Self Made Strategies

Episode 075 of the Self Made Strategies Podcast

Natalie Nixon, PhD is a hybrid thinker, comfortably synthesizing creative and analytical thought processes from design and business to arrive at innovative opportunities. She changes lives through ideas. She is a creativity strategist who happily integrates wonder and rigor into her life and work. At Figure 8 Thinking, she emboldens leaders and organizations to apply creativity & foresight for transformative business results.  Clients have included Comcast, Bloomberg, Vanguard and Living Cities. Natalie incorporates her background in anthropology and fashion, as well as her experiences living in Brazil, Israel, Germany, Sri Lanka, and Portugal to help her clients become more dynamic versions of themselves.

She is a global speaker and the author of The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation and Intuition at Work; the editor of Strategic Design Thinking: Innovation in Products, Services, Experiences, and Beyond; and a regular contributor to Inc. magazine on creativity, design thinking and the future of work.

You can check out Natalie's speaker reel here: https://www.figure8thinking.com/speaking/

You can also order Natalie's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Leap-Curiosity-Improvisation-Intuition/dp/B07Y4JNH26/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

On this episode we discussed:

* Why using scenario planning, to analyze potential futures, may ultimately lead you to becoming more dynamic

* Uncovering different business models, using "amplifying wonder and digging into rigor" to increase your "creativity ROI"

* Becoming more improvisational as an entrepreneur

* How to overcome culture shock, while you are trying to innovate

* Why you need to use a "show and tell" strategy, to help push your organization towards change

* How Insight, Intuition, and Improvisation all come together to amplify creativity

Production Credits:

This Self Made Strategies Podcast is a SoftStix Productions LLC jawn. This episode was produced, edited, and hosted by Tony Lopes, REMOTELY (because we are obeying the COVID-19 isolation orders) in Philadelphia.  The Self Made Strategies Podcast is sponsored by Lopes Law LLC (www.LopesLawLLC.com).

Follow us on:

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Episode 074 - Marisa Marconi, President and Founder of Pinnacle Plan Writing, LLC

Marisa Marconi is the President and Founder of Pinnacle Plan Writing, LLC, a boutique business plan development and consulting firm. They specialize in developing comprehensive business plans for entrepreneurs and business owners who are pursuing business-related immigration, raising capital, or require a business plan for applications, licenses, or RFPs. They also provide consulting, advisory, market research, location analysis, and strategy plans for companies planning for growth or market expansion. Our firm's business model is rooted in a quality-over-quantity philosophy and they work closely with clients to ensure they have a plan that not only performs, but informs.

Marisa's specialization is in developing business plans for immigrant and non-immigrant visa petitions, including E-2, L-1, and EB-5 visas. She works closely with leading immigration attorneys across the United States on projects ranging from small start-ups launched by E-2 treaty investors to large development projects sponsored by EB-5 Regional Centers. In addition to immigration-related plans, Marisa has a particular interest in developing plans and market research reports for the restaurant, cannabis, retail, fintech, and real estate industries.

She launched Pinnacle Plan Writing in 2016 after working in the business planning industry for nearly a decade and burning out in a high volume-oriented writing firm. Marisa's aim was to start a company that didn't rely on churning out thousands of good plans a year, but rather dozens of truly excellent plans that capture the nuance of markets, products, and business strategies and carry the weight of substance rather than the fluff of business jargon. Four years later, Marisa strives to exceed this mission with every plan she develops.

On this episode we discussed:

* Why now may be a great time to get you business going in a new direction

* Best practices for developing a business plan

* How a business plan can help you achieve your objectives

* Why a business plan helps tell your business' story

* What investors are looking for, and how the business plan provides that information

* How a pitch deck can work in tandem with your business plan

* When a pitch deck (without a business plan) will work

* Why you still need to tailor your message

Production Credits:

This Self Made Strategies Podcast is a SoftStix Productions LLC jawn. This episode was produced, edited, and hosted by Tony Lopes, REMOTELY (because we are obeying the COVID-19 isolation orders) in Philadelphia.  The Self Made Strategies Podcast is sponsored by Lopes Law LLC (www.LopesLawLLC.com).

Follow us on:

• Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • LinkedIn

Episode 073 - Kwame Christian - Director of the American Negotiation Institute and Host of the Negotiate Anything Podcast

In Episode 073, we sat down (remotely) with Kwame Christian, Director of the American Negotiation Institute and Founder/Host of the Negotiate Anything Podcast. Kwame is a bestselling author and a subject matter expert in the field of negotiation and conflict resolution. Kwame has conducted workshops throughout North America and abroad, and is a highly sought after national keynote speaker.

Kwame is the host of the Negotiate Anything podcast, and is dedicated to empowering others through the art and science of negotiation and persuasion. Kwame's show features leading experts in the field to deliver the best-in-class content. The Negotiate Anything podcast has been downloaded more than 1,000,000 times, and has a dedicated and growing following with listeners in more than 180 countries around the world.

Kwame’s TEDx Dayton talk, Finding Confidence in Conflict, was the most popular TEDx Talk on the topic of conflict in 2017, and has been viewed over 120,000 times. His book, Nobody Will Play With Me: Finding Confidence in Conflict, is an Amazon Best-Seller and has helped countless individuals overcome the fear, anxiety and emotion often associated with difficult conversations through a branded framework called Compassionate Curiosity.

As an attorney and mediator with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Public Policy, and a Juris Doctorate (Law Degree), Kwame brings a unique multidisciplinary approach to making difficult conversations easier. He also serves as an adjunct professor for Otterbein University’s MBA program, as well as The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law in the top-ranked dispute resolution program in the country.

On this episode we discussed:

* How to Negotiate like your business life depends on it

* Strategies to survive and thrive during the COVID-19 crisis

* The psychological aspects of renegotiating an agreement

* Why self-awareness is a critical skill for successful contract negotiations

* How to identify the barriers preventing you from achieving your goals

* How to lead, persuade, and resolve conflict with your team while working remotely

* Kwame's branded framework called Compassionate Curiosity (what it is, and why you should use it)

* How to use negotiation to deal with a micromanager, adjust your roles and responsibilities, and advance your career

* Using the "Halo Effect" to strategically improve your career

* How mindfulness impacts negotiations  

* Why your tone may be more important than the words you use

* How to leverage technology to be successful in online negotiations

* Strategies and tactics that you can use to get the best deal when you can’t meet face-to-face

* How to resolve conflicts with family and friends during a lockdown

Production Credits:

This Self Made Strategies Podcast is a SoftStix Productions LLC jawn. This episode was produced, edited, and hosted by Tony Lopes, REMOTELY (because we are obeying the COVID-19 isolation orders) in Philadelphia.  The Self Made Strategies Podcast is sponsored by Lopes Law LLC (www.LopesLawLLC.com).

Episode 072, with Colin Stuckert, Founder and CEO Wild Foods Co & The Ancestral Mind.com

Colin Stuckert is the CEO/Founder of Wild Foods Co and The Ancestral Mind.com. He is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful businesses under his belt. His past life as a professional poker player, CrossFitter, and gym owner laid the foundation for finding his life’s work and moving to Austin, Texas to pursue his next big thing.

Colin is also focused on making a difference in our current understanding of health and nutrition. His passions include Ancestral Health, Productivity, Mindset, Real Food and Ingredients. He is obsessed with the truisms of health, Colin lives his life based on the "Ancestral Mindset." By understanding our evolutionary past, he believes we can reverse our failing health through a consciously designed lifestyle that eschews "common knowledge" from so-called "experts." 

He is on a mission to save as many people as possible from the dangerous dogma promoted by bad science, big pharma, and big food.

About Wild Foods:

Wild Foods was founded out of his passion for food, nutrition and a personal obsession with optimizing for health and longevity. Wild Foods sells Real Food products and supplements focused on supporting a healthy body and mind and living in accordance with nature. In Jan 2015, Colin listed his first Wild Foods product on Amazon and made $350 in sales. By December of that year, he reached the $500,000 in sales mark, with average monthly seals surpassing $50,000. The second year in business, the company hit 7 figures and has grown every year since.

Here is Wild Foods Mission:

Our Wild Mission is to empower 50 million people with the knowledge they can use to say NO to Big Food, Big Pharma, Bad Science and Dangerous Health and Nutrition Dogma!

On this episode we discussed:

* How to increase the efficiency of your team by engaging in more focused "Deep Work"

* What exactly is Ancestral Health, and why should it apply to all humans 

* Colin's best practices for being a successful entrepreneur

* Colin's advice on marketing (common mistakes, best practices, ideas, etc.)

* Why you should read Steven Pressfield’s War of Art (hint: it applies to entrepreneurs also)

* Colin's advice on increasing your focus 

Production Credits:

This Self Made Strategies Podcast is a SoftStix Productions LLC jawn. This episode was produced, edited, and hosted by Tony Lopes, REMOTELY (because we are obeying the COVID-19 isolation orders) in Philadelphia.  The Self Made Strategies Podcast is sponsored by Lopes Law LLC (www.LopesLawLLC.com).

Follow us on:

• Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • LinkedIn

Welcome to Episode 071, with Al Zone, Executive Director and CEO of The Elmwood Park Zoo

Want to SEE something awesome?  You can also watch this episode's video, which was recorded live, with Al from the Elmwood Park Zoo (with some friends in the background) by checking it out on our YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/PDUWk3Hut6I

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE!

About Al Zone

Al Zone is the former owner of Zone Entertainment and joined the Elmwood Park Zoo as the business manager in September of 2011, and shortly thereafter became the interim Executive Director in January of 2012, after Bill Konstant resigned to focus on a career in conservation. The rest, as they say, is history.

With Al's new marketing strategies Elmwood's memberships skyrocketed, and revenue soared, which led the Zoo's board of directors’ to offer Al a permanent position in May of 2012. As you listen to this episode, it will not take you long to see why Al's leadership helped the Elmwood Park Zoo become ultra successful, and build partnerships with Temple University, the Philadelphia Eagles, and Chapman Auto Group.

About the Elmwood Park Zoo

The mission of the Elmwood Park Zoo is to foster an appreciation for wildlife and the environment that will inspire active participation in conservation.

Elmwood Park Zoo was established in 1924 when a local farmer transferred 16 acres and a small menagerie to the Borough of Norristown. Today, the zoo is owned and operated by the Norristown Zoological Society, a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster an appreciation for wildlife and the environment that will inspire active participation in conservation. Under the Society’s careful management, Elmwood Park Zoo has attained the elite status as one of only 230 institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  The Zoo’s accreditation was renewed in September, 2016.

Visit the Elmwood Park Zoo (or to donate): https://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/

ON THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSSED:

* How Al got the Elmwood Park Zoo out of debt and back to a profitable organization

* The methods Al used to get buy-in from his entire team to innovate the Zoo's branding

* How Al studied his target audience, and what he did to ensure they were having the best experience they could

* What is Al's past prepared him to reshape the Elmwood Park Zoo's business offerings and exhibits

* The methods Al used to build partnerships with Temple University, the Philadelphia Eagles, and Chapman Auto Group

* How you can get involved in helping the Elmwood Park Zoo

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

This Self Made Strategies Podcast is a SoftStix Productions LLC jawn. This episode was produced, edited, and hosted by Tony Lopes, REMOTELY (because we are obeying the COVID-19 isolation orders) in Philadelphia.  The Self Made Strategies Podcast is sponsored by Lopes Law LLC (www.LopesLawLLC.com).

Follow us on:

• Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • LinkedIn

Welcome to Episode 071, with Al Zone, Executive Director and CEO of The Elmwood Park Zoo

Want to SEE something awesome?  You can also watch this episode's video, which was recorded live, with Al from the Elmwood Park Zoo (with some friends in the background) by checking it out on our YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/PDUWk3Hut6I

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE!

About Al Zone

Al Zone is the former owner of Zone Entertainment and joined the Elmwood Park Zoo as the business manager in September of 2011, and shortly thereafter became the interim Executive Director in January of 2012, after Bill Konstant resigned to to focus on a career in conservation. The rest, as they say, is history.

With Al's new marketing strategies Elmwood's memberships skyrocketed, and revenue soared, which led the Zoo's board of directors’ to offer Al a permanent position in May of 2012. As you listen to this episode, it will not take you long to see why Al's leadership helped the Elmwood Park Zoo become ultra successful, and build partnerships with Temple University, the Philadelphia Eagles, and Chapman Auto Group.

About the Elmwood Park Zoo

The mission of the Elmwood Park Zoo is to foster an appreciation for wildlife and the environment that will inspire active participation in conservation.

Elmwood Park Zoo was established in 1924 when a local farmer transferred 16 acres and a small menagerie to the Borough of Norristown. Today, the zoo is owned and operated by the Norristown Zoological Society, a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster an appreciation for wildlife and the environment that will inspire active participation in conservation. Under the Society’s careful management, Elmwood Park Zoo has attained the elite status as one of only 230 institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Zoo’s accreditation was renewed in September, 2016.

Visit the Elmwood Park Zoo (or to donate): https://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/

ON THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSSED:

• How Al got the Elmwood Park Zoo out of debt and back to a profitable organization

• The methods Al used to get buy-in from his entire team to innovate the Zoo's branding

• How Al studied his target audience, and what he did to ensure they were having the best experience they could

• What is Al's past prepared him to reshape the Elmwood Park Zoo's business offerings and exhibits

• The methods Al used to build partnerships with Temple University, the Philadelphia Eagles, and Chapman Auto Group

• How you can get involved in helping the Elmwood Park Zoo

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

This Self Made Strategies Podcast is a SoftStix Productions LLC jawn. This episode was produced, edited, and hosted by Tony Lopes, REMOTELY (because we are obeying the COVID-19 isolation orders) in Philadelphia. The Self Made Strategies Podcast is sponsored by Lopes Law LLC (www.LopesLawLLC.com).

Follow us on:

• Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • LinkedIn

This is Episode 070 with Britt Carpenter, Founder of Muttropolitan and the Philly Unknown Project

About the Philly Unknown Project (http://phillyunknownproject.org/)

Bringing cohesion and bridging the gaps in communities one block at a time.

As Philly grows stronger as a city and continues to show signs of forward progression in some areas, there are still many areas and neighborhoods/communities that have become neglected. Most of these communities don’t have the resources available to make them better.

The Philly Unknown Project intends to cultivate community cohesion and educate and advocate for those who can’t be a voice for themselves.

They are a grass roots non-profit that provides hand-to-hand outreach through several methods.

They provide Compassion Bags, which serve as harm reduction kits containing snacks, t-shirts, socks, hygiene supplies, and other resources to provide hope for another day.

You can check out the docuseries Britt did here: https://projects.voanews.com/opioids/

About Muttropolitan

Founded in 2012 and a Philly.com Readers’ Choice for Dog Walking, we are fully bonded and insured to cater to the needs of the urban pet! Proudly serving Center City, Rittenhouse Square, Filter Square, Art Museum, Fairmount, Spring Garden, Northern Liberties, South Philly and Surrounding Areas!

They offer: dog walking, cat sitting, (other pet) sitting, and more!  Contact them here: http://www.muttropolitanpetsitting.com/

About Britt

Britt is an awesome entrepreneur, running two organizations that he founded: The Philly Unknown Project (a nonprofit organization helping those who are struggling with homeless, addiction, or with other issues in the local community); and, Muttropolitan (a for profit pet sitting/walking business that has done very well).

On this episode we discussed:

* How Britt started Muttropolitan

* Why Muttropolitan became as popular as it is, and why it is thriving during the COVID-19 era

* What in Britt's past led him to start the Philly Unknown Project

* How you can get involved in helping the community with the Philly Unknown Project

* Britt's initiatives to help the homeless and those suffering from addiction

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

This Self Made Strategies Podcast is a SoftStix Productions LLC jawn. This episode was produced, edited, and hosted by Tony Lopes, REMOTELY (because we are obeying the COVID-19 isolation orders) in Philadelphia.  The Self Made Strategies Podcast is sponsored by Lopes Law LLC (www.LopesLawLLC.com).

Follow us on:

• Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • LinkedIn

Episode 069 with Luke Bowen of Evil Genius

This is a special COVID-19 Strategy episode with Luke Bowen, the Co-Founder of Evil Genius Beer Company (http://evilgeniusbeer.com/). Evil Genius is one of the top 250 breweries by volume in the US, with distribution in PA, DE, NJ, MA, MD, CT, and RI.

Luke is also a Founding Partner of Bowen Hayward Group, LLC – an investment vehicle with holdings in various Commercial Real Estate and Food & Beverage Companies. Luke has Co-Authored Academic Papers which have been published Internationally on Advertising Strategy, Market Research Best Practices, and Corporate Social Responsibility.

In 2019, the Philadelphia Business Journal named Luke one of Philadelphia’s 40under40.

Luke was kind enough to discuss Evil Genius Beer Company's strategies during our current Stay-at-Home status.  Luke's business is facing uncertainty, just like everyone else, but his positivity and strategies used to keep his team focused have helped him thus far and will likely help Evil Genius to get back up to speed quickly.  Listen in to hear about Luke's approach to dealing with COVID-19.

On this episode we discussed:

* Best practices to market your business (from idea to being in the 95th percentile in your space –

just like Evil Genius)

* How to use your time at home to improve your branding

* The strategies Evil Genius used to stay afloat during our uncertain times

* How "bootstrapping" Evil Genius positioned the beer company to survive the uncertainties created by the COVID-19 Pandemic

* And so much more!

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

This Self Made Strategies Podcast is a SoftStix Productions LLC jawn. This episode was produced, edited, and hosted by Tony Lopes, REMOTELY (because we are obeying the COVID-19 isolation orders) in Philadelphia.  The Self Made Strategies Podcast is sponsored by Lopes Law LLC (www.LopesLawLLC.com).

Follow us on:

• Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • LinkedIn

Episode 068 of the Self Made Strategies Podcast, with "Dino" Don Lessem, CEO of Dino Don, Inc.

Dino Don Lessem is a dinosaur explorer, Genghis Khan expert, and CEO and Founder of Dino Don, Inc. He was also a Jurassic Park and Disney movie, and theme park consultant.  Don has also re-created many of the world’s largest dinosaurs.  Additionally, Don is a designer of blockbuster international exhibitions and theme park attractions.  He has also been a TV show host and a commentator for the Today Show, Good Morning America, and CBS Morning News.  Don is also an author of more than 50 books for children and adults.  No wonder, "Dino" Don was recently featured in an Inc.com article entitled "How a Former Journalist Turned His Love of Dinosaurs Into a $5 Million Robotics Business."  Yes, you read that correctly.

Dino is a dynamic speaker and was an extremely entertaining guest on our podcast.  It was a huge pleasure to "sit down" (we recorded this remotely because of COVID-19) with Dino to hear his stories about his adventurous career filled with dinosaurs, and entrepreneurial dynamism and perseverance.

Here is what we talked about on this episode:

* How to control your idea

* Why you need to keep doing the same thing over and over

* Dino's ratio for a successful but also enjoyable entrepreneurial venture (1/3 making money; 1/3 having projects or ideas in development; and, 1/3 "big dream" ideas)

* Why you need to know what you are passionate about

* That you need to "know" it is going to work

* Don't take rejection personally

* How to find what will keep you persisting

* Why you should be putting together a team of people who are the best experts you can find (passion comes with that)

* The problems most entrepreneurs face as their business grows and how to fix that

* Why you should also consider hiring the youngest/most inexperienced people

* How to build fearlessness in others

* Why you need to find your opposites (hint: they will help fill your gaps, and cover your strengths)

* Why you should start at the top and work your way down (not the other way around)

* Dino's thoughts on "luck" (1/2 of it is getting a lucky break, the other 1/2 is knowing what to do with it)

* How to sense an opportunity, and then execute on that opportunity

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

This Self Made Strategies Podcast is a SoftStix Productions LLC jawn. This episode was produced, edited, and hosted by Tony Lopes, REMOTELY (because we are undergoing COVID-19 isolation) in Philadelphia.  The Self Made Strategies Podcast is sponsored by Lopes Law LLC (www.LopesLawLLC.com).

Follow us on:

• Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • LinkedIn

Welcome to Episode 067, with Jared Fenton, Executive Director of The Reflect Organization

Donate to The Reflect Organization here: https://www.reflecteffect.org/donate

About Jared:

Jared Fenton is Founder and Executive Director of The Reflect Organization (www.reflecteffect.org). While at the University of Pennsylvania, Jared produced the first-ever mixed-methods research examining the phenomenon of “Penn Face.” Jared has been honored by numerous mental health organizations for his work in the field, and he was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award by Barack Obama. Jared graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, with a BA in Political Science and a certificate from the Civic Scholars Program for Social Action and Civic Engagement.

On this episode:

* Why nonprofit organizations should consider collaboration to increase their capacity and resource sharing

* Duplication of efforts by nonprofits is inefficient and does not make sense in the nonprofit sphere

* Why psychological phenomenon of “imposter syndrome” is a global issue

* Why we need to create a cultural shift to empower people to be willing to engage in mutual connection and mutual support

* How college life creates a debilitative culture of perfection

* The Reflect Organization’s “One Caring Person”

* How to develop better and more proactive mentorship programsThe Reflect Organization’s COVID-19 Resource and Activity Guide (which you can find here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P2FTSiDg9Md5J8sF388l9FjuJCRC3MypJUrkc6VyKLg/edit)

* Why you should consider using myofascial release therapy, or Yamuna Body Rolling balls to help alleviate your stress

* The Reflect Movement

* 1 in 4 college students suffer from some form

* And so much more!

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

This Self Made Strategies Podcast is a SoftStix Productions LLC jawn. This episode was produced, edited, and hosted by Tony Lopes, REMOTELY (because we are undergoing COVID-19 isolation) in Philadelphia.  The Self Made Strategies Podcast is sponsored by Lopes Law LLC (www.LopesLawLLC.com).

Follow us on:

• Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • LinkedIn