Erin Andrea Craske, a business and leadership success coach, discusses the importance of addressing the root causes of issues in business and leadership. She emphasizes the need for a mindful and holistic approach to building a business, focusing on strategy and long-term planning rather than immediate fixes. Erin also highlights the significance of self-concept and authenticity in leadership, advocating for leaders to lead from a place of acceptance. She explores the pillars of sustainability in business, including foundation, strategy, leadership, people, and implementation. In this conversation, Erin discusses the six pillars of profitable business: purpose, strategy, culture, contribution, personal growth, and meaning. She emphasizes the importance of giving employees the freedom to improve and contribute to the company's success. Erin also highlights the role of leadership in creating a meaningful and purpose-driven culture within the organization. She suggests that businesses should focus on fixing the root causes of issues rather than relying on perks and bonuses to address employee dissatisfaction. Erin offers her book on strategy as a resource for business improvement. Takeaways Addressing the root causes of issues in business and leadership leads to more sustainable and effective solutions.A mindful and holistic approach to building a business is essential, focusing on strategy and long-term planning rather than immediate fixes.Leadership should come from a place of acceptance and authenticity, allowing for personal growth and the ability to inspire others.The pillars of sustainability in business include foundation, strategy, leadership, people, and implementation. Give employees the freedom to improve and contribute to the company's success.Leadership plays a crucial role in creating a meaningful and purpose-driven culture.Focus on fixing the root causes of issues rather than relying on perks and bonuses.Meaningful innovation goes beyond product development and includes how the company treats its clients.Use wise (why) statements to guide decision-making and action.Erin's book on strategy is a valuable resource for business improvement. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Background06:30 - Leading with Acceptance and Authenticity14:59 - The Pillars of Sustainability in Business36:31- Using Wise Statements for Decision-Making

Kyle Gillette unravels the secrets to overcoming the invisible barriers that limit business leaders. Learn how mindset shifts, and effective self-awareness can transform overwhelmed business owners into dynamic leaders who not only achieve their business goals but also enhance their personal life. Kyle shares transformative strategies that ensure business owners can lead with confidence and foster environments where every team member thrives. Summary In this episode, host Rick Meekens interviews Kyle Gillette, a coach and mentor for business owners. They discuss topics such as mindset shifts, overcoming limiting beliefs, and the impact of leadership on personal and professional life. Kyle shares his journey of writing a book and developing a methodology to help overwhelmed business owners. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, accountability, growth mindset, and empowering others as pillars of effective leadership. The conversation highlights the significance of mindset in achieving success and the role of emotional intelligence in leadership. In this conversation, Kyle Gillette discusses his coaching program and how he helps business leaders overcome their limitations and achieve success. He shares a case study of a client who transformed her business and personal life through his coaching. Kyle also talks about his own journey and the importance of mentorship. He highlights the challenges he faced in building his coaching business and the lessons he learned from failures. Kyle's mission is to help business owners achieve success while maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life. Takeaways Mindset plays a crucial role in achieving success in business and personal life.Limiting beliefs can hinder growth and success, but they can be overcome through self-awareness and mindset shifts.Reprogramming the mind and projecting success can help individuals achieve their goals.Effective leadership requires self-awareness, accountability, a growth mindset, and the ability to empower others. Kyle's coaching program focuses on developing self-awareness, accountability, and empowering the team.Transformation in leadership leads to growth in business.Mentorship and learning from failures are crucial for personal and professional growth.Building a coaching business requires resilience and the ability to adapt to challenges. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome01:50 - Kyle's Journey from Mentorship to Coaching09:22 - The Process of Reprogramming Mindset for Success14:04 - Focus on Christian Business Owners17:20 - The B.L.U.E. Shirt Leadership Framework Explained24:45 - Kyle's Personal Journey and the Influence of Mentorship 28:54 - Challenges in Building and Rebranding Blue Shirt Coaching31:35 - Inspiration and Motivation Behind Kyle's Coaching34:43 - How to Work with Kyle and His Programs

Navigating Startup Lifecycles - Lance Cottrell delves into the multifaceted journey of a startup, from the adrenaline-fueled inception to the strategic pivots required for growth. He offers a rich narrative that captures the essence of evolving from a technical founder to a visionary leader, the art of team and business development, and the critical moments that dictate a startup's direction. This episode is an invaluable compass for entrepreneurs at all stages, highlighting the resilience needed to navigate the startup lifecycle and the wisdom gained from embracing the full spectrum of a founder's role. Summary In this episode, Lance Cottrell, a former astrophysicist and founder of Anonymizer, shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship. He discusses the challenges he faced as a technical founder and the importance of learning on the job. Lance emphasizes the need for technical founders to transition into the role of CEO and delegate responsibilities to others. He also provides valuable advice for startup founders, including the importance of understanding customer needs and focusing on the business side of the company. Lance's experience as an angel investor and mentor has given him unique insights into the startup ecosystem, which he shares through his podcast, Feel the Boot. Takeaways Transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship requires a willingness to learn on the job and adapt to new challenges.Technical founders should focus on transitioning into the role of CEO and delegate responsibilities to others.Understanding customer needs and focusing on the business side of the company are crucial for startup success.Seeking advice and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs can provide valuable insights and guidance. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 04:01 Turning Theoretical Knowledge into Practical Knowledge06:18 Finding a Business Partner11:43 Transitioning Roles and Handing Over Responsibilities13:40 Transitioning from Founder to Advisor15:40 Getting Involved in Angel Investing21:50 Addressing Business Sense Gaps in Technical Founders29:25 Transitioning from Technical Founder to CEO32:05 Advice for Founders Who Prefer Technical Roles38:02 Resources for Startup Advice

Richard Phu, Australia’s Business Freedom Designer, coaches' business owners to design scalable businesses with automation, systematization & virtual assistants. As MD of Outsourcing Angel, he's transformed the VA agency, allowing the CEO to be free while maintaining double-digit growth. Summary: In this conversation, Richard emphasizes the importance of explaining the reasoning behind decisions and actions. He believes that providing context and purpose helps engage and empower team members. Richard also highlights the complexity of decision-making and the need to navigate gray areas. Lastly, he introduces the Notion Ninja giveaway, a tool that combines automation and project management for Instagram content planning and scheduling. Takeaways: When giving feedback or making decisions, it is crucial to explain the reasoning behind them to engage and empower team members.The world is not black and white, and decision-making often involves navigating gray areas and considering different perspectives.The Notion Ninja giveaway offers a tool for automating Instagram content planning and scheduling, providing users with a taste of automation and the potential for increased efficiency. Chapters: 00:22: Richard Phu’s Introduction and Background03:56: The Pursuit of Work Freedom10:17: From Corporate Life to Personal Development and Entrepreneurship14:57: Business Transformation through Operational Efficiency18:24: Trust and Decision-Making in Business Leadership24:08: Adapting Roles and Creating Opportunities within Outsourcing Angel25:31: Remote Team Motivation and Productivity Management:38:45: Notion Ninja Giveaway and Automating Business Processes

Jonathan Goodman, the founder of Halyard Consulting and Trigonal Gallery, asks the question, "How's your AI Readiness Score?" as we dive into a discussion about his journey as an entrepreneur and the integration of AI in his businesses. He shares his passion for art and futurism, highlighting his ability to stay ahead of trends and technologies. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of networking, having a strong sales pitch, and leveraging AI to enhance business proposals. He explains how AI has revolutionized his work, allowing him to provide tailored solutions for his clients. Jonathan also addresses the concerns and limitations of AI and offers advice for entrepreneurs looking to embrace this technology. Summary In this conversation, Jonathan Goodman and Rick discuss the process of building a successful online business. They cover topics such as finding your niche, creating valuable content, building an engaged community, and monetizing your online business. Takeaways Stay ahead of trends and technologies to drive innovation in your business.Networking and having a strong sales pitch are crucial for success.AI can revolutionize business proposals and provide tailored solutions for clients.Believe in yourself and leverage available resources to achieve success as an entrepreneur.Building an online business requires finding your niche and target audience.Creating valuable content is essential for attracting and retaining an audience.Building an engaged community is crucial for the success of your online business.There are various ways to monetize your online business, such as selling products or services, affiliate marketing, and advertising. Chapters 00:00: Introduction and Background03:08: Passion for Art and Futurism04:11: Tools for Success07:36: Networking and Sales Pitch09:36: Halyard Consulting and AI Readiness Score11:06: Benefits of AI in Business Proposals15:13: AI Readiness Score23:07: Limitations and Concerns of AI25:46: Future of AI and Professional Services34:02: Advice for Entrepreneurs37:31: Giveaway and Book Release38:33: Closing Remarks

Scott Ritzheimer helped start nearly 20,000 new businesses and nonprofits and with his business partner started led their multimillion-dollar business through an exceptional and extended growth phase (over 10 years of double-digit growth) all before he turned 35.  Summary In this episode, Scott Ritzheimer, a scale architect, shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the challenges he faced as a founder. He discusses the importance of recognizing patterns and the loneliness that comes with entrepreneurship. Scott also talks about the transition from being a star player to a reluctant manager and the difficulties of moving from captain on the field to coach on the sideline. He emphasizes the need for founders to have a vision for growth and introduces his book, 'The Founder's Evolution,' which explores the seven stages of the founder's journey. Takeaways Recognize patterns in your entrepreneurial journey and learn from the experiences of others.Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, but it's important to remember that you're not alone.Transitioning from a star player to a manager can be challenging, but it's necessary for growth.Moving from being on the field to coaching on the sideline requires a shift in mindset and skills. Having a vision for growth and understanding the different stages of the founder's journey is crucial for success. Chapters 00:00: Introduction and Background03:00: Recognizing Patterns and First Leadership Experience07:00: The Loneliness of Entrepreneurship11:00: Lessons from Watching a Business Fail18:00: Transitioning from Star Player to Reluctant Manager23:00: Transitioning from Captain on the Field to Coach on the Sideline29:00: Having a Vision for Growth33:00: The Founder's Evolution and the Seven Stages36:00: Promoting the Book and Contact Information

Dave Nordel is the founder and owner of MaxFab Consulting providing keynote leadership, organizational growth, and strategic guidance, and he is actively involved in using his journey with PTSD and moral injury to help transitioning veterans and other victims of trauma deal with the condition in a healthy manner. He is an active mentor and speaks to young leaders to aid their development and future successes. He continues to give back the gifts he has collected along the way. Summary In this episode, Rick and David discuss various topics related to personal and professional growth. They explore the concept of the relentless pursuit of winning and the importance of being the CEO of your own life. David shares his background growing up on a farm and his military experience, highlighting the lessons he learned along the way. They delve into overcoming challenges such as PTSD and alcohol abuse, and the role of transparency and sharing knowledge in personal development. The conversation also touches on building a life team, attracting the right people, and shifting from a victim mindset to an owner mindset. They emphasize the power of love, appreciation, and the importance of perspective in facing challenges. The conversation with David Nordel covers topics such as gratitude, knowledge sharing, personal growth, and taking action. Nordel emphasizes the importance of gratitude and perspective in life, highlighting the blessings and privileges we often overlook. He also discusses the power of knowledge and the need for sharing information to drive progress. Nordel introduces Johari's Window as a framework for understanding self-awareness and the growth space. He encourages listeners to embrace the unknown, take risks, and learn from failures. The conversation concludes with information on how to connect with David Nordel. Takeaways Embrace the relentless pursuit of winning in all aspects of life.Take ownership of your life and be the CEO of your own journey.Surround yourself with a supportive life team and be intentional about who you let into your inner circle.Transparency and sharing knowledge are key to personal and professional growth.Shift from a victim mindset to an owner mindset and take control of your circumstances.Express love and appreciation to those around you and prioritize meaningful connections.Maintain a positive perspective and find opportunities for growth in challenges. Chapters 00:00: Introduction and Rebranding02:55: Military Experience and Leadership05:19: Being the CEO of Your Life14:07: The Importance of Team and Mentors20:00: Crafting a Vision and Leadership24:59: Turning Challenges into Strengths37:12: Knowledge is Power40:47: Taking Action41:52: Connecting with David Nordel

Ashton Rodenhiser, founder of Mind's Eye Creative Consulting, shares how visual communication bridges gaps, simplifies complexity, and celebrates human connection. Summary In this episode, Rick Meekins interviews Ashton Rodenhiser, a live illustrator and graphic facilitator. Ashton explains her role as a live illustrator, where she visually captures information and ideas in real time during conferences and meetings. She discusses the power of visual thinking and how it helps people engage with complex ideas and connect with others. Ashton shares stories of how her work has made a difference, particularly in giving a voice to those who haven't been heard before. She also talks about her journey as a creative entrepreneur and her plans for the future of her business.   Takeaways Live illustration and graphic facilitation can help people engage with complex ideas and connect with others. Visual thinking is a powerful tool for breaking down complexity and facilitating understanding. Live illustration can create a sense of cohesion and accountability in meetings and conferences. Building a business as a creative requires balancing the creative and business aspects and staying true to your value. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview03:01 The Role of a Live Illustrator08:12 The Power of Visual Thinking14:12 The Impact of Live Illustration27:57 Leveraging Creativity in Business35:06 Transitioning and Evolving the Business40:02 The Importance of Human Connection43:00 Outcomes and Benefits of Live Illustration43:57 Contact Information and Conclusion

Tom is a Certified Franchise Expert. He was the number one franchise owner of the year with his first franchise concept and failed miserably in his second franchise. The lessons learned from failure is what makes him such an expert Summary In this conversation, Tom Scarda shares his insights and experiences in the franchising industry. He emphasizes the importance of not becoming infatuated with a concept and instead advises potential franchisees to choose a business that allows them to pursue their passion. Tom also discusses the fear of the unknown that often holds people back from taking the leap into franchising. He explains the franchise investigation process and highlights the significance of visiting the corporate headquarters before making a decision. Tom concludes by promoting his book and offering franchise coaching services. Takeaways Don’t become infatuated with a concept when considering franchising.Choose a franchise that allows you to pursue your passion.Overcome the fear of the unknown and take the leap into franchising.Visit the corporate headquarters during the franchise investigation process. Chapters 00:00 The Biggest Lesson Learned37:09 Choosing the Right Franchise38:11 Finding a Business that Allows Pursuit of Passion39:26 Overcoming Fear of the Unknown40:23 The Franchise Investigation Process41:20 Promoting the Book42:03 Franchise Coaching43:33 Choosing Uncertainty for Magic to Happen

Welcome to this insightful episode where we delve into the world of business strategy and exit planning with Allen Terrell Gregory, a seasoned expert in digital marketing and business acquisitions. Summary In this conversation, Allen Terrell Gregory discusses the process of exiting a business with style. He emphasizes the importance of preparing a business for sale by creating standard operating procedures and building a management team. Allen also highlights the need for business owners to separate their identity from the business and retain equity in order to stay involved post-sale. He shares insights on buyer concerns, the importance of proper accounting, and the challenges of acquiring Facebook and Meetup groups. Allen’s favorite aspects of the process include strategy development and public speaking. Takeaways Prepare your business for sale by creating standard operating procedures and building a management team. Separate your identity from the business and retain equity to stay involved post-sale. Ensure proper accounting practices to increase the value of your business. Consider diversifying your products and services to make your business more attractive to buyers. Chapters 00:00: Introduction and Overview 00:39: Background and Experience 06:02: Transitioning from Technician to Business Owner 07:14: Building a Management Team 16:46: Preferred Types of Businesses to Acquire 20:21: Hands-On Approach to Acquisitions 21:48: Transitioning Ownership and Culture 23:13: Challenges of Acquiring Facebook and Meetup Groups 30:28: Experience of the Buyer 32:51: Upcoming Coaching Program 33:37: Speaking Engagements and Contact Information