Becoming Preferred

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: [email protected]

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!

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: [email protected]

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!

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: [email protected]

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!

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: [email protected]

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!

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: [email protected]

Sponsors: 

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

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Employing Humor For Competitive Advantage with Courtney Bickert!

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: [email protected]

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!

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: [email protected]

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!

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: [email protected]

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!

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: [email protected]

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!

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: [email protected]

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!