The Startup Sessions with Michael Knouse

What do you do when that voice inside whispers to you and asks, “what do you really want out of life?” or “what do you want to be known for?” Do you brush those whispers aside and tell yourself to be realistic?

My guest this week is Michelle Ward, When I Grow Up Coach and dream career architect from Brooklyn, NY. Michelle went from pursuing her dream of being on stage to having a corporate job that gave her dry heaves to building her own successful coaching business.

Michelle has personally coached over 250 creative types to help them discover and achieve their passionate, grown-up careers. In this episode, you’ll hear her own story of letting go of one dream to follow another and the big turning points that led her to where she is today!

We’ll also talk about turning your struggles into your purpose and how this can be a powerful path to taking the next step in your career.

I had so much fun talking with Michelle and hearing her insights and inspiration about creating your dream career. I think you’ll be deeply moved by her contagious joy and the energetic optimism she has for helping people create the work they’re meant to be doing.

Here are some of Michelle’s favorite things:

Why do so many people struggle with the question, “What should I be doing with my life?”

My guest today is Jeff Goins and we discuss this important question in detail. Jeff will be sharing some key insights from his new book, The Art of Work, about pursuing your calling and why this looks different for each person.

We won’t be talking about finding your dream job or what it takes to become an expert. We’ll be going deeper than that. We’ll be examining that small voice inside of you that whispers the truth and taunts you with the shadow of an unlived life.

If we’re honest, a lot of us feel frustrated and lost about what we should be doing with our lives. We tend to wander aimlessly through life, hoping that someday we’ll stumble upon a master plan.

It’s time to wake up and try a different approach – to become more aware of what’s happening in our life and leverage this to make the most of our situation right now.

If you’ve ever wondered what your calling is (and if you have one), you’ll find this conversation with Jeff Goins to be quite fascinating.

Do you think you’re too old to start a new business? Are you scared to do what you love because you’re feeling insecure about your age?

My guest this week is Michaela Murphy and we’re going to be discussing the unprecedented opportunity that exists for aspiring entrepreneurs over the age of 45.

Michaela is a thought leader on the topic of multi-generational entrepreneurship and the “Experienced Economy.” Her work is changing the negative perception of aging while creating awareness to boost prosperity for all age groups.

Michaela points to data which shows that entrepreneurs get better with age and that creativity actually accelerates as we get older. All the talent, expertise, wisdom and strengths you have accumulated in your lifetime can be packaged into your business idea. These transferable skills never get lost or go to waste.

If you’re holding yourself back from launching a new business because you think you might be too old, you’re not alone. I get dozens of emails every week from people who wonder if it might be too late to follow their dreams.

There’s no such thing as being too old, or too late.

If you’re worried that you might be too old by the time you launch your business, think about the regrets you’ll have if you don’t.

Ask yourself how you would feel 10 years from now if you didn’t start up. Would you regret not doing it? If your answer is yes, then go for it.

It doesn’t matter how long it takes as long as you keep going because every day that you take action will get you closer to your dream. Don’t let anyone’s perception of age, including your own, hold you back.

Here are some of Michaela’s favorite things:

Why do some people succeed in business while others fail?

My guest this week is Amy Wilkinson and she talks about her new book, The Creator’s Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs.

Amy spent five years conducting extensive interviews with 200 of todays leading entrepreneurs including the founders of Airbnb, LinkedIn, Chipotle, Under Armour, Tesla Motors, SpaceX, PayPal, Dropbox and Jetblue. In our discussion, Amy will share the six essential creative skills that turn small notions into successful companies.

Amy concludes that each of us has the capacity to spot opportunities, invent products, and build businesses and she’s discovered the true commonalities that underlie entrepreneurial success.

Creators are not born with an innate ability to conceive and build $100 million enterprises. They have a strong purpose behind the work they do and they hone the skill of turning setbacks into successes. And the best news is that these fundamental shared skills can be learned, practiced, and passed on.

During this discussion you will find that entrepreneurial success, as Wilkinson demonstrates, is accessible to everyone.

Here are some of Amy’s favorite things:

If you’re busy building a business full time or on the side, you’re likely being pulled in a million different directions and need help delegating the stuff you know someone else could handle better than you.

My guest this week is Deanna Maio and she is the Founder of Delegated To Done where her specialty is helping entrepreneurs run successful businesses and gain greater freedom in their lives.

Is it time for you to…

Deanna is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs spend their time wisely and focus on what really matters in their business.

This episode is jam-packed with proven tactics and strategies for automating, streamlining, systemizing, and delegating your way to a more profitable and joyful business.

Here are some of Deanna’s favorite things:

Are you a mission-driven solopreneur that’s ready to play BIG?

If so, you’re going to love my guest this week. Danielle Louise Ross is the Co-Founder of Brand You Business and she’s here to light a fire under you about building a profitable and sustainable business.

Danielle will be sharing her powerful insight and experience with:

As an aspiring or emerging entrepreneur, it’s easy to get pulled in different directions and lose focus on what you’re best at. Danielle will share some compelling advice about staying focused, developing a consistent message and creating momentum at any stage of your business.

And if you’ve been in business for awhile but you feel stuck, well that’s okay too because you’ll be learning about strategies that you can implement right now that will impact your bottom line results.

NOW is your time to grow a thriving and self-sufficient business. And I’m a big believer in leveraging existing expertise and experience to create results faster.

Enjoy this engaging discussion with Danielle Louise Ross and start creating the YOU factor that will allow you to stand out and do the work you love.

Here are some of Danielle’s favorite things:

Do you ever feel nervous and awkward in your own skin?

My guest this week is Dr. Aziz Gazipura and he spent over a decade stuck in shyness and social anxiety. He remembers being completely scared about what others would think of him and avoided putting himself in situations that might lead to embarrassment.

Dr. Aziz spent the next 10 years studying anything he could find on psychology, transformation and confidence. He even obtained his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. To say that Dr. Aziz was determined to master the art of self-confidence would be an understatement!

Today, Dr. Aziz spends his time mentoring others on developing confidence in the areas of dating & relationships, career & entrepreneurship and public speaking. He’s the Founder of The Center for Social Confidence and author of The Solution To Social Anxiety.

As emerging entrepreneurs, we must not only become confident in ourselves, we must develop extraordinary self-confidence and learn to overcome the fear of rejection. Self worth and fear of rejection are often at the heart of many failed businesses and relationships.

It’s time that we stop listening to the old stories in our heads and start creating new and more empowering ones. Listen in as I dive into these issues with Dr. Aziz and you’ll hear his personal insights on how he overcame severe shyness and social anxiety to create an amazing business and build an incredible life.

Here are some of Dr. Aziz’s favorite things:

Are you ready to awaken to your responsibility as a conscious leader?

This week Sarah Kaler is back for a continuation of our discussion from the last episode. The wisdom + inspiration continues as we talk about the most common traits of conscious leaders and why now is the best time in history to start a business that recognizes the shift towards inclusion and making a difference.

If you believe deep down that there is a way for you to make an impact, change lives and create a profit, then you’re going to love Sarah’s observation about the surge of conscious entrepreneurship.

I’m incredibly excited to share part 2 of my conversation with extraordinary Executive Leadership Coach and Leadership Development Consultant, Sarah Kaler.

Here are some of Sarah’s favorite things:

Waking up to the truth of your life is not always convenient or expected.

My guest this week is Sarah Kaler and her corporate career was nothing short of spectacular. She was working with the best of the best and building an international billion-dollar company by leading passionate people. She loved her job and the people she worked with.

But that all changed when she found herself waking up on the floor in public spaces, in the back of ambulances and ER’s from being unconscious. Sarah was having grand mal seizures brought on by stress and exhaustion.

In this discussion, Sarah describes her rise up the corporate ladder and making the shift to a soul-powered entrepreneur.

We’ll be talking about waking up to the truth of why our lives might not be working and what to do about it. We’ll also explore the cost of ‘looking good’ and why striving for perfection is usually a way of hiding from your true calling.

If you’re in the process of waking up to your calling, you’re really going to enjoy this raw and honest discussion about redefining your purpose and finding the courage to build your life on a foundation of wholeness and love.

Not everyone starts a business just to make money. More and more people are starting businesses to create a certain lifestyle.

Many aspiring entrepreneurs get so excited about quitting a job and working on their terms only to find themselves enslaved to the business that was suppose to set them free!

Jesse Krieger is my guest this week and he’s been building businesses to suit his lifestyle for years. He’s built several lifestyle businesses and now he teaches others how to become lifestyle entrepreneurs.

Jesse is also the #1 best selling author of Lifestyle Entrepreneur, founder of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Academy and Bestseller Campaign Blueprint. Jesse loves traveling the world, learning languages, immersing himself in new cultures, and starting new businesses that support his global lifestyle.

I’m so excited to share this engaging discussion about how you can create a sustainable business around the things that interest you.

If you want to work for yourself to have more control over your time and schedule, the first thing you to do is decide what you want your work life to look like. Then you can choose the business model that’s most appropriate for the lifestyle you want to live.

Here are some of Jesse’s favorite things:

Type 1: Online-Customized – This type of business allows the customer to personalize their experience with the product or service being provided. Think about Groupon or any a news aggregator website where you choose what you want to read or what offers to receive.

Type 2: Online-Standardized – This is “4-Hour Workweek” style automated ecommerce business that sells physical products, or information/training products. The customer can choose to buy it, or not, but doesn’t get to personalize the experience. Think nutritional supplement sales, eBooks, online trainings, chocolate bars, etc.

Type 3: Offline-Customized – Type 3 businesses are generally personalized services such as consulting, coaching, and training where you, the entrepreneur, are personally providing the service/experience to the client. It is possible to deliver value and training to the client online using tools like video chat, Skype and phone calls, or you can meet in person. But either way, you are involved in the fulfillment for Type 3 businesses.

Type 4: Offline-Standardized – With a Type 4 business you create a performance, training, or speech and deliver it live, but to a large audience. Think about giving a keynote speech to different crowds, you wouldn’t re-write the speech for each audience, so it’s “standardized” rather then personally tailoring the value you’re delivering. Other examples are bands and performance arts, or group training programs.