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

Andrew Tarvin is the Founder and CEO of Humor That Works, teaching professionals how to use humor to achieve better business results. 

We discuss:

• Comedy equals tragedy plus time [1:53]
• Stress is not a bad thing when dealt with humor [2:41]
• How engineers could be funny as well [4:00]
• A humor map that helps you strategize laughter as a business tool [6:20]
• How to use humor to strengthen your network [7:30]
• Why it’s important to understand the different styles of humor [9:23]
• Curating humor breaks for greater efficiency at work [10:26]
• Laughter as a way to get people on the same side together [12:49]
• What tracking and rating managers’ humor could improve at work [13:56]
• Why you should start your town hall meetings with knock-knock jokes [17:39]
• Elevating humor as a vital skill to learn [19:48]

Andrew has partnered with leading organizations including IBM, the UN, and the FBI to solve human challenges with humor solutions.

A best-selling author, Andrew has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and FastCompany, and was named a Visionary Under 40 by the P&G Alumni Network. His TEDx talk on the skill of humor has been viewed more than six million times, only half of which were his mother.

Learn more about Andrew at https://www.humorthatworks.com.

Brief Description of Gift

A 7-day humor challenge

URL for Free Gift

https://www.humorthatworks.com

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Terry Ogburn is the owner of Ogburn’s Business Solutions. He has developed a Business Development Process that helps Entrepreneurs and Business Owners learn the importance of working on your business instead of being caught up in the day-to-day grind. His unique system and personal devotion to the development of others has contributed to the excess of hundreds of small to large business ventures.

We discuss:

• The best people to sell your business to [2:06]
• If you take care of the customer, the customer takes care of you [4:11]
• Why it’s smarter to empower the frontline person than the manager [5:54]
• How low-margin businesses could forecast sales and expenditures [8:57]
• The stages of business development that would require help [13:07]
• The words you should [not] put on your business card [15:42]
• Embracing technology as a key to multitasking [17:30]
• The 30-2-2 Rule: how to sell in an era when nobody wants to be sold [20:47]

Terry began his business career in 1979 when he invested his last $118.42 to start an air conditioning service business. At that time, he had no car or truck, but he did have the knowledge and ability to build relationships. By 1983, he was a top 5 nominee for Small Businessman of the Year. In 1984, he won the award for Outstanding Young Businessman of the Year for the State of Florida. In 1985, successful in his business and recognized as a leader in the business community, he began to mentor other small business owners. In 1989 he developed his own business success program based on his experience and the teachings of his favorite business books. 

His program was so successful that in 1992 Terry was asked to join UniGlobe Active Travel as a Director of Operations to boost individual store performance. Within months, he took the store to a $2.5 million Dollar Travel Agency. He then took the program national to improve performance organization wide. In 1994 he became a founding team member of EXA Travel International and took on the role of Director of Training & Development and within two years the company grew to 11 regional offices, with over 2000 franchisees and went public in late 1996.

Learn more about Terry at https://terryogburn.com/ and http://www.ogburnsbusinesssolutions.com.

Brief Description of Gift

Free Coaching Session

URL for Free Gift

http://www.terryogburn.com

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Kat McLead is the creator of Pinpoint Your Perfect Business: *the* proven framework for pinpointing your perfect niche for a high profit, high purpose, and high pleasure business while staying MOM first.

We discuss:

• Why the riches are truly in the niches [1:40]
• The most common [mom] traps when moving into entrepreneurship [6:56]
• What to do when circumstances change in your niche business [10:04]
• The art of combining skills for developing a high-profit business [12:17]
• The best way to start a niche business [13:58]
• The signs that show you which is the right business for you [15:28]
• When it is the appropriate time to pivot after niching down [18:13]
• How to craft the offer that your clients want to buy [19:14]

Kat helped sex workers transition out of the adult industry into high profit entrepreneurship 13 years ago. And that’s how she developed the Profit and Purpose Framework. It’s since been continually refined and is now designed specifically for busy moms.

She started her first multiple 6 figure business 20 years ago, and hasn’t slowed down since, not even after having her son. A fun fact: That business’ profits meant that she had way more money than her husband when they first got married, and was able to pay the entire $450,000 down payment on their home. 

Learn more about Kat at https://www.sahmentrepreneur.com

Brief Description of Gift

The 4 Key Steps to Starting Your Own Ideal, High Profit Business as a busy Stay at Home Mom

URL for Free Gift

https://www.sahmentrepreneur.com

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Cynthia Sestito is a chef/ restaurant owner and consultant. She has been in this business for 25 years. Before that she had a clothing and fabric / houseware goods company in Paris and New York. Cynthia has two dresses in the Met collection/ awards.

We discuss:

• Self-protection at times of adversity [2:40]
• The propelling factor of never being successful enough [4:14]
• How to maneuver into the next part of dealing with the COVID-19 situation [7:09]
• Why you can’t be afraid of challenging times [9:04]
• New worlds that can make cooking exciting again [10:48]
• Heightening a dinner experience: smell, flavor and health [13:04]
• Sticks and seeds and lousy weed [18:25]
• The time to hear yourself [21:50]
• A memoir of life and food [24:31]
• What makes a cooking book stands out [26:49]

In 2017, Cynthia woke up to find her catering business was gone, for myriad reasons, including kitchen fire and burns, loss of license, loss of home and a bad partnership. Cynthia is currently trying to reestablish her catering on a smaller scale, and she is creating foods in the world of micro-dosed cannabis. 

Cynthia is an alumnae of the show Top Chef, and she recently appeared on the Netflix show Cooked with Cannabis. She has spent the last two years writing a cannabis cookbook and the outline / recipes for a memoir cookbook.

Learn more about Cynthia at www.cynfulfood.com, www.cynfulycanna.com and Instagram.

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

With nearly 15 years of diversified public accounting experience, Justin founded McAuliffe CPA Enterprises, P.C. in 2018 to work with small business owners to organize their books and records, assist with management of the general ledger, develop and/or retool the chart of accounts, and help develop or maintain an accounting infrastructure serving as an outsourced controller and CFO and COO for key clients, when necessary.

We discuss:

• The trigger that forces entrepreneurship on you [1:56]
• The best part of 2020 [4:48]
• Recognizing opportunity: a $20 gift card [6:21]
• The value of revenue starts off with small [8:53]
• The seven people you meet in Heaven [10:42]
• The line that separates giving away for free versus charging [14:26]
• A startup owner’s perspective on buying at Best Buy [17:10]
• How to expedite networking from your couch [19:35]
• Changing the narrative by providing people with financial freedom and purchasing power [23:26]

Learn more about Justin at https://www.cpa.enterprises/, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Brief Description of Gift

A free copy of Justin’s book, Are We Reconciled Yet? 

URL for Free Gift

https://www.cpa.enterprises/

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Purdeep Sangha is widely known as “The Strategist for Men in Business” and teaches men how to become a Profit-Multiplying Powerhouse. 

We discuss:

• The beginning of the life you want [1:55]
• How to remove the friction between your personal and business life [5:35]
• The perfect storm for going from employee to entrepreneur [6:51]
• What path to take after you’ve burnt all your bridges [10:37]
• Why you should not leave any stone unturned [12:04]
• The mistakes that consultants and coaches make that set them back [15:53]
• The confusion around what it means being a man [19:25]

His personal mission is to help men grow their businesses massively, increase their personal fulfillment in life and improve their relationships with their wife and kids. He is the founder behind the movement #MenWhoWin, men who are mindful, alpha males. As an award-winning author, entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, business coach, husband and father, Purdeep knows exactly how tough it can be to balance a successful business with a happy family. After studying and working with some of the most successful men around the globe, Purdeep shows men the neuroscience behind becoming limitless. 

Learn more about Purdeep at https://themaleentrepreneur.com/, https://purdeepsangha.com/, LinkedIn, Twitterand Facebook.

Brief Description of Gift

Purdeep’s free Profit-Making Powerhouse Checklist

URL for Free Gift

https://purdeepsangha.com/freebies/

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Chris Meade is the co-founder of CROSSNET, the world’s first four-way volleyball game.

We discuss:

• The best idea out of a hundred ones [1:40]
• How to go from a group of people who trust you to a business that makes money [5:15]
• How to “take advantage” of your online skills [7:09]
• The video component: creating a big impact with a very small investment [9:10]
• What makes high-quality email marketing [12:34]
• A price point that makes a difference in terms of online sales [14:23]
• Where to get outside help in order to cover the missing skills for your business [15:24]
• Techniques to enhance your ability to hire somebody who’s a good fit on the first try [17:23]
• Trying to prepare for wild success while struggling with cash flow [19:11]

Learn more about Chris at https://www.crossnetgame.com/ and LinkedIn.

Brief Description of Gift

$25 Off w/ Coupon Code

URL for Free Gift

https://www.crossnetgame.com/

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Chief Evangelist at BombBomb, co-author of Rehumanize Your Business, and host of The Customer Experience Podcast, Ethan has collected and told personal video success stories in hundreds of blog posts, in dozens of webinars and stage presentations, and in countless conversations. 

We discuss:

• The history of humans speaking versus writing in the context of modern technology [2:21]
• How to be around your clients as often as you’d like to be [5:17]
• Your very best asset: Why you need to be as human as possible [7:49]
• A frictionless experience: The best promise of AI technology [11:47] 
• How to build a psychological nearness with people before even meeting them [15:24]
• A simple idea to accelerate the relationship aspect of your business [20:35]

Prior to joining BombBomb, Ethan spent a dozen years leading marketing teams inside local television stations in Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Colorado Springs. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan and UCCS in communication, psychology, and marketing. Ethan now lives in Colorado Springs with his wife and son.

Learn more about Ethan at https://bombbomb.com/.

Brief Description of Gift

A two-week free trial of the software

URL for Free Gift

https://smashingtheplateau.com/bombbomb

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Known far and wide as “Dr. Cindy,” the First Lady of Sales, she is an expert in the areas of sales. She helps people get over the “Ick” of selling and use the skills of sales professionals to get what they want and deserve at work and in life. 

We discuss:

• A skillset that’s been within you all your life [2:49]
• The time that you got your teacher to accept a late assignment [4:59]
• Walking commercials that can say why you are amazing [7:24]
• The flipside of pitching your product to a business prospect [9:50]
• How to ask for what you want when the chance does arrive [12:02]
• The difference between asking someone for referral and asking a prospect for business [13:22]
• The magic in the follow-up of sales [15:35]
• Sometimes the gift is not just another referral [17:37]
• How to craft a sales process that’s authentic to you [18:33]

Dr. Cindy is the author of the Wall Street Journal Best Seller, Every Job is a Sales Job: How to Use the Art of Selling to Win at Work, and as a popular and an inspiring speaker. As the CEO of Orange Leaf Consulting, her team works with companies and entrepreneurs to grow their business.

Learn more about Dr. Cindy at https://drcindy.com/, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Brief Description of Gift

A bonus chapter on personal branding as well as a tip sheet for sales

URL for Free Gift

Go to https://drcindy.com/ and enter “SMASHING ” in the promo code area, or message Dr. Cindy on social media.

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Jeremy Slate is the founder of the Create Your Own Life Podcast, which studies the highest performers in the world. 

We discuss:

• The perks of being married to the expert [2:54]
• The small pond strategy [4:16]
• Where people most often go wrong when trying to get known [9:24]
• How to play the PR game with the right people [11:30]
• The importance of stats in getting you paid [14:37]
• Building up trust and likeability through content creation [16:45]
• Why obscurity is your biggest enemy [18:32]

Jeremy studied literature at Oxford University. He specializes in using podcasting and new media to create celebrity and was ranked #1 in iTunes New and #78 in the iTunes top 100. He was named the #1 Podcast to Listen to by Inc. Magazine in 2019, as well as being named a Top Influencer by Forbes.

After his success in podcasting, Jeremy Slate and his wife, Brielle Slate, founded Command Your Brand to help entrepreneurs get their message out by appearing as guests on podcasts.

Learn more about Jeremy at http://www.commandyourbrand.media, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Brief Description of Gift

White paper, “The 7 Reasons No One Knows You”

URL for Free Gift

www.commandyourbrand.media/7reasons

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Chad Peterson is an expert business broker and the founder of Peterson Acquisitions, an award-winning M&A firm.  Chad’s firm handles transactions in $1 million to $25 million range, with some deals exceeding $25 million.  He works with companies all over the United States and has completed international deals as well. 

We discuss:

• How to set yourself apart from other entrepreneurs [2:06]
• What goes beyond 7,000 cold calls [3:27]
• How to know if you’re employable [4:44]
• A mad man starting businesses from a shoestring budget [5:51]
• There are builders and there are sellers [8:20]
• The time to sell is when you’re doing well, and not vice versa [10:32]
• A small whisper from a friend [13:00]
• Nobody quits working, or why retirement won’t do you good [14:04]
• Why business owners don’t know the value of their own business [16:30]
• How to make better and informed decisions when selling your business [20:43]

Peterson Acquisitions was recently named by one publication as the #1 ranked business broker in the United States. What sets Chad apart from all other business brokers is his aggressive style, work ethic and tenacity that are rooted in his humble beginnings.  Chad is a self-made entrepreneur that has been in the trenches. He has started, built and sold 6 of his own businesses.  Chad wrote the book “From Blue to White: A Working Man’s Guide to Self-Employment”.  Best-selling author Scott Alexander of “Rhinoceros Success” wrote the foreword.  He also wrote the book “Swinging Doors: A Guide to Selling Your Company” and is the host of the podcast: Business Brokers: Buying, Selling & Growing Businesses. 

Learn more about Chad at https://petersonacquisitions.com/, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Brief Description of Gift

Free download of Chad Peterson’s Swinging Doors book

URL for Free Gift

https://petersonacquisitions.com/get-the-book/

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Dan Meadors started out working a regular day job in a small town in Kentucky. In 2011, he began selling on Amazon with only $600 and grew it into a multi-million-dollar business in just a few short years. 

We discuss:

• Triggers that launch us into much bigger things [2:07]
• How to overcome the fear [and shame] of being fired by becoming the person you always wanted to be [4:56]
• The most natural thing you could do for your retail business that nobody tells you [6:30]
• How to remove yourself from your business [18:41]
• The Wholesale Formula: Creating the right path for people [20:08]
• A business model that lets you eat Thanksgiving dinner with your kids [22:32]

Today, Dan owns a business that has sold over 500,000 products on Amazon, done well over $20 million in sales, has generated millions in profit, and only works ONE HOUR per week due to the unique business model he created that allows him to almost completely automate the entire business. Dan now uses his freedom to teach people all over the world his exclusive business model through his elite online training program known as The Wholesale Formula.

Learn more about Dan at https://thewholesaleformula.com/, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Brief Description of Gift

A free walkthrough of the Wholesale Formula 

URL for Free Gift

https://thewholesaleformula.com/smashingplateaus

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

From Commercial Photographer to Marketing Specialist, from Business Portrait expert to Teaser Marketing Video specialist, Jared Silver’s professional career has always been focused on getting outstanding results for his clients.  

We discuss:

• Adapting out of necessity only to start loving it [1:39]
• How to [re]invent a profession when your skill set is not needed anymore [4:07]
• How to condense your story in a 30-60 second pitch [5:42]
• The sole purpose of a teaser marketing video [7:05]
• How to get someone to look like themselves in front of the camera [7:48]
• A relationship accelerator: Getting your video clone out there [10:52]
• Tools to get your clients to get to their clients [13:23]
• How to structure your time so you can keep earning and learning at the same time [15:34]
• Always stay focused on the main result your client needs [16:45]
• A great example of reinventing oneself multiple times [17:19]

Learn more about Jared at http://www.ataglancemarketing.com/index.cfm, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Brief Description of Gift

How to script a 30 to 60 second engaging and captivating video script that will Qualify Your Prospects Faster – for Sales Sooner (in the form of 3 easy to use worksheets)

URL for Free Gift

http://www.ataglancemarketing.com/index.cfm

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

www.smashingtheplateau.com/sitehub

Jeff Schechter, aka “Shecky” has had the entrepreneurial bug his entire life. He started his first business right out of college, and over the years been involved in numerous businesses ventures. 

We discuss:

• Some of the hardest parts of the strikes as you’re trying to get a hit [2:22]
• A much better indicator than perfect analytics [5:30]
• The blocks that make us resist to marketing [8:48]
• How to show people you have value without being full of hype [12:25]
• How the era of authenticity is changing marketing trends for the gurus out there [14:48]
• How love can save you in times when nobody is safe [17:10]
• The kids that are willing to take chances [21:52]
• Write it down and put it out there to the Universe [24:32]

Shecky’s love for real estate investing began in the 1980’s, when he rehabbed 5 of his own residences, before the term “house-hacking” even existed. Since those early days of torn up kitchens and bathrooms Shecky has bought and sold many properties and is an active investor to this day. In addition to investing, he operates a private consulting practice. He thrives on helping people realize their full potential not just in business and investing but in all aspects of life.

Learn more about Jeff at https://HighReturnRealEstate.com, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Brief Description of Gift

Free consultation with High Return Real Estate’s Director of Investor Relations for any listener wanting guidance on RE investing

URL for Free Gift

sales@highreturnrealestate.com

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

https://yoursitehub.com

Daniel John Hanneman has an extensive background as a professional counselor and certified hypnotherapist with combined business and professional backgrounds in energy scanning, energy clearing, spiritual life coaching, intuitive business coaching, master intuitive trainer, channeling, metaphysics, Religious Science, hypnosis, psychology, motivational techniques, and personal/business development systems. 

We discuss:

• The key role of having aligned awakened presence [1:47]
• Early warning signs of your sacred purpose trying to play out [5:00]
• The difference between sacred purpose and tactical orientation [8:32]
• The day you need to go out and play tennis with your buddies [13:07]
• Path of a surrender: the art of letting go for highly sensitive people [16:28]
• Breaking old models of doing business as a way to consistent revenue [19:40]
• Achieving a breakthrough by constantly shifting established structures [24:06]

From a best-selling book series, Daniel has co-authored the book, Wake Up Live The Life You Love – Living In Abundance, which featured internationally renowned legends including Anthony Robbins, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and Dr. Michael Beckwith. He has been the producer and host for the popular internet radio show, Spiritual RockStar Radio Show. 

Daniel is the creator of Your Sacred Purpose that is awakening the deeper power within spiritual entrepreneurs and transformational leaders to experience profound awakening and real results to impact millions of people’s lives around the world.

Learn more about Daniel at http://www.academyforinvinciblehealers.com, Twitter and Facebook.

Brief Description of Gift

Free consultation

URL for Free Gift

www.yoursacredpurpose.com

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

https://www.yoursitehub.com

Jacqueline Lauren is the founder of Jacqueline Lauren Design, an intuitive brand strategy and design company. 

We discuss:

• A natural progression to running your own design company [1:43]
• Work on yourself so you can work with others [5:21]
• An effective tool to make sure everyone’s on the same page [7:51]
• The importance of having a connector to help you build your business [10:15]
• Bringing in strategic knowledge to your design as an added value [12:14]
• How to “interrupt” energy drain while doing endless design work [13:27]
• The freedom that a long-term, steady client can give you [15:11]
• What might happen if your client is your friend [16:45]
• Looking into a variety of industries as an effective way to generate recurring revenue [17:54]
• Personal stories that connect people [19:22]

Jacqueline merges 15 years of design knowledge with an understanding of how energy and intention affect our lives and our businesses. She also understands the importance of listening, both to her clients and her own divine guidance. By following her inner wisdom and transforming her self-limiting beliefs, she allowed herself the freedom to expand and not follow the status quo. She moved from a toxic urban environment onto a beautiful horse farm. Recently, guidance came in the form of a dream. Jacqueline was instructed to create and launch the Realign with the Divine podcast to share the stories of modern day healers and their awakenings.

Learn more about Jacqueline at http://www.jacquelinelauren.com, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Brief Description of Gift

A 30-minute brand assessment call

URL for Free Gift

http://www.jacquelinelauren.com

Thank You to Our Sponsor: SiteHub

https://yoursitehub.com/

Jeff Saling is a start-up founder and early stage public company executive with more than 25 years’ experience. Since 1998, Jeff has been part of successful startup exits with 3 IPO’s and 1 private acquisition. As an executive, Jeff’s experience includes running worldwide sales, professional services, SaaS operations, and product development. As a founder, Jeff’s experience includes three B2B SaaS cloud companies and currently, 1 business / tech incubator, StartUpNV. Jeff is also an active mentor and angel investor in several tech start-ups.

We discuss:

• The difference between being in an incubator vs. trying to start something without the incubator [2:25]
• Why being solo might be too hard [4:50]
• How to overcome mid-career challenges by joining an incubator [6:27]
• The road to having an a-ha moment [9:38]
• A program that helps you create the next big unicorn [11:16]
• Free resources for business startups based out of Nevada [15:58]
• Biggest obstacles to founders getting help in the early stages of their business [17:32]
• Pros and cons of paid startup programs, and the alternative to them [20:54]
• Not a boring company that has broken through the plateau in the IoT space [22:10]
• The future is bright [23:58]

Learn more about Jeff at https://startupnv.org/, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor: Geri Mazur Marketing

917-509-9906 or geri@gerimazurmarketing.com