David Shriner-Cahn, host of Going Solo, shares lessons learned from our first 100 episodes of Going Solo.

We discuss:

• The challenges of a challenging transition [00:22]
• Successfully self-employed at 60 [03:40]
• What brings true abundance and success [07:04]
• The most profitable way to get your business off the ground [9:04]
• The differences between being an employee and an entrepreneur [10:10]
• A breakthrough summary of 100 episodes [12:36]

Remember to subscribe on whatever platform you listen on and leave a review if you can. 

Please share this episode with friends and colleagues to help them learn how to build a successful business after a long career as an employed professional.

Lorraine Rise built her career by coaching others to succeed. Her skills and experiences are in the Human Resources and Recruiting fields. She held various positions as an employee, and then in 2015, Lorraine founded her own firm, Career UpRising. Lorraine is also the host of the podcast Career UpRising.

We discuss:

• Why so many people get pulled in by the lifestyle and perks of corporate life [01:24]
• What it takes to see yourself as a business owner [05:09]
• Where to find the role models you miss in your life [10:45]
• It’s never too late to make a career change [13:14]
• When it’s a good time to have alternatives [15:00]
• The two things to help you with deciding on the revenue model that best fit your lifestyle [18:15]
• The benefits of a long-term relationship with a coach [20:52]

Learn more about Lorraine at www.careeruprising.com and LinkedIn. 

Deb Coviello is the author of CEO’s Compass – Your Guide to Getting Back on Track and host of The Drop-in CEO podcast. 

We discuss:

• What keeps you moving forward at times of crisis [02:28]
• Pausing versus just doing [04:28]
• How to know if you’re ready to take the step beyond self-reflection [07:32]
• Another thing about being an expert [10:37]
• The time and clients it takes to become relevant and viable [13:05]
• The management consultant that became a drop-in CEO [14:49]
• The CEO’s Compass approach to peace of mind [17:20]

The connection between content creation and building relationships [20:20]

After 25+ years in Quality and Operational Excellence roles, Deb has a deep understanding for what’s important when it comes to creating solutions for CEO’s by assessing the landscape, solving their technical business issues and elevating their people for a lasting impact and ultimately – peace of mind. She is here today to help share a bit of how The CEO’s Compass can bring you “Peace of Mind”.

Learn more about Deborah at https://dropinceo.com/. 

A graduate of Harvard Business School, Denrich Sananda has over 20 years of experience in the process automation sector. He’s been based all over the world – in the Middle East, India, in parts of the former Soviet Union and Turkey. Denrich recently moved to Toronto, Canada and started his own Cybersecurity Practice.

We discuss:

• How to effectively communicate a company’s vision during meetings [01:26]
• A mind-boggling Harvard course that takes managers to a different level [05:01]
• Overqualification as a trigger to become an entrepreneur [06:44]
• Why cybersecurity is a great niche to in which to start a business [08:33]
• Helpful resources to get going during a launch process [12:17]
• The power of four essential steps when starting a business [15:10]
• A structure and strategy for achieving visibility on LinkedIn [16:38]

Learn more about Denrich at https://www.aristatechnologies.ca/ and LinkedIn.

In Milt’s last contract as a VFX producer with a large International VFX company, he managed a diverse team. It consisted of internal Los Angeles based artists as well as an external team of international artists. 

We discuss:

• The many faces of execution of creativity [01:44]
• The insecurities that creatives often struggle with [03:27]
• The strength to put yourself out there for the world to comment on [06:53]
• How to build a healthy creative attitude [09:07]
• The one thing that separates a great creative executive from a bad one [12:17]
• The connections that help you get on the path you’re meant to be [15:26]
• More than just a black-and-white coach [20:00]

After his last contract concluded, Milt came to realized that there was a lack of support for creative people in the film and entertainment arts. 

He proceeded to get the necessary certifications to go solo in his new career as a coach for the creative industry.

Learn more about Milt at https://www.miltalvarez.com/. 

Brief Description of Gift

A complimentary initial consultation

URL for Free Gift

https://www.miltalvarez.com/

Jean-Yves Laguillez has authentic China expertise with over 10 years of direct experience in China as a top executive. 

We discuss:

• The feeling of being an entrepreneur without the risk of running your own company [01:43]
• Why it’s good to acquire an existing company rather than launching your own from scratch [05:49]
• A roadmap to entering the Chinese market [07:48]
• Why it is so hard for Western companies to sell in China [09:58]
• The importance of having both Western and Chinese customers [11:30]
• The difference in the business development process between China and Europe [14:20]
• The challenges of having a partner from the other side of the world [16:49]
• The best opportunity to get started [18:40]

Jean-Yves is the co-founder and CEO of Emotion Digital, an agency located in Shanghai and Paris, which helps western brands get into China through WeChat marketing and other social media platforms particular to the Chinese digital landscape. 

Learn more about Jean-Yves at https://emotiondigital.fr and LinkedIn.

Brief Description of Gift

A free 30-min consulting call

URL for Free Gift

https://bit.ly/33oADAg

Michael Ryan is known as the “Inventory Iceberg Crusher” unlocking cash frozen in inventory for manufacturers. 

We discuss:

• Accidentally falling into consulting [02:03]
• How to do the business development once you know how to do the delivery [04:12]
• The best prepared consultant [05:50]
• How to keep the sales pipeline always full [07:24]
• Beer networking at Good Times [08:33]
• Why it’s easier to niche down than to start really broad [11:17]
• The benefits of working on multiple projects concurrently [15:47]
• Your time equals cash flow [17:52]
• The “No, and” method to finding the best fit for the job [19:09]

Michael’s clients are committed to finding the balance between “too much” and “not enough” inventory while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction and cash flow.

As a GE trained & certified Six Sigma Black Belt with more than 25 years of experience, he has solved inventory issues for both middle market and Fortune 500 businesses, translating into customer satisfaction, improved cash flow and increased EBITDA.

Learn more about Michael at www.mryangroup.com and LinkedIn.

Jennifer Fondrevay is the Founder and Chief Humanity Officer of Day1 Ready™, a consultancy that advises forward thinking business leaders, owners and C-Suite executives on the people challenges of business transitions, particularly Mergers & Acquisitions.

We discuss:

• The people challenges of Mergers & Acquisitions [03:29]
• A premortem: getting all senior leaders on the same page [07:50]
• Taking into account the future that employees envision for themselves [09:48]
• The stages that employees go through during a merger [12:05]
• How to let go of past achievements and pivot how you can contribute to the future [15:30]
• The part about Mergers & Acquisitions no one’s talking about [18:04]
• If you’re passion about it, that can make you a force for good [20:58]
• Drilling down on a niche [22:51]
• Why you need to be a good consultant [24:27]

As a Fortune 500 C-Suite “survivor” of three separate multibillion-dollar acquisitions, Jennifer authored the satirical survivor’s handbook, “NOW WHAT? A Survivor’s Guide for Thriving Through Mergers & Acquisitions”, which became a #1 new release in six categories on Amazon when launched.

She shares her expertise as a contributor to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Inc., Forbes and Thrive Global.

Learn more about Jennifer at https://jenniferjfondrevay.com and LinkedIn.

Brief Description of Gift

A sample chapter of Jennifer’s book “NOW WHAT? A Survivor’s Guide for Thriving Through Mergers & Acquisitions” can be found at https://jenniferjfondrevay.com/resources.

URL for Free Gift

https://jenniferjfondrevay.com

Mark is the author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. Educated at MIT, Mark has spent his career launching and fixing new ventures at startups, Fortune 500s, and academia. 

We discuss:

• The feeling of being stuck without knowing how to get to the next level [01:58]
• Building lots of relationships instead of collecting lots of business cards [03:46]
• The necessary frequency of going out there [05:22]
• Why you can’t give away too much [07:16]
• The range of methods to create content and attract a larger audience [09:32]
• How to frame your solution to fit into how your clients model the problem [11:21]
• Whenever there is a large type of change – massive opportunity [12:57]
• How to set yourself up as a known expert during a pandemic [14:09]
• The challenge is to change the mindset not the skillset [15:54]

Mark has developed new software languages, online marketplaces, new authentication systems, and tracked criminals and terrorists on the dark web. Mark helped create the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, MIT’s “Career Success Accelerator”, where he’s taught for twenty years. Mark also serves on the boards of non-profits Techie Youth and Plant a Million Corals.

Learn more about Mark at https://www.thecareertoolkitbook.com.

Sam Gupta has been an ERP thought leader in the digital transformation space for nearly two decades, with the primary focus on financial systems and ERP. 

We discuss:

• The pros and cons of getting your first job before the age of five [02:05]
• An exploration of new shiny things away from the family business [04:30]
• How to extrapolate the knowledge you get from different industries [07:03]
• Figuring out a core business idea after ten years as an entrepreneur [08:57]
• The secret sauce to running a successful venture [10:55]
• One of the most important skills that we can all have [15:07]
• How to measure the value in an initial conversation [18:00]

Sam has been part of large transformation initiatives for fortune-500 corporations but now spends his time consulting with SMEs as a Principal Consultant/CEO at ElevatIQ. Sam regularly speaks at industry conferences and contributes his experiences through many popular blogs and publications. He also hosts a podcast called WBSRocks focused on business growth through digital transformation and ERP where he interviews top influencers and executives from ERP, Supply Chain, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, and Accounting.

Learn more about Sam at www.elevatiq.com, LinkedIn, Twitter and WBSRocks.

Raj, from Series A Photography, is a personal branding photographer in NYC, helping entrepreneurs tell their beautiful, multifaceted stories on camera. 

We discuss:

• A journey from a data scientist employee to a photography entrepreneur [02:12]
• The different types of identity reinvention [08:53]
• What worked for them might not work out for you [13:46]
• The difference between general business coaches and niche-oriented coaches [16:53]
• The “surprising” effect of a mindset shift [18:43]
• Why there is no prescribed path for first-time entrepreneurs [20:04]
• Why Raj is changing the way personal branding looks [21:43]

Raj is originally an immigrant from India, a former data scientist who worked in tech startups for over a decade, a trained sex/relationship coach, and a straight guy married to a queer transgender man. He brings all of this life experience to create a space for his clients to fully express themselves, resulting in authentic, vulnerable, powerful images that resonate deeply with their audience.

Learn more about Raj at https://seriesaphotography.com.

Brief Description of Gift

A self-guided exercise to create your own Mood Board and unearth insights about your personal brand

URL for Free Gift

https://seriesaphotography.com/find-your-brand

Andrea is the founder of CTP Solutions, LLC where she helps companies put their ideas into action by creating solutions to their process and training gaps. 

We discuss:

• Not a matter of “if” but a matter of “when” [02:01]
• The moment when you’re going to sink or swim [04:13]
• The things you can do as a consultant that you can’t do as an employee [05:15]
• Sometimes the problem is not really the problem [08:00]
• The hardest part about going into a business for yourself [10:10]
• The first thing to do when you’re going out on your own [13:12]
• The people to surround yourself with so you don’t feel like you’re on an island [14:39]
• Becoming a consultant mid to late in your career [15:40]
• Building a product first versus trying to sell it first [16:36]
• Building a team: start with the things that are the hardest [18:02]
• How people you don’t know yet could be referrals for you later [19:02]

Andrea has over 20 years’ experience in coaching, training, facilitation, process development, strategic direction, and project management. She believes that how people communicate, how they interact as a team, how they address and solve problems together are all critical to achieving their desired outcomes. Andrea facilitates this understanding by guiding the organization in enhancing communication, establishing processes and protocols, and providing the strategies often needed to effectively operationalize those processes and assure their long-term success.

Learn more about Andrea at www.ctpsolutionsllc.com. 

Jamy Bechler is the host of the “Success is a Choice” podcast and author of three books, including “The Bus Trip”. He spent 20 years as a college basketball coach and high school AD. Jamy now works with high-level corporations and sports teams helping them maximize their potential in the area of leadership, culture, and teamwork.

We discuss:

• Self-employed or unemployed depending on the day [01:32]
• How having a platform to host a podcast could change the dynamics of your business [03:38]
• Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal [05:53]
• The entrepreneur’s internal battles with discipline [07:11]
• How to avoid having the business running you instead of you running it [09:15]
• Why having a rainy day fund is not enough to go from a paycheck to self-employment [12:45]
• Don’t lose relationships over sale [14:54]
• Coaching coaches and leading leaders [17:39]
• Seek first to understand, then to be understood [20:09]
• Great teams have great teammates [21:19]

Learn more about Jamy at https://coachbechler.com/ and Twitter.

As a speaker and small business consultant, Jeffrey Shaw helps self-employed and small business owners gain control of their business in what seems like otherwise uncontrollable circumstances. 

We discuss:

• The courage to leave a steady paycheck for fulfillment [03:26]
• Why companies don’t hire coaches to bring the best out of their employees [06:22]
• One of the most underrated things we can achieve in the world [10:25]
• Life can turn on a dime [13:40]
• Terry has a way of cutting to the chase [15:26]
• The profile of the self-employed versus that of a freelancer and an entrepreneur [18:32]
• The business model of multiples [21:13]

Drawing on his experience as a renowned portrait photographer, Jeffrey shows business owners how to see business through a different lens and strategies to compose the often-chaotic pieces of life and business into sustainable success.

Jeffrey’s TEDxLincolnSquare talk is featured on TED.com and he’s the host of the top-rated podcast, The Self-Employed Life, author of The Self-Employed Life: Business and Personal Development Strategies That Create Sustainable Success and LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer’s Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible.

Learn more about Jeffrey at  https://jeffreyshaw.com and theselfemployedlife.me.

Stephanie is the founder of The Verse Media. She was formerly a General Partner of growth equity firm, ABS Capital Partners, and is the wife of former Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter. 

We discuss:

• The icing on the cake [02:20]
• A job that really comes along once in a lifetime [04:17]
• What never gets talked about when one is striving for excellence [05:33]
• A waste of wisdom and experience [08:04]
• A playbook for your second half [10:03]
• A humbling necessity to rewire the way you work [12:54]
• Why businesses undervalue giving the time to think [14:57]
• By grownups for grownups [16:55]
• Strategies to regain your agency when it gets hard [21:00]
• The people you would have paid $100 for an hour spent on the phone with you [25:54]

At ABS, Stephanie was responsible for raising $1.6B for the firm’s funds, creating its Investor Relations function and leading all marketing, event and investment research activities. In support of the Department of Defense, she advocated for military families and veterans. She was awarded the “Distinguished Public Service Award” by the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2017.

Learn more about Stephanie at www.theversemedia.com.

Mike Smith founded Huddle Advisory, a human capital consulting firm, after 25 years as a sports and entertainment executive at the NFL, NBC, and Deloitte. 

We discuss:

• The value of a great boss at the early stage of one’s career [02:22]
• All the little things that people do in order to create big success at scale [03:34]
• Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable [08:06]
• The muscles that atrophy after spending 25 years in corporate [10:27]
• Why it’s essential to recognize the value of realistic optimism in the face of expected obstacles [12:57]
• The unsurprising amount of creativity that comes in the middle of a workout [17:06]
• How to deal with the constant drive to be productive [19:44]
• The umbrella of always learning [22:04]

Mike’s background centers around leading organizational service functions: Human Resources, Finance, Technology, and Administration. After multiple Finance leadership roles, he made a mid-career transition to Human Capital because of his passion for engaging people to drive business performance. Having served as both a CHRO and a CFO, he has a unique lens to view business and talent strategy alignment.

Learn more about Mike at https://huddleadvisory.com/ and LinkedIn.

Scott Mason is professional speaker and Principal of Scott Mason, LLC, which provides small business consulting services.  

We discuss:

• An ongoing search to find the circle outside the box [01:38]
• The [martial] arts of a side hustle [05:10]
• What made Scott leave traditional employment twice [06:20]
• A gigantic river taking you beyond who and what you might be [07:25]
• The evolution of what your why could be [09:00]
• The beauty of entrepreneurism that’s connected to why you believe you exist in this world [11:44]
• How social expectations can affect one’s journey to becoming an entrepreneur [14:13] 
• Why identities need to be shiftable [19:23]

In 2017, Scott became an entrepreneur for the first time as co-owner of The Brooklyn Press, a silkscreen printing company in New York City and Newburgh, NY. Previously, Scott was the General Counsel and VP of Operations for Urban Resource Institute, the USA’s largest provider of domestic violence shelters and an operator of homeless shelters. He also spent nearly 20 years in executive and in-house counsel positions with various City of New York agencies. 

Learn more about Scott at https://www.scottmasonllc.com/.

Brenda Meller is a self-proclaimed “ambassador” of LinkedIn, national speaker, and the Chief Engagement Officer at Meller Marketing (www.mellermarketing.com), which provides marketing and social media support for individuals and businesses, specializing in LinkedIn. She has been leveraging social media to propel her personal and professional efforts for over ten years, and now blends this experience with her marketing expertise to help clients achieve their goals.

We discuss:

• What it’s like to be enthusiastically unemployable [01:58]
• When the universe nudges you forward [04:32]
• No more numb Mondays but standing on your own [08:27]
• You’re going to meet the head tilters [10:57]
• Profit first: it’s only limited by your belief and your potential [14:30]
• Why employees are not using LinkedIn [18:51]
• One thing company leaders could do differently using LinkedIn [20:45]

Learn more about Brenda at  https://www.mellermarketing.com/.

Brief Description of Gift

A 30-minute free webinar on a variety of different topics related to LinkedIn, business development, etc.

URL for free gift

https://www.mellermarketing.com/.

Robert Grabel is the President of Nonprofit Now! Consulting and Coaching which supports nonprofits and their leaders in maximizing their impact. 

We discuss:

• Being an entrepreneur doesn’t mean you have to be on your own [01:36]
• The moment to start consulting [04:18]
• The two opposites on the spectrum: consulting vs. coaching [05:18]
• Why people get stuck in the “how” [07:10]
• The Wizard of Oz syndrome [08:14]
• What you have and what you don’t need [11:16]
• The true way to create a prosperous coaching business [13:32]
• What makes a good client for a consultant or coach [18:28]

With two decades in the nonprofit arena, Robert has done everything from launching his own charity to serving in senior leadership roles. He is a passionate advocate for nonprofits and writes and speaks on industry topics. Robert lives in Florida with his wife and dog. He loves visiting his daughter and family in Philadelphia, playing music, running and cycling.

Learn more about Robert at www.yournonprofitnow.com.

Brief Description of Gift

A free copy of Robert’s first book “Just Do the Work: The Portable Nonprofit Coach” to the first 5 people who contact him for a 30-minute free consultation

URL for free gift

www.yournonprofitnow.com

Theresa Campbell is the founder and CEO of Her Life, Her Legacy, a leadership development organization dedicated to the power of deep listening. As a leadership coach, author, and life-long learner, she helps you find and listen to what matters, most.

We discuss:

• The only way to figure it out is to try it [01:39]
• An old millennial sitting at the best coaches’ feet [03:55]
• A square peg in a blue oval [06:45]
• Bringing your whole self to work: for employees and business owners [10:51]
• Why works sucks and how to fix it [13:20]
• The fears of high-achieving life-long learners [15:45]
• The byproduct of building internally [18:38]
• You can’t skip your own evolution [19:57]
• A responsibility for your listening [21:08]

Learn more about Theresa at www.herlifeherlegacy.com

Amy Rasdal traded her corporate job for consulting 15 years ago and makes more money than most executives. She works and plays every day. Amy founded Billable at the Beach® to liberate 6-figure earners by helping them build 6-figure consulting businesses. Amy is passionate about helping others find the freedom and flexibility to live the life of their dreams, without sacrificing the career they’ve spent so long building.

We discuss:

• A Silicon Valley kid on her path to becoming a startup CEO [01:32]
• How the environment for consulting is different nowadays [03:30]
• A super hero with super powers making super pay [05:02]
• The sweet spot of maximizing passion and pay together [07:06]
• You’re not imposing, you’re helping [09:25]
• A great example of how a consulting business can evolve [13:16]
• The pause on developing people and why experts should take advantage of this opportunity [16:51]
• Why you already have what it needs to become a consultant [19:57]

Learn more about Amy at https://www.billableatthebeach.com/ and LinkedIn.

Brief Description of Gift

A free email course that will walk you through three action steps to generate revenue now

URL for free gift

https://www.billableatthebeach.com/free-course/

Camille Nisich is a profitability and business growth advisor.

We discuss:

• Manifesting your business goals on a vision board [01:56]
• One light switches off but another switches on [06:42]
• Burning the candle at both ends [09:37]
• The time when an operator should pivot to a consultant [11:40]
• The one-million to eight-million range client [14:54]
• A profitability breakthrough session [16:22]
• The leak in your cash flow pyramid [17:01]
• Why former long-term employees tend to undercharge [20:15]
• The person that gets as many big ideas profitable as possible [21:26]

After earning a BA from Virginia Tech and an MBA from The College of William & Mary, and then spending 18 years driving projects that turned Dell Technologies into what it is today, Camille had her position eliminated in 2018. She then fully launched Camille Nisich Consulting to help fast-growing Tech companies create a cash flow strategy, make better decisions and turn capital into profit. 

To date she has delivered over $100 million in savings and $1 billion in sales pipeline to grow emerging Technology companies.

Learn more about Camille at www.camillenisich.com and LinkedIn.

Brief Description of Gift

Seven cash flow leaks to plug before you make your net sale 

URL for free gift

www.camillesays.com/goingsolo

Tom is the founder and CEO of REP. He protects and preserves clients’ assets and reputation through managing their digital risk. 

We discuss:

• The writing is always on the wall [02:05] 
• If you have a breach, it’s a reputational issue [04:50]
• Star Wars: the intersection of IT and PR [08:17]
• Awareness as a solid foundation to a more cyber resilient world [11:15]
• A crash course in avoiding phishing links [12:52]
• Taking time to grief in a time of career transition [14:15]
• The one skill you need to become clear about your true purpose [16:30]
• A special investigator resolving mysteries [18:07]
• Creating something for everybody in a space with 8000 vendors [21:20]

REP is a digital security and reputation advisory firm, specializing in managing risk. REP builds and implements cyber protection programs from individuals to small- and medium-sized businesses. For nearly 20 years, Tom has had a career in public relations, media risk and cyber security. In 2019, his company downsized and eliminated most of the US operations. This paved the way for Tom to become an entrepreneur.

Learn more about Tom at https://securemyrep.com/, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Elizabeth Lamont is a strategic consultant for early-stage, founder-led beauty brands. After a professional career in Toronto, Hong Kong and New York, her job was eliminated in March 2019.  

We discuss:

• Adjust reaction, behave accordingly [01:27]
• Framing stories and reactions to the end of a working relationship [04:19]
• The best thing that could ever happen to you [06:06]
• Good luck is the result of good planning [07:56]
• The beauty of the consulting world [10:16]
• How to tell the story of desire [13:14]
• Why entrepreneurship is less risky than you think [15:30]
• Contacts that present a bridge to your future [16:27]
• An arsenal of three clients [17:33]

Learn more about Elizabeth at www.elizabeth-lamont.com and LinkedIn.