Do you have an A Team?
The Art of Making Things Happen (Bluefishing) Steve Sims
In this motivating episode of Steve’s Rants, Steve Sims dives into the game-changing power of building your own “A Team.” Drawing on a standout moment from his experience as a keynote speaker alongside Magic Johnson at Traffic and Conversion, Steve unpacks the lesson that even top performers need top teams behind them. He recounts Magic’s pivotal realization: being an A player means intentionally surrounding yourself with other A players—not just sticking with old friends or convenient connections, but building a circle of excellence across every facet of your life and business....
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Most businesses will combust because of too many opportunities
The Art of Making Things Happen (Bluefishing) Steve Sims
In this thought-provoking episode of Steve’s Rants, Steve Sims dives deep into a surprising reason why so many companies stumble—not from a lack of opportunities, but from too many. Drawing on his experience working with entrepreneurs, Steve highlights how early business success often leads to an overwhelming flood of new possibilities, collaborations, and ideas. The danger, he argues, is that entrepreneurs are naturally wired to say “yes” to opportunity, but this can actually cause businesses to implode under the weight of endless options and distractions. Steve shares a refreshing,...
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Data is focused on the past... focus on THIS instead
The Art of Making Things Happen (Bluefishing) Steve Sims
In this thought-provoking episode of Steve's Rants, Steve Sims dives into the role of data, logic, and magic in building a successful business, challenging the conventional wisdom that data-driven decisions should rule every move. Steve unpacks the truth about data—how it’s inherently backward-looking, keeping your focus anchored in the past even if it’s just by a second. Drawing on real-world examples from iconic innovators like Edison, Henry Ford, and Kodak, he illustrates how logic and data can lead to incremental progress, but rarely to real disruption. Steve passionately argues that...
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How The Media Ruined My Business
The Art of Making Things Happen (Bluefishing) Steve Sims
In this revealing episode of Steve's Rants, Steve Sims opens up about a pivotal moment in his entrepreneurial journey—how the media, despite its glamorous allure, nearly destroyed his business. Drawing from his days running an exclusive private concierge service for high-profile clients like Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and Elton John, Steve shares the critical role anonymity played in his success and recounts how a single major feature in Forbes led to an unexpected downfall. Steve candidly describes the backlash he faced after being thrust into the spotlight: instead of attracting more...
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38 years of brutally honest business advice in 5 minutes
The Art of Making Things Happen (Bluefishing) Steve Sims
In this episode, Steve Sims distills 38 years of brutally honest business experience into just five minutes, delivering straight-shooting advice every entrepreneur needs to hear. Drawing from decades of hard-won lessons, Steve shares the three key truths that every business owner should know—and prepare for—if they want to succeed in the real world. Steve kicks things off by tackling the inevitability of screw-ups in business. Whether it's human error, shifting algorithms, or unexpected industry changes, something will go wrong, and Steve stresses the importance of expecting problems and...
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Emma Rainville
The Art of Making Things Happen (Bluefishing) Steve Sims
In this episode of *The Art of Making Things Happen with Steve Sims*, Steve sits down with Emma Rainville, a systems and operations expert. Emma discusses her passion for being an exceptional "number two," mastering the art of systems and processes to unleash creativity and ultimately keep more money in the business. Emma shares insights from her new book, *Scope*, which stands for Setting your vision, Creating processes, Operational excellence, People development, and Execution. Together, Steve and Emma explore the journey of how systems can transform an entrepreneur's chaotic world into...
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If I was Broke Tomorrow
The Art of Making Things Happen (Bluefishing) Steve Sims
In this thought-provoking episode of Steve's Rants, Steve Sims delves into a common entrepreneurial question: "What would you do if you were broke tomorrow?" Steve explores this scenario from two angles—what you could do if you have existing assets and relationships versus starting from scratch with nothing but your determination and curiosity. He emphasizes the importance of relationships as the true currency in today's world of distrust and misinformation. Steve advocates for leveraging these relationships in times of need, highlighting that real equity may not lie in your bank account but...
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What Is the Difference Between Branding and Marketing
The Art of Making Things Happen (Bluefishing) Steve Sims
In this engaging episode of Steve's Rants, Steve Sims delves into the often-confused realms of branding and marketing. With his characteristic directness, Steve clarifies the distinction between the two, illustrating how true branding evokes an emotional response at the mere mention of a name—think Nike, Tesla, or SpaceX. Branding, according to Steve, is about creating a genuine connection, a cult-like following where the community wholeheartedly believes in the brand's message. Steve contrasts this with marketing, describing it as the relentless pursuit of attention, a costly exercise of...
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Book Breakfast with Your Partner
The Art of Making Things Happen (Bluefishing) Steve Sims
In this refreshing episode of Steve's Rants, Steve Sims flips the traditional productivity script by examining our calendars and how they often fail to reflect the life we aspire to live. He critiques how packed schedules brim with undesirable tasks like dental appointments and client meetings, overshadowing much-needed moments of joy and personal connection. Steve passionately urges listeners to transform their calendars by intentionally blocking time for life’s pleasures, such as a breakfast date with your partner or a football game with your kids. He stresses that life is meant for...
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The ONE Trait of a Successful Entrepreneur
The Art of Making Things Happen (Bluefishing) Steve Sims
In this thought-provoking episode of Steve's Rants, Steve Sims delves into the one defining trait of a successful entrepreneur that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers: the power of "I Can." Steve draws from his experiences with influential business figures worldwide to explain why the willingness to take action often outweighs intellectual prowess. He illustrates how half-baked ideas backed by passion and momentum can succeed more readily than flawless plans that are never executed. Through the fascinating example of Elon Musk's journey with rocket landings, Steve emphasizes the...
info_outlineIn this insightful episode of Steve's Rants, Steve Sims breaks down the fundamentals of branding, going beyond logos and visual elements to explore what truly makes a powerful brand. He explains how successful brands like Apple, Tesla, and Harley Davidson create emotional connections and cultural followings, emphasizing that true branding is about controlling your narrative and creating a consistent identity across all platforms.
Steve stresses the importance of maintaining authenticity rather than adapting your persona for different social media platforms. He warns that while brands take years to build, they can be damaged in a day, making it crucial to stay vigilant about brand protection and narrative control. Through practical examples and straight-talk advice, Steve reveals why successful branding isn't just about marketing—it's about building a community and culture that naturally attracts loyal followers.
This episode provides essential insights for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to develop a strong, authentic brand that resonates with their audience and stands the test of time. Learn why the true ROI of good branding lies in creating a following that chooses you over the competition, regardless of price or features.