The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

2034 - Rebecca Prejean

2033 - Areo Nazari

In the latest episode of our podcast, host Josh sits down with Matt Cressman, the founder of Lead Storm AI and a LinkedIn marketing expert, to delve into the intricacies of outbound lead generation. This comprehensive blog post will break down the key takeaways from their conversation, offering actionable advice and detailed insights to help you optimize your outbound marketing strategies, particularly on LinkedIn. Josh kicks off the episode by inviting listeners to explore his resources for connecting with partners, investors, influencers, and clients. He highlights his free video class available on Up My Influence, which outlines steps to achieve 100% inbound marketing in their industry over the next 6 to 8 months without relying on spam, ads, or sales tactics. Josh's methods have been successful for over 15 years, generating eight figures in revenue for his companies.

Matt Cressman joins the conversation, introducing himself as a LinkedIn marketing expert and a connector specializing in outbound marketing. He shares his journey from leading an international nonprofit to founding Lead Storm AI, driven by a desire to start a podcast and connect with industry professionals. Matt founded Lead Storm AI to address the pain points he encountered while managing multiple marketing tools. Lead Storm AI combines marketing automation, CRM capabilities, and outbound marketing tools into a comprehensive platform. Key features include contact management, funnel building, and automation for LinkedIn outreach and cold emailing. Matt emphasizes the importance of building relationships and creating meaningful content. His approach to outbound marketing has evolved, particularly in response to changing buyer behaviors. He believes that having a strong brand and producing valuable content are essential for successful outbound lead generation.

Matt discusses the shift in outbound lead generation strategies from 2019 to 2022, noting the decline of the golden era of outbound marketing. He highlights the need for hyper-personalization in messaging, stating that generic templates are no longer effective. Instead, marketers must leverage sophisticated tools to create personalized outreach that resonates with potential clients. Matt introduces his BCT framework, which stands for Brand, Content, and Trust. This framework is fundamental to successful outbound marketing: understand who you are as a brand, create valuable content that addresses the needs and pain points of your audience, and build trust with your audience through consistent and meaningful interactions. Josh raises the challenge of standing out in a crowded marketplace, where many professionals receive numerous unsolicited messages. Matt shares practical tactics for breaking through the noise, such as hyper-personalization, using intent data, leveraging LinkedIn events, and hosting your own events to provide value and attract potential clients.

Matthew Cretzman is a seasoned entrepreneur and marketing expert, specializing in outbound marketing, LinkedIn strategies, growth hacking, and lead generation. Founder and CEO of  Stormbreaker Digital and LeadStorm AI.

LeadStorm AI's full suite of marketing and sales automation tools gives you everything you need to market your business, close more deals, and make more money.

Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur: https://go.upmyinfluence.com/podcast-guest

Want to learn more? Check out LeadStorm AI website at

https://www.leadstorm.ai/

Check out LeadStorm AI on LinkedIn at

https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadstorm-ai/

Check out Matthew Cretzman on LinkedIn at

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcretzman

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!

We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE.

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In a recent episode of "The Thoughtful Entrepreneur," host Josh engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Aaron Marcum, a bestselling author and the founder of EntreThrive. The episode delves into Aaron's book, "EntreThrive," which outlines eight essential laws designed to help entrepreneurs achieve financial freedom while leading a fulfilling life. This blog post will break down each of these laws in detail, offering actionable advice and thorough explanations to guide entrepreneurs on their journey to success.

Josh opens the episode by sharing his extensive experience in the business world, having spoken with over 2,000 leaders about their best business practices. He offers a free video resource on his website, Up My Influence, aimed at helping entrepreneurs generate high-ticket sales appointments without relying on spam or ads. He then introduces Aaron Marcum, highlighting his background as a bestselling author and the founder of Entrethrive. Aaron's book, which features a foreword by renowned author Brian Tracy, is subtitled "An Entrepreneur's Eight Laws to Accelerate Financial Freedom While Creating the Good Life."

Aaron begins by discussing the concept of "the good life," a term rooted in Aristotle's philosophy. For Aristotle, the good life transcends mere life satisfaction; it embodies living a life worth living, or "eudaimonia." This idea emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to life, encompassing not just financial success but overall fulfillment. Aaron's insights into the good life were shaped during his Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied under Martin Seligman, a leading figure in positive psychology. He emphasizes that the journey toward the good life involves understanding one's guiding truths—core beliefs that define who we are and what we aspire to be.

Over the past 20 years, Aaron has founded and scaled award-winning, multi-million-dollar companies that have positively impacted thousands across North America. His entrepreneurial journey began in healthcare, where his visionary leadership in his second startup transformed the home care industry. He established the Best of Home Care® award program and created an innovative benchmarking platform that has become the industry standard.

Aaron holds a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied under renowned experts like Dr. Martin Seligman. This transformative experience fueled his passion for helping fellow home care entrepreneurs thrive both personally and professionally.

His Breakaway Accelerator coaching program is designed specifically for home care CEOs and their leadership teams, empowering them to think bigger, retain top talent, accelerate growth, and create abundant lives.

A #1 Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestselling author, Aaron's book EntreThrive guides entrepreneurs on their journey to financial freedom while embracing what Aristotle called "The Good Life." He has been a sought-after keynote speaker since 2006, engaging entrepreneurial audiences with his insights and experiences.

In his free time, Aaron enjoys road cycling and traveling the world with his wife, Heather, whom he married in 1996. They are proud parents to six beautiful children.

EntreThrive is a transformative platform and community designed to guide and support entrepreneurs in prioritizing their well-being for both professional success and personal fulfillment.

EntreThrive operates on the fundamental belief that just as entrepreneurial success demands business acumen and persistent diligence, so does one's well-being require daily attention and intentional effort. Through our innovative approach, we emphasize the importance of entrepreneurial well-being, highlighting the 8 Laws of EntreThrive—a comprehensive framework rooted in positive psychology and evidence-based practices.

Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur: https://go.upmyinfluence.com/podcast-guest

Want to learn more? Check out EntreThrive website at

https://entrethrive.com/

Check out EntreThrive on LinkedIn at

https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrethrive

Check out Aaron Marcum on LinkedIn at

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-marcum

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!

We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE.

Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here.

What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here.

Want to learn more about all the podcasts managed by UpMyInfluence? Opt in here.