The Simplifiers Podcast

Have you been thinking, "it's (finally!) time to launch my own startup but I'm not sure where to begin?" Have no fear, The Simplifiers to the rescue!

My special guest today is Trevor Blake and he is simplifying how to launch a startup, the simple way. Back in the day, starting your own business meant loads of capital investment, a million dollar idea, living in Silicon Valley, and attracting the very best talent for top dollar. Well, you still need that incredible idea that people desperately want and will gladly pay you for it… BUT, you might not need as much money to get things up and off the ground as you think.

Trevor gets to the core of what you've got to have in place before you launch, tapping into affordable tech tools and the growing surplus of qualified freelancers to help you get your new venture up and running without running out of cash.

Here's how.

• Why he believes "there's never been a better time to start your own business than NOW"
• What the number one common mistake more than 80% of new startups make… and how to avoid doing the same
• Why he thinks that women-led businesses are much more successful than ones led by men
• How he structures his 5-hour workday; how to make it work in the launch phase and still run a successful, profitable business
• What the 3 phases of launching a startup are and what critical actions you need to focus on in each phase:
• • Starting
  • Surviving
  • Thriving

#DoTheThing!

Ethical Hour is the world's first and largest online community for changemakers, social entrepreneurs and impact businesses, where you can meet like-minded friends, collaborators and supporters - and get the help you need to grow your income, influence, and impact.

To learn more and get connected, visit: ethicalhour.co.uk/simplify

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/trevor-blake-how-to-launch-a-startup

Need a quick boost of self-confidence? Don't worry, I got you, girl! If you're tuning in today, I'm willing to bet you've got a big meeting to attend soon or maybe a crucial phone call you really need to make. Or maybe you're about to take the stage and speak at an upcoming conference or workshop. First off, well done, you! Look at you getting out there and #doingthething!

Earlier this week, I spoke with Sarah Jackson all about how to simplify your wardrobe & personal style, which reminded me of the power that can be found in a great outfit. I'm willing to bet you've got at least one go-to outfit in your closet right now that when you put it on, you feel amazing, right?

Well, let's take the wisdom of that one simple step and expand on it today. What if there are other super simple ways to boost your self-confidence, right here and right now, without spending a ton of money or investing a boatload of time? The answer is YES.

Therefore, here are 5 simple ways to boost your self-confidence today, in a blink of an eye:

• clear your brain (and your desk) • strike a pose • squash the "stinkin' thinkin'" • get your body moving • visualize yourself where you want to be

Let's simplify that.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/how-to-boost-your-self-confidence

Do you wish you could simplify your wardrobe down a bit? More importantly, when you open your closet, do you feel like you've got NOTHING to wear? Girl, I feel ya. If your personal style could use a bit of a refresh or you're finding the task of getting dressed in the mornings totally tedious and borderline stressful, this one is for you!

My special guest today is Sarah Jackson and she is sharing easy ways to simplify your wardrobe and personal style. Like it or not, how you feel in the outfit you wear today directly influences how you show up in the world… and especially, how people will perceive you.

So, it's important to know that the clothes you wear today (even if you work from home and your cat is your only co-worker) will have an impact on how confident you are, if you hit your sales goals and how you #dothething. But here's the good news… Sarah promises that (more than likely), you won't need to go out and purchase loads and loads of new clothes to do it.

Here's how.

• Why it's important to define your personal style through fashion and what you'll gain along the way
• How to begin to clarify what your personal style is - what questions she asks her personal styling clients that helps them find theirs
• How to create a capsule wardrobe per season, so getting dressed in the mornings is a cinch
• How to be strategic about what you where to certain work functions and what colors are best for certain situations (such as a sales pitch meeting, conferences, networking, or when you speak onstage)
• What to do if your career evolves over time and how to evolve your personal style with it
• How to shop more ethically and reduce the amount of "fast fashion" we all purchase and consume in the world

#DoTheThing!

Episode sponsored by... Goodboy Creative Delegate your brand's social media marketing to Goodboy Creative and simplify your life! Book a free discovery call today --> https://www.goodboycreative.co/simple

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/sarah-jackson-simplify-your-wardrobe

What's the best way to negotiate something BIG when you're worried that both parties are just going to end up in stalemate? Woof! That's never a fun spot to be in.

In short, not fun. I hope you never find yourself in this situation, but it can happen when negotiating a contract with a new client or when an employee or contractor wants to renegotiate their terms. Or even in your personal relationships with friends and loved ones… or when you're buying a car. (shudder!) But let's focus on the business side in today's conversation.

Earlier this week, I spoke with Roger Jackson, all about how to (actually) keep calm and carry on. And while we were talking about what to do when people (or situations) trigger you and send you in a tailspin of panic, anxiety or stress, it made me think of the many, many times I've found myself having to negotiate something really big and scary in my work, or in a board meeting, or even in a big pitch presentation.

And here's what I realized… being assertive is key.

It's a skill that I'm constantly working on and let's be clear, by no means have I mastered it yet. It's taken me 42 years so far and I'm guessing it'll take another 42 before I feel like I've really figured out.

• do your homework on them
• do your homework on yourself
• aim to solve it together
• make the first move

You can do this, I believe in you.

It's time to SIMPLIFY.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/how-to-negotiate-when-in-stalemate

You've heard it a million times: just keep calm and carry on. But how in the world are we supposed to do that when it feels like our world is on the spin cycle, totally flipped upside down, and going sideways?!! The grinding busy-ness, the never-ending onslaught of notifications and bings on your phone, the shocking news headlines that are starting to become the norm, Lord, don't get me started on Brexit… it's all a bit much.

My special guest today is Roger Jackson and he is simplifying how to (actually) keep calm and carry on. He's approaching the topic from a somatic point of view, sharing different ways we can calm the mind (and your heart) when anxiety, fear, or worry rear their ugly heads. So the next time you find yourself in a high-stress situation or speaking to someone who is especially triggering, after listening to this one, I hope you'll gain a few simple, new ways to get calm and get back to center.

Here's how.

Roger Jackson simplifies how to (actually) keep calm & carry on.

In this episode, you will learn: • Why it's so important as a business leader to begin to take more responsibility for our own lives and health… and a few simple ways to get back on track here • How to check in with yourself when you get triggered or feeling a bit of panic coming on. How to tune in to what your body is trying to tell you, in that moment • What the Polyvagal Theory is and how to apply it to your work and life when stressed • Plus, we talk about Somatic Experiencing, how it works, and he shares a few positive resources that could help you gain alignment once again so you can get back to calm • How to begin to address trauma sitting in our bodies and hearts, (stemmed from change or mistakes or otherwise) and learn ways to start to heal

#DoTheThing!

Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/roger-jackson-keep-calm-carry-on

How would you define your core values? What's that?? You haven't written these down yet? No biggie, I've got you covered.

It's been a really fun process to take all six core values of The Simplifiers and break them down, one by one, into six episodes on the podcast. I hope this gives you greater insight into what we believe in as a team, as a brand, and how this translates in everything we do to serve our customers, clients, and audience. People just like you!

Just a reminder…

• your mission statement is your WHY… why do you exist in the marketplace, who do you serve and what problem do you aim to solve.
• your vision statement is your WHAT'S NEXT… where do you see your brand heading in the next 5 years ahead and the vision of how you're going to make a positive impact on the world in a bigger way in the years to come.
• …and your core values are WHAT you believe in… if done right, this drives all decision-making in every aspect of how you run your business. It's what you stand for and is at the heart of everything.

• What values are essential to your work and life?

As in, what kind of a team and company do we need to be to serve our clients and deliver our world-class products and services?

• What values were necessary when you attained your most recent big accomplishment?

Whether it was determination or grace, grit or discipline, think about the last three greatest accomplishments you've had as a company and what key traits you and your team needed to possess in order to achieve these milestones.

• And alternatively, what values were pushed aside in your most recent failure?

You can do this, I believe in you.

It's time to SIMPLIFY.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/how-to-define-your-core-values

If you are struggling with addiction, whether it's to food, alcohol, overworking or otherwise, I want you to know, there is a way to overcome it. It's a new year and if you're motivated to make a change, but not sure where to begin, today's episode is just for you.

My special guest today is author Laura McKowen and she is simplifying how to get sober and overcome addiction. As she shares her personal story through sobriety and the bumpy, sometimes super hot mess along the way, my hope is that you'll see you are not alone in your recovery journey. What may seem completely, utterly entrenched into your current lifestyle is totally possible to shift, one simple step at a time.

Here's how.

Laura McKowen simplifies how to get sober & overcome addiction.

• Why she considers "addiction is a human condition" and why that's good news for you
• One key question that you need to ask yourself before starting your recovery journey that'll help you determine if this thing is a thing that's out of control… or not

• "is this good enough for me to stay the same?"

• What role 'truth telling' plays in your recovery and why we may need to get honest with our various addictions in life, big or small
• The primary steps to begin to overcome your addiction… where to go for support, what to do when you're ready to get off the 'crazy train'
• What the 'Pregnancy Principle' is and how that plays into your addiction
• How to discover your "Bigger Yes" inside you that'll bolster you though the hard times ahead

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/laura-mckowen-get-sober-overcome-addiction

What does it mean to 'make a positive impact on the world?' I believe it's in every decision (big or small) that you make in your work and the types of clients you choose to serve. At The Simplifiers, we value education and believe in "mentoring others to make a positive impact on the world together" and would like to take a deep dive into explaining why this is one of our key core values as a business.

Last January, we took a look a few of the core values of The Simplifiers one by one, breaking them down for you in our Friday bonus episodes. This is so you can understand what we believe in and why... and how you can incorporate the practice of core values in to your small business this year.

The next core value I want to shine a spotlight on is this…

Value Education: let's mentor others to make a positive impact on the world

And that simple principle means this... when you're a business owner, you are a natural born leader. You're leading your teams to create world-class products and services to put out into the world. You are creating something out of nothing, most times and you are serving your clients and customers by helping them solve one of their greatest needs.

Here are 3 simple steps to make a positive impact on the world, as a core value.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/make-a-positive-impact

If you've got something big that you are launching in the coming months, here's how to boost your earnings. Whether it's a new service or offering you're launching out into the world or you're a coach who's launching a new online course or mastermind, you know how tricky this is to get it right. So many moving parts, so much could go wrong at any given moment. But also, there is so much that could go right with a little simplicity.

My special guest today is Mariana Ruiz and she's simplifying how to boost your earnings on your next launch. If you've been feeling like you're spinning your wheels in this whole online marketing thing or just not sure how to tighten up your sales and marketing efforts to hit your revenue targets, Mariana gives us the inside scoop on what's working inside her own business and with her current clients.

Here's how.

• What the major components of a successful marketing launch includes if you're a service-based business
• How to ensure you've got the right people entering into your sales funnel, from the very beginning
• Why it's important to understand where your customer is in their buying process and the different stages are
• What the "Thrive Business Model" is and how it'll help you determine what to sell first to your warm leads
• How to create consistent, recurring & scalable revenue online
• Learn about the "Profitable Impact Formula" and how to apply it to your next launch
• If you're a freelancer, product-based business and/or a localized brick/mortar type of business, how to apply these same principles into your sales & marketing efforts to increase your earnings

This might just be the jumpstart you need to go back to your strategic plan, make a few simple tweaks, and set yourself up for success the next time you launch something out into the world. Have a listen!

#DoTheThing!

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/mariana-ruiz-boost-earnings-next launch

Let's talk integrity and determination… are these part of your core values? At The Simplifiers, we believe "integrity + determination = high reward" and would like to take a deep dive into explaining why this is one of our key core values as a business.

Last January, we took a look a few of the core values of The Simplifiers one by one, breaking them down for you in our Friday bonus episodes. This is so you can understand what we believe in and why... and how you can incorporate the practice of core values in to your small business this year.

The next core value I want to shine a spotlight on is this…

Integrity + Determination = High reward

Your team is watching you. So are your clients, too. If this core value resonates with you, discuss it with the team and see if this could be incorporated into your core values in the year ahead.

You can do this, I believe in you.

It's time to SIMPLIFY.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/embrace-integrity-determination