Real Relationships Real Revenue - Video Edition | Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Robert Cialdini, one of the world's foremost researchers on influence and the bestselling author of Influence, to discuss what actually builds trust in relationship-driven business development. Rather than focusing on persuasion tactics, we explore the small, practical behaviors that help experts create stronger client relationships over time—from expressing genuine affinity and finding authentic points of connection to using language that reinforces partnership instead of distance. We also talk about why human connection often matters more than...
info_outlineReal Relationships Real Revenue - Video Edition | Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career
In this episode, I sit down with former Navy SEAL, leadership expert, and bestselling author Rich Diviney to explore what it really means to perform well in uncertain environments. Drawing from the ideas in his book Masters of Uncertainty, Rich explains why chasing peak performance can actually be the wrong goal for most people and why learning to perform optimally in unpredictable situations matters far more. We discuss how uncertainty affects decision-making, motivation, relationships, and business development, and how small shifts in focus can help us make progress even when outcomes...
info_outlineReal Relationships Real Revenue - Video Edition | Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career
In this episode, I sit down with Melody Wilding to talk about a skill that has become increasingly important in today's matrixed organizations: managing up. But not in the traditional sense of simply keeping your boss informed. We explore what it really means to build influence with decision-makers, stakeholders, and leaders whose priorities, communication styles, and levels of involvement may be very different from your day-to-day contacts. Whether you're navigating internal relationships or working with complex clients, Melody shares practical frameworks for creating alignment, building...
info_outlineReal Relationships Real Revenue - Video Edition | Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career
In this conversation, I sit down with Steve Kamb to explore what it really means to keep moving forward when things don’t go according to plan. We talk about why success in business development, leadership, fitness, and creative work often has less to do with having the perfect strategy and more to do with developing the ability to adjust, learn, and make another attempt. Steve shares lessons from stand-up comedy, golf, entrepreneurship, and his own experiences building businesses and writing his latest book, How to Try Again, offering a practical framework for navigating setbacks without...
info_outlineReal Relationships Real Revenue - Video Edition | Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career
In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and Kit founder Nathan Barry to unpack the real relationship between money, impact, leverage, and fulfillment. We talk openly about wealth in a way most people never do, especially in professional services and high performing careers where conversations about money can still feel taboo. Nathan shares why he believes money is simply a tool, how value creation leads to wealth, and why building an audience may be one of the greatest leverage opportunities available today. We also dive deep into Nathan’s upcoming book Ladders of Wealth and the...
info_outlineReal Relationships Real Revenue - Video Edition | Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career
What if the secret to building a high performing team has almost nothing to do with working harder? In this episode, I sit down with Ron Friedman to unpack the science behind what actually makes teams thrive, innovate, and outperform everyone else. We dive into the surprising myths most leaders still believe about teamwork, productivity, meetings, accountability, and motivation, and why the best teams often operate completely differently than conventional wisdom suggests. From shared goals and peer accountability to creating a culture where people genuinely want to do their best work, this...
info_outlineReal Relationships Real Revenue - Video Edition | Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career
Everything changes the moment you stop doing the work and start managing it. In this episode, I sit down with Ashley Herd to unpack what really happens when high performers step into leadership and why so many struggle in that transition. We dig into the hidden challenges of managing both people and client relationships, and why being great at your job does not automatically make you a great manager. I share real examples of where things go wrong, including how silence and overthinking can quietly erode trust, and we explore the simple but powerful “pause, consider, act” framework that can...
info_outlineReal Relationships Real Revenue - Video Edition | Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career
What if everything you think you see is actually shaped by what you already believe? In this episode, I sit down with Nir Eyal to unpack the fascinating science behind belief, perception, and performance, and it completely changed how I think about business development and success. We explore how our brains filter reality through prior beliefs, often creating invisible barriers that hold us back in relationships, sales, and opportunities we don’t even realize we’re missing. I dig into how limiting beliefs quietly sabotage our ability to take action, why motivation isn’t what we’ve been...
info_outlineReal Relationships Real Revenue - Video Edition | Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career
Are you moving too fast to give advice when the real opportunity is to lead through curiosity? In this episode, I sit down with bestselling author and coaching expert Michael Bungay Stanier to unpack what it really means to become a more effective leader, coach, and communicator. We dive into the powerful idea that the best leaders are not the ones with the fastest answers, but the ones who stay curious a little longer. Michael shares why letting your team struggle is often the key to their growth, how leaders accidentally become bottlenecks, and why the instinct to jump in with advice can...
info_outlineReal Relationships Real Revenue - Video Edition | Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career
What does it really mean to lead boldly when the stakes are high and the path ahead isn’t perfectly clear? In this episode, I sit down with leadership expert and author Leigh Burgess to unpack what bold leadership actually looks like in practice. We explore why so many high-performing professionals second guess themselves when making big decisions, having difficult conversations, or stepping into higher levels of leadership. Leigh shares the five core traits she believes define bold leaders and explains how strategic risk taking, trust building, and resilience play a critical role in leading...
info_outlineHave you ever wondered why asking for what you want can feel so awkward—and why people say yes more often than we think? In this episode, I dive deep with Dr. Vanessa Bohns, an organizational behavior expert from Cornell University and the author of You Have More Influence Than You Think. Together, we unpack why influence is so much more than persuasion—and why it’s less about manipulation and more about authentic, everyday impact.
We explore the psychological biases that make us underestimate our influence, the surprising power of simply asking face-to-face, and the crucial difference between perspective-taking and perspective-getting. Whether you’re a leader, a business developer, or simply looking to grow your positive influence, this conversation is packed with insights on building trust, making confident asks, and empowering others while avoiding the “ick” factor.
Topics We Cover in This Episode:
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3:05 — Why putting “positive” in front of influence might matter more than you think
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6:45 — The 100-year legacy of How to Win Friends and Influence People and why it’s still relevant today
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10:15 — Why “just ask” works and how face-to-face requests get 34x more yeses than emails
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19:00 — How small, spontaneous asks can build authentic connections and why overthinking can kill momentum
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25:20 — The hidden power of stating what you want and why it’s essential in building relationships
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29:00 — The difference between perspective-taking and perspective-getting
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38:00 — Why direct asks often outperform polished presentations and how to practice this skill
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44:00 — How seeing, feeling, and experiencing influence can make you a more confident and effective leader
If you loved this conversation with Vanessa Bohns, share the episode with a friend or colleague who could use a confidence boost—and don’t forget to subscribe for more actionable insights on mastering the art of positive influence!
Resources Mentioned:
Order your copy of Give to Grow
Get the Supplemental materials for Give to Grow
Get a copy of your GrowBIG Playbook today!
Get a copy of Vanessa’s book, You Have More Influence Than You Think