The Riff Raff Podcast

The Riff Raff Podcast

By Elizabeth Plouffe, Sydney Elaine Butler, Maddy Dever and Paul ColemanBusinessHealth & FitnessMental HealthCareers
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The Riff Raff Podcast episodes

  • Across the Desk - A Better Way to Show Your Trade
    Building your business is hard. Long days. Lots of grey hair. Maybe that's just me. But what I do know is what money I do earn with my business has been because of my hard work and hustle so when I go to spend it? I want to make sure I get the most bang for my buck.
    Take tradeshows. If you've never done one before then I'm here to tell you something: there is NOTHING worse than putting in the time, energy and effort for a tradeshow and having it suck. And by suck I mean the producer has done one step up from squat to promote the event and the attendance is everybody you've seen before.
    As I've said before, I don't have guests across the desk that I don't believe in. It's my rep on the line when I bring someone on and promote them. So it's not lightly that I sat down with James Burchill last week to discuss the upcoming SFN Tradeshow. Why this guy? Why this tradeshow? Why should you listen?
    Because if you're in the GTA and are trying to build your business, then I'm telling you, hand on heart, you need to learn more about this event. And if you suck at networking and making the most of opportunities like this? Well, stay tuned for the next episode with James because we're going to discuss a fantastic new way to fix that.
    www.sfntradeshow.com
    34 min
  • Sneaky Shit: What are they REALLY getting you to do?
    Does your gut every give you a message? Run? Don't trust that person? Some signal that you sometimes ignore? Don't. Trust is something that requires honesty on both sides. Honesty for you listening to your gut and what it's telling you to do and honesty from the person trying to connect with you.
    If you live in a head space where being a schmuck is the only way to operate, you have a different take on trust. You use it as a means to get what you need. You build it to your advantage. You have no idea the damage that you are doing not only to yourself (in the long run) and to others in your industry. When you are a schmuck in a certain industry, you end up painting so many people with the schmuck brush that don't deserve it and they then pay the price.
    We focus today on the right way to build trust. Some things to look for when your gut is stamping it's foot and why you should listen. Don't be a trust schmuck!
    30 min
  • Across the Desk: Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk
    Why Now Is the Time To Crush It is a question most entrepreneurs ask themselves in various ways. I think to both talk themselves in to the adventure and when they are having complete WTF moments about why they started in the first place.
    Crush It - Cash in on Your Passion is a book that I will be re-reading and soon. Not only did it provide solid advice for how to engage and grow your business but it also was very realistic about the level of hustle required to make it happen.
    If you've got rose colored glasses on about the fancy schmancy life that entrepreneurs lead, then being brought up to speed on reality is one of the many reasons you should read this book.
    19 min
  • Across the Desk: Change the Way You Feel
    You know that feeling right before you stand up in a meeting? Or walk in to an event? Or have to go networking? Or do anything that is outside your comfort zone? Do you normally describe it as nervous or excited?
    Turns out it makes a difference.
    That important distinction was made for me 21 years ago on the day of my wedding. I had butterflies and felt nervous. Or so I thought. The more I thought it was nervousness, the worse I felt. How could I be nervous before marrying my main man? Then my hairdresser said something that changed my life: You're not nervous honey, you're excited. The honey might be me adlibbing but you get the gist. The relief I felt was overwhelming and I've carried that lesson to this day.
    Turns out there is now science to back up what my wise hairdresser knew all along.
    So the next time you're trying something new, meeting with a different crowd or stretching beyond what's normally comfortable for you, just remember this: you're not nervous honey, you're excited :)
    7 min
  • Across the Desk: Entrepreneurs of all ages
    This week was an eye opener for all the great members of Ballsy. Not in a shocking way but in a learning way.
    This was one of the reasons I decided to change the Ballsy Women in Business podcast theme to be Wonder Woman based. We are freaking awesome. The group of women coming out to Ballsy continue to impress and amaze me as to what we've accomplished and what we continue to build.
    We focused a lot last week on the impact of age on being an entrepreneur. The fire to succeed might be the same but is tempered by the many responsibilities that being a mature entrepreneur might include. Being a more mature entrepreneur (and by mature I mean older than 35 ;)), especially when you've tried it when younger, gives you a different perspective that I think will always be of value.
    We also talked about running in to obstacles in the form of ego centric men and wack job women. You are going to run in to both. You are going to have to stand in your confidence when dealing with both. And you will take the lessons learned from dealing with the crazy to be a better person and to protect your business.
    Last but not least - the I call bullshit clause. Interested in what that means? Give a listen ;)
    17 min
  • Across the Desk: Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
    Something I've come to realize after reading 30 or more business books, is that everything new is old again. That the vast majority of the current day guru's are standing on the shoulders of giants like Dale Carnegie. With each advent of technology, someone devises a new way to improve organizations, develop leadership and support change. But they use ideas developed 70 years ago to do it.
    It's true.
    So that's why I've been revisiting the masters. After all, Dale Carnegie wrote this book in 1936 and 80 years later, we're still talking about it. His ideas and strategies are still being taught in courses around the world. His suggestions for authentic persuasion and building relationships are being use in corporations today. His notions of fairness and consideration are coming back in to vogue because we went so far the other way the pendulum just had to swing back.
    I, for one, welcome the times back when people showed appreciation with no other motive than kindness. A time where the mere idea of tricking someone by using false flattery was considered low brow. A time when leading with compassion, thought and integrity meant something. Dale Carnegie - I think your time has come. Again.
    18 min
  • Across the Desk: Move Communications Up the List
    Have you ever had a friend that you can go years without talking to but when you pick up the phone it's like no time has passed? What if they asked you to help them move? Still feeling chatty? Me either.
    That's what can happen if you don't communicate with your customers on a regular basis. When you have something to sell or an event for them to come to and you send out that invite? Chances are, they'll treat your invite much like you might react to the moving request. The conversation will be over.
    But if you take control of your communications and offer helpful content, keep in touch, and share some laughs, then when it comes time to ask, they'll be listening.
    If communications hasn't been on the top 5 of your businesses to do list, it's time to get it on there. Use 2017 as your goal year to take steps to keeping the conversation going. How? That's what we're going to chat about today. A simple solution to start a 3 month comms plan with an added bonus tip for your website. Take a listen and build your plan. You might be surprised what starts moving for you!
    14 min
  • Across the Desk: Get To Know Me and my Goals
    Do you let your life or business happen to you? I used to. And for the most part I've been ok. But I've never been able to set goals and couldn't understand why. Now I know. Part of it was I didn't know what I wanted to do or achieve. I couldn't see a clear path. Since starting my business (which was also an accident), especially this year, now the path is clear.
    I'm sharing with you some of the tools I'm using to reflect, create and achieve the goals I'm setting for myself. Some are big, audacious, in your face goals. Some are smaller but equally kick ass goals. Some are short term. Some are long. But all of them are taking me down the path that I'M creating one goal at a time.
    14 min
  • Sneaky Shit - Are You Building Someone Else's Trust Factor?
    Have you ever seen an ad with a celebrity endorsement? Especially a celebrity who you admire and trust? Well, as much as you can trust someone you don't actually know. Has that influenced your decision about the product or service to buy or use and then it's turned out to be junk? Are you tired of all the questions?
    The reason for all the questions is to get you thinking about the social proof that the product or service has used to build trust (albeit second hand trust you didn't really have any way)and get you to buy. How's that head scratcher?
    Today's podcast focuses on the good and bad of legitimacy. It can be make or break for some businesses especially in this day and age of instant online reviews, commentary and condemnation. If you've decided to go the scam route (as so many do) and imply endorsement vs actually building your own legitimacy, well, you've been warned. We're here to get everybody to put their sneaky shit meter on high alert and out you!
    25 min
  • Across the Desk - What's Your Story?
    Have you ever thought about your story? Would you know what to say? Until recently I didn't know. Ironic for a writer / communicator who is also a Gemini (Yes, I believe in astrology. Don't judge me. It's my story.)
    When you've had some challenges in your life, they can become your story. I've had a few. More than a few. As they happened so close together, they became more of my story than I realized. It took a good friend telling me that they should be a part of my story for me to realize that I didn't want that anymore. It wasn't who I was.
    SO! I went in search of my story. After two months of coaching and journalling and all that good stuff - I found it. Ever since I found it, my life has changed in so many ways.
    My story now? I'm a teacher. It's not only what I do, it's what drives me. In business. In life. In friendships. In my family. It's what I need to do to feel like I'm contributing to society.
    If you aren't sure what your story is, I encourage you to find out. I can guarantee you, it's worth the search!
    10 min

About The Riff Raff Podcast

From the publisher's feed

This channel is dedicated to all things neurodivergent: employment, skill building, creativity, connecting and more. Why? Because the people in most of the podcast episodes have lived experience…

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