Brainfluence

The concept of the starving artist is so widespread that sometimes it’s hard to imagine anyone—other than a few outliers—really succeeding in their craft. But my guest today says we shouldn't buy into that idea, and that it's actually much more possible to succeed as an artist than people think.

Jeff Goins is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and the best-selling author of five books, including The Art of Work and You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One). His award-winning blog Goinswriter.com is visited by millions of people every year, and through his online courses, events, and coaching programs, he helps thousands of writers succeed every year.

In this episode, Jeff shares insights from his new book, Real Artists Don’t Starve, and explains why we shouldn't buy into the concept of all artists struggling to make ends meet. Listen in to hear his advice for any serious artist who wants to get their career off the ground.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2v6Jp35 

Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming, and then mentally scolded yourself for wasting time? Well, next time, don’t be so hard on yourself. My guest today is here to explain why wasting time isn’t such a bad thing. In fact, he says it’s necessary for creativity, self-identity, and overall health.

Alan Lightman is a physicist, novelist, and essayist with a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Caltech. One of the first people to receive dual faculty appointments in science and in the humanities at MIT, Alan is the author of five novels, two collections of essays, a book-length narrative poem, and several books on science. His novel Einstein’s Dreams was an international bestseller and has been translated into thirty languages.

His new book new book is In Praise of Wasting Time, and he joins the show today to share the truth about the importance of downtime. Listen in to learn how to make sure you give yourself the mental breaks you need and why we should all be wasting time every day.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2L7loUA 

Just about all of us have to do presentations of some kind or another, and David Hooker is an expert on making those presentations more effective. David is the Lead Evangelist for Prezi, a cloud-based presentation software that uses motion, zoom, and spatial relationships to bring ideas to life. With more than 85 million users of their software, David and his team have built stunning visuals for scientists, entrepreneurs, and celebrities like Bono and NPR’s Guy Raz.

In this episode, David discusses how images impact communication and shares valuable insights on creating engaging presentations. Listen in to learn how even the most unskilled artist can create effective images, what it means to be visually literate, and how to improve your own visual literacy as a consumer.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2N9bBtH 

In today’s world of ever-shrinking attention spans and the seemingly endless barrage of marketing messages out there, is it really possible for brands to stand out anymore? My guest today says yes, and he’s here to explain how to do it.

Nick Westergaard is a strategist, speaker, author, and educator who serves as the Chief Brand Strategist at Brand Driven Digital. A contributor to the Harvard Business Review and host of the popular On Brand podcast, he helps build better brands at organizations of all sizes—from small businesses and Fortune 500 companies to President Obama’s Jobs Council.

In this episode, Nick shares key insights on effective branding from his new book, Brand Now: How to Stand Out in a Crowded, Distracted World. Listen in to hear how to develop a brand personality, where there are opportunities to "flip the script" to stand out from competitors, and what it takes to create real brand impact.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2NqjlIw

Few people have contributed more to understanding human behavior and decision-making than Dr. Antonio Damasio. A University Professor, David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology and Philosophy, and Director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Dr. Damasio has brought groundbreaking insights to the science of emotions and consciousness through his research, theories, and books. His work has been cited over 100,000 times, and his books have been translated into dozens of languages.

In this episode, Dr. Damasio shares insights from his most recent book, The Strange Order of Things, which addresses the evolutionary development of the mind and the role of homeostasis in the generation of cultures. Listen in to learn how our minds and cultures are linked, where decision-making really happens, and the important role our emotions play in key areas of life.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Iyiimi 

Want to earn your audience's trust in the first 15 seconds you are on stage? Want to be seen as authentic and likable? Science has the answers.

In this episode, Noah shares the science behind what makes audiences perceive presenters as likable and trustworthy, as well as advice for improving your own communication. Listen in to hear what makes speakers seem authentic, tips for helping people clearly understand your message, and the surprising findings that came from his extensive research on communication.

Noah is the CEO and Co-Founder of Quantified Communications, and a pioneer in applying technology and AI to help people strengthen the way they communicate. Recognized as one of the most innovative domain experts in the rapidly growing field of people analytics and behavioral intelligence, Noah was featured on the main stage at TED2016 speaking about how leaders talk. He also spoke at SXSW on the Intelligent Future, delivered a TED-Ed Lesson in the Playing with Language Series with over nine million views, and was nationally broadcast discussing the future of personal analytics on NPR All Tech Considered.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2yrGDKO 

Tom Peters co-authored a book that changed the way the world does business, and which is often called the best business book ever. In addition to the massively successful In Search of Excellence, Tom authored or co-authored seventeen other books, including his latest, The Excellence Dividend: Meeting the Tech Tide with Work that Wows and Jobs that Last.

Still breaking new ground in management thought leadership thirty-five years after In Search of Excellence, Tom received the 2017 Thinkers50 Lifetime Achievement Award. He joins the show today to discuss how too many companies get it wrong when it comes to effective business practices and finding the proper focus. Listen in to hear what Tom says company leaders must understand, his unexpected stance on maximizing shareholder value, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2HIKTF6 

Today’s guest has quickly built a reputation as one of the leading minds in B2B marketing. Sangram Vajre is the Co-Founder & CMO of Terminus—a software as a service platform for account-based marketing—and the mastermind behind #FlipMyFunnel. He’s also the author of Account-Based Marketing For Dummies, and was named one of the 2018 top B2B influencers to watch by B2B News Network.

Sangram brings his ABM expertise to conferences across the nation, including Dreamforce, #FlipMyFunnel conferences, PFL’s Big Sky Big Ideas, and Hypergrowth, and he joins this episode to share that knowledge with us. Listen in to hear typical B2B marketing mistakes companies make, where marketers should be focusing their energy, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2M3Ppl2 

My guest today works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, neurochemistry, and human behavior. Ramsay Brown is Co-Founder and COO of Boundless Mind (formerly Dopamine Labs), where he and his team work on persuasive AI and behavioral design. A NeuroTechnologist trained at USC's Brain Architecture Center, Ramsay worked on Brain Mapping and pioneered an app that was something like Google Maps for the Brain.

Ramsay is an emerging leader in Persuasive Technology & Neuroinformatics and has been featured on 60 Minutes, The Today Show, TechCrunch, Big Think, The Guardian, and GQ. In this episode, he shares how persuasive technology is shaping human behavior, what his company is doing to ensure they're promoting change for the better, and how society as a whole can become more neuro-literate.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2LDTvzQ 

It may seem like the best way to grow a business is to acquire new customers, but today’s guest is here to explain the major flaws in that logic. Joey Coleman is the Chief Experience Composer at Design Symphony, a branding firm that specializes in creating unique, attention-grabbing customer experiences. His clients range from individual entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies, and from non-profits to government agencies.

In this episode, Joey shares his expert advice on improving customer retention, as well as insights from his new book, Never Lose a Customer Again: Turn Any Sale into Lifelong Loyalty in 100 Days. Listen in to learn why focusing on existing customers is so important and how to turn a one-time sale into a long-term relationship in just a few months.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2KGWAxP