Dov Gordon helps consultants get ideal clients by becoming “under-the-radar” leaders in their industry.   

We discuss:

• Two paths on becoming an expert in sales and marketing [1:34]
• The most influential person to be [3:50]
• How to become the under-the-radar leader in your industry [5:31]
• The wizard behind the curtain [9:33]
• An alchemy networking for solopreneurs [13:50]
• Network invitations that would help you break through the clutter [20:10]
• What corporate refugees need when deciding to go solo [21:16]

Learn more about Dov at https://www.profitablerelationships.com/.

Brief Description of Gift

A free training

URL for free gift

https://profitablerelationships.com/smashing

Dr. Joan Rodman Smoller met a guy named Ben, on a park bench, who was looking to make a career transition from contracting to diplomacy. She wrote his resume and cover letter. In a month, he had a job in Washington. 

We discuss:

• An internship at 70: Shaping programs for successful transitions [2:13]
• How to overcome the challenge of being alone on your entrepreneurship journey [4:00]
• Why you shouldn’t be writing your story yourself [5:54]
• Getting the right language for a particular audience through a concierge caring treatment [9:49]
• Writing that raises hundreds of thousands of dollars [13:34]
• What is at the core that makes writing effective [14:44]
• Why you have to be short and powerful in today’s world [15:50]
• The power of a piece of article for helping disfigured children [17:50]
• Things you might need to consider when going through a career transition [20:15]

Her article about disfigured children for Redbook Magazine led to a nationwide support group for these children. Her tutoring on college application essays for a boy with ADHD and Aspergers got him into 4 colleges. Her editing on a white paper gained her client a promotion. Formerly an NYU Associate Professor and Director of an NYU Writing Program and a program for adults developing careers, as well as a teacher at the LaGuardia High School for Music, Art and the Performing Arts, she now uses her results-driven writing and editorial skills to help others achieve their goals!

Learn more about Joan at www.resumedoc.com.

Brief Description of Gift

A 30-minute free consultation by phone or email

URL for free gift

Call 9172826868 or go to www.resumedoc.com or send an email to rsmejsr@gmail.com

Laurence was recently introduced at an Association of Fundraising Professional meeting as, “Our Fundraising Guru.” The fundraising dilemmas of nonprofits consume his thoughts each and every day, and he writes about them offering real world solutions: books, white papers, training videos, and his weekly free blog post. 

We discuss:

• Why fundraising resources often aren’t deep enough [3:42]
• How non-profits could get to know their donors better [6:15]
• Pay it forward: a career commitment to public education [7:28]
• Half a dozen ways to get overhead cost paid for [9:30]
• Laurence’s magic of being a consultant [11:10]
• Relief plans for organizational adaptability [14:22]
• How are you indispensable to your clients? [17:54]
• The merits of having consultants employed on a short-term basis [20:23]
• The next generation of fundraisers [21:31]

Laurence has served as the executive director of three nonprofits. He has been a faculty member of the New York University Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising, and has coached groups of nonprofit executive directors at New Jersey’s Rutgers Business School’s Institute for Ethical Leadership. He writes, teach and consults in order to help advance the nonprofit’s fundraising program. Celebrating 25 years as a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), he has served on their Planning Committee for Fundraising Day in New York City. He earned three graduate degrees all related to public service. He teaches workshops and offers webinars on fundraising all over the country, across Europe and SE Asia. In response to CV19, he launched special webinars called Our Time to Shine which draw upwards of 500 attendees.

Learn more about Laurence at http://www.lapafundraising.com and www.laurencepagnoni.org.

Brief Description of Gift

A 30-minute free phone consultation about fundraising if you are staff or board member of a nonprofit

URL for Free Gift

www.lapafundraising.com/contact

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Kindra Walker is a CPA, CDFA® professional and a Ramsey Solution Financial Coach Master. 

We discuss:

• The space between working at a corporate job and working for yourself [2:20]
• When solopreneurs need to deal with the infrastructure of a business [6:27]
• The things you loved about your previous jobs [7:12]
• The Pumpkin Plan: How to grow your biggest pumpkin [10:00]
• The people that the people in your network rely on [12:31]
• Expected and unexpected situations when starting a business of your own [13:45]
• The champions of your business [15:08]
• Helpful networking situations during a lockdown [15:48]
• The level of flexibility you need as a solopreneur [16:51]
• The experience you have that nobody has [18:24]
• Life is better with a budget [19:29]

Kindra holds a BA from Barnard College and an MBA from New York University. With nearly 30-year of experience, in addition to her tenure in public accounting Kindra has worked for both closely-held private and Fortune 500 companies in varying roles including, accounting, finance, human resources and risk management. Her more recent roles included Controller, International and Senior Director of Finance. She is an adjunct professor, teaching a variety of classes. She founded Tremont Financial Coaching, LLC, a financial coaching company in 2019.

Learn more about Kindra at https://tremontfinancialcoaching.com/. 

Brief Description of Gift

A free 60-minute consultation

URL for free gift

https://tremontfinancialcoaching.com/ – When booking a consultation on Kindra’s website select the 1 hour initial session and put Going Solo in the comments section.

David’s entrepreneurial journey begins back in his early 20’s when he sold Australia’s most loved sporting ground, the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Since then, his business experience spans from franchising retail clothing stores to founding one of Australia’s most trusted digital agencies, melbourneSEOservices.com.

We discuss:

• How not to end up locked into the machine you’ve created yourself [2:29]
• The line you need to draw in the sand [4:57]
• The hardest piece of a business owner’s world [8:06]
• How to deliver a core product without the business owner involved [12:38]
• A little extraordinary example of a business systemized [16:04]
• Healthy and unhealthy systems in life and business [19:12]
• The worst person to systemize in a business [21:10]

In 2016, David successfully systemized himself out of the business, hired a CEO and stepped back from the daily operations. Through this process he become a systems devotee – founding systemHUB™ & SYSTEMology®. Today, his mission is to free all business owners worldwide from the daily operations of running their business.

Recognized as a high achieving entrepreneur, you will find many of David’s keynote presentations on YouTube including: TEDx, WordCamp and Problogger.

Learn more about David at www.systemology.com.

Brief Description of Gift

Preview chapters of David’s coming book

URL for Free Gift

www.systemology.com/book

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Knute Kallander is a coach and facilitator with over 20 years’ experience providing leadership development and communication training to over 10,000 managers, directors and sales associates in diverse industries such as biotech, technology, banking, real estate, manufacturing, media, higher education, and non-profit. He has coached over 300 employees who were in transition from being individual contributors to becoming department heads or team leaders. 

We discuss:

• The different types of vulnerability as a full-time employee and solopreneur [2:04]
• How to live two weeks in the desert [6:01]
• You never know who your family knows [8:36]
• Exposure tactics for non-strategic people [10:03]
• Banished or abandoned: The beginning of a transition [14:32]
• What comes out of a disappointment is 10 times better [16:26]
• Useful resources for employees transitioning to entrepreneurs [19:54]
• The importance of saying your answers out loud [22:40]

Knute has devoted his career to finding out why some organizations are run so poorly while others create an atmosphere of trust, loyalty and fulfillment. As a coach, trainer, sales leader and communications consultant he has helped 100’s of companies find and leverage their strengths while implementing programs that address their challenges.

Knute is not only well known for his effectiveness and ability to move organizations. He is also routinely regarded as an approachable and friendly presence in any organization even if the tension in that organization is high. His values in integrity, compassion, and humor combined with deep systems knowledge work well together to create an atmosphere of growth and change. He inspires professional development and builds personal confidence through experiential learning. 

Knute has a Master of Science Degree in Organizational Development and Behavior, and he is a New Ventures West Certified Coach.

Learn more about Knute at https://www.linkedin.com/in/knute-kallander.

Brief Description of Gift

A 25-minute free coaching session

URL for free gift

Email to knutek@gmail.com

Catherine VanVonno is the President and CEO of 20four7VA, one of the most trusted remote staffing companies in the eCommerce industry. 

We discuss:

• The result of teaching and helping others replicate your business [2:52]
• A natural fit between eCommerce and remote work [5:14]
• How to have customers develop a new company with you [6:06]
• Strategies for achieving a balance between flexibility and stability [9:04]
• How to start adding virtual assistants to your business [14:40]
• The times when local staffing is better than remote [17:25]
• Combined hiring approaches that could save businesses money [18:23]
• What it takes to trust a person who is half a world away [20:34]

On any given day, you’ll find Catherine managing her global team of 40+ right from her kitchen table, demonstrating one of the biggest perks of remote work. Before starting 20four7VA, Catherine worked in the healthcare management industry. She has a Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and a Ph.D. in Research and Evaluation Methods with a cognate in Applied Statistics from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Catherine resides in Berlin, Maryland and enjoys traveling with her husband in her free time.

Learn more about Catherine at https://20four7va.com/hire-a-va/, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Brief Description of Gift

Waiving of 50% of the setup fee

URL for Free Gift

Promo Code: SMASHING2020

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Maki Moussavi is a transformational coach, speaker and author. Her mission is to help professionals who are overwhelmed, stuck or unfulfilled despite the outward appearance of success. 

We discuss:

• Why you may feel unhappy despite achieving all you ever wanted [1:55]
• The risk of dealing with the urgent rather than with the important [3:42]
• True supporters only reveal in tough transitions [6:53]
• It is not our job to justify our positions [8:35]
• The autopilot mode that keeps you trapped [9:33]
• The time you need to avoid the hardest summer of your life [12:00]
• Tools for high achievers inside and outside the corporate world [14:41]
• Why the reward system fails to help us achieve what we want [16:57]
• The breadcrumbs approach: how to unwind the way you operate [19:10]
• How smart people can break free from miserable circumstances [21:23]

Maki provides the mental tools and support to enable highly transformative personal development that focuses on “reprogramming” to a new mindset that is personally authentic rather than driven exclusively by outside expectations.

Learn more about Maki at www.makimoussavi.com, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Ray Silverstein is a small business expert and author with more than three decades of experience and a somewhat unusual approach. 

We discuss:

• Why it’s time to start breaking things [3:01]
• Unbiased thoughts on surviving tough circumstances [4:53]
• Hidden opportunities in thinking differently [7:23]
• What makes people move forward [9:13]
• The dos and don’ts of who should fit within a group [11:23]
• How to blend sophistications when a person naturally outgrows a group [13:55]
• The correlation between risk-taking and thriving [15:12]
• Some type of groups, in some place, somehow [16:43]

He gets most of his ideas, not from books and theories, but from in-the-trenches entrepreneurs who pool their collective wisdom in peer advisory board meetings. Ray has facilitated more than 1,500 such meetings since 1993 when he found that PRO (Presidents Resource Organization). This is a peer advisory board network based in Chicago and Phoenix and in addition they also offer online advisory boards.

In his monthly forums small business owners meet to share challenges and solutions, create accountability and offer support.

Ray is the author of two books “The Great Secrets of Great Small Businesses” published by Source Books in 2006 and the newly released “The Small Business Survival Guide: How to Survive and Thrive During Tough Times”.

Learn more about Ray at http://peeradvisoryboard.com/ and LinkedIn.

Brief Description of Gift

A digital of copy of “The Small Business Survival Guide: How to Survive and Thrive During Tough Times”

URL for Free Gift

Send an email to ray@peeradvisoryboard.com

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Ann Louden is founder and CEO of the Ann Louden Company following three decades in Texas as a senior administrator in higher education. 

We discuss:

• A job offer that switches gears [1:48]
• An empowering awareness for going into the unknown without a preparation [7:36]
• Why you should take the opportunity to leave [9:20]
• A sounding board for moving forward [15:08]
• A tiny speck in a giant array of diversity [17:34]
• Overlaying patterns of existence in a new place [19:38]
• The highest level of playing field for non-profit organizations [22:30]

Leading efforts to raise more than $150 million, Ann’s expertise in non-profit philanthropy enabled her recent move to New York City. A consultant and speaker, Ann is the author of the upcoming book “Connection as a Superpower: How Social Courage Gives You the Edge in Life and Love.”

Learn more about Ann at www.annlouden.com.

Brief Description of Gift

A free download of the Ten Attributes of a Connector

URL for free gift

www.annlouden.com

Nathan Hirsch is an entrepreneur and expert in remote hiring and e-commerce. 

We discuss:

• Entrepreneurship has a funny way of throwing you around [2:19]
• The internal job it takes to do small, consistent things every day [3:49]
• Key ingredients for working with virtual assistants [6:52]
• Making a decision to sell that’s a win for everybody [8:22]
• Cracking the VA code [11:26]
• Helpful resources to make an informed decision when selling your business [13:39]
• The challenges and opportunities that come with opening a business during a global economic disruption [15:09]
• The name of the game: systems and processes [17:30]
• How to add value to a client when you’re not an expert at what they ask for [21:34]

Nathan co-founded FreeeUp.com with 5k and grew it to 12 million a year in revenue. FreeeUp was then acquired in 2019. It is a marketplace that connects businesses with pre-vetted freelancers in e-commerce, digital marketing, and much more. Nathan has sold over $30 million online and regularly appears on leading business podcasts around the world.

Learn more about Nathan at outsourceschool.com, his personal Facebook, his business page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Brief Description of Gift

Free tool for seeing how many virtual assistants you can afford

URL for Free Gift

outsourceschool.com/vacalculator

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Monika is a marketing consultant helping entrepreneurs scale fast by building social proof and expert status, and blending automation, organic and paid marketing for faster growth.

We discuss:

• Achieving a larger reach in a noisier Internet space [1:37] 
• Every pivot makes you better at what you do [4:23]
• How to make your [financial] business visible online [6:58]
• Three online sales strategies that low-budget business owners can immediately implement [9:01]
• How to overcome the agony of getting your first piece of content out there [13:21]
• Swap [15:37]
• Why speaking online might give you more traction than speaking in your neighborhood [17:44]
• How social proof beats experience and skills [18:24]
• The perseverance one needs to start and keep up with the global online trends [19:39]
• The next level of online marketing [20:39]

Learn more about Monika at https://theexpertimpact.com/opf and Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Teresa Isabel Dias is a pharmacist with over 25 years of professional experience in community pharmacy and drug information in Toronto.  

We discuss:

• Nobody gives bad news over the phone [2:06]
• Old and unemployable but courageous enough to follow a dream [3:37]
• Opportunities that appear based on unexpected circumstances [6:24]
• How business owners can stop wasting their expertise [8:41]
• The two lists that will speed up your business growth [11:40]
• It takes a village to raise a child [13:07]
• How to focus the core of your strengths [15:01]
• Why it’s essential to take health to the workplace [16:56]
• Inexpensive changes that go a long way to make a woman feel and work better [18:23]

In 2013 she became a Menopause Practitioner (NCMP) certified by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) and founded MenopausED, a boutique-style virtual women’s health practice, specialized in menopause. She raises awareness and provides education about menopause to help women navigate the change so their lives, relationships, and work can thrive. In December 2019, the drug information department she worked at for 12 years closed, and now she’s working full time on her business.

Learn more about Teresa at https://menopaused.org/.

Brief Description of Gift

Free subscription to MenopausED Newsletter / a free 15 min Discovery phone call / a Lunch and Learn Session for female employees

URL for free gift

https://menopaused.org/

Steve Feld is a coach, author, professional speaker, and award-winning business management executive. He has with over 30 years of extensive senior-level experience in highly competitive industries. An expert in all aspects of business, Steve has a large passion for everything business.

We discuss:

• A great relationship of giving back [1:37]
• The collaborative method: the power of mastermind groups [4:54]
• The problem with new consultants and coaches trying to jump the cubicle [6:28]
• Why you should “use” a sniper rifle when targeting your customers [8:34]
• Top three problems of small business owners [9:20]
• Building a strong niche business in less than a month [10:23]
• It’s hard to see all the trees in a forest [13:30]
• How being a published author changes clients’ perspectives [16:18]
• The importance of having systems and processes for thriving in challenging times [19:37]
• Why nobody is going to steal your idea [20:53]

Steve created and owned six-figure businesses and operated three others. He managed divisions for three brand name Fortune 500 companies. Steve has written three books about business. He co-owns a publishing company geared to coaches, consultants, and experts. Steve also conducts workshops and training on a variety of subjects for business owners.

Learn more about Steve at https://www.bizcoachsteve.com.

Brief Description of Gift

Spotlight book program where anyone can get their own “expert” book published within 30 days

URL for Free Gift

http://spotlight-books.com

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Dr. Sarabeth Berk is a hybrid professional who also researches hybrid professional identity. She calls herself a creative disruptor because she blends her artist/researcher/educator/designer identities to lead and create innovation strategies that radically connect resources and people in new ways. 

We discuss:

• How job titles can cause a professional identity crisis [1:53]
• The spectrum of jobs that gets people out of their boxes [4:38]
• Why hybrid individuals can work both as entrepreneurs and employees [5:28]
• What happens in the intersection of your professional identities [8:41]
• The aha moments of new keywords and language that define yourself [11:48]
• Hybridity as a brand and a way to distinguish yourself in the workforce [16:36]
• How to stand out in a crowded field [18:18]
• Why it’s crucial to revisit and examine the hybrid side of our professional work [20:34]

After Sarabeth underwent her own professional identity crisis, she learned she was a hybrid and that concept revolutionized her career path. Now, she’s obsessed with changing the way we see the workforce and helping professionals realize that their unique value lies at the intersections of their multiple identities. 

Learn more about Sarabeth at www.morethanmytitle.com.

Brief Description of Gift

Use code smashing10 to receive a 10% discount for an online course to help you find your hybrid identity

URL for free gift

courses.morethanmytitle.com

James has 15+ years of “in the trenches” marketing experience. He is happy to have worked together with businesses from dozens of industries and hundreds of people over that time. James meets you where you are (with no judgment), and specializes in coming up with a concrete plan to move your business forward. Most importantly, James teaches you to believe in your business and yourself.

We discuss:

• Ideas are a dime a dozen [1:51]
• How to take back control of your company once you’ve put its fate in the hands of another company [3:54] 
• Random acts of marketing [6:30]
• It’s not funny when you’re missing money [8:14]
• The number one reason why people switch companies [11:06]
• Three key elements for increasing your marketing presence [13:08]
• Responsive ability: How small businesses should talk to customers [14:59]
• All you need to be doing is fostering and connecting [16:40]
• Why you should start a group on social media now [21:40]

James teaches his clients not just the step-by-step “how-to”, but he also teaches his clients how to think about marketing strategically. This puts the power back into your own hands. James has been featured in both the Globe & Mail and also the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Learn more about James at https://www.lookaheadmarketing.com/erf.

Brief Description of Gift

Two free documents: “How to Market to Your Customers in the Past, Present and Future” and “Facebook Ads Structures That Actually Work”

URL for Free Gift                       

www.smashingtheplateau.com/lam

Scott is a change management specialist who closes the gap between strategy and implementation. His years of experience translating between planners and doers aids in shepherding teams in the same direction – especially in times of change. 

We discuss:

• Hiring for fit, or why life at work might become hard [2:00]
• How to have a quick transition from being an employee to becoming an entrepreneur [4:20]
• Why it’s important to schedule time for personal work [7:57]
• Bullets of successes to rely on [10:16]
• Why talking to yourself out loud in the woods is beneficial for your self-confidence [12:26]
• The importance of investing in a cup of coffee [13:29]
• When you know you’ve waited too long to start [15:17]
• The difference between 4% and 74% [17:53]
• How the best plumber becomes the best supervisor [19:23]
• Augmenting live consulting through automated delivery system [22:01]

Scott draws on his Business Management degree from Cornell University as well as a broad book of experiences to build success. From creating new and innovative businesses to shaping the culture within teams and organizations, his work is informed by his various roles as an entrepreneur, supervisor, and board member. 

In 2018 Scott found himself once again developing an entrepreneurial role after leaving higher education facilities, and uses his experience helping others develop leadership and communication skills.

Learn more about Scott at http://alchemieacademy.com.

Brief Description of Gift

A 30-minute consultation call to help listeners develop their own story; A sales personal strengths inventory

URL for free gift

https://mdom9ijm.pages.infusionsoft.net

As the founder of NextCareer Coaching, Elizabeth Borelli has remained a top-ranked career counsellor for multi-national talent conglomerate Lee Hecht Harrison since 2016. She leverages a BA in Psychology and ICF Coaching Credential with multiple accreditations to help her clients find their niche, build their brand and reach their business goals.

We discuss:

• A windy road to a purpose-driven role [1:55]
• Why getting sales as quickly as possible is key to pivoting [5:20]
• How to speed up a start-up business if you have been laid off [7:20]
• The mechanics of prioritizing in networking [9:41]
• The mistake a lot of people make when reaching out to people in their network [13:07]
• A confused mind always says “no” [16:20]
• How to approach an introduction to a second-level decision maker [18:47]
• The [in]credible power of referrals [19:53]
• The more you connect, the more likely you’re going to be connected [21:21]

Learn more about Elizabeth at  www.nextcareercoaching.com.

Brief Description of Gift

A complimentary coaching consultation

URL for free gift

https://nextcareercoaching.com/gift

As a Sociocultural Anthropologist, Jenean Merkel Perelstein has studied behavior change across many different cultures. From the markets and prisons of India to the boardrooms across America, Jenean has learned and implemented change strategies that have saved lives and made fortunes.

We discuss:

• Why we start resenting what we used to love [2:39]
• Broadening the horizon of what success means as a way to solidify your self-confidence [6:11]
• The problem of an anthropologist when dealing with his/her own workplace culture [8:11]
• The feeling of being on a fast train for which you don’t have a ticket [9:39]
• Why you need to get out of your own way [10:57]
• Conflicting beliefs that hold you back from finding clients [13:00]
• How to make change stick before reaching a level of frustration [15:44]
• The commonalities that mess up with productivity [18:20]
• The type of leadership required for “fixing” workplace culture [20:11]
• How to sustain a level of positivity to sustain a level of productivity [22:02]

Jenean is a Business Anthropologist, U.S. Patent holder, and revered speaker who worked as a medical anthropologist before becoming CEO of Alchemie Academy where she has enriched workplace culture for clients ranging from solopreneurs to Fortune 100 companies. When not speaking, she mentors organizations to grow their workplace culture, develop their leadership skills, and achieve a higher level of positivity, productivity, and profitability.

Learn more about Jenean at https://standinyourstrength.com/.

Brief Description of Gift

Your Personal Strength’s Declaration – steps to help you stand in your strength

URL for Free Gift

http://standinyourstrength.com/goingsolo