The Authority Builder Podcast

The only constant in business – in life too, for that matter – is change. It’s how you confront change that matters. 

For Lori Michele Leavitt, the “Pivot Catalyst,” that means careful and considered decision-making. Your next step could be bold… you might even make a complete 180 degree turn. 

But, says Lori, you don’t have anything to fear if you’re in the right “environment.” 

We unpack all that, as well as…

• The 6 indicators that tell you if your business is moving forward
• The group every entrepreneur needs to learn from and “lean on” 
• Discovering the people you don’t need in your life (and they could be very close to you) 
• The key difference between consulting and coaching
• And more

Adam Lean is really all about working on our business, not in our business. Easier said than done when you’re already so busy. But to keep the lights on… and to have a company that lasts with a bright future, it’s essential. 

Adam, founder of Strategy Scout, shares his strategies for being able to figure out what moves the needle most and how to concentrate your efforts there for maximum impact. He also mentions a way that many business owners look at their money that misleads them horribly about their financial situation.

We take a deep dive into that, as well as…

• The 3-step business turnaround plan – and the red flags to watch for on the way
• The Amazon ad Google strategy for growth any company can follow
• Creating a “stage appropriate” marketing strategy
• The cashflow strategy most entrepreneurs miss
• And more

Susan Lassiter-Lyons, founder and publisher of TheIncomeInvestors.com, was all about real estate, even after the 2008 crash. But then she came to a realization that she had all her eggs in one basket. 

So, she decided to diversify and seek out new opportunities to ensure the money she was making was effectively working for her. 

Along the way, she discovered that reinvesting all her money back into her business was by far not the best model. And she could find much better returns… and still grow her company. Even better she’s found a way to create passive income that means she doesn’t have to work if she doesn’t want to.

We take a deep dive into that, as well as…

• The absolute best trait of any entrepreneur
• Why your next step doesn’t ever have to be a giant leap
• The 80-15-5 Bucket Investment Strategy 
• How to build an “Anti-Fragile” Portfolio
• And more

Many entrepreneurs don’t realize the true potential of LinkedIn to boost their online presence, be recognized as experts in their field, and, in the process, increase their ability to attract leads and sales.

LinkedIn specialist Sarah Santacroce aims to change that. And it’s not about using high tech tools or third-party apps to bring in thousands of leads. 

She uses a more personal – and much more effective – approach to connect with potential clients and customers. We talk about that, as well as…

• Why automated lead generation doesn’t work
• The right way to build genuine relationships on LinkedIn
• What you’re doing wrong with your LinkedIn profile
• How introverts can thrive on LinkedIn
• And more

A successful coffee shop must have great coffee. That’s a given, says Tom Vincent, founder of the Texas Coffee School. 

But, says Tom, a coffee shop has to offer so much more to bring in customers… and we’re not talking scones and biscotti or comfy couches.

Tom outlines how to differentiate one coffee shop from all the others in today’s crowded marketplace. Those lessons apply to startups in any industry.  The first one: your product is not what you’re really selling.

Tune in to find out…

• Why your business shouldn’t be like a Chinese restaurant
• The eco-system of success
• A simple secret for making the decision for your future customer
• Having the best product in the industry doesn’t matter if you don’t do this
• And more

You build a business quickly… and then hit a wall. No more growth. You flatline. Paul Rush, Founder and CEO of Substantial, is a veteran entrepreneur who’s faced that problem more than once. 

He shares how he pushed through. And it turns out that there are three key strategies to overcoming those obstacles and pushing on to the next level. One thing to realize is that failure isn’t failure – it’s actually opportunity.

We also talk about…

• How to find your REAL purpose – and act on it (it’s not always obvious)
• Techniques to make real connections when technology separates us
• Why you must create a vision and mission – and how to do it
• The 3 key things he’s doing when creating his next business
• And more

As a financial advisor, Nicole Middendorf of Prosperwell Financial often feels more like a psychologist. She finds she has to change her clients’ mindset about money… and even gets involved in a sort of couples counseling. 

We talk about that, as well as the roundabout career path that got her to where she is today, why she wouldn’t trade it, and what she learned along the way that she still uses in her current business. Plus, we talk about her refreshing take on the traditional “bucket list.”

Tune in to find out…

• The first employee you should hire
• What should be the ultimate goal for every business owner – that has nothing to with money
• How your spouse should be involved in your business
• Why driving a race car in Las Vegas had a huge impact on her business
• And more

SEO is the big buzzword in Internet marketing these days. But the majority of the apps, plugins, and “tricks” you hear about are just smoke and mirrors, says Brendan Hufford, SEO Director at Clique Studios. 

To get that high Google ranking and the resulting traffic to your website you need a more methodical, thoughtful approach… and it’s actually easier to do. Plus, SEO isn’t the only element you need to succeed.

We unpack that strategy, which requires no expert knowledge or hired experts. He also tells us about one of the biggest life lessons he learned from one of his mentors that propelled his business forward: focus on what actually matters – and it’s not money.

Tune in to discover…

• How to create a marketing funnel that understands your audience
• The cluster content model
• The danger of forgetting about self-care – and the impact on your life and business
• Why failure is not always a learning experience
• And more

Before you can be an effective leader, there’s one member of the team you have to get “buy-in” from first, says Deb Calvert, founder of People First Productivity Solutions. Hint: It’s not a top manager or key employee.

We also talk about what many business owners perceive as a “necessary evil”: sales. But that’s exactly the wrong way to think about it, says Deb. We talk about the attitude you need instead if you want to propel business growth and preserve your core values. 

We also cover how you should think of buyers – and how to talk to them without being “sales-y.” It’s easier than you think.

Listen in to discover…

• The “detours” that put you on the right road to success
• Careful decision-making strategies without analysis paralysis
• The questions that build trust with buyers
• How incentives for your salespeople can sabotage sales goals
• And more

We’re having conversations with ourselves all the time. Unfortunately, says Bert Martinez, often that self-talk is negative… and impacting your ability to achieve goals and build your business.

Bert, who consults with Fortune 500 companies, as well as small businesses, shares his simple technique for achieving a positive mindset that helps you solve problems and push past obstacles. 

He also talks about the type of marketing small businesses should avoid and the one that actually makes them money – and it’s affordable, too.

Listen in to find out…

• How to recognize when your ego is getting in the way – even sabotaging your success
• Strategies for delivering real value to customers (which you probably aren’t doing now)
• What really motivates people to buy – and how to harness it
• A step-by-step process for creating life-changing affirmations
• And more