The Authority Builder Podcast

If you’ve ever taken a so-called personality test and been dismayed by the results… you’re not alone. Dr. Benjamin Hardy, organizational psychologist, best-selling author, and entrepreneur, says those tests are far from scientific or the definitive truth about who you are. 

He says personality is not hardwired, as many think. And this limiting belief prevents most people from getting what they want out of life. His new book, Personality Isn’t Permanent, is an exploration of that concept… and we get a sneak peek.

Dr. Hardy shares some strategies for changing your way of thinking and environment which can impact personal change. It may be an uncomfortable process… but you’ll reap the benefits in your business, relationships, and beyond. 

Tune in to find out… 

• Why selective attention can be dangerous

• A strategy to uncover the new you

• How to recruit your “future self” to help you in the present day

• The dangers of your comfort zone

• And more

As a small business, don’t let yourself become a commodity – you’ll get lost in a crowded market. Instead, to compete effectively, says Patti Mara, you must position yourself as a trusted resource and provider of not products and services – but solutions.

Patti, a business consultant and author of the new book UpSolutions, says there are key things a business must do to reach that goal. It all starts with the customer – and how you interact with them. 

She says too many businesses give prospects a reason to default to the competition with the lowest perceived price instead. 

We talk about what the ideal customer experience looks like (including during the ongoing pandemic), how to help your customers make “better” decisions, and more, including…

• Why you should never compete on price
   
• 3 things you must do to make your team more effective

• How to listen to what your customers are saying beyond the words

• Why putting profit as a secondary consideration in your business… will lead to faster growth

• And more

“Thought leader” is a big buzzword these days. But Samantha Riley goes beyond the hype and gives her coaching clients actionable steps they can take to expand their influence in their niche and make themselves more valuable… which means more income.

Becoming a thought leader means you’re no longer the best-kept secret… you’re the go-to for potential clients seeking the services you offer because you stand out from the crowd. And it’s not enough to simply be good at what you do, says Samantha. You have to make sure the right people know it.

If “tooting your own horn” makes you uncomfortable, Samantha has a remedy.

We take a deep dive into that topic, the other things you must do to become a thought leader, and more, including… 

•  How to figure what you want your life to look like – and how to make it happen

• 3 parts of effective positioning to build your brand

• The KEEP Method for determining what makes you unique

• Creating a roadmap for business success – and where you must start

• And more

In this special bonus episode, I interview my friend and client Jeremy Macliver of Guaranteed Traction. We discuss what it's going to take to restart your business and find the new opportunities as "The Great Reopening" begins.

Jeremy is hosting a training session on June 3rd to help you "get a grip" on your business so you're positioned to restart and get your business growing again. You can register for this session at https://bluecollarculture.com/get-a-grip.

And, be sure to connect with Jeremy at https://bluecollarculture.com/ or at https://guaranteedtraction.com/.

You do great work for your clients… you love what you do. But “selling” yourself and your services has been a challenge, even though you know it’s essential to the growth of your business.

Christine Schlonski says it’s time to have more impact on more people… while making more money. You have to switch your mindset; you have to change the negative view you have of sales. 

That’s when you can have the sales breakthrough your business needs. 

The good news: sales is a learnable skill, says Christine. She gets you started on your journey to sales success and also talks about…

• Creating an always-full pipeline of leads 
• Your first step in eliminating negative feelings about sales
• Why the right relationships can have an exponential impact
•  A trick for overcoming “overwhelming” obstacles
• How empathy can transform your sales approach and dramatically increase your sale ratio

John Jantsch, author of best-seller Duct Tape Marketing and the new The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, is passionate about helping small businesses market smarter and more effectively through a proven system based on strategies that get more leads and customers.

But in many ways, he starts with the basics. 

First, creating a solid foundation for success by adopting a mindset of curiosity, resilience, gratitude, and desire to give value. 

One of the most important elements, says John, is being able to trust yourself. Without that, you’ll never be able to achieve the success you’re capable of… and deserve.

We go into depth on that, as well as… 

• Why being self-reliant doesn’t mean being on your own

• A quiet morning ritual you should start tomorrow

• What you can learn – and apply today – from 19th-century authors 

• How – and why – to learn to trust yourself

• And more

If there is one constant in digital marketing… it’s that what works is always changing. Lacy Boggs, content strategist and Director of The Content Direction Agency, says that sophisticated consumers, who quickly recognize marketing campaigns “in the wild” and make them less effective, have accelerated that trend.

That means lower conversion rates for traditional sales funnels, free webinars, and the like. But, says Lacy, there is a solution. It’s all about customizing your marketing campaigns to your business and target market – not following the cookie-cutter approaches out there.

She calls it “leadership marketing,” and we take a deep dive into what it means and how to make it work on a practical level, including the best platforms, what to say to get attention, and more.

The great thing is, if you do it right, you won’t spend any more money on your marketing… maybe even less.

We go into that in detail, including…

• How to balance organic and paid traffic

• Finding the most effective channels for your business
   
• An alternative to “traditional” webinar funnels

• The three pieces you need in every marketing plan

• And more

Ever feel like you don’t have enough time for follow up on the leads you generate? You’re not alone. Perhaps 70% of business owners feel the same way. 

It’s understandable – you feel “stuck” in day to day operations, i.e. putting out fires.

But if you ever hope to grow your business beyond where it is now… you need to follow up… follow up relentlessly. This doesn’t mean bothering people… or annoying them. 

You can turn a “maybe” into a “yes” when you make sure all your messages do this one thing. It also helps to use a system for follow up – and that doesn’t mean it won’t sound genuine. 

We get into detail on that, as well as…

• The best channels for follow up (including one you’d never think of) – and what to say
• A strategy for follow up for busy entrepreneurs that takes two hours per month
• The biggest missteps in building business relationships
• How to have a one-on-one conversation with thousands of prospects
• And more

Most business owners spend about 20% of their time generating leads to grow the business. It’s a fraction of what you need.

As a business owner, it’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day. Administrative tasks and the like. It keeps you busy, and you feel like you’ve accomplished something at the end of the day. But to propel real growth, you have to focus more on business development, specifically generating a steady stream of good quality leads.

Marketing is the answer. But it’s easy to go wrong there too, using channels that aren’t appropriate for your business or target market. You’re reaching people with your message… but it’s the wrong people. 

Let’s explore a more systematic approach, one that works for your business. Tune in to discover…

• The layered approach to marketing

• A hidden danger to your business’s longevity

• The importance of follow-up – and how to keep new leads “warm”

• A one-two punch approach to lead generation

• And more

You probably don’t need as many clients as you think to have a steadily growing business. You just need the right clients. 

There is opportunity out there, even in this time of crisis. You just need to get a little creative in how you promote yourself and run your business. And focusing on the right subset of your target marketing and serving the people you really want to serve… that makes your prospecting and marketing easier.

Learn how to switch your mindset to spot new opportunities and much more, including…

• How to avoid becoming a commodity
• #1 thing you can do to set yourself apart from the competition
• Finding – and landing – “hidden” clients
• Why you shouldn’t compete on price – and what to do instead
• A great way to build relationships with people before you even meet them