Have  you’ve ever considered writing a children’s book?

If you have, this episode of the Close The Deal .com Podcast is for you. 

Considering you’re becoming a children’s book author, Steve’s Scaffidi's unique background as a former filmmaker fuels his creativity which will inspire you and spark your imagination. 

Publishing your first book can be very rewarding. Children’s book writers get the bonus of tapping into a special kind of joy! 

Steve’s “why” perhaps is the most important thing. It may help explain what’s driven him to write ten books in two years.  It may even help you discover your why. 

 Problem Steve Solves – publishing your first book – he shares the advice Anne Rice gave him.

 This journey with Steve serves as a step-by-step guide coving the following topics

·        self publishing vs. traditional publishing houses 

·       Creating memorable characters 

.       Knowing your target audience

·       Finding a professional illustrator

·       Copywriting 

·       What kind of book 

·       Marketing

·       Overcoming fear

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Brendan Sweeney - CEO of Popmenu.

Static PDF menus cost restauranteurs money every single day. 

On this episode of Close The Deal .com Podcast, you will learn how you can really leverage your restaurant website to drive sales. 

Problem Brendan Solves – your old website is simply not selling like it should - that means lost revenue.

 3 Takeaways to Help You Close The Deal:

• How to really leverage your menu online to market and sell 
•  How to get some of your precious time back 
•  How to even leverage AI regarding staffing

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Jeff J Hunter is the CEO of VA Staffer. 

Ask an entrepreneur or business leader, are you overwhelmed in your business. Buried in busy work?

Jeff J Hunter Solves – wearing out yourself freeing up your time to focus on profits.

3 Takeaways to Help You Close The Deal:

• Getting your time back to grow your profits
• How Jeff himself  uses his own personal assistant to help him get exposure and attention 
• His #1 hack he uses with his own personal assistant that will help you in the mornings

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Ryan Axford is the CEO of Nurturelabs. His "demand gen" process and software will help you sell more.

Problem Ryan Solves – wearing out your customers 

3 Takeaways to Help You Close The Deal:

• Understanding "demand gen" 
• How Ryan uses "lead gen" to sell his "demand gen" business and "demand gen" software + one tactic he strongly believes more entrepreneurs need to use
• What Ryan may have done differently starting out as an entrepreneur

##

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Rich Simmerman is a serial entrepreneur* at the age of 23.  He's an alum of The Idea Village in New Orleans which helped make that possible.

In this Close The Deal .com Podcast episode you'll learn:

- The skill of seeking, listening, and acting on mentors' guidance to launch a new product

- Using the Lean Startup Methodology to kickstart a new business

- The marketing tactics (and data) used to launch a food business that’s a tech business at the  core

Rich may even challenge you , especially older generations like myself at age 55. 

And the product he launches will be of interest to anyone wanting to eat healthier or or addressing autoimmune issues.. 

*Rich is a serial entrepreneur in a new kind of way

Enjoy the show!

##

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Derek Gaunt will share one key tactic with you on today’s Absolutely Mindset podcast that will transform your conversations.  He learned this tactic over decades of service as DC's lead hostage negotiator.

That tactic will serve you very well in both the business world and in life. 

As the author of Ego, Authority, Failure©,  consider Derek your personal coach and negotiation trainer for emotional intelligence.

That tactic is called labeling. Mastering the skill of labeling tobetter communicate with hostage takers became Derek’s passion early on.  

Enjoy the show!

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Hi there! I’m your host Ewell Smith.  We’re talking with entrepreneurs and business leaders who share their journeys from start to success to guide you.  

 Visit EwellSmith.com  to learn how to start and monetize your own blog in 7 steps.   While there, grab a free copy of my book It's Bloggable! 

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Chef Philippe Parola has a solution to help the United States federal government stop wasting your tax dollars fighting dangerous Asian carp. 

Our government has spent hundreds of millions unsuccessfully fighting this invasive species that puts all indigenous species of seafood at risk from the bayous in Louisiana to the Great Lakes in Illinois.  If the Asian Carp crisis is not strategically addressed, it will continue to escalate and devastate more commercial fisheries across the U.S. Chef Philippe Parola is on a mission rooted in educating the public to solve this crisis.

Bottom line, if this nuisance species is not aggressively addressed using better tactics, Asian Carp can wipe out the seafood we grew up on and love.

3 quick questions for you:

 1.     Do you have a problem you see that you want to solve to help others?

2.     Have you experienced mentorship or been the mentor?

3.     Are you concerned about invasive species in your region?  (other invasive species - not just Asian Carp)

Protect what you love!

If you love the wildlife and want to keep the natural environment  in balance, this show is for you. If you want to keep enjoying the seafood you grew up on, this show is for you. If you’re an entrepreneur, you'll appreciate the tenacity of Chef Parola running food operations and tackling this issue. 

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Hi there! I’m your host Ewell Smith. On the ABSOLUTELY INDSET Podcast,  we’re talking with entrepreneurs and business leaders who share their journeys from start to success to guide you.  

EwellSmith.com 

My new book IT'S BLOGGABLE!  is on sale.  Click here.

##

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

New Orleans’ Chef Amy Sins is a force of nature. 

Chef Amy Sins’ purpose was forged by mother nature as a Louisiananative thanks to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Her home once stood along the 17th street Canal.  If you’re not from New Orleans, that probably doesn’t ring a bell. 

However, you may remember seeing the U.S. Coast Guard dropping the tiny sand bags to plug the gaping hole where the levee broke. That was the iconic spot that flooded the city of New Orleans.  Amy’s home was in the direct path of the floodwaters rushing in through that hole.  

We all have life stories that put things in check…out the gate in this interview Chef Amy shares how she got clarity on what’s most important in life.  And that didn’t have anything to do with a hurricane…

2 quick questions for you:

• Have you ever wondered how you’llget past an overwhelming challenge? 
• What does it mean to have anAbsolutely Mindset?  (the mindset Amy had to get her businessgoing  -  and how she differentiated herself from otherChefs in the city of New Orleans – not a small task)

Today on the ABSOLUTELY MINDSET Podcast you’ll hear how Amy turned tragedy into triumph. 

##

Hi there! I’m your host Ewell Smith.  We’re talking with entrepreneurs and business leaders who share their journeys from start to success to guide you.  

EwellSmith.com 

My new book IT'S BLOGGABLE!  is on pre-sale.  Click here.

##

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

3 question for you -  Jesse Cole addresses these head on (and more):

• Do you need a spark to jumpstart your lagging sales?
• Are you looking for creative inspiration?
• What does it really mean to be all in?  

When we say all in…would you be willing to sell your home? Drain your savings account? Sleep on an air mattress?  Would you do all that to make payroll to fulfill your vision?  Your dream? 

On this episode of the ABSOLUTELY MINDSET podcast, you'll learn comfortable is not an option. Comfortable is not the goal. You will learn what it means to do the exact opposite to get results. 

##

Hi there! I’m your host Ewell Smith.  We’re talking with entrepreneurs and business leaders who share their journeys from start to success to guide you.  

EwellSmith.com 

My new book IT'S BLOGGABLE!  is on pre-sale.  Click here.

##

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Two quick questions for you:

• Looking for inspiration on overcoming challenges?
• Looking for insights on grassroots-next-to-no-budget marketing for your business?  

Stephanie Stuckey is the turn-around CEO of Stuckey's corporation.  She's on a mission to preserve a slice of Americana. Pecan rolls too!  She addresses both questions above on this episode.

As CEO,  Stephanie's determined to keep  her grandfather W.S. Stuckey Sr.'s legacy alive.  It all started in Eadonton, Georgia as a humble pecan stand on the side of Highway 23 in 1937.   She takes us on the bumpy journey of the iconic roadside chain that became known for its blue rooftops.  At its peak the Stuckey family grew to 350 franchise locations to falling out of family hands for decades.  

On this  episode of the ABSOLUTELY MINDSET podcast, we catch up with Stephanie just 15 months into her new life journey.   You'll learn how this opportunity came to her..  It's a real-time turn-around case study she posts daily on Linked In..  You'll get a sense for just how important mindset is to lean into the challenges. To say she's determined would be an understatement.  She has a strong vision and a well thought out growth strategy as you will learn...despite having a limited budget at the moment... 

Find out what her first two major grassroots marketing goals  are as she builds the funds to start really promoting the business...

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Hi there! I’m your host Ewell Smith.  We’re talking with entrepreneurs and business leaders who share their journeys from start to success to guide you.  

 Visit EwellSmith.com  to learn how to start and monetize your own blog in 7 steps.   My new book IT'S BLOGGABLE!  is on pre-sale.  Click here.

##

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.