FIR Podcast Network

Did you know that almost 11 percent of all gym memberships are made in January? That’s WAY more than in any other month, and that the most common of all New Years’ resolutions is to exercise more?

I’ll let you guess how many people keep those resolutions—and have to continue paying for those gym memberships they never use.

So making a resolution—a commitment to permanently change forever may not be the best way to actually make any changes.

A resolution is a decision you make—something you intend to start or stop doing. It has no end in sight. You know, like deciding this is the year you’re going to exercise. Or eat well. Or save money.

A goal, on the other hand, is finite. It has a start and an end, and something specific you want to achieve in between. 

It’s much more effective to set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based) goals so you can actually achieve your goals beyond February.

Creating New Year’s Goals

If you’d rather create goals than resolutions this year, we recommend you follow these techniques every day to achieve them:

* Focus on three key tasks a day: list your top priorities for the day…and then accomplish them.

* Block time to do deep work: allocate time for your big goals and fit everything else around them.

* Eliminate distractions: for example, lock the door or turn off your devices.

* Evaluate your day: did you accomplish your key tasks? What do you need to eliminate or improve on?

Have Your Say

What are your personal and professional goals for this year? How are you going to use these techniques to keep yourself on track? Is there a productivity strategy you love that we’ve missed? Tell us in the Spin Sucks community.

Resources

Blog post: Achieve Your Goals By Using These 7 Techniques.

Video: 7 Big Rocks:.

Book: Deep Work.

Learn to write and plan your book’s journey from paper to publication through networking. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Beth Barany (http://aha.pub/BethBarany), an award-winning novelist, master NLP practitioner, and a certified creativity coach for writers.

Beth teaches at conferences and runs Barany School of Fiction to help unleash the creativity of authors and help them become successful entrepreneurs in their writing career. She helps authors create long-lasting books that will have an impact in the world for many years.

To learn more about Beth Barany, go to http://aha.pub/BethBarany. To get in touch with her, visit http://www.bethbarany.com and https://www.writersfunzone.com/blog.

Here are a couple of AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of many writers is that they yearn to write a book or a novel but have no idea how or where to begin. http://aha.pub/BethBarany

* Many writers can benefit from getting support and knowledge in an academic setting with professionals who can teach the whole process of writing, from planning to publishing. https://bethbarany.com @Beth_Barany

* Do you sometimes feel stuck writing and struggle with how to bring characters to life for your readers to enjoy? A professional writer who teaches intensive workshops can be a reliable coach for you. https://www.bethbarany.com @Beth_Barany

* Being a certified coach for writers can provide the credibility to help aspiring novelists and fiction writers reach their dreams of bringing their book to life. Consider getting an expert’s help to promote your book. http://aha.pub/BethBarany

* Marketing a book is part of the planning process, from the creative part to actual publication. Do you want to benefit from bouncing off ideas with fellow writers while growing your reach as an author? https://www.bethbarany.com @Beth_Barany

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

Experience breakthrough by aligning your people and infrastructures with your change initiatives. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Ted Santos http://aha.pub/TedSantos, chairman at The Board of Veteran CEOs, which helps chief executive officers drive new revenue growth by equipping them to execute large-scale initiatives.

Ted partners with CEOs to assess their organization’s readiness to change initiatives, identify and exploit new opportunities, and ensure that these opportunities are sustainable by helping them build structures and processes that support new growth.

To learn more about Ted Santos, go to http://aha.pub/TedSantos. To get in touch with him, visit http://www.turnaroundip.com/.

Here are a couple of AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of many CEOs is that they want their business to #ExperienceBreakthrough in revenue growth, but they’re not sure how to execute it with their existing resources. http://aha.pub/TedSantos

* Most CEOs are looking for a breakthrough that creates new markets for them, opens up new revenue sources for their company, and alters their future forever. #ExperienceBreakthrough http://aha.pub/TedSantos

* One of the possible reasons breakthrough initiatives fail is that people often presuppose that it’s a bad idea and they may sabotage it. How do people in your company see your breakthrough initiative? #ExperienceBreakthrough http://aha.pub/TedSantos

* Some CEOs may find themselves lost while executing breakthrough initiatives because the people in their organizations are not yet ready for change. #ExperienceBreakthrough http://www.turnaroundip.com/ @TedSantos140

* If you want to #ExperienceBreakthrough, it can help if your leaders, financial infrastructures, and organizational structures are aligned with your change initiatives. http://www.turnaroundip.com/ @TedSantos140

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

Be inspired and equipped to create an impact that matters. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Ed Brenegar http://aha.pub/EdBrenegar, founder and CEO of Circle of Impact Leadership.

Ed works with individuals in organizations so they can be inspired to lead. Through leadership coaching, he teaches them how to take personal initiative so they can become people of impact in the organizations, communities, and institutions with which they engage.

To learn more about Ed Brenegar, go to http://aha.pub/EdBrenegar. To get in touch with him, send an email at [email protected].

Here are a couple of AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of individuals in organizations is that they are moving forward without clarity about where they’re headed, why they’re headed there, or what they’re supposed to do. Are you moving without direction? #ManageChange http://aha.pub/EdBrenegar

* When individuals are in transition, they usually feel emotional. Getting clarity and direction during a transition period can help you discover what you really want to do. #DifferenceThatMatters https://edbrenegar.com/ @EdBrenegar

* Are you not the person whom you think you were born to be? Are you not doing as much as you want to do? Do you feel that you need something but you’re not entirely sure what it is? #ManageChange http://aha.pub/EdBrenegar

* Understanding where you are right now may be the first step you need. This can help you get to a point where you see yourself making a #DifferenceThatMatters to your organization, family, and community. https://edbrenegar.com/ @EdBrenegar

* Leadership may begin when you take a personal initiative to ignite change, create change, and make a #DifferenceThatMatters. http://aha.pub/EdBrenegar

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

Be the amazing person you truly are by finding your right voice with the help of transformational coaching. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Sylvia Puentes (http://aha.pub/SylviaPuentes), CEO and consultant at Access Joyful Living and Learning,  the Americas regional event creator and certified facilitator at Access Consciousness.

Sylvia conducts transformational coaching for individuals. She helps them develop the confidence and courage they need to get themselves unlocked from something that prevents them from sharing their ideas to others. Sylvia is passionate about helping her clients find the joy in sharing their message to the world and to be seen and heard.

To learn more about Sylvia, go to http://aha.pub/SylviaPuentes. To get in touch with her, visit https://www.accessconsciousness.com/en.

Here are a couple of AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of many individuals is that they feel locked up by a certain situation and find it hard to open up and express themselves. #TransformationalCoaching https://www.accessconsciousness.com/en

* #TransformationalCoaching is a great help for many individuals in unlocking themselves from something that prevents them from opening up and expressing themselves to the world. http://aha.pub/SylviaPuentes

* Are you working with an expert who knows about #TransformationalCoaching? Knowledge about transformational coaching can give a person the expertise to help individuals have the courage to let their voices be heard by the world. https://www.accessconsciousness.com/en

* #TransformationalCoaching can help individuals let go of their past stories and definitions and become more dynamic. Choose to work with an expert who can effectively guide you through transformational coaching. https://www.accessconsciousness.com/en

* Doing #TransformationalCoaching can give someone the credibility to help individuals become confident and at ease on stage, in a boardroom, or even in family conversations. Are you getting help from someone who knows about transformational coaching? http://aha.pub/SylviaPuentes

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

One of the most frustrating aspects of a communicator’s job is how little control you have over earned media.

Not every interview you give is published.

However, if you maintain a good relationship with the journalist, blogger, or influencer, you can repurpose those unaired interviews into your own content.

This episode of Spin Sucks features an interview Megan Dougherty of One Stone Creative did with me earlier in the year…that never saw the light of day.

Until now.

We discuss content creation, the PESO model, and the pros and cons of writing a book.

Here are a few highlights of our conversation:

Why we want to systematize our processes and how that allows my team to better serve our clients.

The PESO model represents how authority is built when all types of content work together.

You have to be willing to put in the time and money to test before you start reaping rewards with content as well as with Facebook ads. Megan says that podcasting is also a long game.

The quality of your content matters more today than how often you publish. I recommend making the type of content you are most comfortable creating, whether that’s a blog, a podcast, or video.

Being an author makes you more credible to many business leaders. However, you don’t need to be an author to have credibility. We discuss why you should write a book only if it aligns with your goals.

Updates

I update listeners about a few topics discussed in the interview, including Facebook ads.

While they will continue to be more effective than any other social media platform, Facebook ads are going to be more expensive in the new year. Email is cheaper and can produce great results.

Have Your Say

Join us in the Spin Sucks community and we can discuss this episode and more.

Happy New Year!

From time to time a client falls in love with an agency employee so much that they want to hire them directly. The immediate reaction of many agency managers is to fight such a move.

Chip and Gini discuss how to handle situations like these — and why it might actually be a good thing for the agency in the end.

RESOURCES

* My client wants to hire me and I’m not sure what to do (Reddit)

[read the transcript]

Nobody likes to think about lawyers until they need one. Agency owners are no different, but planning ahead can make a world of difference in the outcome when it comes to legal matters.

Sharon Toerek, founder of Toerek Law and host of The Innovative Agency podcast brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on agency legal issues to the latest episode of Chats with Chip. She shares her experience and insight with listeners to help avoid common mistakes.

Among the topics that Chip and Sharon discuss:

* Client contract structure and principles

* Freelancer agreements

* Brand protection

* California’s new law on independent contractors

* The intersection of business and legal decisions

RESOURCES

* Toerek Law

* AgencyLegalProtection.com

* The Innovative Agency Podcast

[read the transcript]

Build a strong engagement with people inside and outside your organization through engaging leadership. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Evan Hackel (http://aha.pub/EvanHackel), founder and CEO at Ingage Consulting, C-Suite advisor at The C-Suite Network, keynote speaker, and management consultant. He is also a certified franchise executive at International Franchise Association.

Evan conducts business and management consultations for companies. He helps them become more successful from the inside out by boosting their organizational engagement, empowerment, and collaboration. Evan is passionate about helping his clients change the world by building one deep connection at a time.

To learn more about Evan Hackel, go to http://aha.pub/EvanHackel. To get in touch with him, visit https://www.ingage.net/.

Here are a couple of AHAmessages from this episode:

* The pain point of many companies is that they are struggling to build strong engagement within their organizations and with their prospect clients. #EngagingLeadership #BusinessEngagement https://www.ingage.net/ @EHackel

* Being able to communicate with people effectively is a great help for companies in building strong engagement within their organizations and with their prospect clients. #EngagingLeadership http://aha.pub/EvanHackel

* Are you working with an expert who knows #BusinessEngagement? Knowledge about business engagement can give a person the expertise to help companies improve engagement within their company and their clientele. http://aha.pub/EvanHackel

* #BusinessEngagement can help companies build clarity and connection with their audience, attract attention, and gain ownership. Choose to work with an expert who can help you with business engagement. https://www.ingage.net/ @EHackel

* Having the ability to attract people can give someone the credibility to help companies boost their organizational engagement, empowerment, and collaboration. Are you getting help from someone who is capable of attracting people? #EngagingLeadership http://aha.pub/EvanHackel

To learn more about Thought Leadership and how it can help you be successful, subscribe to the channel: http://youtube.com/user/thoughtleaderlife.

A recent post on Reddit featured an agency employee venting about his experience working at his firm. The individual wrote:

“I’m basically the whole editorial team (it’s a small agency) and the sole account manager now. I told the boss I didn’t think this was sustainable in the long run, I was just told to ‘stop being negative and get on with it, or leave.’”

Chip and Gini explore what it takes to avoid creating a culture that employees rebel against, as well as ensuring you have the right employees for that stage in your agency’s life.

RESOURCES

* Are all agencies like this? (post on Reddit)

[read the transcript]