $8 million in annual revenue. In 2014, James shifted to coaching, guiding over 350 business owners through strategic growth. As a fractional CEO at How To Manage a Small Law Firm, he helped launch Small Law Firm University, generating $3 million in revenue within a year. In 2023, he founded Perseverance Squared, followed by the Business Accelerator Institute to help professional service providers transform their businesses and lives. James also co-founded Welcome Home Legacy Holdings, a real estate investment company aiming for $100 million in assets.

James holds a Business degree from Lindenwood University and a JD from St. Louis University. He has been recognized as “St. Louis’ Best Attorney to Have on Your Side” and “Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year,” with features in USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

James is the CEO/Founder of Business Accelerator Institute and Perseverance Squared where he is a business consultant with a strong background in law. He launched his first business in 1994 and rapidly expanded to multiple top-performing locations reaching $8M in annual revenue. In 2014, James transitioned to coaching, guiding over 350 business owners to significant growth through strategic management and marketing. As a fractional CEO/SLFU Program Manager at How To Manage a Small Law Firm, he launched Small Law Firm University, growing it to $3 million in revenue within a year, and developed a C M O program that generated an additional $2 million annually. With a Business degree from Lindenwood University and a JD from St. Louis University, James is a recognized industry expert and co-author of the best-selling book Shift Happens. He has earned numerous accolades for his legal expertise and business acumen.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://businessaccelerator.institute/
• Product Link: https://businessaccelerator.institute/preferred

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:02 D on't ever tell me I can't do something

03:17 They believe their doubts and they doubt their beliefs

03:46 It's called the doctrine of sacrifice

05:28 The biggest challenge always is mindset

06:48 The lowest and worst use of a business owner's time is actually doing the production itself

08:19 They see hiring and they see marketing as an expense

10:28 So let's talk about identifying the accelerator mindset

11:59 I look at it like stories in a building

15:57 What do you think causes the limiting beliefs in the first place?

16:37 Limiting beliefs to me, come from one of two places

17:51 Let's talk about measuring success beyond the bottom line

19:56 Everybody’s 'why' is different

20:49 Do you have examples of a transformation experience

23:19 I call them stop gaps

25:08 I think some people need more hand holding than others

25:45 When you're surrounded by like minded individuals, magic happens

26:29 I just got done reading this B.O.S.S. Moves by Myron Golden

29:20 I've read all 13,182 thirteen pages of the new code

30:11 When we put labels on stuff, it affects our ability to take action

31:32 How important is technology in part of what you do?

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessacceleratorinstitute/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perseverancesquared

Email: info@businessaccelerator.institute

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 31

Episode Overview:

Are you tired of feeling like you’re always chasing the next sale or struggling to meet quota? Ready to close more deals with less effort and resistance? Want to set higher-quality appointments that convert? Are you looking to increase your income and career opportunities? All of these are achievable when you learn to ethically and effectively influence others.

My guest today will share with us his insights on how to build genuine relationships and help you transform how you approach every sale or opportunity. Join me now for my conversation with the founder of The Sales Dojo, Christian Jack.

Guest Bio:

Christian Jack is a highly respected sales coach and growth consultant with a proven ability to scale businesses to multiple eight figures. He provides fractional CRO services, one-on-one coaching, and tailored sales training that empower professionals and entrepreneurs to achieve sustainable growth.

Specializing in influence, persuasion, and sales frameworks, Christian has successfully brokered millions in deals and coached hundreds of professionals, managers, leaders, and sales pros on mastering key skills like body language, leadership, and communication. His practical, personalized approach enables clients to maximize their influence, boost performance, and achieve long-term success.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://thesalesdojo.co/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:37 Some of the most important things as I was being raised were discipline and consistency

03:29 What can I do where I will have ultimate job security forever

06:29 Some people call it the ‘post trust era’

08:24 I think AI is still in its infancy

10:23 Let's talk about how people buy

11:20 You've developed a process, Frontal Cortex Persuasion, FCP

12:40 The biggest portion that gets in the way of people making buying decisions is usually the frontal cortex

14:14 How do you get somebody's attention?

16:21 Getting people's attention is the first step towards starting any sort of sales process

17:02 Next one is Bonding

19:04 This one is the comprehension stage

21:35 You're starting to get them problem aware, product aware, etc

23:36 You emphasize the importance of mindset and self belief when it comes to selling

24:38 Comes down to having the consistency and the discipline to realize that your thoughts shape your reality

26:33 I think our role is to not necessarily fake our confidence, but to protect our confidence

29:36 Lots of people will get stuck in one narrow minded view of certain topics in their life

31:14 The biggest hit to a salesperson's confidence is going to be selling a product or service that they don't actually believe in

33:28 The internal voice is so much more powerful than the external voice

34:41 What the prospect says is gospel, and what you say is garbage

35:03 You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your standards

35:39 The biggest thing that a lot of companies miss out on when they're hiring….

37:37 The biggest thing that anybody can do in order to make more sales is….

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-jack-989306295/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christian.jack.58152/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christianjack.tiktok

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@therealchristianjack

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianjack.in/

Email: support@christianjack.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 30

Episode Overview:

Feeling stuck, or unfulfilled? Want to learn how to tap into your inner potential and achieve greatness?We often hear about physical performance, but what about neuro-performance? How can entrepreneurs and business professionals optimize their brain function for peak productivity, better decision-making, and increased resilience in the face of challenges?

My guest today, is a global speaker, coach, and serial entrepreneur renowned for his transformative approach to personal and business growth. Please join me for my conversation with Jay Dhahan.

Guest Bio:

Jay Dhahan is a distinguished global speaker, coach, and serial entrepreneur renowned for his transformative approach to personal and business growth. As the founder and CEO of NextGen Wealthy, Jay leverages his expertise in behavioral science, neuro-linguistics, and hypnotherapy to empower leaders to master their mindset, communication, and connections in today's digital age.

With a wealth of experience in commercial real estate development, Jay has built an impressive 8-figure portfolio, underscoring his commitment to excellence and generational wealth creation.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://jaydhahan.com/
• Website: https://nextgenwealthy.com/
• Product Link: https://www.skool.com/jaydhahan-free

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:09 I got access to money and that positioned me in the wrong places

05:15 nextgenwealthy.com

06:50 To be successful in organizations, I think we have to be entrepreneurs

08:03 How are we actually helping people take their life to the next level?

10:43 You’ve got to give yourself time to think

11:48 It doesn't teach things like communication skills, it doesn't teach financial literacy

12:32 I think now it's more about ‘people capital’

14:52 You teach a concept called Uncaging Your Roar

16:05 We focus on brotherhood, blessings, and breakthroughs

17:20 There's a fine line between fearlessness and recklessness

19:37 Let's go back to the Boomers

22:07 When we look at the instant gratification

23:00 You also teach the importance of neuro-performance in business

24:10 Of the common 7 emotions that we feel, 6 are negative

25:51 How does Jay start his day in order to get the mindset in the right place?

28:21 Not to overcomplicate it

28:34 T he app called Blinkist.com

29:47 I don't believe in work life balance

31:57 Fulfillment needs to be more of a focus than just sales

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaydhahan/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JDhahan

X (Twitter): https://x.com/JayDhahan

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jaydhahan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaydhahan/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextgenwealthy/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jaydhahan

Email: info@nextgenwealthy.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 29

Episode Overview:

Ready to level up your PR game? In today’s competitive marketplace, one of the best ways to position yourself as a thought leader, enhance your reputation, and attract potential clients or customers is through Podcast interviews.

This popular PR tool provides you a unique opportunity to connect with your target audience, build credibility, and share your story in an authentic and engaging way. To help us understand how to use podcasts as an effective PR strategy, is my guest, PR Podcast Marketing Specialist, Liz Brooks.

Guest Bio:

Liz Brooks is a client and media relations professional with a specialized focus on guiding SMEs and brands through strategic Podcast Interview Marketing campaigns. With a rich background in PR, including experience with prominent traditional media outlets and leading blue-chip agencies, Liz combines her expertise in media relations with innovative podcast marketing strategies.

Her ability to harness the power of creative storytelling allows clients to effectively engage target audiences, build brand authority, and achieve tailored communication goals. Liz’s sophisticated approach to blending podcast marketing and PR ensures maximum outreach and impact, making her a trusted advisor for brands looking to navigate the evolving media landscape with precision and innovation.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://interviewvalet.com/liz/

Podcast Production Platforms we would recommend:

• Descript: https://www.descript.com
• Alitu: https://alitu.com

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:59 I've been a long life musician

04:01 I didn't realize that I've been doing PR this whole time

06:24 Now with Interview Valet, I act as a PR strategist and also a client account manager

07:48 60 or 70 % of podcasts fail because they don't get past 5 or 6 episodes

08:49 If you want to get into podcasting, first of all, you really have to want it

09:32 Lots of great software programs, Descript

10:09 It's also a statistic that people will trust their favorite podcasters more than other news sources

11:46 Big shoutout to Interview Valet

12:45 There are the folks that go for the daily podcasts

14:44 I think it really matters on the content

15:11 30 to 40 minutes is usually the sweet spot

18:04 If you really want to be able to measure results, start using welcome pages

19:05 What are some of the key coaching techniques

20:43 What is a problem that you help solve?

22:28 What do you recommend from Interview Valet’s perspective?

23:46 You say, and teach, that authenticity is crucial for podcast interviews

25:43 What trends or emerging trends do you see in podcast PR?

27:58 There's some industries or segments that have a reputation for being a little dry and maybe boring

30:15 What advice would you give listeners who want to leverage podcasting as a powerful tool

32:01 InterviewValet.com/Liz

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizgbrooks/

Email: liz@interviewvalet.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 28

Episode Overview:

In today’s business world, leaders who create workplace cultures that are engaging and energizing, create a distinct advantage for their companies and organizations.

Whether it’s managing teams virtually or at the office, my guest today will share insights and strategies on how to build a strong and cohesive team from the ground up, how you can overcome communication breakdowns within teams, and how to build trust with your team members to take them to the next level. Join me now for my conversation with team building expert, author and speaker, Tyler Hayden.

Guest Bio:

Tyler Hayden CSP, is a keynote speaker like you’ve never experienced before!

Since 1996, Tyler continues to be a sought after internationally respected team building designer, best-selling author, and business speaker. He delivers a powerful punch that inspires teams, innovates management techniques, and invigorates team engagement.

When it comes to empowering audiences and teams to succeed—and to be their best every day—Tyler leads the way with insight and laughter.

His team building workshops and motivational keynote speeches receive rave reviews from managers and business leaders alike. "Energizing," "hilarious," "who knew learning could be this much fun,” and "ideas I can easily implement," are things regularly said by Tyler's clients about his keynotes and team building events.

He is the author of over twenty-five books and the creative mind behind 100s of powerful and fun team building products including: The Business that Cared About People, The 14-Minute Mentor, Livin' Life Large, Father's & Mother's Message in a Bottle, TEAM Activities, and More.

Tyler is a thought leader who works internationally with Fortune 500, Inc 5000 and Premier Associations to level-up their learning design. Tyler's innovative gamification and in-depth understanding of multiple intelligences yields programs that increase engagement and learning in amazingly simple ways.

Make sure your seat backs are up and your table trays are stowed, because he unleashes Canada's Answer to Alternative Energy ...

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.tylerhayden.com
• Product Link: https://www.tylerhayden.com/shop
• Team Building School: https://teambuildingschool.xperiencify.io/quick-start/order/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:56 The best way to stay employed was to hire yourself

04:25 I was reading Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book on Flow

04:41 Frames of Mind by Howard Gardner

06:48 I just wrote a book called the Virtually Engaged Team Building Activities

09:04 I signed up and you offer a free lesson

09:58 You don't necessarily know what people are bringing to the table until you get to know them

11:49 Team building should be progressive

12:09 I use a model called the three Fs: Fun, Fast Forward and Fix

14:08 We have to spend more time listening to our teams

18:43 We do, In It to Win It

21:08 There’s KPIs and there’s KPBs

23:02 Are there some tips that they can do to build a strong, cohesive team?

24:38 Every business has different types of effective leaders

26:46 Trust is everything

28:35 The trick is to get everyone on the same page

30:05 Let's say, what can we do less of?

31:05 We wrote this book called 14 Minute Mentor

33:23 Creativity is at the heart of what business is

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhayden/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motivationalkeynote

Twitter: https://x.com/livinlifelarge

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TeamBuildingSchooL

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerhayden_teambuilding/

Email: tyler@tylerhayden.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 27

Episode Overview:

Ready to create and live your inspired life? If you have been curious about what more in life you can be, or do, or have, or create, or share, or give, or expand, then this episode is for you. My next guest says that the only thing standing between you and your inspired life is a DECISION.

Without knowing all the answers, your dream, your vision, deserves you. To help us understand how we can create an inspired life and become a better version of ourselves, is speaker, writer, and transformational teacher, Inge Maskun.

Guest Bio:

Inge was born and raised in Indonesia by two strong women after her mom died. She was six years old. These women were her aunt and grandmother. Growing up, she was encouraged to pursue higher education, but she was never asked what she would love to be and do. It was a directive instead of an invitation. It was a statement, by them, instead of a question. And that was how she built a few businesses, and a life -- from her 19-year career in advertising and marketing in Indonesia, as a managing partner alongside her husband building an import business (shortly after moving to Minnesota), and as a network-marketer. She rarely asked herself,

WHAT WOULD I LOVE to be, do, create, have, and give? Better yet, if I knew nothing was impossible? Questions generate ideas.

Inge has been drawn to self-expansion since 1984. She read books, was involved in book clubs for personal growth, joined many courses, and networked with like-minded people. Her continued curiosity about the question ‘what would I love’ gained traction after she closed the import business. She became certified as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach in 2015 and started working with clients through Community Action Duluth and Safe Haven (a center in her town that provides services to women, whose lives have been affected by physical, emotional, sexual, and economic abuse).

During this working partnership; guiding and workshopping participants, she witnessed the impact of fear and worry on people’s well-being. Inge experimented with a different strategy by introducing the question: WHAT WOULD I LOVE? The feedback she received brought Inge to the next path of understanding – someone’s wellbeing reflects what one loves and worries about. That’s when Inge decided to and pivoted into Life Coaching, providing transformative guidance for her clients to serve a vision of the life they are inspired to and love to live.

Inge’s teacher says, “The quality of our life is framed by the quality of questions we are willing to ask.” Most of us learn to ask very weak questions of the Universe →What do I think I can do? What does my bank account say I can do? What does my current job say I can do?

Since then, Inge has deepened her understanding and the implementation of living from this generative state and vibration: WHAT WOULD I LOVE? She’s certified as a Passion Test Facilitator, a DreamBuilder Coach, and a Life Mastery Consultant.

Inge lives in Duluth, Minnesota, with her husband and a sassy cat named Coco.

Resource Links:

• Website: Website: www.ingemaskun.com
• Workshop: https://ingemaskun.com/events

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:59 My mom died when I was 6

06:36 So it opened my mind and I said, I have a choice

07:52 Until I landed on the dream building program, and it changed everything for me

10:49 How many of us adults were actually introduced to the idea

12:34 Where your attention is, energy flows there

14:06 I thought it was a great question, What would I love?

15:06 When you ask the question, you get the answers

16:58 I use the word joy now, instead of happiness

21:02 We are energy beings

22:38 You've been doing this day in and day out, 10 years working on the same thing

24:19 That means that the space you are in right now can no longer contain your growth

27:25 You have to know where you're going

30:56 Take time to dream

32:28 Dream Building 101

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inge-maskun/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ingemaskunYourTransformativeGuide

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inge.maskun/

Email: inge@ingemaskun.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 26

Episode Overview:

Personal and business success boils down to how effectively you communicate. Anxiety, rambling, or the inability to connect, engage, and deliver a message effectively can hold you back or, even worse, tank your career. Identifying your unique strengths and speaking authentically, supported by a suite of skills, will help you speak confidently so you can be more effective.

To help us understand how we can level up our communication game, is best-selling author, speaker, trainer and coach, Deborah Shames.

Guest Bio:

Deborah is passionate about speaking and training. That’s why she wrote or co-wrote four books on communication and public speaking, including the business best-sellerOwn the Room.

And because Deborah ran a successful film company in Sausalito, CA. for fourteen years, she knows how difficult it is for women to stand out and succeed. Her latest book is Out Front: How Women Can Become Engaging, Memorable and Fearless Speakers. Deborah won the Author of Influence award for this book from the National Women of Influence organization. She walks the talk by speaking regularly across the country to motivate and inspire professional women.

Deborah has coached and trained thousands of professionals from all industries to communicate more effectively. Her work has supported A-list performers in television and film, CEO’s of major corporations, gold-medal Olympians, and political candidates. Her clients also include professionals in finance, law and insurance.

Deborah ran the successful Calabasas group of a national business organization and was awarded “Consultant of the Year” by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Deborah uses her experience directing over sixty award-winning films to make her business clients more genuine, effective, and successful. It doesn’t matter whether they are delivering a keynote address, speaking to a Board of Directors, or pitching for new business. Deborah donates her time training MBA candidates in presentation skills at UCLA, Pepperdine, USC and Cal Lutheran, as well as executives of non-profits to increase their fund raising. Her personal goal is to prepare women, from Millennials to seasoned veterans, with the skills they need to be out front.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://eloqui.biz/
• Product Link: https://eloqui.biz/products/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:26 One of my favorite early jobs was as the communications specialist on the Menominee Indian Reservation

03:00 You say that everything communicates something

03:59 When people are listening to you, if you don't give them specifics and visual specifics….

05:59 Anxiety is a tool to keep you sharp and focused

07:31 It's a challenge for both because people follow old models

09:33 You've got to hook people with the opening and especially with the close

10:06 You say that intention, when we speak, is essential

11:44 I have 500 active verbs that if your listeners want to email me, I'll send them dshames@eloqui.biz

13:44 Here's another simple one: You bridge when you have 15 minutes before you go on

15:03 If you've got butterflies, someone told me one time, get them flying in formation

17:26 Work off an outline

18:07 Keep that ability to think on your feet with some anxiety

22:04 Whether it’s virtual or real, never use PowerPoint for your open or your close

22:47 Death by PowerPoint (Don McMillan on AGT)

24:33 Anxiety comes when you're not prepared or you get surprised

26:45 We cannot hear our voice the way it really is

29:58 In our 25 years, we've yet to meet anyone who was born a great speaker

30:58 One of the swimmers from the 1976 Olympics, Wendy Boglioli

31:27 A documentary called The Last Gold

34:12 They did a study when people went to a lecture or attended a conference, and didn't participate….

36:18 24 years we've been putting out a speaker tip, quote, and word, every Sunday morning

37:43 Your latest book, Briefly Speaking

37:50 BrieflySpeaking.biz

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahshames/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenoutfront

Twitter: https://x.com/women_outfront

Email: dshames@eloqui.biz

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 25

Episode Overview:

In today’s complex workplace we have a myriad of people with skill sets and attributes that all contribute to the value of the business. One subset of people in the workplace are the neurodivergent.

My guest today is here to help us understand how neurodivergent people function, how their superpowers add value to the organization, and how we can create an environment where they can thrive. Join me now for my conversation with entrepreneur, speaker, and business strategist, Eryn Anitavi.

Guest Bio:

Eryn Anitavi is an autistic and creative visionary with a passion for strategy, an appreciation for a good cup of tea, and a commitment to build a life she doesn’t need a vacation from. Seattle is home as the clan mom to a collection of young adults​...some of whom are definitely hers, some of whom are mostly hers, and some that come and go freely, but they're cool, so it's okay.

Her innovative venture, Sapphire Partners, serves fellow visionaries and executives through premier, executive support and chiefs of staff, as a managed service in a fractional or full-time capacity, remote, hybrid, or in-person.

In addition, her Sapphire Academy is a proprietary and intensive training curriculum for high-level executive support, built for admins of any skill level, or those who are doing a career pivot into the highly specialized world of executive support. With its flexible framework model, students learn the skills and insights needed to ‘systematize the abstract'.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://choosesapphire.com/
• Product Link: https://choosesapphire.com/high-impact-solutions/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:32 Within neurodivergency

06:45 What would you say are some of the superpowers?

06:56 Where you have the superpower, you also have kryptonite

11:02 Neurodivergent info dumping

12:17 Neurodivergency, it's a language

14:56 Knowing the neurodivergent tendencies will give you the night vision goggles

16:01 Bridging the gap

16:44 When you build for the minority, you make it better for the majority, but if you build for the majority, you alienate the minority

20:35 And I'm like, wait a second, why are you doing it that way?

22:38 The one-to-one peers is significantly hard

25:06 A hiring process and work environment that attracts and empowers neurodivergent talent

27:17 You built a company supporting neurodivergent executives

28:45 There's kind of this gap between actionable strategies and holistic wellness

30:44 What are some self care practices or productivity hacks that you rely on

31:31 Body doubling is also a growing thing within neurodevelopment

32:58 Group doubling

34:02 In just neurodivergency, we'll experience some form of trauma or violence before the age of 21

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eryn-anitavi/

LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-sapphire-partners/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChooseSapphire

X Twitter: https://x.com/EAnitavi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Eryn_Anitavi-Sapphire_Partners/videos

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryn.anitavi_sapphire.partners/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erynanitavi

Email: eryn@choosesapphire.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 24

Episode Overview:

In today’s fast-paced world, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, stuck, or lost on the path to personal growth and self-improvement. Breaking through your limitations to achieve your goals can seem impossible.

My guest today says that by changing your mindset, growing emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and breaking bad habits is the way to a more fulfilling and purpose driven life. Join me now for my conversation with Joe Rivera.

Guest Bio:

When it comes to life’s ups and downs, Joe has been there and done that. He went from earning 7 figures a year to losing it all while hitting rock-bottom after battling substance abuse. As a result of achieving sobriety and happiness, Joe has bounced back and is hitting the ground running. Based on what he learned from rock-bottom and on his upward path to success, he’s created a road map that empowers top-earning professionals who are feeling exhausted and powerless.

Joe’s system uses simple steps to align an individual’s mind, body, soul, and finances to achieve ultimate productivity and fulfillment.

Joe was inspired to become a life coach and a motivational speaker simply because he knows what it’s like to hit a wall of exhaustion and lack direction. He knows that there are millions of people out there that have their own personal struggles and are going through something similar to what he went through. Joe’s goal is to empower individuals across the nation to use their own resilience to make their own comeback story.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.withjoerivera.com/
• Product Link: https://www.withjoerivera.com/services

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:53 My life goes dark and becomes completely unmanageable

03:49 I said, I don't want to do this anymore, sis

05:55 Being rich, but spiritually bankrupt, is not fun

08:11 Spirituality is also about walking and living in your purpose

10:15 Are there strategies for handling that procrastination

12:28 You put your goals together and you lost some weight

13:32 Realizing that your past doesn’t define you

15:20 If you're learning from those failures….

17:18 Lead by example and show them

20:06 How do we manage that diverse workforce as leaders?

21:06 How do I communicate with each of those different generations?

22:35 The power of vulnerability

23:26 Vulnerability doesn’t show weakness

25:00 Imagine you were told you only had one year left to live. What would you be doing?

26:36 Building a support network is absolutely vital

28:12 Fail stands for: First Attempt In Learning

28:19 Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-rivera-0a27b311b/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/withJoeRivera

Twitter: https://x.com/w_Joe_Rivera

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reforgeacademywithjoeriver6288

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withjoerivera/

Email: louiejoey30@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 23

Episode Overview:

In a dynamic business landscape, growth relies on relevant data from your customer interactions and marketing insights. Employing Strategic CRM strategies to collect that data, will boost efficiency, enhance your performance, and help you convert more leads into loyal customers.

Navigating the crowded sales enablement technology marketplace can be daunting. To help us understand what we should focus on to improve our productivity and optimize the sales process is my guest, Jason Kramer.

Guest Bio:

Jason Kramer is the founder and CEO of Cultivize, a consulting firm specializing in B2B lead nurturing strategies and “Done for you” custom CRM implementation. With over 20 years of experience in marketing and business development, Jason has worked with renowned brands like Virgin Atlantic Airways and Johnnie Walker. He began his career as a designer, later establishing a boutique agency where he helped launch numerous small businesses.

In 2018, Jason founded Cultivize to empower organizations by connecting customer data with marketing campaigns and sales activities, helping them convert leads into loyal customers. His team focuses on improving collaboration between sales and marketing, identifying warm leads, and optimizing the sales process.

Jason is passionate about helping businesses grow through strategic solutions that streamline the customer journey. He lives in New York with his wife, two children, and two dogs, enjoying family time and boating on the Hudson River when he’s not driving client success.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://cultivize.com/
• Product Link: https://cultivize.com/sharpspring-platinum-certified-partner/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:56 I built a business for 16 years helping service based businesses with branding, web development

04:52 If they get a no or a maybe they don't know what to do

06:31 Education comes in a different form depending upon the business

07:14 The flip side of nurturing is about the engagement

08:39 What you have to really consider is how long the typical sales process is

10:05 The nurture part

13:34 There's often a misperception

16:50The CRM Fit Assessment

18:18 How good is the support

21:32 What are the pain points you're having now

23:35 Pipeline leakage, you talk about as a common CRM challenge

25:51 I’m a really big proponent of creating automated reminders for salespeople

26:40 The silos within organizations and companies

28:00 If they're logging their activity in the CRM….

30:54 If I don't find that in my initial call with a prospective client, we probably won't work together

33:05 Afterthelead.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonleighkramer/

FaceBook:https://www.facebook.com/cultivize/

Twitter (X):https://x.com/cultivize

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@CRM-advisor-implementor

Resources:https://cultivize.com/learnmore/

Email: jason@cultivize.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo:https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions:https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources:https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 22

Episode Overview:

The workplace is changing and changing rapidly, creating chaos, increasing our stress, and causing burnout. To thrive in today’s marketplace, we must level-up our emotional intelligence, strengthen our resiliency, and manage the extreme stress in our personal and professional lives to avoid burnout.

My guest today will share his insights and strategies so that we can learn, laugh, and grow amongst the chaos. Please join me for my conversation with award winning speaker and workshop facilitator, Kit Welchlin.

Guest Bio:

A born public speaker and trainer, Kit Welchlin began public speaking at the age of 9 in 4-H. By 16, he was organizing and facilitating presentations on leadership, citizenship, community service and motivation for the 4-H and Future Farmers of America.

Kit Welchlin purchased his first manufacturing company at age 21, and by 26 was CEO and Chairman of the Board of three manufacturing companies in three states. He’s been an instructor with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, where he has been repeatedly nominated Outstanding Faculty. He is a Professional Member of the National Speakers Association.

Kit has a B.S. Degree in Speech Communication, Business Administration and Political Science. He earned an M.A. Degree in Speech Communication and Business Administration.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://welchlin.com
• Product Link: https://welchlin.com/products/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:08 How are you seeing emotional intelligence come in to the workplace?

05:42 One of the things on my handling difficult people presentation….

06:42 Being nimble and being agile is very important

08:47 People don't mind change, they just don't like being changed

09:32 When we talk about chaos and change

11:17 The key is to discuss the continuities

12:45 Goals versus desired outcomes

14:16 Quickness, quantity, and quality

15:56 The desired result is the hope or aspiration of how things could turn out

19:22 There's about 16 different reasons why people procrastinate

21:25 If we make this decision or take this action, what could go wrong?

22:26 What roadblock am I putting up on myself that may or may not be real?

24:21 Would that be their fault, or is that just a situation they find themselves in?

26:54 I think empathy is probably the hardest soft skill to develop

28:08 Effective work relationships really help us manage stress

29:59 It really comes down to we need to be well fed, well rested, and well exercised

30:11 There's five criteria to an exercise program that will work if we put it to work

31:00 We have to have physical remedies to reduce stress

32:16 I always tell people that kind of feel stagnant in their careers….

34:40 If you want to learn, you want to laugh, and you want to grow, get Kit Welchlin

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kitwelchlin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kwelchlin

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kitwelchlin?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KitWelchlin

Email: kit@welchlin.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 21

Episode Overview:

Let’s face it, running and growing a business as an entrepreneur in today’s competitive marketplace can be daunting. Whether it's operational challenges, differentiating yourself from the competition with your products or services, or evolving from just surviving to thriving, is the goal for every entrepreneur or business professional.

If you are ready to level up your business, smash through your ceilings to reach business mastery and life success, then you are going to enjoy my conversation with High Performance Entrepreneur, best-selling author, and business coach, Marty Park.

Guest Bio:

Marty Park is a rare breed. At the age of 21, while most students are neck-deep with homework and weekend plans, Marty was running his first company, with 8 staff members on payroll. Since then, he has owned and operated over 13 companies, across industries from software to restaurants, audio production to marketing – he has become an expert at business growth and the personal growth that comes with it.

As well as being an accomplished entrepreneur, Marty is an award-winning business coach and has been involved in the launch, growth, restructuring or financing of a multitude of companies internationally, working with clients to conquer adversity, transform their performance and achieve their ultimate vision of success, in business and in life.

As a serial entrepreneur and veteran business coach, Marty has identified strategies, ideas, and specific actions that can help anyone create a better business and a better life. As a speaker his stories are real, relevant, and the tools and tips he shares are purposeful and immediately implementable.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://martypark.com/
• Website: https://evolvebusinessgroup.com/
• Website Resources: https://evolvebusinessgroup.com/business-resources/
• Product Link: https://martypark.com/tiger-by-the-tail-book/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:20 I’ve always had a business running on the side

04:16 I think there's a bit of a rebound effect and I call it sort of the hybrid period

05:52 I grew up in a house where being in sales was a really positive thing

07:54 How do you get excited about insurance?

09:29 Failure really wasn't failure

11:08 They're just out telling their story and they start to have some success

13:13 Too often, one of the pitfalls is….

15:34 How important is it for us to have a third party, or an outside coach?

17:13 Knowing that they're going to be on a call or on a zoom meeting creates accountability

17:29 Tiger by the Tail: 99 Secrets to Tame and Master your Business

19:06 How do we grow the business without it taking any more of your time?

21:16 Marketing might take 6 months to re-evaluate and re-adjust, but sales we can start to affect right away

23:20 Before you bring on additional people….

26:32 Connection between an entrepreneurial or a business professional's personal development and their business success

29:07 Innovation is such a huge foundational piece for good business

31:28 This word pivot drives me a little crazy

32:40 Results Rule was actually our new slogan

35:18 Profit Pulse

35:32 Evolve Business Group

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martypark/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/martypark1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themartypark/

Free 1-Hour Strategy Call: https://evolvebusinessgroup.com/marty-park/

Email: marty@martypark.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 20

Episode Overview:

As sales professionals, the pressure to perform is unavoidable. One little mistake and you’ve lost what could have been a huge opportunity. Competition is fierce and abundant. Most of the common sales errors we recognize, but even some of the most seasoned sales veterans are unaware of some of the mistakes that are costing them valuable business.

Discover the ‘silent saboteurs’, that are costing you the sale, as you blindly make the same errors over and over. And as you do, you’ll find clarity that will empower you with endless earning potential. Join me now for my conversation with author, speaker, and coach, Jackie Rainforth.

Guest Bio:

As Founder & CEO of Rainmakers Business Solutions, Jackie Rainforth is a force to reckon with in the world of BUSINESS GROWTH. She is a global award-winning sales and leadership expert who earned the nickname “The Rainmaker” among her peers during her career of top sales performance spanning decades. She draws upon her wealth of real-world experience as a former corporate executive and highly successful entrepreneur and has a reputation as a trusted and reliable business partner, helping countless organizations achieve their revenue and performance objectives.

Jackie possesses in-depth knowledge in multiple areas of business and a variety of industries, but she is one of only 34 B2B Sales Speakers & Trainers registered in North America. Her background in the Residential and Commercial Construction Industry as well as Wholesale Distribution, Suppliers and manufacturers, plus her expertise in Social Selling and LinkedIn, allows her to offer the latest in tailored and cutting-edge training and keynote presentations to her clients.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://rainmakersgroup.ca/
• Product Link: https://rainmakersgroup.ca/books/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:05 You need to sell to personality types that you're talking to

05:24 I'm in agreement with you, I think it's all about process

07:09 The demand for emotional intelligence

08:43 There's so much coming at people these days

09:24 Ask more questions

11:05 If you're dealing with the owner, you have got to be on your game

13:36 It all comes down to benefits

14:15 You have to differentiate to elevate

15:20 You need to know how to network

19:47 I'm doing more and more video posts

21:17 I hired a dog walker, and talk about professional

23:25 When you talk about the wins, it motivates everybody else

25:04 Top performing athletes all have coaches

26:13 When you have complexity, you need a coach

28:27 A lot of great enablement technologies

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackierainforth/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rainmakersbusinesssolutions

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6JhjnZI8aw-GKNBInMIWtw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackierainforth/

Email: jackier@rainmakersgroup.ca

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 19

Episode Overview:

Life can be challenging. Each of us faces our own adversity. Sometimes, your stress can escalate to fear, anxiety, agitation, and even depression.

If you are looking for ways to help build resilience in yourself and others, lighten your load, and brighten your outlook, then you are going to enjoy my conversation with best selling author, therapist and speaker, Patricia Morgan.

Guest Bio:

Patricia Morgan is known as a spunky Seniorpreneur, who lightens your load and brightens your outlook. Patricia has spent the last four decades helping increase emotional resilience, mental health, and well-being. With a master’s degree in psychology, she provides practical stress-reduction, communications, and connection skills. Her counseling clients and audiences describe her as insightful, fun, and uplifting.

Her authorship includes several books comprised of, Return to Center: Simple Strategies to Navigate Distress, Depression and Disconnection, which was chosen as the 2024 Canadian Counselling Book award winner, and the Canadian best seller, Frantic Free: 167 Ways to Calm Down and Lighten Up. Her books are available on Amazon and on her website.

Patricia is a recipient of the YWCA & Global TV’s Woman of Vision award and The Canadian Association of Professional Speakers’ Spirit of CAPS award for her contribution to the speaking industry.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.solutionsforresilience.com/
• Product Link: https://www.solutionsforresilience.com/product-category/books/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:11 Most of us are living with some kind of childhood, a residual trauma

05:12 Well, here's the defining question

05:40 He endorsed the book: From Woe to Wow, How Resilient Women Succeed at Work

07:36 Self first, others second

08:02 There's a lot of perfectionism going on

11:07 The importance of emotional intelligence

13:12 Little girls, little boys, females are typically allowed a broader range of emotions

16:28 How does adopting a growth mindset contribute to the personal resilience?

18:09 What's the number one formula for success?

20:18 Oftentimes people are coming together to fill their own unconscious longings

21:53 Often in couples counseling, the conflict is, he wants it the way it was

24:23 What's one conventional stress management technique

26:06 The trick is the exhale longer than the inhale

29:24 Sleep is very much connected to mental health issues

31:22 Dreams are the unconscious knocking on your door

32:42 Watch your positivity to negativity ratio

33:15 Compliment people on their strengths

36:18 Return to Center: Simple Strategies to Navigate Distress, Depression, and Disconnection

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciamorgancalgary/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolutionsForResilience

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6zM3qeXhdRqxy4-71G6C3g

Email: patricia@solutionsforresilience.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 18

Episode Overview:

The way we do business has changed. The way we market and sell has changed. So why is it that there are still so many companies that rely on old strategies and tactics to generate new business?

If you are looking to level up your business development process, set yourself apart from the competition, and regain a competitive advantage, then you are going to enjoy my conversation with author and marketing expert, Jessica Embree.

Guest Bio:

Jessica Embree is an international bestseller, a story brand guide, and a marketing specialist with a passion for helping businesses grow. With a background in door-to-door sales at the age of ten, she developed a love for marketing, and understanding what drives people to make purchasing decisions.

As the Creative Director at Tulip Media Group, she specializes in both print and digital marketing strategies to help businesses build credibility, brand awareness, and customer retention. Her expertise lies in crafting impactful messaging that resonates with target audiences and implementing effective marketing campaigns that deliver results. With a strong focus on the story brand framework, she has successfully transformed businesses by simplifying their marketing strategies and increasing their revenue.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://tulipmediagroup.com/
• Product Link: https://tulipmediagroup.com/smarketing/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:16 I had my first business when I was 10 years old

02:48 People don't pick up the phone as much

04:10 Your emptiest inbox is your physical mailbox outside

06:35 I really enjoyed your book, Double Sales, Zero Salespeople

08:04 So one of the best ways to break through noise….

10:07 Where is your core customer and where can you service them the best?

11:21 Something that's in beta testing right now, which is SearchGPT

12:59 Are you putting out content that makes your agency or business credible

14:34 I want you to lean into AI, but I don't want you to depend on AI

17:17 So we're asking you, what are their main pain points?

19:35 Are you getting qualified leads from these keywords?

21:10 I really like your approach because….

23:00 You might have been burnt in the past with another marketing agency

24:27 A great example of that is actually a firetruck manufacturer we work with

26:35 We look at content of what's going to interest your reader

28:00 Is there a way to measure the readership or the impact?

29:24 I always like to tell clients, get your storefront ready

31:30 What's the secret to becoming preferred?

32:05 One of the chapters in the books is never stop optimizing your marketing

34:24 If you're looking for a competitive advantage, start reading

36:01 We can create some levels of engagement within print

37:34 At the end of the day, it's all about staying ahead of the competitor and standing out from the crowd

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaembree/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TulipMediaGroup

Twitter (X): https://x.com/tulipmediagroup

Email: jessica@tulipmediagroup.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

View Details

SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 17

Episode Overview:

Are you ready to supercharge your LinkedIn presence and transform your career or business with the power of AI? Today we have an absolute powerhouse joining us on the show. It’s my pleasure to introduce Mary Fain Brandt, a true expert in optimizing LinkedIn profiles and leveraging artificial intelligence for explosive business growth. Mary is the go-to guru for professionals looking to stand out in the digital landscape.

Her expertise spans from crafting magnetic LinkedIn profiles to implementing cutting edge AI strategies that propel business forward. So whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to make waves, a marketing pro aiming to stay ahead of the curve, or an executive seeking to amplify your personal brand, Mary’s insights are pure gold. Join me now for my conversation with Mary Fain Brandt.

Guest Bio:

For over two decades, Mary Fain Brandt has been a powerhouse in the training and facilitation world, amassing a wealth of experience that speaks volumes. With a portfolio of over 500 clients, Mary's ability to unlock LinkedIn's full potential is unmatched, making her the go-to expert you need.

Mary is also a Certified AI Consultant, diving deep into AI to deliver cutting-edge insights and strategies for her clients. Saving them hundreds of hours and thousand of dollars. Turning Chaos into Calm and freeing them up to do the work they love [not all the boring mundane behind the scenes tasks!]

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.masteritwithmary.com/
• Product Link: https://www.masteritwithmary.com/aiservices

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:21 I had no idea how to start a business, really self-taught

04:31 I just dove all in to learn how to use LinkedIn

08:02 What are the biggest mistakes or challenges that you see

09:32 My tagline is, I take you from boring to badass on LinkedIn

11:45 Personal branding can convey who you are and what you do

13:11 After 2020, one of the biggest changes, what happened on LinkedIn….

15:48 Stories sell, facts tell

17:26 When's the right time to do maybe a text only

18:53 Say what you need to say

20:21 I’m not a fan of emojis all over LinkedIn, those belong on Instagram

24:26 Can you share a success story….

25:38 I think everyone's heard of AI, not everyone's embracing it

27:08 Chat GPT just hit 100 million users

28:24 You call it a level up and elevate tool

29:15 A LinkedIn newsletter is a great marketing tool

31:16 Do not “Pitch-Slap” someone in a DM

33:42 If you don't have a brand, start there

34:02 You have to stay top of mind, and tip of tongue in today's world

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryfainbrandt/

LinkedIn Post Mentioned : Do Not Pitch Slap People in a DM

Podcast: https://scaleupbusiness.buzzsprout.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryfainbrandt/

Freebies: https://www.masteritwithmary.com/freebies

Email: hello@maryfainbrandt.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 16

Episode Overview:

Everyone in every industry and every role has customers. Your success depends on how efficiently you can solve your customers’ problems, adapt as those problems change, and influence their behavior to drive the results you want. Objectives and Key Results, or OKRs, give you the framework to do that.

However, adopting OKRs successfully is no easy feat. It requires changing the way you work, think about your work, and plan for the work you’ll do in the future. So whether you’re an OKR newcomer, or a pro needing a tune-up, my guest today will share his insights on how to put customers at the center, navigate uncertainty, and succeed with OKRs. Join me now for my conversation with author, speaker, and product innovation strategist, Josh Seiden.

Guest Bio:

Josh Seiden has worked with hundreds of organizations as an individual contributor, leader, founder, and consultant.

As software designer–turned–coach, consultant, and speaker, he's helped organizations fuse strategy, become customer-centric, and utilize evidence-based decision-making to become more agile (with a lowercase “a”), make better products, and achieve greater success. Along with his co author Jeff Gothelf, he's written two previous books. Their new book is: Who Does What By How Much? A Practical Guide to Customer-Centric OKRs

Resource Links:

• Website: Website: www.joshuaseiden.com
• Product Link: https://www.joshuaseiden.com/books

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:16 Your latest book, Who Does What by How Much: A Practical Guide to Customer Centric OKRs

01:45 OKR stands for Objectives and Key Results

04:39 The most common misconception about OKRs

05:38 OKRs imply we're going to do something different

07:18 As a leader, you've got responsibility for the whole company

09:21 The challenge is that we lose track of who that customer is and what their point of view is

10:52 The first step in OKR is….

12:28 What are the factors that are success factors?

13:19 We say OKRs are three things

14:49 I work in HR, who's my customer?

16:08 Who does what, by how much?

20:50 They're a goal setting framework

22:15 Innovation is the intersection of new capabilities and unmet customer needs

24:08 We know leadership plays a crucial role in the success of the OKRs

27:37 We don't necessarily know the answer beforehand

28:24 It's asking the right question and measuring the right question

29:45 I think there's an opportunity for us to have better conversations in the workplace

32:38 Who's the target of my work? What are they trying to do? How can I help them do it?

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jseiden/

Twitter: https://x.com/jseiden

Email: josh@seiden.co

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Supercharge Your LinkedIn Presence with Mary Fain Brandt!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 15

Episode Overview:

Are you ready to maximize your value and multiply your earnings? My guest will show you how to raise your prices and stop leaving money on the table. It’s not about charging more; it’s about discovering the only type of value your customers will pay more for.

Not all value is equal, and today we are going to discover what your customers are willing to pay more for. Join me now for my conversation with the New York Times Best Selling Author of (RE)VALUE: Raise Your Prices and Build Your Legacy, Adam Wallace.

Guest Bio:

Adam has spent years unlocking pricing power for products and services. After more than a decade as a corporate fixer, joining Fortune 100 leadership teams to capture additional value on multibillion dollar ventures, he now serves as an interim executive and board member for private companies.

Adam grew up in a two-story log cabin outside of Nashville, built by his 7th generation grandfather prior to Tennessee becoming a State.

Resource Links:

• Website: www.AdamWallace.com
• Product Link: https://www.adamwallace.com/book

Insight Gold Timestamps:

05:05 I'm not done, I want bigger problems

05:47 The biggest source of value lost was….

07:28 I was my first customer

08:55 The company itself as a product

10:55 We might be at the end of one game….

11:47 Can you elaborate on what pricing power truly means?

14:19 Start with where do I create the most value, and for whom?

15:35 They're just transaction, transaction, transaction

16:26 It's not that we have to sacrifice this for the other one

18:23 How does their company create that value?

20:10 What's a pricing riptide?

21:35 You don't create equal value to all your customers

22:51 We actually only perceive the world based on what we value

24:09 The concept of the monetization curve and its impact on pricing strategies

25:11 When you're selling solutions to problems a person doesn't even know they have

26:37 Do you believe that people view the most expensive item as the best item?

27:54 So let's say you're going out to dinner and you want to buy wine

31:18 It's kind of like a Dutch auction

33:08 They collapse what customers say as an indication for what they'll do

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyofwallace/

Email: adam@adamwallace.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Customer-Centric Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) with Josh Seiden

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 14

Episode Overview:

If you are ready to improve your productivity and increase your revenue, then you are going to enjoy this episode of Becoming Preferred as we dive into the world of sales enablement and go-to-market transformation with a true industry luminary.

My guest on this episode is a powerhouse in the realm of business strategy, leadership coaching, and sales enablement. He's the author of the game-changing book, Sales Enablement 3.0: The Blueprint to Sales Enablement Excellence, and his expertise has transformed countless businesses from struggling to thriving.

In today's episode, my guest will share his insights on creating clear paths to success for small to medium-sized businesses. We'll explore how companies can improve productivity, increase revenue, and navigate the complexities of today's market, so get ready for a conversation packed with actionable advice, inspiring ideas, and transformative insights. Join me now for my conversation with the brilliant strategist and sales enablement guru, Roderick Jefferson!

Guest Bio:

Roderick Jefferson is an internationally recognized, business-focused speaker. He has shared his dynamic and energetic voice in a variety of events including keynotes, guest lectures, webinars, podcasts, and domain expertise panels, with companies such as ATD Conference, B2BMX Conference, Cisco, Collibra, LinkedIn, MindTickle, Revasum, Oracle, Sales Assembly Conference, Sales 3.0 Conference, Sales Enablement PRO Conference, Salesforce (Dreamforce), SAP, Seismic, Showpad, SiriusDecisions, Uber, and Zoom.

Roderick is also an acknowledged thought leader in the sales enablement space and author of the Amazon #1 New Release & Bestselling book, Sales Enablement 3.0: The Blueprint to Sales Enablement Excellence. He has held a variety of executive leadership, sales, sales enablement, operations, and customer experience roles at 3PAR, AT&T, Business Objects, Magnit, Marketo, Oracle Marketing Cloud, NetApp, Netskope, PayPal, Roderick Jefferson & Associates, Salesforce, and Siebel Systems, and Siteimprove.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://roderickjefferson.com/keynotes/
• Product Link: https://amzn.to/3vENYAo

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:25 You learned the importance of setting the goal, and how were you going to get there?

05:39 I think you train animals, you enable people

07:03 Sales enablement in 3.0 is both art and science

07:29 It's communication, it's collaboration, and it's orchestration

09:38 What isn't sales enablement?

11:44 I’ll see trainers that are teaching people how to give presentations instead of having conversations

15:36 Culture is what happens when no one is watching

17:20 Where I see the biggest problem

18:48 What a sales onboarding program might look like

20:49 We're constantly validating

24:29 What's gone forever and what are the new things that we should be preparing for

24:37 Those two big little words, AI

26:33 You're doing it because of a why, not a what, and you're getting to the root cause

28:32 A strategic investment

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roderickjefferson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThevoiceofRod

Twitter (X): https://x.com/ThevoiceofRod

YouTube: https://bit.ly/2JkaAMW

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roderick_j_associates/

Email: roderick@roderickjefferson.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Unlocking Pricing Power with Adam Wallace!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 13

Episode Overview:

Have you ever wondered what separates thriving businesses from those that struggle to keep their heads above water? Well, buckle up because we’re about to dive deep into the world of winning strategies and sales processes that can catapult your business and sales results to new heights.

My guest, Liz Heiman, is a powerhouse in the realm of business strategy and sales. In this episode, Liz will share her insights on how businesses can create a winning strategy and sales process to fuel their growth, so whether you're a solopreneur, just starting out, or the CEO of a growing company, I promise you'll walk away with actionable tips that you can implement right away. Join me now for my conversation with Sales and Process Strategist, Liz Heiman.

Guest Bio:

Liz Heiman is the Sales Operating System Architect and the founder of Re: Sales™. Liz guides “Ready-to-Scale” founders and CEOs to take the chaos out of sales so they can create a more sustainable growth strategy that strengthens the pipeline and streamlines their process to increase revenue on a predictive basis.

Early in her career, Liz trained some of the world’s powerhouse sales organizations. Using Strategic Selling and Conceptual Selling, she helped them boost sales by improving their sales processes and systems. Now her focus is start-up and mid-sized companies selling into complex B2B environments, including medical, government, and enterprise.

Liz’s team uses strategy and process to build a roadmap for success that drives extraordinary growth. While most clients achieve the sustainable year-over-year growth they need, others have realized exponential growth very quickly; as much as $10 million in one year. Liz is on a mission to challenge assumptions, build trust, and make founders’ dreams come true.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.regardingsales.com
• Product Link: https://www.regardingsales.com/sales-operating-system-guide-download

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:58 Going back to basics has become really important

04:22 Sales isn't magic

06:01 Make the CRM easy to use

07:13 Please don't let AI just write your letters and not fix them

09:52 10:52 What are the KPIs that really matter? And they start with understanding the sales math

13:40 One of the stats Gartner came up with was it takes 7 to 15 attempts

16:35 You're known for your expertise in sales strategy and empowering women in selling

18:14 The next time I called it Selling Like a Girl

20:31 Research on how women's brains work versus how men's brains work

22:33 When I was an executive and people were trying to sell to me through the company

24:39 I think you have to start with strategy

25:30 Sales activity is defined by that business strategy

27:42 It starts with founder led sales

29:32 When we talked about ideal customer profile

32:21 One of the things that I do with my clients

33:01 Stop working with people who are hard to work with

33:36 Speaking to people about what matters to them is going to be the most important thing that we can do

34:34 Everyone has to learn to use AI

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizheiman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RegardingSales

Blogs: https://www.regardingsales.com/blogs/

Podcast: https://www.regardingsales.com/webinars

Email: liz@regardingsales.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Sales Enablement Excellence with Roderick Jefferson!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 12

Episode Overview:

Are you looking to take your career to new levels? Do you have dreams and aspirations that you desire to achieve but are unsure how to attain? My guest on this episode will share her insights on how to connect with your heart, create meaningful goals, and deepen your knowledge and understanding of what personal leadership truly is.

Join me now for my conversation with speaker, coach and founder of The Inspired Leader, Ally Stone.

Guest Bio:

Ally has been a leader in the hospitality industry for over 15 years. During this time, she has been an integral part of developing 15 successful businesses and teams. As Director of Culture and Leadership Development, Ally has mastered a deep understanding of what it means to be truly connected as a leader and how that drives the success of any business.

She bases her leadership style on what she has come to call Transcendent Leadership. Her approach to this elevates team thinking beyond everyday problems and obstacles, building instead on quality in group and individual connection for lasting effect. This has created a culture of engaged and emerging leaders in her organization that many admire and emulate.

Through The Inspired Leader, Ally shares these insights with organizations and leaders alike. Together they dive deep into what it means to go beyond, to lead from a place of presence and connection, creating an opportunity to experience their careers in ways that previously had not been deemed possible.

Ally has worked with 1000’s of leaders from all levels of organizations. She has delivered countless workshops, seminars, and talks; she is continuously developing herself to continue providing the best and most relevant content available. She now shares an array of programs geared specifically towards the journey of a Transcendent Leader.

Ally is also a certified Meditation Teacher, a Heart Math Resilience Mentor, and an ICF Certified Coach. She is active, loves yoga, biking, hiking, and time with her two dogs. She currently lives in Edmonton, Alberta, with her husband of 20 years, Chris.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://theinspiredleader.com/
• Product Link: https://theinspiredleader.com/offerings/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:36 I always say I have an MBA in business from the Hard Knocks School of Life

05:24 Are you a born salesperson?

07:59 I go through this whole imposter syndrome

09:34 How many people have careers that they just float through?

10:07 I had a major life transition

12:59 Leading from place of presence and connection

15:40 We have an incredible team of people

17:22 It's okay that I'm not okay

17:56 Ginger Rogers said, I can do everything Fred Astaire does, but do it backwards and in heels

18:54 I realized that if I didn't figure out how to navigate this….

20:17 Heart Math is so interesting

21:26 When we are in a place of gratitude, it's really hard to be in a place of lack

23:55 You've got to look after yourself

25:29 We have a lot on our plate

27:01 When you know who you are, you're clear, and you can articulate that, you can lead any organization

28:40 It came down to a simple phrase, which was: Taking Care of People

30:13 You provide Emotionally Connected learning experiences for them

31:56 Even if you have an AI company, it still doesn't exist without people

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ally-stone-4010a560/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllyInspiredLeader/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAj2973t-OsS0dkgqut1l1Q

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allystone__

Email: ally@theinspiredleader.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Sales Strategy and Process Optimization with Liz Heiman!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 11

Episode Overview:

Traveling for work or pleasure? Are you getting transferred or expanding your business to a different country? In our borderless economy, cultivating cultural fluency expands your potential by fostering trusting relationships globally.

My guest today equips individuals and teams with the skills to forge meaningful connections across cultures, driving change and sustainable growth. With her proven methodology, she spins cultural obstacles into a competitive advantage. Join me now for a conversation with author, speaker, and consultant, Dr. Kristina Wachter.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Kristina Wachter is a cross-cultural communications strategist and global educator who helps organizations unlock sustainable success through cultural agility. Her proprietary Culture SPIN Method, backed by years of academic research and on-site experience across continents, provides a riveting, hands-on approach to building the vital skills needed to navigate cultural diversity.

In our borderless economy, Wachter demonstrates how cultivating cultural fluency expands an organization's potential by fostering trusting relationships worldwide. Her expertise equips individuals and teams with the skills to forge meaningful connections across cultures, driving change and sustainable global growth. With her proven methodology, she spins cultural obstacles into competitive advantages.

Dr. Wachter draws from her extensive experience as an award-winning professor, best-selling author, keynote speaker and CEO of Cross Culture Connections. Her real-world insights ensure organizations gain the confidence to capitalize on the opportunities presented by cultural diversity.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.crosscultureconnections.com
• Product Link: https://www.crosscultureconnections.com/bridging-cultures-boosting-profits
• Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Culture-SPIN-Toolkit-Leadership-Cross-Culture-ebook/dp/B0CY8422DP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24HBPPDATYDPV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GZheV6r4iTEbt5pHXU-18w.Tp0AyAy_ipo6xp6nfw4Mh4z0a5QWTH_qYBR-gL9Nk_Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=culture+spin+kristina&qid=1710884410&sprefix=culture+spin+kristina%2Caps%2C216&sr=8-1

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:01 Everyone has associated business and humanities with an oxymoron

04:30 You have to understand the humanities in order to fully understand the way that business runs today

06:00 When I went to Paris, quite a few years ago, I did a little experiment

06:27 I was acting from a starting point of respect

09:33 I'm curious about your take on the globalization

10:56 It does not mean that we aren't working globally

11:32 I call it cultural humility

12:19 Once you find the commonality, the law of reciprocity kicks in

14:18 50% of all international business ventures fail

16:55 This is where I think business needs to override politics

18:05 I think it's an EQ issue

19:53 So, let's talk about your book, Culture SPIN

20:34 S is for Self

23:03 You want to push yourself out of your comfort zone

24:21 Cultural agility is something that you gain as you go

25:12 The whole goal of this is to obviously be aware, and what you say in the book, to avoid cultural incompetency

27:44 You're an ambassador for your business and you need to act appropriately

29:02 I believe it's a human dignity

31:38 It's always going to be a system of trial and error

34:10 How do we help them evolve?

35:58 A word of caution

36:45 You cannot throw ethics aside for political wins or for past mistakes

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-gibby-wachter-phd-44659b64/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1369565225

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crosscultureconnections

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cross.cultureconnections

Email: info@crosscultureconnections.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: The Inspired Leader, Embracing Authenticity with Ally Stone!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 10

Episode Overview:

I’m sure we could all agree that we could use more laughter and humor in our personal and professional lives. Humor is universal, it’s empowering, it’s safe, and it’s scientific. Humor can help you create innovative solutions and products, improve staff morale and retention, increase sales, and the ability to tackle key challenges.

To help us understand the power of humor and laughter for building impactful, resilient, happy, and healthy leaders, teams, and organizations is my guest, speaker, facilitator, and comedian, Courtney Bickert.

Guest Bio:

Courtney Bickert is a global citizen, leader, and management expert and stand-up comedian committed to positive social impact around the world through innovation, partnerships, endless curiosity, and humor. She is currently a Senior Executive Recruiter in the nonprofit and purpose space with DRiWaterstone Human Capital where she works to match amazing talent with important missions.

Courtney has proven organizational leadership with 30 years’ experience in international development and foreign affairs and has worked in, and traveled to, over 100 countries. Courtney has led organizational transformations and the development of new revenue models and communications for large international organizations. As a skilled fundraiser, she has raised over $100 million dollars for international non-profits.

Courtney is also a stand-up comedian with significant formal training in the techniques of stand-up comedy, including Second City, the DC Improv, and the American Comedy Institute. She uses this knowledge to work with leaders, organizations, and teams to maximize their effectiveness and impact and bring the power of “funny” into their lives, work, and organizations. Courtney has an MBA/MPP from The University of Chicago.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.laughing-matters.com/
• Product Link: https://www.laughing-matters.com/services/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:04 It was knowledge, attitudes, practices, all of the above

03:59 So I'm starting the condom training with 200 Siberian nurses

07:12 I really liked humor, so I started doing standup while I was looking for a job

09:25 I have never seen a team consistently have so much fun together

10:33 You teach that humor is universal

13:15 You're actually mimicking and mirroring more than just their facial expressions

15:02 Children laugh something like 4,000 times a day

16:32 A sense of humor is really understanding, seeing, and expressing incongruities

18:39 Jokes at others expense are always on the edge

19:32 Humor has to be genuine and has to be authentic

19:54 An exercise that we do in comedy school

23:13 They did a study with a group of students

23:55 All the pleasure and reward parts of your brain are being stimulated when you laugh

26:01 Is there a formula or process that you follow?

27:54 That's one way, just observing, taking note, and then sharing

29:27 I think my superpower is curiosity

31:11 Why do we laugh at those things and circumstances that are like that?

34:45 Mark Twain: Humor is mankind's greatest blessing

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-bickert/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtney.bickert/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7DeLtP4HLwBMj2wWiFyZhQ

Email: cbickert@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Creating Cross Culture Connections with Dr Kristina Wachter!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 9

Episode Overview:

A Grow Through It Mindset is about embracing challenges and setbacks as opportunities for personal and professional growth. It's the belief that through effort, learning, and persistence, individuals can evolve and adapt in the face of adversity. This mindset encourages individuals to approach difficulties as learning experiences, view failures as stepping stones towards improvement rather than as reasons to give up.

Ultimately, a Grow Through It Mindset fosters resilience, adaptability, and a positive attitude, which are valuable traits in both business and everyday life. To help us understand how to develop a Grow Through It Mindset is entrepreneur, speaker and coach, Keith Sampson.

Guest Bio:

Keith Sampson works in the payments industry as the national sales director for North American Bancard. He is also the owner of Trident 21, providing payment solutions, growth and attention tools, as well as consulting.

With a passion for helping people, he created a program called Gift Card Surge to help area businesses and individuals meet the needs of his community, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.trident21.com
• Product Link: https://www.trident21.com/our-approach

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:10 We learned these principles of how to grow a business

05:44 It goes back to my second watershed moment in life

07:10 There's two choices you have here

07:14 You can either choose to Go Through It, or you can choose to Grow Through It!

09:15 I’ve learned far more through the failures than I ever did the successes

10:21 Here's a framework you can adopt today

13:48 Do I prioritize investing in myself?

14:41 Will Guidara, the author of Unreasonable Hospitality

18:15 Gratitude spirals upwards

19:38 Three things you're grateful for and then one thing you wanted to pray for

22:11 Ridiculous Resiliency

23:35 How do I become proactively resilient?

24:38 Number four is Playing the Long Game

28:24 If you love what you're doing, there's no such thing as retirement

28:34 The level of success that people can achieve based on the people that they surround themselves with

30:58 AI is not going to replace us, AI is going to elevate us

32:36 Cloud 9 multisport that's in Winona Lake, Indiana

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamkeithsampson/

Blog: https://www.trident21.com/trident-21-blog

Email: Ksampson@trident21.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Employing Humor For Competitive Advantage with Courtney Bickert!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 8

Episode Overview:

In today’s competitive marketplace, finding and keeping the right employees can be a challenge. What if you could create the kind of workplace where everyone wants to work? From ideas on inspiring teamwork to inspiring workplace communication, my guest today says that your workplace culture is your #1 competitive advantage.

To help us understand how you can elevate your culture and become the preferred employer of choice, is author, speaker and coach, Michael Kerr.

Guest Bio:

Michael Kerr is a Hall of Fame speaker who speaks about inspiring workplace cultures, workplace culture leadership, and businesses that leverage their humor resources to drive outrageous results. Michael’s Inspiring Workplaces blog has been listed as one of the top-75 workplace blogs in the world.

Michael is also the author of 9 books, including “The Humor Advantage: Why Some Businesses Are Laughing All the Way to the Bank,” “The Jerk-Free Workplace,” “Hire, Inspire, and Fuel Their Fire: How to Recruit, Onboard, and Train New Employees to Live Your Culture Out Loud” and most recently, hot off the presses, “Small Moments, Big Outcomes: How Leaders Create Cultures That Fuel Extraordinary Results.”

Resource Links:

• Website: https://mikekerr.com/
• Product Link: https://mikekerr.com/books/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:21 I worked in this soul-sucking, fun-sucking organization

03:44 Everybody has a culture, doesn't mean they have a good culture, or a culture that is right for them

05:49 I'm glad you brought up the WestJet example

07:18 This is one of the keys I've seen in so many companies around the world

08:38 I’m a big fan of rituals and traditions

09:56 You're never done building a great culture

12:30 You're only as good as the poorest behavior you tolerate

14:07 So many companies have the same list of values, yet….

17:24 A culture is a culture regardless of where you do your work from

19:28 The starting point for me is getting your hiring right

21:03 They relentlessly hire for attitude first and foremost

22:43 When we're talking about bringing our humor to work….

24:08 If you infuse your meetings with a spirit of fun and creative energy….

25:47 One example that I love, because it shows how simple this can be

27:37 When you have a more fun work environment….

29:17 Everything goes back to intention

31:07 A company I visited in Copenhagen, Denmark

32:28 A huge key to all of this, of course, is communication

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelkerr3/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeaRB1AE5C_RWBjK87wwRYg

Blog: https://mikekerr.com/inspiring-workplaces-blog/

Email: mike@Mikekerr.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Developing a Grow Through It Mindset with Keith Sampson!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 7

Episode Overview:

Welcome to this episode of Becoming Preferred, where we’re going to deep dive into the world of modern selling and performance excellence. I'm thrilled to have Rob Harrison, the CEO of Magnifyde, joining us today. Rob is a seasoned sales leader with a track record of driving exponential growth and empowering sales teams to achieve their full potential.

In this episode, Rob and I will unravel the intricate dynamics of today's marketplace, shedding light on the essential elements that underpin successful performance selling. We'll dissect the crucial role of mindset in navigating the ever-evolving sales landscape and uncover the power of cultivating effective habits that breed sustained success. Join me now for my conversation with Rob Harrison.

Guest Bio:

Rob is the Co-founder & CEO of Magnifyde, has years of experience leading sales teams and has a background of serving twelve years in the British military. He has developed a technique that exponentially increases company closure rates across multiple platforms. He is also the creator of Magnifyde Academy, where he molds inexperienced individuals into sales masters. His impressive track record includes skyrocketing monthly revenue for many of his clients from $10k to over $100k in a matter of months.

He has spoken at several in-person and virtual sales events such as M&A Mastery, Upgraded Coach 100K/Month Sales Machine, 5D Coaching Live, and Read the Lead.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://magnifyde.io/
• Product Link: https://magnifyde.io/#solutions

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:43 I got lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time

07:38 You still need to be the subject matter expert, even if you're a salesperson

08:18 Take the word enthusiasm, and the last four letters, the I A S M for I Am Sold Myself

09:27 How do you attack the mindset of the person

10:36 It's having the right mindset before you get going

12:54 What's the biggest common challenge that you see?

14:41 Never done sales before, but willing to learn

15:22 So you have to retrain them on the process, so that becomes the default

17:17 Enthusiasm has to be there

18:29 A groundbreaking technique that significantly improves company closure rates

20:26 Before they know it, 60% of their work week is actually spent in sales

23:27 Let's talk about the process on habits and skills

25:20 Then it became totally normal to wake up either before my alarm, or on my alarm at 5am

27:27 People are motivated differently

29:30 Appointment setters are also very important to be a subject matter expert

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-harrison-665699216/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magnifyde.io

Blog: https://magnifyde.io/category/all/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rob.h.8/

Email: rob@magnifyde.io

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: The Humor Advantage in Business with Michael Kerr!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 6

Episode Overview:

In today’s world, change is the only constant, and the bar for success is only rising higher. Gone are the days when being “good enough” could satisfy customers and beat back the competition. So what’s the solution? Leaders and businesses must evolve from being good to great to superior.

My guest in this episode, says gaining a superior edge is more important than ever and to share with us his insights is author, speaker, and coach, Rusty Komori.

Guest Bio:

RUSTY KOMORI is an inspirational keynote speaker, executive coach, and tennis professional based in Honolulu, Hawaii. From 1994 through 2015, he was the head tennis coach at Punahou School, where his boys’ varsity teams won an unprecedented 22 consecutive state championships, a national record in all sports that stands to this day. In 2014, he was named NHSCA’s Coach of the Year and inducted into Creighton University’s Hall of Fame.

Today, Komori is a sought-after keynoter and executive coach with a diverse client roster, including Kaiser Permanente, the YWCA, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Association. He’s the host of the televised series Beyond the Lines and the author of three books, including his newest release, Superior: Creating a Superior Culture of Excellence(Blackstone Publishing; May 7, 2024)

Resource Links:

• Website: https://sites.google.com/view/rustykomori/home
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Game-Rusty-Komori/dp/1948011301/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=beyond+the+game&qid=1588308251&sr=8-3

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:34 The four P's of achieving success, People, Purpose, Process and Performance

04:15 And then, when we're going for our 17th consecutive state championship….

06:46 I would tell them that I am not going to protect you from a challenge

09:16 There's two types of people in the world

11:41 What kind of obstacles do you see with businesses that they're challenged with?

12:59 There's a gigantic difference between being a great person versus being a great leader

15:08 I'm trying to change the narrative from mental health to mental fitness

16:10 What is mental toughness?

17:33 You introduced the concept of the four P's of achieving success

20:39 Talk about purpose

22:11 Every single minute in practice matters, because it either gets us closer to achieving our goal or it doesn't

23:50 I like to focus on performance goals, because….

25:40 You call it my 1 % principle. How does that work?

28:09 Those are all key areas that we need to focus on

30:02 Don't practice until you get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong

31:13 I share the difference between good, great, and superior

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rusty-komori-220008147/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rusty.komori

Twitter: twitter.com/rustykomori

Instagram: www.instagram.com/rustykomori/

Email: rusty.komori@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Sales Coaching for Sales Closers with Rob Harrison!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 5

Episode Overview:

Are you ready to elevate your marketing game with a true industry luminary? Today we have the privilege of welcoming a renowned marketing expert whose insights have reshaped countless businesses' success trajectories. With a laser focus on effective strategies, common pitfalls, and the art of capturing your ideal clients' attention, my guest is set to unravel the mysteries of the fiercely competitive marketplace.

Brace yourselves for an unfiltered, no-nonsense discussion that promises to revolutionize your approach to marketing. Get ready to absorb a wealth of knowledge and practical wisdom as we dive into the dynamic world of marketing. Join me now for my conversation with marketing expert, Jarrod Lopiccolo.

Guest Bio:

With one foot firmly in Reno and the other across the pond at our Bristol, UK office, Jarrod’s globetrotting nature has led him to make meaningful connections with people all over the world. His attention to listening first lets him learn what makes people tick and, admittedly, helps him harness the insights to propel Noble’s success.

Over the last two decades Jarrod has grown a creative digital performance marketing agency from a single-laptop endeavor to an international company. To date, Noble partnered with brands like Visit Lake Tahoe, Santa Monica, Autodesk, The Islands of Tahiti, Niantic Inc., Adobe, Disney, Visa, Google and more. His passion for creating beautiful human experiences (and his architectural background) have helped Noble translate the best of the real world into virtual architecture.

A mentor, father, husband and visionary, Jarrod has held leadership roles with several non-profit and public-private initiatives in Nevada. He previously served as Co-Executive Director of the San Francisco/Silicon Valley Inc. Magazine’s Business Owners Council, was a board member for Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA) and an advisory board member for the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (NCET). He’s taken the stage around the world at Destinations International’s Annual Convention, Social Media Week Bristol, eTourism, DMA West, University of Nevada – Reno, University of Nevada – Las Vegas and Truckee Meadows Community College, just to name a few.

Outside of his office in Reno, Nevada, Jarrod likes to keep his hands busy. He prides himself on being an early adopter, trying any interesting technology that comes on the scene and attending CES in Vegas just for the fun of seeing into the future (and how it can be applied to digital marketing, of course). His passion for photography has led him to new horizons–Iceland, in the near future–and led him to form a group for agency photogs throughout the country.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://noblestudios.com/
• Product Link: https://noblestudios.com/what-we-do/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:56 The example we use is Starbucks

06:15 We've got so much content that we're digesting on a daily basis

07:15 One particular example comes to mind

08:54 It starts with Think, Make, Market, and then finally ends with Measure

10:05 It's really important not to throw all of your money into one channel

12:41 At the end of the day, you're going to need to measure

15:10 We have to still do almost all the things we were doing 20 years ago, but we have to do more now

17:10 It's so hard to get our brand in front of consumers today because there are so many distractions

22:38 For the majority of us, where we no longer are selling local

25:05 Our mantra is: Let's be better every day!

27:17 One of the areas of focus that you have is on brand strategy and visual identity

27:57 Brands live in the hearts and minds of people

29:07 Conversion rate optimization

29:22 I love sharing this one story

32:03 I can be price leader with a stroke of a pen

33:13 This pricing strategy, we call it Anchor Pricing

35:34 I would say the number one thing is people

36:37 Martin Luther King said, I have a dream, he didn't say I have a plan

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrodlopiccolo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noblestudios

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jarrodlopiccolo/

Blog: https://noblestudios.com/blog/?page-num=1

Email: jarrod.lopiccolo@noblestudios.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Creating a Superior Culture of Excellence with Rusty Komori!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 4

Episode Overview:

Get ready to unlock the secrets to financial empowerment and work-life harmony with my guest, Kyle Smith. As a financial expert committed to empowering small and medium-sized businesses, Kyle brings unparalleled transparency and guidance to the table. His advocacy for fostering a healthy work-life balance within teams while emphasizing the critical role of financial controls in both professional and personal spheres is nothing short of inspiring.

Today, we delve into the art of achieving financial stability and harmonizing work and life, where invaluable insights and game-changing strategies await. Get ready to supercharge your financial acumen and nurture a harmonious work-life dynamic as we embark on this transformative journey with my guest, Kyle Smith.

Guest Bio:

Kyle Smith, CPA, a finance graduate from UT McCombs School of Business, is deeply committed to helping small and medium-sized businesses thrive. He began his career in Austin, gaining experience as an accountant and Controller for various bar and restaurant groups. His passion for guiding SMBs led him to earn his CPA and specialize in cost management accounting as Director of Finance at Celis Brewery.

Kyle’s journey continued at Scalefactor, a software development company, where he advised clients across various industries. His ultimate aspiration was realized when he became a co-partner at Strata Cloud Accountants. Kyle specializes in working with business owners to align personal and company goals and help teach businesses the financial acumen needed to hold themselves accountable to those goals. All with the mission to help businesses and business owners be more profitable.

Strata Cloud Accountants was born from a collective vision among friends who shared work philosophies and principles. Their values center around family and freedom, aiming to provide clients with financial freedom and their team with a strong work-life-family balance.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://stratacloudaccountants.com/
• Product Link: https://stratacloudaccountants.com/welcome-becoming-preferred-listeners/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:50 I had a secret aspiration to be a professional poker player

05:01 We really had the mission of aligning people's goals with the goals of the business

06:28 A big thing for people is doing too much too fast

07:38 If I just spend 30 minutes a month on one area of the business

10:02 Mike Tyson said, you have a plan until you get punched in the face

11:20 It takes passion

14:23 What are the common pitfalls businesses encounter?

16:36 And that timing is super, super tough

19:34 Which brings us to KPIs

22:22 Dennis Rodman played for the Chicago Bulls

25:08 Should we have more than one account?

27:24 Are you correctly priced?

29:13 A lot of people don't know the leverage that they have

30:38 When's the time to go into debt?

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-smith-cpa-9582038a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stratacloudaccountants

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stratacloudaccountants/

Email: Kyle@StrataCloudAccountants.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Mastering Marketing - Strategy & Insights with Jarrod Lopiccolo!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 3

Episode Overview:

How can businesses communicate more value and uniqueness in today’s price-driven, hyper-competitive markets, or in a market that is saturated with options? In an era dominated by price-driven hyper-competitive markets, businesses must constantly grapple with the challenge of standing out from the crowd and becoming the preferred choice of their customers.

My guest on today’s episode is here to unravel the complexities of this landscape and share invaluable perspectives and insights on how organizations can authentically differentiate themselves, communicate their unique value proposition, and navigate the competitive fray with confidence. So if you’re ready to gain a deeper understanding of how to effectively communicate value and uniqueness in today’s marketplace, you’re going to enjoy my conversation with returning guest, author, speaker and coach, Jim Pancero.

Guest Bio:

Jim Pancero is a seasoned professional in sales and sales leadership training and consulting. He is renowned for his expertise in enhancing the effectiveness of sales teams across various industries. With over 40 years of experience in the field, he has built a reputation for his comprehensive understanding of sales processes and his ability to implement innovative strategies that drive success. His approach focuses on helping organizations increase their competitive edge and profitability through proven sales techniques and leadership development.

Jim’s methodology emphasizes the importance of proactive selling and advanced sales leadership. He provides detailed training and coaching aimed at evolving the skills of sales professionals from traditional order-taking to more strategic, value-driven selling. His workshops and seminars are tailored to address the specific challenges faced by his clients, ensuring that they learn practical skills that can be immediately applied to their work. Jim's clients include businesses ranging from small companies to Fortune 500 corporations, all benefiting from his deep insights and actionable solutions.

Beyond training, Jim Pancero actively contributes to the sales community through his YouTube channel, where he shares a wealth of sales training videos and tips. He is also a prolific speaker at industry conferences and events, where he discusses trends in sales strategies and leadership. His commitment to sharing knowledge and empowering sales professionals is evident in his extensive body of work, which includes articles, online resources, and direct consultancy services that have helped countless sales teams achieve their full potential.

Resource Links:

• Website: www.pancero.com
• Product Link: www.advancedsalesuniversity.com

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:08 We have gone through a major cultural shift and how buyers buy

05:05 Customers are saying, prove yourself

06:21 One of the weakest and most ineffective advertising is….

08:49 Old selling language

09:27 I talk about the importance of getting higher, wider, and deeper

10:38 The toughest single question in selling is….

13:37 The messaging they communicate usually tends to have little to do with the customer

17:34 We call it opera singers

18:36 Something I call the X's and O's test

19:48 Price is never the issue, unless it is the issue

21:56 We're not talking solutions until we know that there's a problem

23:28 There are 4 fundamental reasons of why people buy in a competitive environment

26:08 I use ChatGPT under DALL-E

28:02 On LinkedIn, everybody's a seller and there's very few buyers

29:39 With magic, we use a concept called one ahead

33:16 You can't be the Lone Ranger anymore

33:49 What does it take to be successful in sales today?

36:04 Robert's Rules of Order

38:10 Most critical about salespeople walking away from this process

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jimpancero

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.pancero/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JimPancero

Preferred Email: jim@pancero.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Financial Excellence for Small Business with Kyle Smith!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 2

Episode Overview:

Advertising doesn't have to be a guessing game. It’s a predictable science, and one that we can understand.Businesses want results, but often struggle to navigate the complexities of advertising effectively. Traditional media methods are costly and digital platforms are constantly evolving.

Most companies are unsure if their campaigns are delivering the desired results, and they lack the ability to objectively know if they are wasting ad budgets or missing out on opportunities.

My guest today will share with us strategies employing the latest technologies to transform advertising into the exact science that it should’ve always been, so you can forecast advertising success, before you even spend a dime. Join me now for my conversation with advertising expert, Skip Wilson.

Guest Bio:

Skip Wilson, a luminary in advertising, embarked on his journey at 16 as a copywriter, evolving into a digital media pioneer. From shaping CNN Special Project's iReport team to spearheading iHeartMedia's digital expansion, Skip's expertise spans decades.

As founder of DRAFT Media Partners, he champions innovation, earning accolades like "Most Intuitive Software Developer" and "Best Marketing Software Developer." His relentless pursuit of excellence continues to redefine advertising, offering practical insights and transformative solutions for businesses navigating the digital age.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.draftadvertising.com/
• Product Link: https://virtualmarketingassistant.draftadvertising.com/optin1654290045958

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:53 I was selling mostly sports programming and news talk

06:57 If it didn't work, we’d blame the sales guys

08:51 You have tools that help your clients predict the outcome before they even spend dollar one

10:22 I always viewed it as an art AND a science

10:54 There's no campaign failure, there's only feedback

12:46 It creates this bigger need for tools to streamline those processes

15:58 If you can do that, you absolutely should be going all in on advertising

17:29 I’m a big believer of testing creative rather than doing a bunch of marketing

20:35 An ad should always have just one goal

21:57 Sequential marketing and sequential advertising is the way to get people in

23:19 Nobody cares about a tire ad unless you're in market for tires

24:17 draftmediapartners.com you can sign up for a free consultation

25:45 You want to put yourself in that mindset of that consumer

26:23 The biggest tool, the biggest free value thing is….

28:16 I try to think of something that can tell a story

31:02 One of the first things that we added to our reporting

32:20 Virtual Campaign Planner

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skipwilson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/draftadvertisingtechnology

Twitter(X): https://twitter.com/DRAFTagency

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ptICdLnHRkOpL6_RliCIQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draftadvertising/

Email: skip@draftadvertising.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Sharpening Your Competitive Edge with Returning Guest, Jim Pancero!

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SEASON: 4 EPISODE: 1

Episode Overview:

No doubt about it, marketing in today’s dynamic marketplace has changed and is changing. Understanding the evolving marketing landscape is essential if we are to maintain the human touch and authenticity in our interactions with customers and fellow workers.

With the rise of remote work and hybrid work models, how can businesses ensure that their communication strategies foster genuine connections and collaboration among customers, and teams, despite the physical distance?

My guest today, is the Head of Marketing at Movius. With a wealth of experience and a keen understanding of the evolving marketing landscape, John is at the forefront of navigating the intersection of cyber communication and marketing. Join me now for this thought-provoking conversation with marketing and communication expert, John Rarrick.

Guest Bio:

John Rarrick is Head of Global Marketing at Movius where he is responsible for all brand, customer acquisition, and partner marketing strategy. He has held senior marketing leadership roles at T-Mobile, Sprint, and Comcast, and is the former CEO and co-founder at BullsEye Public Relations.

John’s area of expertise in the B2B technology space includes brand development, communications and crisis management, digital marketing and social media, and digital sustainability programs.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://movius.ai/
• Product Link: https://movius.ai/product/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:53 I went to work for the World Wrestling Federation

05:43 At Mobius, we call ourselves a late stage startup

07:04 Think about the things that were obvious changes

09:08 We used to fax out our content

12:43 The earned media side Is probably the biggest one I've seen

14:42 We'll do focus groups

16:16 If your messaging is spot on and you're targeting’s spot on

18:40 We were looking at the next evolution of communication technology

26:04 How do we maintain that human touch?

27:50 How can businesses authentically convey their brand message

29:37 Wouldn't be a conversation about technology without bringing up AI

30:50 Solve for issues that could potentially not only help businesses

34:03 Make sure when you're implementing any technology

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/movius-ai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Movius

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@moviuscorp

Email: John.Rarrick@Movius.ai

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: How to Turn Around an Underperforming Campaign with Skip Wilson!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 36

Episode Overview:

Many of us, without realizing it, are living a life fueled by doubt. That doubt is keeping us from getting the promotion we want, from achieving our goals, and from creating the life we ultimately desire. It’s time to kill that doubt and build confidence.

There are stories that you tell yourself, whether they were first told to you by someone else, or it’s something you’ve created all on your own, that contribute to feeling unworthy, insignificant, and incapable.

My guest on today’s episode has been helping people like you and me find clarity about who you are, and experience the transformation that comes with truly knowing yourself, and ultimately accepting yourself. Please join me for my conversation with author, speaker and coach, Rocky Garza.

Guest Bio:

There are stories that you tell yourself, whether they were first told to you by someone else or it’s something you’ve created all on your own, that contribute to feeling unworthy, insignificant, and incapable. Through coaching sessions, team workshops, and keynote presentations, Rocky wants to show how the truths we have been told have developed into lies we deeply believe.

All of Rocky’s work and words can be boiled down to one truth: that who you are is good! In all that he does, Rocky wants to challenge these stories you tell yourself so you can experience the freedom and confidence that comes with living vulnerably.

Since 2014, Rocky’s been doing just that. Helping people like you find clarity about who you are, experience the transformation that comes with truly knowing yourself, and ultimately accept yourself.

Many of us, without realizing it, are living a life fueled by doubt. That doubt is keeping us from getting the promotion we want, from achieving our goals, and from creating the life we want. It’s time to kill that doubt and build confidence.

Rocky lives in Dallas with his wife and two kids. On the weekends you can catch Rocky spending his days playing pickleball. All day long if it were physically possible.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://rockygarza.com/
• 5 Day Free Workshop Starting June 3 2024: https://rockygarza.com/achievingmore

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:49 I went back there full time as a director for summer camp

05:59 Naturally I want to be a wedding photographer

07:52 The most poignant journey I feel like I've been on

09:43 I had always felt so misunderstood

11:33 How do you meet them at the level they're at

12:04 We start with four questions

14:42 They're just like boats without a rudder

15:29 We describe it as self clarity

16:59 What are the things that I have actively chosen to take responsibility of?

19:17 There's two things at play all the time

23:20 When we don't achieve our goals or we run into roadblocks

23:48 The only place that our dreams come true is when we're asleep

24:31 Really interesting book called The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life

26:10 Achieving More than Success, it’s a free 5-day workshop

28:01 At the top is where the elements are most harsh

30:59 Life is in the valley, that's a great analogy

32:57 I will guide you to the life that you actually want

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockygarza

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ID8k8gJC9rR3_1ZuCGWEA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockygarza/

Email: Rocky@rockygarza.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: The Human Touch in Business, Cyber Communication and Marketing with John Rarrick!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 35

Episode Overview:

What fuels your passion? What makes you unique in today’s competitive marketplace and how do you get people to not just pay attention, but to PAY for your time and talent?

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch or grow a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story can make the difference. My guest today helps authors, celebrities and entrepreneurs earn millions of dollars by sharing their story effectively and leveraging their talents. Join me now for my conversation with talent amplification expert, and president of BBN Creative Management, Blair Nichols.

Guest Bio:

Blair Bryant Nichols, Owner of BBN Creative Management for Diverse and Mission-Driven Talent, is a seasoned expert in building strategic speaking platforms for speakers and business leaders; with a background representing top authors and managing diverse projects for founders, entrepreneurs, and celebrities. Blair specializes in helping his clients understand the strategic landscape of public and corporate speaking, emphasizing the need for a diverse portfolio of offerings to compete effectively.

Blair holds an M.B.A. from UCLA-Anderson with a specialization in Entertainment Management and a B.A. in Literature from American University, complemented by his post-grad training at the Columbia Publishing Course.

Outside of work, Blair enjoys traveling, literature, board games, and spending time with his husband Gray and their Shepherd- mix rescue dog Aspen in his homes in West Hollywood and Lake Arrowhead.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.bbncreativemanagement.com/
• Free 30 minute Consultation: https://www.bbncreativemanagement.com/services

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:39 I ended up in Harper Collins

04:44 It was my first opportunity to see really speaking in a different light

06:59 It's all about growing your platform

08:21 You're identifying what their strengths are

10:43 There's a lot of strategies that can make you stand out

13:23 It used to be all about energy and now it's about authenticity

15:44 Is there a formula to the storytelling that you recommend?

17:50 Solutions to problems that sometimes people don't know they have yet

21:57 The most important thing I think, is to be yourself

23:46 The vulnerability and the connection aspect

25:59 Displaying that vulnerability makes you human?

27:57 You see new billboards every year

31:51 I always just tell speakers, if you want to speak more, start speaking

34:23 It works for general business as well

38:45 Can I send an email out to your entire database?

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blairbnichols/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BBNCreativeManagement/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbn_creativemgmt/

Email: bbn@bbncreativemanagement.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Achieving More than Success with Rocky Garza!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 34

Episode Overview:

Are you an entrepreneur, leader, or professional looking for a change? Do you ever have the feeling that there is something bigger for you? That you are meant for more?

My guest on today’s episode, helps people level up their mindset, their business and their results by helping them discover the power of their own minds to experience tangible results in their personal and professional goals.

So if you are looking for a leap in your results, your earnings, and your lifestyle, you are going to enjoy my conversation with international mindset coach, and returning guest, Dave Conway.

Guest Bio:

Dave Conway is a 7-figure entrepreneur and the founder of Conway Consulting. He’s the creator of the One Sale A Day Club, Fusion Mastermind and other elite programsachieving breakthrough results for his international client base. Currently, he contributes to Forbes as a member of the Coaches Council and was formerly a top coach and mentor for the legendary speaker, author and mentor, Bob Proctor at the Proctor Gallagher Institute.

He’s known for his action-oriented approach to mindset and sales mentorship that helps his clients achieve their financial goals fast, all while becoming world-class leaders along the way. He credits his success to a genuine desire to empower people on how powerful they really are.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.conway.consulting/
• Product Link: https://www.conway.consulting/all-programs

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:21 I was missing three core things

06:12 Today I do not operate without an image

06:31 What is the differentiating factor in actually creating success?

08:17 It actually leverages a universal law called the Perpetual Transmutation of Energy

10:27 It's actually the moment you make the decision, that will determine the outcome

12:19 We can't outwork our paradigm

12:28 What separates people in our lives, is the images we hold in our head

13:51 You become what you think about

15:41 So I never get influenced by other people's perception of other people

16:20 She wanted me to help her earn 250,000 bucks in one single night

19:47 That's where the ego comes in

22:42 If there's any room in the mentality for losing

24:32 Effectively apply the concept of this manifestation

25:01 I was what I call ‘visualizationally impaired’

25:49 The first is the imagination

27:50 What's the next most important thing to myself and my business?

30:50 You can't do a plan you're not aware of

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjconway/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conwayconsultingmindset

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSiY9HstAKB6UKOJ3MCIPZQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conwayconsulting

21 Day Manifestation Challenge: https://www.conway.consulting/manifestwithconway

7-Figure Self Image Script: https://bit.ly/3g3ViBV

Email: Dave@conway.consulting

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Amplify Your Voice and Brand with Blair Nichols!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 33

Episode Overview:

There are five generations of buyers in today’s competitive marketplace and about 19 communication channels, so whether you’re looking to maximize revenue to grow your company, boost engagement and awareness, increase repeat customers, or encourage brand loyalty, my guest today can help.

Standing out from the crowd and getting your message heard is always a challenge. Employing email and SMS marketing remain potent tools for engaging with customers. By implementing best practices such as personalization, mobile optimization, and clear CTAs, while avoiding overwhelming frequency and generic content, you can harness the power of these channels to drive meaningful results in your marketing efforts. To help us understand how to use these tools effectively is an award winning marketing expert and CEO of Inbox Army, Scott Cohen.

Guest Bio:

Having begun life as a copywriter, Scott Cohen has been a stalwart in the email marketing industry since his boss came to him and said, "Hey, you write the newsletters... why don't you do them?" He has worked on both sides of the aisle, as a brand-side marketer running the email marketing programs at Purple, 1-800 Contacts, and Western Governors University as well as agency side working with clients ranging fromsmall businesses to enterprise companies across multiple industries.

Scott won the 2021 Stefan Pollard Email Marketer of the Year Award from the ANA Email Experience Council for his work during his time at Purple. He's a sought-after speaker, webinar and podcast guest, having spoken at events like the Email Insider Summit, Email Evolution Conference, Email Innovations Summit, eTail West, and more. (He also won a Bronze Telly Award for the very first TV ad he ever wrote, so "it's been downhill ever since.")

Given his unique experience, Scott knows enough "to be dangerous" about email marketing, SMS, and many things CRM and retention marketing. He's built and managed larger CRM and retention teams, sent millions of emails (and a few million SMS, too), and written more than a few ads, blog posts, brochures, websites, and many other content pieces over the course of his 20-year marketing career. He's pressed the "Send" button a few thousand too many times to be anything other than frank about what email marketers need to do!

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.inboxarmy.com/
• Product Link: https://www.inboxarmy.com/email-marketing-packages-pricing/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:41 My career started as a copywriter

05:42 You're a songwriter, but you just do it in your emails

06:52 It put email back on the map, that’s really what COVID did

08:56 What are some of the common misconceptions about email and SMS marketing?

10:27 Odds are you're not sending enough emails

10:33 By the time you get sick of it as an ad professional, somebody's finally seeing it

10:47 Being there in the inbox consistently with value drives branding

11:42 I believe in the concept of what we call being professionally persistent

13:31 The days of the once a month newsletter are dead

15:35 The ‘dreaded wall of text’ is something you want to avoid in email

17:20 If you want to have a PDF, post it on your site, and you can link to it in the email

17:43 Do not use a bitly (in email)

19:11 Deliverability is a whole different animal

22:48 You can spend 10,000 tweets building a reputation, and one tweet destroying it (Scott Stratton)

23:20 Warm up the mailbox first

25:38 How do you demonstrate the essential role of email marketing in business growth?

27:18 I'm starting to read some things around a cookie-less world in marketing

29:22 What's the role of AI?

32:39 You have to be able to speak the language of the people seeking out your solution

35:31 We're going to get beyond building emails top to bottom from scratch every time

36:53 The marketers that embrace AI as part of their job, will keep their jobs

39:25 You don't necessarily need your email to match exactly what your website looks like

40:44 InboxArmy, we are a full service email marketing agency

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcohen13/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/InboxArmy

Email: hello@inboxarmy.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Making Manifestation Logical with Returning Guest, Dave Conway!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 32

Episode Overview:

In today's episode, my guest and I will talk about the ever-evolving landscape of marketing. We'll dissect the current state of marketing, shedding light on what truly works and what doesn't. From the rise of digital platforms to the art of authentic engagement, we'll leave no stone unturned as we uncover the secrets to effective marketing in today's fast-paced world.

We' ll also venture into the realm of best practices, where we'll unravel the keys to successful marketing techniques. So, whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a budding business owner, or a marketing enthusiast, this discussion promises to equip you with invaluable insights that can elevate your marketing game to new heights.

So, if you're ready to unlock the power of innovative marketing strategies and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to stand out in today's competitive market, then this episode is tailor-made for you. Join me now for my conversation with marketing expert, David Saxby.

Guest Bio:

For over 40 years David has been an entrepreneur, a professional speaker, a business coach and consultant. As Creative Director and CEO of Spark Communications Inc., a marketing communications firm, he helps businesses create a strategic advantage over their competitors by developing innovative marketing strategies.

Spark works with B2B small business owners in the professional services sector. As a creative catalyst David has developed the skills to quickly coach business owners to effectively apply the right marketing strategies enabling them to grow their business to maximum capacity. He begins the process using a proprietary Profit Acceleration Software analysis tool to expose gaps in the client’s marketing that almost all small business owners fall prey to. Spark works with all aspects of marketing: research, advertising, public relations, direct marketing, digital marketing, traditional marketing, branding and graphic design. Spark also helps clients develop presentations.

We have an elearning program with 50 video modules and learning guides. Our team has spent more than 10 years and 4 million dollars developing the world’s first E-Learning Marketing System being used by more than 5000 small business clients in 50 countries to help grow their business to multimillion-dollar status.

The Spark Business Growth model is positioned to help business owners realize their dream of creating a multimillion-dollar business that feeds their passion to achieve personal, financial and professional freedom.

Resource Links:

• Website: sparkcommunications.com
• Product Link: https://sparkinnovativemarketingstrategiescoachinginstitute.com/products/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:09 It's all about building relationships

05:10 Building that trust and loyalty

06:34 A movie called The Minority Report

08:55 One of the biggest challenges for businesses….

10:06 The best way to engage the customer is to….

12:16 Sales and marketing seem to be separate

14:41 If it's B2B, LinkedIn is probably the best format to communicate

15:53 How do you determine, hey, which platform is best for me?

18:35 The campaign is a roadmap

21:10 Creating that marketing dominating position

24:34 What do you see as the most impactful emerging trends in marketing today?

25:58 One thing is to test your message

28:06 Some of the misconceptions or myths about marketing

29:41 We have a software called the Profit Analysis Software

31:25 Your window of being able to get a product into the market and get traction is around 12 months

35:11 You're kind of like the Apple Watch of marketing

36:40 One of the biggest mistakes most businesses, small, medium and large make….

36:58 They forget that strategy is the first part of any plan

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-saxby/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081172687496

Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidsaxby

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/davidsaxbyspeaker

Free Marketing Evaluator: https://sparkinnovativemarketingstrategiescoachinginstitute.com/evaluator/

Free Spark Innovative Marketing Strategies ebook link: https://sparkinnovativemarketingstrategiescoachinginstitute.com/get-my-free-book/

Profit Acceleration Software Simulator: https://sparkinnovativemarketingstrategiescoachinginstitute.com/simulator/

Email Subscription: https://sparkinnovativemarketingstrategiescoachinginstitute.com/contact/

Email: dsaxby@sparkcommunications.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: How Email and SMS Can Help Win Back and Retain Customers with Scott Cohen!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 31

Episode Overview:

Caveman Brain is the voice inside our heads that holds us back, based on fears that may or may not be true. It is the thought patterns and processes we use every day that are no longer working to make us successful. It is how our brains are reacting to these fears, thought patterns and processes that influence us each and every day to be less successful than we can or want to be.

Caveman Brain is the thing that can make you stand out in a crowd or hide in the corner. If you are responsible for new business development, controlling your Caveman Brain is the single best thing you can do to change your trajectory of success. If you have done everything to increase your new business development, but nothing is working, then it’s time to turn your Caveman Brain into your ally. To help us understand how our Caveman Brain works and to get better results is the Results Queen, Dr Jean Oursler.

Guest Bio:

Dr Jean Oursler’s clients call her The Results Queen® because she is all about getting unprecedented results – at an unprecedented speed – that create and maintain an unprecedented performance for you.

With a Ph.D. in Business Psychology, she employs a coaching philosophy grounded in a no-nonsense, results-focused approach, completely personalized to meet the needs of you and your practice.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://cavemanbrain.com/
• Product Link: https://cavemanbrain.com/training/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:41 I bid on working with a Harvard neuroscientist

05:17 Caveman Brain, there's four places it comes from

07:03 So many things we need as salespeople, we make up that are not necessarily true

08:50 Read three books and you will be an expert, because you read three books more than anybody else

10:27 How is the decision going to be made for you to work with us?

12:14 In business psychology, it's really about the company

14:22 I'm really interested in your business life and how do we get results for you to be more successful?

15:50 If you want to have a really good relationship with anybody….

17:16 Focus on the results, skip the goal setting

19:18 What you call Last Second Mentality

20:16 Jean the Results Queen™

22:53 Visualizing the meeting before you get there

24:14 We call this Decision Tree Questioning

25:57 The website is cavemanbrain.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jean-oursler-the-results-queen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cavemanbrain

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeanOursler

Podcast: https://cavemanbrain.com/dr-jeans-podcast/

Email: joursler@jaldenco.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Marketing Strategies and Tactics for 2024 with David Saxby!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 30

Episode Overview:

It’s no secret that the enormous complexity involved in an organizational digital transformation can hinder its success. Consequently, some 70 percent of digital initiatives fail to meet their goals. Failure can put an organization at a severe competitive disadvantage, and in some cases, can be fatal. Executing on a solid digital transformation journey is a significant undertaking that demands leadership commitment, thoughtful planning, and rigorous execution.

In this episode, my guest, Michael Schank will be sharing invaluable strategies and frameworks on how to successfully tackle digital transformation. So whether you're a nimble startup striving to make your mark, or a global enterprise seeking to refine your operations, Michael's insights are incredibly valuable for entrepreneurs and business professionals alike.

If you're ready to take your digital transformation journey to the next level, then this episode is for you. Join me now for my conversation with Michael Schank.

Guest Bio:

Michael Schank is Founder and Managing Director at Process Inventory Advisors LLC. He has over 25 years of experience as a management consultant in the financial services industry, advising clients on technology, process, risk, and large-scale business and digital transformations.

Michael’s new book, Digital Transformation Success: Achieving Alignment and Delivering Results with the Process Inventory Framework, shares how to drive a new level of operating efficiency and agility necessary to thrive in this digital era.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.processinventory.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Michael-Schank/author/B0CLBZB5HS?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:34 What's the state of transformation today?

06:05 Staying relevant in the age of digital

07:32 Another innovation model called Open Innovation

09:05 Organizations have to have a willingness to cannibalize their own success

09:20 Most transformations fail because of organizational complexity

10:47 In your book, you call it Process Inventory Framework

12:55 Organizations have a lot of operational data in various unconnected data stores

14:41 I write about this in my book, called the Process Center of Excellence Capability

17:24 What are some of the common pitfalls organizations encounter?

18:40 It's a way to get everyone on the same page

20:32 It really comes down to performance metrics

22:50 In the context of digital strategy, how do you prioritize?

23:07 There's a common technique we use called heat mapping

24:38 If you see something that is not optimal

25:37 3M has what's called a 15% rule

27:17 If you think about risk in an organization

28:45 Processes happen!

31:09 A concept called Digital Twin

32:07 That's when Process Inventory comes in

34:15 The book is Digital Transformation Success: Achieving Alignment and Delivering Results with the Process Inventory Framework

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-schank/

Email: mlschank@yahoo.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Harnessing Your Caveman Brain with Dr Jean Oursler!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 29

Episode Overview:

Emotional intelligence (EI), often referred to as EQ or Emotional Quotient, is critically important in our professional lives and workplace for a multitude of reasons. Its impact ranges from individual performance to organizational culture and even to the bottom line of the business.

In the digital age, where technology and automation are prevalent, the human element of business becomes increasingly valuable. Emotional intelligence nurtures this human element, fostering environments where creativity, innovation, and productivity thrive. Whether it’s through leadership, teamwork, customer interaction, or adaptability, the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace cannot be overstated. It’s an investment in people that pays dividends in organizational success and sustainability.

To help us understand how EI and AI can complement each other in promoting a culture of inclusion, is my guest, author, speaker, and coach, Theresa Worthy.

Guest Bio:

Theresa Worthy has been a foreign language teacher, a fiction author, and professional speaker. She brings a global perspective and a unique blend of cultural understanding, communication expertise, adaptive teaching approaches, storytelling skills, and empathy to her EI consulting practice.

With these qualities, Theresa offers innovative solutions tailored to help organizations foster connections, enhance cross-cultural collaboration, and cultivate emotionally intelligent individuals and teams.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://theresaworthy.com
• Theresa’s Resources (Free eBook): https://theresaworthy.com/resources/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:25 I went on to college to become a teacher

06:09 Most people confuse diversity with inclusion

07:11 Self awareness is the cornerstone of Emotional Intelligence

08:18 Emotional intelligence is really about relationships

09:07 Emotional intelligence has five basic components

11:17 Emotional intelligence is a skill, it requires practice

13:19 We're all different

15:52 Inclusion is something that we all need to concentrate on

17:14 Memories are lodged in the amygdala

18:53 Only a habit can subdue another habit (Og Mandino)

22:36 I have 30-day journal prompt that I give them

24:18 Every age group, all we need to do is find a way to relate to each other

26:26 We aren't born with the ability to manage our emotions

28:12 We're all influenced by past experiences, past beliefs and past training

29:04 A little neighbor child came over and walked up to my youngest daughter and said:

30:27 A plan of dedicating each day to mindfulness

33:30 How do you avoid, or process the triggers

35:51 Actionable strategies or exercises you recommend

37:22 The majority of communication is nonverbal

38:45 AI has the capability of even helping a person to understand their emotions

40:27 It's very important to be able to put yourself in another person's shoes

42:09 Empathy is very important

44:36 A new book coming out later in the Spring

44:39 Emotional Intelligence, the Underrated Superpower for Professional and Personal Growth

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-worthy/

Theresa’s Resources: https://theresaworthy.com/resources/

Blog: https://theresaworthy.com/blog/

Email: Theresa@theresaworthy.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Achieving Digital Transformation Success with Michael Schank!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 28

Episode Overview:

If you are looking for some game-changing ideas on how to scale your business, enhance your entrepreneurial mindset, and unlock new levels of growth and success, you’re going to enjoy my conversation with author, speaker, and coach, Chad Jenkins.

Chad is someone who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk in the realms of technology, innovation, and transformative entrepreneurship. In this episode, Chad will share his blueprint for revolutionizing your approach to entrepreneurship and how to make monumental leaps in your business journey. Join me now for my conversation with Chad Jenkins.

Guest Bio:

Chad T. Jenkins is a seasoned entrepreneur renowned for his ability to identify unconventional opportunities within traditional business models. His passion lies in restructuring businesses for exceptional returns, a skill honed through years of experience. Leading numerous successful ventures, Chad has pioneered three innovative methods: Remove the FILM, Just Add A Zero, and 100X Collaborations. Fueled by boundless curiosity, he acts as a catalyst for business expansion.

Recognized as a transformative force, Chad collaborates with leaders across diverse industries, leveraging his analysis of Opportunities, Dangers, and Strengths to unearth hidden potential. His approach creates competitive advantages and drives exponential growth in enterprise value. With a remarkable track record spanning over 40 high-growth companies and numerous successful Growth Partnerships, Chad now focuses on empowering others. Through initiatives like Growth Collaboration Partnerships and the SeedSpark Growth Academy, he facilitates leadership placements and shares his expertise to foster growth.

Chad encapsulates his winning strategies in his latest book, "Just Add A Zero: Remove the film, outperform your competition, and grow exponentially through collaboration," offering insights for achieving remarkable returns and fostering collaborative growth.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://seedspark.com/
• Product Link: https://seedspark.com/services/
• Welcome Page: https://chadtjenkins.com/preferred/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:12 Do what you can, with what you have, where you are

04:47 Watch the herd and find the lead cows

06:37 God did give us four inputs and one output

08:47 It’s all about value creation

09:13 Nothing matters but someone's future, and how you're going to help them get to that future

10:01 SeedSpark stands for Seed the Opportunity, Spark Growth

11:55 I have a concept that is now coined, Remove the Film

14:29 If I focus on the friction, and I figure out the value creation opportunity

17:47 We're leaving a lot of opportunity on the table

18:56 I define collaboration as….

20:21 Bi-directional collaboration

23:00 Do you see common problems with entrepreneurs?

24:26 VCR: Vision, Capability, and Reach (Dean Jackson)

26:10 Wealthy people don’t trade time for money

28:19 The book is: Just Add a Zero

30:10 I try to focus on things that our brain does naturally

31:43 We all have blind spots

32:34 Show me your friends, and I'll show you your future

34:20 If you continue to hear the same thing, you will be the same thing

37:16 When you meet people with a lot of intentionality

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadtjenkins/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeedSpark/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/seedspark

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaSD-HmywcGJP4VaDa828dQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedsparkclt/

Blog: https://blog.seedspark.com/blog

Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/seedspark/

Email: chad.jenkins@seedspark.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Emotional Intelligence and Inclusivity with Theresa Worthy!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 27

Episode Overview:

Welcome to the Becoming Preferred podcast. Today we're diving deep into a narrative that's both heart-wrenching and incredibly inspiring. Our guest is Kaleb Dahlgren, a name that resonates with resilience, hope, and the power of the human spirit to overcome the unimaginable.

Kaleb, a survivor of the tragic 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash, has turned a story of profound loss into one of purpose and impact. Beyond surviving, he's thriving - as a student, an advocate for diabetes and mental health, and a bestselling author. His journey is a testament to the strength found in vulnerability and the importance of sharing our stories to connect, heal, and inspire. This episode is about the power of the human spirit, the importance of community, and the unstoppable force of a determined heart. Join me now for my conversation with Kaleb Dahlgren.

Guest Bio:

From a young age, Kaleb had no choice but to be resilient. His hockey career was threatened before it started by a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at 4 years old. Yet Kaleb proved his doctors and coaches wrong by going on to play hockey at an elite level. During his career, he played for the Humboldt Broncos - a team that made national news when their bus collided with a transport truck. The accident took away 16 lives and left only 13 survivors, many of them with lifelong injuries.

Kaleb is one of the survivors.

Once he recovered, Kaleb returned to the ice to play for York University’s varsity hockey team. While at York, he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree graduating as Valedictorian, Magna Cum Laude, and Varsity Athletics Male Graduate of the Year in April 2021. Currently, Kaleb is studying to become a Doctor of Chiropractic.

Kaleb is dedicated to helping others, whether that’s through sharing his story or through his community volunteer work. He is the founder of Dahlgren’s Diabeauties, a mentorship program designed in 2017 to give back to children with Type 1 diabetes. Through this program, he is able to raise awareness, support, and guidance to his community of Diabeauties. Kaleb is also the recipient of the Canadian Volunteer Award for Emerging Leader of the Prairies, the National JDRF Young Volunteer of the Year award, and dozens of other accolades for his community service.

Somewhere in the whirlwind of life, Kaleb found time to become a #1 Bestselling Author for his memoir, Crossroads, the story of his life thus far. As a speaker, he is known for his honesty, his inspiration, and his captivating storytelling.

In the face of insurmountable odds, he shows us that through perseverance you can do anything.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.kalebdahlgren.com
• Product Link: https://www.harpercollins.ca/9781443462877/?utm_source=aps&utm_medium=athrhcweb&utm_campaign=aps

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:39 The doctor called in my parents and said that Kaleb is a type 1 diabetic

05:46 The beauty of the illness was the fact that it made me develop a lot of resiliency….

07:00 Our bus collided, T-Boned into a semi truck trailer

08:30 I was in a state called post traumatic amnesia

10:51 What led you down the road to say, hey, I'm going to do a book?

12:28 That's where the inspiration came from, is my professor

14:20 Can you share some strategies or mindsets that have helped you maintain resilience?

15:46 One more big piece was just accepting and forgiveness

17:25 I think forgiveness is so powerful

19:25 Darcy Hogan, our head coach at Humboldt, he was really special

20:41 I feel like community is family

22:56 Mental wellness is so critical

24:18 30 minutes of physical activity every day, and 3 liters of water, and sleeping for 7 to 8 hours a night

27:29 It's how you choose a positive path or a negative path

28:25 Being true to who you are, is what makes you unique

30:06 Went to see the top neurologist in North America

31:58 I have lots of goals and aspirations for the future

33:27 The book is called Crossroads

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalebdahlgren/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalebdahlgren16

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KalebDahlgren

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalebdahlgren/

Kaleb Dahlgren - Humboldt Crash Survivor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbL9iv0nD-k

Email: Kd@kalebdahlgren.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Just Add a Zero with Chad Jenkins!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 26

Episode Overview:

My guest today, believes change is inevitable and should be embraced, leading to innovative solutions and uncovering untapped potential within each of us. His work reflects his mission to help individuals and organizations hit their mark by fostering a work environment of high productivity and satisfaction.

With a focus on discovery, and application, he offers a comprehensive approach to identifying opportunities for growth. So get ready to gain valuable insights and practical strategies as we dive into a conversation with Tony Ruesing, a catalyst for personal and professional growth in today’s dynamic business landscape.

Guest Bio:

Tony Ruesing is a highly regarded business coach and consultant, specializing in helping individuals and organizations achieve excellence in their work environment. With a focus on building confidence, competence, and integrity, Tony's approach emphasizes the importance of embracing change and applying fresh perspectives to drive success.

His areas of focus include discovery, application, and branding, with a keen understanding of the impact of effective communication, consistent design, customer service, leadership skills, and more. Tony's ability to connect with audiences and impart pivotal insights has earned him acclaim, with notable clients including esteemed companies.

Tony's work is characterized by a commitment to helping clients develop a clear vision for their future, communicate their value proposition, and build trust and innovation within their teams. His dedication to empowering individuals and organizations to thrive in today's complex work environment makes him a respected and sought-after professional in the realm of personal and professional development.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://aimyoursights.com/
• Product Link: https://aimyoursights.com/coaching/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:31 What commitment to excellence means in the context of modern business

05:14 You emphasize the importance of building confidence, competence, and integrity in the workplace

07:22 Leadership is not necessarily from the front of a room

09:51 Today, too many people are ready to value judge someone

12:04 I live with this, and believe it down to my toes

14:46 If I want the situation to change, the change begins with me

15:18 Who's a good example of leadership today?

17:04 The example I saw which really stuck with me

20:39 What it takes to be a great leader is never forget where you started

21:52 I didn't read a book till I was 25

24:14 I believe in something called Just Right Challenges

24:31 My job is to manage the moment

27:46 Can you tell us about a transformation….

31:58 They have to sit down, and take a thinking break

33:57 When you're talking about your future

35:35 More messages go from the heart to the brain, than brain to the heart

36:02 A new approach to goal setting

38:30 You have to be hungry, you have to be humble, and you have to work hard

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-ruesing-56b736ba/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/fuel-for-freedom/id1535471915

Email: Tony@aimyoursights.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Resilience, Growth, Health and Wellness with Kaleb Dahlgren!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 25

Episode Overview:

Let’s face it, life can be difficult and full of challenges. My guest today is on a mission to empower individuals to rise above their challenges personally and professionally and create lasting impact. His message, Don’t Let Your Struggle Become Your Standard, has touched the hearts of many and continues to ignite hope and determination in those who hear it.

In this episode, you will learn how to become indispensable, even when the odds seem insurmountable. Whatever your role is in life, my guest’s wisdom and insights will resonate with you and inspire you to elevate your game. Please join me for my conversation with author and speaker, Jose Flores.

Guest Bio:

Jose Flores is a Corporate Speaker, Global Motivator, Mindset Disruptor, and #1 Best-selling Author. He educates, inspires, and engages individuals and businesses to strengthen their mental toughness and to develop into indispensable leaders by connecting with them, touching their hearts, and giving them a fresh perspective.

Jose gets individuals and organizations to think outside the box to start taking massive action and seeing immediate results. The present is a gift and the time is now for Jose to make an impact in your life and business! Jose authored, "Don't Let Your Struggle Become Your Standard" and he lives it. He wants you to stand tall and be the very best version you can be. Jose’s passion is to inspire and motivate everyone he meets to learn more, do more, and become more. His positive and “can do” attitude have impacted the lives of many across the globe.

Resource Links:

• Website: http://www.joseinspires.com
• Product Link: http://www.shop.joseinspires.com
• Free Gift: https://freegift.joseinspires.com/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:32 Neuromuscular condition that I was born with called Spinal Muscular Atrophy

05:33 I have a 20 year corporate America background

05:52 In your book, Don't Let Your Struggle Become Your Standard….

06:52 And so I had two options….

07:45 The number one thing that holds people back is fear

09:49 Indispensable leadership

10:55 How do you change your mindset to become that indispensable leader?

13:19 You talk about mindset

14:45 I've always been grateful for the things that I've had

16:45 I like to call it stinking thinking

19:36 I went to an event and met the great Les Brown

21:56 An experience where you've seen your work have a positive impact

24:34 It was one of the toughest conferences I spoke at

27:36 On the importance of mental toughness, what are some of the daily practices….

29:52 I have my days as well, where I'm not motivated, where I'm not inspired

31:14 85% of those thoughts are negative thoughts

33:17 If it wasn't for us working as a team

34:41 The reason I love DEI is….

37:06 Get out of your comfort zone and get out of your own head

37:46 The three pillars that I have in life

38:41 I’m just a messenger of hope

39:56 Another mentor of mine, by the name of Tim Grover

42:36 A marriage book called, What Real Love Looks Like

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josefloresinspires/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoseInspires/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/joseinspires

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/joseinspires

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joseinspires

Email: Joseinspires@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Building Confidence, Competence and Integrity with Tony Ruesing!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 24

Episode Overview:

No doubt about it, our world is messed up! My guest today believes we can fix our messed up world one small act at a time. It’s not just about the big gestures; it’s the everyday actions, the small steps forward, that collectively drive significant change.

Pancho Timmons, author of Quick and Easy World Change, is here to share his journey, his insights, and how each of us can contribute to fixing our world, one small act at a time. Join me for my conversation with Pancho Timmons.

Guest Bio:

Pancho Timmins has dedicated his life to proving that Kindness in Action = Success, personally and professionally. Kindness in action is a belief that every action matters and all the positive things you do make a difference in the world. Pancho truly owes his success to living a life of kindness in action. As a speaker, author, advocate, and business owner, he does his best to share this message with as many people as possible.

Pancho wants to continue being living proof that if you do good things, good things will happen. Everyone has the ability to make an impact. There is no such thing as a small act of kindness. All acts of kindness matter and every one of them makes a difference.

Pancho believes that we all have a moral and professional obligation to put ourselves in a position to do the most good we can for the community at large.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://panchotimmons.com
• Product Link: Quick and Easy World Change (book)

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:28 A book called Quick and Easy World Change

03:05 Every interaction that we have with people, matters

06:38 Companies were never designed to save the world

08:37 Companies are supposed to make profits and money

11:36 It becomes contagious

12:44 Every living person on the planet can make a significant difference

14:45 As a culture, we're very self absorbed

15:32 You call it a world changer’s mindset

15:43 You want to live a lifestyle of kindness

17:24 My goal was walking into a networking event saying, what can I do for everybody in here?

18:01 Enjoy giving and receiving, and make a game of giving

19:19 How about practicing optimism? How do we do that?

21:57 A formula: Success is Kindness in Action

23:10 Kindness isn't weakness

25:28 Most common misconceptions about DEI

26:21 This urge to take everything that's been created as a shield and start to use it as a sword

28:37 Just basic humanity

29:14 What are those five things that they feel like they need, to be a respected person in that office?

31:23 One of my biggest complaints is….

33:55 Mid summer conference 2024

34:05 All the reasons that a company would want to keep doing the DE&I

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pancho-timmons-859448154/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8U_1f6fg_MuIcym_Aex3qw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pancho_timmons/

Email: panchotimmons@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Don’t Let Your Struggles Become Your Standard with Jose Flores!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 23

Episode Overview:

Are you looking to avoid burnout but still maintain high engagement for yourself or your team? My guest on this episode is a beacon of transformation for disconnected teams and leaders who are looking to foster an environment of engagement and effortless work. Finding the balance between passion and burnout is the key to turning you and your team into an engaged powerhouse.

For leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone in between, feeling the weight of constant organizational change and the challenge of keeping productivity at its peak, this conversation promises to be a game changer. My guest is here to guide us through the journey of making work feel effortless. Join me now for my conversation with culture, engagement and peak performance expert, Sneha Mandala.

Guest Bio:

Sneha Mandala is an expert in "Sustainable Peak Performance" for corporate and tech professionals. Her mission is to optimize employee performance while combating disengagement and burnout, which has been proven to significantly reduce business expenses. In fact, this problem is currently costing the U.S. economy $1 trillion annually.

As a highly regarded speaker for Vistage, the world's largest executive coaching organization, Sneha Mandala has trained and coached several business and tech leaders. She has helped them develop tailored solutions for department-specific needs, utilizing Lean management methodologies to enhance productivity, and offer personalized guidance to empower employees in leveraging their strengths. She has reduced turnover and elevated engagement and performance in these organizations.

Sneha's expertise has led to an the International Achiever Award at the 2023 Eurasian Summit, and repeat appearances on Fox 24 News and features in NY Post and LA Weekly, where she dissects intricate corporate issues and provides impactful solutions that resonate with diverse employee age groups.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://snehamandala.com/
• Free eBook: https://snehamandala.com/free-resources/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:49 Where work doesn't feel like work. Work feels like play.

04:37 Effortless work

05:56 Does hard work really lead to success?

08:47 We know people who are doing what they love and they're burning out still

12:19 Now imagine you were left. to work on any project, that you felt passionate about

14:12 They're allowed to work on any project they want to

15:56 Gmail was born out of the Google's 20 percent project

18:09 The Coasting Phenomenon

20:57 Get the HR department involved

22:11 Your goal shouldn't be creating cookie cutter employees

24:26 The 4 percent rule

24:39 Flow occurs in the sweet spot of boredom and anxiety

26:39 We have a program we're launching called RAINMAKER10X™

28:59 What you just shared is a great way to start

30:20 The question is, do you have the awareness?

32:53 How much authenticity do we need to bring to the table?

34:40 You want to be in a state of being for fulfillment and happiness

37:14 What should leaders be focusing on today to prepare for that future?

39:04 Book, 5 Reasons Your Employees Are Not As Productive As They Should Be

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/snehamandala/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqR-KVqqB-CCh9Fv4SniDAw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandala_sneha

Email: sneha@snehamandala.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Quick and Easy World Change with Pancho Timmins!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 22

Episode Overview:

In today's saturated market, where messages and brands constantly jostle for a slice of our attention, merely having a visually appealing design or a memorable tagline doesn't cut it anymore. It's about diving deep, beyond the surface, to genuinely connect with the core of human emotions and thought processes. This is where our guest, Jim Pietruszynski, the CEO of Soulsight, truly excels and sets himself apart.

Jim has been a pivotal force in shifting cultural landscapes and propelling brand growth by tapping into an unparalleled comprehension of the human psyche. Picture this: crafting brands that do more than just exist - brands that thrive and resonate within the very essence of consumers, sparking both an emotional connection and delivering concrete results.

Prepare yourself to explore the intricacies of constructing brands that not only capture, but also captivate hearts, all while driving impressive outcomes. Join me now for my conversation with Jim Pietruszynski.

Guest Bio:

Jim Pietruszynski is honored to be the CEO of Soulsight, a full service brand design agency, that utilizes an empathic mindset to motivate consumer connections with brands emotionally, keeping brands relevant and evolving with culture. With over 3 decades of experience in iconic brand design, Jim has worked in every category and channel, and is driven not only by creativity, but understanding true human needs, turning brands into artifacts of our culture. He has spent the last 25 years at Soulsight with roles as a Designer, Strategist, Account Manager, and CMO.

Jim’s passion for the creative process begins with the formation of an environment where a strong strategic vision can truly thrive. Collaboration and honesty have been important factors that have fostered breakthrough innovation and game-changing creativity. Jim’s inspiration comes from insights grounded in basic human truths and an empathetic approach. His focus on strategic insight and design allows him to contribute compelling creative thinking for clients and colleagues.

Jim has experience in working with global and iconic companies such as Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, Molson Coors, General Mills, Pfizer, Unilever, and Hershey’s, and his work has been recognized by Graphis, How, Print, Communication Arts, Mobius, London International Awards, International Brand Packaging, Creativity Annual Awards, and Pentawards.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://soulsight.com/
• Product Link: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-big-book-of-packaging-will-burkelisa-baerjames-pietruszynski?variant=32115975651362

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:34 I love feedback, I love constructive criticism

04:12 Design's all about problem solving

05:40 Emotions were really the messengers to help us solve problems

07:14 70% of all decisions are made subconsciously by our emotion

07:40 If you compare the movie Die Hard to Rambo

11:48 SOUL stands for….

13:25 Coors is an interesting example

15:55 It can get a little bit scary when we over generalize

17:56 What brings them together is actually the emotion

19:33 What are the values that are important

19:44 Passion, growth and respect are the three values that we hold strong

22:41 If you want a brand to maintain consistency, become iconic

24:57 Looking at the brand every year and auditing

27:12 Brand activation

30:47 Enterprise Rental Car, they do a great job of utilizing empathy and emotion

32:21 Collaboration is key for creating great brands

36:41 There's not a snake oil magic notion to it

36:47 We always buy first emotionally, and justify with reason and logic second

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-pietruszynski-4a30836/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulsight.chicago/

Email: jamesp@soulsight.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Flow State - Burnout to Breakthrough with Sneha Mandala!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 21

Episode Overview:

In today’s crowded marketplace, presentation excellence isn’t just important; it’s critical. Whether you are a business professional or entrepreneur, presentation excellence allows you to cut through the noise, ensuring your message isn’t just heard, but connects and resonates with your audience.

At its core, business is about relationships. Presentation excellence enables you to build authentic connections with your audience. Whether It’s in webinars, sales presentations, podcasts, live streams, or social media, presentation excellence is about leveraging the tools and technologies and amplifying your reach and impact. To help us understand what we should focus on to stand out, is presentation and technology expert, Cat Mulvihill.

Guest Bio:

Cat is a skilled speaker and trainer who teaches people how to stand out in virtual presentations. She has over 15 years of experience leading workshops and programs, and after being forced to transition to the virtual format, Cat learned how to leverage tools and technology to stand out as an online presenter.

She is a Roger Love Method Certified speaking coach. Cat has an MEd with a specialization in Workplace & Adult Learning and an MBA with a specialization in Human Resources and Organizational Behaviour.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://catmulvihill.com
• Product Link: https://catmulvihill.com/work-with-me/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:58 The camera steals your energy

06:13 What is the emotionality behind your voice and your message?

08:24 When I started recording videos or going live, it was awkward and cringy

08:59 One of the best things I did was to practice in a safe environment with other people

11:23 You will get better at it, but it will never be easy

13:36 So the must haves were great lighting, good sound

14:56 We gravitate towards people who are making eye contact with us

15:04 I use a technique called Early, Easy, and Clear

17:54 You have to understand, what is the problem it's solving

19:29 Connection and content are probably the kingpins to make that presentation work

19:44 A lot of people underestimate lists and checklists

23:10 I always ask myself, What problem does it solve?

24:21 Can you share your process for distilling that information down into clear, actionable insights

25:45 What's the content I would have liked to see the first time I was learning this

27:43 I try to record everything as if I'm delivering it live

31:55 The brain can do one or the other

33:55 I absolutely love Ecamm

35:27 The importance of supporting future you

35:43 I’ve really tried to be intentional about noticing when is there friction in my life?

36:08 How can I make this experience better?

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mulvihillcatherine/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/catmulvihill

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/catmulvihill

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catmulvihill

Email: connect@catmulvihill.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Branding is More than a Logo with Jim Pietruszynski!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 20

Episode Overview:

With a coaching career with over 400 victories, Coach Jim Johnson's journey is a testament to the impact of positive leadership and the magic of believing in one's dreams. Yet, it's not the number of wins that define his legacy, but rather a moment of pure humanity and inspiration that captured the nation's heart back in February 2006. In a decision that would forever change the lives of many, Coach Jim Johnson chose to play Jason McElwain, affectionately known as J-Mac, an autistic team manager, in Greece Athena High School’s final home game. J-Mac's extraordinary performance, scoring 20 points in just over four minutes, is a story of courage, inclusivity, and the spirit of sportsmanship that transcends the game of basketball.

As we dive into this conversation, we’re set to explore Coach Johnson's philosophy on leadership, the importance of teamwork, and how to turn dreams into reality. So, whether you’re a sports enthusiast, a leader looking to transform your team’s dynamics, or someone chasing a dream, this episode promises insights and inspiration that could very well change your perspective on what it takes to achieve success and make a difference. Join me now for my conversation with Coach Jim Johnson.

Guest Bio:

Over 30 years of experience developing winning high-school basketball teams, including 428 career victories, sets the stage for the unique credibility and power of Coach Jim Johnson’s message. Many speakers talk about leadership, but it’s rare to find a speaker who has, quite literally, lead thousands.

In a moment later celebrated all over the world, Coach Jim Johnson weighed risk with the potential for great opportunity for an autistic student-manager, Jason McElwain (JMac) catapulting Jim, the team, and JMac down a path of inspiration and hope. That one victory continues to reverberate into countless lives as audience after audience is touched by a wave of courage and tenacity and witnesses what true leadership can accomplish.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://coachjimjohnson.com/
• Product Link: https://coachjimjohnson.com/inspirational-motivational-book-products/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:39 Jason McElwain, the world knows him more as J-Mac

05:11 Jason used to sign his name, Jason J-Mac Kobe McElwain

06:01 I wrote a book about it called, The Coaching Miracle

07:37 One of the other finalists for the award was his idol, Kobe had scored 81 points

10:12 I did such a great job I led that team to 17 consecutive losses

11:23 Great teams, that are consistent, it's usually because they have great leaders

13:02 That mindset of a servant leader

14:27 One of our keys is, are you consistently aligning your words and actions?

16:23 CANI: Constant And Never-ending Improvement

17:17 You’ve got to be the strong person when adversity hits

21:23 You’ve got to get to know your people, because you want to be fair, but fair doesn't mean you treat everybody necessarily the same

22:31 I think the best leaders are always asking questions

22:54 People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care

26:07 It's really important as a coach that you consistently build challenges

27:24 The one thing I admired so much about coach Johnson was I knew he cared more about me as a person than he did as a basketball player

28:45 A great character test, it was called the PACER test

31:06 I think the difference between motivation and inspiration is….

32:04 Great leaders are what they call a chief storyteller

34:19 The concept of teamwork actually extends beyond sports

36:19 We wanted to make practice more difficult than the game

38:19 What would you tell your younger self about the journey

38:49 What are your three most important core values?

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjimjohnson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachJimJohnson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachjimjohnson

Blog: https://coachjimjohnson.com/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachJimJohnson1

ESPN JMac Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-nMab6XDNI&t=16s

Email: jjhoops@rochester.rr.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: VirtualPresentation Excellence with Cat Mulvihill!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 19

Episode Overview:

The digital landscape is changing, and changing fast. AI is revolutionizing the digital landscape, paving the way for a new era of personalized customer experiences that foster a deeper connection between brands and their audiences. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, businesses are now capable of developing more effective marketing campaigns tailored to the specific needs and preferences of their customers. Small companies and entrepreneurs can now compete more effectively against big enterprise.

This podcast episode will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies for entrepreneurs and marketers looking to achieve significant growth in their businesses employing the latest tools. To help us understand how AI can help you accelerate your results, is entrepreneur, and AI marketing specialist, Cody Schneider.

Guest Bio:

Cody Schneider is the co-founder and CEO of Swell AI, an AI powered content marketing engine. Before Swell he worked at Rupa Health as employee 6, helping them go from a $20M to $110M valuation in six months.

Cody has 10+ years of experience in B2B marketing and publicly shares strategies and tactics on how to grow businesses.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.swellai.com/
• Website: https://www.drafthorseai.com/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:43 We ended up taking it from 20 million to 120 million valuation in about six months

06:51 Distribution is more important than product

07:27 A business at it’s core, is two things

09:21 I just try to always sell benefits

11:10 What can I automate or delegate for you

13:20 You can actually create your own voice, your own brand voice in a very, very quick way

16:45 TikTok has created what the industry is starting to call ‘For You’ page content

17:49 What are the common threads or common keywords or common ideas

20:23 Is there a correlation between platforms?

22:18 Scrape all of that data from all of these different places

25:38 I can just give it raw transcripts

27:05 You can make a chat bot on everything that you've ever done

27:47 www.lennybot.com

31:06 You get a baby boomer on TikTok and they will dopamine hit

31:54 I always try to advise people on the content side

34:33 If it says it's AI written, tell it to change the tone and style and voice

35:14 Swell AI, it’s content repurposing, powered by AI

35:39 DraftHorse AI

37:01 I think it makes your team superhumans

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codyxschneider/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/codyschneiderxx

Email: cody@schneidermedia.co

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Brand Yourself as an Inspirational Leader with Jim Johnson!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 18

Episode Overview:

Gratitude plays a pivotal role both in our personal and professional lives. On a personal level, gratitude is associated with greater happiness, as it helps individuals appreciate what they have, rather than what they lack. It fosters resilience, improves health, and strengthens relationships by promoting positive interactions and a sense of connection with others.

Professionally, expressing gratitude can lead to better work environments, increased morale, and productivity. It helps in building and maintaining professional relationships, and can also be a catalyst for networking opportunities and career advancement. A culture of gratitude within organizations can reduce employee turnover and enhance job satisfaction.

To help us understand how to integrate gratitude into our lives is author, speaker, and CEO of Gratitude at Work, Steve Foran.

Guest Bio:

Steve’s dream is one billion happier people.

While not the typical career path of an Electrical Engineer, he began exploring the relationship between gratitude and philanthropic giving during his MBA—receiving the Gold Medal for highest academic standing. Since then, Steve has been writing and conducting practice-based gratitude research and teaching the habits of gratefulness—more than sixteen years now. What has emerged is his science-based program, Gratitude At Work. It's a simple, yet innovative approach to thriving leadership and business results.

Steve founded Gratitude at Work in 2006 and started hosting conversations in his community which has since grown into work with leaders around the world, shifting cultures, helping leaders and their teams be happier at work by bringing more gratitude to work daily—audiences love the process & owners love the results.

Steve’s 2019 book, Surviving to Thriving - The 10 Laws of Grateful Leadership, was named 1 of 8 recommended reads by Greater Good Science Center at University of California Berkeley and 1 of 5 positive psychology books for a happier 2019 in inc. Also in 2019, he was an inaugural winner of Canada's CEO Trusted Advisor Awards Program and in 2017, was awarded the gold standard certification in professional speaking, CSPTM.

Steve is a son, brother, husband, father and an unapologetically proud grandfather. His kids poke fun at his gratitude work (air quotes) as he is heading to one billion with an on-line community that gives everyone easy access to the secrets of gratitude and grateful leadership. Steve is a lifelong resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia and trying to do his part to make his community a better place to live.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.gratitudeatwork.ca
• Product Link: https://www.gratitudeatwork.ca/store

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:47 Gratitude is about mindset

06:45 We also have this tendency to adapt

08:11 When we start our days with gratitude, we spiral up

10:16 I don't believe comparing serves me well

11:11 Don't use any type of comparisons to find gratitude

12:51 There's two really big benefits

13:44 We have natural tendencies regarding our disposition to being grateful

15:22 In your book, you document a lot of the science and neuroscience, from Harvard and Berkeley

18:13 It's never been harder, I don't think, to be a leader in an organization

20:45 Gratitude….it does build connections between people

21:55 How can leaders and how can companies create a culture of gratitude?

23:23 If gratitude is going to be part of your culture….

24:59 Have a habitual ritual

25:16 A game changer for me….consume other people's gratitudes

27:40 The invisible barrier that keeps most people in the struggle of scarcity

28:47 We each have a need to serve, to help others, to give, to be in connection

31:56 Any strength taken to an extreme, is a weakness

33:31 There is good in virtually every situation

34:14 What are you grateful for in that challenge?

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveforangratefulceo/

Gratitude at Work Playbook: https://www.gratitudeatwork.ca/playbook

Email: steve@gratitudeatwork.ca

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Next Episode: Harness the Power of Artificial Intelligence with Cody Schneider!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 17

Episode Overview:

Becoming the preferred choice is the goal of any organization that sells something. In today’s congested marketplace it’s important to create strategies and messaging to attract your ideal customers, and leverage change to create unique competitive advantages that make you the clear choice.

If you are looking to disrupt your market and become the emotional favorite, then you are going to enjoy my conversation with author, speaker, and marketing guru, Gerry O’Brion.

Guest Bio:

Gerry O’Brion has helped thousands of CEOs, executives, sales teams, and franchisees become the #1 choice in crowded industries.

Gerry is the creator of The Because framework of influence that reveals how to become the #1 choice, even in a crowded market. His book - They Buy Your Because – Closing the sale in a crowded market, shows companies how to clarify their message, stand out in the sea of sameness and close more sales.

Gerry is known for rolling out the advertising for the Coors Light bottle with the color-changing mountains, which grew the brand by hundreds of millions of dollars. Gerry spent his career as an executive for brands like Procter & Gamble, Coors Light, Quiznos, and Red Robin. He has an MBA from the University of Michigan, a BBA from the University of Wisconsin and spent 8 years in the military.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://whatbigbrandsknow.com
• Product Link: https://whatbigbrandsknow.com/book/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:35 The core part of the framework is four things

04:53 Go talk to people who you thought you were going to sell to, but who said no to you

06:01 The foundations of the framework are exactly what billion dollar brands do

07:45 A famous study that people have talked about for decades

09:16 Our brains are running a script

10:56 Your “because” makes all the difference

11:11 Our problem is business owners is that we are not good at finishing the sentence of influence

15:15 We don't have to use the word because all the time, do we?

15:21 If you want to implement this strategy of influence in your business, this is really important

16:41 We're good at making promises, we’re bad at giving them the proof

17:45 They got sued by Pizza Hut when they were a little tiny little startup pizza place

21:12 What about when the customer doesn't know you yet?

22:49 There's a case study about a car dealership in Denver called Schomp BMW

24:02 What do you do that others haven't done, can't do, or won't do?

25:50 They're actually buying, because of what the why does

28:48 I literally ask, what do you want them to know, think, and do

30:39 How well do you know your competition?

31:14 I called it my “I wish I knew list”

36:15 My book is for the rest of us, the ones that need to close more sales this year than last year

38:19 Can we use the same strategies we used

40:31 If you don't have good becauses….innovate, listen, get insights from your customers

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerry

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvTPOtOIs6Krg2kyaISx1yg

Email: gerry@whatbigbrandsknow.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Surviving to Thriving: Laws of Grateful Leadership with Steve Foran!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 16

Episode Overview:

Today’s marketplace is crowded and chaotic. Differentiating yourself and your organization in a sea of sameness can be challenging.

If you are looking for innovative and practical strategies to create more value and opportunities while shortening your sales cycle, then you are going to enjoy my conversation with author, speaker and coach, Ron Karr.

Guest Bio:

Ron Karr's methodology, the Velocity Mindset®, provides sales teams with modern approaches on how to capitalize on more opportunities and walk away with more deals in less time.

For 36+ years, Ron Karr has excelled at sales and leadership positions, for which he is recognized as the leading "Sales Success Expert" and has appeared as a guest on national TV including FOX , Bloomberg, C-Suite Network and others. He is an in-Demand Global Keynote Speaker, and Highly Acclaimed Author of Lead, Sell, or Get Out of the Way.

When you seek solutions to remove barriers, position your products/services more powerfully and achieve bigger results in less time, Ron Karr will enthusiastically motivate and train your organization to achieve and exceed sales goals.

As a child who overcame the daunting challenge of a speech impediment, Ron has made it his life’s mission to empower employees, executives and entrepreneurs all over the world and transform their lives by removing life limiting belief systems.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://ronkarr.com/
• Product Link: https://ronkarr.com/velocity-mindset-book/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:48 Zoom was a great tool before the pandemic

07:21 There's a value in a first meeting to be on zoom that's tremendous, but….

09:14 We have five generations of buyers out there now

10:54 Eliminate the resistance, gain buy-in, and achieve better results quicker

12:41 I decided to have a board meeting with myself

15:13 Velocity is speed with direction

17:23 I was made fun of, which is a polite way of saying I was bullied a lot

18:59 I got rid of the biggest story holding me back in my life

20:19 Your cortisol is not in a position to have a conversation

22:26 Oxytocin is being released because that's the trust hormone

25:27 What needs to occur for you and your organization to be happy about your progress?

26:46 When you’re trying to change the behavior of an employee

29:20 How do we get the right mindset if we're in a slump or we're stuck in this negativity?

31:59 You can't get to the answers if you don't ask the right questions

34:34 The moment you come up with something new, consider it obsolete

36:36 The point for CEOs is simple….Create experiences!

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronkarr/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ronkarr1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ronkarr

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ronkarr1

Email: Ron@ronkarr.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Unlock the Power of Because with Gerry O’Brion!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 15

Episode Overview:

Sales is much more complex than number crunching, reading scripts, or having coffee with clients. For too long, we've seen sales as something external to us. As salespeople, we spend enormous amounts of time honing our skills and figuring out how to close effectively so we get more 'yeses' from clients. This is what we think will make us good salespeople.

However, in only focusing on the external work, we do not give ourselves the opportunity to realize our true potential. You can see this in top athletes, performers, and artists. They don't just ace their external game, they also become masters of the complex inner game that truly underpins their performance. To help us understand and strengthen our inner mental game is author, speaker and coach, Arishma Singh.

Guest Bio:

With over 20 years of corporate experience with multinational corporations and start-ups such as American Express, Nielsen Media, Google Australia, Pivot Software and Experian, Arishma has been known as a top performer, a ‘pocket rocket’ and a woman to watch. Her book, “The RespectedSalesperson”, is a must-read for anybody who wants to redefine what it means to be successful in sales.

Arishma is a globally certified and accredited EFT practitioner, facilitating change for her clients by working with their mind, psyche and identity. She is passionate about bringing true personal growth to the corporate world, using the effective mind-body techniques developed as part of her copyright THRIVE model.

Hailing from the beautiful islands of Fiji, Arishma came to Australia at the tender age of 19 with some big dreams and $400 in her pocket. She thinks in Hindi, loves to dance salsa and carries chillies with her everywhere she goes.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://arishma.com/
• Website: https://therespectedsalesperson.com
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com.au/Respected-Salesperson-change-before-minds-ebook/dp/B0BV71DL52

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:56 My mantra always had been work hard, strive hard, and that is the way to achieve success

04:32 You seemed to settle in on EFT

06:35 I kept being asked, how do you do it?

08:30 I'm invested in ensuring the sustainability of my success in the sales

11:46 How many people actually see sales as a profession?

13:46 Set a scene where you're very clear in your intention

16:09 The nice girl syndrome

17:44 Go ahead and tell us why we should hire you

19:45 Not all salespeople are the same

21:18 The amygdala hijack

23:25 You accept, you reflect, then you'll go excavating

25:20 It also works on the positive side too

27:14 You also had an open mind because you pivoted straight away

28:57 In Australia, there's this whole Tall Poppy Syndrome issue here

30:47 How you found EFT and how it changed your life

31:31 EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques

35:54 It used to affect you, but that's not the case now, you're safe

37:41 You're very generous with the amount of exercises

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arishmaspeaks

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arishma.speaks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arishma.speaks/

Email: arishma@thrivewitheft.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Will be launched January 8 2024. Enjoy the holiday season!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 14

Episode Overview:

Ready to improve your customer service, increase sales, enhance your marketing, automate repetitive tasks, and streamline your business operations? ChatGPT is the fastest-growing consumer application in history, hitting 100 million users in just a few months.

To help us understand how we can use ChatGPT for competitive advantage and streamline our workflows is author, speaker and transformation advisor, James Feldman.

Guest Bio:

With a focus on Customer Engagement, Performance Management, and Innovative Problem Solving, James delivers customized and tailored solutions to meet your unique needs. James shares insights gleaned from decades of working with every size and type of organization while building his own sales promotion agency.

James recognizes the significance of staying ahead of the curve. His vast knowledge and innovative strategies help organizations navigate complex challenges and seize new opportunities. James’ comprehensive services include, but are not limited to, customer engagement strategies, performance management solutions, and creative problem-solving techniques. JFA’s clients benefit from expertise in devising transformative strategies that lead to remarkable outcomes.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://shifthappens.com/
• Product Link: https://a.co/d/1AdE92B
• Romance Scam Expert: https://www.romancescamexpert.com/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:40 Great story about the train

08:57 What was the value of the boxcar?

10:28 You created what we call the 3 Ds

11:30 Depth, distance, and determination

13:03 There's a new toy out there called AI

15:08 Pay the $20

17:29 GPT Generative Pre-trained Transformer

18:46 What are the mistakes that you see?

24:42 It's never price, it’s only price when you become a commodity

25:51 A car is a depreciating asset

28:05 It's really about the value conversation

29:33 Do you really want the cheapest brain surgeon for your kid?

31:37 The Romance Scam Expert

33:58 Can we use AI to detect AI?

36:02 Remember, trust but verify

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdfeldman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebrightideaguy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShiftHappensNow

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jimfeldman

Email: Jfeldman@shifthappens.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: The Complex Inner Game that Underpins High Performancewith Arishma Singh!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 13

Episode Overview:

Personal branding is extremely important in today’s competitive world. It allows us to differentiate ourselves from competitors and build trust with clients and employers. It helps us stand out, create opportunities, be memorable.

Developing our personal brand can lead to higher salaries and new opportunities. It will help you build a positive reputation and achieve your goals. To understand how we can stand out from the crowd is branding expert, Emma Donovan.

Guest Bio:

Emma Donovan (and co-founder Lindsay Llewellyn) of Become Dapper, were inspired by a desire to create space. Space to reflect, discover, connect, evolve, and redefine what success looks like. This commitment led to the creation of a unique offering centered around authentic brand development. Established in 2021, they are proud to work with incredible Dapper humans all around the world.

Dapper is the space where their skills and strengths connect, to create the perfect combination for delivering this work. Their experience in branding, marketing, design and business give them the tools to make an impact. Their unhurried, kind yet candid, and curiosity-led approach gives them the heart to ignite passion in others. Their mission is to give each client the confidence to embrace and celebrate their whole story.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://becomedapper.com/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:38 People needed to leverage their personal brands more than ever before

02:20 Reputation is how others see you, whereas your personal brand is what you choose to share

04:13 The end result is a very clear vision

05:15 Confusing quality and quantity

07:10 If you don't know what you stand for

10:40 I'm always amazed how quickly people do feel safe and open up

12:45 We want to do it at a pace where we build momentum

14:35 Where your audience is and where you feel you can add value

15:35 What are content pillars?

18:02 That first line of the LinkedIn post is really important

19:14 A-team players

20:45 Your personal brand’s the one thing you'll have for your whole life

22:45 Being part of a community or resonating with something is just human nature

26:32 What about transformation?

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmadonovan-dapper/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@becomedapper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.dapper/

Email: emma@becomedapper.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Revitalize, Reinvigorate, & Reimagine with ChatGPT with James Feldman!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 12

Please note that this episode contains explicit language.

Episode Overview:

Today’s business world is overflowing with innovative ideas and technologies. As a result, business owners face an increasingly competitive environment where consumer demands are increasing exponentially. This competition encourages innovative businesses to adopt more profitable, higher converting strategies to generate leads and convert them into customers.

One such strategy proven to produce a significant return on investment is the use of Video Sales Letters. A well-produced VSL can generate leads, convert leads into customers, and influence customer loyalty while increasing retention. If you’re looking to level up your marketing, you’re going to enjoy my conversation with marketing and VSL expert, Peter Kell.

Guest Bio:

Peter Kell is a mentor, serial entrepreneur, and leading Video Sales Letter (VSL) marketer. Peter has perfected the art of VSL creation, boasting an unmatched track record of creating multiple 8-figure video sales letter campaigns.

Peter created the VSL department at MindValley, helping establish the brand as a global leader in its space. A passionate advocate for Media Buying, Entrepreneurship, and Personal Development, Peter's mission is to help e-commerce marketers achieve multiple 7-figure months.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.peterkell.com/
• Product Link: https://www.vsl.ai/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:53 Stranded in my parents basement in the middle of woods

05:05 The master is not the one who's the best in the world

05:40 Money's the root of all freedom

08:21 I refuse to have dreams left behind

09:30 Go become an apprentice to a master

11:20 There's really only two ways anybody could suck up information

12:38 VSL stands for Video Sales Letter

14:16 People don't have short attention spans, they just have higher standards

17:01 VSLs do have a challenge built in

18:58 If there's ever been a really smart thing that's been created, it's this AI stuff

21:56 People are very concerned about AI taking jobs

24:58 Facebook is one of the best platforms out there

26:38 VSLs are the biggest because of one simple thing

28:41 I used to think nightmare stories were the best way to do this

31:03 Authenticity is not as powerful as copy/copywriting

33:25 Being the best offers freedom of “I get to do what I want”

37:06 At the end of the day, you’ve got a dream, you’ve got to show up there

42:53 Skills pay the bills

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkell/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peter.kell

Twitter: https://twitter.com/peterkell_

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbP0cukcAA-eYTjKvqAZs9Q

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterkell/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellpeter.official

Email: peter@adventure.holdings

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Your Story is Already Out There - Get Branded with Emma Donovan!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 11

Episode Overview:

In this rapidly changing world, relationships have never been more important. People are craving connections, not transactional exchanges. And yet, many struggle to adapt to this new reality, resulting in surface-level interactions and missed opportunities.

When we see people as numbers, we keep relationships superficial. We worry about being relevant rather than being real. We focus on getting in front of instead of being with people. To help us understand how we can grow our business without burning out and chasing leads is author, speaker, and high-performance coach, Grant Muller.

Guest Bio:

From millionaire before 30 to homeless and living on drugs, Grant Muller reinvented himself by discovering that real success isn’t just about the hustle – it’s about the connections you create.

Gripping audiences with his powerful story and actionable strategies, Grant offers a fresh perspective on how to grow your business without burning out and chasing leads. He challenges audiences to rethink their approach to success and shift from top of mind to Top of Heart®.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.grantmuller.com
• Product Link: https://www.grantmuller.com/#book

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:50 I was hiding from who I really was

04:03 I found something better than alcoholism, I found workaholism

08:15 Unfortunately some of us don't survive the bottom

10:22 If you want to stay clean and sober….

11:40 Because we do want people to know, like, and trust us

11:47 Ditch the cheap cologne and tacky pickup lines

14:51 How do I differentiate myself in the marketplace?

16:22 Top of Heart is about bringing what's really human back to the sales process

17:47 Who can I be a hero to today?

20:35 Heart set is all about “me to we”

22:24 I spent $40 on some overpriced chocolate

24:25 How important is story for us to maintain that alignment and authenticity?

27:08 They didn't have the habits in place to follow through on what I was teaching

29:41 When we look at the high performance pillars, they're around productivity

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thegrantmuller/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGrantmuller

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/grantmullerTV

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrantmuller/

Email: grant@grantmuller.com

Sponsors:

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Level Up Your Marketing with VSLwith Peter Kell!

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SEASON: 3 EPISODE: 10

Episode Overview:

Most businesses just try to be better than their competitors, constantly fighting for every bit of marketshare.

If you are looking to stand out from the competition and authentically define, develop, and ultimately dominate a new category of business, you’ll need to answer the questions, “What’s the problem you solve?”, “What solution must exist?”, and “Why are you that solution?”

So if you are looking to dominate your market, then you are going to enjoy my conversation with bestselling author and award-winning columnist, Kevin Maney.

Guest Bio:

Kevin Maney is co-author of Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets and has been a bestselling author and award-winning columnist writing about technology for three decades which allows Kevin to bring broad and deep context to Category Design conversations.

Kevin co-authored his most recent book Intended Consequences. He also authored The Two-Second Advantage (a 2011 New York Times best seller), Trade-Off: Why Some Things Catch On and Others Don't, and The Maverick and His Machine: Thomas Watson Sr. and the Making of IBM.