The Authority Brand: Recent Episodes
Curt D. Mercadante
Learn how to deliver the right message to the right clients so you can generate the right revenue for your business.
The Authority Brand host Curt Mercadante is a sales and branding expert and serial entrepreneur who has has counseled small business, entrepreneurs, as well as some of the largest corporations and associations in the country.
He’s built three profitable businesses, including a 7-figure Public Relations and Advertising agency. Curt is Gallup-Certified Strengths Trainer, authority branding consultant, and author of the bestselling book, “Five Pillars of the Freedom Lifestyle.”
This is the final episode of The Authority Brand Podcast -- but our past year of programming will continue to be available at www.TheAuthorityBrandPodcast.com.
You can also learn about Curt's new and upcoming projects at http://CurtsBlog.com.
Learn more in today's episode.
Curt Mercadante interviews Margie Agin, author of "Brand Breakthrough: Brand Breakthrough: How to Go Beyond a Catchy Tagline to Build an Authentic, Influential and Sustainable Brand Personality."
Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NTYMSW3
Margie is an award-winning marketer who helps B2B technology companies discover what makes them unique and find the words to say it. She is the founder and chief strategist of Centerboard Marketing, a marketing agency based in Washington, DC.
As both an external strategist and an in-house marketing leader, Margie has helped companies in the cybersecurity, communications, EdTech, and software industries distil complex topics into content and campaigns that drive action.
She has built and led teams through times of rapid change, launched and relaunched brands, and created sustainable marketing programs that prioritize the customer experience.
Before founding Centerboard Marketing, Margie led demand generation efforts for the education technology company Blackboard and digital marketing for video conferencing leaders Tandberg and Cisco. She also taught content marketing and web writing at Johns Hopkins University.
Learn more about Margie: https://centerboard-marketing.com/about/margie-agin/
In today's episode, Curt shares three common mistakes people make in using LinkedIn to grow their business.
Today's episode comes from a recent LinkedIn Live Curt held. Curt discusses the importance of defining your "what" before letting the "how" get in your way, and why you should align your "why" with the "why" of your ideal clients.
What is a freedom business? Are you talented or qualified enough to build one? How can you put together that blueprint? All that and more in today's episode.
In today's episode, Curt Mercadante interviews Kat Leitner and Ashleigh Metherell, co-founders of Allora Solutions Group.
Modern outsourcing "solutionaries" with a genuine passion for problem-solving, Allora helps businesses navigate the day-to-day challenges associated with people, process and performance.
Learn more:
Allora Solutions Group: https://allorasolutionsgroup.com/
The Business Solutionaries Podcast: https://allorasolutionsgroup.com/podcast/
In today's episode, Curt shares his seven sources for lead generation that generates revenue for his business.
There is no perfect time. Take action and from that action, LEARN. In today’s episode, Curt Mercadante provides some examples of “imperfect” action to build his brand and provide impact to his clients.
The human mind is our greatest weapon - but it can also be our greatest weakness. We are hit with so much stimuli on a daily basis, and our "monkey minds" can become cluttered. In today's episode, Curt discusses the importance of emptying your mind and being "dumb and excited" to achieve your big, audacious business goals.
Curt Mercadante interviews Larry Sharpe, Managing Director of the Neo-Sage Group, a firm and resource for professional training.
He provides training, coaching and consulting in many industries including: finance, law, technology, media, retail, real estate, luxury, government and healthcare. He has trained and coached hundreds of entrepreneurs, executives, leaders, lawyers and reps from dozens of companies all over the world.
Larry has started and sold companies, served in the U.S. Marines, and was the 2018 Libertarian New York State Gubernatorial candidate.
Curt and Larry discuss: * Building influence in a post-industrial world * The importance of mutual respect in a civilized society * Why coercive leadership builds distrust and deceit * The importance of a "third party" in politics, business, and life * How people are dealing (or not dealing) with the growth of decentralized media * Larry's road to becoming a Libertarian * How Larry built a successful leadership consulting firm following the economic meltdown of 2007-2009
Larry also hopes The Sharpe Way, a podcast/livestream show where answers, solutions and common ground can be found so that together we can forge a way forward.
As Larry says, "The Sharpe Way is the way to mutual respect, where no one has to convert to be heard, because you can be as liberal or as conservative as you want, as long as you aren’t forcing your beliefs on others."
Learn more: http://sharpeway.com
Your brand can be defined as “how you influence others, and how others influence you.” At that root of that influence is energy.
Today's episode is a follow up to our previous episode's interview with Joe Pici. Curt Mercadante shares his "Management by Outcomes" process to help you achieve superhero priority and time management.
Curt Mercadante interviews Joe Pici, ranked the #1 sales trainer in the world by Global Gurus. Joe's company, Pici & Pici, helps businesses recover lost revenue, book more appointments, and close more deals.
A former football coach, Joe preaches the importance of becoming process-oriented.
In today's episode, Joe shares his priority and time management system for defining the end goal, building the systems and processes necessary to reach that goal, and then engaging in the daily activities necessary to achieve your goals.
For more info:
Text SALESEDGE to 55678
http://www.PiciandPici.com
Why was my client so excited today to get back our and meet in person with his clients again? Why was Curt so energized to get back out and do a live in-person training last week? Because human beings are social animals. It's time to reject the "Bot Society" and push back on tools and tech and start getting personal again.
Have you noticed that most challenges we face at work, with our self-care, and in our relationships are actually communications challenges? In today's episode, Curt Mercadante discusses a simple framework you can use to be a better communicator.
It's so much easier and better to retain clients than to have to go and get new clients. Are you building an authority brand with your existing clients? Are you having regular human conversations with your existing clients? Curt discusses all this and more in today's episode.
Curt Mercadante interviews Doug Thompson, a passionate storyteller and TEDx speaker.
They discuss: * How to give your "inner bully" a time out to help you tell better stories * What is "techsplaining" and how to avoid it * The power of human creativity * Doug's journey to achieving his bucket list item of giving a TEDx speech * And more!
Doug can be found sharing his passion for storytelling in his LinkedIn videos and his Tech Story podcast. His passion is coaching and mentoring other technology professions on how to stop “techsplaining” and start storytelling.
He believes that everyone has a story and it is just a matter of unlocking it from the grips of the subconscious mind.
Doug left Microsoft after 20 years and continues to leverage his 30+ years in tech sales to help his customers transform their business to use technology wisely.
Doug and his wife, of more than 39 years, enjoy spending time with their two children and 7 grandchildren and 2 rescue dogs whenever possible. He is also a retired triathlete and is a 2-time Ironman Triathlon finisher.
Connect with Doug:
Tech Story Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-story/id1515031369
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedougthompson/
Twitter - twitter.com/thedougthompson
Instagram - instagram.com/thedougthompson/
The notion of "I'm not worthy" and "imposter syndrome" can keep you from the realization that you CAN make a positive impact on your clients. Start with looking at what's right -- not with what is wrong -- with you, unlock your talents, turn them into strengths, and unleash your superpowers.
We're creating a society of "busybodies" and "reality peepers" and then wondering why "imposter syndrome" is on the rise? In today's episode, Curt Mercadante discusses why only you can turn yourself into a victim of "imposter syndrome" and how empower yourself to unleash your unique superpowers to build your Authority Brand.
“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” - Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
In today's episode, Curt Mercadante discusses how this advice, written around 2500 years ago by Lao Tzu, can help your branding and sales efforts.
Curt Mercadante interviews Dr. Pelè Raymond, a bestselling author and educator who partners with leaders, teams, and individuals to achieve high performance through the science of happiness.
Born in a war-torn African village, he has experienced both humble beginnings and the victory of the American dream. His unique journey has taught him what truly drives success—and it’s not who or what we are. It’s how well we leverage happiness and harmony—the music of our lives.
On this episode, Curt and Dr. Pelè discuss: * Dr. Pelè's trajectory from war-torn Africa to musician to his doctorate and now to high-velocity content marketer. * The power of gratitude and abundance * Common mistakes business owners make with content marketing * How Dr. Pelè's Velocity Jam product helps entrepreneurs boost their content marketing efforts. * The meaning of "profitable happiness".
Learn more: * www.drpele.com * www.VelocityJam.com
In today's episode, Curt Mercadante shares a story from his early PR career in which he learned the power of listening to defuse conflict and enter a collaborative -- instead of coercive -- relationship. This lesson can be applied in your personal, business, and sales relationships.
How can you apply the improvisational principle of "Yes, and..." to unleash your creative flow each day? That's what we discuss in today's episode.
Curt Mercadante discusses why it's dangerous to put your business completely at the mercy of social media and other tech platforms. Bulletproof your brand by building and controlling your own platforms.
Curt Mercadante interviews Brian Brogen. In his early 20’s, Brian was the general contractor constructing his own residence, and he has since constructed many successful teams to lead a multi-million-dollar industrial construction company as the Vice President of Field Operations.
Brian is now a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Teacher and Speaker. With over 25 years of experience building successful teams and leading successful projects, Brian brings his experience to develop and grow your team.
He also is host of the Build Your Success Podcast.
Learn more about Brian at https://buildcs.net/about/
In the wake of the COVID lockdowns and uncertain economy, Americans began creating new businesses at an increased rate. In today's episode, Curt Mercadante offers four suggestions to help these new "COVID Creators" to thrive.
In today's episode, Curt Mercadante invites the "professional industry" of critics to join the ranks of creators who creating impact and value for their clients, themselves, and the world.
Why do you have to have more "sticktoitiveness" when it comes to your branding and sales process? Curt Mercadante discusses more in today's podcast.
In today's episode, Curt Mercadante interviews Jon Dwoskin, an executive advisor, business coach and motivational speaker.
Jon has been called the “business whisperer” for his skilled and compassionate insights into what can keep a corporate culture from thriving. At age 23, he created one of the first internet marketing companies in America, then went on to great success at several national real estate firms. Jon has built, trained, expanded and restructured both sales teams and corporate structures, but after 20 years in a C-suite, knew it was time to make a business out of being himself.
His Jon Dwoskin Experience teaches the secrets, hard work and discipline required to “Think Big. Very Big!” A prolific business blogger, Jon is the author of “The Think Big Movement,” a fable about getting unstuck and transforming a business. A 19-year cancer survivor, he lives with his wife and two children in Michigan, where he is active in community organizations. He’s been included in the prestigious Crain Detroit Business’ 40 Under 40 list and named Alumnus of the Year by Eastern Michigan University, where he double majored in economics and journalism.
Curt and Jon discuss: * Jon's experience in beating cancer. * Jon's career pivot. * Why they call Jon the "business whisperer" and the common challenges he "whispers" away for his clients. * What it means to "think big". * The importance of having business systems and processes in place.
Learn more: http://www.JonDwoskin.com
In today's episode, Curt Mercadante uses the the environmentally-friendly slogan, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," as a strategy to create compelling content on a consistent basis.
You don't need to be the "subject matter expert" to build a successful business or be successful in your career.
In today's episode, Curt Mercadante discusses why creativity and a learning mindset can trump being a "subject matter expert."
In today's episode, Curt Mercadante discusses the fact that you can build the company you want to build. Focus on the impact your clients want, and then determine how you can provide that impact in a way that allows you to live the lifestyle you want with a business that fulfills you.
Curt Mercadante interviews Mandy Cavanaugh, author of the new bestseller, "F*ck the Glass Ceiling: Start at the Top (and Stay There) as a Feminine Entrepreneur."
Mandy’s passion for leadership, entrepreneurship, and helping people thrive has fueled her roles as CEO, consultant, and facilitator. Her businesses have spanned global lodging logistics, land development, manufacturing, and training/consulting. She helps teams succeed in dynamic and uncertain environments by connecting them to the best version of their future selves.
She holds various coaching certifications and has conducted seminars on authentic success, conscious language, imagination activation, conflict resolution, corporate soul retrieval, CEO-ship for startups, sales, high-performance teamwork, and wealth wisdom for women.
The Fck the Glass Ceiling* book is for every feminine entrepreneur who wants to scale up her organization without sacrificing her authentic self or compromising her respect for the contributions of ‘the masculine’ in this fascinating analysis of small to mid-market business ownership.
Peter Drucker once wrote that, "you can't manage what you don't measure," and he was absolutely correct. But you also have to measure the right things.
In today's episode, Curt discusses the importance of becoming process-oriented, and measuring every step of your branding and sales process.
In order to truly build an authority brand and unleash your prosperity, you have to allow your creativity to flow.
Almost every industry has commodity brands -- those brands that charge very little to provide a bare-bones, sometimes-automated product. If your your unique authority is as a trusted advisor, don't try to compete with the commodity brands on price. Own your authority and charge trusted advisor money.
Learn why in today's episode.
Curt Mercadante interviews Randy Gage, author of the new book, "Radical Rebirth: Kill Off the Old You and Create a New Life!"Randy is a thought-provoking critical thinker who will make you approach your business — and your life — in a whole new way. Randy is the author of 13 books translated into 25 languages, including the New York Times bestsellers, Risky Is the New Safe and Mad Genius.
He has spoken to more than 2 million people across more than 50 countries and is a member of both the Speakers Hall of Fame and the Direct Selling Hall of Fame. When he is not prowling the podium or locked in his lonely writer’s garret, you’ll probably find him playing 3rd base for a softball team somewhere.
Randy's book features this endorsement quote from Curt:
"A no-holds barred call to action to rebirth yourself for freedom, prosperity, and abundance? Check. A powerful story of how to heal and forgive? Absolutely. A wake-up call, in the tradition of Randy's other books, for critical thinking, an end to victimhood, and reprogramming the scarcity out of your mind? You bet."
In today's episode, Curt Mercadante discusses how to be more intentional if you're using social media as a tool to build your authority brand, including: * Being intentional about who you let into your network. * Being intentional about the social platforms you use. * Being intentional about how you spend your time on social media.
How did Tudor Alexander turn a career as a professional dancer into helping people to apply theories of dance movement to build a better business and more aligned lives?
Learn more in today’s episode, in which Curt Mercadante interviews Alexander, who is the author of three books, professional athlete and biohacker, and host of the weekly self-development podcast, The Dance of Life.
Alexanderhelps help people align their life so that success comes naturally.
More more information: https://www.danceyourwaythroughlife.com/
In today’s episode, Curt shares a simple exercise to help you consistently create compelling content that speaks to the positive impact your clients get from working with you.
ALSO: Text YOUTHORITY to 55678 to receive 4 free Webinars on building your authority brand!
In today’s episode, Curt discusses some new and effective live streaming and podcasting tools with Chris Stone, founder of Cast Ahead, a podcast and live streaming consultancy.
With a 25+ year history in the music industry with Sony, Chris founded Cast Ahead after the success of his own co-hosted podcasts changed his life. He thrives on enabling driven entrepreneurs, influencers, thought leaders and enterprises to express their story and elevate their reach while extending their efficiency in that process.
In the same way Chris was able to work with multi-platinum artists, record label executives and creatives of all levels – he’s found great joy seeing other Live Streamers, Keynote Speakers and Podcasters achieve their own creative, financial, physical and spiritual success. He’s produced videos for keynote speakers like Victor Antonio and Sam Silverstein, produced virtual, physical and hybrid live conferences for corporations, consulted, developed and produced podcasts like The Sales Energizer, Sales Influence, Launch Your Live, Make Headway and Power Couples Rock.
He also co-hosts a weekly Amazon Live show “Dealcasters Live” with Jim Fuhs of Fuhsion Marketing.
Learn more: https://www.castahead.net/
In today’s episode, Curt discusses the importance of letting the market decide if you’re messaging, color scheme, and other branding and sales tools are working. If what you’re doing isn’t resonating with your potential clients, but you stubbornly cling on, anyway -- it might be time to “kill your darlings.”
Learn more in today’s episode.
Also...Text YOUTHORITY to 55678 on your smartphone to receive the free Webinar: The 4 Pillars of Building an Authority Brand
Curt interviews Jeff Wickersham, creator of The Morning Fire Academy.
Jeff helps leaders and executives inspire and motivate their people by providing impactful speaking sessions on positive habits, energy, productivity and time management.
He is a high-performance habits coach, host of The Morning Fire for Entrepreneurs Podcast, and author of the bestselling book, Rise, Fight, Love, Repeat.
Curt and Jeff discuss:
- Why the night before is key to your morning success habits.
- Morning success habits and routines that set your day up for success.
- Tuning out the “noise” of society and focusing on your signal.
- The real impact of negativity on your mindset and success.
Learn more about Jeff: https://www.themorningfire.com/
In today’s epdisode, Curt talks about the simple process to identify your ideal clients, craft a compelling message around what they want, and then efficiently and effectively communicate that message to those clients.
Today’s episode brought to you by Curt’s Right Message. Right Clients. Right Revenue. Bootcamp. To learn more, text YOUTHORITY to 55678 on your smartphone today.
In today’s episode, Curt shares some branding and sales lessons he’s observed from top AirBNB hosts as he and his family travel the country.
ALSO….
NOW ACCEPTING MEMBERS OF THE FREEDOM INNER CIRCLE: http://FreedomInnerCircle.com
In today’s episode, Curt shares the most effective and powerful way to set your outcomes and goals for 2021 -- and how to gain clarity and actually make those outcomes a reality.
Today’s episode is a replay of our most-downloaded episode of 2020: A discussion of LinkedIn as a personal branding tool with Dr. Natalia Weichowski.
What is personal branding? Isn't self-marketing only for celebrities, athletes and extroverts? Why do I need personal branding? How do I build a top personal brand? And why should I do this on LinkedIn?
In today’s episode, Curt discusses all this and more with Dr. Natalia Wiechowski, author of the new book, "Personal Branding with LinkedIn: The Think Natalia Method."
Grab her book here: https://thinknatalia.com/products/
At twenty-nine, at the peak of Dr. Natalia’s corporate career and deep unhappiness, she quit her job and started from scratch.
During a nine-month sabbatical she changed the way she thinks, speaks and acts. She committed to design her purposeful dream life and founded Think Natalia.
Her obsession is coachsulting people who left corporate to do their own thing: Coaches, consultants, trainers, authors, keynote speakers, photographers and other experts from companies like IBM, SAP, Bosch, Nestle, Microsoft or Coca Cola. People who want to build an international, sustainable and purposeful thought leadership personal brand on LinkedIn. Individuals who want to become the voice of their niche, get more clients and have a positive impact on the world.
Natalia’s aim: To develop resp. bring together a tribe of one million (out of the box) thinkers and doers who do not only challenge but also change the status quo. “Who want to be the change they wish to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Dr. Natalia consults and speaks globally, comes from Hanover (Germany) and lives in Dubai. She has edutained at conferences and events across the globe.
She started as a Social Scientist, turned into a Dr. of Philosophy, a “LinkedIn Marketing Unicorn” (Inc. magazine), a Forbes Coaches Council Member, “Top Expert” (Erfolg magazine), a LinkedIn Learning author and the Middle East’s leading Edutainer.
Want to recover lost revenue, or even a lost job, in 2021?
Looking to unleash your prosperity in 2021?
Then focus on VALUE creation, instead of content or audience creation, in 2021. Because when you create value and impact for your ideal clients -- they will provide value and impact in return.
Learn more in today’s episode.
Curt Mercadante interviews Bryan Clayton, CEO and co-founder of GreenPal.
GreenPal, which has been called the "Uber" for lawn care by Entrepreneur magazine -- is an online marketplace that connects homeowners with local lawn care professionals.
The company has over 100,000 active users completing thousands of transactions per day.
Before starting GreenPal Bryan Clayton founded Peachtree Inc. one of the largest landscaping companies in the state of Tennessee growing it to over $10 million a year in annual revenue before it was acquired by Lusa holdings in 2013.
Curt and Bryan discuss entrepreneurialism, small business growth, marketing and bootstrapping businesses from zero revenue to profitability and exit.
In this second edition of “Ask Curt”, host Curt Mercadante answers the following questions from listeners:
- “Your inbound potential client is contacting you for the first time. Knowing they have done a lot of research on you and your competitors already - how is your mindset different than an outbound call?” -- Chris Stone
- “How to focus/prioritize messaging when different types of users (middle manager vs. senior manager) derive different benefits from the product?” -- Ricardo E. Maduro
How does your instinctive brain impact your purchase decisions?
And how can you “Gain the Subconscious Advantage” to help grow your brand?
We discuss that and more with Leslie Zane, founder of the Triggers® brand consultancy. Leslie and Curt discuss:
- Instinctive marketing and how it differs from conscious marketing.
- What is the “Brand Connectome” and how is it key to how brands can grow?
- What is the “Subconscious Advantage” and how do you get it?
- Leslie’s “new rules of marketing.”
- How new brands can compete against more well-established brands.
- What brands can do to retain relevance and grow in the “COVID era”.
More about Leslie:
As a brand manager early in her career, Leslie saw brand-building differently from the rest of the industry and, like many unconventional thinkers, her recommendations were often dismissed. Instead of direct persuasion, Zane argued that indirect messages were more effective and that “appeal” was not a predictor of purchase.
In 1995, seven years before Daniel Kahneman won the Nobel Prize for his system one thinking, Zane pioneered and launched Triggers® consultancy with the only proven method for changing instinctive customer behavior and driving consistent revenue gains. It was also the first brand consulting firm founded by a woman. Based on a 25-year track record as practitioners (not just theorists) of behavioral science, Zane is championing a new way to build brands with business leaders that drives transformational growth more easily, with fewer resources. CMOs often joke that the major difference between Triggers’ work and those of strategy firms a hundred times their size, is that their approach actually works.
Leslie received her BA from Yale University and her MBA from Harvard Business School. A TEDx speaker, she has been published in the Harvard Business Review, Knowledge@Wharton, Ad Age, Scientific American and more.
Learn more: https://triggers.com/
In today’s episode, Curt discusses the importance of simplifying your message, your ideal client persona, and your process to deliver your simple message to your clearly-defined ideal clients.
Curt Mercadante interviews Victor Antonio — CEO and Founder of Sellinger Group
They discuss:
- What is sales velocity and how can increasing it be the key to generating more revenue for your business?
- Do you truly know the impact and value of what you sell?
- Why is simplicity the best way to success?
- What is the “sales trinity” and how has Victor updated it for 2020?
- What sales lessons can we learn from Ayn Rand’s classic novel, “Atlas Shrugged”?
All this and more in today’s episode!
More about Victor:
A poor upbringing from one of the roughest areas of Chicago didn't stop Victor from earning a B.S. Electrical Engineering, an MBA and building a 20-year career as a top sales executive and becoming President of Global Sales and Marketing for a $420M company.
As Vice President of International Sales in a Fortune 500 $3B corporation at the time, he was selected from over 500 sales managers to join the President’s Advisory Council for excellence in sales and management.
He has shared the stage with top business speakers: Zig Ziglar, Daymond John (Shark Tank), Rudy Giuliani, Paul Otellini (CEO of Intel), and John May (CEO of FedEx Kinkos).
Victor is host The Sales Influence Podcast, and the creator of the Sales Velocity Academy.
http://VictorAntonio.com
In today’s episode, host Curt Mercadante shares three simple tips you can use to make you more productive, and ensure you can find time each day to achieve your key outcomes (one of which should be having conversations with potential clients).
Today’s episode brought to you by our Freedom Inner Circle: http://FreedomInnerCircle.com.
How can you build true influence?
In today’s episode, Curt interviews Bob Burg, co-author of "The Go Giver Influencer.”
Bob is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences sharing the platform with everyone from today’s business leaders and broadcast personalities to even a former U.S. President.
He is the author of a number of books on sales, marketing and influence, with total book sales of well over a million copies. His book, The Go-Giver, coauthored with John David Mann, itself has sold over 975,000 copies and it has been translated into 29 languages.
His and John’s newest parable in the Go-Giver Series is The Go-Giver Influencer.
Bob is an advocate, supporter and defender of the Free Enterprise system, believing that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve. He is also an unapologetic animal fanatic, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch in his town of Jupiter, Florida.
For more:
Bob Burg’s Web site: http://burg.com
Greab the Book: https://thegogiver.com/the-go-giver-influencer/
Follow Bob on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bobburg
Nothing will kill your branding and sales performance than a poor mindset.
In today’s episode, Curt discusses why you should tune out the “noise” of 2020 and find and focus on your signal to build an abundance mindset that will fuel your successful branding and sales process.
Want to energize your sales?
Then join Curt Mercadante for this interview with Dan Jourdan.
Dan, or “The Deej” as he is known, is a salesman. He has successfully started from scratch, built up, and sold five out of six of his own businesses.
But he is not a businessman, he is a salesman. The one business that he could not sell was when he tried to be a real human, instead of a salesman.
With his current firm “Sales Arbiter” Dan and his partner Crispin Cruz work with small businesses in town that want to have self-functioning, highly profitable sales organizations within their company in which the owner is not involved, like it ought to be!
For more on Dan: http://salesarbiter.com/
Follow Dan on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danjourdan/
Follow Dan on Twitter: http://Twitter.com/DJJourdan
Subscribe to Dan on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DanJourdanSlsTrainer
If you are a business owner and are not spending a portion of each day having conversations (online or offline) with your potential clients, then you’re doing it wrong.
Curt interviews Christine Kane, author of "The Soul-Sourced Entrepreneur."
Business owners are told they must be strategy-driven, data-led, aggressive, even manipulative -- to be successful.
They see "Crush It!", "10X It!", "Unf**k It!" as popular titles shouting from every bookstore shelf they pass.
Entrepreneurs who aren't crushers are unf**kers of anything are left wondering what's wrong with them. Like, maybe they're just not cut out for this business thing after all.
In "The Soul-Sourced Entrepreneur," Christine calls BS on this paradigm. Jettisoning the usual mindset advice, she lays out a bold and unconventional plan for a new class of entrepreneur -- one that honors intuition, sensitivity, and creativity as assets, not liabilities.
Christine spent fifteen years in the music industry as a singer-songwriter. In 2010, she opened Uplevel You, a multimillion dollar coaching company that serves the ever-growing class of sensitive, idea-driven, aggression-averse entrepreneurs.
Please join us for this insightful discussion.
For more info:
Get the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Sourced-Entrepreneur-Unconventional-Sensitive-Ambitious/dp/1950665445
Visit Christine’s Web site: https://christinekane.com/
Are you using your platforms to intentionally communicate your ideal message to your ideal clients, or are you using them to share angry political screeds or other messages that are inconscistent with your authority brand?
How can you utilize voice marketing to help build your authority brand?
Join us for this discussion with Susan and Scot Westwater of Pragmatic Digital.
Susan and Scot co-authored the book, "Voice Strategy: Creating Useful and Usable Voice Experiences."
Pragmatic Digital is the voice marketing advisor for the world’s most innovative brands.
Combining deep business acumen with unmatched Voice experience, Pragmatic Digital helps Marketing, Branding, and Customer Experience executives take advantage of the incredible opportunity Voice represents.
Unlike Voice marketing agencies that focus on tactical Voice apps and then leave you to manage them, Pragmatic Digital helps you focus on Voice strategy that works so your brand ends up on the winning side.
The next technology revolution has already started.
For more info:
https://www.pragmatic.digital/
https://www.voicestrategybook.com/
In today’s episode, Curt discusses why some entrepreneurs and business owners have come to belief branding and sales is about coercing clients to buy something they don’t want, and why client relationships based on cooperation are stronger and more sustainable.
In today’s episode, we bring you nuggets from Curt’s conversations with top sales trainers, including Bob Burg, Victor Antonio, Anthony Iannarino, and Brad Lea.
The key themes: Communicating impact and building relationships.
For more on the all-starts in this episode:
Bob Burg: http://burg.com
Victor Antonio: https://www.sellingergroup.com/
Anthony Iannarino: https://thesalesblog.com/Brad Lea: http://bradlea.com, https://www.lightspeedvt.com/hereforyou
As a follow up to our previous episode, in today’s show Curt discusses the importance of embracing your uniqueness, even if it attracts haters and critics.
Focus on that unique impact you provide your ideal clients, because when you try to appeal to everybody, you appeal to nobody.
A big part of building an authority brand means embracing what makes you unique.
How can you embrace that uniqueness to unleash your superpowers, stand out in a noisy world, and reach your audience?
Curt discusses this and more in today’s interview with Fraser Cameron.
Fraser is an epic PERFORMANCE coach who helps driven men (executives/entrepreneurs/business owners) to achieve previously unthought of levels of happiness, success, freedom and fulfillment in life - at work, home & play.
Eight years ago, Fraser thought he had "everything" ... a well-paid job, a beautiful family, a nice house, flashy cars, and tailored suits.
But he felt stuck. Like he was living someone else’s life.
He became grumpy with family, friends, and himself.
So he took action and got clear on what he wanted, who he was and discovered the value he wanted to share with the world.
Now he coaches other men to do the same.
More info: http://FraserCameron.com
Think the phone is only a “closing” tool? Think the phone is dead?
Think again.
In today’s episode, Curt discusses why the phone is not only NOT dead...he discusses why it is such a vital branding tool.
In this new “Ask Curt” segment, Curt answers listeners questions regarding:
- How to leverage your strengths to build your authority brand
- How to overcome a fear of calling potential clients on the phone
- How to focus your brand when you have multiple revenue streams
Have a question for a future “Ask Curt” episode? Text it to 843-300-5075!
Curt often discusses the importance of having a set process to build your brand, generate leads and more revenue. Many business owners, however, don’t have an actual branding process. Rather they have a series of random “pitches.”
By instilling a set branding and sales process, entrepreneurs can learn more about their leads, their ideal clients, what works and what doesn’t.
As such, your branding and sales process becomes a learning process.
In today’s episode, Curt Mercadante interviews Jeremy Ryan Slate.
Slate is the founder of the Create Your Own Life Podcast, which studies the highest performers in the world. He studied literature at Oxford University, Specializes in using podcasting and new media to create celebrity and was ranked #1 in iTunes New and #78 in the iTunes top 100. He was named the #1 Podcast to Listen to by INC Magazine in 2019, as well as being named a Top Influencer by Forbes.
After his success in podcasting, Jeremy Slate and his wife, Brielle Slate, founded Command Your Brand to help entrepreneurs get their message out by appearing as guests on podcasts.
Curt and Jeremy discuss how starting your own podcast, and getting booked as a guest on niche podcasts, can be a vital tool in helping you build your business by building your authority brand.
More info:
Create Your Own Life Podcast
Command Your Brand Media
In today’s episode, Curt shares a story of a recent Shark Tank episode in which the “pitch” bombed, but the entrepreneur still won a deal. It’s not about the vanity. It’s not about the “slick pitch.”
It’s about clearly showing the positive impact your clients get from working with you.
"You should be as good at pitching your product in 30 seconds to a minute as shaking hands. And every time you shake a hand and they ask, "what do you do?" you should go into that pitch." -- Patrick Bryant, serial founder/entrepreneur and co-founder of the Harbor Entrepreneur Center
In today’s episode, Curt Mercadante interviews Patrick Bryant, serial entrepreneur, founder of several thriving companies, former chair of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the co-founder of the Harbor Entrepreneur Center.
The Harbor Entrepreneur Center (HEC), located in Charleston, SC, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2013. The HEC has supported more than 170 companies through its programs over the last 5 years. HEC alumni have received over $5 million dollars in private sector investments.
For more: Harbor Entrepreneur Center: https://www.harborec.com/
Many people think branding and sales is about the ability to speak well..
But the biggest branding and sales weapon may not be your mouth, but your two ears.
In today’s episode, Curt Mercadante discusses the importance of actively listening to your potential clients.
How can you intentionally (and truly) leverage your influence to build your brand, supercharge your career, and create a more fulfilling life?
In today’s episode, Curt discusses this with Erin Urban, a certified Career Strategist and Executive Coach helping driven, experienced professionals, remove career roadblocks and unlock their potential for more influence, impact, and income.
She is an international speaker, published author, behavioral scientist as well as the brain behind CoachEUrban.com (powered by UPPSolutions, LLC) and the host of the Career Coffee Chat Podcast. Erin is a Forbes Coaches Council Member and a self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist with over a decade in mentoring and coaching successful professional transformations through 1:1 coaching and group workshops.
Learn more: http://www.CoachEUrban.com.
Radically identifying and focusing on your ideal clients is key not only for bringing in new clients.
It can also enable you to increase your revenue without getting any new clients, and is vital to helping you scale your business.
Learn why in today’s episode!
In today’s episode, Curt shares a discussion with T.K. Coleman about the value-for-value exchange that is at the root of a free market economy -- and building an authority brand.
It doesn’t take money to make money, and you shouldn’t win or lose clients based on price.
It takes value creation to create wealth -- and clearly communicating the value and impact you provide is key to an authority brand.
T.K. Coleman is the director of entrepreneurial education at the Foundation for Economic Education, where also hosts the “Revolution of One” YouTube series.
Coleman, who also is co-founder & education director of Praxis, is a prolific writer and speaker with a singular mission: to awaken people to their own creative power.
Curt recorded today’s episode while on a morning mountain walk in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where he and his family are currently living. Curt discusses what a freedom lifestyle is, how it’s empowered by a freedom business, and why an authority brand is the best way to fuel that business.
“The life that you want is on the other side of a tough conversation.” -- AmyK Hutchens
Knowing how to effectively engage in tough conversations can be the key to building your personal brand.
In today’s episode, Curt interviews AmyK Hutchens, the author of the bestseller, “GET IT: Five Steps to the Sex, Salary and Success You Want.”
Hutchens is an international award-winning speaker, with more than nineteen years’ experience training, coaching and consulting. In non-pandemic years, Hutchens has more than 75 speaking events per year for clients such as Starbucks Canada, Expedia, Lockheed Martin, Securian Financial, IBM, Wells Fargo, Walmart, John Paul Mitchell Systems, and many more.
She specializes in helping leaders communicate more effectively, and to have those tough conversations that can lead to breakthroughs in their relationships, self-care, and work.
For more on AmyK: https://amyk.com/
In today’s episode, Curt discusses the importance of delivering your message consistently and how to achieve it. Consistency is one of the keys to building authenticity, and authenticity is one of the four pillars of building an authority brand.
In today’s episode, Curt Mercadante discusses with Dr. Joe Vitale how to make the Law of Attraction work for you.
Dr. Joe is a globally famous author; marketing guru; movie, tv, and radio personality; musician; and one of the top 50 inspirational speakers in the world. His many bestselling books include The Attractor Factor, Attract Money Now, Zero Limits, and his latest releases The Miracle: Six Steps to Enlightenment and Anything Is Possible.
A popular, leading expert on the law of attraction in many movies, including The Secret, Dr. Vitale discovered the "missing secret" not revealed in the movie.
He's been on Larry King Live, Donny Deutsch's “The Big Idea,” CNN, CNBC, CBS, ABC, Fox News: Fox & Friends and Extra TV. He's also been featured in The New York Times and Newsweek.
One of his most recent accomplishments includes being the world's first self-help singer- songwriter as seen in 2012's Rolling Stone Magazine®. To date, he has released 17 albums! Several of his songs were recognized and nominated for the Posi Award, regarded as “The Grammys of Positive Music.”
Well-known, not only as a thinker, but as a healer, clearing people’s subconscious minds of limiting beliefs, Dr. Joe Vitale is also an authentic practitioner of modern Ho'oponopono, certified Reiki healer, certified Chi Kung practitioner, certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, certified NLP practitioner, Ordained Minister, and Doctor of Metaphysical Science.
He is a seeker and a learner; once homeless who has spent the last four decades learning how to master the powers that channel the pure creative energy of life without resistance, and creating the Miracles Coaching® and Zero Limits Mastery® programs to help people achieve their life’s purpose.
In today’s episode, Curt talks about why he “killed off” his previous logo, and why your brand is much more than your logo, colors, or Web site.
In today’s episode, Curt Mercadante interviews Brian K. Wright, host of Success Profiles Radio and publisher of Success Profiles Magazine.
Over the last 6 years, Brian has interviewed world-class achievers such as Darren Hardy, Jack Canfield, Loral Langemeier, Kevin Harrington, Sharon Lechter, and many more.
With the lessons he has learned from these achievers, and through his own experience, he seeks to educate, motivate, and inspire others to become a greater version of themselves. He is the author of three books, including the newly released, "Success Profiles: Conversations With High Achievers."
As a book coach, Brian also helps struggling authors unleash the book within them.
Learn more:
https://briankwright.com/
http://successprofilesmagazine.com/
https://toginet.com/shows/successprofilesradio/
In today’s episode, Curt (who is in the process of selling his home to travel with his family) discusses how building your brand is like selling a home. He discusses not only the sales and promotion aspect, but also the importance of focusing on PROCESS.
In today’s episode, Curt Mercadante asks bestselling author and hall of fame speaker Randy Gage about how he built his brand.
Randy is a thought-provoking critical thinker who will make you approach your business — and your life — in a whole new way.
He is the author of ten books translated into 25 languages, including the New York Times bestsellers, "Risky Is the New Safe" and "Mad Genius." He has spoken to more than 2 million people across more than 50 countries, and is a member of the Speakers Hall of Fame.
Learn more: http://RandyGage.com
In today’s episode, Curt discusses why authenticity is one of the four pillars of building an authority brand and how to build it. He also shares a clip of his recent appearance on Success Profiles Radio in which host Brian K. Wright asks Curt about how to build an authentic brand.
Authenticity is one of the Four Pillars of Building an Authentic Brand.
How can you become truly authentic to increase your authority brand exposure to the right clients to generate more leads and more revenue?
Join host Curt Mercadante for this live conversation with Larry Levine on how to be truly authentic to sell more.
Larry Levine is the international best-selling author of Selling From the Heart and the co-host of the Selling From the Heart Podcast. With 30 years of in-the-field sales experience within the B2B technology space, he knows what it takes to be a successful sales professional.
Learn more: http://SellingfromtheHeart.net
In today’s episode, Curt discusses what many people get wrong about the Law of Attraction. The Law of Attraction holds that you will attract like-minded people and expeirences into your life by the energy you put out into the world. But this doesn’t mean you can sit still. How can you make the Law of Attraction work for you? Listen to today’s episode...
Today’s episode features a masterclass, led by LinkedIn expert Dawn Pici. It was taken from a recent Webinar held by Curt Mercadante, with Dawn. While the Webinar was aimed at speakers, trainers, and coaches, the advice given in today’s episode can be utilized by any type of business owner and entrepreneur to build their brand and their business.
Dawn Pici is an expert on leveraging LinkedIn for lead generation, brand expansion and career advancement. She facilitates LinkedIn workshops both privately and in the corporate setting.
Pici is the state wide LinkedIn trainer for both Nationwide and AFLAC insurance companies and national LinkedIn trainer for the NFL (National Football League). She is co-author with her husband of the best selling book “Sell Naked on the Phone”.
To view the video of the Webinar, visit: https://www.merc.enterprises/news
The riches are in the niches. It’s true. But do you have the courage and confidence in your product or service to clearly, aggressively, and radically define your niche and your ideal client?
Curt discusses more in today’s episode.
Want to connect the dots between your branding and sales efforts?
In today’s episode, Curt interviews Brandon Bornancin, founder and CEO of Seamless.AI.
Brandon is a serial salesperson (generating over $100M in sales deals while selling for IBM & Google), 2x Seven-Figure Entrepreneur, Expert Sales Speaker, Sales Trainer and Sales Author who is obsessed with helping you maximize your sales success.
He is currently the CEO & Founder at Seamless.AI, delivering the world’s best sales leads with the first search engine created for business professionals to find accurate phone numbers, emails, and intel for anyone they need to sell too... think of Google and LinkedIn if they had a baby.
Seamless.AI helps over 35,000+ companies find prospects, close deals, and generate millions in sales with notables names like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Slack, Dell, Oracle and many others who are CRUSHING their sales quota DAILY on the Seamless platform.
He's also the podcast host and author of Sales Secrets From The Top 1% (coming soon!) where the world's best sales experts share their secrets to sales success and author of a 15 script book series, The Seven-Figure Sales System, where he reveals the THOUSANDS of scripts he's created from over fifteen years of selling.
For more on Seamless: https://www.seamless.ai/
More on Brandon: https://www.brandonbornancin.com/homepage
In today’s episode, Curt review the previous episode’s interview with Dr. Natalia Wiechowski, and shares his reason that LinkedIn is such a powerful authority branding tool.
What is personal branding? Isn't self-marketing only for celebrities, athletes and extroverts? Why do I need personal branding? How do I build a top personal brand? And why should I do this on LinkedIn?
In today’s episode, Curt discusses all this and more with Dr. Natalia Wiechowski, author of the new book, "Personal Branding with LinkedIn: The Think Natalia Method."
Grab her book here: https://thinknatalia.com/products/
At twenty-nine, at the peak of Dr. Natalia’s corporate career and deep unhappiness, she quit her job and started from scratch.
During a nine-month sabbatical she changed the way she thinks, speaks and acts. She committed to design her purposeful dream life and founded Think Natalia.
Her obsession is coachsulting people who left corporate to do their own thing: Coaches, consultants, trainers, authors, keynote speakers, photographers and other experts from companies like IBM, SAP, Bosch, Nestle, Microsoft or Coca Cola. People who want to build an international, sustainable and purposeful thought leadership personal brand on LinkedIn. Individuals who want to become the voice of their niche, get more clients and have a positive impact on the world.
Natalia’s aim: To develop resp. bring together a tribe of one million (out of the box) thinkers and doers who do not only challenge but also change the status quo. “Who want to be the change they wish to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Dr. Natalia consults and speaks globally, comes from Hanover (Germany) and lives in Dubai. She has edutained at conferences and events across the globe.
She started as a Social Scientist, turned into a Dr. of Philosophy, a “LinkedIn Marketing Unicorn” (Inc. magazine), a Forbes Coaches Council Member, “Top Expert” (Erfolg magazine), a LinkedIn Learning author and the Middle East’s leading Edutainer.
Should we try to be more like kids when we sell our products and services?
“Well, yeah, think about it,” said Art Sobczak in our previous episode “Kids are insensitive to noes because they will ask and ask and ask, and they'll act like they're deaf. And even if they give up with one decision-maker, they'll go to the other decision-maker. So, the noes don't deter them.
In today’s episode, Curt delves deeper into this principle.
Forget cold calling. It’s time for you to start smart calling.
That’s the message shared by sales pro and bestselling author Art Sobczak in today’s episode.
Art's book, “Smart Calling™- How to Take the Fear, Failure, and Rejection Out of Cold Calling,” hit Number One in the Sales and Marketing category on amazon.com on its very first day of release, and was named Top Sales Book of 2010 by Top Sales Awards. The new Third Edition was released this Spring.
He has helped hundreds of thousands of sales pros say the right things to get through, get in, and sell. He's done this by authoring, designing and delivering content-rich inside sales and cold calling (without the cold) training programs and resources that get results.
He works with thousands of sales reps each year helping them get more business by phone. Art's real-world, non-gimmicky how-to ideas and techniques help salespeople use the phone more effectively to prospect, sell, and service, without morale-killing “rejection.”
As Curt discussed with Darrell Amy in our previous episode, your company’s message should focus on the outcomes your client’s get from working with you. In today’s episode, Curt delves deeper into this principle about how to put together an impact story that speaks to the positive impact your clients get from your product or service.
Darrell Amy is author of the new book, "Revenue Growth Engine," co-author of "Selling from the Heart," and co-host of the popular "Selling from the Heart Podcast."
In "Revenue Growth Engine", Amy shares a strategy to accelerate growth. Whether you own a company, lead a sales team, or work in marketing, you share the same goal: revenue growth. In today’s economy, companies need to accelerate revenue growth.
Every company has a Revenue Growth Engine. This is the sum of their sales and marketing efforts. The problem is that most engines are not firing on all cylinders. There may even be important cylinders missing.
We'll discuss with Darrell how to get all cylinders of the engine firing!
He brings 26 years of technology industry sales and marketing experience. Having coached hundreds of solutions reps in how to uncover business problems, he helps major account reps talk intelligently about business and financial issues. He also helps reps develop professional writing and presentation skills.
Welcome to episode #1 of The Authority Brand Podcast! In this first episode, host Curt Mercadante discusses what you can expect from this podcast, and lays out hte difference between an authority brand and a commodity brand.