How To Find And Follow Your Personal Truth With Kute Blackson
Kute Blackson is transforming lives with his electrifying energy and profound spiritual insight. Luminaries such as Larry King, Levar Burton and John Gray have hailed him for his bold take on life coaching. In today’s episode, Kute explores why recognizing and following your own truth is the only way to live a productive and fulfilled life. He also shows us how to create a deeper sense of purpose, and reveals how his multicultural background helps him smash through limitations.
Topics include:
- The three questions you need to ask yourself to uncover your truth
- Finding alignment with your own integrity
- Letting go of your current reality to tap into bigger perspectives
- Getting in touch with your pain
A charismatic visionary and transformational teacher, Kute Blackson offers a fresh, bold look at spiritual awareness for a whole new generation. Kute’s unique lineage lays the blueprint for his approach to breaking down barriers and setting the gifts and greatness of others free. Born in Ghana, West Africa, Kute’s multicultural upbringing as the child of a Japanese mother and a Ghanaian father has spanned four different continents.
He has hosted his own weekly radio show on KYPA 1230 AM, in addition to making regular television appearances. Today, the venue for his message may be one-on-one, a vast stadium setting, a corporate seminar or anything in-between. He is highly sought out by major companies, seeking to redefine their paradigm of success, and inspire greatness. Kute’s debut book, YOU.ARE.THE.ONE., was released through Simon and Schuster on June 7, 2016. Colored with experiences from his own incredible journey, YOU.ARE.THE.ONE. shows readers how to unlock their true potential and live a life they love, through love.
Learn more about Kute at kuteblackson.com, boundlessblissbali.com, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
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How To Lead With Cultural Fluency With Jane Hyun
Jane Hyun is a distinguished leadership strategist, bestselling author, and one of the world’s foremost authorities on cross-cultural effectiveness. Today she breaks down the principles for leading with cultural fluency, and reveals how you can use them to empower your team, strengthen your business, and build meaningful relationships across cultures. She also encourages all leaders to question their assumptions, adopt a curious attitude, and reaffirm their organization’s key values.
Topics include:
- Defining what cultural fluency means to you
- Common mistakes leaders make with cultural differences
- The three questions everyone should ask themselves before speaking with people from different cultures
- How to really connect with people
Jane Hyun is the Founder and President of Hyun & Associates and a leadership strategist to Fortune 500 companies. A trusted coach to organizations, her expertise in cross-cultural effectiveness comes from 24 years of experience in high stakes business environments. She helps organizations leverage diverse teams to drive competitive value and collaboration. She has held management posts at JPMorgan, Deloitte, and Resources Global.
A graduate of Cornell University with a degree in Economics, Jane is an advisor to the Center for Talent Innovation, American Heart Association Diversity Council, and Operation Exodus. She appears on media such as CNN, CNBC, Wall Street Journal, HBS Working Knowledge, Forbes, and NPR to discuss culture and leadership. She is the author of the bestseller Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling, and co-author of Flex: The New Playbook for Managing Across Differences.
Learn more about Jane at hyunassociates.com, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Finding Your Inner Focus With Paul Kirch
Today on Smashing The Plateau, BOSS Academy Radio host Paul Kirch talks about his heartfelt journey into self-discovery and entrepreneurship. During the course of our conversation, Paul reveals the importance of finding inner focus, shows us how to find the right emotional support, and reveals how leaders can learn to embrace and take advantage of their slumps.
We discuss…
- The importance of short term goals (and how to meet them)
- How to manage your negative emotions
- Centering your work culture on communication and empowerment
- Giving back to the professional community
Paul Kirch is the host of BOSS Academy Radio, a show catering to business owners and entrepreneurs, where he shares his experiences and expertise while bringing in guests who provide high-value messaging to give support to listeners. BOSS stands for Business Ownership Success Strategies, which is the focus of every episode. Paul also currently serves as the President and CEO of WebsitesandLeads.com, a premier digital marketing agency, known for creating powerful and actionable online assets, including websites, apps, APIs, and powerful inbound lead generation strategies.
Paul is a regular contributor to the business learning application called Audvisor, alongside experts such as Seth Godin and Guy Kawasaki. He provides insights on sales, business management and entrepreneurship.
Learn more about Paul at LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
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Saying Goodbye To Traditional Referrals With Steve Gordon
Steve Gordon is a referral marketing expert, bestselling author and CEO of The Unstoppable CEO. Today we explore his concept of a referral kit and how to build one. Steve also reveals why his innovative referral system is the ticket to breaking down barriers and building valuable relationships.
Topics include:
- Why the referral process is a key ingredient to success
- Why you shouldn’t look for do-it-yourself clients
- Marketing tools vs. paid products and services
- How to up your game as a provider of high-ticket services
Steve Gordon is the author of the book Unstoppable Referrals and publisher of The Unstoppable CEO—The Leadership Journal for Growing Firms. He is the editor of three business newsletters and has published hundreds of articles on marketing and selling high-ticket products and services in high-trust transactions.
At age 28, Steve Gordon became the CEO of an engineering/consulting firm. Twelve years later, after growing that firm’s revenue by 10-times, he started his second business, consulting 1-on-1 with businesses across 30 industries including manufacturing, professional services, construction, and consulting to design sales, marketing and referral systems for high-ticket/ high-trust products and services.
Learn more about Steve at LinkedIn and Twitter, and download his referral mindset scorecard at unstoppableceo.net/smashing.
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Empathy And The Customer Experience Featuring Jana Sedivy
In today’s episode of Smashing The Plateau, technology maven and Authentic Insight Founder Jana Sedivy reveals how business leaders – especially techies – can harness the power of empathy and connection to create more valuable and meaningful customer experiences. She also talks about taking a more strategic approach to personal development and reveals incomparable insight into effective customer engagement.
We discuss…
- Why leaders are afraid to reach out to customers (and how not to be)
- How to end the disconnect between designer and user
- Not being distracted by magical formulas
- How to curate advice
- Lessons on the power of personal story from President Obama
Jana Sedivy helps B2B tech companies understand their customers better so that they can improve their customer experience. Basically, when tech companies get tired of making product decisions based on the loudest engineer in the room, they give Jana a call. Happy customers lead to better customer retention, more referrals, and faster sales cycles.
Jana has been at the intersection of people and technology for the last 20 years and holds 21 patents for innovative user experience technology. She specializes in the kind of software that you don’t typically see, but keeps our society running smoothly, including inventory management systems, document automation, or print server management. She is deeply uncool in many other ways as well.
Learn more about Jana at authenticinsight.com, LinkedIn and Twitter, and find an exclusive download for Smashing The Plateau listeners at authenticinsight.com/plateau.
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The Right Way To Solve Problems With Joe Kashurba
Joe Kashurba turned his high school web design business into a global digital agency. Today he reveals why (and how) leaders need to take a diagnostic approach to problem solving instead of an emotional one to push themselves forward. He also shares why effective marketing, a solid sales game, and a steady customer base are the secret ingredients to getting a successful business off the ground.
We discuss…
- Building the confidence to charge more for your services
- Why identifying your fears is the first step to overcoming them
- Finding insight from your best clients
- Why it’s easy to lose focus in the web space (and how to get it back)
Joe Kashurba is a successful entrepreneur, online marketing consultant and nationally award-winning website designer. He transformed the freelance web design business he started in high school into a digital agency with a virtual team and clients around the world. He went from building $300 websites to building $30,000 websites and managing 6-figure digital advertising budgets for some of the largest manufacturing and construction companies.
Joe has worked with clients around the United States and internationally. He now advises and mentors other freelance web designers and digital agency owners on how to develop and scale their businesses. Joe graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Information Science and a minor in Computer Science.
Learn more about Joe at kashurbawebdesign.com, LinkedIn and joekashurba.com.
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How To Master Your Time Management With Nicholas Spike
As the Vice President of Development for Thuzio Executive Club, Nicholas Spike harnesses the power of influence to empower brands, launch businesses and foster connections. Today he shares how his eclectic background in sports, art, sales, networking and business has helped him become an exceptional leader and even better team player. Nick also discusses why (and how) Thuzio’s star-studded events are so successful, and reveals why using your time in the most creative and effective way possible is the key to achieving your personal and professional goals.
Topics include:
- The best ways to improve time management (for you and your team)
- Why delegating tasks to your team is the secret to growing a business
- The importance of in-person collaboration
- How to build relationships in the digital age
Nicholas Spike is the current Senior Vice President for Thuzio Executive Club and manages East Coast sales, service and operations teams. Thuzio Executive Club provides over 300 member accounts and their guests with the most memorable business events of the year. Prior to joining Thuzio, Nick worked in the Inside Sales program at the New York Jets, Premium Sales with the New Jersey Devils and Suite & Partnership Sales with the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Nick is a graduate from Penn State University. He is the co-author of Anuskiewicz: Paintings and Sculptures 1945-2001, a Catalogue Raisonné and collaborated with his father, art historian John T. Spike, on the catalogue raisonné of the paintings of Gregorio Preti.
Learn more about Nick at LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Dorie Clark Talks Niche, Authority And Content Creation
Dorie Clark returns to Smashing The Plateau to explore her interesting twist on niche, and how to use it to strengthen your business and pave the way for future opportunities. During our conversation, Dorie also talks about doubling down during your personal and professional growth phases, unveils the three key components to becoming an authority in your field, shows us how to create killer content, and much more.
Topics include:
- How to improve service-based industries with a time-limited niche
- The force of decentralization (and what it means for the future of business)
- Letting go of old ideas to create game-changing ones
- Why we’re all in a race to the bottom (and how to fight against it)
- The relationship between social media and politics
- Why working on small and exponential improvements simultaneously is the key to overcoming obstacles
Dorie Clark is the author of Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future (Harvard Business Review Press, 2013) and the forthcoming Stand Out: How to Find Your Breakthrough Idea and Build a Following Around It (Portfolio/Penguin, 2015). A former presidential campaign spokeswoman, she is a frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Entrepreneur. Recognized as a “branding expert” by the Associated Press and Fortune, Clark is a marketing strategy consultant and speaker for clients including Google, Microsoft, Yale University, Fidelity, and the World Bank.
She is an Adjunct Professor of Business Administration at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a Visiting Professor for IE Business School in Madrid. She has guest lectured at Harvard Business School, the Harvard Kennedy School, Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, the Wharton School, the MIT Sloan School of Management, and more. She is a frequent guest on MSNBC and appears in worldwide media including NPR, the Wall Street Journal, and the BBC.
Learn more about Dorie (and download her free workbook) at dorieclark.com, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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How To Build A Team of Superstars
In today’s episode, sales guru and Business Development University CEO Lisa Peskin shows us how to build a team of superstar performers. She also reveals how to become an impressive mentor, show us how to up our sales game, and explains why business is all about helping as many people as you can.
Topics include:
- The power of triage
- Why facing your fears may lead to undiscovered passions
- The difference between being a manager and being a leader
- Why you need to give people enough runway
- Taking on the tough conversations with your team
Lisa Peskin is the Founder and CEO of Business Development University (BDU), a results driven sales and sales management training, coaching and consulting company. She has more than 30 years of experience in sales performance and management. Throughout her career, she has developed an award-winning reputation as a motivational and results-oriented sales professional. After a successful career as Vice President of Sales for Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Lisa launched her own sales training, consulting and coaching business in 2003. Since then, Lisa has helped thousands of selling and non-selling professionals dramatically improve their business development efforts and results through training, just in time support and programs designed to maximize opportunities and drive ROI. Lisa received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA in Marketing from Temple University. Lisa resides in Upper Dublin, PA and is married with two children.
Learn more about Lisa at LinkedIn and Twitter.
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How To Craft A Compelling Story With Rochelle Lisner
On her second appearance on Smashing The Plateau, verbal branding and growth expert Rochelle Lisner explores how to craft a clear, memorable and dynamic story that will launch your business in a big way. She also sheds light on her concept of thought interruption, and reveals how to harness the power of language to showcase your expertise, attract your ideal client, and break through serious obstacles.
We discuss…
- Why the quality of your language will dictate the quality of your business
- Mastering your personal pitch
- Grabbing attention in unexpected ways
- The importance of having conversations with your target audience
- Lessons on language from Donald Trump
Rochelle Lisner’s mission is and has always been to energize, inspire and educate business owners to achieve productivity, profit and peace. Since 2007, she has helped corporations and entrepreneurs resolve their sales, internal communications and business growth headaches.
With a background in the challenging world of corporate travel, Rochelle brings an interactive, and practical approach to sales and scaling key talent, borne out of dealing with diverse industries, crisis management, multicultural clients, and demanding customers. Rochelle’s deep understanding of how to communicate powerfully in a “noisy” world (both internally and externally), helps business owners and their teams engage in “Story Telling, not Boring Telling” for the consistent and powerful verbal branding they need for greater focus and profits.
Learn more about Rochelle at dynamicbusinessgrowth.com, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Click here to learn more about her upcoming workshop.
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How To Reach Your Full Potential With Bonnie Fatio
Bonnie Fatio wants you to embrace your age, realize your worth, and start reaching your full potential. As an internationally recognized motivational speaker (and Founder of AgeEsteem®), Bonnie knows how to transform people into their best selves – not to mention powerful leaders. Today she reveals how to harness your individuality and share your genius with the world.
Topics include:
- Learning from the past to push yourself forward
- Becoming who you are instead of who you should be
- Stepping into your own leadership power
- Visions vs. goals
- Why you always need professional help (and where to find it)
Bonnie Fatio is a master catalyst who ignites the fire in others to realize their dreams. As Founder of AgeEsteem® she inspires and challenges audiences of all ages to embrace a positive attitude toward aging and to reach new heights during each stage of life. Her book, AgeEsteem: Growing a Positive Attitude Toward Aging, empowers readers with inspirational anecdotes and practical advice. Most recently, Bonnie launched Inspired Women Lead, a program of exponential leadership mentoring across borders and across cultures. Already women in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America are being mentored and are mentoring others to lead globally. Bonnie believes, “if we aspire to positively transform our world, then we must promote women into leadership positions at all levels of society around the globe.”
Learn more about Bonnie at bonniefatio.com, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Trust, Transparency and Mentorship With Simon Biltcliffe
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, Webmart Founder and CEO Simon Biltcliffe tells us what it means to run a Marxist-Capitalist business, and reveals why trust, transparency and mentorship are the most important principles of business. We discuss the power of natural justice and eliminating superficial personas, and Simon even shows us how to build a meaningful relationship in just one hour.
We discuss…
- How to keep up the energy in your business
- Really bringing yourself to the workplace
- Chasing opportunities to help people everyday
- Managing a younger workforce
- Why you should join a mentor group
Simon Biltcliffe is the creative and rebellious soul behind the Print Services Agency, Webmart. An ambitious student of economics and politics with a natural bent for brand development, he set up Webmart in 1996 with £10k of his own money and has never looked back. He formed the UKs foremost (and only?!) Marxist-Capitalist business that builds relationships of trust between customers and suppliers with a goal of “doing good while doing well.” Simon also loves undertaking massive physical challenges including ice marathons and completing the notorious Marathon des Sables.
Learn more about Simon at LinkedIn and Twitter.
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From Teenage Designer To Fashion Mogul
Rachael McCrary is the Founder and CEO of Jewel Toned – the first body positive shapewear company. Today she talks about her journey from teenage designer to a mover and shaker in the fashion industry. She also reveals why entrepreneurs should follow their excitement, embrace that uncomfortable feeling, and learn to become as flexible (and open-minded) as possible.
Topics include:
- How to research (and execute) your ideas
- The importance of having a meditation practice
- Exercises for getting your brand up and running
- Why people still enjoy shopping the old fashioned way
- Advice for leaders struggling in the retail space
Rachael McCrary is a lingerie expert, fashion designer, business advisor and life-long entrepreneur. Throughout her career, she has worked overseeing product development for major brands. Her latest venture, Jewel Toned, is dedicated to changing the psychology around shapewear. Rachael is heavily involved in the startup community, having won 7 pitch competitions. She was the first single female founder to raise $1M in 2015.
Rachael studied Fashion Design at FIDM in San Francisco and FIT in New York City. She’s a Certified Martha Beck Life Coach, Certified Sivananda Yoga Teacher, RYT-500 and just began the Innovation Entrepreneurship program at Stanford University.
Learn more about Rachael at LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
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How To Succeed In A High-End Market With Jeffrey Shaw
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, business coach and renowned portrait photographer Jeffrey Shaw shows us what it takes to strike it big in a high-end market. During the course of our conversation, Jeffrey talks about owning and articulating your talents, explains why most people build their businesses backwards, and reveals how to build an enterprise with an emotional hook.
Topics include:
- Identifying your why
- Understanding (and tapping into) your customer’s secret language
- Playing with the energy of money
- How to align your business with the right market
Business coach and speaker Jeffrey Shaw encourages entrepreneurs to use their natural creative strengths to build businesses that are profitable and fulfilling so they can make a living doing what they love. He is also the host of the popular podcast, Creative Warriors, which is often ranked as one of iTunes hottest business podcasts. Jeffrey is a contributor to the Huffington Post, and is also the creator of the online training program The Creative Warrior Unleashed. He has been cited in various publications and trade journals.
Learn more about Jeffrey at jeffreyshaw.com, creativewarriorsunite.com, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Transforming Your Self-Worth With Jason Forrest
Jason Forrest is a public speaker, author, and award-winning coach and trainer. Today he shows us how to reprogram our personal convictions and revolutionize our businesses by breaking down some of his most valuable concepts. He also offers insight into improving self-worth, overcoming self-inflicted limitations, sharing experiences instead of giving advice, how to find the right coach, and much more.
Topics include:
- The two truths to success and the paradox of success
- Beliefs vs. behaviors
- Why the most successful people are procedural based
- Slug it out goals vs. change the game goals
- How to fulfill the six human needs of psychology
Jason Forrest is a thought leader and behavioral change expert on a mission to convince everyone he knows that they are enough! He is a sales trainer, a management coach, and the author of three books, including his latest, Leadership Sales Coaching. He is Chairman of the National Speakers Association’s Million Dollar Speakers Group. Jason has been awarded Training Magazine’s Top Young Trainer and a Gold Stevie Award for Sales Training Leader of the Year, and has also been awarded the top sales management program in the world. Jason is an expert at creating high-performance cultures through complete training programs. He incorporates experiential learning to increase profit, implement cultural accountability, and transform companies into high performance organizations by unleashing their human performance.
Learn more about Jason at FPG, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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How To Lead With Your Intuitive Mind
Julie Chan “came out” as psychic at the height of her career in economic development. Today she reveals how she found the inner courage to share her abilities with the world and begin a new personal and professional pilgrimage. Julie also discusses why having a true understanding of fear and joy will help entrepreneurs find inspiration, strengthen their intuitive muscles, and burst through limitations.
Topics include:
- Jumping into the unfamiliar
- How to lead with your intuitive mind
- The spectrum of fear and joy
- Focusing your time to promote creativity
- Why participating in the arts can transform your life (and business)
Julie Chan is the Founder of Being My Purpose, a social enterprise whose mission is to empower people to know their life purpose and express it everyday with courage and creativity. Through intuitive readings, purpose coaching and inner empowerment education, she’s coached over 120 executives and entrepreneurs around the world to find clarity, purpose, and fulfillment in their careers, businesses, and lives. Julie supports new or existing inner empowerment non-profit programs for youth and adults. She is also on a mission to bridge science, business and spirituality by bringing together experts in these fields. Julie has degrees from Yale and MIT.
Learn more about Julie at LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Julie also shares an exclusive promotion for Smashing The Plateau listeners during today’s episode.
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Niching Down Your Strengths With Jaime Jay
In today’s episode of Smashing The Plateau, Slapshot Studio Founder Jaime Jay tells us how he manages to run (and scale) four successful businesses. He also talks about how entrepreneurs can get over their shiny object syndrome, why it’s critical to niche down your strengths, and the best ways to find transformational (and unbiased) outside support.
We discuss…
- Why entrepreneurs need to recognize discipline
- What the power of no can do for your business
- Why systems and repetitions are the keys to scaling
- How to maintain your initial excitement
- Becoming a connector and not a networker
Jaime Jay is an avid hockey fan. He loves the competitive spirit and the team aspect of the game. He enjoys the sport so much that he decided to integrate his passion for the sport into his passion for marketing. Jaime has been working in the sales and marketing arena since he left the US Army as a paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division in 1994. Jaime currently operates four companies: Slapshot Studio, DoneForYouWP, Podcast Pilot, and Bottleneck Virtual Assistants.
Learn more about Jaime at LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Highlights From The New York Business Expo & Conference
In today’s episode of Smashing The Plateau, we share some of the greatest takeaways from the New York Business Expo & Conference.
Interviews include Elaine Powell-Belnavis from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Jeaninine Mendez from the NYC Human Resources Administration, ThriveHive’s Lauren Quilty, Jeff Mehl from Daybreak Virtual Staffing Solutions, Liz Sydney from Maximum Computer Systems, Inc., Neil Gilberg from the New York State’s Worker’s Compensation Board, Ring Savvy’s Nick Werker, Phil Mehl of Mehl & Associates, CPAs, Infusionsoft’s Ramon Darling, Russell Rivera from the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, and Sandy Eames from SCORE NYC.
Topics include:
- Why it’s easier to innovate on smaller levels
- Taking care of your team’s health insurance
- Why every leader needs marketing guidance
- Keeping up with technology
- Getting the proper insurances in place
- Turning lost opportunities into revenue
- The financial elements everyone overlooks
- Giving the same level of service to every customer
- The benefits of joining a Chamber of Commerce
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How To Master Social Media With Peter Friedman
Social media pioneer and LiveWorld CEO Peter Friedman has developed social strategies for some of the biggest companies in the world, including Apple, Walmart and HBO. Today Peter provides us with some of the best social media insight we’ve ever encountered. He also reveals why the customer experience is the driving force behind every business, talks about the best ways to invigorate a team, shows us how to build relationships and much more.
Topics include:
- Laying out a clear set of goals for your company
- What it really means to have a social media team
- Having a conversation with your customers (instead of broadcasting to them)
- How to engage in the interests of your customers
- Taking things step by step
Peter Friedman is a social media visionary and veteran with 30 years of experience. He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of LiveWorld, a trusted social media partner to the world’s largest brands, including the number-one companies in retail, CPG, pharmaceutical, financial and travel services. He’s provided multiple global brands with strategic social media guidance and delivered hundreds of social media programs for them in multiple countries and languages. These include Apple’s industry wide social network, AppleLink; MINI Cooper’s Member’s Lounge; Unilever’s Dove Campaign For Real Beauty; HBO’s original show character-driven web site community; the American Express Member’s Project, and Walmart’s Facebook and Twitter programs.
Prior to LiveWorld, Peter was Vice President & General Manager of Apple’s Internet Services Division, overseeing the creation and management of social media services such as AppleLink, eWorld, AOL, and Salon. He is also the author of The CMO’s Social Media Handbook, A Step By Step Guide For Leading Marketing Teams in the Social Media World – a practical tool kit and crash course in social-media-theory that helps big-brand marketing leaders learn how to strategize and execute a long-term social media plan in order to create dialogue and deepen customer relationships. Peter earned his MBA from The Harvard Business School and Bachelor’s Degree in American History from Brown University.
Learn more about Peter at LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Pushing Your Business Forward With Henry Lopez
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, seasoned entrepreneur and podcast host Henry Lopez talks about overcoming the challenges every leader faces when wanting to push their businesses forward. He also discusses the importance of having frank conversations up front, shares why he thinks of life as a series of chapters, and explains why entrepreneurs should want to keep creating as long as they can.
We discuss…
- The importance of developing and implementing systems (no matter how small)
- Enjoying the process of building something new
- His memo of understanding (and why it works)
- How to get through those in-between phases
Henry Lopez has over 34 years of diverse business experience, including successful careers in the information technology industry, sales, sales training and business ownership. He has been part of 10 different business ventures since his first business purchase in 1991. He is currently the Co-Founder of Levante Business Group, which is dedicated to helping people start, run and grow their small business. Henry is the Co-Host of The How of Business Podcast, and is also the co-owner of iTopIt (a self-serve frozen yogurt restaurant in Colorado Springs), L3 Destinations (a Travel Agency co-founded with his wife), and in the process of developing a car wash location in the Denver area.
Learn more about Henry at LinkedIn and Twitter.
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From Civil Engineer To Restaurant Tech Entrepreneur
In today’s episode of Smashing The Plateau, Brian Duncan reveals why (and how) he moved from civil engineering and consulting to restaurant tech entrepreneurship. He also discusses why his love for human interaction and hospitality inspires his work, and explores how his software Chowly is transforming the food industry.
We discuss…
- The challenges of taking on industry pain points
- Having a true understanding of growth
- Taking a proactive approach to fear
- Surrounding yourself with a good support system and scheduling time for yourself
Brian Duncan has over 12 years in the restaurant industry, having begun his career in college working every job from dishwasher to server. After graduating from Purdue University, Brian went on to work in food and beverage consulting, focusing on international chains and consumer products manufacturing for companies such as Hilton and Revolution Foods. During his time consulting, Brian focused on creating efficiencies by utilizing technology. His background paved the way to multiple tech startups including Chowly. Brian now serves as co-founder and board member for Chowly Inc. and is primarily focused on business development, sales and marketing.
Learn more about Brian at Chowly Inc. and LinkedIn.
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The Real Power of Persistence With Tony Grebmeier
Tony Grebmeier is the host of The Tony G Show– a candid podcast that guides entrepreneurs on their journeys to personal growth. In today’s episode, Tony opens up about his struggles with drug addiction, and reveals the transformational decisions that helped him rebuild his life and his business. He also talks about abandoning ego, the power of accountability, and knocking on doors until the right person answers.
Topics include:
- Why you should never stop asking questions
- Building an accountability community
- The brain dump exercise
- Needs vs. wants
- How to develop an abundance mentality
Tony Grebmeier is a builder. He is most known for building a multi-million dollar business with his childhood friends, but Tony’s real mission in life is to build a community where struggling entrepreneurs can achieve their dreams – no matter their pasts. He started his first business – the neighborhood baseball card trading post – out of his mom’s garage at the age of 14. By the time he was 18, he had held 16 jobs and was only fired once – for giving his brother an ice cream cone.
In 1996, Tony launched his first online business in Silicon Valley, a Web traffic and marketing company, which eventually turned into his first supplement company. In 2001, he went on to build his second supplement company, ShipOffers, with two of his childhood best friends, Doug Roberts and Gil Gerstein. Fifteen years later, ShipOffers is an eight-figure business that has been an Inc. 5000 Company for the past three years in a row.
Tony launched his podcast, The Tony G Show in 2015, bringing together his loves for business, radio and life. Each week, Tony welcomes a new guest to not only share to-the-point, actionable tips for business success, but also to share their journey in an authentic and transparent way. You can learn more about Tony at LinkedIn.
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From Junk Hauler To CEO With Josh Cohen
Today on Smashing The Plateau, Junkluggers Founder and CEO Josh Cohen tells us how he went from handing out homemade flyers to running a multi-million dollar business. He also talks about overcoming the pitfalls of young entrepreneurship, and reveals why shifting your mindset and changing your leadership style can have the greatest impact on your business.
Topics include:
- Building a great work culture
- Understanding (and responding to) your customers’ emotions
- How to motivate people in labor-driven businesses
- Learning to focus on the positive and not the negative
- The importance of business communities
Josh Cohen is the Founder, CEO and the heart and soul of The Junkluggers. He started The Junkluggers out of his mother’s Dodge Durango in Trumbull, CT when he was 21, and has since grown the company into a multi-state franchised operation. He utilized his degree from the University of Connecticut in Business Administration and his ambition, passion for the environment, marketing savvy, and interest in building a strong company culture to help elevate the company to the level it is at today.
Josh began with a firm vision of what he wanted The Junkluggers to become and continues to see it through every step of the way, never looking back. In his personal life, Josh enjoys spending time with his family and friends, including his wife, Peggy, their twins Jackson and Fiona, and their very own chief canine officer, Otis. He also loves outdoor sports and adventure, traveling, playing basketball, and office parties.
Learn more about Josh at LinkedIn, Esquire,Smart Hustle Magazine, Business News Daily and Twitter.
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Connecting The Dots With David Gise
David Gise is a former personal trainer turned tech and social entrepreneur. As Managing Director of Centre for Social Innovation, David helps nonprofits and social leaders build the right relationships so they can make a serious – and global – impact. Today we explore what he calls connecting the dots, and how his ideas can help entrepreneurs overcome obstacles. He also talks about trusting your instincts, making your ideas tangible, and the real power of collaboration.
We discuss…
- Why illogical steps can lead to something positive
- Looking for mutually beneficial opportunities
- The importance of co-working spaces
- Why social innovation is always evolving (and what that means for business leaders)
David Gise connects the dots. For the first 18 years of his career, David connected people to healthy lifestyles as a personal trainer and managing partner in a health club. He then turned his attention to the tech world, where he connected new ideas to help solve new (and old) problems, launching four successful technology start-ups. From there, he connected his biggest dots yet – the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto with his hometown of New York City. By the time David’s done, there will be no more lonely dots – just a web of connections crisscrossing the world.
Learn more about Dave at nyc.socialinnovation.org, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Building An All-Star Millennial Workforce
Gillian Lynch is VP, Managing Director of Winsper – a modern marketing firm that helps clients develop their brands, grow a loyal customer base, and generate more revenue. Today Gillian reveals the single biggest mistake executives make when they’re feeling stuck. She also talks about finding innovation, avoiding complacency, and reveals what it takes to build a dynamic Millennial workforce.
Topics include:
- Learning from the brands you admire
- The importance of having a major and minor skillset
- Overcoming the challenges of having a diverse group of clients
- What to really look for in the hiring process
Gillian Lynch heads up account management for Winsper’s many diverse clients. From plasma cutters to strollers, sewing machines to software, Gillian gets jazzed to work with smart, curious people who want to advance and differentiate their business. She is Winsper’s resident foodie, dog enthusiast (ask about her dog, Corduroy if you ever need bonus points with her), and probably the only person who vehemently believes that yoga pants should never go out of style.
Connect with Gillian on LinkedIn and on Twitter.
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