What Clients Want vs. What They Need — Trippe Steven Fried
Trippe Steven Fried is a business lawyer and consultant with the “outside-the-box” belief that attorneys can actually add value to the ventures they represent.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to build a legal and consulting practice that clients actually want to engage with — and how to apply the same principles to your own independent business.
Trippe and I discuss:
- How Trippe landed on his current business model [03:44]
- Why nobody wants what he’s selling — and how he solved it [05:02]
- How to communicate your value proposition around wants, not needs [07:34]
- What separates successful involuntary entrepreneurs from those who struggle [12:00]
- How professionals can collaborate without a formal arrangement [14:08]
- How trusted thinking partners shaped Trippe’s success [18:41]
- The future of businesses formed by involuntary entrepreneurs [17:32]
Learn more about Trippe at http://www.olyverapp.com/.
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About Smashing the Plateau
Smashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.
Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.
We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.
______________________________________________________________
Take the Next Step
• Experience the power of peer perspective.
Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:
https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest
• Stay connected to the conversation.
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Leading What You Can No Longer Own — Camille Miller
Camille L. Miller is the Founder and Visionary behind the Soul Professional® Movement, a global initiative redefining success for purpose-driven professionals. She has built an international community spanning 6 continents and 48+ countries, bringing together leaders and visionaries committed to aligning their work with who they truly are.
A three-time Amazon bestselling author, Camille’s work explores the intersection of purpose, business, and leadership. Through her writing, speaking, and community building, she is leading a new conversation around authentic success. Her mission is simple: to help others bring their gifts to the world and create a lasting impact.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to build a purpose-driven community that outlasts you and operates beyond your personal involvement.
Camille and I discuss:
- What led Camille to start the Soul Professional Movement [03:38]
- How Camille’s prior business experience shaped her approach [05:08]
- The evolution from a coffee club to a global community [07:06]
- The shift from a paid to a free community model [10:01]
- How Camille learned to lead instead of do [08:23]
- The biggest hiring mistakes she made and what she learned [15:29]
- What it means to build a double bottom line organization [20:00]
- How Camille finds thinking partners as a pioneering CEO [23:36]
Learn more about Camille at her:
Website: https://www.soulprofessional.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillelmiller/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@camillelmiller
______________________________________________________________
About Smashing the Plateau
Smashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.
Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.
We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.
______________________________________________________________
Take the Next Step
• Experience the power of peer perspective.
Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:
https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest
• Stay connected to the conversation.
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When the Story No Longer Fits — Federico Malatesta
Federico Malatesta is the founder of FM Transformational Coaching™, a practice that integrates executive insight, leadership frameworks, and lived experience to explore how identity evolves through change. His background includes 15 years in oil and gas, culminating as Chief Investment Officer responsible for a $40B capital program. He is also a serial entrepreneur and writes the newsletter “Almost Everything Is Context.” In 2022, Malatesta founded The Artha Ranch in Texas, which functions as both a coaching space and a working reined cow horse ranch.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to build a business rooted in lived experience, personal values, and the wisdom that only comes from navigating major life transitions.
Federico and I discuss:
- What led Federico to leave his dream job and pursue entrepreneurship [03:27]
- How watching a documentary changed the direction of his life [05:00]
- What horses reveal about leadership and communication [06:07]
- Why every person — and every horse — requires a different approach [08:15]
- How Federico structured his boutique coaching business around a chosen lifestyle [12:13]
- Why solo entrepreneurs must stay connected to community to grow [15:35]
- What Federico means by “almost everything is context” [18:14]
Learn more about Federico at https://www.federicomalatesta.com/podcast/smashingtheplateau
______________________________________________________________
About Smashing the Plateau
Smashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.
Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.
We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.
______________________________________________________________
Take the Next Step
• Experience the power of peer perspective.
Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:
https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest
• Stay connected to the conversation.
Get new episodes, reflections, and invitations delivered to your inbox:
Leading Yourself Before Leading Others — Miki Feldman Simon
Miki Feldman Simon, MSc, PCC, is an executive coach, global business leader, speaker, and author of CORE Leadership: A Four-Step Framework to Lead Yourself, Grow Your Influence, and Amplify Your Impact. Over her three-decade career, she has held leadership roles in marketing, operations, and HR across multiple industries and guided organizations through growth and successful acquisitions. In her coaching, she helps leaders align values and actions to lead with greater clarity and influence. Known for her warmth, sharp insight, and candor, she blends behavioral science with practical tools that drive lasting change.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how leading yourself first can transform the way you show up as a leader and build deeper influence with the people around you.
Miki and I discuss:
- Miki’s non-linear career journey across Israel, Australia, and the US [02:56]
- How unexpected career breaks shaped her leadership philosophy [05:28]
- Why leadership starts with leading yourself [12:26]
- The CORE framework: Clarify, Operationalize, Reflect, Evaluate [13:19]
- How habit stacking builds intentional leadership [15:42]
- Understanding self-talk and limiting beliefs [17:21]
- The gap between intentions and impact [19:18]
- Real results leaders experience through the CORE framework [20:31]
- The role of curiosity and psychological safety in community [23:39]
Learn more about Miki at https://mikifeldmansimon.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikifeldmansimon/
______________________________________________________________
About Smashing the Plateau
Smashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.
Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.
We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.
______________________________________________________________
Take the Next Step
• Experience the power of peer perspective.
Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:
https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest
• Stay connected to the conversation.
Get new episodes, reflections, and invitations delivered to your inbox:
When the Path Diverges and Converges — Eliene Augenbraun
Eliene Augenbraun was a science and medical journalist for two decades and has since turned her attention to teaching and coaching scientists and physicians on how to communicate better. She is also launching a podcast about intergenerational trauma called The Aspen Forest. Over the course of her career, she has led many creative teams and built technical spaces like studios and labs.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how reframing professional challenges as civil rights issues can become the foundation of lasting leadership and business success.
Eliene and I discuss:
- How Eliene’s varied career path came together [02:14]
- The moment that redirected her entire career [04:00]
- Why the shiny coin isn’t always the best coin [08:32]
- How reframing problems as civil rights issues changed outcomes [10:02]
- What business really is [13:36]
- Learning financial literacy as a scientist [14:31]
- The most important thing you can do when starting out [16:45]
- What role trusted peers and thinking partners play [20:15]
- Why your partners need to believe in you, not like you [22:09]
- What Eliene is building now [22:41]
Learn more about Eliene at https://www.the-communicationclinic.com/
______________________________________________________________
About Smashing the Plateau
Smashing the Plateau is a podcast for experienced independent leaders who have left corporate roles to build sustainable, expertise-based businesses.
Each episode features a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about what changes when you no longer have the infrastructure of an organization behind you.
We explore judgment, decision-making under uncertainty, growth plateaus, identity shifts, and the role of trusted thinking partners in sustaining long-term success.
______________________________________________________________
Take the Next Step
• Experience the power of peer perspective.
Join a live guest session and connect with experienced professionals navigating similar challenges:
https://smashingtheplateau.com/guest
• Stay connected to the conversation.
Get new episodes, reflections, and invitations delivered to your inbox:
How to Transition from Corporate Leader to Successful Entrepreneur Featuring Wagner Denuzzo
Wagner Denuzzo is the author of Leading to Succeed, a book on essential skills for the new workplace. He is currently a consultant and coach at his own firm. Previously, he served as the VP and Global Head of Leadership Development at IBM, as well as the VP and Head of Capabilities for the Future of Work at Prudential Financial.
He is a seasoned leader in organizational development, human capital strategy, and leadership transformation, with over two decades of experience across global enterprises, consulting firms, and startups.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to effectively transition from corporate roles to entrepreneurship and the importance of collaboration in achieving success.
Wagner and I discuss:
- Wagner’s journey from humble beginnings in Brazil to a successful corporate career [02:16]
- The pivotal moment that led Wagner to become an entrepreneur [04:41]
- The role of community in organizational success [07:13]
- How to leverage personal experiences for professional growth [10:04]
- The significance of listening in consulting engagements [13:14]
- The importance of shared leadership and collective purpose [20:12]
- Strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome as an entrepreneur [22:48]
- Insights on building effective teams through the lens of quantum physics [25:10]
Learn more about Wagner at https://a.co/d/azLLRXK.
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Sign up now to gain exclusive access to handpicked, succinct strategy insights from our podcast guests – your journey to success is just a click away!
How to Create a Human-Centric Customer Experience that Resonates and Drives Business Results Featuring Simon Robinson
Simon Robinson is one of the pioneers of customer experience, having co-authored the world’s first article on customer experience strategy in 1995. In the 1990s, he served as the business development manager responsible for smartphones at British Telecom (BT Cellnet/O2) and was a co-founder of Genie Internet, one of the UK’s first startup unicorns developed inside BT Group.
He is the Worldwide CEO of Holonomics, an international keynote speaker, and a bestselling author, including Designing Customer Experiences with Soul: How to Build Products, Services, and Brands that People Genuinely Love (2024).
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to redefine customer experience by integrating the concept of ‘soul’ into customer interactions.
Simon and I discuss:
- The definition of customer experience and its key components [00:02:09]
- Common misconceptions organizations have about customer experience [00:03:23]
- The importance of understanding customer experience history [00:05:00]
- How to align departments for improved customer experience [00:06:56]
- The evolution of customer experience from human-computer interaction [00:08:02]
- The impact of AI and digital interactions on customer experience [00:10:52]
- The shift towards a more humanized approach to business [00:11:56]
- The role of community in building effective customer experiences [00:24:04]
Learn more about Simon at:
Medium: https://medium.com/@srerobinson
Amazon: https://a.co/d/0jeQgFO
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/srerobinson1/
Thank you to our sponsor:
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How to Transform Your Business with Storytelling and Community Engagement Featuring Renee Frojo
Renee Frojo has spent over 20 years helping businesses tell impactful stories. As the founder of A Good Reputation, Renee combines her journalism background with her passion for entrepreneurship to help purpose-driven startups, founders, fractional leaders, and freelancers uncover and share the stories that resonate most.
Renee’s relatable stories have earned her nearly 10,000 followers on LinkedIn. Through her signature approaches—Your Story is Your Strategy, which demonstrates how to build trust through personal storytelling, and Build it Publicly, a framework for overcoming the fear of vulnerability—Renee equips her clients to connect with the right audience, inspire action, and amplify their success.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to harness the power of storytelling to build trust and connect authentically with your audience.
Renee and I discuss:
- Renee’s lifelong passion for entrepreneurship [01:50]
- Her journey from journalism to entrepreneurship [03:06]
- The evolving landscape of personal branding [06:12]
- Challenges faced by professionals in the digital age [07:43]
- The importance of storytelling in marketing [10:12]
- Building authentic connections through personal storytelling [12:59]
- The role of community in business success [19:28]
Learn more about Renee at https://www.instagram.com/reneelynnfrojo/ and https://x.com/frojofeed.
Thank you to our sponsor:
The Smashing the Plateau Community
Subscribe today for insider access to curated, actionable strategies– unlocking your success is just one click away!
How to Use Ghostwriting and Marketing to Establish Expertise and Influence Featuring Michael Schein
Michael F. Schein ghostwrites books that make business leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs famous in their fields. He is the founder of the marketing and consulting company MicroFame Media, and some of his clients have included Lockton, eBay, Magento, the University of Pennsylvania, the United Methodist Publishing House, LinkedIn, and Citrix, to name a few.
His writing has appeared in Fortune, Forbes, Inc., Kitces, Business Insider, Psychology Today, and the Huffington Post, and he is a speaker for international audiences, spanning from the northeastern United States to the southeastern coast of China. His book, “The Hype Handbook: 12 Indispensable Success Secrets From the World’s Greatest Propagandists, Self-Promoters, Cult Leaders, Mischief Makers, and Boundary Breakers,” published by McGraw Hill, is available wherever books are sold.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to harness the power of strategic marketing and ghostwriting to become a recognized thought leader.
Michael and I discuss:
- Michael’s journey from copywriting to marketing consultancy [02:18]
- The concept of becoming a “micro celebrity” [06:10]
- The importance of having a book to establish expertise [07:00]
- Overcoming the fallacy of scale in business [08:12]
- The impact of community on professional success [16:34]
- How to balance intuition and external advice [18:00]
- Michael’s insights on thinking like a scientist to find your niche [21:35]
Learn more about Michael at https://microfamemedia.com and https://michaelfschein.com.
Contact Michael directly at:
– Email: mfs@microfamemedia.com
– Phone: (917) 273-9885
Thank you to our sponsor:
The Smashing the Plateau Community
Get exclusive access and strategic insights – subscribe now and take the first step towards mastering success!
How to Embrace Vulnerability and Transform Your Career Path with Intuition and Empowerment Featuring Monika Sawyer
Monika started Mastermind Mentoring in 2023 after spending 23 years in the high-tech consulting world, where she focused on solving customer problems through technical innovation, growth strategy, and client relationship management. The entrepreneurial path found her when life threw her a curveball, and her position was eliminated. During that time of transition, she felt a heartfelt calling to pursue a path of service to others and became an intuitive life coach and healer.
Now, she focuses on helping women become successful by reconnecting with their essence and inspiring greater awareness of the empowerment that comes from embodiment.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to transition from a corporate environment to a fulfilling life of coaching and personal growth.
Monika and I discuss:
- What led Monika to embrace change after her corporate career ended [00:02:13]
- Differences between working within large enterprises and nimble startups [00:04:08]
- How a profound health diagnosis prompted Monika’s journey toward self-discovery and healing [00:06:19]
- The impact of emotional and internal healing on personal growth [00:08:21]
- Techniques Monika used to trigger self-healing and remission [00:12:33]
- How Monika leverages community and authenticity for personal and professional development [00:18:00]
- Advice on maintaining openness and questioning everything to unlock new possibilities [00:20:26]
Learn more about Monika at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mastermind-mentoring/
Website: https://mastermind-mentoring.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermindmentoring/
Thank you to our sponsor:
The Smashing the Plateau Community
Subscribe today for access to carefully selected strategy tips from our community, supporting you in mastering your path to success.
How to Build a Business by Adapting Corporate Skills and Embracing Risk Featuring Erin Marcus
Erin Marcus is the founder and CEO of Conquer Your Business, an international company helping driven entrepreneurs and small business owners achieve the financial and emotional freedom they need to build a business and life they’re proud of.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to unlearn corporate habits and develop a mindset for entrepreneurial success.
Erin and I discuss:
- The necessary unlearning process from corporate to entrepreneurship
- Utilizing corporate skills like delegation in small business
- The importance of risk tolerance and testing in the marketplace
- Overcoming ego and adapting to creating your own path
- The significance of mindset in achieving business goals
- Strategies for dealing with financial and self-worth challenges
- The role of community and networking in entrepreneurial success
Learn more about Erin at:
Conquer Your Business | Erin Marcus | Business Consulting
Instagram (@erinmarcusconqueryourbusiness)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinmarcusconqueryourbusiness/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erin.marcus.3
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLFD-aM6LmA10FQ
Thank you to our sponsor:
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Get exclusive access to expertly curated strategy tips from our podcast – streamline your path to success with just one click!
How to Break Free from Job Titles to Personal Identity Featuring Dr. Mira Brancu
Dr. Mira Brancu is a consulting and coaching psychologist specializing in leadership identity development and in building adaptive, cohesive, high-performing teams. She is also an Associate Professor, the author of “The Millennials Guide to Workplace Politics,” a “Psychology Today” columnist for the blog series “A New Look at Women’s Leadership,” and the host of “The Hard Skills” internet radio show and podcast. Her award-winning social impact firm, Towerscope, focuses on empowering and elevating women in leadership within the education and innovation industries.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn about the intricacies of leadership and identity, especially the challenges women face in the corporate sphere and the liberating journey of defining your career and leadership path.
Dr. Mira and I discuss:
- The link between job titles and personal identity
- The freedom and creativity in starting your own business
- The experience of high achievers leaving the corporate world
- The challenge of separating personal identity from job roles
- Navigating leadership ambivalence among high-potential women
- Deciding whether to continue on the leadership track
- The impact of societal expectations on career decisions
- Strategies for tuning out unhelpful advice from others
- Adjusting to a sudden lack of structure after a career change
- Tips on joining and engaging with communities
Learn more about Dr. Mira Brancu at http://www.gotowerscope.com/ and join the Tower Scope Leadership Academy for a special offer.
Thank you to our sponsor:
The Smashing the Plateau Community
Get exclusive entry to select, streamlined advice from our podcast specialists by subscribing now – a single click can pave your way to success!
Writing a Parable to Influence Your Audience Featuring Brian Ahearn
Brian Ahearn is the Chief Influence Officer at Influence PEOPLE. An international trainer and consultant, he specializes in applying the science of influence in everyday situations. He is one of only a dozen individuals in the world who holds the Cialdini Method Certified Trainer designation.
We discuss:
- Why influence is critical for the success of a consultant [03:06]
- How to feel comfortable staring at a camera [06:25]
- The more you like them, the more they like you [09:17]
- How to learn to write in a story format [11:23]
- The lie about becoming like Ernest Hemingway [15:33]
- When your biggest critique likes your book [17:32]
- A family legacy that embraces the power of story [19:08]
Brian’s first book, Influence PEOPLE: Powerful Everyday Opportunities to Persuade that are Lasting and Ethical, was named one of the Top 100 Influence Books of All Time by BookAuthority. His LinkedIn courses have been viewed by more than 4,000,000 people around the world.
Learn more about Brian at https://www.influencepeople.biz and LinkedIn.
Turning Your Podcast Into Profit
Whether he’s at the mic or consulting behind the scenes, Cliff Ravenscraft can transform any podcast into a moneymaking machine. Today he reveals how to turn a profit in the podcasting world and why his personal success is the culmination of stumbling blocks he’s faced throughout his career. He also discusses why success is a potential trap, and why you can’t let it stop you from taking new chances.
We discuss…
- Defining (and analyzing) metrics for success
- Avoiding stress and pain by turning to your peers
- Why your audience has the roadmap to advancement
- Creating impressive and valuable content
In December 2005, Cliff Ravenscraft, together with his wife, Stephanie, founded the Generally Speaking Production Network. Since then, he has produced over 3,300 podcast episodes devoted to entertainment, family, faith, business and technology. In December 2006, Cliff launched PodcastAnswerMan.com where he has since helped thousands of individuals and organizations launch successful podcasts through one-on-one consulting/coaching and through his Podcasting A to Z online training course. Clients who have worked with Cliff account for more than 50 of the top 100 business podcasts in iTunes.
Learn more about Cliff at LinkedIn and Twitter.
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