Leaders & Legacies

Your host, Craig Andrews, talks with the Executive and Communication Coach of Advance Coaching & Consulting, Mike Acker. Mike's unique upbringing shaped his perspective on coaching and leadership. He witnessed his parents starting businesses and mission projects, which taught him the importance of taking initiative and leading others to meet the needs of others. He even had opportunities to lead construction projects in Mexico at a young age.

Mike also had to overcome personal challenges, including a speech impediment and bullying. He emphasizes that no one is a natural-born speaker or leader, but rather it's a combination of proclivity and practice. He encourages people to start practicing and that practice can beat proclivity.

Mike's journey with communication is a testament to his belief that anyone can improve their speaking skills with dedication and self-awareness. He advises pausing during speeches, studying oneself to become more comfortable, and knowing the purpose and impact of one's message.

To learn more about Mike's work, check out their website at https://www.stepstoadvance.com/.

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeackerdotcom/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Your host, Craig Andrews, talks with Behavioral Management, Business Marketing Specialist, and Author of Brain Glue, James I. Bond. James is a marketer who once hated selling. It's a sentiment many marketers can relate to, but James has since grown to love it. His journey in marketing began with a mechanical engineering background. However, he dropped out of school to start an advertising company. With the help of his brother, they won major clients like Kraft Foods, Timex Watches, Avon Cosmetics, and Seagrams.

In the conversation, James delved into three of the 14 triggers for effective communication and persuasion outlined in James' book "Brain Glue." The first trigger is setting the right expectations. James uses the example of Muhammad Ali, who famously declared himself as "the greatest." Setting high expectations for oneself creates a sense of accountability and motivates one to live up to those expectations.

The second trigger is tribal alignment. James emphasizes that people naturally belong to tribes or groups. Understanding which tribespeople belong to can help in selling or persuading them. James shared an example of how he connected with a wealthy individual by finding common ground through their shared interest in father-daughter relationships.

The third trigger is easing understanding. James illustrates this with an example of how presenting information in a relatable and impactful way can enhance understanding. He compares the statistic of Americans discarding 25 million plastic bottles every hour to the distance it would cover if stacked to reach the moon every three weeks.

To learn more about James' work, check out their website at https://cf.fasterbuyer.com/brain-glue1680156469985.

Connect with James on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesibond/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

In this podcast episode, Megan Kuethen, Co-Founder and Principal Strategist at The Busy Cure, shares her personal journey of discovering her husband's criminal past and how it led to significant life changes. She discusses the importance of leadership, church support, and being in the right position within an organization.

Megan also talks about her transition from a corporate career to starting her own businesses, her initial struggles in running a business, and her eventual success. The episode concludes with Megan emphasizing the importance of self-leadership and sharing her contact information for listeners who wish to reach out.

To learn more about Megan's work, check out their website at https://thebusycure.com/.

Connect with Megan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/busy-cure/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Your host, Craig Andrews, talks with Mark Savant, Founder of Mark Savant Media, about the challenges of staffing and the role of AI in business.

Mark shares his experience of using AI to improve his podcast agency's efficiency after losing a key team member. They discuss the use of AI tools like ChatGPT and Zapier, different levels of writing and copywriters, and the potential impact of AI on the workforce. Mark also offers advice on embracing AI, investing in useful tools, and the importance of surrounding oneself with high-performing individuals.

To learn more about Mark's work, check out their website at https://marksavantmedia.com/.

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-savant-ba777145/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Your host, Craig Andrews, talks with the Brand Storyteller, Digital Publisher, Speaker, Coach, and Strategist of MarketAPeel, Shannon Peel. Shannon's story is one of resilience and transformation. Currently based in Vancouver, Canada, she leads a privileged life, frequently visiting her family in Whistler and the Okanagan. However, her journey to this point was not without its challenges.

At the age of 40, Shannon experienced a series of setbacks that began with a failed business venture. This failure led to her ex-husband taking control of their finances and decision-making, spiraling her life into a dark and uncertain place. She moved to Vancouver, hoping for a job transfer that fell through, leaving her unemployed for two to three years. During this time, her ex-husband stopped paying bills in her name, leading to financial difficulties.

Despite these hardships, Shannon managed to transition from a victim mindset to a hero mindset. She emphasizes the importance of this shift, explaining how the stories we tell ourselves can either hinder or foster personal and business growth.

Shannon highlighted the difference between personal brand storytelling and business brand storytelling. In personal brand storytelling, the business can have a hero story where they take responsibility for setbacks and showcase their ability to improve. In business brand storytelling, the focus is on telling the customer's story and offering the product or service as a solution.

To learn more about Shannon's work, check out their website at https://apeeling.marketapeel.agency/.

Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonpeel/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Your host, Craig Andrews, talks with the President, CEO Business Coach, and Business Advisor of Doug Thorpe Group, Doug Thorpe. Doug's mission is to ensure that bosses are not the reason employees leave. He believes that people join companies but quit bosses; this belief is rooted in his upbringing as the only child of a single mother. Surrounded by mentors from an early age, Doug embraced mentorship as a lifestyle. Even at 70, he still consults and learns from his mentors, accomplished businesspeople who have built and sold multi-million dollar businesses.

Doug considers himself a perpetual learner, always open to new ideas and technologies. He believes that being open to different viewpoints is essential in making informed decisions and avoiding biases. This openness to learning and growth is a key aspect of his leadership philosophy.

Doug distinguishes between managers and leaders. He explains that management is about process, while leadership is about people. He emphasizes the importance of being sensitive to shifts in the workforce, particularly in the post-COVID era, where there is a greater emphasis on work-life harmony and flexibility.

To learn more about Doug's work, check out their website at https://dougthorpe.com/.

Connect with Doug on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougthorpe/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Your host, Craig Andrews, talks with the Owner of 360 Sales Consulting, Ben Brown. Ben is the author of the book "Master the Art of Closing the Sale," available on Amazon. He encourages readers to connect with him and offers a 50-minute session on his website, 360 Sales Consulting, for individuals seeking assistance with their sales strategies. Ben firmly believes that by identifying and addressing gaps in their sales approach, most people can easily increase their sales by 30-40%.

Ben's decision to join the Marine Corps was driven by limited opportunities in his small hometown and a desire to stay close to his roots. Serving as an artilleryman, Ben's deep love for the Marine Corps shines through as he shares how this experience has profoundly shaped his life.

Delving into a more personal aspect of his life, Ben opens up about being adopted as a child. After spending three years in foster care, Ben embarked on a journey to reconnect with his birth mother. After 42 years, they were finally reunited, discovering a strong resemblance and forming a close bond. Reflecting on the significance of this reunion, Ben emphasizes that every adopted child has a unique story. Reconnecting with his birth mother was a pivotal moment in his life, allowing him to forge a deeper connection with his roots and gain a better understanding of his identity.

The conversation also explores Ben's leadership experiences, both in the Marine Corps and as a sales coach. Drawing from his time in the Marine Corps, Ben highlights the importance of action-oriented leadership and the value of having a team that believes in your leadership. He shares a personal story about a difficult decision he had to make regarding his marriage, drawing parallels to the tough choices leaders often face in a business setting.

To learn more about Ben's work, check out their website at https://www.360salesconsulting.com/.

Connect with Ben on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/360sales/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Your host, Craig Andrews, talks with the Founder and CEO of The Business Growers, Laura Johns. Laura's journey is as inspiring as it is impressive. She spent 18 years managing marketing efforts for tech startups and global multibillion-dollar businesses in the telecommunications industry. Her roots are in a small town in Mississippi, where her father was a judge. This upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility and a drive to succeed.

Laura's husband, Jay, is a significant figure in her story. They both hail from the same small town, and their families now live less than a mile apart. Laura humorously notes that marrying someone from her hometown means she knows all the dirt about him. But more importantly, she emphasizes the crucial role Jay's support has played in her journey as a business owner.

Laura is a firm believer in making decisions as a team, both in her marriage and in her work life. She recently sent out a survey to her team to gather feedback and suggestions for the upcoming year. While she acknowledges that it may be difficult to read some of the feedback, she values everyone's input and wants them to feel like they are part of the decision-making process.

Laura explained that she is not personally administering the survey, but her assistant is, to ensure anonymity and encourage genuine responses. She emphasizes the importance of trust and immediate feedback in her organization's culture, and how she values open communication with her team.

To learn more about Laura's work, check out their website at https://thebusinessgrowers.com/.

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapickardjohns/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Craig Andrews interviews Tom Kereszti, a Leadership Expert, who emphasizes the importance of people skills over technical knowledge in leadership. Kereszti, influenced by John Maxwell, believes that a leader's success is more about their character than their technical abilities. He advises leaders, particularly those in small businesses, to deeply understand their own values, passions, and strengths, as this self-awareness is key to effective leadership.

Kereszti underscores the need for introspection and feedback in developing a strong leadership identity, using personal anecdotes to illustrate his points. He also discusses the Maxwell Leadership Model, focusing on servant leadership and the importance of prioritizing team needs over personal goals. Kereszti's experience of firing a top salesperson for violating company values highlights the significance of upholding a strong ethical standard in leadership. These insights offer a concise guide for leaders looking to enhance their skills.

To learn more about Tom's work, check out their website at https://www.leadershipdisciples.com/.

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaskereszti/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

In this episode, host Craig Andrews interviews Lauren Goldstein, a doctor, host of the Biz Doctor podcast, and founder of Golden Key Partnership. They discuss Goldstein's background and her experiences living in different parts of the world.

The conversation then shifts to leadership, with Goldstein emphasizing the importance of allowing employees to make mistakes and learn from them. She shares a personal experience of a significant mistake she made in her family's business, highlighting the lessons she learned from it. Goldstein also shares her definition of leadership and the qualities she believes good leaders possess.

To learn more about Lauren's work, check out their website at https://www.goldenkeypartnership.com/.

Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenegoldstein/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.