Too Legitimate to Quit: Growth Strategies with a Pop Culture Spin

Mandy Moore, The Osbournes, Ashton Kutcher, The Millionaire Matchmaker - behind each media sensation, there was a helluva media/brand strategist - Vinnie Potestivo! As a network talent executive at MTV Networks from 1998 to 2007 (AHH!), he pioneered the way talent and artists claimed control of their narrative by making them hosts, stars, and even producers of their own hit series.

Nowadays, Vinnie leads VPETalent as a media brand advisor, personal brand strategist, and content coach. He is also the host and creator of "I Have a Podcast" and podcast platform Ihaveapodcast.com. PS. Podcasters, you won't believe where he wants us to put our podcasts!

It's a jam-packed, fan-girly but actionable conversation about what it takes to stand out, the importance of mutual respect in collaborations, why Annie would have made a great VJ, and the profound impact MTV had on so much more than just music videos.

(This episode is lovingly dedicated to Kurt Loder, voice of a generation. You are the dang ultimate, Kurt.)

*Parentpreneur advisory: this episode contains colorful language.

Connect with Vinnie through his website VPE.tv and LinkedIn.
And don't forget to check out his podcast, I Have a Podcast!



Craving connection, co-working, and a way to enjoy your time on LinkedIn? Join our free community, The Legitimati, and do your weekly homework with us! It's also the perfect way to rub elbows with our fabulous guests.

For full show notes and more visit www.toolegitimatetoquit.com.
 

Are you fully harnessing the power of live events in your business? Whether in-person, hybrid, or online-only, events are unparalleled when it comes to building community, sharing thought leadership, and proving your value - but they are also all too easy to royally screw up. Which events are right for your business? What processes and team members do you need to have in place to provide a truly impactful experience?

This week, Annie P. is joined by events queen, Shay Wheat. Shay jams so much gold into this interview - including how to know when you're ready to host great big events and how to benefit the most from the smaller ones, how to avoid costly mistakes, and what we can learn - and implement - from the elaborate productions, diplomacy, and magic of Downton Abbey.

What's Inside:
0:00 - Intro & Theme
2:13 - Main Interview with Shay
38:40 - Downton Abbey tie-in
59:45 - Final Thought & Homework

*Parentpreneur advisory: this episode contains colorful language.

Connect with Shay through her website, Instagram and LinkedIn.
And don't forget to check out free The Five Phases of Events Guide at fivephases.info/legitimate .

Craving connection, co-working, and a way to enjoy your time on LinkedIn? Join our free community, The Legitimati, and do your weekly homework with us! It's also the perfect way to rub elbows with our fabulous guests.

For full show notes and more visit www.toolegitimatetoquit.com.

Are you focused enough on focus itself? Are you diluting your message, power, or passion by being too broad or ambitious? And, do you have to be loud and flashy in order for your purpose to come across crystal clearly?

This week, Annie P. is joined by Dr. Michael Gerharz, an expert in combining clarity and communication into lasting impact. How? By looking from the prospects' perspective, finding the courage to focus, and ultimately wrestling with your love for the details. Then, Annie and Dr. Michael pull lessons on dedication, practice, and mentorship from the 8-film sensation, "The Italian Stallion" himself, Rocky.

What's Inside:
0:00 - Intro & Theme
1:46 - Main Interview with Dr. Michael
33:20 - Rocky tie-in
47:44 - Final Thought & Homework

*Parentpreneur advisory: this episode contains colorful language.

Connect with Dr. Michael through his website and LinkedIn.
And don't forget to check out his manifesto and free 5-Day challenge.

Craving connection, co-working, and a way to enjoy your time on LinkedIn? Join our free community, The Legitimati, and do your weekly homework with us! It's also the perfect way to rub elbows with our fabulous guests.

For full show notes and more visit www.toolegitimatetoquit.com.

How much of your workday gets gobbled up by non-money-making activities? How can you set expectations and goals for yourself that are both ambitious and compassionate? And, how can gamification help you take off "the busy badge?"

This week, self-professed workaholic Annie P. is joined by the brilliant and eloquent Melissa Guller. A former Project Manager, current course-creation and client success strategist, and lifetime gamer, Melissa has a joyful and refreshing approach to growth, failure, and earning an income that's worth the work. Then, Melissa brings the science of game creation into the mix, discussing structure, surprises, and the stellar example of Paper Mario.

What's Inside:
0:00 - Intro & Theme
1:55 - Main Interview with Melissa
31:27 - Paper Mario tie-in
52:29 - Final Thought & Homework

*Parentpreneur advisory: this episode contains colorful language.

Connect with Melissa through her website, Instagram, and TikTok.
And don't forget to check out her podcast and free online course toolkit!

Craving connection, co-working, and a way to enjoy your time on LinkedIn? Join our free community, The Legitimati, and do your weekly homework with us! It's also the perfect way to rub elbows with our fabulous guests.

For full show notes and more visit www.toolegitimatetoquit.com

Do you ever feel like the Internet is leaving you behind? There are so many new trends, new platforms, new tools, new terms... you name it. Although Blockchain has been a beloved topic of conversation in tech circles for almost a decade, it seems like only yesterday everyone you know started peddling NFTs. What the heck even IS an NFT anyhow?

This week, Annie receives a crash course in Web3 from Derek Gorthy, Co-Founder of Enshrine. Derek is working overtime to bridge the gap between content creators and the new-fangled, decentralized Internet. What does he deem essential for solopreneurs and SMBs to know in order to survive? And what lessons can be derived from the sometimes romantic but more often disastrous tales of 90 Day Fiancé - just in time for Episode #90?

What's Inside:
0:00 - Intro & Theme
1:44 - Main Interview with Derek
43:20 - 90 Day Fiancé tie-in
1:06:16 - Final Thought & Homework

*Parentpreneur advisory: this episode contains colorful language.

Connect with Derek through his LinkedIn and don't forget to check out Enshrine.io on their website, Twitter, or Instagram.

This episode joins the Legitimate Reality playlist! Click here for all the episodes based on reality, unscripted, and competition shows.

Craving connection, co-working, and a way to enjoy your time on LinkedIn? Join our free community, The Legitimati, and do your weekly homework with us! It's also the perfect way to rub elbows with our fabulous guests.

For full show notes and more visit www.toolegitimatetoquit.com

So - they're paying attention, now what? How do you turn dopamine-bumping likes into dollar-earning leads? What's the next step for followers who have been hanging out in your DMs and comment threads for weeks or even years?

This week, Annie P. is joined by social media maven Hannah Acosta of Ugly Mug Marketing. Harnessing ads, email, and a special offer or two, Hannah takes listeners through setting up a social media funnel that converts. This episode is packed with real-world examples and time-saving hacks. Then, Hannah introduces Annie to the delicious showcase of artistry and flavor known as Somebody Feed Phil! How can you sell as exuberantly as Phil eats?

What's Inside:
0:00 - Intro & Theme
02:23 - Main Interview with Hannah
37:20 - Somebody Feed Phil tie-in
59:16 - Final Thought & Homework

*Parentpreneur advisory: this episode contains colorful language.

Connect with Hannah through Ugly Mug Marketing's website and Instagram.
Check out their free guide to creating 3 months' worth of content in 1 day!

This episode joins the Legitimate Nextflix playlist! Click here for all the episodes based on Netflix Originals.

Craving connection, co-working, and a way to enjoy your time on LinkedIn? Join our free community, The Legitimati, and do your weekly homework with us! It's also the perfect way to rub elbows with our fabulous guests.

For full show notes and more visit www.toolegitimatetoquit.com

Have you bought into your own hype? And - in practice - is that a good thing or a bad thing? Will your success inadvertently harm the folks who have had your back since the beginning? How can we move from 1-to-1 to 1-to-Many without anyone feeling abandoned?

This week's episode is what happens when two ex-theatre kids who have found their way (and paychecks) in Communications get to nerd out about rock musicals. Ron Ben-Joseph, performer, comedian, and speaking coach, brings so much energy, wit, and wisdom to this chat and has Annie laughing and singing (ok, scream belting) throughout. It's not to be missed if you have a performance background (or wish you did), you lie awake at night worrying about your customers, and/or you're still figuring out how to command your place in the spotlight.

What's Inside:
0:00 - Intro & Theme
02:33 - Main Interview with Ron
33:58 - Jesus Christ Superstar tie-in
59:03 - Final Thought & Homework

*Parentpreneur advisory: this episode contains colorful language.

Connect with Ron through his website and LinkedIn!

This episode joins the Legitimate Musicals playlist! Click here for all the episodes. Yes, there's a Rent one.

Craving connection, co-working, and a way to enjoy your time on LinkedIn? Join our free community, The Legitimati, and do your weekly homework with us! It's also the perfect way to rub elbows with our fabulous guests.

For full show notes and more visit www.toolegitimatetoquit.com

Does tracking your business growth (or losses) have to be so anxiety-inducing? On the flipside, does analyzing your data have to be so dang dry and boring? HECK NO. Although it's hard to focus on profits, profits, profits all the time, it's essential if you ever want to fully leave the "hobby" phase of business building. Thankfully, Annie is joined this week by Heather Zeitzwolfe, who is not only a CPA, but also a speaker, podcaseter, vegan, activist, goofball, cat lady, and more. 

In this jam-packed episode, Heather unveils The D.U.C.K.I.E Method - a guide to entrepreneurial growth in lovely times and lean times alike. You've never had this much fun getting "radical" with your numbers! (And if you know Jon Cryer and/or Annie Potts, please send this interview immediately.)

What's Inside:
0:00 - Intro & Theme
02:48 - Main Interview with Heather
29:10 - Pretty in Pink tie-in
53:15 - Final Thought & Homework

*Parentpreneur advisory: this episode contains colorful language.

Connect with Heather through her website, Instagram and LinkedIn!
Don't forget to check out her podcast, Get the Balance Right.

Craving connection, co-working, and a way to enjoy your time on LinkedIn? Join our free community, The Legitimati, and do your weekly homework with us! It's also the perfect way to rub elbows with our fabulous guests.

For full show notes and more visit www.toolegitimatetoquit.com

Are you treating yourself like your most prized asset? Do you find it hard to rest, or even slow down? And what's the truth of "hustle culture;" do we really need to push harder to get further? If the cost of your entrepreneurial lifestyle is beginning to outweigh the payoff, this episode is for you.

This week, Annie P. is joined by the soothing, brilliant mind of Greg Wieting, a healer who specializes in working with anxious, depressed, overloaded leaders and entrepreneurs. Together, they talk about trauma and stress' effect on our nervous systems and the critical importance of self-regulation before jumping headfirst into the free-wheeling, craze-causing, never-ending jam band that is Phish.

What's Inside:
0:00 - Intro & Theme
01:58 - Main Interview with Greg
27:44 - Phish tie-in
42:00 - Final Thought & Homework

*Parentpreneur advisory: this episode contains colorful language.

Connect with Greg through his website and Instagram.
Don't forget to check out PRISMA at https://www.prismamethod.com/.
10% of all sales are donated to help prevent suicide among LBGTQ youth.

Craving connection, co-working, and a way to enjoy your time on LinkedIn? Join our free community, The Legitimati, and do your weekly homework with us! It's also the perfect way to rub elbows with our fabulous guests.

For full show notes and more visit www.toolegitimate.com.

How well do you know your numbers? For many, many small business owners, the answer is "not nearly enough." When you wear 17 different hats on any given day, it's easy enough to ignore the books and bank accounts and wait until closer to Tax Day. But, we can't fix or grow what we don't know.

This week, Annie P. is joined by Danielle Hayden, "reformed corporate CFO," author, and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc. Danielle delivers a guilt-free, judgment-free Q&A session on bookkeeping, taxes, monthly reporting, shame, confidence, and more. Come brush up your definitions of the terms you know (or think you know) and fill in the gaps you always wanted to ask about but, you know... not in front of everybody. Then, Danielle draws wisdom and inspiration from Beth Dutton (played by Kelly Reilly), the calculated, brilliant banker/daughter from Paramount's Yellowstone.

What's Inside:
0:00 - Intro & Theme
01:39 - Main Interview with Danielle
33:36 - Yellowstone tie-in
47:35 - Final Thought & Homework

*Parentpreneur advisory: this episode contains colorful language.

Connect with Danielle through her website, Instagram and LinkedIn!
Don't forget to check out her podcast, Entrepreneur Money Stories.

Craving connection, co-working, and a way to enjoy your time on LinkedIn? Join our free community, The Legitimati, and do your weekly homework with us! It's also the perfect way to rub elbows with our fabulous guests.

For full show notes and more visit www.toolegitimatetoquit.com