The Self-Employed Life

As we move deeper into this stressful time of waiting out the coronavirus, many of us are working from home or isolating ourselves for safety. I find that when there is uncertainty or chaos abound, that is when it is most important to push forward with whatever it is that makes us Creative Warriors. This is the perfect time to turn your space into one that will keep you on a path of productivity and help ease anxieties. And often that means decluttering. Your home or office should be a tool that you need to do your best out in the world. So, it is important to be mindful about how we relate to our stuff. Each of us has specific blocks that keep us from getting rid of things we don't need. Whether they are emotional or strategic, we often don't realize the real reasons behind why we are prone to clutter in certain areas of our homes. The first step is paying attention. From there we can begin to live more clutter-free lives. To dive deeper into the subject of decluttering your space to find freedom and success, I've brought on the founder of dClutterfly, Tracy McCubbin. dClutterfly is a rapidly expanding organizing company with thousands of happy clients. Tracy-trained teams are dispatched around the country, helping people break through their own ClutterBlocks, and make space for what matters. Tracy is also the author of the newly published book, "Making Space, Clutter-Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You'll Ever Need" and is a regularly featured expert in the media, including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, goop, Home & Family, Real Simple, mindbodygreen, NBC, KTLA Morning Show, KCAL9, and more. Learn how to make space for what really matters by downloading this episode now. THE PAST ACCOMPLISHMENT WARRIOR "I want you to feel like you own your stuff and your stuff doesn't own you." - Tracy McCubbin Highlights - The brain experiences decision fatigue and clutter adds more decisions to your tired brain. Your clutter blocks are the things that keep you from getting rid of the stuff around us. There are affirmations you can tell yourself to help break you of your clutter blocks. Many people feel shame asking for help to declutter, when it should be a proud moment. The Lipstick Effect: even though things might be falling apart, we feel compelled to purchase something that makes us feel like things are ok. There is an association between certain rooms in our homes and why we clutter that particular space. The first step is to pay attention to the trouble spots in your day-to-day. Start small. Don't be a weekend warrior. Start with a drawer. Guest Contact - Tracy's Website Tracy's Instagram Tracy's Facebook Tracy's Book: Making Space, Clutter Free Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website and are all your marketing materials speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Often it's not which is why you're not converting traffic and leads to clients and attracting your most profitable customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn Sponsor- RSM Marketing Guide- 7 Tips to Get 10X More Leads From Your Website

The global coronavirus pandemic has almost everyone nervous. Maybe even more so those of us in our Creative Warriors community who are afraid of the impact this will have on their business. But there is another side. It is possible to use this time to thrive. This is not my first rodeo in the world-changing events arena. I've been through 911, the Great Recession and now this. I have some practical advice for you that I hope you'll take to heart; advice that is meant for the unique experience of being a Creative Warrior. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and share your feelings and continue the conversation. Contact Jeffrey - Website Services and Support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDX LincolnSquare video and please share! Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn Sponsor- RSM Marketing Guide- 7 Tips to Get 10X More Leads From Your Website

Every once in a while a company comes around that raises the standard of what business should be. Whether it's carving out a unique identity, or setting a new standard for exceptional customer service, Zappos has become a shining example of how prioritizing service can make you one of the world's greatest companies. Zappos is a company I've always been incredibly intrigued by. Their employees are some of the happiest and supported. Their customers are some of the most loyal. The stories behind some of their interactions and what they've led to (like one of my favorites, Operation Red Shoes) are both heartwarming and motivating. This is a company that values humanity. They are a microcosm of the type of world we'd all like to live in full of respect, human connection, and love. To give us a behind-the-scenes look on how Zappos has mastered the power wow, I've brought on two of the company's THINK team, Kelly Smith and Derrin Hawkins. Kelly leads Zappos' THINK team: a group of creative strategists focused on experimental, story-worthy movements for the brand. Together, they have been the minds behind multi-platform brand campaigns, innovative packaging experiences, the kick-off of Operation Red Shoes, creative partnerships, and the latest project—releasing the new Zappos book, "The Power of WOW". Prior to her work at Zappos, Kelly worked in the non-profit industry for both Habitat for Humanity and Shared Hope International Derrin Hawkins joined Zappos in 2013 as a Graphic Designer. He is now an Art Director for the Zappos Think team. Prior to Zappos, Derrin worked as a Designer in New York City for L'Oréal and several architecture firms before moving back to his hometown of Las Vegas for Zappos. Learn how to define your business' unique identity from the inside out, by downloading this episode now. THE WARRIORS OF BREAKING IT DOWN AND TRUSTING ONESELF "Deliver "wow" through service." - Zappos Highlights - Zappos is a service company that happens to sell shoes. Exceptional service is employees who are empowered to have unique, human interactions with customers. Turn your "responsibility" into "response ability." Policies should be made for the majority. Trusting customers is having an inherent belief in humanity. Do more with less. Embrace and drive change. Chaos self-organizes if you let it. Guest Contact - Zappos' Website Zappos' Book: The Power of Wow Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website and are all your marketing materials speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Often it's not which is why you're not converting traffic and leads to clients and attracting your most profitable customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn Sponsor- RSM Marketing Guide- 7 Tips to Get 10X More Leads From Your Website

Business owners often fear that price and what they charge for their services and products is going to deter customers. Well, guess what? It should! The impression you create as to approximately what your price range is has a lot to do with attracting your ideal customers and keeping the customers that are going to waste your time away. Find out what stops people from buying and how pricing can help you attract your ideal customers. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and share your feelings and continue the conversation. Contact Jeffrey - Website Services and Support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDX LincolnSquare video and please share! Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn Sponsor- RSM Marketing Guide- 7 Tips to Get 10X More Leads From Your Website

For some of us, online transactions are nerve-wracking. For others, live events are where the anxiety lies. Many businesses do perfectly well existing in one space over the other. But as technology and life become more and more integrated, shouldn't we always be looking at how to exist in a field we're not playing in? Before getting overwhelmed trying to navigate an unfamiliar industry, it's important to think about your "why." What is it that you provide your market? Why are you doing it? How can you expand your purpose to reach people in other audiences different from your own? We can learn a lot from companies like Time Out, who have transformed their iconic printed guide into a bustling market that showcases local chefs and restaurants. Pretty brilliant move, if you ask me. To break down this idea further, I've brought on a nationally recognized speaker on entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and social media, Rich Brooks. Rich Brooks is founder and president of flyte new media, a digital agency in Portland, Maine, that's been in business for over 22 years. He founded The Agents of Change, an annual conference and weekly podcast that focuses on search, social & mobile marketing. He recently co-founded Fast Forward Maine, a podcast and workshop series for growing Maine businesses. Rich is the author of The Lead Machine: The Small Business Guide to Digital Marketing, and has appeared in Inc. Magazine, The Huffington Post, FastCompany.com, CNN.com, and many other news sources for stories on digital marketing. To learn how to translate your virtual business into the real world and vice versa, download this episode now. THE WARRIOR OF TACT "Sometimes to win the battle you have to niche down." - Rich Brooks Highlights - Always think of your "why" and then look at ways to extend it into other fields. Business owners are also consumers. It's important to remember that. Spend time on your website on a mobile device to make sure you're telling the story a mobile user wants to engage with. SEO is all about doing your research so that you're using the right keywords, the right lingo, for search engines to understand. Everything is more competitive: search, social, paid ads, and email marketing. Be consistent. You have to build a runway before you can take off. Do more one on one non-scaleable outreach. There is a difference between "personalized" and "personal." Guest Contact - Rich's Agents of Change Website Rich's Twitter Rich's Instagram Rich's Agents of Change Podcast Rich's Book: The Lead Machine Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website and are all your marketing materials speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Often it's not which is why you're not converting traffic and leads to clients and attracting your most profitable customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn Sponsor- RSM Marketing Guide- 7 Tips to Get 10X More Leads From Your Website

It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking you're not creative because you're not in a "creative" field. But creativity is, in fact, for everyone and creative thinking is a skill that anybody can develop. Having a creative process can be an inclusive strategy for all individuals and groups in a business to start thinking outside of the box. We often think of being creative as being artistic. While art is creative, creativity is much broader than art. There is actually a science to it that can be applied to how we work and live our lives. There can be many challenges, assumptions, and beliefs, even fears, that limit our thinking. Sometimes all it takes is a few new exercises and processes to open us up to a more expansive mindset. To dive deeper into these non-obvious ways of harnessing creativity, I've brought on Kathryn Haydon. Kathryn P. Haydon is an innovation strategist, keynote speaker, and author who helps teams and individuals activate and maximize their creative thinking so they can do their best, most innovative work. The founder of Sparkitivity, Kathryn is the author of The Non-Obvious Guide to Being More Creative, No Matter Where You Work and co-author of Creativity for Everybody. She has written hundreds of articles which have appeared in publications from The Washington Post to Psychology Today. Get ready to upgrade your value by increasing your creative thinking by downloading this episode now. THE CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING WARRIOR "Creativity is breaking through the inertia of 'no." - Kathryn Haydon Highlights - Being creative isn't necessarily being artistic. Creativity is breaking through the inertia of 'no." Let go of judging wild ideas. They are useful for getting into an ideation mode and seeking possibilities. Creative processes are freeing and inclusive, allowing for everyone to bring ideas to the table. Shift your perspective. Take a break or change your environment to get out of an idea rut. Think like a poet. Write down observations to get them out of your mind. What you do with them comes later. Pay attention to the things that you do because other people do them. Guest Contact - Kathryn's Website Kathryn's Twitter Kathryn's Facebook Kathryn's Book: The Non-Obvious Guide to Being More Creative Mentions - Daily Rituals: How Great Minds Make Time, Find Inspiration, and Get to Work Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website and are all your marketing materials speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Often it's not which is why you're not converting traffic and leads to clients and attracting your most profitable customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn Sponsor- RSM Marketing Guide- 7 Tips to Get 10X More Leads From Your Website

Common business advice is to work ON your business more than IN it. Great advice for making sure you don't get caught up in daily tasks. However, better advice is to work OUTSIDE your business more than ON it. The best thing you can do for your business is to take a look at your business from a different perspective. Especially from the perspective of a consultant from outside your industry and from the perspective of your ideal customers to understand what they need to see, hear and feel to choose your business. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.comand share your feelings and continue the conversation. Contact Jeffrey - Website Services and Support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDX LincolnSquare video and please share! Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn Sponsor- RSM Marketing Guide- 7 Tips to Get 10X More Leads From Your Website

I hesitated to discuss the journey to becoming a speaker because it is such a specific subject and, frankly, there's a lot of content out there on it. However, there remains a lot of valuable information about the speaking industry that is still untapped and whether or not you are pursuing a career in speaking, understanding it can be valuable to all Creative Warriors. I love being a keynote speaker and I've put the work in to pursuing a successful career in it. But my path is unique to my space. There isn't one way to become a speaker. It can mean different things to different people. Whether it's the honing in on the craft, building a business model, or simply getting the gigs there are multiple pieces to carving out your unique space in seaking. Often times we assume that the more we can offer, the more opportunities we will get. That's not necessarily the case. To dive deeper into understanding the speaking industry, I've brought on nationally known speaker, podcaster, and author, Grant Baldwin. Grant Baldwin is a nationally known speaker, podcaster, and author who has helped thousands of people start and build their own speaking businesses through his Booked and Paid to Speak Training Course. Regularly featured in the national media, including Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and the Huffington Post, his "Reality Check" curriculum is taught in over 400 high schools nationwide. A podcaster since 2014, he has published over 300 podcast episodes that have been downloaded over 1.5 million times. Get ready to unleash your inner speaker by downloading this episode now. THE WARRIOR OF CONFIDENCE "Be the steakhouse, not the buffet."-Grant Baldwin Highlights - There isn't one way to become a speaker. It is important to be good at speaking as well as getting gigs. The more things you offer as a speaker, the less opportunities you'll have. More focus equals more opportunity. The five steps to becoming a speaker: There are seven primary industries with different types of audiences for speakers. It is important to identify the ones you will focus on. Keynotes, workshops, seminars are the three primary types of talks. To transition stories back to the point of the talk always answer, "So what? Now what?" You make the rules to the game. Guest Contact - Grant's Website Grant's Twitter Grant's Facebook Grant's Instagram Grant's Book- The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your Platform : Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website and are all your marketing materials speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Often it's not which is why you're not converting traffic and leads to clients and attracting your most profitable customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn Sponsor- RSM Marketing Guide- 7 Tips to Get 10X More Leads From Your Website

The process of gaining clarity seems like a never-ending process. But an essential one. We need to constantly learn how to say what needs to be said in our marketing and brand message in a more compelling and concise way. In this episode, I explain the difference between your core message and brand message and the journey of clarity. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and share your feelings and continue the conversation. Contact Jeffrey - Website Services and Support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDX LincolnSquare video and please share! Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn Sponsor- RSM Marketing Guide- 7 Tips to Get 10X More Leads From Your Website

We often think of B2B as the opposite of B2C; where B2C is about serving people, B2B is serving a company. However, it is important to keep in mind that B2B is still B2H marketing- that is, Business to Human. I'm thrilled to take some time this week to unpack the nuances of the B2B world and the lessons we can learn from current B2B trends. Whether it's risk aversion, keeping up with fast-paced short-term behavior, or understanding your buyer, the evolution of B2B marketing is integral to understanding the shifts in modern day sales. Do emotions have a place in the branding for B2B? How can we look at other companies to understand buying behavior? Who do buyers envision as leaders? To really unpack the B2B mindset I've brought on marketing expert, Andrew Gaffney. Andrew is the Editorial Director for G3 Communications, publishers of Demand Gen Report, ABM in Action and Channel Marketer, and producers of the B2B Marketing Exchange. Through targeted events and e-media publications, G3 Communications provides best practices performance marketing and customer acquisition strategies to more than 80,000 B2B marketing executives. To find out how to have the best B2B year yet, download this episode now. THE ASSESSMENT WARRIOR "Speak to the entire committee." -Andrew Gaffney Highlights - Most B2B behavior is based around risk aversion. It may not always be best to be on the defense. Customer experience and the customer life cycle is still important for B2B sales. Marketing behaviors are mirroring the self-navigating behavior of today. It is important to prioritizing trust and credibility- in both B2B and B2C. 70% of B2B buyers believe content is more focused on style than substance. It is important to find new ways to maximize buyer's time. Identify who you can collaborate with, buyers want to experience that community feeling. Guest Contact - Andrew's Website Andrew's Twitter Learn more about the B2B Marketing Exchange Learn more about Content for Demand Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! Mentions - Crossing the Chasm New Rules of Marketing and PR Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website and are all your marketing materials speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Often it's not which is why you're not converting traffic and leads to clients and attracting your most profitable customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn