Smashing the Plateau

Troy Larson has over 40 years of software development and technical management experience, including five years at Amazon as a Solutions Architect.

In 2022, Troy founded The Unique VA Experience, a Filipino-based coaching company that has trained nearly 300 VAs, providing opportunities for Filipinos who are looking to change careers and for stay-at-home parents looking to enter the workforce.

In 2023, Troy launched The Developer's CEO Newsletter, building on his 40 years of experience, focused on the unique challenges faced by software developers who are running a small business or looking to start their own business.

In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to leverage your technical expertise to create impactful coaching programs and newsletters.

Troy and I discuss:

• Troy's journey from a Commodore 64 to founding his own business [02:33]
• The motivation behind launching the Unique VA Experience in 2022 [03:15]
• The challenges faced and lessons learned in the VA coaching realm [04:00]
• The significance of embracing uniqueness in career coaching [04:49]
• Structuring monthly internship programs for VAs [05:20]
• The iterative process and unexpected successes, like the bootcamp initiative [07:00]
• Harnessing community for entrepreneurial support and development [08:00]
• The benefits of using OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) in a community context [11:00]
• The public accountability effect of OKRs and the peer pressure involved [12:56]
• What corporate refugees can learn from using OKRs to achieve their goals [16:12]

Learn more about Troy at https://troylarson.com/.

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Tina Collura is an award-winning Productivity and Business Development Coach who leverages over 14 years of entrepreneurial expertise to drive businesses from surviving to thriving. Through personalized consultations, she helps business owners develop growth models that secure deals and triple entrepreneurs' income swiftly.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to navigate the challenges solopreneurs face when transitioning from corporate careers to successful entrepreneurship.

Tina and I discuss:

• Common struggles for solopreneurs [00:02:00]
• The importance of self-marketing and networking [00:02:27]
• Developing the right mindset and discipline [00:04:00]
• Steps to initiate and test your business model [00:04:33]
• Running pilot sessions and gathering feedback [00:05:45]
• Building confidence and the value of persistence [00:07:00]
• Differences in selling as an entrepreneur [00:08:30]
• The impact of building strong relationships [00:09:32]
• Tina's career journey and key learnings [00:10:48]
• The significance of community for entrepreneurs [00:17:00]

Learn more about Tina at https://hihello.me/p/abf99156-04af-433a-abbc-44ceeddcfcb7.

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Ahsan Karim is a business strategist and founder of Light Vision Group. His company helps businesses generate more revenue with online marketing.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn about the journey of transitioning from a corporate career to becoming a successful entrepreneur and the importance of building an online presence.

Asan and I discuss:

• What triggered Asan's interest in being an entrepreneur 
• His first experience as an entrepreneur
• How he learned marketing
• His ideal client for Light Vision Group 
• The role of community in entrepreneurship 
• Upcoming projects to help entrepreneurs enhance their online presence 

Learn more about Asan at https://lightvisiongroup.com/.

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Erin Marcus is the founder and CEO of Conquer Your Business, an international company helping driven entrepreneurs and small business owners achieve the financial and emotional freedom they need to build a business and life they’re proud of.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to unlearn corporate habits and develop a mindset for entrepreneurial success.

Erin and I discuss:

• The necessary unlearning process from corporate to entrepreneurship 
• Utilizing corporate skills like delegation in small business 
• The importance of risk tolerance and testing in the marketplace
• Overcoming ego and adapting to creating your own path 
• The significance of mindset in achieving business goals 
• Strategies for dealing with financial and self-worth challenges 
• The role of community and networking in entrepreneurial success 

Learn more about Erin at:

Conquer Your Business | Erin Marcus | Business Consulting

Instagram (@erinmarcusconqueryourbusiness)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinmarcusconqueryourbusiness/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erin.marcus.3

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLFD-aM6LmA10FQ

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Thomas Bertels is a management consultant and business transformation expert on a mission to make work more productive, valuable, meaningful, and impactful. He has more than 25 years of experience helping companies across a range of industries, from startups to Fortune 5, transform how work gets done. Thinkers360 has recognized Thomas as a Top 50 Thought Leader on the Future of Work and Design Thinking.

Before starting Purpose Works in 2021, Thomas was a founding partner at OXYGY/Valeocon. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Aon Consulting and ABB.

Thomas has written several books and numerous articles on work design, process improvement, business transformation, and organizational learning. His latest book is Fixing Work: Designing Jobs Employees Love (Greenleaf Book Group). He is also the host of the Work Matters podcast, where he explores in conversations with thought leaders and executives what leaders can do to fix work.

Thomas and I discuss:

• Thomas’s motivation for writing his latest book 
• Why Thomas chose to write a business fable 
• The process of writing an allegory
• Differences between writing an allegory and a traditional business book 
• The impact Thomas hopes his book will have 
• The connection between the book and Thomas’s business 
• Challenges Thomas foresees for thought leaders today 
• What successful consultants do differently 
• How Thomas would start his consulting business today 
• Basic principles of the work design framework
• The role of community in achieving professional success 

Learn more about Thomas Bertels at:

• Homepage www.purpose.works
•  Book Site www.fixing-work.com
•  Newsletter purposeworks.substack.com
•  Diagnostic www.mymojo.works
•  Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@WorkMatterspodcast
•  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbertels/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/purpose-works-consulting

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Jason Willis-Lee is a popular translator trainer and has given presentations on various business topics aimed at freelance translators and interpreters for ProZ, BP, CIOL, and Training for Translators. He co-founded the Collaborative Networking Translation Project, Medico-legal Translations (www.medicolegaltranslations.com). As a solopreneur, he recently launched a podcast called 'How to Find More Direct Clients,' aimed at early career professional linguists, and he uses his professional expertise to run the 'How to Find More Direct Clients' online course."

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to navigate the evolving landscape of the translation industry and leverage your expertise to build a successful business.

Jason and I discuss:

• What motivated Jason to go solo
• The transition from generalist to specialist 
• The difference between being self-employed and entrepreneurial
• How Jason stretches himself through entrepreneurship 
• Navigating the challenges in the translation industry
• The importance of leveraging AI and technology
• The role of community in business growth
• Personal branding and its significance for freelancers 

Learn more about Jason at https://entrepreneurialtranslator.com/training-for-translators/.

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After 25 years as a creative professional, Wayne founded Resonant Pixel Company just three years ago. The business experienced some early rapid growth, but it wasn't the business Wayne wanted. He has since transitioned the company into productized services, helping small businesses leverage the Squarespace platform to go from having an informational brochure-ware website to a transactional growth engine.

In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to transition from rapid early growth to a business model that aligns with your values and goals.

Wayne and I discuss:

• How Wayne transitioned from unemployment to starting his business [03:00]
• Realizing the need to change his initial business model [04:49]
• Narrowing the focus and shedding off certain technologies [06:00]
• The importance of building processes and hiring [05:43]
• How to design effective business processes [09:01]
• Wayne's approach to hiring and testing new hires [10:48]
• Examples of unexpected wins in hiring [12:43]
• The benefits of having a subscription-based revenue model [19:00]
• Wayne’s ideal client profile [20:00]
• Future plans and goals for Resonant Pixel Company [21:42]
• The importance of being part of a community like Smashing the Plateau [22:46]

Learn more about Wayne at: https://resonantpixel.co/

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Kyle Walbrun is the Founder and CEO of EfficientAide, an assistant company. He is deeply passionate about helping professionals work effectively and proficiently through a proven process of delegation. Throughout his career, Kyle has partnered with a broad range of business leaders, strategizing on how to buy back their time and eliminate worry.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will discover the strategies behind Effective Delegation with Kyle Walbrun, the founder and CEO of EfficientAide. Kyle shares his expertise on enabling professionals to work more effectively and proficiently through a systematic approach to delegation.

Kyle and I discuss:

• The challenges corporate refugees face when transitioning to entrepreneurship
• How to overcome the hesitation of letting go and start delegating
• Assessing costs and the return on investment (ROI) of delegation
• The types of tasks business leaders should delegate first
• A transformative story of a client who mastered delegation
• How Kyle utilizes thought partners and community to excel in his business
• Where listeners can learn more about Kyle and EfficientAide

Learn more about Kyle at http://www.EfficientAide.com.

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