Business Growth Lab

232: Marketing with Heart vs. Marketing with Hype with Cindy Schulson When it comes to marketing, a lot of people think that it’s all about creating hype around a product or service so customers will buy. Marketing expert Cindy Schulson emphatically states that this is not true. Marketing is all about sending out a message. Today’s world is so noisy that hype often overshadows the message. So, how do you make sure that your message is effectively received by your target audience? In this episode, Cindy shares her formula on how to put your heart and mind into your message so it will stand out among the billions of messages marketed to people each day. She emphasises the importance of getting clarity, a focused niche and the art of connecting different messaging platforms to attract your ideal client. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: What marketing is - and what it isn’t (01:07) Cindy’s work criteria for “smartypants” (02:23) Taking a stand against the hype (04:07) The evolution of the Magnetic Message Formula (07:17) 5 Messaging Platforms (08:31) Get clarity to create a captivating message (08:53) Don’t niche hop (10:06) Put your heart and mind into your message to make it unique (11:19) People are attracted to different experts, so it’s okay to leave some people out (14:54) Picture your niche as a nest that will give birth to and nurture something wonderful (16:31) Tip to turn hype into trust (17:38) How to balance learning and implementing (19:04) A bold promise still needs to be realistic (22:20) Be authentic about your promises and the different possible results (24:19) Be open to the different perspectives of your clients (25:49) The art of connecting the different messaging platforms (28:16) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/232/

As the visionary of your company, you need to set up your systems so you can scale your business. In this episode, SYSTEMology founder, David Jenyns discusses the importance of and misconceptions about business systems. He shares the 7 stages of his SYSTEMology process, the steps to complete the Critical Client Flow exercise, and several tips and resources to help business owners start, change and upgrade their systems to gain more profit and clients in the coming years. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: David’s work and how it optimises his clients’ systems and processes (01:19) The importance of systemising an owner from the daily operations of a business (03:13) Misconceptions about systems and processes and how to overcome them (05:35) Where do you start? (08:24) The Critical Client Flow (09:44) Systemise how you make money (12:02) Start with what you are doing, not with what you want to do (13:30) Get out of the ‘Rollercoaster Income’ (15:20) Allan Dib’s marketing systems (15:57) The 7 Stages of the SYSTEMology Process (18:25) Who records and stays on top of the systems? (23:30) “You don’t have to be a systems person to own a systemised business” (28:30) As a visionary, level up your systems to solve higher quality problems (30:40) Now is the perfect time to change your systems (33:06) The art and science of building a business through SYSTEMology (34:38) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/231/

There may be many things standing between you and a million dollar business, including your mindset and understanding exactly what needs to be done to be able to scale. You may have a product or service that gets great results. You may be great at marketing and sales. But you still can’t get the results you want. So what do you do? In this episode, Samantha talks with Breanne Dyck, co-founder of The Visionary CEO Academy, on how to use the right moves to scale your business. They discuss how you keep the personal touch as you scale and how you tap into the zone of genius of your team... even if you think you’re the best at doing a job. They also geek out about kittens, coffee, martial arts, and Hamilton. Because business should also be fun… :) WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Keep the personal touch despite being in an online space (04:01) 2 different messages on how to scale a business (04:52) When you feel something is wrong with your business (07:09) What to do when you’ve learned all the moves but still can’t scale (08:20) Ask the question underneath the move (10:21) How to get answers to the deeper questions (12:06) The value exchange: value to the business, value to the client (15:09) What to give to your team (16:37) Your team could do something better than you (17:45) Imagine you have a billion dollar business (19:09) Tap into the zone of genius of your team members and receive multiple benefits (20:48) Your ability to solve problems may be holding you back from scaling (22:19) What if it’s true that you’re the best person to do a job? (24:52) Hamilton as an analogy about being the best person for a job (27:27) Imagine you have the option and opportunity to do a job (30:30) How to keep the personal touch while scaling your business (33:00) Personal touch doesn’t necessarily mean your personal touch (34:29) Delegation is a deception (35:40) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/230/

Isaac Newton said it perfectly, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants”. This simply means, building on the knowledge and success made by others in order to help with your own growth and success. When it comes to business success, there is no one single formula. Which makes it difficult to boil everything down to a short list of boxes that you have to tick to become successful in business. In this episode, we delve into the traits for business success that we have learned through our own experiences. We discuss the traits we have observed successful entrepreneurs have and the way they conduct themselves in their businesses. Finding success in entrepreneurship is no easy task, but focusing on taking imperfect action will move the needle for your business. And remember, building a successful business is not a sprint, but a marathon. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Longevity, tenacity, grit and resilience (1:46) How do you wow people to build relationships? (3:50) Not being afraid to invest in relationships (5:16) Understanding the power of people (5:40) Without people you don’t have customers (5:50) Surrounding yourself with the right people (6:27) The value of networking (7:24) Prioritizing your time (7:59) Business growth comes in small bites (9:50) Focusing on one thing per week (10:03) Deepening business relationships (11:03) Working on your business vs working in your business (12:50) Taking action (14:00) Taking imperfect action (14:17) There is nothing perfect for everyone (15:40) Perfectionism vs procrastination (16:00) How long should you block out working on your business (16:30) Asking for feedback and ideas (19:36) Successful people know that they can’t do it alone (20:11) Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable (21:20) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/229

Speaking at events, conferences or webinars is a great way to build your profile, your credibility, and position yourself as the expert in your field. The global pandemic has opened up more online speaking engagements and has made it even more accessible for business owners to speak at different online events. Speaking is one of the best ways to share your expertise. It is also a muscle that continually needs to be strengthened. In this episode, Laurie-Ann Murabito shares the importance of using speaking engagements as a way to build the know-like-trust factor with your audience, and the opportunities available to you as an expert. Gaining speaking opportunities is a great way to increase your business’ exposure. But for those who are just starting out, remember that everyone has a day one and the only way you can get better is to go out and start practicing and flexing that muscle. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Definition of speaking (6:58) There are no boundaries for speaking engagements (8:05) How COVID has changed the way we do business (8:30) The shift to virtual events and meetings (9:00) Speaking is one of the best ways to share our expertise (10:25) Speaking is a muscle to be strengthened (12:10) Everyone has a day one (13:06) Importance of business owners to be out speaking (13:39) Know, like and trust factor (13:54) Everyone has a speech inside of them (14:00) How to hook your audience (14:50) Your first line of your talk is the same as a sales page (15:20) Have a point, supporting data, and Q&A (16:14) Having an impactful end of your presentation (17:10) Ending in your own words (18:08) Show your personality online (19:49) Showing up in a raw and authentic way (22:25) Talking about what you are passionate about (22:48) Making sure people know what you do (23:25) Getting clarity around your specific expertise (24:47) Experience, Enthusiasm, Market Demand (25:29) It’s about changing the wording (25:47) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/228/

People are winding down as the year comes to a close. It’s chock-full of holidays. People are shifting their focus on personal things rather than work. So, it’s no wonder why many entrepreneurs also step back and slow down their businesses during this season. However, for most business owners, the months from November until January are the busy season. In this episode, Samantha and Tim discuss why slowing down may not be the right move for your business. Rather, the busy season can be the perfect period to sign more clients. They also share some do’s and don’ts during the busy season so you can have a profitable three months and prepare your business for 2021. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: The busy season: slow down vs step on the gas (02:28) COVID’s effect on the internationalisation and expansion of certain businesses (04:11) This is not the time to change your organisational structure (07:19) Don’t start developing new programs (09:35) Make sure you have your marketing plans in place (12:33) People are spending money so grab this opportunity to offer your service to your target clients (14:25) Don’t offer discounts; but do offer value adds (17:40) Map your business and lifestyle plans for 2021 (19:22) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/227

Whether you’re running a million-dollar company or a small mom-and-pop shop, it’s a given that you will make mistakes. It’s what you do when you go through the challenges of being a business owner that will determine the future of your journey. But when these challenges crop up, do you keep going or do you stop? In this episode, serial entrepreneur Joel Primus opens up about his personal and professional highs and lows, from the moment that ended his career as a professional runner to his first business mistake. His vulnerability and honesty about his journey may resonate with what you’re going through, so join Samantha and Joel in the Business Lab and take a listen. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Who is Joel Primus? (01:39) Entrepreneurship is a journey (04:01) The moments that challenged Joel’s journey (06:27) First steps you can take when something goes wrong (09:12) Challenges affect people physically, mentally and viscerally (11:33) Can you get to self-awareness without going through challenges? (12:56) Experiences don’t matter if you don’t listen to the lesson (14:31) We are born into traditions and belief systems that affect our behaviours (15:48) The entrepreneurship journey gives you the chance to unlock your true self (18:42) There is a duality in experiences (21:23) Your body will whisper signals for change until it screams (22:15) You need somebody to help you get back on track and fight your villains (24:28) Business doesn’t stop while you’re going through challenges on your journey (26:22) “It’s not freedom from, it’s freedom as” (28:21) Thank life for giving you chances to do better and level up (30:35) Learning from mistakes and constant review can make you overcome challenges easier (32:19) Is getting the finer things in life and fulfilment an and/or situation? (36:00) Life is something to be enjoyed (40:08) Ask yourself, “Am I lying to myself?” (42:35) Ask yourself, “How am I complicit in creating the conditions I don’t like or don’t want?” (43:57) Final words of wisdom from Joel (48:46) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/226/

Social media can have a heavy influence on our daily life. Did you know that an algorithm within social media platforms tracks your behaviour and curates the content that will show up in your feed based on what you do, what you see and what you follow? This means that you create what you see on social media, so you don’t have to be just a passive receiver of content. In this episode, Sam and Tim talk about how social media can alter your reality and how you can get back some control over what content you receive. If you are overwhelmed by social media’s effects on your life and business, then enter the Business Lab and take a listen to today’s episode. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: How social media influences our daily lives (02:27) What kind of world are you creating with your social media? (05:30) Your thoughts will be amplified and influenced by what you read (07:55) Conversations need to be authentic and aligned with your values (11:43) What are your values? (13:11) Do the people around you and you connect with and share similar values? (14:30) Include social media in your 2020 review and 2021 plans (17:36) Social media is just a tool for engagement (19:05) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/225/ ‎

Connecting, building and nurturing authentic and genuine relationships is key to growing your business. Being part of an alchemy network means having a community of people who you trust and opens up many opportunities for your business. But where do you begin? In this episode, Dov Gordon, the Alchemist Entrepreneur, shares how you can build authentic relationships for your business growth and become an "Under-the-Radar" leader in your industry - and enjoy a consistent flow of ideal clients. The best clients usually come from referrals and relationships. But building relationships takes time and effort. You can’t put a price on a relationship and you never know where they may lead. Focusing on relationships is one of the best investments you can make towards your long term business growth. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Becoming an under-the-radar leader (1:40) Referrals are unpredictable (2:30) We all have different personality types (3:10) Operate in your zone of genius (3:39) The 3 questions you must ask (9:45) Creating a compelling message (12:35) Being a savvy student as an entrepreneur (13:50) Authenticity is who you are when you get rid of everything else (14:05) Why we struggle to communicate what we do (19:03) Your unique voice (19:23) An Alchemy Network (21:30) Willingness to lose everything (3:30) Separate your colleagues and your prospects (31:08) Having a community with trust (36:26) Building a community (36:30) Curating and conversation (39:39) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/224/

Did you know that the average Australian business owner makes less in a year than an employee earning minimum wage? As a business owner, you should know that your business revolves around people paying for your product or service. You need money to come in so your business can continue to trade. Despite being an essential component of any business, however, some entrepreneurs rarely discuss or even avoid the subject of pricing. In this episode, Samantha and Tim tackle this highly important topic. They discuss why you need to increase your prices, how to analyse your finances, and what exercises you can do to arrive at your ideal pricing. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Your business revolves around charging out your product or service (02:13) Why increase your prices? (02:50) A reverse engineering exercise to arrive at your ideal pricing (03:20) The average business owner in Australia withdraws just $44,000/year (04:18) A spreadsheet of expenses and fees vs. pricing (06:09) Add in your ideal life and plans (08:20) Do the exercise regularly (10:07) Hidden costs of services (10:57) Would you double your prices today even if you lose half of your clients? (12:25) Look at the supply and demand (13:33) If you could 10X your price tomorrow, what would you need to change? (16:13) It’s normal to be nervous when increasing your prices (16:54) Know the value you bring to the table (17:05) There are different perspectives about the value of a product or service (18:28) Things to put in place to work around pricing (20:37) Address your mindset about pricing (22:24) “Expensive” is relative (23:13) A tip for fixed-price projects (23:58) You may have money blocks (25:26) A challenge to you regarding your pricing (26:30) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/223

What could your business look like if you stopped letting doubts, fears and worries influence your business growth decisions? Most entrepreneurs and business owners want to create an impact. But many don’t reach their full potential because they don’t know what their unique superpower is and don’t lean into it. In this episode, we speak with Melanie Benson, a Revenue Strategist and Business Performance Optimizer, and discuss how entrepreneurs can accelerate their impact and income by making their business perform 10 times better. The pandemic has opened up so many opportunities for you to show up online and make your business more visible to your ideal clients. We delve in to the mistakes that business owners are making by not taking advantage of these opportunities. By understanding your superpower, and leaning in to it, you have more opportunity to amplify the results of your business and the impact you make with your expertise. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Leaning in to your superpower (1:35) Getting out of the invisibility cloak (1:50) Struggling to stand out and be seen (3:08) Creating messaging that your ideal audience will connect with (4:00) The result of not being clear on your message (4:25) Focussing on solutions rather than process (5:50) People hire you to get an outcome (6:10) What do you do for your clients? (7:59) Who is your ideal client and what are their problems? (9:40) What is your most inspiring superpower? (11:36) Most people can’t see their own superpower (11:59) Learn to ask the right questions to get the best answers (13:30) How do we keep people engaged through our communication? (16:51) Creating a golden thread to create engaging communication (16:59) Getting lost in your own stories (19:43) Understand the value of the offer you will make (20:48) Knowing the difference between a good opportunity and a great one (21:30) Transferring your credibility in an authentic way (21:50) We see in other people what we can’t see in ourselves (23:45) What makes you unique? (26:45) Understand who you are and who you’re not (29:46) The power of podcasting (31:40) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/222/

Growing and scaling your business entails a lot of hard work and dedication and with all the moving parts in your business, this can often bring up a lot of questions. In this episode, we answer your questions regarding growing your business, and the systems and processes within your business. From personal branding, to niching down to the importance of a sales pipeline, we delve into all of these topics in today’s episode. Have more questions for us? Leave it in the comments below! WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Personal branding and making connections (2:34) Having a clear definition of who you serve (3:20) Niching down (4:48) Being authentic (7:15) Acknowledging your personal values (7:30) Knowing what you don’t align with (7:45) Being consistent (8:12) Using a content calendar for consistency (10:38) Managing your pipeline of opportunities (12:47) Deciding when you need a system (13:26) Sales pipeline (14:12) Sales are the lifeline of your business (17:30) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/221/

Growing and scaling your business entails a lot of hard work and dedication and with all the moving parts in your business, this can often bring up a lot of questions.In this episode, we answer your questions regarding growing your business, and the systems and processes within your business. From personal branding, to niching down to the importance of a sales pipeline, we delve into all of these topics in today’s episode. Have more questions for us? Leave it in the comments below!WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Personal branding and making connections (2:34) Having a clear definition of who you serve (3:20) Niching down (4:48) Being authentic (7:15) Acknowledging your personal values (7:30) Knowing what you don’t align with (7:45) Being consistent (8:12) Using a content calendar for consistency (10:38) Managing your pipeline of opportunities (12:47) Deciding when you need a system (13:26) Sales pipeline (14:12) Sales are the lifeline of your business (17:30) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/221/

Did you know that over 60 billion messages are sent out every single day? This includes ads, personal posts, newsletters, memes, and much more. In this overcrowded world, how do you make sure that your message stands out? How do you capture the attention of a reader who’s got a short attention span and is accustomed to scrolling through hundreds of messages every hour? In this episode, Brendan Kane answers these questions and more. He shares how he helps brands, whether personal, corporate or celebrity, to go beyond the dream of getting a million followers and achieve the ultimate goal of getting and retaining their audience’s attention through great hooks. He emphasises that you don’t have to change who you are or what you offer to do this. It’s all about how you contextually shape your message and pull out the most genius parts of it so you can get people to stop and check out more of your content. Brendan’s expert tips and strategies are based on years of experience creating and analysing successful hooks. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Get to know Brendan’s work (01:41) “How do I get more followers?” is not the right question to ask (03:04) A million followers will not matter if you don’t grab their attention (03:28) Once you master gaining attention, the followers will come (04:44) First pillar of a great hook: grab the attention within 2-5 seconds (06:04) Second pillar: retain the attention (06:14) Third pillar: deliver the message authentically (06:29) Tips to make your message authentic (08:06) Design content that will resonate with another person’s view of the world (09:15) Communicate in a way that the widest audience receives it (11:04) You don’t have to change who you are or your product or service (13:13) Brendan’s journey (14:24) Strategy for people who are struggling to find out who they are or what makes them unique (21:52) Start to keep tabs on books or ads that grab your attention (23:53) There’s a big difference between what people want vs. what they need (26:14) What happens when you don’t go to the right people (28:06) Don’t rely on one hook (29:48) Commercial companies that are masters in creating hooks (30:32) Service-based businesses that have created great hooks (32:24) Over 60 billion messages are sent out every day (36:20) “Hook Point” (38:23) If we don’t have attention, we’re not working in our zone of genius or creating an impact (39:51) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/220/

Running a business is a huge undertaking and requires shouldering major responsibility and managing resources efficiently. Investing in productivity for your business can be a tricky balance. There are tools and professionals out there that can give you a helping hand in order to improve the productivity in your business and move the needle forward. In this episode, we delve into the non-essentials that you should invest in for your business productivity and growth. Remember that your business is your livelihood and you need to take it seriously. If you treat it like a hobby, your results will mirror your actions. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Fear of spending (5:07) Who are you surrounding yourself with to move forward? (7:00) What is it that you don’t know because you don’t know where to look for it? (7:51) The cost of doing business (8:57) Investment vs a cost (9:30) Accounting platform (12:30) We can’t create more time (13:00) Investing in CRM (14:49) Outsourcing (17:09) Hiring the best for your business (18:52) Outsource other tasks in order to focus on your zone of genius (22:00) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/219/

Accessing your higher self starts with your mindset. In this episode, I speak with the “Bruce Lee of Revenue Generation”, Erik Luhrs, on how to scale your business and create more profit and fulfillment. By accessing your higher mind, you can then leverage that to redevelop your Brand, Positioning and Go-To-Market activities. If you look at your entire sales process from beginning to end, sales is where the river meets the sea. The goal is to get more water flowing faster, which is more people and more money moving faster. When creating sales, don’t look at the bottom or middle of the mountain. To get the biggest bang for your buck, go straight to the top of the mountain and change your mindset so that your mountain gets bigger and your river head gets wider. By hiking to the top of the mountain and shifting your mindset first, everything will follow. Are you ready to journey up the mountain? WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: The aim of marketing (3:30) Lead generation (3:46) Positioning comes before lead generation (4:08) Brand comes before positioning (4:45) The founder comes before positioning (4:49) It all starts with the mindset (6:10) The process of sales starts with the right mindset (6:45) Stepping into the higher version of yourself (11:28) Where do you find leads? (14:04) Two aspects of your moniker (17:38) Mixing context with curiosity (24:10) Positioning yourself in the marketplace (25:20) Imposter Syndrome (26:20) Beingness of ego (26:50) The ego is both sides of the coin (27:07) Meditation to divorce your higher self from the ego (27:35) The real work of success is working on yourself and becoming a more successful version of you (28:29) Imposter syndrome (29:40) The fact that you have imposter syndrome proves that you are not an imposter (31:04) Changing and evolving of your brand (32:22) How you view your business (33:13) You are always growing as a person and so does your brand (34:38) Positioning in Martial Arts (36:49) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/218/

Don’t cancel the year that woke you up. We have less than 90 days before 2021 begins. Have you started planning for the new year ahead? 2020 has been a crazy year and the pandemic has exposed the different strengths and weaknesses of businesses, but has also created massive opportunities. With no end to the pandemic in the near future, we still need to plan for the year ahead. Smart business leaders know that now is the time to seize the opportunity to develop a business plan for 2021. In this episode, we delve into how you can finish the year strong and understand what and where to focus when planning for the next year. Have you started your plans for 2021? WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Getting into planning mode (1:45) What do you want 2021 to look like? (2:00) 2021 planning process (3:09) Blending finishing 2020 and starting 2021 (3:25) Backward reflection is as important as looking forward (3:48) Fundamentals needed in your business (5:22) Your business is here to solve customers’ problems (5:37) Don’t cancel the year that woke you up (5:57) How can your vision take as many people to their vision as possible? (6:40) You need a plan in place to be able to make a pivot (7:44) Mapping things on your lifestyle and then your monetary goal (7:50) Know what lifestyle you want first (8:30) Reverse engineering to achieve your goals (9:50) Take a look at your programs and pricing (10:27) Focusing on your marketing and sales (14:10) Marketing is not a quick thing (15:15) Sales are the lifeblood of your business (16:35) Aligning your 2021 goals with your 2020 plans (18:50) A business doesn’t sleep (20:29) The more you understand your customer, the more you can create solutions for them (24:00) Consistency for the win (27:10) Showing up doesn’t mean being busy and hustling (27:35) Showing up means being consistent (28:26) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/217/

Successful business owners don’t just communicate with their customers for sales. It’s said that your network is your net worth, and business owners who have genuine relationships with their network are those who will find it easier to grow and scale. In this episode, we are joined by Larry Perkins as we delve into building relationships. Business relationships are an integral part for success and creating genuine and lasting business relationships don’t just happen overnight. They need to be nurtured and developed through consistent and dedicated work. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Consulting as a trust-based business (3:00) Reminding people that your business exists (4:00) Looking for new opportunities through your existing contacts (6:38) People are afraid to reach out to their existing contacts (7:35) The brain has a finite number of information it can keep (8:40) Making yourself top of mind by reaching out and staying in touch (9:00) Cold outreach (14:10) Using your time to reach out to people (16:50) Using your time intentionally (17:30) High-trust business (17:56) The four parts of the business cycle (18:00) Strategic serendipity (19:35) Moving from informing people about your business to making them really understand your business (21:55) People like talking about themselves (22:40) Getting curious about the person and their problems rather than sales (23:09) Everything is a relationship business (27:50) Getting to know your customers really well (29:00) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/216/

In today’s bonus episode of the podcast, I have another case study for you with my good friend and client, Kate Burr. Kate shares her journey of the frustration of educating herself and knowing what needed to be done to make money in her business, but not being able to apply the knowledge to actually work for her. Are you intrigued to know how she did it? It’s all in today’s episode. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: How assumed knowledge can really mess with your future success. Why the order of action is so important. The a-ha moment when everything fell into place. The key things Kate has learnt that has had her successfully growing her income.

Today I’m bringing you a bonus episode of the podcast, to introduce you to an entrepreneur with an inspiring story. This is a story of someone who was burnt out, overwhelmed and didn’t know where to turn next. Today you’re going to meet Rebecca Andelin, who is a student of mine in Business Success Academy, and she’s going to share her story of how she transformed from burnt out, overwhelmed, and unable to grow her business despite working long hours to a thriving business owner who has rediscovered a zest for life. The doors to Business Success Academy are open for a short time. Learn more at https://samanthariley.global/success or DM me on Instagram @TheSamRiley IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR: Rebecca’s reason for joining Business Success Academy and how it was a turning point for her life and business The steps Rebecca took for going from burned out to energised How she was able to create boundaries and slow down, to enable here to grow her business. The system Rebecca implemented to stop Bright Shiny Object Syndrome constantly holding her back

Having subconscious blocks and fears are things that affect every single one of us. These are the sneaky thoughts that tell you you’re not good enough or the debilitating feeling of making a mistake. You may not know it, but your mental blocks and fears may be affecting not just you, but your business and team as well. You may be unconsciously disempowering your staff or confusing a red flag with fear that leads to a costly mistake. In this episode I chat with Amira Alvarez, a mindset and business strategist who helps women entrepreneurs scale their businesses. We dive deep into the mental blocks and fears that stop people at different levels of their businesses. If you’ve ever wondered why you are struggling to get to the next level and something is stopping you, then this episode may help you see just what the universe is trying to tell you. ** Have you registered for my upcoming live masterclass, Transform Your Knowledge Into A Profitable Online Business And Do Work That Matters? Click here to reserve your spot: samanthariley.global/masterclass

You cannot run two marathons in different directions at the same time. In today’s overly busy world, we often find ourselves feeling overwhelmed and unable to focus on things that can actually help our business grow. When you are trying to achieve too much, it can feel like you can’t gain momentum and get ahead. In this episode, we delve into the 4 problems you need to address in order to focus, increase your productivity, and consistently achieve your goals. By addressing these problems and implementing the solutions in your business, you can move the needle forward. Yes, 2020 has been a crazy year, but there are still plenty of opportunities for improvement and growth. What do you want to achieve by the end of the year? WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Using the universal energy (3:32) The 90-day plan (5:00) Business sprints (5:50) 30-day plan to increase your productivity (6:00) Breaking down projects into tasks (6:40) Give yourself permission to rest and let go (7:33) Normal deliverables vs things that will move the needle forward (8:00) The path toward your goals is not a linear path (8:40) Setting weekly goals (9:16) Setting too many goals (11:44) Doing too much can lead to being unfocused (12:18) Setting 1 to 3 goals at a time (12:50) Spending time on things that don’t matter (14:30) Being busy for the sake of being busy (15:20) Different stages of your business requires different focuses (15:55) Sorting out your sales first (17:58) Not having support or accountability (18:30) The importance of having a mentor (20:35) Ask better questions to move forward (22:20) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/212-increase-your-productivity-and-consistently-achieve-your-goals

You cannot run two marathons in different directions at the same time. In today’s overly busy world, we often find ourselves feeling overwhelmed and unable to focus on things that can actually help our business grow. When you are trying to achieve too much, it can feel like you can’t gain momentum and get ahead.In this episode, we delve into the 4 problems you need to address in order to focus, increase your productivity, and consistently achieve your goals. By addressing these problems and implementing the solutions in your business, you can move the needle forward. Yes, 2020 has been a crazy year, but there are still plenty of opportunities for improvement and growth.  What do you want to achieve by the end of the year?WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Using the universal energy (3:32) The 90-day plan (5:00) Business sprints (5:50) 30-day plan to increase your productivity (6:00) Breaking down projects into tasks (6:40) Give yourself permission to rest and let go (7:33) Normal deliverables vs things that will move the needle forward (8:00) The path toward your goals is not a linear path (8:40) Setting weekly goals (9:16) Setting too many goals (11:44) Doing too much can lead to being unfocused (12:18) Setting 1 to 3 goals at a time (12:50) Spending time on things that don’t matter (14:30) Being busy for the sake of being busy (15:20) Different stages of your business requires different focuses (15:55) Sorting out your sales first (17:58) Not having support or accountability (18:30) The importance of having a mentor (20:35) Ask better questions to move forward (22:20) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group.For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/212-increase-your-productivity-and-consistently-achieve-your-goals

Marketing a Service, Advice or Software, is more like proposing marriage than it is just selling a washing machine. In order to turn leads into clients, you must first establish a relationship of trust and influence. In this episode, Tom Poland shares the steps towards an effective, inbound lead generation system for your business in order to turn leads into quality clients. Creating an opportunity to get to know your clients first is essential to establish rapport before talking about business. Through inbound marketing, you are able to give your prospects a sample of your brand, services, and ideas, discover who is interested, and then generate quality leads. Lead generation is essential for your business growth, to get more customers and more profits *** Have you registered for my free masterclass, "How To Transform Your Knowledge Into A Profitable Online Business And Do Work That Matters"? Click here for more details and to register your spot ***

If you want something to last the test of time, it needs solid foundations — from building a skyscraper to laying pavements. And creating your business is no different. A building with a good foundation won’t collapse when the next earthquake comes. A pavement won’t shift and go wonky when you lay a good foundation. Starting a business is the same. With good foundations, your business can withstand issues, attract clients, and build partnerships as it grows and becomes successful. In this episode, Sam and Tim talk about the five foundations of a successful business. These foundations need to be in place to guide you on how to position yourself, remind you to be consistent with your branding, improve your strategies to grow your audience, and help you leverage partnerships. *** Have you signed up for my free masterclass, How To Transform Your Knowledge Into A Profitable Online Business And Do Work That Matters? Click the link for more details and to save your spot ***

With the rise of digital advancement and automation, people appreciate personalization even more. In this episode, search engine marketing expert, Damon Burton shares with us how he has grown his business and how you can use these techniques to grow yours. We delve into the practical ways to create genuine relationships with your clients, balancing automation and personalization, and the importance of SEO for your business. With SEO, when you write good content, solve problems, and answer questions, it will future-proof your SEO. If you can provide content that solves problems uniquely, you can rank uniquely. But with the information overload of what you have to do for your business to grow, this may cause analysis-paralysis. Instead of overthinking things, try taking imperfection actions and start. Start in order to figure out what’s going to work. Once you start, don’t give up. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Search Engine Optimization (4:00) People want to work with people they can trust (08:09) The importance of transparency (8:30) Justifying your rates (9:36) Niching down (12:33) Starting with high ticket prices (12:43) Building relationships with your clients (14:20) Balancing automatization and personalization (15:00) Anti-automation (18:25) Removing decision fatigue (19:55) Automate the systems but not the relationships (20:11) Creating a team before taking on big talents (24:30) Client retention (30:48) Providing transparency with your clients (31:26) Educating your clients and setting expectations (32:46) How SEO applies to coaches and mentors (35:09) You can’t rank uniquely without providing something unique (36:36) Google wants to provide an answer to user’s problems (37:16) Google’s auto-complete results (39:40) Using answerthepublic.com (40:35) Google can only rank what it can read (42:50) Voice search (43:29) Repurposing your content (44:34) Doing one thing really well (45:28) You have to start (50:15) Reach out to your fellow entrepreneurs (51:25) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/209-automate-systems-not-relationships-with-damon-burton

Typically, marketing is all about connecting to as many people as possible with the hope that someone will buy your product or service. The Dream 100 strategy uses a different approach. If you use it, you make a list of just 100 ideal clients and focus your marketing on these people. How different would your business be if you implement this strategy? We’re about to find out. In this episode, we launch the Dream 100 Challenge. We will use social media (specifically LinkedIn) to find our dream client avatars, practise a nurture-before-connecting approach, and create a system to follow up on these prospects. We’ll be doing the challenge for a month and reporting on our results by October. Want to join this exciting challenge? Listen to this episode for the parameters. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: What is the “Dream 100” and who is Chet Holmes? (01:52) Your business doesn’t need as many customers as you want (04:44) Ideal client avatar vs. dream client avatar (06:30) Questions to ask when you want to determine your dream client? (08:23) The “Dream 100” Challenge (10:58) Using social media to find dream client avatars (12:04) Nurture the relationship before connecting (13:53) Systemise the workflow (17:35) A commitment to join the challenge (21:03) RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. CONNECT WITH SAMANTHA RILEY SamanthaRiley.global Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook Connect with me on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH TIM HYDE Win More Clients Connect with Tim on Facebook Connect with Tim on Instagram For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/208-the-dream-100/

Have you ever wondered how to use case studies to grow your business? Case studies are used by businesses to show how their product or service has been implemented successfully by their customers and clients. They are an invaluable asset that establishes social proof of the results people could likely achieve by working with you. In this episode, Anfernee Chansamooth shares 5 ways you can use case studies to grow your business. When you understand just how valuable case studies are in educating your prospects and increasing conversions, you won’t think twice about investing in case studies for your business. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Is your content producing the results you want for your business? (2:49) Are you investing your energy in the right place? (3:15) The power of using case studies (4:49) Case studies vs Testimonials (5:20) Fake and negative reviews (6:29) Ways you can use testimonials for your business (7:48) Using a case study interview to create a blog post (8:45) Posting your case studies on your social channels (11:27) Using your case studies in your email list (11:36) Putting your case study in your nurture sequence (12:30) Case studies in your presentations (13:20) Using case studies in your sales process (15:21) Case studies to frame your discovery calls (16:59) Understanding what your prospects want (18:37) Uncover your client’s pain points (18:57) Case studies must share tangible results (21:04) The art of soliciting good stories (22:57) Sharing relatable case studes (25:47) Allocating a budget to re-market your case studies (29:59) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/207-5-ways-to-use-case-studies-to-grow-your-business-with-anfernee-chansamooth Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group.

Your website is the backbone of your business. It is a way to position yourself online as an authority through a strong and professional destination. Sure, you may have your social media accounts but they are rented space. At any moment, these social media accounts can be shut down. In order for your business to succeed in the online marketplace, you’ve got to have a professional website. In this episode, we delve into the importance of a website for your business and understanding what your website is for and where it sits in your marketing process. We also dive into the mistakes that a lot of business websites make and how to optimize your website for growth. Without a strong website, you are missing out on opportunities for customers to identify who you are. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: How important is a website for your business? (2:20) You don’t own your social media accounts (3:23) Understanding what websites are for and where it sits in your marketing process (4:43) Websites for authority positioning and lead generation (5:39) Turn traffic into inquiries (6:05) Collecting email addresses (6:55) 75%-96% of people will never go back to your website (7:10) Lead magnets in exchange for your prospects email address (7:46) Are you making the 3 biggest mistakes?(9:06) Do you need a contact form on your website? (13:09) Not positioning yourself as an authority and not collecting leads (15:57) Single-page vs multi-page sites (16:33) Essentials of your business website (18:23) Your services and programs (21:22) Blog or podcast? (22:13) Contact page (22:50) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: Samanthariley.global

Business plans that were made 3 or 4 months ago may come off as dissonant today. With today’s financial and economic crisis, it is critical for businesses to think about their audience and what they’re going through. Understanding their client’s needs and how these needs have shifted in the last few months is key to pivoting your business. In this episode, we delve into marketing as a holistic approach and re-aligning your business through authentic connection, understanding, and empathizing with your audience. Businesses can set themselves apart and thrive in today’s crisis through a holistic marketing approach by understanding that every little task is part of a bigger strategy and that everything is connected. As an entrepreneur, collaboration, not competition is key. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Marketing is a holistic approach (1:46) Doing the deeper work with your ideal client avatar (2:45) Trial and error (3:02) The biggest opportunity for businesses right now (3:33) Connection, understanding, and empathy (4:52) Connecting with your audience on a deeper level (5:17) Human connection cannot be automated (5:30) Reaching out to your audience (5:55) The Law of Reciprocity (6:30) Pivoting from your audience’s perspective (6:45) Copy-catting (6:57) Being visible as a leader (7:46) Authentic leadership (8:25) Empathy with small business owners (9:18) The importance of a support network (14:55) Out of adversity comes opportunity (17:50) Collaboration over competition (18:36) Using the online space for your business (19:16) Monetizing your skills (20:09) Where should people focus when building a knowledge-based business? (21:44) Low-leverage pivoting (23:27) Getting your message out clearly (24:46) Online program creation (30:39) The massive influx of e-learning (32:31) Finding your community (34:26) Being emotionally invested in your client’s outcome (35:27) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/205-out-of-adversity-comes-opportunity-with-jonathan-callinan

The first few months of 2020 felt like business as usual, then the rapid escalation of the pandemic forced a massive overnight transition into remote work. Six months in, some are now wondering what the “new normal” is going to look like. In this episode, we discuss what business owners should be focusing on right now - having the right mindset, reframing your goals, and optimizing your systems and processes in your business. Tha pandemic has made us more deliberate about where we are taking our businesses and our brands. Rather than seeking to turn back the clock and returning to normal, let us instead implement the lessons we can take from this experience in order for us to move forward both in our businesses and our lives. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: The concept of the new normal (1:56) The desire to go back to the way things were (2:10) The new normal is something that is right now (2:57) What does your new reality look like? (4:19) We need to act more conservatively (4:58) Setting goals (5:45) Pivoting and realigning (7:09) Predicting as far as we can (7:44) Surviving and thriving in the recession (8:05) Opportunities in the adversity (8:17) This is a wealth-distribution event (8:34) What business owners should be focusing on right now (9:10) Attracting the wrong audience (10:04) Zone of trust (11:19) Why cutting marketing budgets is dangerous (11:30) Mid-year planning (12:59) Contingency plans and continuity plans (14:39) Being more deliberate about where you’re taking your business (16:40) Online learning (16:48) Looking at your systems and processes (17:48) Going back to your old ways is a dangerous place (18:29) The right mindset (19:20) Reframe your goals and how you are going to achieve your goals (20:16) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/204-the-new-normal

Staying top of mind and making sure that current and prospective customers are aware of your brand is important for any type of business, but even more so during COVID lockdowns. Giving promotional products is one way to keep engaging your customers. But what type of gifts will effectively connect you with people you can’t meet face-to-face? When you think of promotional products, do you immediately think of another mug, pen, or notepad with your company’s logo on it? Are cheap promotional products less effective than expensive ones? In this episode, I speak with Oksana Koriakova, marketing and brand engagement maverick and entrepreneur, about how to wow your clients using promotional gifts. Oksana freely shares her expertise, ideas and methods for using promotional products as part of your marketing strategy. Get out those free notepads and pens you’ve received at past conferences as this episode is chock full of tips you won’t want to miss. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: How to wow your clients using gifts (01:37) Top of mind and awareness are critical during COVID (03:22) Who leads your “thank you” department? (04:54) What do you do before and after your service? (05:26) You are not your customer (06:29) You don’t need a million-dollar budget, you just need to be smart (07:07) Use five-sense marketing for more engagement (07:24) Find the right product to take your customer on a journey (10:20) Oksana’s 5-step ‘Purpose Before Product’ process (11:33) Maximising bulk promotional products but still giving customers what they value (12:59) Tips to help your existing customers to refer you (15:22) Promotional products to effectively promote digital events and your company’s messages (19:50) You need a system and research so you can take your customers on a journey (28:13) By adding value to your service, you may end up helping other businesses even through virtual means (31:58) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/203-promotional-products-to-effectively-market-your-company-with-oksana-koriakova

Today’s advanced digital age has changed the way we find clients and do sales. Using social networks to find, connect with and nurture sales prospects is an art that must be practiced. With the numerous platforms online, LinkedIn is the largest online networking site in the world. Putting up a profile and posting content isn’t enough. What’s important is to really connect with people coming from a place of genuine generosity. In this episode, we assess how you can use your LinkedIn profile to attract clients and help grow your business by optimizing your profile, creating content that relates to your ideal client, and genuinely connecting with people. Connect and converse with people as if you were in a room with them. LinkedIn is the world’s largest networking site. So treat it like one. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Nailing one social media platform before picking up more (2:55) Opportunities on LinkedIn (4:14) Your LinkedIn headline (6:12) Should your LinkedIn profile be your online resume? (7:04) Position your LinkedIn profile as a sales resource (7:26) Incongruence is a red flag (8:00) Using your banner as prime real estate (9:00) Commenting on other peoples content (10:30) Your about section (12:23) Reflecting the pain points of your ideal clients on your profile (13:06) Remember you call to action (13:40) Should you offer a lead magnet on your profile? (14:07) The importance of having a website (16:29) Positioning yourself as the authority (17:28) Publishing regular content (18:10) Long-term strategy: Building trust and authority (19:09) How often should you post content on LinkedIn? (19:43) Having a good mix of content (20:26) The Rule of Thirds for photos and videos (21:15) Engage with people (22:52) Treat LinkedIn as a networking site (24:04) Connecting from a place of genuine generosity (25:10) Know, Like and Trust (21:52) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/202-amplify-your-results-on-linkedIn

Sales can sometimes be associated with money-grabbing and greed. Because of this mindset, many coaches sabotage themselves because they don’t want to be seen as that sleazy person. This mindset can make asking for money difficult for entrepreneurs. In this episode, we chat with the Queen of Sales Mindset herself, Christine Schlonski. We deep dive into the sales power formula and debunk the mindset of sales being sleazy and slimy, and give tips for you to understand how you can sell and still be authentic in the process. It’s not about the money but what money can do for you. The more money your business has, the more you can do with it to help yourself and others around you. When your cup is full the more you can learn, grow, and give, and money is just the vehicle for this. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: It all starts within (6:07) Sales Power Formula (6:21) The more money you have, the more choices you have (8:13) You can’t give from an empty cup (10:00) It’s about what money can do for you (10:06) Transform money into something better (11:50) The more your cup is full the more you can learn, grow, and give (12:02) Being clear on what is important to you (12:25) The effects of bliss and happiness vs frustration (13:27) Look at what you are giving and what are you asking (14:14) Keeping calm and staying focused (15:35) Getting clear on your values (16:42) Show up as the best version of yourself (16:50) Connect with people and exchange ideas (19:08) Don’t buy into everything (19:40) What can you do today to support someone on their journey? (20:35) Recognize and see your own value (22:07) Value for clients (26:45) The richer people are, the more they value their time (30:20) The ripple of impact (31:28) Surrounding yourself with the right people (35:29) The more you say NO, the more you can say YES (39:30) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/201-heart-centred-selling-with-christine-schlonski

Today’s episode marks a huge milestone as we are celebrating our 200th episode of the Thought Leaders Business Lab. Thank you so much for being part of our journey! In this episode, we feature our listeners who have supported us throughout our 200 episodes and the questions you asked about our experiences and learnings as partners in business and life. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Fun facts of the Thought Leaders Business Lab (1:32) Is the term “life partners should never be business partners” a myth? (4:57) How do you work through your disagreements? (8:43) Do you call each other on your BS when it’s needed and how do you help each other stay focused and in your zone of genius? (12:28) Risk tolerance levels when working together (21:57) How do you keep your business boundaries? (29:00) Burnout (29:17) Marriage comes first, business comes second (33:23) Not operating in your optimal state (34:20) Blocking your calendars out (35:08) The quality of your life depends on the questions that you ask (37:47) The biggest question we ask each other during these times (38:29) What are the biggest opportunities that entrepreneurs can take advantage of? (41:13) Re-aligning more often to stay on track (46:36) Communicating self-sabotages to each other (50:06) Empowering one another (53:35) How do you keep the flame in your relationship? (54:30) How do you honor each other’s energy? (57:51) How did you know it was time to start together in your business? (1:01:00) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/200-celebrating-200-episodes/

If you have a new product, when should you start paid advertising? This is a question we discuss on today’s episode. We spoke to someone who has a new low-priced product and a highly-engaged social media presence. We suggested his biggest opportunity was to spend more time on organic lead generation strategies and refine his messaging prior to beginning paid ads. In this episode, we share the six steps that are essential in implementing successful organic lead generation strategies. We cover tips on social media channels, optimized content, call-to-action tips, list expansion, moving from public to private conversations, and how to refresh your audience. These are not complicated steps, but you have to ensure you spend time on each step for your strategy to work for you and your brand. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: A case of a business owner with a new low-price product who wants to do paid Facebook ads (2:04) Who are organic lead generation strategies better for? (05:25) Should you treat marketing like a tap that you can turn on whenever you need customers? (6:27) Even with a big budget for paid ads, organic lead generation strategies can still be advantageous for your business (8:37) Step 1: Show up on the right channel (9:47) Step 2: Keep content on-topic, unique and authentic (11:15) Step 3: Put a call to action but don’t post “right hooks” (sales posts) all the time (19:45) Step 4: Always grow your lists (24:56) Step 5: Take conversations from social media or emails to private conversations (29:12) Step 6: Always refresh your audience (31:37) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/199-organic-lead-generation-strategies Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group.

In today’s world where everyone is over-accessible, where there is constant interruption and demand for your attention even after work hours, it’s easy for your personal and professional boundaries to blur. Entrepreneurs often find it difficult to set personal boundaries because of their passion for what they do, so they forego the importance of boundaries. Without it, productivity decreases, and your clients and business will suffer. In this episode, Marcia shares why having boundaries at work is essential for entrepreneurs. We delve into the different ways you can set healthy boundaries in your business. Determine what is important to you in your life and then create your boundaries from there. To create a better business, you first have to protect your businesses’ most important asset and that is you. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Burnout is inevitable (4:23) Unable to care for your clients because of burnout (6:50) A-ha moments during rest (7:26) Having boundaries helps your clients in the long run (7:57) Over-accessibility of everyone (9:02) Not having to reply right away (11:07) Putting up boundaries to protect yourself (12:07) Coming from your highest values gives you insight into the boundaries you need to set (14:19) Removing notifications from your phone (14:40) The best way to treat a client (15:03) Be a good example to your clients (16:37) Caring for your clients does not mean them having access to you 24/7 (16:47) People with boundaries are respected more (17:35) Enabling others to be resourceful (18:32) “How I Work” Document (19:06) Boundary board (20:02) Professional life boundaries (22:23) You control your calendar (24:17) Journaling (26:36) Boundary boss (26:50) Boundary buddy (28:44) Questioning yourself because of your boundaries (29:17) New level, new devil (29:35) Prior proper planning prevents poor performance (31:04) Time blocking (31:34) You are your own advocate (32:17) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/198-the-importance-of-boundaries-with-marcia-sheehan Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group.

Adopting new tools can help you save time, energy, and optimize and improve your business processes. However, it can also take a lot of time to research, find them and then experiment with how to best utilize them. In this episode, we share the tools that we are experimenting within our business and why we’ve chosen to use them. Buying new tools is like buying a car. If you learn to drive and pay the maintenance, upkeep, and insurance, that car will take you on adventures. But if you just keep it in your driveway, it’s never going to work. Whatever tools you choose to use for your business, it doesn’t have to be high tech it just has to be effective and a good fit for you and your business. What new tools have you implemented so far? WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Boom Arm (5:45) Blue Yeti Microphone (7:20) Zencastr (9:00) Squadcast (10:33) ClickUp (11:25) FreshDesk (13:14) CRM (15:46) Good Notes (16:20) Rocket Book Fusion (19:20) Second Screen (21:45) Mophie (23:34) Battery pack (24:58) Black Magic Switcher (25:36) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/197-experimenting-with-new-business-tools

Remember that life happens FOR you and not TO you. When you recognize and embrace that, the truth is, that even a global pandemic is happening for you and won’t stop you from creating the life you want. In this episode, we delve into how you can create the life you want through your habits, the people you surround yourself with, your mindset, and beliefs. If you work on something every single day, eventually you are going to get there. It’s all about being persistent in the process. Remember that living on purpose does not happen by accident. Spend time today writing down who you want to be in every area of your life. Decide who you want to be, and then take action every single day. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Procrastinating in our comfort zone (7:53) Creating your life on purpose (10:00) Life happens for you, not to you (11:00) Morning routine (11:50) Setting your intentions at the start of the day (12:26) Your goals for the day (13:35) Enjoy the journey through loving life itself (14:33) Coping vs Creating (15:56) Pivoting in the time of crisis (17:24) Changing your habits (19:07) Seek somebody who emulates the habits you want to emulate (20:55) Consume content that can feed your brain (21:06) Surrounding yourself with the right people (22:44) Who is your tribe? (23:57) Patience is key to the world of possibilities (28:28) The thin line between allowing and forcing (30:05) The opposite of curiosity is judgment (30:57) Changing should to could (32:50) We all want to be authentic but don’t want to be judged (34:30) Let the song of your soul sing (36:48) Judgment is something that we do that keeps us separate (37:33) The 4 Minute Millionaire (38:02) Celebrate your life as often as possible (43:08) What are you creating now? (45:47) Be present (46:36) Create joy (46:49) Living on purpose does not happen by accident (49:25) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/196-setting-the-stage-for-the-performance-of-your-life-with-ryan-stanley

In this episode, we answer questions from you, the listener, and share our tips on on how to grow and scale your business. We delve into the importance of having a strong rest ethic, prioritizing tasks, and planning for your business. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Taking time out from your business (3:15) Prioritize the top 3 things on your list (5:00) How to start your recording your systems and processes (7:00) Planning for 2021 (12:30) Be open to innovation and new ways to do things (15:28) What is a Facebook lead ad? (16:25) Tips for using Facebook lead ads (18:46) How to re-engage a cold list (20:21) The Nine Word Email (22:08) Tips when using the Nine Word Email (23:06) Should I pay an introducer fee? (26:23) Cost of acquisition (28:21) For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/195-the-as-to-your-qs/

Are you eager to start or scale your business but feel like there are obstacles preventing you from growth? It’s important to know what it is that’s holding you back from your full potential and oftentimes, that roadblock is you. Launching and growing a business is never easy. Feeling out of your depth and not good enough can be a natural part when first starting your business. But what separates successful entrepreneurs from the others is their willingness to be uncomfortable and face their fears. In this episode, I share the three things that have held me back from building my business as fast as I wanted and how I turned these roadblocks around. The road to becoming a strong and successful founder is long and challenging. But for those willing to invest the time in becoming self-aware, the rewards are well worth it. Successful business owners are those who don’t stop learning, adapting, and pushing themselves to grow. How are you currently holding yourself back? For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/194-the-3-greatest-challenges/

Today we've been called in to help a business owner with a challenge that is holding him back from the growth he desires. In this episode, Shaun has graciously and courageously accepted the challenge to have his website and social media pages, analyzed live on the show. We point out the dissonance in each form and suggest notes that can convert Shaun’s business into a masterpiece. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/193-conversations-with-samantha-and-tim-shaun-premnath

One of the most essential skills of a great leader is one that is not always easy to do; it’s the ability to have courageous conversations. In most of our relationships, whether at work, at home, or with friends, we’re all so busy being polite that we fail to engage and say what we honestly think and feel. We often don’t deal with a difficult situation thinking it will eventually go away, and that is when things can really go bad. In this episode, we unpack the 5 steps to having courageous conversations, and how important it is to get comfortable with the uncomfortable conversations. Getting comfortable with confrontation and saying what is on your mind helps you not only create better quality relationships but improve as a leader as well. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: What is a courageous conversation? (3:04) Our internal monologue (10:55) Step 1: Mastering your stories (12:37) Step 2: Finding your facts (12:49) Step 3: Begin with the end in mind (13:34) Resolution and solution-focused (13:48) Step 4: Plan it out (14:17) Step 5: Having the conversation (15:04) In person or on the phone(17:30) Avoid courageous conversations through email (18:42) The impact of having courageous conversations (23:27) Building trust with your team (24:14) Creating a safe environment for your team (25:24) Discomfort over resentment (29:25) Clear is kind (29:33) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: http://samanthariley.global/podcast/192-courageous-conversations-with-ally-nitschke

Intellectual property, or IP, is the physical manifestation - an invention, book, video, class, podcast - that is created from your thoughts and imagination. For thought leaders, IP is fundamental. It is the tool they use to build and expand their audience, build their online presence, earn more money, and more time. The digital age has radically changed the way expertise is valued and accessed. But it is not enough to know what you know. You must find a way to share your knowledge in a way that engages your audience. In this episode we unpack the steps to packaging your intellectual property and turning it into your unique methodology. As individuals, we each have different IP because of the way we think and understand things. Because of this, there is no one way to productize your knowledge. It takes experience and continuous learning to find out the best way for you to package your IP. You don’t have to do it all. The important thing is to follow your natural curiosity and remain your authentic self. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: We all have different Intellectual Property (4:29) We have different influences (5:10) “That person copied me” (6:01) What you’re talking about is pulled from different places (6:37) 4 Steps to package your IP (8:46) Being afraid to choose a niche (10:33) What is a niche? (11:14) KEEP Principle: Knowledge, Expertise, Experience, Passion (14:55) Embracing your failures (19:55) Creating your methodology (24:26) Creating your delivery and visual models (27:40) Building authority (32:37) Three ways to help you build authority (33:11) The more you share your message, the more methodologies you create (34:09) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: http://samanthariley.global/podcast/191-how-to-package-your-ip

Many busy entrepreneurs hire virtual assistants, also known as VA’s, but don’t know how to onboard, train, or even assign tasks to these remote employees. In the end, they think that hiring VA’s doesn’t work. In this episode, Nathan Hirsch shares tips on what to expect when hiring VAs, different types of assistants, what to consider when hiring VAs, and what systems to implement to maximize the skills and talents of different VAs. Take the first step in cracking the VA code in this episode. From July 3 to July 10 midnight PST, get a 25% discount for Cracking the VA Code. That includes a 1 Year Membership to Outsource School and a 1 Year Subscription to SimplySOP. CLICK HERE to get your 25% discount - be sure to use the code ‘LAB’ at checkout. For full show notes and links visit: http://samanthariley.global/podcast/190-cracking-the-va-code-with-nathan-hirsch

Do you want to make more sales? Before you try and get more leads, take a look at your sales pipeline. Your sales pipeline plays an important role in the growth of your business. Successful entrepreneurs master their sales pipeline to guarantee consistent success instead of roller-coaster income. Improving your sales pipeline means reviewing your entire process and following up. In this episode, we go through the 10 stages of your sales pipeline and how important each stage is. Having a follow-up process is critical for your business and your sales pipeline is your documentation of the follow-up process. To access the full show notes with links and resources, go to: http://samanthariley.global/podcast/189-managing-your-sales-pipeline-to-grow-your-business

Filling up your cup is not enough. If you give from a full cup, it gets empty real quick. The secret is to fill it up so that it overflows and only then can you freely give from the overflow. In this episode, Michelle Powell shares the 10 Foundational Principles to Master Wellness and how you can implement these in your life as an entrepreneur to show up as the best version of yourself. Sometimes it’s the simple things that are the most profound when it comes to self-care. Because your relationship with yourself is a 24/7 relationship that you cannot escape, it is only right to put yourself first. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Giving from the overflow (3:04) How essential your health is (5:00) Mainstream health vs wellness (7:17) How being unwell can impact you as an entrepreneur (8:33) 10 Foundational Principles to Mastering Your Wellness (11:59) #1 Proper Hydration (13:09) #2 Nutrition (14:57) Nutrition tips (16:33) #3 Sleep (19:31) #4 Breathing Patterns (21:15) #5 Relationships (25:42) #6 Thoughts and Emotions (28:16) The gut-brain connection (29:29) #7 Work and Finances (32:23) #8 Stressors (35:52) Healthy and unhealthy aspects of stress (38:03) What works for one might not work for another (41:34) #9 Movement (44:03) #10 Being true to yourself (47:40) Unpacking your core values (48:07) Your “muchness” (48:30) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: http://samanthariley.global/podcast/188

Sales are the lifeblood of any business. But why do we find it difficult to talk about sales? Why do we feel uncomfortable or sometimes pushy when it comes time to making a sale? In this episode, we discuss why we need to get comfortable with sales and the strategies and mindsets to create a better flow of income. By having better conversations, we don’t just gain sales but we gain an opportunity to create a greater impact. Through these tips, you’ll be able to get more comfortable with your next sale, which is the lifeblood that your business needs and the help that your client needs. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Getting comfortable with sales (2:58) Time kills all deals (3:58) The important of chasing up sales with clients (5:46) Making sales is one of the most important skills in business (6:16) Reasons why people find sales so difficult (6:50) Combining solution and sales conversations (14:15) Hiding behind the proposal (15:17) Strategies to help you do better sales (16:50) Money mindset (18:27) Helping people to take away their pain (22:05) Organization and systematization of your process (23:01) Practice and role play to get your sales skills down (28:51) Proposals and quotes (31:46) Sales is a way to help people (35:38) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: http://samanthariley.global/podcast/187/

Time is the most valuable thing for any entrepreneur. As your business becomes busier by the second and demands are piling up every day, it can be difficult to keep up. There always seems to be something that demands your attention. Instead of asking yourself “how do I fit all these tasks in?”, try asking yourself “how do I remove myself from the equation and still achieve great results?” In this episode, we deep dive into how to really find freedom in your business and the power of building a business that can work without you. A business that is independent of its owner is worth much more than an owner-dependent one. A business that truly serves your life is a business that gives you the freedom of choice. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Look at business as a product that can be bought, sold and add value to (6:56) Find your zone of genius (8:51) Building yourself a job (09:03) Trying new things out (9:33) Finding the balance between trying new things and dipping your toe in the water (10:32) What are you already great at that you’re just not seeing? (12:07) Ask others where they see your greatest value is (13:06) Going all in (14:54) Mental shifts you need to make a change (16:16) Removing yourself from your business (19:07) Make the decision that you’re going to do it (20:10) Knowing your personality and who you are (21:28) Running your own race (22:10) Say no to cookie-cutter systems (22:38) Realization of financial freedom (25:17) The leader stage of your business (27:34) Entrepreneurship is constant problem solving (34:16) The value of building a business that can work without you (34:37) What’s the point of growing? (43:00) Life isn’t about me but about we (44:18) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: https://samanthariley.global/podcast/186

When you change your limiting beliefs, you can change your life. This is exactly what Tyson did to grow his business. Never having been part of a group program before, Tyson opened his mind and tried something new. Through the intensive group where he found his people, he was able to learn from everyone’s unique experiences, wins, and losses. In this episode, Tyson shares how he launched his very first online group coaching program and made $20,000 in less than a month. He gives us his insights into how this has been a huge game-changer for his business. We deep-dive into the details including his social media audience size, the size of his list, the doubts he had along the way, and how he got his coaching program done in such a short time-frame. If you too want to learn the 4-step framework on launching your online program in the next 30 days, and how you can use this framework for yourself, join us here! WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: Why niching works every time (11:30) The power of group programs and webinars (17:30) One-on-one clients vs Groups (20:03) How you can learn from everyone in your group (22:08) People make time for things they want to do (28:43) Get in there and do the work (31:30) Changing your mindset of what you’re capable of (32:25) Embracing new ways of delivering content (33:50) Find your people (34:48) Join the discussion thread for this episode over at The Thought Leaders Business Lab Community Facebook Group. For full show notes and links visit: http://samanthariley.global/podcast/185/