The Startup Sessions with Michael Knouse

Welcome to episode 100!

It’s been quite a ride. And as I reflect back on 100 podcast episodes, it’s a challenge to collect my thoughts around all that I’ve learned from speaking with 100 amazing entrepreneurs, authors, coaches and business builders.

The thing I know for sure is that I wouldn’t be here without the support of YOU! I’ve had so many encouraging comments, emails and messages saying how much these podcast episodes have meant to you. So as long as you’re receiving value from these conversations, I’ll keep them coming. Week after week!

My guest this week believes that for us to have a strong business, we need to build a strong, strategic community around us. Pamela Slim is an award winning author, speaker and business consultant. She’s been serving her clients as an entrepreneur for 20 years.

Pamela has several best-selling books, including Escape From Cubicle Nation and Body of Work. Pamela has worked with large corporations, start-ups, non-profits and entrepreneurs to help people do meaningful work and bring out their contributions to the world.

Back in 2011 when I was still working at my corporate job, I attended the very first World Domination Summit where I had the privilege of hearing Pamela speak about surrounding yourself with a supportive community. This was the moment when I first understood the power of having a community of like-minded and supportive entrepreneurs. And this has made all the difference for me as an entrepreneur over the last 2+ years.

This episode will demonstrate the power building strategic relationships in your business. Pamela is an expert at developing community and she will provide you with steps on how to do it strategically in a way that will allow you and your business to flourish.

Here are some of Pamela’s favorite things:

Living in fear worked out pretty good for Michelle Poler. She got to live a controlled lifestyle where things would normally go according to plan.

Until April 6 of 2015.

That’s when Michelle intentionally set out to face her biggest fears. She had just moved from Venezuela to New York City, and she was frustrated with living her life in fear.

Michelle launched a project known as “100 Days w/o Fear”, where she went 100 days straight conquering some of her biggest fears. She started overcoming everyday challenges as well as things that would make even the bravest of us cringe. Some of the fears she faced included cliff diving, stand-up comedy, giving free hugs in Times Square and walking around in a bikini in New York City.

100 Days w/o Fear began as a class project while Michelle was a student at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. As the project grew, her videos on YouTube went viral and 100 Days w/o Fear became recognized by CNN, CBS and FOX News.

Michelle recently completed 100 Days w/o Fear but she still has fears. The difference is that now she embraces fear and isn’t afraid to try something new. Michelle recently created a new community to support others with facing their fears and experience the same personal growth that she did.

That moment when you realize you want to live life to the fullest. The second you understand that the only thing between you and your dreams is fear. The instant where you decide to break free from a limited lifestyle and start having real experiences that will lead to real results. That is the moment where you will be free.

Here are some of Michelle’s favorite things:

What if you could dive into the unknown and come out the other side with a thriving business and life?

This is the practice that propelled this week’s guest to create a flourishing business and a joy-filled life.

Jennifer Alyse has dedicated her life to living her passion and helping others do the same. She has done this through her work as a highly sought after photographer. However, this wasn’t always how Jennifer pictured her professional life unfolding. Upon graduating business school, she never imagined herself behind the camera until she began listening to that quiet voice within.

Today, Jennifer uses her passion of photography to connect with people in a deep and meaningful way. She also facilitates movement workshops to help ignite the true passions and dreams of others. Through the combination of photography and movement, Jennifer helps the world explore human potential and inspires others to step into their greater selves and find increased hope, possibility and passion for life.

Jennifer believes that everyone is born with an innate gift to offer the world, but that we have to listen to our intuition rather than the outside world. If your intuition has been whispering to you lately, Jennifer’s powerful message may be the catalyst you need to take the leap and soar.

Here are some of Jennifer’s favorite things:

What if you could show up exactly as you are and that was good enough?

My guest this week is a pro at asking tough questions – the kind of questions that will most likely cause you to become a better person in all areas of life. Toku McCree worked in the music business before spending 2 ½ years at a Zen monastery. During his time at the monastery, he received the name Gentoku, which means, “manifesting virtue or present sincerity.”

Toku now works as a Mindfulness Based executive coach, a writer, a speaker and thought leader in the mindfulness community. His philosophy is based on the understanding that awareness alone is the most powerful catalyst for change.

Toku coaches influential leaders and those who aspire to be. For Toku, there are a lot of things he’s great at but coaching is what he loves the most. He doesn’t give his clients what they want, he gives them more than they ever imagined.

If you want to create a deeply meaningful life while taking your business to the next level, Toku will help you get there.

Here are some of Toku’s favorite things:

How do you get your ideas noticed among all the noise in the world today?

This week’s guest is Dorie Clark and she has the formula for making your ideas stand out from the rest. In today’s crowded market, coming up with great ideas is not enough to be successful. You must also have a strategy for getting your ideas heard while building a loyal community.

We’ll be talking about Dorie’s new book; Stand Out: How to Find Your Breakthrough Idea and Build a Following Around It. Dorie will also share her proven strategies for coming up with breakthrough ideas, having those ideas stand out, and how to build a following around them.

Whether you’re looking for that new breakthrough idea or you’re trying to build a following around an existing one, Dorie will ensure that you are focused on the right strategy and mindset to get your ideas heard.

Here are some of Dorie’s favorite things:

If you want a beautiful life, you need to be fierce about it.

This is the motto that Anna Kunnecke lives and teaches to others who want to declare dominion over their gorgeous lives.

Before becoming a master life coach, Anna was a voice-over artist in Tokyo. She did TV commercials, jingles, radio, video games… and in between, she was a branding consultant. And a mom. All of this worked, right up until the 2011 Tokyo earthquake. Then she picked up a suitcase and her daughter and moved to Portland, Oregon.

Most people have a hard time finding truth and beauty in the chaos that comes with starting a business and navigating life. Anna has overcome her fair share of obstacles in life so she can relate. She suffered from severe depression in her early 20’s, has been divorced, and she survived a major earthquake.

It hasn’t always been a smooth road for Anna, but she has found beauty amongst the chaos and says that it’s made her “scrappy”, and that everything has been a gift that’s given her strength, resiliency, and faith in her own ability.

No matter where you are in your life or business, Anna will inspire you to tell the truth to yourself and others while becoming the epic fucking badass that you were born to be.

Here are some of Anna’s favorite things:

How would it feel to be choosing greatness in all areas of your life?

Answering that question is what Lewis Howes has dedicated his livelihood to. Lewis has always been a big dreamer. From childhood, he wanted to be a professional athlete and an Olympian. But all that changed in 2007 when he was injured while playing professional football. That’s when Lewis switched gears and developed an obsession for learning about business, marketing, and adding value to influential people (even before he had value to give).

Since then, it’s been a incredible journey for Lewis – going from sleeping on his sisters couch to using webinars to build a multi-million dollar online media company.

Through hustle, passion, focus and constant vision, Lewis now speaks all over the world, has a #1 rated podcast and is the author of a brand new book called ‘The School of Greatness.’ Lewis is a powerful example of what it means to commit to a vision and pursue it with 100% purpose.

This episode will inspire you to dream bigger and choose greatness in your life and business. And in an unexpected turn of events, Lewis challenges me to step up my own game and expand what’s really possible in my business.

Here are some of Lewis’ favorite things:

Emilie Wapnick believes that we need to stop beating ourselves up if we’re unable to find that “one true calling.” Emilie is my guest this week and she calls herself a multipotentialite – someone with many interests and creative pursuits.

Emilie is the founder of Puttylike, an online resource aimed at helping other multipotentialites integrate their passions and interests into their lives and businesses. Emilie helps with everything from productivity techniques to confidence building, dealing with naysayers and building a business around passions.

While our culture is beginning to embrace the value of interdisciplinary studies and harnessing creativity through the connection of different ideas, people are still generally made to feel inadequate about their desire to pursue multiple paths.

If you feel drawn to pursue several interests, passions or career paths, Emilie will help you embrace and understand your multipotentiality. And once you’re able to do that, you might just begin to experience things in a whole new light!

Here are some of Emilie’s favorite things:

For the first time in 92 episodes, I’m turning the tables and having my good friend, Laura Leigh Clarke, interview me.

One of my most memorable podcast interviews was with Laura Leigh Clarke, Founder of ProsperityQM. Whenever we talk, our conversation naturally spins into high gear as Laura has a knack for getting me to discuss the things I’m most excited about.

In this conversation, Laura quickly gets me going on the topics of adventure, experimentation and shifting your energy. More than anything, this is a fun discussion that will remind you to focus on creating the business that you really want as well as some mindset + strategy on raising your rates and growing your business.

I hope you enjoy the new twist in the show format this week. It was a lot of fun being on the other side of the interview.

Do you have trouble tracking your business finances? My guest this week is Mark Butler and he’s the Founder of Budget Nerd.

Mark honed his financial skills as a result of constantly feeling broke in his previous businesses. Back in 2008, Mark and his partners started three successful online businesses, offering everything from high-end coaching to subscription-based software.

While these businesses brought in close to $2 Million in total revenue, too often Mark felt the pinch of not enough cash. After he sold his businesses in 2012, he spent a year studying a financial management system and in 2013 he adapted that system for small business owners. As a result, Budget Nerd was born.

Today, Mark is the “money guy” for over 30 small businesses. He spends his time performing as bookkeeper, CFO, and financial confidante to help entrepreneurs determine the best way to spend their money and manage their costs for optimal business growth.

No matter what stage your business is at, Mark has some compelling advice for having your money work harder for you and shifting the way you think about money in your business.

Here are some of Mark’s­­­­ favorite things: