The Business of You with Rachel Gogos
Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where we explore how to build a brand that truly reflects who you are and amplifies your influence in the digital world. Hosted by Rachel Gogos, this podcast brings you insightful conversations with humble entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and industry experts who have built highly profitable businesses. Each episode delves into their journeys, sharing the strategies, challenges, and lessons that led them to create the businesses that make a massive impact. Whether you're just beginning to amplify your online presence or you're an established entrepreneur looking to refine your brand, this podcast will give you the practical tools and inspiration you need to take your business to the next level. From personal branding and online presence to leadership and marketing strategies, we cover it all. To learn more about each episode, and the resources mentioned, check out: https://thebrandid.com/the-business-of-you-podcast/
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255 | The Hidden Cost of Growth and How Smart Leaders Fix It with Megan Crabtree
01/27/2026
255 | The Hidden Cost of Growth and How Smart Leaders Fix It with Megan Crabtree
Behind every growth problem is a lack of structure. Many businesses scale fast, only to realize they've outgrown their systems, their teams, and sometimes even themselves. The result? Burnout, chaos, and missed opportunities are hiding in plain sight. In this episode of The Business of You, we explore what it really takes to grow a business with intention — learning from someone who survived the burnout and chaos caused by the hidden traps of growth for growth’s sake. This conversation is about leadership that balances people and performance, and why data without heart (or heart without data) will only take you so far. Megan Crabtree is the Founder and CEO of Crabtree Advisory, a consulting firm trusted by some of the most recognized jewelry retailers and manufacturers in North America. With decades of experience across retail, manufacturing, and wholesale, Megan brings a rare, 360-degree perspective to scaling businesses, building teams, and modernizing operations. In this episode, Megan breaks down how structure fuels sustainable growth, why people-first leadership drives profitability, and how business owners can scale without sacrificing culture or balance. Building Structure That Supports Growth One of the biggest challenges Megan sees across jewelry retailers and manufacturers is a lack of operational structure. Many companies experience explosive growth but don't have the systems, reporting, or processes to support it. Without SOPs, accountability frameworks, and clear data, growth can quickly become expensive and inefficient. Megan shares how her team helps businesses implement structure that saves time, reduces waste, and creates clarity across departments. From reporting and data analysis to process documentation, these systems allow leaders to make better decisions — faster — while empowering teams to perform at a higher level. The result includes stronger numbers, confidence, consistency, and a foundation that allows companies to grow without constantly putting out fires. Leading with Heart — Without Burning Out After years of working 90-hour weeks in high-pressure retail environments, Megan reached a turning point. Today, she's intentional about balance — for herself, her team, and her clients. Her philosophy is simple: results matter, but how you get there matters more. Megan talks about building a culture rooted in trust, flexibility, and genuine care for people's lives outside of work. That people-first approach extends into her client relationships, where long-term partnerships are built on trust, transparency, and real connection. By focusing on clarity, consistency, and confidence, Megan proves that you don't need endless growth to build a successful business — just the right growth, supported by the right systems and leadership. Enjoy this episode with Megan Crabtree… Soundbytes 03:50 – 04:22 “Everyone thought I was crazy moving to Manhattan to go wholesale when all my success was retail. I was the vice president of a manufacturer that sold to the better independents. After eight months when I grew the business by 70%, I realized I'm really good at this side of the business, too. It made sense to start a consulting firm because I had a 360 view, hands on my entire life. I had never worked another job other than jewelry.” 23:44 – 24:21 “We had one instance with a retail client where we segmented out the people that had purchased engagement rings and the people that had not purchased wedding bands and sent out customized, personalized mailers, that made sense to their buying history. Here's what we're recommending. And we got a 35% return rate, which on a mail piece is nearly impossible. So the proof is in the pudding. There's no doubt, but you just have to put in the work and organize the data and segment the data to make sense.” Quotes “Success today requires both heart and hard data.” “I don't want to grow for the sake of growing — I want to stay passionate about what we do.” “Structure gives you freedom, not restriction.” “Data should guide your decisions, not overwhelm them.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Megan Crabtree on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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254 | How Accountability Creates Freedom in Business and Life with Robert Hunt
01/20/2026
254 | How Accountability Creates Freedom in Business and Life with Robert Hunt
What if the thing you’re avoiding is the very thing holding you back? Accountability often gets a bad reputation — as pressure, control, or punishment. But what if accountability is actually the key to freedom, clarity, and sustainable success? In this episode, we explore why so many leaders feel stuck even though they “know what to do,” and how ownership — not excuses — is what creates real momentum. Robert Hunt is the founder of REF Dallas, a CEO peer group and leadership platform he’s grown since 2013. Known as “The Accountability Guy,” Robert helps leaders reclaim ownership of their time, mindset, and results through peer groups, executive coaching, and purpose-driven leadership. In this conversation, Robert shares his journey into entrepreneurship, why accountability became the foundation of his work, and how leaders can break free from victim thinking to lead with clarity, integrity, and purpose. From Frustration to Purpose-Driven Leadership Robert’s path to entrepreneurship wasn’t planned. After years of leading marketing and sales teams, he grew frustrated watching organizations talk about values without living them out. That frustration pushed him to start REF Dallas — not to build another business, but to create a space where CEOs could be real, vulnerable, and accountable without fear or agendas. What started as a leap of faith became a long-standing community where leaders stay for years. Robert explains why safe environments matter for growth, how peer groups create clarity, and why accountability only works when leaders actually want it. Why Accountability Is the Real Power Move At the heart of Robert’s philosophy is a simple truth: you can’t hold anyone accountable — they have to choose it. He breaks down the four traps that keep leaders stuck — blame, excuses, “I can’t,” and waiting — and explains how accountability shifts leaders from victimhood into ownership. When leaders model accountability themselves, they create cultures where people want to rise rather than hide. Robert also shares how defining your purpose, understanding your values, and owning your choices creates freedom not just in business, but in relationships, finances, and life. Enjoy this episode with Robert Hunt… Soundbytes 08:18 – 08:26 “The reality is nobody can hold anyone accountable. You can create an environment, you can try to create an environment where they want to be accountable, but it’s totally up to them.” 26:03 – 26:10 “So we wanted to help people understand there’s real power in freedom and accountability. It’s not a threat. It’s not a bad thing. You want to be accountable. It’s freedom.” Quotes “When you own something, you gain the power to change it. When you don’t own it, you’re a victim of the circumstances.” “Responsible is doing something. Accountable is owning it. And accountable is proactive.” “Nobody wants to be a victim. When you own something, you gain the power to change it.” “I think people think they’re being accountable, but they’re really just being responsible. And that’s a very different thing.” Links mentioned in this episode From Our Guest Website: Book: Connect with Robert Hunt on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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253 | How AI Is Changing the Way Companies Scale with Casey Woo
01/13/2026
253 | How AI Is Changing the Way Companies Scale with Casey Woo
What if the most important people in a company are the ones no one talks about? They’re the builders behind the scenes. The operators who organize chaos, fix what’s broken, and quietly turn vision into reality. Scaling isn’t glamorous — but it’s essential. In this episode, we explore what it really takes to grow companies fast and smart, and how AI is accelerating the shift toward adaptable, cross-functional leadership. Casey Woo is a public market investor turned high-growth technology COO and CFO with more than two decades of experience helping companies scale. He’s served as a six-time CFO and two-time COO across software, hardware, marketplaces, and eCommerce. He’s also the founder and CEO of The Operators Guild, a global community of over 1,000 top operators, as well as FOG Ventures and Guild Talent — all built to support the people who actually make companies run. In this conversation, Casey breaks down what it means to be a “scaler,” how AI is reshaping the value of specialization, and why operators are the backbone of every high-growth company. From Investor to Operator Casey shares his journey from Wall Street to Silicon Valley and why leaving a prestigious investing career was both terrifying and freeing. The money and status were there, but fulfillment wasn’t. That realization pulled him into early-stage tech, where he discovered his true passion: building companies from the inside out. As an operator, Casey learned that scaling isn’t about titles — it’s about solving problems. Finance, operations, strategy, leadership — whatever the company needs, the role stays the same. That mindset eventually led to the creation of The Operators Guild, which began as a small breakfast group for overlooked CFOs and COOs and grew organically into a global community. Why AI Rewards the Elite Generalist Casey offers a practical take on AI — not as a threat, but as leverage for the right leaders. As AI replaces narrow, repetitive specialist tasks, the advantage shifts to people who can think horizontally, connect ideas, and move across functions with ease. Early-stage founders and operators are uniquely positioned to thrive in this environment, using AI as a team of “semi-specialists” to move faster and build smarter. Rather than abandoning your strengths, Casey encourages leaning into them — and using AI to amplify what you already do best. This is the rise of the modern business artist. Enjoy this episode with Casey Woo… Soundbytes 13:42-13:55 “Scalers are highly creative. They are generally impatient. They love the intellectual stimulation of organizing chaos, solving problems. So they run towards problems.” 19:26 – 19:44 “AI literally is intelligence, right? Artificial intelligence. Right. So it’s starting to be like a human and specifically, the easiest thing for it to start is anything specialized. Because anything specialized is homogenous.” Quotes “Scaling is actually very nuanced. It’s not just, ‘Oh, finance needs a CFO.’ No — you don’t need a CFO at Series A.” “Scalers are highly creative. They are generally impatient.” “AI is moving the world away from hardcore specialists.” “I could go to a corporate job, but my soul would die.” Links mentioned in this episode From Our Guest Website: FOG Ventures: Connect with Casey Woo on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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252 | What Founders Need to Know About Bringing a Product to Market with Kerim Kfuri
01/06/2026
252 | What Founders Need to Know About Bringing a Product to Market with Kerim Kfuri
If you’ve ever dreamed of launching a physical product—turning an idea into something tangible—you’ve probably noticed how overwhelming the process can feel. Manufacturing, sourcing, quality control, logistics, global suppliers…every step has layers most founders never see until they’re already in trouble. In a world where disruptions happen daily and the global economy shifts without warning, the founders who succeed aren’t just innovative—they’re prepared. Today’s guest, Kerim Kfuri, brings more than two decades of global supply chain expertise spanning technology, retail, spirits, sports equipment, and beyond. As Founder & CEO of The Atlas Network, he and his team help companies navigate the often-chaotic process of bringing products to market—handling everything from factory selection to QC, logistics, and end-to-end production. Kerim is also the author of Supply Chain Ups and Downs, creator of The Supply & Demand Show, and the first U.S.-based verified supplier and ambassador for Alibaba—giving him a uniquely global, modern perspective on how products really get made. In this episode, Kerim breaks down the mindset, knowledge, and strategies every founder needs before they ever produce a thing. The Hidden Challenges New Founders Overlook Kerim’s path into supply chain didn’t start in manufacturing—it began with years spent in finance, regulation, consulting, and entrepreneurship. But everything changed the first time he stepped into a factory in China and saw ideas becoming reality on the production line. From that point forward, one truth has shaped his entire philosophy: Most founders fail not because the idea is bad, but because they don’t know what they don’t know. The wrong supplier. No quality control. Assuming timelines will hold. Not understanding cultural expectations. Failing to anticipate disruptions. Kerim explains how founders can dramatically reduce risk by choosing vetted suppliers, putting “eyes and ears” on the ground, and building processes that protect them from expensive mistakes. Even seasoned brands struggle when entering new categories—so first-time founders need even more support. Successful product creation starts with education, clarity, and the right partners. AI, Disruption, and the Future of Product Development Global supply chain challenges aren’t rare—they’re constant. Weather, politics, tariffs, port closures, labor strikes, pandemics…founders can’t avoid disruptions, but they can prepare for them. Kerim believes these moments of chaos often spark innovation. When materials change, or routes shift, companies are forced to rethink how products are made—and sometimes what emerges is stronger, smarter, or more profitable than before. He also shares how AI is reshaping the entire supply chain ecosystem: AI-powered sourcing tools that match founders to the right factory instantly Autonomous warehousing, trucking, and drone delivery Emissions-optimized shipping routes Instant business plans and market analyses generated from a single idea But with innovation comes caution. Kerim emphasizes that AI must be a tool—not a substitute for human wisdom, experience, and guardrails. At the center of it all is the mindset he teaches clients: a limitless mindset—one that looks for possibility, not restriction. Enjoy this episode with Kerim Kfuri… Soundbytes 08:18 – 08:26 “Sometimes it’s in the face of chaos that we have true opportunity. It all comes from having the right mentality as you come into global supply chain.” 14:37 – 14:49 “You have to be the cheerleader. You go to bed with your successes and your failures, and then get up the next day and do it again.” Quotes “These disruptions aren’t doomsday situations—you have to see the opportunity inside them.” “You can’t build a supply chain by guessing. Passion is great, but knowledge is what protects your business.” “Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart. You have to get up every day ready to fight for your idea.” “If you scale too quickly, you risk diluting your service. Growth only works when it’s intentional.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: LinkedIn Profile: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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251 | What It Really Takes to Succeed on Amazon with Pasha Knish
12/30/2025
251 | What It Really Takes to Succeed on Amazon with Pasha Knish
If you’ve ever looked at Amazon and wondered how some brands scale effortlessly while others disappear into a sea of competitors, you’re not alone. Amazon can feel like an unpredictable giant—full of opportunity, but also packed with complexity. And as more entrepreneurs jump in, the brands that win aren’t the ones chasing trends…they’re the ones building with intention. Today’s guest, Pasha Knish, has lived through every era of Amazon—from the Wild West days of early e-commerce to today’s data-driven, hyper-competitive marketplace. With more than 13 years of hands-on selling experience and over $30M in revenue generated across dozens of categories, Pasha has mastered the science and art of sustained Amazon success. In this episode, Pasha pulls back the curtain on product selection, brand-building, organic ranking, and the future of AI-driven e-commerce—and what sellers must get right to scale smarter. Building an Amazon Brand That Solves a Real Problem Pasha’s journey into Amazon began with experimentation—selling random products, discovering early opportunities, and launching a successful private-label brand long before the platform became saturated. But the landscape has changed dramatically. Today, sellers can’t simply pick a trending item and hope for the best. Amazon rewards solutions, not commodities. According to Pasha, the first step to a scalable product isn’t creativity—it’s clarity. Successful sellers reverse-engineer demand by digging into negative reviews, identifying gaps in the market, and building a product that solves a meaningful, proven problem. That’s the difference between a product that launches and one that lasts. The New Era of Amazon Advertising and Organic Growth Beyond product strategy, Pasha shares how Amazon’s ad platform has transformed and why focusing on Amazon’s built-in tools is more effective than spreading efforts across outside channels. Instead of relying on other platforms to drive traffic, he uses Amazon’s own customer data to reach buyers who are already interested and ready to take action. But ads are only one piece of the puzzle. Pasha explains why organic visibility matters just as much, especially now. Many sellers overlook the backend fields of their listings, yet these details are what help Amazon understand exactly what a product is and who should see it. This philosophy inspired the software Pasha is building: a tool that simplifies and automates backend updates so more sellers can improve organic performance without drowning in technical work. At the heart of it all, Pasha believes Amazon success comes from constant learning and resilience. Every setback becomes a lesson, and every lesson creates an opportunity to grow stronger. Enjoy this episode with Pasha Knish… Soundbytes 10:59 – 11:16 “If you can give Amazon the most accurate representation of your product in those backend fields, you’re going to show up better organically.” 28:13 – 28:19 “If people like you and they find out you have a product, they’ll probably buy it because they like you.” 30:15 – 30:20 “You have to know exactly who you're advertising to. In a saturated market, going after top keywords will just lose all your money.” Quotes “If you don’t have a product differentiator, you’ll spend all your money and never succeed.” “The failures are what pave the way to success.” “Backend optimization matters. Amazon is a categorizing system, and you need to fit cleanly into it.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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250 | The New Rules of Paid Advertising and What's Working Now with John Horn
12/23/2025
250 | The New Rules of Paid Advertising and What's Working Now with John Horn
Have you ever wondered why some brands seem to crack the code with paid ads while others burn through budget with nothing to show for it? If you’ve ever dabbled in Google Ads—or avoided them out of fear of expensive mistakes—this conversation will open your eyes to what’s possible when strategy and execution align. John Horn, CEO of StubGroup, has helped hundreds of companies transform underperforming campaigns into profitable acquisition machines. His team is ranked in the top 1% of Google Partners worldwide for performance and customer care—and their reputation is built on both deep technical expertise and a refreshingly human, boutique approach. John lives and breathes PPC, but what sets him apart is his ability to translate complexity into clarity. In this episode, John breaks down how to build smarter ad systems, navigate AI-driven changes, and use data to make confident marketing decisions—so you can scale sustainably. Building Effective Google Ads Campaigns Starts with Strategy Before a single ad runs, John emphasizes one crucial question: What does success look like? So many brands jump straight into campaign creation without defining the exact action they want a user to take. Whether it’s booking a call, filling out a form, or placing an order, the call to action must be clear, trackable, and front-and-center on the landing page. From there, it all comes down to relevance. Google search is built on demand, not interruption. That means your job is to align with the terms people are already searching for—balancing high-intent keywords with lower-cost, broader queries that reveal early interest. And once ads are running, tracking becomes your lifeline: real data allows advertisers to cut waste, double down on what’s working, and eventually leverage Google’s AI-powered bidding strategies for even greater efficiency. How AI and New Algorithms Are Changing the Future of Advertising AI is dramatically reshaping how users search and how brands need to show up. Google’s AI Overviews now dominate search results, and platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity are becoming discovery engines in their own right. For marketers, this means optimizing not only for Google but also for GEO: Generative Engine Optimization. John reveals a surprising insight: AI models pull heavily from third-party sources like Reddit, YouTube, Quora, and listicle-style articles. That means service providers and brands must think beyond traditional SEO and start contributing valuable content across these ecosystems. As John puts it, “AI is an incredible tool, but it’s not a critical thinker.” Without strong human guidance, automated systems can quickly misinterpret signals and overspend in the wrong places. Enjoy this episode with John Horn… Soundbytes 07:13 – 07:21 “Advertising is not a magic bullet. We're not going to just launch a campaign and suddenly you're printing money and life is amazing.” 23:00 – 23:10 “Businesses are having to definitely think through, how do I make sure my business is coming up as a solution in those other platforms when people search there as opposed to Google.” 30:41 –31:06 “So what would you suggest to service providers specifically to start ranking in the AI platforms?” “Start engaging on Reddit. When I say engaging, answering questions, commenting on posts, creating your own posts. And you have to be—you can't be too salesy. You have to bring legitimate value because people are very allergic on Reddit to too much of the salesy approach and things can go south quickly.” Quotes “Advertising is not a magic bullet. There’s risk involved, and every business is different.” “You have to define what success looks like and the action you want people to take before you ever launch a campaign.” “AI is a fantastic tool, but it’s not a critical thinker. You have to pair it with human judgment.” “You can’t rely on AI to make all the right decisions. If you give it bad direction, it will spend a lot of your money very quickly.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: LinkedIn Profile: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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249 | The Hidden Skills That Make Great Leaders With Vicky Brown
12/16/2025
249 | The Hidden Skills That Make Great Leaders With Vicky Brown
You know that moment when someone sees something in you long before you’re ready to claim it? For many leaders, that moment becomes the spark that changes everything. For Vicky Brown, it was the gentle (yet persistent) nudge that pushed her from devoted “number two” to founder of a thriving HR firm that’s been supporting high-performance companies for more than two decades. Too often, business owners think of HR as paperwork, policies, or “the stuff you deal with when something goes wrong.” But Vicky’s story—and her expertise—reveal a very different truth: HR is leadership. HR is vision. HR is the people strategy that creates growth, retention, and long-term success. With 20+ years of corporate leadership behind her, Vicky stepped into entrepreneurship almost by accident. But what she built—Idomeneo Enterprises and the Leaders Journey Experience—now helps business owners streamline their operations, strengthen their culture, and lead with confidence. And yes, her unexpected background as an opera singer plays a surprising role in how she shows up as a leader today. In this episode, Vicky breaks down how to hire well, retain top talent, lead remote teams, and embrace the mindset required to grow—and how you can do the same. Finding & Keeping the Right People Hiring high performers doesn’t start with a job post—it starts the moment you recognize a gap on your team. Vicky explains that clarity is everything: when leaders don’t define what they truly need, they end up hiring “whoever sticks” instead of hiring strategically. Onboarding goes beyond SOPs. High performers want context—why their work matters, where it fits in the bigger picture, and what success actually looks like. When people feel informed and empowered, they stay engaged and contribute at a higher level. And retention? It comes down to vision. Vicky shares that great leaders build a vision big enough to hold their team’s dreams. Some people will eventually pursue their own path—and that’s a win. But the right culture gives ambitious, talented people room to grow with you. Leading With Vision—And Letting Your Team Shine With decades of HR leadership behind her, Vicky reminds us that great CEOs don’t know everything—they know enough to hire the right experts. She encourages leaders to stay curious, keep learning, and stay connected to every part of the business, even the parts outside their natural strengths. Culture is equally essential, especially for remote teams. Vicky shares how her company maintains connection through weekly team touchpoints—tactical meetings, kudos and wins, shared learning, and a beloved “Wednesday Water Cooler” that mixes fun with genuine relationship building. These small rituals create trust and make work feel human. And then there’s her opera background. Her teacher’s advice—“Sing with your opera voice all the time”—became a leadership mantra about confidence, presence, and stepping fully into your role. It’s the mindset that helped Vicky evolve from a reluctant founder to a visionary leader. Enjoy this episode with Vicky Brown… Soundbytes 08:53 - 09:10 “You’re good at what you’re good at, but now you’re responsible for a whole world of other tasks. I had never sold anything—now suddenly I’m responsible for sales, marketing, accounting, all of it.” 14:14 - 14:25 “Your vision needs to be large enough to hold their dream. If your vision is big enough, there’s infinite opportunity for them with you.” Quotes “You just have to step into that suit and wear it.” “High performers don’t just want to make widgets—they want to know how their work fits into the bigger picture.” “Recruiting is a marketing function. You’re selling the opportunity to the right people.” “You need to know enough to be dangerous, but not enough to do it all. Hire experts.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: LinkedIn Profile: The Ultimate HR Workflow Guide: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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248 | The Most Powerful Leadership Skill No One’s Talking About with Keri Ford
12/09/2025
248 | The Most Powerful Leadership Skill No One’s Talking About with Keri Ford
When success starts to feel like stress, what if your body could tell you why? For high-achievers, it’s easy to push harder, hustle faster, and ignore the quiet signals of exhaustion. But for Keri Ford, those signals became her greatest teachers. A former Creative Director turned award-winning CEO, Keri discovered that the real key to high performance isn’t found in strategy or mindset — it’s found in the nervous system. Through her groundbreaking Somatic Success® method, Keri has helped elite women — from celebrity clients like Alison Sweeney and Kaley Cuoco to powerhouse founders — transform how they lead by transforming how they feel. In this episode, Keri unpacks the most overlooked leadership skill of all: emotional regulation. You’ll learn how to listen to your body before burnout hits, rewire success from the inside out, and expand your capacity for peace, profit, and purpose. How the Body Leads Before the Mind Keri’s journey began with a deeply personal revelation — supporting her son through sensory processing challenges introduced her to the world of nervous system regulation. That experience sparked her passion for understanding how our bodies seek safety and how dysregulation affects everything from relationships to revenue. Through Somatic Success®, Keri teaches leaders to work bottom-up — training the body to communicate safety, trust, and resilience. She explains how physical sensations like tightness, heat, or tension can reveal misalignment long before the mind catches up. Learning to attune to these cues allows us to make better decisions, prevent burnout, and sustain long-term success. Her approach transforms “high performance” from a mindset into a state of being — one that balances peace and productivity instead of trading one for the other. Embodiment, Faith, and the Future of Leadership As Keri tells Rachel, elite people don’t struggle because they lack skill — they struggle because their nervous systems can’t keep up with their ambition. The higher they rise, the more pressure and isolation they face. Through her boutique coaching company, retreats, and signature program, The Champagne Club, Keri helps women expand their capacity for leadership without losing their humanity. She also shares how faith plays a quiet but grounding role in her work. Whether helping clients manage big business decisions or simply breathe through uncertainty, Keri’s focus is the same: creating safety from within. By teaching embodied leadership, she’s rewriting what success looks and feels like — showing that true power comes not from pushing, but from presence. Enjoy this episode with Keri Ford… Soundbytes 11:26 – 11:58 “It’s automatic because we have an autonomic nervous system where the body goes into a self-protective response automatically… apply that to things like intimacy, really amazing money, higher levels of visibility — things that can seem quite dangerous if we haven’t been there in our growth journey as a leader. It can feel like there’s a fire. 19:54 – 20:07 “When success amplifies, everything amplifies with it, including not-so-great things. But the ability, despite that, to be calm, curious, and alert — that’s how you know you can metabolize stress really well.” Quotes “Your nervous system becomes the nervous system that your clients attune to. You have to embody it before you can create real change.” “The higher you go, the more you feel misunderstood — but having a support system makes all the difference.” “If your body isn’t prepared to hold that level of success, the pressure becomes too much.” “We want to expand the window of tolerance — to grow your capacity for what feels safe to be with.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Keri Ford on LinkedIn: Connect on Instagram: Facebook: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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247 | Turning Your Story into Sales With Dr. Danny Brassell
12/02/2025
247 | Turning Your Story into Sales With Dr. Danny Brassell
What if the fastest way to grow your business isn’t marketing harder, but speaking smarter? In this episode, Dr. Danny Brassell shares how to make storytelling and public speaking your most powerful tools for attracting clients, building authority, and confidently closing deals. Known as the “Jim Carrey with a Ph.D.,” Danny has spoken to over 3,500 audiences worldwide and co-founded The WellCrafted Story Workshop™, where he teaches entrepreneurs how to transform their stories into client-generating presentations. The Power Of Clarity And Connection If you’ve ever struggled to explain what you do–or why it matters–Danny says you’re not alone. In fact, 95% of speakers can’t answer two simple questions: Who is your audience? And what problem do you solve for them? His Five C’s framework shows you how to fix that. As Danny puts it, “Choices confuse and cause you to lose.” When you focus your message on one problem and one solution, you’ll instantly become more memorable–and more effective. Turning Stories Into Sales If you want to grow your business faster, start telling better stories. Danny explains that authentic storytelling—especially around your failures—is what builds connection and trust with your audience. Those real moments are what turn listeners into clients. Use your own experiences to teach, inspire, and move people to act. Whether you’re speaking on stage or recording a short video, every story should lead your audience toward clarity, confidence, and conversion. Enjoy this episode with Danny Brassell… Soundbytes 11:04 - 11:09 “I believe speaking is the fastest way to grow your business, and there's simple strategies that I share with people.” 14:00 - 14:17 “If you can answer these questions succinctly, you'll be in pretty good shape. But it's amazing, 95% of the people I work with cannot answer one or both of these questions. The first question is, who is your audience? The second question is, what is the problem that you solve for them?” Quotes “What there is is priority management.” “The way you get better is through practice.” “Preparation builds up that confidence.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Danny Brassell on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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246 | Don’t Scale Your Business Without Hearing This Franchise Model with Bennett Maxwell
11/25/2025
246 | Don’t Scale Your Business Without Hearing This Franchise Model with Bennett Maxwell
What happens when business growth outpaces the guardrails that keep it sustainable? This week, I sit down with Bennett Maxwell, serial entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Franchise KI—best known for scaling Dirty Dough Cookies from one store to over 450 franchises sold in just two years. After experiencing both the highs and the chaos of hypergrowth, Bennett now helps entrepreneurs build wealth through franchising the right way: with systems, structure, and staying power. How To Grow Fast Without Burning Out Bennett reveals the critical mistakes founders make when scaling too quickly—from chasing trends to stretching operations beyond capacity. He explains how you can prepare your business for hypergrowth by building processes that keep quality, cash flow, and team culture intact as you expand. His story shows why sustainable growth beats explosive growth every time, and how to spot the difference before it’s too late. Build A Franchise That Frees You – Not One That Owns You Turning lessons from Dirty Dough into a repeatable strategy, Bennett shares how simplicity, systems, and multi-unit ownership can create freedom instead of stress. You’ll learn how to structure your franchise to work for you, not the other way around – plus how a consistent personal brand can generate trust, attract the right partners, and keep your pipeline full without spending more on ads. Enjoy this episode with Bennett Maxwell… Soundbytes 06:15 - 06:32 “I hated trying to run two businesses. With dirty dough, it was purchased in 2021, franchised at the end of 2021. Hired a good CEO, great advisory boards, started selling a ton of franchises. We sold 450 franchises in the first two and a half years.” 22:37 - 23:46 “I searched through my contacts, and I type in the word franchise... I went to a million franchise conferences, and I was raising money, and I talked to everybody.” Quotes “You can ask people to do whatever you want them to do, and they always have the freedom to say no.” “Work to learn, not to earn.” “Once you get there, you realize that the lack of money wasn’t making you happy.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Bennett Maxwell on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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245 | Why Teaching Your Customers Beats Selling to Them With Shizu Okusa
11/18/2025
245 | Why Teaching Your Customers Beats Selling to Them With Shizu Okusa
Most founders focus on selling their products, but few take the time to teach people why they matter. For Shizu Okusa, that difference has become her biggest advantage in business. A former Wall Street trader turned wellness entrepreneur, Shizu is the founder and CEO of Apothékary–a brand known as “Mother Nature’s Pharmacy.” What started in her kitchen, mixing herbs like maca and ashwagandha, has grown into a nationwide brand stocked in Ulta, Sprouts, and 500+ stores across the U.S. Shizu’s lessons in business will change your approach to connecting with customers. Education Over Persuasion If you want people to trust your brand, stop selling and start teaching. Shizu discovered that most consumers don’t reject wellness products because they don’t care; they reject them because they don’t understand them. By focusing on education instead of persuasion, she turned curiosity into loyalty. From breaking down the science behind adaptogens to teaching why liquid tinctures outperform pills, Apothékary built authority through honesty — and showed that sharing knowledge is the strongest form of marketing. Growth Without Burnout Fast growth means nothing if you burn out in the process. Shizu’s journey is a reminder to pace your ambition. She shares how defining her investor relationships, protecting her energy, and staying rooted in purpose helped her scale Apothékary without losing herself. Her approach challenges every founder to ask: Are you building something that grows fast, or something that lasts? Enjoy this episode with Shizu Okusa… Soundbytes 08:23 - 08:31 “And so there's just a lot of education that actually is marketing. We primarily think ourselves as an education company more than anything else.” 30:54 - 31:13 “The company will grow exponentially, and people grow linearly. So, when I say that, what that basically means is, your company is going to be pacing with consumer demand or market growth. And so if your company and your market’s growing exponentially, there is no way you can have the same expectation for people to grow exponentially.” Quotes “The company will grow exponentially, and people grow linearly.” “There really is a cost that comes with growth.” “I think of myself as an editor of the brand, more than a face of the brand.” “Our bodies are really powerful compasses, and it takes one to quiet down and really listen and tune in.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Shizu on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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244 | Turning Her Family’s Escape from Iran into Her Life’s Work with Haleh Shoa
11/11/2025
244 | Turning Her Family’s Escape from Iran into Her Life’s Work with Haleh Shoa
When your past has been uprooted, how do you hold on to who you are? For Haleh Shoa, that question shaped her life. At just nine years old, she fled Iran with her family during the Revolution — carrying little more than a few cherished photos. Those images became her connection to home, her culture, and her story. Decades later, after a thriving career in luxury advertising, Haleh realized that storytelling was still at the heart of everything she did — but now, she wanted those stories to mean something deeper. That realization led her to found Picturli, a photo organization and legacy storytelling studio dedicated to helping families preserve their memories and reconnect with their histories. In this episode, Haleh breaks down how to honor your story, protect your memories, and transform personal pain into purposeful creativity. The Emotional Power Of Preservation What if the stories that shaped your brand were lost? Haleh shares how preserving memories goes beyond nostalgia and is an act of protecting your identity. Through her family’s experience of displacement and the lessons learned from clients who’ve lost irreplaceable archives, she challenges founders to think about their own story as an asset worth safeguarding. The message: don’t just build a business. Build something that remembers where it came from. Turning Chaos Into Legacy Haleh reveals how her team at Picturely transforms thousands of disorganized photos into cohesive, lasting legacies—and how that same principle applies to entrepreneurs. By bringing clarity and intention to the stories you share, you can turn complexity into connection and create a brand that stands the test of time. Enjoy this episode with Haleh Shoa… Soundbytes 20:21 - 20:41 “I think it's really important for those who are running a business to make sure that the branding feels right to them. You know, yes, it has to hit the right audience, but it's coming from us. It's like something that we create. So it really has to feel right from our soul.” 29:21 - 29:37 “A lot of growth comes from within, right? It's that alignment that you have in your own heart about what you're creating, and sometimes I fall off track and go, “Oh, my God. Why am I doing this?” And then I have to go back to my why.” Quotes “Good enough is not enough.” “Think of your future self.” “The challenge is a learning experience. It’s all happening for you, and not to you.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Haleh Shoa on LinkedIn: Free Resource — The Seven-Step Guide to Archiving Your Legacy: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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243 | Why Brands Are Replacing Digital Ads for Billboards with Greg Wise
11/04/2025
243 | Why Brands Are Replacing Digital Ads for Billboards with Greg Wise
Billboards are back–and smarter than ever. Forget pop-ups and crowded social feeds. Forward-thinking marketers are reimagining out-of-home advertising as a precision growth channel and yielding real results. Today’s guest is Greg Wise, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at OneScreen.ai, where he’s helping modern brands move beyond the screen and back into the streets. After starting his career at HubSpot and working in commercial real estate, Greg spotted an overlooked opportunity: integrating data-driven marketing into the world of physical advertising. Now, he’s helping B2B and DTC companies rethink how and where they show up–online and off. How Founders Can Use Physical Ads to Build a Stronger Brand If you’re relying on performance digital marketing alone, you’re leaving brand equity on the table. Greg explains why founders at high-growth companies are turning to old-school channels—such as billboards and in-store signage—to cut through the digital noise and stay top of mind. Why Out-of-Home Advertising is Easier Than You Think Greg shares how platforms like OneScreen are making it easier than ever to plan, buy, and measure out-of-home campaigns with real data–think billboards, bus stops, airport signage, and even wrapped cars. You’ll learn how B2B teams are using out-of-home advertising to reach niche audiences by location and profession, and track web lift just like digital marketing. Some of their campaigns are driving over 130% increases in website activity—and you’ll hear exactly how. This episode is packed with practical ideas on how to blend real-world and online campaigns, as well as why investing in your brand today makes conversions easier, cheaper, and faster tomorrow. Enjoy this episode with Greg Wise… Soundbytes 39:47 - 40:07 “Doing out of home can increase web lift conversions by 134%...For B2B companies. …For DTC companies was well over 200%.” 44:10 - 44:39 “The performance marketer might generally think about it as someone who's focused on the bottom of a funnel, the people that are ready to buy, the people that are ready to convert. But that's potentially 5%. It's the 95-5 rule. 95% of your target audience and your target customer base are not in the market to buy right now, and for years, we've ignored those people. The way you go after those people is through brand work.” 33:49 - 34:02 “We need that physical location, to show up in the real world, in the places where our customers are, so they can see and touch and feel, try on, experience, and then we don't care if they buy it in the store or if they buy it online.” Quotes “How are you communicating brand in a way that can be memorable and stand out?” “The problem is that people don't really know how to do it right if they've never done it before.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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242 | What Founders Overlook When Scaling with Jonathan “JJ” Jeffries
10/28/2025
242 | What Founders Overlook When Scaling with Jonathan “JJ” Jeffries
What really happens behind the glossy headlines of startup success? For every bold founder story, there’s a quiet trail of “scar tissue”—the hard-earned lessons that shape how leaders grow. In this episode, Jonathan “JJ” Jeffries, Co-Founder and CEO of Think & Grow, shares what 16 years in the trenches with companies like Stripe, Square, Dropbox, and Peloton have taught him about scaling—and why true leadership is forged through resilience, not perfection. JJ’s firm is about to release one of the most comprehensive global studies ever conducted on startup board governance, featuring insights from over 750 directors, founders, and venture capitalists. His research reveals how the best companies build boards that don’t just advise—they accelerate. In this episode, JJ breaks down how to build sustainable growth, rethink board dynamics, and lead with the lessons you’ve earned—and how you can do the same. Building Companies with “Scar Tissue” What does “scar tissue” really mean in the world of leadership? For JJ, it’s the resilience and perspective that only comes from experience—especially when things don’t go as planned. From his early career as a soccer coach to leading a global advisory firm, JJ shares how empathy, trust, and humility have become cornerstones of his business philosophy. He explains that growth isn’t just about strategy or capital—it’s about people. Whether you’re leading a startup or a thousand-person company, success depends on your ability to align communication, trust your team, and make space for reflection. As he puts it, “You’re only as good as the last piece of work you’ve delivered.” JJ dives into how service-based founders can manage pressure, avoid burnout, and still lead with purpose. The Future of Boards and the AI Revolution JJ’s forthcoming Think & Grow Global Board Governance Study uncovers powerful shifts in how startups are structuring their boards. For the first time in history, underrepresented individuals now hold over 50% of board seats in the U.S.—a milestone signaling a more diverse and inclusive leadership landscape. He also reveals how AI is shaking up boardroom priorities, with 50% of directors already pushing companies to explore AI integration and another 35% planning to do so soon. But JJ cautions that many boards still lack hands-on experience with these technologies—a knowledge gap that could shape (or stall) innovation in the years ahead. The conversation closes with JJ’s reflections on communication as the defining skill of scalable leadership. Whether across continents or teams, clarity and consistency create culture—and often determine whether a company thrives or fractures. Enjoy this episode with Jonathan “JJ” Jeffries… Soundbytes 04:49 “You’re only as good as the last piece of work you’ve delivered, really. And that can take a taxing amount of effort and time in your headspace.” 11:24 “For the first time in history, underrepresented persons are now over 50% of startup boards.“ 33:00 “I'd happily work endless hours and do what you need to do as a founder and have done for years. And I'm probably starting to understand that I can not do that.” Quotes “You’re only as good as the last piece of work you’ve delivered.” “The biggest thing missing in most businesses is a common language.” “Trust is the one reason someone will buy you.” “Every time you hire someone, your culture changes.” “Growth isn’t a one-time event—it’s a sustainable pattern.” Links mentioned in this episode From Our Guest Website: Connect with Jonathan “JJ” Jeffries on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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241 | How We Grew Our Agency Without Paid Ads or Posting Daily
10/21/2025
241 | How We Grew Our Agency Without Paid Ads or Posting Daily
Has your business hit a growth plateau? If so, this episode is for you. Because building a brand isn’t just about good design or smart strategy–it’s about finding your voice and using it to create opportunities. In this special conversation, I joined Brian Mattocks on The Hard to Market Podcast to talk about the lessons I’ve learned running The brandiD for more than 15 years, and why your voice is often the most powerful marketing tool you have. Your Voice Builds Your Pipeline If your growth has slowed, hiding behind the work won’t turn things around. You need to put your voice out there. I share how podcasting, LinkedIn, and even simple visibility habits can attract the right people to your business, even if you’re introverted. Focus Creates Momentum Trying to speak to everyone dilutes your message. When I relaunched MyPath101, narrowing the audience and leaning on partnerships made all the difference. You’ll hear how choosing focus over frenzy during slow periods can create the traction your business needs. Enjoy this episode… Soundbytes 05:23 - 05:48 “Our growth has been completely organic over these last 14-15 years, except for some partnerships and people who stumbled upon us through Google searches. But even those partnerships have been organic, meaning they just kind of came about by happenstance. I wasn't overly intentional about creating them, but we've always done really good work, and my team is exceptional at what they do.” 08:33 - 09:00 “When I launched that company, it was in 2015. Then we had three different target audiences. It was parents, the students themselves, and high school and college administrators, and we were trying to sell to all three…That wasn't the best move, because it was really difficult to speak to all three through one website.” 29:20 - 29:41 “I lean on my faith, quite honestly, more than ever when things get a little sticky. Whether it's personnel changes or a little uptick in business, I honestly pray about it. That the right people come our way.” Quotes “I'm here to help people be limitless in whatever their journey is.” “Strategy is great, but it's nothing if you don't do something with it.” “I love helping people figure out what they're here to do and then bring light to them, you know, to shine on their journey.” Links mentioned in this episode: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: From Our Guest Host Website: Connect with Brian Mattocks on LinkedIn:
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240 | How to Use LinkedIn to Attract and Close High-Ticket Sales with Danielle Cevallos
10/14/2025
240 | How to Use LinkedIn to Attract and Close High-Ticket Sales with Danielle Cevallos
Have you ever wondered why your content isn’t converting into clients? The answer might be that posting is not the same as selling. Today’s guest breaks down how to build an online personal brand that attracts attention and a sales pipeline that closes deals. Danielle Cevallos is the President of The Conviction Marketing Agency, The Advance Innovation Society, and Kelly Roach International. With a background in psychology, education, and copywriting, Danielle has helped scale multiple 7- and 8-figure brands. In this episode, she breaks down how she empowers entrepreneurs to create profitable, impactful personal brands – and how you can do the same. Why LinkedIn Could Be Your Biggest Growth Channel If you’re tired of chasing likes on Instagram, take a page from Danielle’s playbook. She used LinkedIn to intentionally grow her agency by filling her audience with only ideal clients, welcoming them with simple DMs, and starting real conversations. Instead of fighting tricky algorithms, she focused on building a network of the right people. The fact is: You don’t need to go viral. You need a system that attracts and nurtures the exact clients you want. Why Posting Alone Won’t Close Deals Think your content will do all the selling for you? Danielle learned that’s rarely the case. Marketing grabs attention, but sales happen when you follow up, ask clear questions, and keep conversations alive. She talks about her complete pipeline: qualifying leads, nurturing them with content, and then asking for the sale when the timing is right. One of her clients took two years of consistent follow-up before finally investing $30K. For you, the lesson is simple: don’t give up too early. Keep showing up until your prospect is ready. Enjoy this episode with Danielle Cevallos… Soundbytes 21:27 - 21:37 “I never, ever pitched anything, ever. Casual conversations over lunch or dinner, and then that would lead to a call, and then that would lead to a client.” 27:01 - 27:12 “I once nurtured a client for two years before they became a client. And, now, I think they've spent over 30k with us to date, and they still will do more.” Quotes “So if there's been a problem with everyone they have ever worked with, it's not the agency, it's the client.” “You need to create an ecosystem where they're seeing you all over.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Virtual Business School (Use Code Rachel40): Connect with Danielle Cevallos on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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239 | Turning a Failing Flower Shop into a Multi-Million-Dollar Brand with Michael Jacobson
10/07/2025
239 | Turning a Failing Flower Shop into a Multi-Million-Dollar Brand with Michael Jacobson
What if your brand wasn’t just about marketing, but about rethinking every single touchpoint your customer experiences? That’s the approach Michael Jacobson took when he bought his uncle’s struggling flower shop. Today, French Florist has grown from the brink of closure to Los Angeles' largest flower shop, generating over $9 million in revenue and expanding nationally through franchising. Under Michael’s leadership, the brand is reshaping what it means to buy flowers, making everyday moments feel like luxury experiences. Make Operations Part of Your Brand Your brand promise is only as strong as the systems behind it. Michael shares how upgrading outdated tools and building a custom operating system didn’t just cut costs. It made every step of the customer journey smoother and more consistent. The takeaway? If you want to deliver a premium experience, start by fixing the pain points your customers feel most, even if the solution is behind the scenes. Let Values Guide Every Decision It’s easy to write core values and never put them into practice. French Florist takes the opposite approach, using the acronym LOVE (Love what you do, Own your impact, Value connection, Exceed expectations) as a daily filter for hiring, franchising, and customer touchpoints. The result is a thriving brand that feels consistent and authentic at every level. Ask yourself: do your customers feel your values in action, or only see them on your website? Enjoy this episode with Michael Jacobson… Soundbytes 22:26 - 22:40 “I don't know how many people actually live and breathe by [their company values]. Our company really does. We integrate it very deeply into the blood and DNA of our culture. Every decision we make follows that framework. We ask ourselves, if we're making big decisions, do they hit the core values.” 33:24 - 33:39 “If you can take the average person, on the average day, who has the average work ethic, with the average intellect, and build a system that can produce above average results, then that's a franchisable business.” Quotes “Business is tough. Nobody said it was going to be easy.” “We want to actually contribute real value to the world as an entrepreneur.” “If we can make this world 1% better, that's a worthy mission.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Michael Jacobson on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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238 | Why Writing a Book Is the Ultimate Authority Builder for Your Personal Brand
09/30/2025
238 | Why Writing a Book Is the Ultimate Authority Builder for Your Personal Brand
Want to be seen as the go‑to expert in your space? Start with a book. Not just for sales, but for shaping a brand that people recognize, trust, and remember. This is a special episode where I joined Christine on the Your Daily Writing Habit. I shared how, over 14 years at The brandiD, I’ve helped entrepreneurs, authors, and thought leaders grow their businesses online. Why Your Book Can Be the Fastest Path to Authority If you want to be recognized as the go-to expert in your field, a book is one of the most powerful tools you can create. It packages your expertise into something tangible, builds instant credibility, and works as intellectual property you can monetize and leverage. Self-publishing can generate direct income, but the bigger value is in what the book leads to: higher-ticket client work, keynote invitations, workshops, and programs that deepen your authority. How to Keep Your Book Working for You Long After Launch Your book shouldn’t gather dust once it’s published. Pull out key ideas or stories and turn them into social posts and blog articles to keep your message in circulation. Offer a free chapter to grow your email list. Use it to pitch media interviews, local speaking engagements, or library events that connect you with new audiences. And most importantly, get clear on your visibility goals first—whether that’s a TEDx stage or building a loyal local following—so every action you take moves you closer to that vision. Enjoy this episode… Soundbytes 07:07 - 07:18 “If someone has enough know-how in a particular area and can put it all in a book, it is such a stamp of approval.” 07:40 - 07:55 “Not everybody has the perseverance and the vision to write a book, and for the people that do, it can so easily be spun into courses or membership sites, keynote speeches, or workshops.” Quotes “A book is a great marketing lead magnet.” “Only be active on social media where your potential target market may be.” “There's so much strategy that goes into the copywriting of a website.” Links mentioned in this episode: Connect with brandiD Easy Tips to Adjust your website: Personality Quiz: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: From Our Guest Host, Christine Ink Website: Connect with Christine Ink on LinkedIn:
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237 | How Founders Are Growing Their Companies Faster by Becoming Visible with Dennis Meador
09/23/2025
237 | How Founders Are Growing Their Companies Faster by Becoming Visible with Dennis Meador
How do you go from two people and an idea to 32 employees and 125+ clients in just 12 months? That’s exactly what Dennis Meador did, and in this episode, he shares the strategies that made it possible. Dennis is the CEO and Founder of The Legal Podcast Network, where he helps legal professionals transform their expertise into content that drives authority and growth. With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience, he has scaled multiple companies to multi-million-dollar revenues and built a reputation for creating repeatable systems that work. The Power of Systems If your business feels stuck in chaos, Dennis makes it clear: the missing link is usually your systems. He shares how to tighten communication, streamline processes, and protect your culture so growth doesn’t come at the expense of sanity. His framework shows you how to build structure that frees you up to scale–whether that means hiring your next employee or doubling your client roster. Why Founder-Led Marketing Works Customers don’t just want your product, they want to trust the person behind it. Dennis explains how you, as the founder, can utilize podcasts, social media platforms, and straightforward Q&A-style content to establish authority and attract the right opportunities. Show up consistently, answer the questions your audience is already asking, and you’ll turn your visibility into a steady stream of inbound leads. Enjoy this episode with Dennis Meador… Soundbytes [17:19-17:47] “Instead of typing in Atlanta divorce lawyer, I type in what happens to a second home during a divorce? That's the type of thing that my clients answer. Now, a little YouTube video pops up with a 20-minute video and a whole series of questions about what happens to all the property during divorce in Atlanta, or in Georgia. So that's a question-based approach.” [26:03-26:27] “If you can go to a place where no one else is marketing, it might not be 100% of your potential client base, but if only 10% of them are your potential clients, and then we find five outlets, we've just increased your caseload by 50% by just distributing to places that others aren't.” [33:06-33:13] “We either have systems that take care of this, and if people won't work within those systems and help us, help them, then they're not our client anymore.” Quotes “I didn't ask if you had a TikTok. I asked if you wanted clients to see you on TikTok.” “It takes one to three years to really get your system, or your business, properly systematized.” “I learned very quickly. You make a lot more money making the job happen than actually doing the job.” “If you're building content that's query-based right now, you're building your future while sustaining your presence.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Dennis Meador on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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236 | The Visibility Shift That Helps Founders Grow Faster
09/16/2025
236 | The Visibility Shift That Helps Founders Grow Faster
If “you” online isn’t the same you who shows up in person, you’re not alone. Most founders haven’t taken the time to align their personal identity with how they present themselves online. But that clarity–on the inside and out–is what gives your brand staying power. This is a special episode where I joined Jesse Paliotto on FastSpring’s Growth Stage podcast to talk about personal branding, founder identity, and why branding from the inside out is the only way to build a business that lasts. The SOULiD Framework Every founder already has a personal brand. The question is–does yours reflect the essence of who you are? In this episode, I share the framework we’ve used with hundreds of entrepreneurs at brandiD to help them uncover their true differentiators, define their vision, and build a brand around what makes them unique. Practical Tips for Founder Visibility We talk about the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make when they try to grow their brand–and what to focus on instead. I share how to do a quick audit of your digital presence (hint: it starts with a Google search), why AI can’t replace real personality, and what every founder needs to know before they hit publish. Whether you’re just getting started or working to build long-term visibility, this conversation will help you focus on what really moves the needle. Enjoy this episode… Soundbytes 16:43 - 17:02 “So many people don't do this, but buy your vanity URL. So buy your first name, last name, and the .com. Even if you have a company, it's not so you don't feel like it's about building your personal brand, you should still point that vanity URL to your about page on your corporate site.” 11:01 - 11:18 “When we know what we stand for, we can talk about those things in a way, with conviction–and those also can be very sticky points, both in a positive and negative way to attract our ideal clients.” Quotes “Resilience as entrepreneurs, I think it's absolutely one of the top three qualities we need to be successful.” “In today's world, consumers are so much more savvy around companies they're supporting or not supporting.” “People don't think they have a personal brand. But, we all do.” Links mentioned in this episode: Connect with brandiD Easy Tips to Adjust your website: Personality Quiz: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: From Our Guest Host Website: Connect with FastSpring on LinkedIn:
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235 | Why Most Authors Quit Too Early (and How to Keep Your Book Alive) with Susie and AJ
09/09/2025
235 | Why Most Authors Quit Too Early (and How to Keep Your Book Alive) with Susie and AJ
Writing a book can transform your personal brand and business, but too many authors get stuck battling that nagging inner critic: “Will anyone even read this?” Susie deVille and AJ Harper explain how that voice isn’t a stop sign. It’s a signal you’re onto something worth sharing. Susie is the founder of the Innovation and Creativity Institute and bestselling author of Buoyant: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free. AJ is the author of Write a Must-Read and a longtime co-writer with Mike Michalowicz (known famously for the book Profit First). Together, they guide authors to create prescriptive nonfiction books that don’t just make sales—they’re read, acted on, and shared. Taming Your Inner Critic If you’ve ever heard that voice whisper, “No one’s going to read this,” you’re not alone. AJ shows you how to keep writing anyway—by setting simple word-count goals, stripping away perfection pressure, and treating self-doubt as proof you’re moving in the right direction. Susie shares how leaning into those tough “dark dog” moments can actually lead to breakthroughs, helping you spot the real through-line of your book. Marketing That Lasts Finishing your manuscript is just the beginning. Susie and AJ reveal why most authors quit too soon and how you can avoid the same trap. Forget chasing sales numbers or mimicking what everyone else is doing. Instead, focus on building genuine resonance with your readers and choosing marketing channels that feel natural to you. PLUS: Secure your place for their Beyond (or Before) the Launch: Igniting Momentum for Your Book’s Success ($1,500 discount! – code not necessary): Enjoy this episode with Susie & AJ… Soundbytes 24:33 - 24:56 Susie “If you're picking up one or two things that are not in alignment with who you truly are, it is going to be a long, unhappy road that doesn't yield any results, because the market can tell immediately if we are believing what we're saying.” 10:41 - 10:51 AJ “We can spend our whole lives trying to feel better, but I say we need to write our books anyway. It's going to take too long to deal with all of our self-esteem issues. Let's just get to work.” 32:31 - 32:47 AJ “It's important to say things in different ways, the same point in different ways, but also at different times, because someone may need to have gone a little bit further along in their journey to hear the thing again.” Quotes AJ “You really do need community. However you can find it.” Susie “So it is very easy to try to do all of the things that everybody else is doing, which is a recipe for disaster.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guests Beyond (or Before) the Launch: Igniting Momentum for Your Book’s Success ($1,500 discount! – code not necessary): Connect with Susie & AJ on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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234 | The Money Mistakes Hurting Small Businesses and How to Fix Them with Tanya Akimenko
09/02/2025
234 | The Money Mistakes Hurting Small Businesses and How to Fix Them with Tanya Akimenko
Is the way you handle your business finances helping you grow or holding you back? From starting out in a small Alaska town to running a thriving, multi-location accounting firm, Tanya Akimenko has seen firsthand how financial missteps can derail even the most promising small businesses. As the founder of Golden Apple Agency, she helps business owners across the U.S. organize their finances, save on taxes, and build lasting wealth. Avoiding Common Financial Pitfalls If you’ve ever mixed personal and business expenses or judged your company’s health by your current bank balance, you’re not alone. But it could be costing you. Tanya shares the red flags she spots most often in small businesses and the simple steps you can take right now to get organized, protect your cash flow, and make better financial decisions. Structuring Your Business for Tax Savings Your business structure plays a huge role in how much you keep and how much you hand over to the IRS. Tanya walks you through when to move from an LLC to an S corporation, why $100,000 in net profit is the magic number, and how the right setup can cut your payroll and self-employment taxes by over 15%. Enjoy this episode with Tanya Akimenko… Soundbytes 17:03 - 17:13 “You have to have logical thinking when it comes to taxes, because tax has so much gray area. How you interpret it. It's not always black and white.” 08:05 - 08:25 “So I sold my house, moved in with my mom, hired a bunch of people, and started training. There were a lot of growing pains. It took a lot to realize that just because you're great at something and you think you can train people, it's not the case.” 08:26 - 08:47 “It takes a special kind of person to do tedious work, like accounting. And then it also takes another type of person to actually talk to clients. That's not always the same person. So I was like, okay, so I can't duplicate me. I have to separate positions for different people.” Quotes “With taxes, you don't need just knowledge, you actually need some wisdom.” “If you're not growing, you're shrinking.” “Accounting is not really math. It's more of a puzzle.” “Finances are the heartbeat of your company.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Tanya Akimenko on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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233 | What 76% of Buyers Do Before They Ever Contact You
08/26/2025
233 | What 76% of Buyers Do Before They Ever Contact You
76% of buyers Google you before they reach out. If your brand isn’t showing them the real you, it might be holding you back more than you think. In this episode, I sat down with Chris at FlowChat to talk about one of my favorite topics: how personal branding and your identity as a founder shape every part of your business, from the copy on your homepage to the culture inside your team. What Personal Branding Really Means Personal branding isn’t about being loud online or showing up a certain way. It’s about alignment. I define personal branding as a cocktail of three things: your essence, your reputation, and your marketing. That combination is what creates an authentic brand people connect with. In this conversation, I share how tools like 360 brand feedback help founders uncover their true strengths and why that feedback often holds the key to differentiation. Why Founder Identity Shapes the Entire Business Whether you’re a solopreneur or leading a growing team, your identity sets the tone for everything. From the moment a client lands on your site to the way your team handles support emails, your brand is shaped by who you are. In this episode, I talk about how understanding your values, energy, and purpose helps create a brand that’s not just consistent, but powerful. Enjoy this episode… Soundbytes 17:05 - 17:19 “Every touch point a potential customer or an actual customer has with your company is an interaction that's going to leave that customer with a point of view, with an opinion about your brand.” 02:32 - 02:59 “So I define personal brand as a cocktail, and it's a mixture of your essence, your personality, your true self, your reputation, because that always supersedes you, and then combining that with marketing, and marketing is a million different things. So, what are you comfortable with, and how are you comfortable marketing your product or service? So that's how I define personal branding. It's, it's a mix of several things.” Quotes “One thing I believe wholeheartedly is that the attributes of a founder are very much the attributes of a company.” “You can't do personal branding properly if you don't tap into who the person is behind the company.” Links mentioned in this episode: Connect with brandiD Easy Tips to Adjust your website: Personality Quiz: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: From Our Guest Host, FlowChat Website: Connect with FlowChat on LinkedIn:
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232 | How Losing $400K on a Single Order Sparked a Comeback with Mike Watts
08/19/2025
232 | How Losing $400K on a Single Order Sparked a Comeback with Mike Watts
What would you do if your first major order, worth $400,000, fell apart in your customer’s hands…and there was no one to refund you? For Mike Watts, it wasn’t the end. It was the beginning of a comeback story that transformed a product idea into an America-made brand built on grit, values, and legacy. Mike is a serial entrepreneur with six product-based startups and over $80 million in retail sales under his belt. He’s the founder of LoveHandle, the smartphone accessory brand that’s stayed 100% family-owned and self-funded, despite opportunities to scale faster with outside investors. He also forged a partnership with Daymond John, without ever appearing on Shark Tank. From Costly Mistakes to a Manufacturing Advantage Mike shares the hard-earned lesson every product-based entrepreneur needs to hear: control matters. After his overseas supplier cut corners that cost him $400K, he made the bold decision to bring manufacturing in-house. That shift gave him full control over quality, fulfillment, and product development. If you’re relying on third-party suppliers, this story might change how you think about risk, ownership, and scale. How to Build a Brand That’s Rooted in Real Relationships Forget chasing investors or quick wins. Mike grew LoveHandle by focusing on what most overlook: relationships. Whether it was handing out branded samples at trade shows or pre-printing logos for every exhibitor to spark conversations, his approach was personal, thoughtful, and wildly effective. Today, his company is still 100% family-owned, run by a team that includes his wife, kids, and even his mother-in-law. If you’ve ever wondered how to grow while staying true to your values, Mike’s story is proof that it can be done. Enjoy this episode with Mike Watts… Soundbytes 17:32 - 19:44 “They told us, don't send samples to the show….But I'm really more of an ask forgiveness than permission kind of guy. And so I kept sending samples…Then one of those made it to my dream shark Daymond John, and he started using the product. Loved it. And then he started ordering them from my website… I saw the order come in…So I called right away…They're like, Oh, you want to talk to Damon? Great. No chance…So I made some custom products that said, Rise and grind with a nice foil card on there. I sent him a box of 500…It was a big hit…And then I just kept sending them. And then, eventually, one day, the phone rings and it's Damon and his team calling. They say Mike, I really respect your hustle…I got more deals than I could say grace over, but I like you and I like your product, so let's work out a deal.” 11:53 - 12:25 “We were growing very quickly right up until 2020, when COVID happened, and everybody got quarantined. Now, all of a sudden there's no trade shows. So every order we had canceled, and then our entire market dried up.” Quotes “We dumped $400,000 worth of product into the dump.” “I'm really more of an ask forgiveness than permission kind of guy.” “If you never quit, you're guaranteed success.” “If you didn’t almost lose everything, you probably didn’t start a great company.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Mike Watts on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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231 | Website Mistakes That Are Driving Visitors Away
08/12/2025
231 | Website Mistakes That Are Driving Visitors Away
Your website has 5 seconds to make a first impression. Is yours working for you, or against you? If your homepage is cluttered, confusing, or unclear, chances are your visitors aren’t sticking around. And in today’s digital-first world, that could be costing you more than you think. This is an episode where I take part in a Super Learning Session with Page Two, a publishing company. We covered everything authors and experts need to know about building a website that feels clear, compelling, and conversion-ready. Clean, Cohesive Design That Keeps People On Your Site If your website feels cluttered or chaotic, visitors won’t stick around. In this session, you’ll learn how to use white space, color, and font pairings to create a sense of clarity and calm. We talk about why less is more when it comes to design and how to make sure every visual element on your site works for you, not against you. Because when your design is clean and intentional, people feel confident exploring what you have to offer. Content That Speaks Directly to Your Reader Your website shouldn’t start with a paragraph about you. It should start with a reason for your visitor to keep reading. I share how to write homepage content that’s focused on your audience, not just your accolades. You’ll learn how to highlight what makes your work different, guide visitors toward a single clear action, and turn casual browsers into book buyers, email subscribers, or future clients. Enjoy this episode… Soundbytes 03:05 - 05:20 “So if you think of walking into an art museum or going into a botanical garden or going into a restaurant that's very nicely designed, we have visceral reactions to the spaces we're in. And websites also create visceral reactions for people.” 03:52 - 04:04 “I wouldn't use more than three different fonts on a website, so you might have one for headings, one for the actual text, and then maybe a different font for call to actions.” Quotes “Great design is in the details.” “Clean design can just exude a very calm emotion in somebody that's looking at your website and make them want to stay on there.“ “Just put the minimum of what you want on a web page. The beauty of a web page is that you can put as much text on it as you want–but that's also the negative of a webpage.” Links mentioned in this episode: Connect with brandiD Easy Tips to Adjust your website: Personality Quiz: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: From Our Guest Host Website: Connect with Page Two on LinkedIn:
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230 | What Makes You 400% More Likely to Land Your Next Client with Brandon Barnum
08/05/2025
230 | What Makes You 400% More Likely to Land Your Next Client with Brandon Barnum
What if the fastest way to grow your business was simply…asking? Referrals aren’t just nice to have–they’re the most trusted and efficient way to land new clients. But most business owners either forget to ask or are concerned about appearing too pushy. This week, we’re joined by Brandon Barnum, CEO of HOA.com and author of Raving Referrals. After growing his income 10X in only 18 months by mastering referrals, Brandon now helps business owners grow through genuine relationships, strategic partnerships, and repeatable systems. How to Ask for Referrals Without Feeling Salesy Brandon shares a simple 3-step framework you can start using right now. You’ll learn how to set the stage early in a client relationship, spot the moments when people are primed to refer you, and ask in a way that feels natural and service-led. If you've ever hesitated to ask, this conversation will show you exactly how to do it confidently. How to Make Referrals a Core Part of Your Business If you want consistent referrals (don’t we all?), Brandon walks through the systems and habits that keep your brand top of mind. From building your personal “Top 50” referral list to using simple co-marketing strategies with trusted partners, you’ll learn how to create a referral engine that keeps working in the background, without adding to your daily workload. Enjoy this episode with Brandon Barnum… Soundbytes 16:11 - 16:24 “Find people that are serving your perfect prospects every day. They're already talking to the people that you want to help, and what you want to do is package yourself as the solution to their challenges.” 20:28 - 21:12 “There's three places that you get your business and referrals. Number one, your clients. Number two is your social sphere, and that's everybody on social media. It's also everybody that's in your phone…and number three, professionals and businesses that serve your perfect prospects every day. I call that complimentary businesses.” 08:59 - 09:12 “Step one is set the stage. Step two is to listen for the referral triggers, and then step three is to A, S, K, to G, E, T. You got to ask the right way at the right time when someone is a peak referral state” Quotes “84% of B2B sales start with a referral. So if you're selling to business owners, you better be working by referral.” “When someone's referred to you, they're 400% more likely to hire you.” “The biggest gap that I see when it comes to referrals is that people don't ask for them.” “People don't refer you because they want to help you. They refer you because they want to help solve the challenge of someone else.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Brandon Barnum on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Download our free guide to learn 16 crucial website updates that attract more leads and convert visitors into clients: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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229 | How to Build Teams That Stay and Loyal Clients with David Steele
07/29/2025
229 | How to Build Teams That Stay and Loyal Clients with David Steele
What if the real key to scaling your business isn’t strategy or capital, but empathy? That’s the belief driving today’s guest, David Steele. With a career spanning finance, hospitality, and the arts, David is the Founder and CEO of One Wealth Advisors, Executive Chairman of Flour + Water Hospitality Group, and Managing Partner at Great Gold Hospitality Group. He’s also a playwright, visual artist, and advocate for the power of people in business. People Over Profit: How to Build a Team That Grows With You If you want to build a business that lasts, start by investing in your people. David shares how he’s created a culture where turnover is almost nonexistent by treating every team member like a future owner. Whether you’re leading a small team or scaling fast, you’ll take away practical ideas like profit-sharing instead of bonuses, transparent P&L reviews, and a long-term goal of shared equity. Because when people feel valued and have a real stake in the outcome, they’re far more likely to stick around and help you grow. Think Restaurants Are Risky? Here’s What Actually Causes Failure You’ve heard it before: “Restaurants are too risky.” But David challenges that assumption with a powerful reframing: it’s not the industry that’s the problem, it’s the lack of business planning. Whether you’re in hospitality or any creative venture, his method applies. Start with a story. Build a 10-year model. Make sure the capital pays back in 3 years or less. If the numbers don’t work, don’t move forward. This approach has helped him grow eight successful restaurants and it might just change the way you assess risk in your own ideas. Enjoy this episode with David Steele… Soundbytes 11:17 - 11:56 “I figured one thing out, and all polymaths in business have probably figured one thing out. That is, they know how to activate a coalition of people around a singular idea… Everything that has ever been created in the history of humankind that's been great has been because people symbiotically came together to do it.” 14:08 - 14:22 “I just think the most important variable in any partnership is the most important variable in any real, sustainable relationship, which is always seeking to find empathy for the person you have a relationship with.” Quotes “Treat people well. People just want to feel valuable. That's all they want.” “I have a goal with any business I start, which is to never lose a single employee for the life of the company. Now, it's a ridiculous goal. It's absurd.” “I still have some of those clients that I started with in 1991.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: https://davidsteele.xyz/ Connect with David Steele on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-steele-76088a/ Connect with brandiD Download our free guide to learn 16 crucial website updates that attract more leads and convert visitors into clients: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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228 | How to Build an Unforgettable Brand Even as an Introvert
07/22/2025
228 | How to Build an Unforgettable Brand Even as an Introvert
Most people think branding starts with your logo. But it actually starts with you. This episode is all about how you can uncover what truly sets you apart by asking a few simple (but powerful) questions. You’ll learn how to turn client feedback into messaging that actually resonates, and how to create a brand experience that makes people feel connected the moment they land on your site. I sat down with John Lee Dumas on his podcast, Entrepreneurs on Fire, to talk about what personal branding really means. Your Brand Is Built From the Inside Out Your brand is more than a logo or a tagline—it’s your reputation, your essence, and how you make people feel. I share how my Greek family values shape the culture at brandiD and why infusing personality into your website is key to building trust online. If you want your brand to stand out, you need to start with what makes you, you. You Don’t Have to Be an Extrovert to Be Visible Here’s something that surprises a lot of people: most entrepreneurs are introverts. And that’s not a weakness—it’s a strength. In this episode, I share how I work with introverted founders to build brands that feel aligned, not performative. From getting clear on your values to identifying the platforms that actually work for you, visibility becomes much easier when you stop trying to be someone else. Enjoy this episode… Soundbytes 09:41 - 10:01 “When you've got confidence and passion about what you're doing, it's impossible not to talk about it with energy and with just an extroverted energy underneath it. Whenever I talk about the things that I love to do, it's impossible for me to be introverted.” 26:16 - 26:26 “No matter what revenue someone is making, or, you know, the level of visibility they have, we are all struggling with the same things at the end of the day.” Quotes “People always think a brand is just their logo, and it's not. Their brand is so much more than that.” “The last thing we want to help someone do is do something that they're uncomfortable with, because that's going to be inauthentic.” “It’s okay to share some of those little hiccups that we all inevitably have as humans and business owners.” Links mentioned in this episode: Connect with brandiD Download our free guide to learn 16 crucial website updates that attract more leads and convert visitors into clients: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: From Our Guest Host Website: Connect with John Lee Dumas on LinkedIn:
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227 | Why Hiding Your Values Is Hurting Your Business
07/15/2025
227 | Why Hiding Your Values Is Hurting Your Business
If you’ve ever felt unsure about how much of yourself to share in your brand… this episode is for you. This is a special episode where I joined Michael Levitt on his podcast, Breakfast Leadership, to talk about something most people overthink: how to build a personal brand that actually connects. We unpacked what personal branding really means, why it’s not about boasting, and how sharing your story can help you attract better-fit clients. Whether you’ve been in business for years or you’re just starting out, this conversation will challenge the way you think about visibility, reputation, and what it really takes to stand out. Personal Branding Isn’t Bragging — It’s About Being Understood So many people stay quiet online because they’re afraid of sounding self-promotional. But the truth is, people don’t just want to know what you do–they want to know who you really are. We talk about why your past experiences, values, and even career pivots are worth including in your story. Take a look at your own LinkedIn or About page: is it helping people understand you…or just giving them a list of facts? Can Being Too Polarizing Lose You Clients? I share my take on whether or not you should be polarizing—and whether it can help or hurt your personal and business brand. We talked about the difference between standing out and turning people away, and why losing the wrong clients is often a win. If you’ve been keeping things neutral out of fear of alienating people, this part of the conversation will give you permission to show up with more honesty, clarity, and confidence. Enjoy this episode… Soundbytes 17:01 - 17:41 “Three-quarters of Americans are actually more likely to trust someone with an established personal brand, and that same percentage is more likely to buy a service or a product from a personal brand that they know. And that applies to big companies too. When you have a sense of what that company, or the founder of that company stands for…” "If we know that a company is supporting, let’s say, a local shelter, or whatever else it might be. We're more likely to support them." 21:44 - 22:10 “A lot of times in today's world, especially the last few years, as things have evolved, we're self-centering a lot because we don't want to make waves. And I'm not ever saying make waves for wave's sake. I'm just saying, find ways to really put your values out there and the causes that you're passionate about in a way that is true to who you are. And that’s what really helps attract your ideal clients.” Quotes “Three-quarters of Americans are actually more likely to trust someone with an established personal brand, and that same percentage is more likely to buy a service or a product from a personal brand that they know.” “It's okay to be polarizing.” “Take some time every now and then. Have a coffee date with yourself, and really just kind of set your own GPS and figure out where you want to be in five years, and how you're going to get there.” “The more we help people connect with us and truly show up as ourselves, the more likely we are to grow our businesses and convert people from browsers to buyers.” Links mentioned in this episode: Connect with brandiD Download our free guide to learn 16 crucial website updates that attract more leads and convert visitors into clients: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: From Our Guest Host Website: Connect with Michael Levitt on LinkedIn:
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226 | How to Win Any Negotiation Without Burning Bridges with Andres Lares
07/08/2025
226 | How to Win Any Negotiation Without Burning Bridges with Andres Lares
Think negotiation is just for boardrooms and big business deals? Think again. Negotiation is everywhere, whether you’re asking for a raise, buying a car, or convincing your kids to brush their teeth. And if you’re doing it without empathy, you’re leaving results (and relationships) on the table. Today’s guest is Andres Lares, Managing Partner at the Shapiro Negotiations Institute. He’s helped close multi-million dollar contracts – including a $184M MLB deal – and now trains leaders at Fortune 500 companies, pro sports teams, and global organizations on how to influence with intention. He’s also the author of Persuade: The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions. Negotiating with Emotional Intelligence Forget bluffing and bravado. Andres explains why emotional intelligence is the real power play in any negotiation – whether you’re leading a team, buying a business, or parenting toddlers. You’ll learn how to read the room, ask better questions, and use empathy to get what you want without damaging relationships. If you’ve ever felt like your message isn’t landing, this conversation’s for you. The 3P and PAID Frameworks You Can Use Right Now Most people wing the negotiation phase and wonder why their deals fall through. Andres shares two simple, repeatable frameworks you can plug into any negotiation today: 3P (Prepare, Probe, Propose) and PAID (Precedents, Alternatives, Interests, Deadlines). These tools help you think clearly, ask the right questions, and walk into every conversation with a strategy that puts you in control. Whether you’re making your next hire or negotiating a partnership, this is your blueprint. Enjoy this episode with Andres Lares… Soundbytes 07:46 - 07:55 “So we're no longer teaching how important relationships are. We're just giving the methodology and skills in order to be able to balance the relationship building with the results.” 10:38 - 10:50 “You'll notice, for example, the other person talks much slower, or has a lot of questions early on, or is always asking for information in advance. Well, you start to pick up on those cues, and you start to realize, okay, this meeting's gonna be more effective if I send it in advance.” 17:00 - 17:10 “So if you don't think you're worth $75,000, you're probably not going to be able to make that ask from a salary perspective in a very convincing way, because you don't even believe it.” Quotes “Think about every scenario. You negotiate. You negotiate with your kids, you're negotiating salary.” “The phrase we always talk about is maximizing your objectives while satisfying the other side.” “There's a relationship component, and an emotional intelligence component, which really has to be at the forefront.” “I've never actually applied for a job I've got. It's been relationships in my network.” “People make decisions emotionally, and then they justify rationally.” Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: Connect with Andres Lares on LinkedIn: Connect with brandiD Download our free guide to learn 16 crucial website updates that attract more leads and convert visitors into clients: Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here:
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