The Zee Marketing Podcast

Naphtali Hoff is a coach for busy executives who takes leaders from overstretched to over-delivered. He is also a sought-after speaker, the founder of Impactful Coaching, and the author of Becoming the Productive Boss: 5 Proven Steps to Leading High Performing Teams. A leadership coach for for-profit and non-profit leaders alike, Naphtali Hoff helps clients avoid mistakes and maximize their potential.

Watch Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKw3i2Rzfu0&t=341s&ab_channel=ZevGotkin

Connect with Naphtali Hoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naphtalihoff/ 

Learn more about Naphtali Hoff: https://www.impactfulcoaching.com/

Order Becoming the Productive Boss: 5 Proven Steps to Leading High Performing Teams here: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Productive-Boss-Leading-Performing/dp/B0BVSXCWZP

Mastermind Group: https://www.impactfulcoaching.com/blm

Peter Shankman is a serial entrepreneur, author, speaker, podcaster, and thought leader in marketing and public relations. Ever wanted to be quoted in a major news outlet as an authority or an expert in your space? Now, you can get valuable PR placements for free. In this conversation, we talked about Peter’s free new online service, Source of Sources. Launched earlier this summer, SOS is already making waves in the world of public relations with over 22,000 subscribers. Much like its better-known earlier incarnation, HARO – which stands for Help a Reporter Out – Source of Sources is an email listserv designed to make it easier for journalists to find the sources they need, and for sources, such as brands, business owners, and thought leaders to get the publicity they seek. Up to three times a day, subscribers get an email with queries by journalists from various media outlets. 

If a journalist asks about a topic you know a lot about, simply reply directly with helpful information or feedback for a chance to be featured or quoted in the story. The only rule? Only reply to a journalist’s query, or SOS, if you have something productive and relevant to add. If you respond with something unhelpful, you will be permanently removed from the list! No exceptions; no appeals. This is serious business. He’s not messing around here!

Peter Shankman is perhaps best known as the founder of HARO (Help a Reporter Out), an online service that worked the same ways as Source of Sources. Groundbreaking at the time and user-friendly, HARO bridged the gap between journalists and public brands seeking media coverage by allowing journalists to connect with industry experts and the public for feedback on issues related to their reporting. In 2010, HARO was sold to Vocus, which was subsequently acquired by Cision in 2014. Earlier this year,  Cision folded the classic HARO into Connectively, a web-based tool. Shortly after, our guest, Peter Shankman revived HARO as Source of Sources, an incredible resource he provides to subscribers free of charge. 

A lifelong Manhattanite, marketing expert, and futurist, the New York Times called Peter Shankman “a rock star who knows everything about social media and then some.” He is a 5X best-selling author, and the author of Faster Than Normal: Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity, and Success with the Secrets of the ADHD Brain. He also has a fantastic podcast about ADHD called The Faster than Normal podcast where he interviews psychologists and successful people from all fields who have ADHD. I highly recommend the book and the podcast is one of my favorites! 

In this episode, Peter Shankman and I spoke about Source of Sources, the current state of PR and news media in general, and how to become savvier consumers of information. We also discussed Mental Capital Consulting, a consultancy he co-founded with a psychologist in 2023 that helps companies attract, hire, and retain neurodiverse employees while helping companies to become neuro-inclusive. And, to top it all off we resolved a mysterious bone of contention about cold pizza. 

Peter assured us his new service, Source of Sources is free, but he says if you really feel like sending him a donation, you should send it to a charity such as Best Friends Animal Society or The NYC Mayor’s Alliance for Animals. 

Watch on YouTube: 

Follow Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petershankman/ 

Learn more about Source of Sources: https://sourceofsources.com/

Mental Capital Consulting: https://mentalcapitalconsulting.com/

Coaching and Mastermind: https://www.shankminds.com/ 

Instagram: @petershankman https://www.instagram.com/petershankman/ Over 79K followers

Faster than Normal Podcast: https://www.fasterthannormal.com/ 

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Shankman

Make no mistake; people don't just buy the product. They're also buying YOU. When you're selling anything, remember that you're also selling yourself. One man who has done a great job selling himself -- and B2B solutions -- is our guest, Luca Giorgiantonio. To succeed in sales, your prospect needs to feel that you're passionate about what you're selling. Your passion needs to come through, and Luca certainly has passion and an enthusiasm that is infectious, as you will witness.

Luca Giorgiantonio is a salesperson for ePaymints, a merchant processing solution. Previously he worked for nearly two decades in the restaurant business. Today, he leverages his relationships in the hospitality world in his current sales role. With his colorful, passionate personality 🤌, entrepreneurial spirit, and hilariously entertaining social media content on LinkedIn and TikTok, Luca sets himself apart in a sea of "boring" B2B salespeople. He has a gift for making a seemingly dull topic like merchant processing sound exciting. 

In this episode, we talked about building relationships and gaining trust. We also exchanged sales secrets, talked about his relaxed, easygoing approach to life and business, and discussed how people can put a little more personality and fun into their sales process. 

Luca had a lot of wisdom to share in this fun and lively interview, as I'm sure you'll agree, but first, a quick word from our sponsor!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tGBWIEHuZzo?si=gGGoMw0wfSCGy3wW

Connect with Luca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucagepaymints/

Learn more about ePayments: https://epaymints.com/

Italian Food Jerk TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@italian.food.jerk

Coach Dan Gordon is a sales trainer, podcaster, and the author of No Douchebag Selling “Sell like a badass…Not like a douche!” Dan Gordon’s training and workshops (link below) are designed for badass entrepreneurs who want more clients, but selling makes them feel sick. Coach Dan Gordon is here to help you reframe how you look at sales and selling so that you can sell authentically and feel great about doing it. 

https://dangordonenterprise.com/

Connect with Coach Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachdangordon/

Watch Here: 

My guest is Ardor Technologies Head of Sales (North America), Brian Hellgeth. Business travel can be difficult. Last-minute schedule changes, new cities to visit, clients to support, etc. Wouldn't it be great for your travel partner to support you? Ardor is a next-generation all-in-one business travel and expense management platform focused on business-to-business and agency travel solutions, helping business travelers save money and get their time back so they focus on their clients. You can also use the Ardor platform to book personal travel during your time off. Ardor believes you deserve the same discounts your company enjoys!

Learn more about Ardor here: https://www.ardortrip.com/

Connect with Brian Hellgeth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhellgeth2045/

Matt Stein is the Founder and President of Unique Luxury Travels, a custom travel consultancy where he combines his knowledge and expertise in luxury experiences with his deep-rooted love for art and wine. Driven by his unwavering passion for exploration and voracious curiosity about other cultures, Matt Stein made the daring choice to leave an illustrious 20-year career in journalism to found his travel agency. With a commitment to exceeding expectations, Matt ensures every client embarks on a tailor-made, custom, bespoke journey that transcends the ordinary.

Based in New York City, Matt Stein has dedicated himself to redefining the travel experience, alleviating the stresses and frustrations commonly associated with travel. At Unique Luxury Travels, Matt caters to various custom luxury travel needs and wishes, crafting itineraries based on your interests and taking care of everything from planning to booking hotels, excursions, and meals so all you have to do is pack up, go, and enjoy. Whether you are an experienced globetrotter, a wine enthusiast, an art collector, an adventure seeker, or a sports fan, Unique Luxury Travels is committed to meeting your unique preferences and surpassing your expectations.  

In this episode we talked about how Matt went from a fear of flying (didn't fly until his 30s) to a travel enthusiast, travel do's and don'ts, and his story of leaving a celebrated 20-year career in TV journalism to become a full-time travel agent and entrepreneur.

Learn more: https://uniqueluxurytravels.com/

Matt Stein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-stein-nyc/ 

Watch: YouTube

Doug Wood is the CEO of Tommy Bahama, the world-renowned American fashion and lifestyle brand. Tommy Bahama sells tropical island-inspired casual clothing, accessories, footwear, and home furnishings for men and women. Toward the end of 2023, the brand opened Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa, a luxury resort in Indian Wells, California.

Learn More: https://www.tommybahama.com/

https://www.tommybahamamiramonte.com/

In this episode of the Zee Learning Podcast, I sat down with Doug Wood, the visionary CEO of Tommy Bahama, and delved into his remarkable journey and leadership that has driven over 20 years of impressive growth and expansion for the iconic brand. Throughout the interview, Doug shared insights into his leadership style and management philosophy that have unified Tommy Bahama's diverse businesses—wholesale, retail, restaurant, e-commerce, and licensing — under a consistent and compelling brand message.

Watch: YouTube

Doug Wood joined Tommy Bahama in 2001 as Chief Operating Officer, rising to President in 2008 and CEO in 2015. Under his leadership, Tommy Bahama has transformed from a wholesale-centric company to a flourishing direct-to-consumer business with a robust wholesale division. Doug's strategic direction has been pivotal in developing a successful e-commerce platform, expanding retail and restaurant ventures, and spearheading the brand's international growth. With over 25 years of executive experience in business management, finance, and operations, Doug's expertise has been a cornerstone of Tommy Bahama's sustained success.

Before his tenure at Tommy Bahama, Doug held key positions at AT&T/McCaw Communications and Boeing Defense and Space Group. A native of Washington State, Doug earned his MBA from Pacific Lutheran University and a BS in Business Administration for Finance and Economics from Central Washington University, where he was honored as the commencement speaker for the class of 2015. Join us as we explore Doug Wood's incredible journey, his approach to leadership, and the strategies that have positioned Tommy Bahama as a leader in its industry, along with an exciting look at the new Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa.

Located in Indian Wells in the Greater Palm Springs area, Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa debuted on November 1st, 2023 following an extensive, $20 million renovation and redesign that pairs island living with desert luxury. This is the first resort concept for the elevated lifestyle brand, Tommy Bahama. 

Learn more about Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa: 

https://www.tommybahamamiramonte.com/

Watch this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0or4jqtqwY&list=PLlTwnBWzuS7yU31j9qrZEY8T8QsSH-SjA&ab_channel=ZevGotkin

Rochelle Lisner is the founder of Dynamic Business Growth. She is a sales and customer service coach who has worked with corporations, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and solopreneurs for two decades, helping them perfect their elevator pitches, be more interesting, and, as she puts it, “story tell” rather than “boring tell.” Rochelle Lisner has been dubbed “a teaching, training, and motivating dynamo.” Her quick wit, quintessential Queens New York sass, and blunt, no-BS style not only inspires, motivates, and educates, but also entertains her clients. Using her methodology, she helps business owners cut to the chase and communicate their value proposition clearly in a way that engages prospects or investors. 

Her previous 22 Years of success in the challenging world of corporate travel has given Rochelle a unique and incredibly practical perspective on sales processes and on the most effective way to deal with difficult clients. She infuses her innovative sales training and interactive programs with the wisdom borne out of dealing with diverse industries, crisis management, multicultural clients, and demanding customers.

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

https://dynamicbusinessgrowth.com/ 

Aaron Itzkowitz is the founder and CEO of EmotionTrac. EmotionTrac is an AI-driven AdTech tool that replaces the need for a focus group. Using insights from real people combined with AI, EmotionTrac uncovers the emotional triggers that tell you how people respond to your ad. In this episode, Aaron Itzkowitz describes how EmotionTrac works and outlines several use cases. While he goes into more detail about it, it basically works as follows. Users get paid in fungible tokens they can redeem for prizes to watch ads on their mobile devices. EmotionTrac’s technology can read facial expressions that indicate emotional reactions such as disgust, delight, laughter, happiness, and sadness to accurately determine how users respond to the ads without violating user privacy, giving advertisers honest feedback and consumer responses in real time.

Learn more: https://www.emotiontrac.com/

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

Watch this episode on YouTube here: YouTube Episode

Marty Katz is a Marketing Consultant with over 40 years of experience specializing in brand messaging. He is also the founder of Connectors 360. Marty Katz helps retail, entertainment, and packaged goods companies develop a message that connects them with their audience, creates engagement, and generates sales.

In this episode, Mary Katz and I discuss branding, what it means to have a ‘brand,’ the difference between a rebrand and a brand refresh, and the relationship between marketing and sales and how they work together. Other topics we addressed include Mad Men, developing a marketing plan and strategy, and why companies should invest in building a brand for the long term.

Connect with Marty Katz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marty-katz/

https://connectors360.com/