Unconventional Mindset

Robert Newcombe is the founder of AI-First Consulting, a firm that helps businesses implement AI into their daily processes to improve performance, productivity, and collaboration.

Driven by curiosity, Robert discusses how he got started with AI, the importance of embracing this technology, and offers his reflections on how AI is reshaping the workplace and the future of work itself.

Follow Robert:
🌐 Website 👉 https://www.ai-first.ca/
🔗 LinkedIn (Personal) 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertnewcombe/
🔗 LinkedIn (Company) 👉 https://linkedin.com/company/ai-first-consulting

Today Robert will cover:
🔹 How to get started with AI
🔹 How AI can save you hours of work
🔹 Finding pain points in your life that AI can solve
🔹 Privacy concerns with data
🔹 Building AI agents
🔹 Organizing information inside ChatGPT

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:29 Lean Six Sigma process
00:08:38 Improving government efficiency
00:10:22 Getting in the field of AI and starting a company
00:18:44 Going all in on AI
00:20:48 Putting together a team
00:23:43 How AI can help do better work
00:28:01 Businesses struggling to keep up with AI
00:29:26 How to get started with AI
00:31:19 Privacy and data security
00:34:43 Using AI to help create this podcast
00:36:50 Making custom GPTs and organizing information in ChatGPT
00:43:54 Look for small wins when starting with AI
00:46:32 Learn AI to make you more valuable in your job
00:49:15 AI agents and how to implement them to solve pain points
01:00:07 Is AI hurting our ability to learn?
01:03:95 Future of work and AI
01:08:39 Just get started so you don't get left behind

Curtis Scaplen is the founder of Action Consulting. A proud father of two, Curtis focuses on helping businesses plan and achieve long term success.

On today’s episode Curtis walks us through his journey from a corporate career working in the tobacco industry, learning how to be a leader, and eventually coming home to Atlantic Canada, helping small businesses grow and transition.

[Follow Curtis:
🌐 Website 👉 https://action.ca/
🔗 LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtisscaplen/

Today Curtis will cover:
🔹Working in a controversial industry
🔹How to be a great leader
🔹How to prepare to sell your business
🔹Gaining strength through family
🔹Being kind vs. being nice

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:04 Parents influence on entrepreneurship
00:02:48 Moving away from home
00:05:01 Working in the tobacco industry
00:10:18 Building relationships with customers
00:15:11 Learning how to be a leader
00:19:48 Focus on what you can control
00:25:30 Moving back home to Nova Scotia
00:31:11 Learn how to communicate authentically
00:34:37 Working with clients
00:36:51 Accountability in business
00:43:00 Having goals in business
00:44:28 Biggest mistake in leadership
00:47:16 Can ego driven “leaders” change?
00:49:51 Being nice vs. being kind
00:53:37 Taking over the family business
01:00:29 Opportunity to buy businesses
01:02:38 How to get a succession plan ready
01:08:30 Should you buy a business?
01:14:05 You can learn business as you go
01:15:18 Dealing with mother’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis
01:21:26 Importance of opening up
01:23:14 How to deal with difficult times

Mike Morrison is the founder and president of SocialNext, Canada’s largest and most influential marketing event organization.

His mission is to make marketing education and networking accessible and impactful for everyone, creating spaces for people to learn, grow and share ideas.

Follow Mike:
🌐 Website 👉 https://socialnext.ca/
🔗 YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@SocialNextEvents
🔗 LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelmorrison/
🔗 Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikesbloggity/

Today Mike will cover:
🔹Why you should always tell the truth
🔹The importance of building relationships
🔹Always deliver value to your customers
🔹How to think about pricing
🔹The importance of budgeting

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:43 Why start SocialNext?
00:05:26 Mike’s different approach to business 
00:12:40 Staying away from phycology hacks
00:18:42 Setting up business for long term success
00:21:56 Hosting a podcast
00:27:46 Relationships are the most important thing in business 
00:26:45 Balance between creating content and distribution
00:34:25 Pay your dues
00:43:21 Giving everyone the same experience at conferences
00:48:39 Know the problem you are trying to solve
00:55:20 Reaching sustainability and stability in business
00:59:34 Just do the work as a new business
01:03:45 Know when to go against the common business narrative
01:10:17 The importance of representation
01:14:32 Looking at data and understanding why decisions are made
01:18:08 Advice on teaching your skills
01:27:15 Losing $80,000 in one event
01:32:44 Don’t forget to eat chips everyday
01:33:54 Advice to new entrepreneurs
01:45:39 Breakdown of Piixel’s marketing
01:52:02 Know when to keep going or to give up on your idea

After a successful 33 year career in public service, Earl Hoeg shares his insights on leadership, self-awareness and entrepreneurship.

Earl is the president of PeopleFirst, an organization dedicated to teaching people how to be great leaders.

Today Earl will cover:
🔹The importance of self-awareness
🔹Treating others how they want to be treated
🔹The Insights Discovery and colour personalities
🔹The role of AI in leadership development
🔹Great leadership is learned
🔹It's never to late to reinvent yourself

Follow Earl:
🌐 Website 👉 https://peoplefirst.ca
🔗 LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/earlhoeg/

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:20 Experience in the public sector
00:06:16 How to put people first as a leader
00:11:48 Why start PeopleFirst after retirement
00:18:37 It's never too late to pursue your WHY
00:21:37 Advantage of starting entrepreneurship later in life
00:23:54 What is leadership
00:28:45 What to look for in employees early on
00:31:14 How to build trust in your team
00:35:15 What it means to put people first
00:37:45 Insights Discover
00:51:31 Breaking down Odum's Insights colour personality
00:56:09 Understanding how to deal with different personalities
01:03:42 Using Insights to increase results
01:07:09 How to encourage personal growth in people
01:13:05 How will AI disrupt how people lead
01:16:48 Biggest fears around AI
01:20:10 Leadership as a continual learning process
01:22:00 Leadership is a skill that anyone can learn
01:23:53 Setting big, scary goals

Will Yang is a gifted storyteller, specializing in short-form video and today he breaks down what you can do to tell better stories today, even with no experience.

Will Yang is the CEO and creative director of Differo Marketing where he helps brands and businesses tell authentic stories, driving awareness and connecting audiences around the world.

On the podcast today, Will shares his story of turning his creativity into a full-time sustainable business, along with the challenges and rewards found along the way.

Today Will will cover:
🔹Start before you’re ready
🔹Focus beats perfection
🔹Do boring things really well
🔹Stop obsessing over gear
🔹Protecting your creativity
🔹Your phone is a powerful storytelling tool 

Follow Will:
🌐 Website 👉 https://www.differo.ca/
🔗 LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/willyanghfx/
🔗 Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/willyanghfx/

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:00 Music as a universal language
00:02:32 Immigrating to Canada and life in China
00:10:26 Lessons learned from early days of business
00:12:37 Being a storyteller
00:16:06 Challenges faced in business and how to overcome them
00:23:39 Avoid busy work
00:25:08 How to know when to upgrade your gear
00:28:00 Building a sustainable business
00:32:38 Do the boring thing so good you have to get noticed
00:34:34 What does Differo do now?
00:35:08 Will's thoughts on AI in the creative industry
00:41:15 The importance of being curious
00:45:12 Being a people pleaser
00:46:51 Dealing with out-of-scope client requests
00:49:02 Advice for creatives going into entrepreneurship
00:51:28 How to get clients as a creative
00:57:08 How to tell good stories
01:05:15 Exploring Will's creative process
01:11:49 How to keep the creative passion alive
01:14:32 Is there such a think as work life balance?
01:18:18 What do people get wrong about content creation?
01:24:06 Will's last words

Greg Dobson discusses his journey from working with Red Bull, navigating personal tragedy, and building a career centered around people, purpose, and meaningful connection.

Learn how to survive and transform grief into impact, how to build strong professional relationships, and how small businesses can compete for top talent without big budgets.

Follow Greg:
🌐 Website 👉 https://www.humankind-recruitment.com/
🔗 LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwdobson/
🔗 Email 👉 [email protected]

Today Greg will cover:
🔹The value of networking and building long term relationships
🔹Coping with grief, loss and going from tragedy to legacy
🔹Understanding what a brand is
🔹How to hire and keep top talent
🔹How to maximize your chances of landing a job

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:14 Working with Red Bull and learning sales
00:05:02 Going to school to study marketing
00:08:30 Passing of younger brother
00:14:28 Turning tragedy into legacy
00:18:24 Working with big brands
00:22:29 Building people skills
00:24:51 How to do marketing without a big budget
00:32:29 What do people get wrong about branding?
00:40:00 Mission and vision at Humankind
00:45:25 Human side of recruiting
00:50:05 How to attract top talent to your company
00:59:56 The importance of creating a network in your community
01:03:05 How to stand out when applying for a job
01:10:31 Don’t be afraid to ask – shoot your shot!

Sean Meister is the founder of Global Bluenosers, a grassroots community of Nova Scotians coming together driving economic impact for the province.

In this episode Sean shares how his upbringing, travels, and professional experiences have led to the creation of Global Bluenosers. We also dive into entrepreneurship, the power of community, and how identity can help shape purpose-driven careers.

Follow Sean:
🌐 Website 👉 https://globalbluenosers.ca/
🎙️ Podcast (Spotify) 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1BPKHrFrw8U5lS81E1C84y
🎙️ Podcast (Apple) 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/global-bluenosers/id1682535772
🎙️ Podcast YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@globalbluenosers 
🔗 Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/globalbluenosers/
🔗 LinkedIn (Sean) 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanmeister/
🔗 LinkedIn (Global Bluenosers) 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-bluenosers/

Today Sean will cover:
🔹Differences between community and network
🔹Why founders need peers who challenge, not flatter
🔹The importance of understanding your market and validating your idea
🔹Using community to drive economic growth

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:31 Growing up in rural Nova Scotia
00:05:12 Power of food to make connections
00:09:20 Nova Scotia and its strong pull home
00:12:12 Finding “home” abroad
00:16:16 Confidence and mental challenges of entrepreneurship
00:22:07 Returning to Nova Scotia
00:24:59 Finding meaning in work
00:26:29 Experience working with entrepreneurs
00:29:47 Don’t fall in love with your idea
00:37:56 What is Global Bluenosers
00:39:49 Entrepreneurial journey of Global Bluenosers
00:46:21 Importance of value in the community
00:58:09 Global Bluenosers as an engine for economic growth
01:02:47 Why a not-for-profit company
01:09:31 The Global Bluenosers membership platform
01:11:55 The importance of talking to your customers
01:16:01 Pitfalls to avoid with a community or membership platform
01:22:01 Using LinkedIn to build an authentic brand
01:27:53 Building trust and personal connections
01:33:16 What’s next for Global Bluenosers

Joshua Counsil a co-founder of Good Robot Brewing and a highly sought after keynote speaker.

Joshua studied mechanical engineering with a goal to become a Disney Imagineer, but eventually he channeled that passion into the hospitality industry, creating amazing experiences for his guests within some of the most popular beer gardens in Nova Scotia.

Follow Joshua:
🌐 Website 👉 https://www.joshuacounsil.com/
🌐 Good Robot Brewing 👉 https://goodrobotbrewing.ca/
🌐 The Beverage Factory 👉https://www.thebeveragefactory.ca/
🔗 YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@UCVrSKOUu9HxPtRubeklq7og
🔗 LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacounsil/

Today Joshua will cover:
🔹The importance of creating experiences
🔹How to start with the customer, not the brand
🔹How successful brand evolve through iteration and feedback
🔹Solve a clear problem
🔹What he looks for in his staff

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:34 Joshua’s upbringing
00:05:00 The magic of Disney
00:11:01 Founding Good Robot
00:24:17 Growth of Good Robot
00:32:30 Thoughts on quality
00:42:29 “Overnight” success
00:44:08 Future of Good Robot manufacturing
00:45:56 Future of Good Robot
00:49:15 Hospitality
00:53:54 What’s next for Joshua
01:00:35 How to become successful as an entrepreneur

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers - it’s about knowing yourself, staying consistent, and connecting deeply with your team.

Ange MacCabe from Intuity Performance breaks down what it really takes to lead effectively, especially as an entrepreneur navigating growth, uncertainty, and human dynamics.

Follow Ange:
🌐 Website 👉 https://www.intuityperformance.com
🔗 YouTube 👉  @intuityperformance4839
🔗 Facebook 👉 https://www.facebook.com/IntuityPerformance/
🔗 LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/intuity-performance
🔗 Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/intuity.performance/

00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:20 Intuity Performance
00:03:13 Ange’s background
00:04:47 Getting into leadership coaching 
00:09:03 Misconceptions of leadership
00:12:40 How entrepreneurs should approach leadership
00:22:52 Where do leaders get stuck 
00:26:08 Vulnerability in leadership
00:29:26 How Intuity coaches and facilitates leaders
00:31:26 The importance of self-awareness
00:37:02 Daily habits for leadership
00:37:53 Where should you start to become a better leader?
00:39:23 Emotional intelligence on a daily basis
00:42:17 Odum’s experience
00:53:18 Biggest breakthrough for Ange in becoming a leadership coach
00:59:20 Final thoughts

Ross Simmonds is a leader in content marketing and today he breaks down what we need to do to be seen after we hit publish.

Ross Simmonds is a leading voice in B2B marketing, widely known as the king of distribution. He is the founder of Foundation and Distribution.ai and is a bestselling author of Create Once, Distribute Forever.

Today Ross will cover:
🔹Putting aside doubt to pursue your dreams
🔹How to experiment to move your business forward
🔹Putting out value out in the world
🔹Good content is the bare minimum
🔹How distribution gets your content to the right people
🔹Learning from people further along than you

🕒 Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:04 Ross’ background
00:04:00 Overcoming doubts
00:07:39 Growing Foundation
00:10:17 Being aware of trends
00:11:29 Marketing advice for new entrepreneurs
00:18:20 Content and distribution
00:26:45 Balance between creating content and distribution
00:28:00 Re-purposing old content
00:30:33 Knowing if content is good
00:36:40 Analyzing data
00:41:06 What is Ross excited about
00:47:22 Experimenting as an entrepreneur
00:52:03 Lessons learned from building software
00:55:24 Striving for excellence
01:00:24 Investing in startups
01:02:20 What’s next for Ross
01:05:01 Advice for new entrepreneurs