Holiday wishes abound in this week’s episode of The Profit Express! My guest today is no stranger to bringing the laughs to the show. He is improv comedian Scott Baker, one of the Quickest Thinkers in Comedy. Scott is here to celebrate Christmas with chats and games about some of the most popular Christmas songs and toys. Play along, and see if you can beat Scott!

This episode of The Profit Express is brought to you by Corbett Public Relations, Promoting and Protecting Businesses and Brands for over 30 years.

One of the best parts of the holiday season is the music! But not every song is a great one. We checked out Ranker’s listing of the Top 20 Christmas songs of all time. Listen at 8:00 where Scott guesses what cracked the top 10.

We also talk about how music tastes change with every generation. Do today’s kids even know Paul McCartney? What will the most popular Christmas songs look like in a few years? See if you can guess some of the other top Christmas songs of all time – and if you can guess which tunes Scott and I prefer!

Family, friends, and traditions make for the best holiday memories. If anything, 2020 should show you just how important it is to treasure these moments with your loved ones while you still can. At 23:50, Scott talks about some of his favorite Christmas traditions from when he was growing up and visiting his very Italian family in Brooklyn.

It wouldn’t be Christmas morning without plenty of toys under the tree. Every year there is a big “must have” present. Listen at 32:40 for a blast from the past, when Scott guesses some of the most popular holiday gifts of all time. Scott guesses on the top toys of the 1960s, and there are some surprises on the list!

Download more episodes of The Profit Express to help inspire you as you take on the battle for business, and subscribe to The Profit Express on YouTube for exclusive video content.

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Adversity and challenge are the themes of 2020, both in and out of the business world. Today’s guest knows more than a little about facing adversity. He is a NYT Bestselling author, accomplished endurance athlete and former member of the Navy SEAL Team Six. He is Don Mann, and he is here to show you how to adopt the “combat mindset” that will help you shatter your boundaries.

This episode of The Profit Express is brought to you by Corbett Public Relations, Promoting and Protecting Businesses and Brands for over 30 years. 

A 20+ year member of the military, Don has always been inspired by the bravery of those who serve. Listen at 3:22 to hear the story of his fellow Navy SEAL, who was shot more than 20 times during a combat mission. Rather than walk away to save himself, the SEAL didn’t slow down or back off. He had a combat mindset, believing he had to get the job done, no matter what the cost

Like many of us, Don has found himself looking for a new outlet in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. At 9:45, he talks about a new mission in support of the SEALKIDS Foundation, which helps everyday kids in extraordinary circumstances. . Don started the Neptune Athletics clothing company to raise money for the Foundation. He has also launched the largest virtual adventure race in the world, with all proceeds going towards SEALKIDS.

Don Mann is a former member of the prestigious Navy SEAL Team Six. He went through extreme training to be able to call himself a SEAL – training he almost didn’t pass.

Listen at 13:00 to hear Don detail the pool challenge where he gave up on himself, earning the label no one wants – that of a quitter. After getting a second chance, Don refused to back down from the challenge. He needed someone tougher than he was to push him beyond his limits. Later in his SEAL career, this water challenge would save his life. He used the lessons he learned that day to survive a mission where his breathing apparatus failed.

Whether you realize it or not, you are capable of pulling more from yourself. At 27:00, Don discusses the motivational challenges facing many in the world. He believes that you do not need to be a Navy SEAL to push yourself. We all have a fighter mentality – we just haven’t tapped into it yet.

In his book, Reaching Beyond Boundaries, Don details a story of a mission where he and his fellow Navy SEALS were captured. Listen at 38:10 to hear how the group’s “survive and finish” attitude helped keep them alive. While we may not all be able to relate to the feeling of being captured and held at gunpoint, we have all been in situations where everything went wrong. There is powerful energy in our thoughts, no matter how challenging things may become.

It seems like whenever we think of improving ourselves, we think about training our bodies. Listen at 48:15, where Don talks about how there is so much more to it than working harder at working out. As we reach a certain age, our bodies simply will not respond to heavy physical training as much as it used to. However, your mind can always get stronger.

Don believes that most people have an imaginary line that signifies their limit. But most people don’t even come close to hitting that line. Whether you are training in fitness, business, or a personal goal, try to touch that line before you are ready to back off.

We all have goals for what we would like to achieve in this world. Are your goals challenging enough for you? At 54:50, Don discusses the problem with setting too easy of a goal. He says that while there is some happiness in accomplishing an easy task, there is no real fulfillment. You can never reach your full potential if you do not push yourself as far as you can go. Why not set a goal that almost feels out of each? You’d be surprised what you can achieve by pushing yourself to aim a little higher.

Download more episodes of The Profit Express to help inspire you as you take on the battle for business, and subscribe to The Profit Express on YouTube for exclusive video content.

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The Profit Express is back after a COVID-induced hiatus! The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on business, destroying several industries and forced thousands of businesses to close their doors. There have roughly been 100,000 businesses that have closed their doors and most will never return. My guest today is here to discuss how even during challenging and tragic times, there is opportunity to be had in persevering.

Today’s guest is no stranger to The Profit Express. He is Tom Fabbri, a fitness expert, author, pilot, mountain climber, and all-around Life Wrangler. Tom has faced his series of challenges in life, from being in and out of jail to going bankrupt and going through three divorces. After being introduced to fitness and aviation, he turned his life around. Today, he is the mastermind of the functional fitness equipment known as the Total Motion 360 Power Bar .

Tom is here to share how he overcome some of his greatest fears and challenges to transform his life. He has always believed that if he can turn his life around, there is no reason why anyone else cannot.

One of Tom’s biggest passions is climbing mountains. Despite having a major fear of heights, he has still been able to climb six of the seven summits of the world. These are the highest mountains on each continent, and they pose a challenge to even the most experienced climber.

At 2:31, Tom talks about how even before he began his climb on Mt. Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas at 22,837 feet, people told him about potential dangers and failures. He didn’t need to hear the bad news before he started the climb. Although he was already nervous, he made the trip to Argentina.

Within a short time, Tom’s team was already breaking down. Two members had to be rescued by helicopter after they began to experience altitude sickness. At 7:49, Tom talks about the warning his team received about an impending storm. Rather than push through, Tom and his team decided to play it safe and wait it out. While they played it safe, they spent three days facing a blizzard at an altitude of 18,000 feet – all with nothing but their tent to protect them.

After digging themselves out of the blizzard, the group carried on. They then realized just how smart their decision was, as they were warned of another team from Great Britain that had lost members due to exposure. The severity of the situation made Tom begin to rethink what he was attempting. Still, he thought back to what he repeatedly wrote in his journal while waiting out the blizzard in his tent: “I am strong, calm, and confident.”

Tom on his journey on Mt. Aconcagua

Tom faced this moment of real fear with the same mindset that has helped him in other challenges in his life. At 16:28, Tom talks about how no matter what, he was at least going to attempt to reach the peak of Aconcagua. Things become overwhelming if you only look at how far you have to go. By persevering and doing what you can in the moment, you can conquer your doubt and fear.

What does climbing Aconcagua have to do with creating a new product? While there may not seem to be similarities between the two, both involve a willingness to persevere.

At 21:53, Tom discusses how he launched the TM360 Power Bar during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a fear in presenting the product prototype to investors that he had to power through. Inventing a product is a personal thing. You have to wipe away the personal connection you have to it and put your ego aside in order to listen to comments or suggestions.

Download more episodes of The Profit Express to inspire you on your road to business success, and subscribe to The Profit Express on YouTube to hear more from my guests.

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It’s no surprise that every year, people leave Long Island. Studies show that 67% of people between the ages of 18 and 34 plan to leave Long Island in the next 5 years. Is there a way to end this “brain drain” and inspire our youth to invest in Long Island for the long term?

My guest today is Ken White, the manager of educational programs at Brookhaven National Laboratory. He is also Event Coordinator of the Long Island STEM Hub, focusing on preparing students for the Long Island workforce through enhanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experiences for students and teachers. STEM Hub’s new video series, Full STEM Ahead Long Island, is designed to teach students K-12 about the benefits of studying STEM.

If you missed part 1 of my interview with Ken, you can download it here.

At 1:55, Ken talks about how while the industries that are flourishing are broad, one specific one is computing and coding. Information technology, coding, and computer science have a cross section in every industry. If you have these skills, you’re set for anying, including sciences. Ken’s recommendation? Start taking coding classes. Even if you do not want to be a coder, understanding those tools will help you get a job.

Another industry that can use coders? Engineering. The infrastructure across Long Island is constantly changing, there there is a lot of work to be had.

The future looks bright for Long Island. What about right now? Listen at 6:05 where Ken discusses how the future is already here. Learning a new trade will always be important in terms of technology. You do not have to wait for the future to start learning.

We all love living on Long Island. However, is it realistic to think that we can compete with other states? At 7:29, Ken makes his view clear: yes. While there are many individuals moving to other states, there is no beating our school systems. Those who graduate from Long Island schools are ready to make an impact and compete for top jobs.

What is the ultimate goal of STEM Hub? Listen at 12:15 to hear him discuss his mission. Through STEM Hub, Ken hopes to see a diverse population of students who have the ability, awareness, and capability from a logistics perspective to join the programs that will advance their STEM skills. Students with STEM degrees have the potential to learn more – making it easier for them to settle on Long Island.

If you liked my interview with Ken, download more episodes of The Profit Express to inspire you on the road to business success.

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Each year, countless young people leave Long Island. In fact, 67% of people between the ages of 18 and 34 say they plan to leave Long Island in the next 5 years. What can we do to stop this so-called “brain drain” and get our youth to invest in Long Island for the long term?

My guest today is Ken White, manager of educational programs at Brookhaven National Laboratory. He is also Event Coordinator of the Long Island STEM Hub, which focuses on preparing students for the Long Island workforce through enhanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experiences for students and teachers. STEM Hub’s new video series, Full STEM Ahead Long Island, is designed to teach students K-12 about the benefits of STEM.

The Long Island STEM Hub was first formed in 2011. Its mission? To create a solution for the lack of jobs on Long Island.  A group of business leaders and academic groups around the island came together to ask certain questions. How do we create a workforce? How can we man these jobs? Stem Hub exists to get people working together to solve the problem.

How was Full STEM Ahead born? Listen at 8:40 to hear the unique story of where the series came from. The idea goes back to Orange County Choppers. Ken saw how popular the show’s stars were. He thought about creating something similar to raise awareness of job opportunities on Long Island.

Long Island has a reputation as being a service-based economy. However, as Ken talks about at 11:30, Nassau and Suffolk Counties are home to countless production environments. Driving down the Long Island Expressway, you may not notice the strong manufacturing community that can be found in places like Hauppauge and Cold Spring Harbor.

At Ken’s own company, Brookhaven National Laboratory, nearly half of all employees work in science or engineering. Brookhaven National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy research facility. It is just one of many STEM-based facilities on Long Island

Many teenagers dream of a future in television, film, or another entertainment industry. At 20:00, Ken discusses how STEM can be an asset to have in any industry, including the arts. Things like computer technology and 3D animation can be found in the arts.

Stay tuned for part 2 of my interview with Ken where we discuss exciting opportunities in the future of Long Island.

If you liked my interview with Ken, download more episodes of The Profit Express to inspire you on the road to business success.

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The growth of podcasting has been unlike any other media explosion in history. Today, there are more than 750,000 active podcasts, and ⅓ of Americans listen to a podcast at least once a month.

My guest today has seen first hand how quickly podcasting has grown. He is Ian Scotto, an award-winning radio producer who launched his radio career here at WRHU. He is the executive producer and co-host of The Battleline Podcast. Ian has embraced the “no rules” format of podcasting, interviewing a number of high-profile guests.

On The Battleline Podcast, Ian and his co-host often interview guests who have experienced their share of struggles. At 5:00, Ian talks about how opening the door to these topics is just one way to end the stigma surrounding them. While mental health, drug use, and other subjects are not always easy to listen to, it is important to give these stories a platform that might not otherwise exist.

At 7:55, Ian discusses some of the major differences between podcasting and traditional media.  One of these differences is the lack of time constraints. There is no limit to how long a podcast can be, allowing hosts to deep dive in with a subject during a show. This results in a deeper conversation than you would expect to hear elsewhere.

Listen at 11:15 where Ian talks about how podcasts allow listeners to hear and learn more than they would with traditional media. On radio or television news, you may hear just a soundbite from a guest. Podcasting has no time limits, allowing you to hear things in context.

It’s hard to believe that in just a few years, podcasting has become so popular. At 16:10, Ian talks about the explosion of podcasts. Over just the past 10 years, podcasting has grown from just another form of entertainment to one of the most popular types of media. The growth of podcasting and technology has made things move at a faster pace than ever before.

Ian serves as executive producer and co-host of The Battleline Podcast. Listen at 18:15 where Ian discusses what it has been like growing The Battleline Podcast into the show it is today. He has enjoyed having honest, real life conversations with each of his guests.

Should you start a podcast as a business owner? This isn’t the easiest decision for everyone to make. There are unlimited topics that you can choose for your podcast. At 23:05, Ian explains how that may not be enough to get you the listeners you want. If you aren’t that well known, it can be difficult to break through and have people find the show. By having a high-profile guest, you’ll get people to pay attention.

If you liked my talk with Ian, download more episodes of The Profit Express to inspire you on the road to business success.

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Think about all the forms of entertainment you enjoy each day.  If you are like 32% of Americans, podcasting is one of those forms. Today there are more than 750,000 active podcasts, with topics ranging from politics to business and everything in between. Starting a podcast is a goal of many, and it has tremendous business potential.

My guest today knows just how lucrative starting a podcast can be. He is Ian Scotto, an award-winning radio producer who launched his radio career here at WRHU. He is the executive producer and co-host of The Battleline Podcast. Ian got his start in podcasting back in college, and he has worked on a number of high-profile shows.

Do you dream of starting a podcast? The good news is there are countless topic options to choose from. Listen at 6:20 where Ian discusses choosing your topic. The more specific a podcast theme, the greater audience potential there is, which means the more advertising dollars you can potentially earn.

As part of the Battleline Podcast, Ian has interviewed a range of different guests, including multiple UFC champions. Perhaps his most controversial podcast guest has been Alex Jones. Jones has been banned from countless platforms, including Twitter and Paypal, due to his views.

Does having a guest on mean that you endorse them? At 10:05, Ian brings up an important point to consider: who ultimately gets to decide who loses their platform? While Ian doesn’t always agree with the views expressed by his guests, he enjoys talking to controversial figures.

Podcasts have made it possible for individuals to create any type of show that they wish. At 17:40, Ian talks about how shows can be anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 hours. Some shows are scripted, others are off the cuff. The limits are truly endless.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my interview with Ian, where we discuss how podcasting has impacted how we communicate with each other.

Download more episodes of The Profit Express to help you on the road to success.

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Going digital is just another part of any business today. Now more than ever, it is essential to have a digital marketing plan to reach your audience. How do you know who your market is? What’s the best way to approach marketing?

My guest today literally wrote the book on forming a digital marketing plan. She is Hilary Topper, CEO of HJMT Public Relations, and author of a new book, Branding in a Digital World. Hilary is a social media and marketing expert with decades of experience getting her clients out there.

If you missed part one of my discussion with Hilary, you can download it here.

Social media is vital to every business. For bigger brands, it is absolutely worth working with an influencer. Listen at 2:10 to hear about these key people on social media who make big bucks because of their number of followers. 

Is it worth it? In most cases, the return on investment for influencer marketing is tremendous. 

Small business owners likely don’t have the budget for a large scale influencer, and that’s okay! There is a great benefit to working with someone with smaller reach.

How do you make an influencer part of your digital marketing plan? It can be as simple as looking at what you already have. If you have a frequent customer, Google his or her name. Does the customer have a big social media following? If the answer is “yes,” reach out and see if there is mutual interest in working together.

If your audience gives you backlash, you did something wrong, right? Not necessarily. Listen at 13:00 to hear Hilary discuss how even she receives backlash on her blogs and social media. If you aren’t getting some backlash, you’re doing something wrong.

A blog can be a great addition to your digital marketing plan, and an easy way to build and keep an audience, no matter what the focus of your business is. At 16:50, Hilary talks about the importance of consistency in blogging. Once a month simply isn’t enough to build an audience.

But how do you choose what to post? Hilary recommends thinking of real life events and seeing how you can spin them for readers.

Whether you are posting on your business blog or communicating with customers, it’s all about consistency. Listen at 22:20 where Hilary speaks on this important factor. Being able to follow up in a timely manner is vital.

These days you can find a podcast on everything. Should you make one as part of your digital marketing plan? At 29:00, Hilary talks about how simple it is to launch a show. You can even do it out of your own home! This is just another way to create content that hits your target audience.

If you liked my talk with Hilary, download more episodes of The Profit Express to help you on the road to business success.

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Social media. Websites. Podcasts. These days, everything is available and consumed in a digital format. It should come as no surprise that customers have gone digital in how they shop. My guest today knows how creating a digital marketing strategy can help you achieve your business goals. She has literally written the book on the importance of a digital strategy.

My guest today is Hilary Topper, CEO of HJMT Public Relations. Her new book, Branding in a Digital World, details the way to take an integrated marketing approach to building a business. She is a social media and marketing maven with decades of experience making her clients known.

You’ve probably heard of, and likely owned, a Soundabout. Never heard of it? That’s because Sony made the right change to its marketing strategy, creating a cultural icon.

Listen at 4:10 to hear the story of the Sony Walkman. Hilary discusses the important lesson you can learn from Sony. When a marketing strategy isn’t working, you must refine it. Sony did this, and throughout the years has sold more than 400 million Walkmans.

Take this lesson to heart for your own business. If you aren’t fresh and relevant, you are going to lose market share. Hilary recommends looking at your brand and seeing what makes sense for today’s audience. What can you highlight in your marketing that your competitors cant?

How do you know if your strategy is relevant? At 5:40, Hilary discusses the importance of a SWOT analysis. By analyzing your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, you will have a clearer picture of where you stand.

Hilary speaks about thinking of your customers and goals when creating a digital marketing strategy. Many business owners don’t even ask their customers what they like about them! Asking these questions can mean the difference between success and failure.

Quick: who is your customer? If you don’t know who your buyer is, creating a buyer persona can help you. Listen at 7:40 for Hilary’s view on this important tool from HubSpot, a digital marketing platform. She recommends naming your ideal buyer and describing him or her. Once you’ve created a persona, creating a digital marketing strategy becomes easier.

Stay tuned for part 2 of my interview with Hilary, where we talk about the real powers that consumers have in the media.

If you liked my talk with Hilary, download more episodes of The Profit Express to help you on the road to business success.

The post Creating a Digital Marketing Strategy with Hilary Topper appeared first on Healy Success Solutions.

“What if?” Is there a worse question to ask? My guests today think so. They have made this mindset their mission, inspiring others to bring their ideas to life. As part of their mission, they hosted the first ever STATTfest to raise funds for those looking to thrive on Long Island.

My guests today are Ryan Costello and Kenzie Ferrara from Moverz. Moverz is a local collective of entrepreneurs that seeks to connect individuals with like-minded people to make their ideas into a reality. The Moverz mission is to inspire people to take action on their passion by inspiring, educating, and providing resources so that people can do what they love together.

If you missed my previous talks with Ryan and Kenzie, you can download Part 1 and Part 2.

STATTfest is a Long Island music festival that showcases local talent. Standing for “Summer Time All the Time,” the event fosters the development of start-up business, philanthropic, and art projects on Long Island.

But the idea almost died due to an infamous festival.

Listen at 2:42 to hear how Moverz had to take some special risks to make STATTfest into a reality. They had the misfortune of promoting the event right after the release of two Fyre Festival documentaries, making it impossible to find investors. Because they ran out of time to promote while they were dealing with the event logistics, they got creative. Ryan and co-founder Matt dressed up like pineapples (the STATTfest logo) while they shopped for supplies. These outfits got people asking, and they were able to tell them about the event.

This approach is also a great sales technique. Instead of just announcing their event, they made people ask “what is this about?” It becomes an easier sale when the buyer is already curious.

Sometimes, it takes a little extra bravery to make things happen. At 5:36, Ryan and Kenzie discuss just how important it was to bring the team together for a final push. Even Kenzie, who is usually more reserved, broke out of her shell to dress up. Thanks to efforts by the entire team, friends and family, they sold 1,500 tickets in just 2 weeks.

Achieving their goal thanks to some good ideas and the support of the community was the perfect way to showcase what Moverz is about. At 8:40, Ryan talks about how they were able to show the community that there’s no room for doubt. No matter what happens, you have to try.

After hosting a successful first STATTfest, the Moverz are looking towards the future. Listen at 9:43 where Ryan and Kenzie discuss their goal for 2020. STATTfest is being hosted at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration on September 12 and 13. The goal this year? 20,000 attendees. Ryan is confident that after a successful first year, the sky is the limit.

You can learn more about Moverz and STATTfest here.

If you liked my interviews with Ryan and Kenzie, download more episodes of The Profit Express to inspire you on your journey to success.

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