Above The Business

Today on the Leadership Podcast, Bradley sits down with AJ Vaden to discuss building your online and offline brand.  Over the last 15 years, AJ has helped create, launch and grow several multi-million dollar businesses from start up to 7 and 8 figures in annual revenue. She has played the role of Salesperson to CSO, recruiter to COO, spender to CFO and from just being bossy to CEO.Today, you’ll hear how to build your Know-Like-Trust factor, develop your leads system to bring leads from social media into your email list, getting testimonials, and the strategy behind building your brand.Her method for brand building is to PLAN: Communicate the problem you solve in one word, share your unique way of solving it, know for whom you solve this problem, and figure out how you make money solving it.Along with her company Brand Builders Group (https://brandbuildersgroup.com/study/), AJ has been featured in Inc, Success Magazine, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and Good Morning America.  She is the Co-Host of The Influential Personal Brand Podcast which Forbes named as one of the top 10 podcasts to listen to in 2021.Ready to build your personal brand?  After you listen to this episode, get AJ’s free resources to get started: https://brandbuildersgroup.com/study/

Today on the podcast, Bradley is sharing the best of the best from 2021! You'll hear highlights from...Episode 42: Mark Blackburn:Mark was the recipient of the 2020 PGA Teacher and Coach of the Year. In that episode, we talked about: The importance of having a growth mindset , how humble beginnings are drivers for achievement, every player is like their own business, everyone has their own process and intervention only comes in two opportunities, why using critical thinking to work through everything is so crucial, how to customize solutions for each of your team membersEpisode 44: Jeremy Olson and Kristen Isaacson:Growing any business to over a million dollars is no small feat. Growing an insurance agency to over $40 million is something else entirely. Our guests today, Jeremy Olson and Kristin Isaacson of The Olson Agency, are no strangers to exceeding industry standards. The pair are known to value the importance of role play in their businesses and fully embracing a growth mindset. Their tenacity and commitment to investing in their team have allowed them to become a leader in the insurance agency business. Jeremy and Kristin drop some incredible insider’s knowledge in this episode that you won’t want to miss.Episodes 47 & 48 with Thomas Ntuk:If you have a difficult time explaining concepts and sales strategies to your team, give this week and next week’s episodes a listen. On today’s show, we have the pleasure of interviewing Thomas Ntuk, also known as the Sales Simplification Guru, in a special two part interview. Episode 49 with Future Legacy Partners:How are you solving problems with the members on your team? Whether you’re a leader or a team member, the willingness to address a problem and solve it together is key. On our show this week, we’re discussing how to develop your team members with Future Legacy partners Krista Hawkins and Wendy Smith.Episode 55 with Mike Michalowicz:What if you could guarantee that growth in your business would last? Mike Michalowicz has developed a strategy to do just that over the course of his time selling two multi-million dollar businesses and now leading two new multi-million dollar ventures.Episode 69 with David Peterson:Hear David break down intentionally developing your team including: His system of implementation for development, why he prefers specialization for each area of insurance sales, why he believes in “running of the plays” from his playbook for insurance sales, and the importance of spending 15-30 minutes daily to review applicants or court team members to find the best recruits possible. Episode 72 with Josh Fuller:Josh Fuller talks about growing your business through best practices borrowed from multiple sources. He has had the opportunity to work in multiple spheres as an entrepreneur throughout his career, and has gained a lot of great experiences and insights along the way. He specifically has been able to successfully jump on opportunities as they arose throughout his work to find new success.Episode 75 with Randy Thompson:Wondering how to recruit “first round draft picks” for your team?  On this podcast, Randy Thompson shares how to find, train, and compensate the best people for your team. He also shares the three intrinsic qualities he looks for in prospective team members. These include honesty, a kind heart, and a strong work ethic.Episode 78 with General Stanley McChrystal:Retired four-star general Stanley A. McChrystal has lived a life associated with the deadly risks of combat. He was once called “one of America’s greatest warriors” by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. From his first day at West Point, to his years in Afghanistan, to his efforts helping business leaders navigate a global pandemic, McChrystal has seen how individuals and organizations fail to mitigate risk. Why? Because they focus on the probability of something happening instead of the interface by which it can be managed.Episode 83 with Jim Huling:How is your strategy serving you? In this podcast episode, Jim Huling and Bradley discuss execution of strategy. You’ll learn The 4 Disciplines of Execution, why strategy doesn’t work on its own, and how to turn strategy into action.Ready to hear the best of the best?

Today on the podcast, Bradley sat down with Jeff Hogue.  He talks about the best practices surrounding your content.  He also gives some great tips on strategizing your internet leads. He shares where internet leads fit into your sales ecosystem, actual best practices for handling leads to get best conversion, and what your conversion rates should be.You’ll learn the importance of a solid referral system, SEO, and investing in SEM.  You’ll also hear his thoughts around the speed of contacting, utilizing all different avenues (phone, email, text, mail), and continuing to follow up.Jeff is a sales professional turned manager turned director who has helped thousands of insurance agents boost their marketing efforts and enable sales for themselves and their teams. He has worked closely with agents representing many of the top P&C, Health and Medicare Supplement carriers in the United States and has almost a decade of industry experience.Ready to put your internet leads strategy to work?  Listen now!

If increasing your margins 1 percent would increase your profit 15 percent, would you do it?Today on the Leadership Podcast, Bradley and Martin Holland discuss The Four Must-Haves In Business.  This includes… (1) Guiding - leadership, (2) Getting - the business/customers ie sales/marketing, (3) Doing - where most people are strong aka rainmaker’s dilemma, and (4) Administer - all the things you didn’t know you needed for good business, ie. bookkeeping.Martin is the author of The Profit Problem: They Say I Make Money, So Why Don't I Have Any?  (www.theprofitproblem.com) He asks the questions, “If you knew that increasing your margins 1% would increase your profit 15%, would you do it?” and  “If you knew that increasing your sales 17% would double your profit, would you do it?” and “If you knew why you are always short of cash, would you do something about it?”In his book, he shares how financial statements aren't just for banks and taxes. You can use them to reduce your stress by making better decisions and more money.Knowing your numbers and pulling them regularly is crucial for good business.  But it can feel overwhelming to even make the time to understand and examine them.  Right here at Club Capital, we provide complete bookkeeping and tax services for insurance agency owners.  Why not work with the team you trust to better understand your business?  Visit our website (www.club.capital) to learn more about how we can support you in growing your profits!Martin has been active in small business for 48 years. Prior to becoming a business coach in 2011, he helped start or reorganize eight small businesses. Two of them failed, he sold four of them, and still works closely with two. His experience has taught him that there are principles common to successful businesses and omissions common to struggling businesses. Every principle of success is available to every business through awareness and action.Ready to learn what you need to master your numbers?  Listen now!

Are you getting the results you want in business or in life?Today on the leadership podcast, Jane Atkinson joins us to discuss how to get the results you want, the connection between thoughts and actions, and how to pursue speaking as another stream of income.The first principle Jane discussed with Bradley was CTFAR.  This acronym stands for Circumstances, Thoughts, Feelings, Actions and Results.  Jane then went on to discuss her “Ready, Aim, Fire!” method for public speaking.  She shares how to prepare your speaking topic for the audience, market yourself, and ask people to book you.Jane then shared her framework for a good speaking presentation.  She emphasized the importance of having a service-based, servant leadership type mindset.  After all, you have something to offer that serves others through your message.Jane’s new book “Scaling Your Speaking Business: 10 Strategies for Earning More While Doing Less” is now available!  If your goal for your speaking business is to elevate your income, whether it be from $100K to $250K, or from $250K to a million, you cannot afford to miss out on the real-life advice, stories from Jane’s clients and inner circle, and expert strategies in this book. Visit www.speakerlauncher.com to learn more.

How is your strategy serving you?In today’s podcast episode, Jim Huling and Bradley discuss execution of strategy.  You’ll learn The 4 Disciplines of Execution, why strategy doesn’t work on its own, and how to turn strategy into action.  Jim’s 4 Disciplines of Execution include…Focus - the “what”Act on the lead measure - the “how”Engagement - the “why”Accountability - a 20 min weekly meeting with each team member committing to what they’ll do the next weekBradley shares how these strategies have transformed his team’s workflow and accomplishments.  He also shared some of the pitfalls he found along the way, and what he did about them.Jim Huling is the author of the #1 Worldwide Best-Selling Book, The 4 Disciplines of Execution, now in its 2nd Edition and translated into sixteen languages. Jim has also been the 4DX Global Managing Consultant for FranklinCovey for more than 13 years. Ready to execute your strategy?Find The Four Disciplines of Execution here: (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-4-Disciplines-of-Execution-Revised-and-Updated/Chris-McChesney/9781982156978)

Do you work just to live or do you feel connected to your purpose as you work?Ken Coleman is the nationally syndicated host of The Ken Coleman Show & author of From Paycheck to Purpose.  He wants people to feel a real connection to what they were created to do because someone out there needs them to do it. Ken shares how to find your dream job through clarity. He explains that your passion, talent, and mission intersect to make up your personal mission statement.  This then answers the question: What should I do with my life?Ken and Bradley discuss how to become qualified for the job change or career pivot you desire.  They also discuss the differences between networking and connecting.  Ken wrote The Proximity Principle to help you improve your connections.  You need to consider who you know, and write down those people.  Then, consider who you can ask for help.  The key here is asking about something rather than asking for something.  Most people love to give advice!If your dream job is tied to a promotion, Ken also has some advice to ensure you’re positioning yourself to receive that promotion. Finally, they talk about the challenges of knowing what to do, but struggling to get started.  Ken identifies the three main villains standing in the way of everyone’s success: Pride, Doubt, and Fear.  He breaks down how to deal with these thoughts and diffuse them to move forward.If you’re ready to step into purpose and pursue your dream role, listen to this podcast!Visit www.kencoleman.com to learn more about Ken Coleman and his new book, From Paycheck To Purpose.

Ready to unlock your motivation and dig into the work you love?On this episode, Todd Henry and Bradley discuss how to do this and more. Positioning himself as an “arms dealer for the creative revolution,” Todd Henry teaches leaders and organizations how to establish practices that lead to everyday brilliance. He is the author of five books (The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, Louder Than Words, Herding Tigers, The Motivation Code).His latest book, The Motivation Code, is about the hidden forces that drive deep engagement and brilliant work.  Henry shows that there are twenty-seven “motivational themes”, each with its own unique DNA.  The Motivation Code teaches us to decode our Core Motivation so that we can have conversations, make decisions, and even choose career paths that lead us to experience engagement and fulfillment. Once we know how to activate our inner drivers, we can transform the work we do into work we love.Todd’s podcast, The Accidental Creative, offers weekly tips for how to stay prolific, brilliant, and healthy. Visit www.toddhenry.com to learn more!

Dean Mannix is a life and personal coach who became passionate about life insurance after losing a few people close to him.  He firmly believes that the epitome of your mess becomes your message.  His latest book, “Protect and Provide” delves deeper into this story, and his passion for serving his clients through insurance sales.Key to Dean’s philosophy is the power of proven practice as opposed to best practice.  Owners should go with what works in their offices, rather than “best” practices determined by others. In today’s podcast, he shares powerful sales and training tips, including:Why winning the morning is so important, and how to ensure you canHow to shift your mindset towards service to gain more clientsWhy many sales training processes stall at 25-50% of the way through, what to do about itThe difference between sales today vs. what it used to beDean’s motivation in business has always been to help his customers.  In “Protect and Provide,” he describes heroes in the insurance industry.  He wrote the book for insurance agents who believe in protecting their customers while also educating them.  Dean believes that this book is your guide to personal and financial success in the insurance industry. You can find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Protect-Provide-Customer-Centric-Compliant-Insurance/dp/0648060608 Learn more about Dean's sales training at www.deanmannix.comListen to unpack these principles, and then begin to implement proven practices in your business!Learn more about how you can work with Club Capital for agency book keeping services at www.club.capital. Special thanks to our sponsors, Direct Clicks (https://tools.directclicksinc.com/marketing-roi-tool), Coach P Consulting (https://www.coachpconsulting.com/), and Relevant Advantage (https://www.relevantadvantage.com/ or www.sfagentpromos.com).

Do you struggle with making progress or being ambitious when you’re overwhelmed?  Tired of getting in your own way?  Today on the Club Capital Leadership Podcast, Melody Wilding joins us to share powerful tools from her new book, “Trust Yourself.”Melody is a therapist turned executive & leadership coach to Sensitive Strivers.  This term applies to top performers who also think and feel everything more deeply.She was named one of Business Insider's "Most Innovative Coaches."  Her workplace advice has been featured in The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, NBC News, and more. I'm a professor of Human Behavior and a contributor to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, and Business Insider.Her new book covers topics such as overthinking, people pleasing, trusting your gut, boundaries, overwhelm, and imposter syndrome.In the podcast, she shares more about types of overthinking, rumination, obsession over future, and analysis paralysis.  Melody employs a technique to avoid overthinking that uses constraints.  For example, when planning a wedding, cap yourself to getting quotes from five planners.  This will keep you from getting lost in too many options and variables.She also provides some techniques on making decisions when overwhelmed with emotions.  The first step is to not make it emotion-based.  Instead, start with calming your body through a breathing exercise.  Then, make sure you give yourself physical space.  This could look like sleeping on it, taking the weekend, before making the decision, etc.Finally, she discussed how to have boundaries with your team.  The biggest way to see where you may need different boundaries is to assess where you may feel resentment toward your team or clients.  Once you identify that, begin considering how you can establish different boundaries.You can learn more about Melody Wilding when you visit her website,  https://melodywilding.com.  You can also find her new book, “Trust Yourself,” at https://melodywilding.com/book.