Chris Weller is an award-winning storytelling expert. He's the co-creator and producer of the Netflix Original Documentary "Spelling the Dream," an Ironman triathlete, and a crossword puzzle aficionado. He is currently a senior editor at Insider, overseeing coverage that explores the human side of work and business. We discuss: The time when podcasts were not even a thing [05:03] The impression that consistence creates [08:11] The evolution of audio on demand [11:30] Why content creators don’t have to be everywhere [15:33] Spelling the dream with the spelling bee [18:20] The value of looking for intersections [20:40] Learn more about Chris at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherweller (LinkedIn).

Smashing the Plateau

Celebrating 600 Episodes of Smashing the Plateau with Chris Weller

John Neral helps mid-career professionals prepare, position, and promote who they are and what they do, so they can SHOW UP to find a job they love or love the job they have. He's the author of the newly published book "Your Mid-Career GPS - Four Steps to Figuring Out What's Next." He and his spouse are the proud parents of a rescue cat named, "Amy Farrah Meowler" named after their love of the show, the Big Bang Theory. We discuss: The fear of being stuck [02:44] What to do with your unique professional value [04:32] The people we hurt when we don’t make our offers [09:32] No place is a party [12:54] The role of a coach for planning a coaching career [16:18] The things that make the coaching fit easy [19:11] The most fascinating part of the career journey [22:55] Learn more about John at https://johnneral.com/ (https://johnneral.com), https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnneral/ (LinkedIn), https://www.facebook.com/johnneralcoaching (Facebook) and https://www.instagram.com/johnneralcoaching/ (Instagram).

How to Prepare, Position and Promote Your Mid-Career Pivot Featuring John Neral

Christy Metcalf helps women rewrite their story from former corporate yes girl to successful entrepreneur on their terms. We discuss: The problem with being conditioned to our 1% salary increase [02:13] The key to sticking to your value [06:01] Why McDonald’s don’t sell tacos [10:28] Nobody knows who you are [12:23] How to deal with the fear of showing up [16:28] Money is all around if you’re willing to ask for it [19:05] Riding the bike to make yourself successful [22:31] A reformed yes girl, people pleaser, and workaholic she made the leap from corporate employee to successful entrepreneur two decades ago, and now she helps other women do the same thing. Now she uses that same winning framework to educate and support new female entrepreneurs as they step into their new role as CEO and rewrite their story. Learn more about Christy at http://www.2smartgirls.com/ (www.2smartgirls.com), https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-metcalf/ (LinkedIn) and https://www.facebook.com/TwoSmartGirls (Facebook).

How to Get Clients, Confidence and Cash Featuring Christy Metcalf

Dan Bennett was born and raised in the gritty city of Flint, MI. He is the Founder of 1 Minute Media, a company that empowers individuals to tell their stories with great video through coursework and private membership. He is also a digital media freelancer who offers direct consultation for companies as well as decades of experience in video production, video editing, motion graphics, sound design, graphic design and digital content development. We discuss: Back and forth between left and right side of the brain [02:24] The love of creativity and newfound energy [05:06] Take the wheel and see what happens [08:52] The great band-aid rip of 2020 [11:19] The medicine in the cheese [16:34] Accidents that work out pretty good [19:09] The members that don’t pay you anymore [20:55] Learn more about Dan at https://imtheantipreneur.com/ (https://imtheantipreneur.com/linkstack).

How to Align Your Passion, Expertise and a Market Need Featuring Dan Bennett

Jonathan Keyser is the founder of Keyser, one of the largest independent, occupier services commercial real estate firms in the country. Additionally, Keyser is a founding member of EXIS Global, the largest independent, commercial real estate organization in the world committed to exclusively representing corporate end users. We discuss: Changing the mechanics of a whole industry [02:45] The universe can’t handle an imbalance [06:35] Why you should start using the L word in business [09:08] Reinvention from the inside out [12:26] The biggest accountability mechanism [16:26] Just a commercial real estate guy from Arizona having a dream [21:58] Jonathan focuses his efforts on changing the business world through selfless service and his efforts manifest in his content and through leadership. He was named "The Commercial Real Estate Disruptor" by USA Today, a #1 Multi-Category Best Selling Author on Amazon and the Wall Street Journal for his book, “You Don’t Have to be Ruthless to Win”. He is a frequent keynote speaker, a thought leader featured on over 150 articles, publications, and podcasts, and is recognized as one of the Top 20 Virtual Keynote Speakers in the country. Learn more about Jonathan at http://www.keyser.com/ (www.keyser.com) and https://ruthlessbook.com/ (https://ruthlessbook.com/).

You Don’t Have to Be Ruthless Featuring Jonathan Keyser

David Crysler is the founder of the Crysler Club and host of the Everyday Business Problems Podcast. Having spent nearly 20 years working for a publicly traded corporation that grew through acquisition provided Dave with the opportunity to grow several different businesses during his career. We discuss: A different way for small business owners to build a business [02:24] What large corporations do best [06:46] The four pillars of scaling [09:53] The common problems that trading and manufacturing businesses have [11:00] How to deal with the fear of laying out cash for some help [15:16] How to differentiate yourself in a field with a low barrier to entry [17:36] Shifting from working in your business to working on your business [21:33] Entering entrepreneurship, Dave quickly realized there was a tremendous need within small businesses to have access to the tools and support that were commonplace in a large corporation. It was during this time Dave developed his operations framework that he uses to solve everyday problems and free business owners from working in their business so it can grow. Learn more about David at https://thecrysler.club/ (https://thecrysler.club), https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcrysler/ (LinkedIn), https://twitter.com/DavidCrysler (Twitter) and https://www.facebook.com/thecryslerclub (Facebook).

Your Business Should Not Be Running You Featuring David Crysler

As the official Zig Ziglar Small Business Lawyer and a Ziglar Legacy Certified Trainer, it’s no wonder that Scott Reib is known as “America’s Legal Coach.” For the last two decades, Scott has been helping business owners, entrepreneurs, and coaches “shatterproof” their businesses by implementing specific strategies for structure, growth, and protection. Over the last three years, Scott has been sharing these strategies with business owners and coaches, and watching them grow and succeed! We discuss: The beginning of all of the subscriptions we see nowadays [02:10] How to [not] lose your Friday [04:14] The pep talk you need to give yourself before a sales call [06:10] The signs telling you to hire a business coach [08:44] Different coaches for different seasons of life [11:10] Helping businesses grow in a protected way [13:26] What business owners don’t know what they don’t know about getting an LLC [15:02] The issues in front of multistate entrepreneurs [18:35] The death of the billable hour [20:08] Learn more about Scott at https://reiblaw.com/ (https://reiblaw.com/).

A Subscription Model for a Legal Practice Featuring Scott Reib

Gary Ireland helps executives in transition to maximize income and benefits when joining a company and enhance severance and asserting rights when they’re leaving. Gary has helped many clients in financial services, banking, law, media, technology and higher education, among other fields. He also works with start-ups. We discuss: The best thing about employment law [01:26] A relationship is a two-way street [04:56] An [im]proper way to terminate a relationship [06:36] Becoming a consultant to your former employer [10:20] Creative solutions for maximizing profit and employee engagement [13:58] Everybody that’s around an employee [15:35] Best in something but still out of work [17:06] Who are the most successful individuals [19:25] The skills that help you prevail [21:24] Learn more about Gary at http://irelandlaw.net/ (http://irelandlaw.net).

Maximize Your Relationships with Your Income Sources Featuring Gary Ireland

Jeff helps organizations build better products and executives build the cultures that build better products. Through the use of concepts like Design Thinking, Lean UX and agile software development he brings a new approach to running organizations and the departments within them, most recently focusing on Human Resources and how they can be more agile as well as support agility in the organization. We discuss: Giving up on a dream of becoming a famous rock musician [02:12] Life was good until 2008 happened [04:11] Adventures in becoming forever employable [07:51] How to take your power back in the job hunt [09:38] How to create a career safety net [11:50] Planting your flag: experience, expertise and passion [12:23] Opportunities to solve a problem and become a thought leader [14:24] What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas [20:27] Learn more about Jeff at https://jeffgothelf.com/ (https://jeffgothelf.com/).

How to Become Forever Employable Featuring Jeff Gothelf

Bob Kulhan is an elite improviser, an adjunct professor at Duke Fuqua B-School, author of ‘GETTING TO YES AND’, and the Founder & CEO of Business Improv® – a 22-yr-old consultancy linking improvisation to business through behavioral sciences and ROI for blue-chip companies. BI is a world-class leader in experiential On-Site, Virtual (synchronous), Online (asynchronous), Blended (both), and Open Enrollment programs. We discuss: The human on the other side of the transaction [01:59] A Sherpa’s level of customer devotion [04:00] Bridging the gap between two cultures [06:55] What it feels like to be thrilled at the core [10:09] How coaches and consultants can improve their customer experience [11:30] The weight of a long-term business relationship [14:08] The benefit of having different custom segments [15:17] Why it’s important to serve the customer earlier in their journey [17:43] Why a client gravitates towards a particular coach or consultant [19:27] Learn more about Bob at http://www.BusinessImprov.com (www.BusinessImprov.com) and https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-kulhan-0226a01/ (LinkedIn).

Why Improv is a Business Technique Featuring Bob Kulhan

Ten years ago, Vinay left his corporate job to learn more about how businesses can grow by uplifting the lives of their customers. He crisscrossed the world and drew insight from large corporations, far-flung markets, mountain Sherpas, and street vendors. These experiences inspired a unique approach to customer experience that he then put to the test as an entrepreneur in Cusco, Peru. Now back in New York, Vinay teaches his system through social media, coaching, and online courses through his business, GrowthWallah.   We discuss: The human on the other side of the transaction [01:59] A Sherpa’s level of customer devotion [04:00] Bridging the gap between two cultures [06:55] What it feels to be thrilled at the core [10:09] How coaches and consultants can improve their customer experience [11:30] The weight of a long-term business relationship [14:08] The benefit of having different custom segments [15:17] Why it’s important to serve the customer earlier in their journey [17:43] The most critical reason why a client gravitates towards a particular coach or consultant [19:27]   Learn more about Vinay at http://www.growthwallah.com (www.growthwallah.com) and https://www.instagram.com/thevinayraval/ (Instagram).

Creating Great Customer Experiences Featuring Vinay Raval

Shawn Rhodes leveraged his former life as a war correspondent to become an international expert in how the best teams continuously improve pipelines and performance. We discuss: Imagine a college professor that can’t be fired [01:43] Starting off with a complete beginner’s mind [03:37] A pitch that doesn’t work well on anybody [04:40] The effect of doing things consistently [06:00] Repeatable systems with a focus on the sales system [08:18] Hope is not a sales strategy [09:56] How to begin long-term relationship cycles [11:50] Strategies to own the next step in the conversation [15:47] The idea of feast or famine to keep the pipeline full [17:55] The beauty of building systems [20:49] He's a Tampa-based TEDx speaker and his work studying teams in more than two dozen countries - some the most dangerous places on the planet - has been published in news outlets including TIME, CNN, NBC, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and INC. Shawn is also a nationally-syndicated columnist with the Business Journals and author of Bulletproof Selling: Systemizing Sales for The Battlefield of Business. Learn more about Shawn at http://www.bulletproof-selling.com (www.bulletproof-selling.com).

Bulletproof Selling Featuring Shawn Rhodes

David Lakin is a retired Navy Chief, licensed PMP, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Executive Coach, and CEO of Acacia Business Solutions. We discuss: The impact of a half a lifetime of being in the Navy [01:32] How to figure out what your specialty is going to be [05:17] A good give-and-take relationship [07:58] The people that do not fit your cookie cutter [09:28] The traits person that becomes the business owner [11:55] Walking away when someone waves a roll of cash in front of you [14:31] It’s not a profit problem but a spending problem [16:11] Your time is your cash account [19:00] The appropriate way to choose and hire a coach [20:56] He helps CEOs and their Executive Teams achieve exponential growth through Strategic Thinking and Organizational Planning, helping them grow in multiples rather than small percentage increases. Learn more about David at https://acacia-solutions.com/ (https://acacia-solutions.com/), https://www.linkedin.com/in/davelakin/ (LinkedIn) andhttps://www.facebook.com/AcaciaBusinessSolutions ( Facebook).  

When to Say No as a Business Coach Featuring David Lakin

Nadine & Derek Nicholson help passionate, high-achieving consultants and service professionals boldly earn more while working less so that they can free up their time for what matters. We discuss: How a married couple joins forces for a career transition [02:04] How to measure what matters most [05:57] How stepping into self-leadership helps you get unstuck [08:10] The reason why the say-do gap is plateauing your revenue [13:58] The very key that will have you boldly multiply your earning [21:02] They've distilled their 60 years of collective business and leadership experience building their own 7-figure company, running over $10M+ corporate portfolios, and leading giant teams of people into an approach that teaches you how to confidently sell and deliver high-value offerings, while mastering your time and building your high-performance team. Learn more about Nadine and Derek at https://ascendleadership.com/ (https://ascendleadership.com/). 

How to Earn More While Working Less Featuring Nadine & Derek Nicholson

David Nihill is a Bestselling author, TED featured speaker, award winning comedian and storyteller and “One of the best speaking coaches out there” according to Forbes.com. We discuss: Why going on your own requires you to analyze and tell your story [02:40] Clues to give the right presentation to the right audience [04:44] Why comedians are the true masters of public speaking [07:48] The key difference in reactions you get in a comedy club versus in a keynote speech [09:57] How having the last say can save a public speaker’s life [13:02] If it’s embarrassing to you, it’s funny to me [16:24] Don’t rule out anything too small [20:43] Learn more about David at https://davidnihill.com/ (https://davidnihill.com/). 

What Consultants Can Learn from Standup Comedians Featuring David Nihill

Are you an individual entrepreneur? Are you an expert in your field? Do you want more stable and consistent revenue? SMASHING THE PLATEAU helps you get unstuck – so you can do what you love and get paid what you’re worth

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Smashing the Plateau

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