The Modern CEO Podcast

I have some real talk for you right now.

And it may sound far-fetched and you may feel just a little bit of resistance to hearing it, but here it comes: People making 10x more than you… aren't working 10x harder.

I know that goes against the Instagram 'Hustle' mindset you're so used to seeing. It goes against everything your parents said about working as hard as you can. It goes against the societal belief that you have to be actively working and busy all… the… time… in order to be deserving of wealth.

But it's 100% true.

People making 10x more than you aren't working 10x harder. And "busy" is not the badge of honor that everyone thinks it is.

All of the leaders and modern CEOs that I admire have time and space for themselves and the people they care about, because they build that space into their business. Vacations… evenings… maybe even a spa afternoon here or there.

And you can too.

There is a design that goes into leading and growing a business like yours, in a way that allows you to have financial success and time freedom.

Yes, you will still have moments of hustle — launch preparation, seasonal rushes, putting out the occasional fire. But your hustle should never be 24/7, no matter what those slick pink Insta posts tell you!

No-grinding, balance-creating, super-successful modern CEOs just do things differently — and we can learn a lot from their choices.

And guess what: you can learn three of their lessons right here, right now!

In my latest podcast episode, you'll discover:

• The importance of knowing when to reach out to experts
• What sets successful, savvy modern CEOs apart from average CEOs
• How to avoid developing Messy Marketer Syndrome

Remember to subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher!

Highlights:

01:42 Who do you admire?

03:05 Seasons of hustle

03:40 Three Boudoir + ambermccue.com

04:48 Business Brilliant

06:22 Lesson #1

08:39 Lesson #2

12:05 Lesson #3

15:22 Recap

16:32 The Modern CEO Way

Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Bookmark ambermccue.com/blog and follow Amber on Instagram: @AmberMcCue

Mentioned in this episode:

The Modern CEO Way

http://ambermccue.com/modernceo

Business Brilliant: Surprising Lessons from the Greatest Self-Made Business Icons by Lewis Schiff

https://www.amazon.com/Business-Brilliant-Surprising-Greatest-Self-Made/dp/0062253506

What Sets Successful CEOs Apart

https://hbr.org/2017/05/what-sets-successful-ceos-apart

Welcome to this Right On Time Minisode.

For this episode, where we are talking about some practices I am implementing right now around gratitude, and expanding my money mindset. Because, about a month ago, I recognized that I had some scarcity stuff coming up. We're experiencing growth in the business. Things are going well. We're reinvesting in the business, and I identified, still, some scarcity, some lacks, some reactions, when I was like, ooh, are we going to do that? Ah, ah, ah, I'm not sure.

So I picked up a book... Actually, first up, I implemented an approach, where I am writing down my goals for the year, every single day for 30 days, to see what comes up, to step into that, to remind my subconscious, and to reprogram my thoughts around the goals that I'm working towards in case there's any scarcity around that.

And there is, I can confirm. But I'm getting better. It's getting a little bit more comfortable, and I'm seeing the way forward a little bit more clearly every day.

The second thing I am doing every day is I am writing down 10 things I am grateful for and why.

This comes from a practice recommended in the book, "The Magic" by Rhonda Byrne. Actually, my hairstylist recommended it. She had it on her station, at her space, when I was getting my hair cut, and we just had a lovely conversation, and I mentioned something she's like, "Actually, I'm reading about it right now. Check this out."

So I immediately picked up the book. I'm really enjoying the gratitude practices that Rhonda recommends in the book. So I've been writing down, every day, for the last week, 10 things I am grateful for. And not just what I'm grateful for, but also the why. Why am I grateful for it?

I am grateful for great weather because it perks up my energy, I feel better all around, and I can be outside, right? One simple example. It's simple, the weather, great weather. Nothing big is happening there, but you can capture everything on these gratitude lists.

The second thing I am doing every day is I am recognizing, I have this in a place where I can see it and read it frequently, that the gift of health is keeping me alive. And interestingly, I had a little bit of a reaction to this one, like, yes, yes, it's true. The gift of health is keeping me alive, but I have chronic migraines that I'm dealing with. I've got a headache almost every day, not quite every day, and they're going down, they're going down, but it prompts nausea. It prompts all sorts of things for me. So reading this, I'm like, all right, I'm gonna read it because I am indeed grateful for the gift of health that is keeping me alive. And, I will take a little bit more of that. So we're gonna keep it going.

The other thing that I am doing every night, as a part of the recommendations in this book, to expand our capacity for abundance, and to increase our gratitude. And there, of course, all sorts of benefits for our health, for our life that comes with a gratitude practice, is at the end of each day, I'm holding a rock, and I am saying the thing I am most grateful for from the day. The thing that I'm most grateful for from the day, and just saying, thank you, thank you, thank you for whatever that thing may be.

And lastly, the thing that I am doing is, I wrote on a $100 bill, I wrote on and $100 bill, on this sticker. I didn't actually write on the $100 bill, that I am thankful for all of the money I have been given in my life. Not just that I'm receiving right now, but all the money I have ever received. I am thankful for that. And in the book, Rhonda prompts you to think through all the things that you are grateful for, or that you've ever received, right? That you are grateful for, like the shoes that I didn't have to buy when I was a kid, the house that I had over my head when I was a kid, the Mercury Grand Marquis, a very big car that my parents gave me to drive to school and back when I was a kid.

So what are all of those things that you've ever received that have money, that led to you having something, and being taken care of?

And it could be vacations, it could be necessities, it could be anything across the board, but all of the money I've been given in my life, I am thankful for. And I'm looking at that several times a day, 'cause this is just near me, by me, as I sit and work, and while we talk. And Rhonda actually recommended you put this on a $1 bill. That felt pretty comfortable. I didn't have a $1 bill. I happened to only have a 100 in my wallet. I sometimes keep a $100 bill in my wallet. And, so I put it on the hundred, and that made me feel a certain way.

Am I really news? Like, am really gonna leave this out. Should I use this for something? Do I need to use this for something? So, all sorts of questions came up that I just tucked aside, and I'm going with it. So, that is next to me. I wanted to share this with you today in this minisode, in case you have identified that you are coming up against some blocks, some scarcity, some limits, even if they are just in our head, right?

Around the abundance that is coming to you and the growth that you are experiencing, or will be experiencing in your business. Even just writing down my goals every day, which is where this journey started 15 days ago, has been expansive. I'm settling into that. And now I'm layering in these gratitude practices, and I'm finding all sorts of stuff is bubbling up.

So you've got to let me know if you try this, what comes up for you as well? Let me know, because business, growing a business, and growing in our life is strategic, and it is tactical, and there are specific things that we do to grow our businesses.

And, there are all sorts of other stuff that is coming with us as we grow the businesses that we picked up along the way in our life, that we picked up as kids, that we picked up in college, we picked up all of these ideas of what is and what should be. But part of what will happen as we are growing businesses, is we're gonna have to unpack some of that. We're gonna have to identify what doesn't serve us or support us in our growth and on our journey anymore, and we're gonna have to put some new practices in place. So, these are a few new practices to test out.

Check out "The Magic" if you are curious about the rest of the gratitude practices. I'm only a week or so in, and there are 30 days of gratitude practices that build in the book, "The Magic".

So, let me know if any of this resonates for you, or if you grab the book and you decide to go on this journey as well, because, my friend, we are in this together, and I'm so excited for everything you are creating.

You are Right On Time!

Highlights:

0:18 Scarcity stuff coming up

0:42 First step: Implementing an approach

1:18 Second step: 10 things

1:26 "The Magic" by Rhonda Byrne

2:00 Why am I grateful for?

2:27 Third step: recognizing the why

3:27 Fourth Step: holding a rock

3:51 Fifth Step: the $100 bill

6:19 Layering gratitude practices

7:10 Identifying and new practices to test out

7:35 30 days of gratitude practices

Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Bookmark ambermccue.com/blog and follow Amber on Instagram: @AmberMcCue

I don't know about you, but I LOVE a fresh start.

There's something magical about that feeling of a clean slate.

Whether it's January 1st, coming back from a vacation, or even just a Monday, I love the feeling of exciting potential that a fresh start gives.

But can I let you in on a secret? You can have a fresh start any time you choose.

Just close your eyes and point to a date on the calendar! Fresh start on a Tuesday? On your birthday? On your dog's birthday? Whatever you choose, you will be right on time.

So now that we've covered the WHEN of your fresh start, let's dig into the WHAT.

Wanting a fresh start doesn't have to mean committing to a drastic new course of action or implementing an entirely new system. You don't need to reinvent your business. You don't need to burn it all down and start over from scratch — and you shouldn't! You've built some great things that you can regularly improve upon!

Step away from the lighter and choose a different path.

I want you to take a step back from your business and look at it honestly.

What is working for you? What isn't working? And why not?

How about this: can you tweak a process and make your business just 5% more efficient this month?

Can you make a critical shift that reduces your feelings of stress or burnout, even just a little?

Is there something in your business that you added years ago… but may be holding you back now?

Your fresh start could be just around the corner!

In my latest podcast episode, you'll discover:

• The simple tweak that shifted the tide of the hotel industry
• A case study of how we made a burnout-banishing shift in Three Boudoir, my photography business
• Your first steps to figuring out your own small but powerful shift!

Remember to subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher!

Highlights:

00:52 Casual Friday & birthday fun

02:28 A fresh start

03:45 Regular improvement

04:12 Don't burn it all down!

05:40 Overwhelm

06:55 Case study: Airbnb & VRBO

09:26 Case study: Three Boudoir

12:38 Shift your perspective

14:33 Where to begin with your fresh start

17:30 Back down to start-up

19:02 How do you know your business stage?

Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Bookmark ambermccue.com/blog and follow Amber on Instagram: @AmberMcCue

Mentioned in this episode:

Modern CEO Must Do List

http://themodernceoway.com

Are you feeling like you've hit a plateau in your journey to build and scale your business?

Are you wondering what secret sauce you need to discover in order to push through?

Then this is the Right on Time episode for you. (Warning: I just might blow your mind!)

Do you feel like you've already tried all the things without seeing the results you want? Do you feel like you're too busy working in your business to work ON your business?

Believe me, I get it!

The problem actually starts with your best intentions.

We constantly learn about new techniques, approaches, and software that promise to make our businesses leaner, meaner, and more profitable. Yes, it's EXHILARATING to imagine totally revamping our businesses and making them feel shiny and new. It's exciting to come up with a dozen new offers that our clients are sure to fall in love with. And who isn't thrilled by the idea of a total rebrand??

But this constant reinvention is part of the reason why so many Modern CEOs struggle to move forward.

Look — what works for Madonna doesn't necessarily work for everyone!

And chronic reinvention has a lot of hidden downsides that can slow down your growth.

If you want to make the RIGHT changes to your business, you need to step back and understand the bigger picture — that's an important part of your role as a Modern CEO. You need that bigger-picture clarity in order to implement the changes that will TRULY take your business where you want it to go, instead of quick fixes that don't really move the needle.

In my latest podcast episode, you'll discover:

• The #1 issue that comes up in entrepreneurial communities — and why it's so common
• 4 major negative side effects of constantly changing your business and their impact on your momentum and revenue
• Why "boring" should be your goal when it comes to describing the way your business runs (not kidding!)

Remember to subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher!

Highlights

00:46 Struggling to hit the next stage?

02:00 The bigger picture

04:02 Chronic reinvention

05:55 Negative effects of constant change

09:27 Boring isn't bad!

10:02 The rocking chair & the keyboard

11:38 Why ISN'T your business boring?

14:17 The problem with business advice

17:00 Make the best decisions for your business

17:25 The Modern CEO Way

18:02 Case study: Three Boudoir & Amber McCue

Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Bookmark ambermccue.com/blog and follow Amber on Instagram: @AmberMcCue

Mentioned in this episode:

The Modern CEO Way

http://themodernceoway.com

I am a huge fan of businesses (especially small ones!) that seek to do something different... and create something better.

One of the perks of running my online coaching business is that I can do it anywhere — over the past two years I've moved multiple times, including to Ethiopia!

But not every business has been able to handle the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns with ease.

Trust me, I know!

Say what you will about the pandemic, but it created a big opportunity (and often necessity) for businesses to really look at their models, processes, and systems... and turn them into something COMPLETELY different.

Over the past year, we've had to make a LOT of changes in the way we run our photography business, Three Boudoir. As you can imagine, boudoir photography during a pandemic looks VERY different, in terms of the process and logistics!

But we made it work.

While we had to completely shut down for four months, we actually GREW the business over the last eight. During our shutdown, we took time to make plans (you know I love planning!) about how we were going to come out of that shutdown stronger and fiercer than ever.

But while many of us have made amazing changes in our businesses, it hasn't been all kittens and roses — many modern CEOs are feeling tired, stuck, and uncertain.

The fact is that there is no one simple solution or change that is GUARANTEED to give your business a pandemic glow-up.

There is no one-size-fits-all Golden Ticket.

But there ARE a few universal truths that, when embraced, can help you figure out the best solutions for growing and scaling YOUR unique, amazing business!

(Yes, even in a pandemic.)

Even if you're just getting started today, you are right on time!

In my latest podcast episode, you'll discover:

• Why businesses aren't as straightforward as we think — and how each part can impact the others
• The #1 most effective approach to take when looking at your business — and how it'll help you make the changes that will push your needle the furthest!
• Why personalization is SUCH a big deal in our current market (Yes! Your business can do it too!)

Remember to subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher!

Highlights

00:37 A little bit of catch-up!

02:55 My big Forbes news!

04:04 Forbes Next 1000 & Three Boudoir

06:01 Modern CEO survey results

08:25 Look at how all things come together

10:17 Case study: Operation Streamline

13:11 The dream of the one simple change

14:41 Setting the rules & aligning with values

15:46 What's missing in the market

17:28 Look at the business as a whole

18:46 Embrace your differences!

21:14 What do you want to create?

21:54 Personalization is the way to go

23:43 The next few weeks

Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Bookmark ambermccue.com/blog and follow Amber on Instagram: @AmberMcCue

Mentioned in this episode:

Three Boudoir

https://threeboudoir.com

Forbes Next 1000

https://www.forbes.com/next1000

Does it ever seem like you're just shouting into a marketplace full of a zillion people doing exactly what you're doing?

Do you feel like your message is getting lost in all that noise?

Maybe… you need to lower your voice to a whisper.

That's the advice given by my favorite sales guru, Colin Boyd, the creator of the Sell from Stage Academy and the author of the Sell With Story guide.

The trick? You have to whisper the right words into the right ears!

Here's the thing: if you want your webinar (or any lead generation creation) to really resonate with your audience, you need to change what you talk about — and how you talk about it.

"What I realized was my course wasn't the problem. It was how I was talking about my course. No one cares about my course, all they care about is their problems," Colin says. "You shouldn't obsess about your product. You have to obsess about the problem."

Let me repeat that for the people in the back: no one cares about your course.

They only care about their problem.

So, that's the hook you need to use to get them engaged. Figure out the right words, aim them at the right ears, and you'll be practically printing money!

In the latest episode of the Right on Time podcast, Colin spills some pretty mind-blowing secrets about listening to what your audience REALLY wants and how to turn a run-of-the-mill webinar into a sales powerhouse through the magic of infusion selling.

If you just asked "what the heck is infusion selling?!", then you NEED to hit play right now! It's a game-changer!

In my latest podcast episode, you'll discover:

• The big mistake people make when teaching on free webinars (that winds up costing them conversions)
• Why you should infuse selling throughout your seminar — instead of tacking on an obvious pitch!
• How to use 'micro-decisions' to boost your audience's level of commitment!

Remember to subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher!

Highlights

01:47 Meet Colin Boyd

02:21 Selling from the stage

05:46 Numbers & conversion rates

09:16 "Why isn't this selling??"

12:06 Getting people to connect

15:09 Sales as service

16:53 You gotta commit!

21:11 How micro-decisions work

24:34 Engagement & infusion selling

26:52 Transitioning to the pitch

28:14 Listening to our audiences

31:02 The 3 questions your audience is asking

32:54 Obsess about the problem, not the product

34:40 Final guidance

36:14 Free training > ambermccue.com/colin

Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Bookmark ambermccue.com/blog and follow Amber on Instagram: @AmberMcCue

Mentioned in this episode:

Colin Boyd

https://colinboyd.co

Instagram: @colinboyd

Training

http://ambermccue.com/colin

About Colin Boyd

Colin Boyd has spent the last 8 years in coaching, corporate training, and keynote speaking around the world, enabling people to become the best version of themselves. He helps speakers, coaches, and consultants increase their influence and leverage their passion into a successful business.

Highlights:

[0:11] "Running a business is the greatest personal development journey you will ever go on"

[0:29] Identifying areas in your business that you need to improve on

[0:45] "You need to leverage the strengths that you have right now and marry your business model design up and your team building up with who you are and where you are right now"

[1:06] Aligning your business to where you want to be

[1:18] How to approach things to improve on in your business

[2:08] "When I'm in busy season, sometimes I get quiet and less communicative proactively with my team. Is that great? No. That's not necessarily great. Can I do better? Yes."

[2:40] Hiring someone with the mindset that complements yours

[3:53] "We cannot predict the future. What we can do is we can plan for today and we can plan for where you are going."

[4:08] African Proverb that you can apply to your business development

[4:22] Design your business strategy with where you are and where you are going in mind

[4:37] Embracing and acknowledging your business quirks

Highlights:

[00:26] "It's incredibly important that we look closely at our numbers and we look closely at our financials as we are growing our businesses."

[00:48] "Take a look at your financials daily -- what's coming in and what's coming out"

[01:13] "You might look at your numbers differently at different seasons."

[01:57] Strategy on how to determine and manage your profit

[02:20] What is a profit margin

[02:45] How to track your profitability for the year 2021

[03:13] "What gets measured, gets done. Gets our focus. Gets our attention."

[03:31] Difference between the sales number and revenue

[04:19] Ways to augment your money review using simple tools

[04:41] How looking at your revenue provides momentum

[05:02] "Everytime a sale comes, we're doing the happy dance."

[05:19] Should you track your expenses individually?

[06:39] "Having your eyes on this is gonna fuel you and give you so much more awareness around your financials."

[06:55] When to do your financial review

I have a very special guest for you in this episode. I'm chatting with the one … the only … Joanna Tiger, my incredible business partner in my boudoir photography business, Three Boudoir!

Joanna is an amazing businesswoman (and an amazing woman, period). Together, we built Three Boudoir up from a spark of an idea to a multi-city, scaled-up photography business, to an empowerment empire with online and in-person services and resources (throughout the middle of a pandemic, no less).

Throughout our years together, we have taught each other so much about partnership, success, and how to co-run a business effectively and compassionately.

And have a TON of fun doing it!

And now? We are sharing ALL of the secrets!

In my latest podcast episode, you'll discover:

• The #1 reason my photography business Three Boudoir took off (and is expanding like CRAZY!)
• The perils of perfectionism, how it can hold you back from getting bigger, and the most effective way to avoid it!
• Why the human side of your business deserves more attention—and how those efforts will benefit you tenfold!

Listen below!

Remember to subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher!

Highlights:

00:12 [+ ~4:00] Welcome to our special guest!

02:52 [+ ~4:00] Make Fridays your time of reflection!

03:57 [+ ~4:00] Three Boudoir - from scale-up to shutdown to scale-up again

08:12 [+ ~4:00] The bigger the vision, the better!

08:57 [+ ~4:00] Back to work in a COVID world

12:45 [+ ~4:00] "There are things that aren't ironed out, but we have so much confidence and so much clarity in what it is that we do."

14:23 [+ ~4:00] Don't get dragged down by perfection: "Just do it. We'll figure it out as we go."

15:58 [+ ~4:00] With a fantastic team, you can do ANYTHING

17:18 [+ ~4:00] You don't always have to make a decision 'right now'

21:42 [+ ~4:00] The #1 reason Three Boudoir took off

24:52 [+ ~4:00] How to *effectively* deal with nerves … and kill it regardless!

26:47 [+ ~4:00] "We have to take care of the human side, otherwise what is business for?"

28:48 [+ ~4:00] "Surround yourself with people who support and empower you"

29:53 [+ ~4:00] Know your energy levels

32:16 [+ ~4:00] You are worth it, and you are Right on Time!

Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Bookmark ambermccue.com/blog and follow Amber on Instagram: @AmberMcCue

Mentioned in this episode:

• Three Boudoir
• Reflect and Rise journal
• Empower & Rise
• Energy coach name and link
• Freshly Implemented
• Accelerate
• https://joannatiger.com/