The Simplifiers Podcast

Are you committing the crime of self-sabotage when selling? If you own your business, you know how important it is to hit your monthly sales target. Bottom line, if you don't hit your numbers, you struggle to pay the bills and keep the lights on. But what if the problem at hand isn't enough leads coming in the door… but something a bit more devious.

Self-sabotage.

My special guest today is a sales & mindset strategist.

And spoiler alert… you may or may not even be aware you're doing this to yourself!

So if you're struggling with sales or your close rate is lower than you'd like, this episode is for you.

• What the warning signs of self-sabotage are, so you can determine if this is happening in your work life right now (or not)

• Why Maria believes (some) female business owners have a love/hate relationship with making money. Learn how to sell your expertise as a service, confidently

• How you can begin to shift your mindset on your financial goals

• Why it's smarter to talk about benefits instead of features when selling

#DoTheThing!

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/maria-bayer-self-sabotage-when-selling

Communication is a two way street, and striving to be a better listener is vital in building good relationships in work, and in life. Today's episode will give you 4 useful tips on how to become better at the skill of listening.

"Oh, what's that you said? I was just waiting for you to stop talking, so I could hear myself speak!" (HA!)

How many times have you caught yourself doing that?? If I'm honest with myself, too many times to count (for me!)

So, here are a few simple, practical tips to try out today:

Remember, people appreciate it when they feel heard and understood by others. I know I do. And when someone takes the time to show me verbally with their words, and non-verbally with their body language, that they're (truly) listening, it builds trust and respect in our relationship.

And THAT is everything.

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-be-a-better-listener

Networking can help you to get more referrals and more business success. But how do you network without feeling awkward, and make real and natural connections? Here's how.

My special guest today is a publicity strategist, who is here to teach us that networking doesn't have to be painful and awkward.

If you've got a networking event coming up on your calendar and you're feeling a bit 'UGH' towards attending, cozy on up. This episode is for you.

Tara is showing us a different approach that's centered around generosity. She's going to flip everything you think you know about networking, on its head.

• Why we struggle to confidently talk about ourselves at networking events. And how to flip the spotlight on others instead
• Her 4-step method to better networking:

• Know your opening question

• Listen with intentionality

• Become a mirror

• Guide them to what you want them to do next

Tara talks us through the ideal way you can spark more meaningful conversations at networking events. She uses a wedding planner as a case study to explain it all.

No matter if you're an introvert like Tara, or an extrovert like me, the tips she shares in today's conversation are super valuable. Try them out at the next networking event you attend this month!

It's time to simplify.

#DoTheThing!

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/tara-bradford-get-more-referrals-through-networking

Do you have a simple mission statement for your business? Knowing your mission is critical to your business success, and this is how to create a powerful mission statement in 3 simple steps.

If you don't have a clear and succinct mission statement, you're in the right place. And I promise to keep it simple.

Okay, so… pull out a pen and paper and answer these 3 simple questions to make your statement: Why, How, and for Whom?

Listen in for all of the details on how to answer these 3 questions.

You'll also learn the answer to this question: What is The Simplifiers' mission statement?

A laser-focused mission statement can be a powerful tool to help you and your team stayed focused on the activities of today. It will ensure you're on the right path to actualize your vision for tomorrow.

#Dothething.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/how-to-write-a-mission-statement

Three simple words can change everything. Creating a '3 Word Rebellion' can help build your audience, magnetise customers to love you, and grow your business.

Here's the thing… if you've branched out and launched your own small business, there's a special spark that sits inside you.

You see things differently than most. It's likely you've got a "one-of-a-kind idea, that will not only spread like wildfire, but will also change minds, incite action, and leave a legacy you can be proud of" - Michelle Mazur.

My special guest calls this your '3 Word Rebellion', and she shares the power of simplifying your ethos right down into 3 little words.

Today's episode will help you begin the journey to excavate your '3 Word Rebellion', shape it and launch it into the world.

Michelle believes, "in today's world, the only way to help people is to be heard – to have your ideas touch their hearts, stir their feet to action, and prompt them to become 'messengers of the message'." Here's how:

• What a '3 Word Rebellion' is, and how it can inspire a movement within your target audience

• Why you need to confidently step into being the leader of your movement

• Using 'Start With Why' as a case study, we'll break it down and see what makes this a super powerful '3 Word Rebellion' for Simon Sinek

• How to create your own '3 Word Rebellion', using Michelle's writing prompts:

• What are you rebelling against?

• What ticks you off?

• What kind of world do you want to live in?

• What kind of change do you want to create?

• How to use an 'inciting incident' to launch your message and build your business

Today's episode is so much more than figuring out your elevator pitch. It's all about getting to the root of what you believe in, why your business exists, and how to rebel against the status quo. This is the thing that will make a difference in the world. The '3 Word Rebellion' is a step-by-step process that could grow your business, audience, and influence.

It's time to simplify!

#DoTheThing!

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/dr-michelle-mazur-3-word-rebellion

As a podcaster, I'm going to tell you all about the 5 podcasts I'm loving at the moment. This topic was inspired by one of our listeners.

Kristi from Chicago got in touch via Instagram, asking: "As a podcaster yourself, what podcasts are you loving these days? I'm finding there are so many to choose from! Which ones are you listening to?"

Great question, Kristi, and thank you for tuning in to The Simplifiers Podcast! There's a few in my podcast player that are my go-to favorites right now. For me, the criteria is simple… I'm looking for either:

A creative spark that I can apply to my work or life, or a podcast that makes me laugh or think.

I tend to hit the subscribe button if (after listening to 2-3 episodes), the podcast brings me one of those things.

So, listen in for my top 5 list of podcasts that I'm loving these days.

#DoTheThing!

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/5-podcasts-im-loving

If you want to build influence for yourself or your business, podcasting could be the answer. Learn from seasoned podcasters, and explore how podcasting can help you be an influencer in your field.

If one of your big goals this year is to launch a podcast and channel your 'inner Oprah' on the microphone, today's episode is especially for you.

My special guest is a podcaster and public speaker.

Thom Singer simplifies how to build influence for yourself and your business through podcasting.

Thom's podcast, Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do, covers everything from growing a franchise to finding a mentor. And today, he's sharing his insider secrets as a podcaster… these are the things he wished someone else told him before he got started. In this episode, you will learn: • His top 5 lessons learned over the journey of making 450+ episodes: 1. Just start - why starting before you think you're ready is a GOOD idea 2. Figure out your cadence & format - you do you, always 3. Longevity is where the magic is 4. Don't be afraid to pivot - change it up when you need to change it up 5. Hire a production company - the tech will slow you down if you let it • How to get booked onto other podcasts as a special guest - what podcast owners look for and how to pitch it • Once booked on, he also shares a couple of tips on how to be a SUPER special guest

If this sounds intriguing to you, listen in to Thom's tips on this episode.

Also, don't forget to download episode 030 where I talked with Emily Prokop. This covers the nitty gritty tech side of launching a podcast.

It's time to simplify!

#DoTheThing!

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/thom-singer-build-influence-through-podcasting

There is no failure unless you give up, so it's important to have a game plan for the tough days. For those days when you want to throw it all down, and walk away, you need to keep going. Don't quit, but get smart and decide how to spend your feminine energy.

Earlier this week, my conversation with Kate Northrup stirred something up inside me. For 41 years, if I've needed to 'fight, flight, or freeze,' my knee jerk reaction has been to 'fight.' Battle my way through it. Grit my teeth. Don't give up. Don't give in. Push, push, push!

'Nevertheless, she persisted.'

But all that pushing is downright exhausting. I mean, totally, utterly, mentally draining as well.

When Kate shared her wisdom that "Women run on a 28-day cycle and men run on a 24-hour cycle," it sparked a new idea in me. Hang on a sec, what if this was true?

What if I was 'push, push, pushing' when I could be 'flow, flow, flowing' instead?

And that thought, albeit felt enlightening… also made me feel a bit like quitting.

Here, I share how I keep going when I want to quit.

#DoTheThing!

But the key here is:

• Knowing your core values
• Knowing your end goal destination, and
• Believing that you will get there, if you keep going.

Don't quit.

Don't give up. Keep going.

And give yourself a little grace along the way.

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/keep-going-when-you-want-to-quit

It's all about tapping into our inner feminine wisdom. Women run on a 28-day cycle, rather than the male 24-hour cycle. Instead of pushing, hustling, and grinding it out like men do, here's how to do less, to reclaim your time and energy.

Let me guess… your day ahead is jam-packed with back-to-back meetings. You dart here, there, and everywhere, and you're nervous about how to get it all done.

(Not to mention, when in the world are you gonna squeeze in lunch, amirite?)

Girl, I feel you.

But what if there was a better way?

My guest today is Kate Northrup, author of Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time Management for Busy Moms.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why we as women (who own their own companies) tend to addict themselves to busyness

• How you can take back control of your schedule and start to set effective boundaries in your work and home life

• The four phases of a woman's menstrual cycle, and what type of work you should focus on each week, to be most effective

• What the 'Upward Cycle of Success' is, and how it all comes down to four phases:
• • Emergence
  • Visibility
  • Culmination
  • The fertile void
  • • This might crop up when you're on the journey towards launching a new project (a book, a product or a big sales push.)

In Kate's book, there are 14 simple experiments that you can apply immediately in your life. We take a deep dive in to Experiment #4 (Check Your Vitals) and Experiment #7 (Simplify).

Kate shares a couple of simple, practical tips that will help you save time and boost your energy.

So, if you're ready to get off the "I'm so busy" train, and want to have enough time for the things that matter most in your life, this one is especially for you. I'm here to tell you, it's possible, and Kate is going to show us how.

It's time to simplify!

#DoTheThing!

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/kate-northrup-reclaim-your-time-and-energy

On one side, you could play it safe and set goals that are too easy to meet. And on the opposite side, you can set lofty goals that you never seem to hit. Where's the happy medium, and how do you set goals that will help you thrive instead? The answer is in setting healthy stretch goals, and here's how.

This topic was requested by listener Safiya Robinson. Safiya is tuning in from Barbados and it's an excellent topic to simplify!

First off, let's get clear on what a stretch goal actually is. In an article named The Stretch Goal Paradox, Harvard Business Review suggests:

"true stretch goals differ from ordinary challenging goals in two important respects. [They involve] extreme difficulty and extreme novelty."

So, by these standards, a stretch goal stretches you and your team to go beyond your current capabilities and performance. It also stretches you to overhaul things, and try working differently, not just harder.

They cited the example of Southwest Airlines:

"To get gate turnarounds down to 10 minutes, Southwest had to completely overhaul its staff's work practices and reimagine the behavior of customers. The airline did, however, famously figure out how to reach this goal."

And as we all know, Southwest knows how to create a fun, customer driven experience every time. And how do they do it? The company invests in and values continual team training, and their staff embody the ethos. By using stretch goals, they accomplished the task at hand.

Listen in to hear exactly how to set a stretch goal.

Now is not the time to go after stretch goals if:

• You're feeling worn out
• You're beat down by too many big, lofty goals where you missed the mark
• You've taken a big hit in your business

It would be smarter to focus on a series of small wins that you could achieve in the next 90 days instead. This will help to rebuild confidence, momentum and get back on top of your game.

#Dothething.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/how-to-set-healthy-stretch-goals