The Leader's Table by Diana Murphy

Diana is back on the mic solo style! This is a powerful episode where she shares how Overidentifying as a Business Owner is what got in my way of living a great life! Turns out that living a full life creates a full business. Take Aways: How a Revenue Goal can get in the way of your great work

Focus on the Impact you're making vs the gap in reaching your goals

Making Relationships a Priority vs IF I have extra time

Travel doesn't take AWAY from your business it's a HUGE value add

Turns out you can run a business and thrive AND have a great full life

Questions to ask yourself: Are you saying no to things because you always think, "I have to work" or "I can't I'm running a business."? Can you look behind your no's and the thoughts behind it and lean into your LIFE and some TIME outside running your business? Start small, start now. Want support, powerful conversations and learning to ask better questions so YOU too can Over Live instead of Over Work? [email protected]. I start with prospective clients with a quick (15 minutes) get to know you phone call. Schedule that here.

Listen into this vibrant and encouraging discussion with owners Chantel and Mwale. They run the League of Experts community. Of course their work is right up my alley, they LOVE helping owners lean into their unique edge & genius as they grow their businesses.

Takeaways:

You can meet your husband and business partner at the same time. What a beautiful love and life story they share on how they met at a Las Vegas business conference.

Follow your gut and confirm your choices, and your relationships with mature synergistic conversations.

Embrace your differences, your uniqueness not sameness is a contribution.

Honor your calling what you are made to do

As experts, our professional training can get in our way as we start marketing and building our business.

Identifying what your Unique Service Proposition is key to growth

Ask the question: what impact do you want to make, why are you opening your business, who do you want to serve?

Look at your business at a 10,000 ft view, reconnect to your brilliance. This is how Mwale and Chantel rescue your genius!!!

How? Clear on your idea, Clear on Sales and then lean into PR and Marketing. This Is the Mastery/Monetization and Momentum pillars they use in their business.

Last but not least DO NOT WAIT to do the thing, open that business or try a new idea or product.

Bio

With 15 years of combined experience in the consulting and publicity industry, Mwale and Chantel have successfully guided over 1,300 people on their writing journey. As leaders, Mwale and Chantel understand the challenges that many experts face when it comes to creating core intellectual property and turning it into a successful product or service.

Known as the "Book Boss," Mwale is passionate about helping experts leverage their knowledge to increase sales while expanding their business using their intellectual property.

Chantel Henry is a highly requested speaker and transformational coach. She has taken her message of resilience around the globe as she helps others use their story and expertise to increase their success and significance. Community Link https://joinloe.com/

Prepared to be encouraged by this authentic conversation between 2 coaches who have seen it all: pivots, disappointments and also aligned results. Ben and I get into the nitty gritty of the way to create a resilient mindset as you grow your business and make important decisions on what your committed to going forward.

About Ben:

Dr. Benjamin Ritter, founder of Live for Yourself Consulting, is a leadership and career coach, Talent Development Executive, values geek, international speaker, online course instructor, and podcaster (The Executive, and The Live for Yourself Revolution), who's passionate about guiding leaders to be the leader of their own career and create a career they love.

With over 11 years of experience working with clients from companies such as Amazon, Coursera, Doordash, Google, Fiserv, Northwestern, Pinterest, and Yelp, Ben understands how to navigate any career path you decide you want to travel.

From empowering professionals to get unstuck, to guiding senior leadership on how to stand out from the competition, develop executive presence, and feel confident in being a leader, Ben is an expert in his field and will guide you toward truly living for yourself at work and in life.

Ben received his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a focus on value congruence and job satisfaction and earned an MBA in entrepreneurial management, and an MPH in health policy administration.

Find Dr. Benjamin Ritter on Linked In and on his website: https://www.liveforyourselfconsulting.com/about

Ben's guide: https://www.subscribepage.com/careeryoulove

Topics we discussed:

When is it time to close something down that you have created – a business, community, a niche? How do you do this? Ben's story can give you some powerful insights on how to do this when it is time.

How to recognize when it is time to make a pivot.

What can 'closing' something down give you more as you move forward? What is possible?

Business ownership and how we can be overly attached to the business. Is it getting in our way of creating what we really want in our lives?

Looking at a healthy relationship with your business, making the right decisions.

Remembering what we are capable of from ALL of our life experiences.

How fully committing to an endeavor no matter the results creates success. It changes everything.

If something isn't working, getting curious vs deciding 'it is not working'. Get curious and dig into the issues at hand. One tweak can make a huge difference.

How to stop taking disappointing results and dig in with curiosity to solve for the issues at hand.

Ask better questions as you're evaluating the health of your business.

Be the leader you are craving in your own business or career.

I had an absolute blast interviewing the man behind this podcast. Jeremy created the music for my podcast and produces every episode. He calls himself a sound designer. I couldn't wait to share this interview with you, his story of moving from a corporate space and creating a audio editing business of his own.

The first thought Jeremy shared was that when he produced The Regret-proof podcast, he was triggered by some of the concepts I shared BECAUSE he too was experiencing what so many of my business owner clients face.

Listen in as Jeremy shares how he stepped in fully as a business owner after working for Apple and a tech company. He led his own business through imposter syndrome and learned to run his business in a way that served him and his clients well.

Takeaways:

It's easy to sell when you LOVE what you do

Hard part knowing your value as you're learning to run your business

You have to sell your business to your family as you invest early on

Less time (becoming a parent) helped him be more productive

Step on the gas…..came from being more selective in projects he wanted to do

VS taking everything on he could handle

He matched his BEST work with people he wanted to work with, less was more.

Moved to sound effects, mixing vs creating music and scores after working on projects he found he loved

His unique edge: set proper timeline expectations and guide clients through that process and delivered

His integrity showed up in how he honestly communicated timelines in a very deadline oriented industry.

Learning that turning down work is a growth move

NO's are our biggest growth tool.

Valuing your time with premium pricing was everything for him

Best surprise in business growth A REFERRAL from a REFERRAL…

The way you serve your current clients creates this 'unexpected' result.

What can you do without…..be careful of overlearning the tech and the systems or a new certification that goes beyond what you really need to serve clients.

How do you know, when to make a shift, when you love what you're doing AND those you create for also are SO THANKFUL.

Learn from your Bad Decisions, reflect on what projects worked and which didn't.

Leaning into what you're wired to do is everything!

[email protected]

Jeremy Price on all the spaces

Need help with your podcast?

Pouya Haidari 5.5.23

Listen to this high energy interview with Pouya Haidari. He specializes in sales but has so much to share about his journey as an owner. Pouya shares that one of his personality traits was being stubborn by nature. That stick to it mentality has really given him great success.

I most loved hearing about his early departure from corporate because he KNEW this didn't fit him. He learned to scale but also learned quickly as an owner the type of business model that worked best for him. Prepare to be inspired.

Takeaways:

Honor that leap of faith and desire to do something different EVEN if it doesn't look like everyone.

Age has no bearing on when you become a business owner.

"The hardest, most challengings decisions have been the BEST ones in my life."

Being stubborn can pay off in business ownership, but so can curiosity.

Pouya came upon a lot of success of being perseverant but also staying curious at the same time.

Other's advice doesn't always sync with what we are to do as owners, nor how we want to run things.

Our way IS the way.

Learning along the way with failures, success and insight are THE growth engine.

Your confidence comes from doing (taking risks) and seeing (evaluating the results).

Make sure your decisions align powerfully with your vision.

Listen in to learn a non salesy way to SELL.

Your potential is limitless.

You can contact Pouya and learn more on his website: https://www.pouyahaidari.com/

I contacted Jacqueline for an interview after she shared a great post on LInkedIn that really got my intention. Listen into another Smart, Brave High Integrity trusted advisor who bring commercial banking to the small business owner. I loved our interview, you will too. Jacqueline spent over twenty years in business banking before starting Commercial Capital Solutions. She identified the need for small business owners to have unbiased options and expert guidance to help them secure the best financing solutions tailored to their unique needs. "Our mission is to provide a concierge experience where clients can trust their best interests are looked after." So many nuggets here:

• Understanding the 'solo' experience that ownership entails & how to manage that
• Learning to ask for help and support
• Being an owner requires you to level up and grow as a leader
• How to manage the identity shift from employee to owner
• How to handle the overwhelm of new business
• Knowing which clients to say no to
• How to stop taking business twists and turns personally
• The art of self forgiveness that you don't know everything

I loved her system of growth when issues arrived:

Re Evaluate

Learn

Set Reasonable Expectations

I loved this interview because it was a powerful demonstration of how our values are a key driver of our growth. When Jacqui focused on her integrity and being vulnerable and authentic, this informed her decision making and how to build her team.

Bottom line: nothing is more attractive to our clients than when we stay in touch with serving them with integrity and a personalized approach. Jacqui lives this value strongly bringing banking solutions to her small business clients.

You can reach Jacqueline at commercialcapitalsolutions.com

just loved my conversation with Robert, we're colleagues in Atlanta and when I heard his story of scaling and then deciding NOT scale and why, I knew you had to hear the story.

To scale or not to scale? Join us for this vibrant discussion around scaling. Robert as a Financial professional loves helping companies to scale. But is scaling for you? Listen into Roberts story of his own business build and his discernment on knowing whether scaling was for him and his practice and lifestyle.

We are not ALL meant to scale!!! Listen for your own insights as Robert shares his story AND his expertise in scaling.

Nuggets:

• When life hands you 'bad news', make sure you listen to your mentors…..they will see the opportunity before you do.
• Slow growth in early business building can take longer than you think, but it doesn't mean it isn't working.
• We become translators as trusted advisors, Robert & Diana share their growth in learning to speak to their clients in their language.
• Robert is a translator of numbers for his clients, what is YOUR unique edge?
• Our Culture says growth and scaling is the only way to be successful as a business owner……not always the case.
• Scaling can take you as the owner OUT of your genius & expertise.
• Our businesses are meant to serves us NOT the other way around. We need to buck our corporate culture mentality.
• How saying No to some clients help you to serve your clients better.

This IS a Lifestyle business in the best way ever: With Zoom capability and acceptance Robert has worked remotely from the Grand Canyon, the beach and Colorado. Full work days waking up to amazing locations. Robert's 'not scale' mindset for his own business changed his lifestyle, his profitability and gave him more of a chance to do what he loves. Robert follows the 3 R's as he builds and makes decisions in his business. Respect, Responsibility and Relationships.

What could he have left out of his business build? Everyone else's expectations and business plan!

Robert Stephens is managing partner of CFO Navigator. As a fractional Chief Financial Officer, Robert fills a critical gap for growing privately held businesses and non-profit organizations that do not have the budget or need for a full-time CFO.

Having advised over 75+ organizations during his 30+ year career, Robert strives to bring "Wall Street" worthy financial expertise to local "Main Street" companies by turning his financial insight into their business foresight.

For more information, visit www.cfo-navigator.com.

You can reach him cell phone at 404-642-2688

There are so many nuggets in this vibrant interview. Be sure to get to know VK and his work better by checking out his website. His Ted Talk is great.

I loved the opportunity to interview VK, listening to his story of business building you learn so much about him. VK teaches us something important, seeing our FULL potential. Hint: it's unlimited!

He built his business and helps others build their business with their passion vs having a focus on just revenue building. He encourages his clients to give back in the communities where they do business as well as to the charities they hold dear to their heart.

Nuggets for you on this podcast:

• Take big inspiration from others and distill it for your business. Start taking risks

• Start giving back now

• Live with gratitude

• Mindset created every opportunity for him. He was open to all that came his way.

• Focus on the Present: Past is Fear; Future is Expectations. The only thing that exists is what is in the present.

• Surrender to what is right here; don't overreact to negative consequences.

• Be detached from results so you can focus on clients, your passion and moving through your challenges.

• Shift overthinking into being humble and curious.

• Maintain high standards, your genius is what the world needs.

• Create your future growth by how you show up today

• Saying yes to being in a room with influential people is everything. So much learning, inspiration and huge opportunity. Dreamer Project Award where this played out for him.

• The power of White space: our best ideas come when we're OFF OF WORK

• Look for your Spark of Genius and GO! Take the Lead and Go Forward

• You don't need a lot of money to start a business. You need to start taking action on your business idea and the money will come if you are serving others and solving key problems for them.

***Feeding 200 Children in India is VK's favorite charity right now.

WEBSITE & SOCIALS

https://lakkineni.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ROIMediaWorks/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vklakkineni/

https://www.instagram.com/vklakkineni/

https://www.twitter.com/vklakkineni

https://www.youtube.com/user/lakki337

Are you in the process of Regret-proofing? Want more out of your business and life right now with more ease and leaning into your genius and vision? Just shoot me an email: [email protected]

Come meet client and now friend Kim Wachtel on the podcast today!!! Kim brings her experience and her shares her challenge with growth in her business and how to bring in more support and help when needed. Kim trusted HOW she wanted to do her business and it has paid off!!

I highly recommend Kim as a realtor in Atlanta on BOTH the selling and buying side. She loves helping her clients pick not only the right home but neighborhood for their lifestyle and life stage.

Kim's website: https://www.kimlovesatlanta.com/

AND look for her on Linked In #kimlovesatlanta

Kim's Bio:

Earning her first real estate license in Raleigh, NC in 1995 after receiving a B.S. in Business Management/Finance from North Carolina State University, Kim went to work with a prominent REALTOR who taught her the ropes at an early age.

In 2004, Kim moved to Atlanta and became a Georgia REALTOR during the booming real estate market. She started out at a small brokerage firm in where she built and sold homes for the high-end Buckhead market.

In January of 2010, following the crash of the both real estate and building industries, Kim went to work with a firm with a nationally recognized name, RE/MAX, where she thrives today representing both buyers and sellers in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, GA.

When working with sellers she is a straight shooter and does not over-value properties to win listings thereby saving sellers precious time on the market.

As past buyers can attest, Kim is a tough negotiator once the perfect home is found. She has extensive knowledge of building practices and can quickly tell when something isn't quite right.

Mark and I had a great discussion on our podcast. Dig into hear some powerful nuggets on how to grow as a solo owner. He holds a "not to do" meeting with his team weekly, I loved hearing about this powerful tool. Listen in how he shares that 'constraint' (doing less, focusing on ideal clients, etc.) is a powerful innovation driver. He also shares a unique way he helps business owners create their own line of credit vs depending on banks to finance growth. Mark's Bio: Mark Willis, CFP® is a man on a mission to help you think differently about your money, your economy, and your future. Mark is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, a three-time #1 Best Selling Author, and the owner of Lake Growth Financial Services, a financial firm in Chicago, Illinois. As co-host of the Not Your Average Financial Podcast™, he shares some of his strategies for investing in real estate, paying for college without going broke, and creating an income in retirement you will not outlive. Mark works with people who want to grow their wealth in ways that are safe and predictable, to become their own source of financing, and to create tax-free income in retirement. Here is Mark's link tree for all his links: https://linktr.ee/markwilliscfp