The Self-Employed Life

The Creative Warrior community is made up of misfits; we're people who think differently than our peers and often feel like outsiders looking in. It's common to want to change the traits that make us different, but it's precisely those special qualities that will make us the most successful in business and life. So how can we learn to embrace our imperfections? There is no step-by-step guide to success. In fact, following a guru or guidebook can stifle the gifts that we have to offer the world. To uncover your unique traits, you're going to have to think outside the box. Look at the things that other people consider weaknesses, and see if they're the things that set you apart. To dive deeper into figuring out your "Rare Breed," I've brought on author and brand expert Sunny Bonnell. Sonny was named GDUSA "Top 25 People to Watch" and is an Inc. columnist. She's also the co-founder of Motto, one of the top branding and digital agencies in the country that works with disruptors and innovators to build the next generation of brands. To learn about the seven vices-turned-virtues, download this episode now. THE WARRIOR OF COURAGE "Either 'no' becomes the answer, or 'no' becomes the challenge." - Sunny Bonnell Highlights - Remember the fire in your belly. Be a "rare breed." How do you make your vices a virtue? 7 Rare Breed Traits: rebellious, audacious, obsessed, hot-blooded weird, hypnotic, and emotional. The reason you're hired is often the reason that you're fired. You can own your "rare breed" traits in a quietly rebellious way. There are four questions to ask yourself: The first is, "What am I rebelling against?" It's important to have a cause. "What needs to change?" You often have to be broke before you start feeling the need to make funny. "What do I have that no one else has?" Take the first step towards owning your voice and hearing your voice. "What's the worst that can happen?" You would rather spend a life that you fought for something. Guest Contact - Sunny's Website Sunny's Twitter Sunny's Instagram Sunny's Book: Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different Sunny's Rare Breed Quiz 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

One of the biggest challenges businesses face today is keeping up with changes in customer behavior. Never is this truer than the gap that is created between how customers are behaving on technology and how businesses are using technology. In this two-part series, I will address this problem. In this episode, Part 1, we focus on websites and how mobile-user behavior is having a major impact on marketing 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.com and share your feelings and continue the conversation. 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

Figuring out your life's purpose can feel like a daunting endeavor. It's such a big question, and we often confuse purpose with career. We can get lost in our thoughts when we try to answer the question, "Why am I here?" But if you're out of alignment with your purpose, it can throw your whole entrepreneurial "ecosystem" off. Your purpose is not something that will box you in or keep you small- it will make you feel expansive. I've always had an innate sense of my own purpose: to take my soul on a hell of a journey. I have a vision that I will be on my deathbed laughing at where I ended up. The more I accept and embody my purpose, the more it grows and attracts others. To dive deeper into finding your purpose, I've brought on author and "edutainer" Sashka Hanna-Rappl. Sashka is the creator of Soul Brand Marketing® and Brand Your Soul® where she awakens leaders to re-connect and fulfill their life purpose and leave their mark in the world. To find clarity about why you're here on this Earth, download this episode now. THE BADASS DRAGON WARRIOR "Done is better than perfect." - Sashka Hanna-Rappl Highlights - Life purpose has nothing to do with your profession. Sashka's Soul Tribe are creative visionaries with an underdog mentality who are dormant leaders. Universal desires: freedom, to be desired, sense of achievement, and to support something that matters. The reason we feel disconnected is that an aspect of our life is out of alignment. If you know where you're going to land, it's not a Quantum Leap. When you're swinging from vine to vine, you have to let go. A worksheet for achieving what you want: In the first column, list the things you want to become. In the second column, write the things that are keeping you from that. In the third column, write your limiting beliefs. Clarity often happens when you talk it out. Guest Contact - Sashka's Website Sashka's Twitter Sashka's Facebook Sashka's Book: Soul'd Out: A Guide To Finding Your Life Purpose. Sashka's Podcast: No Name Brand Podcast 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 - The Jumanji Trailer Alice in Wonderland 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

A fun week of travel and several unplanned visits leads me to understand a valuable lesson about having a diverse business model. My hope is that you will be empowered to be true to yourself to build a diverse business model that can open up your world in ways that you can't imagine right now. 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 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

We live in a "hustle culture" that praises getting little sleep, sacrificing everything, and working nonstop. If you watch Shark Tank, you're familiar with their advice to work 90 hours a week if you want to be successful as an entrepreneur. But putting so little priority on personal relationships and self-care is ultimately toxic and unsustainable. We have to redefine the American Dream. It isn't about acquiring material possessions; it's about the right to be happy now. Establishing boundaries in your professional and personal life to protect your health and happiness and the ability to prioritize relationships is necessary to living an abundant life. Instead of a work/life balance, we should be focusing on work/life boundaries. To dive deeper into the idea of being successful in your professional life and your personal life, I've brought on author, speaker and 25-year business veteran, Carlos Hidalgo. Carlos co-founded his first company in 2005 leading it to two consecutive Inc. 5000 Awards before departing and launching his second company VisumCx. In addition, he serves as a managing partner in a health care platform start-up. To learn how to "live life as it's meant to be lived," download this episode now. THE COURAGE AND VULNERABILITY WARRIOR "I don't ever want to miss a last first again." - Carlos Hidalgo Highlights - Every day we have the choice to act out of fear or anger or out of love. The "pursuit of happiness" does not mean to chase happiness; it means to choose happiness. We need to establish boundaries in areas of our life that affect us the most. Skip To The End: Design how you want your life to look and work backward. We are wired for intimate, close, connected experience with other people. Shame Culture can have a terrible effect on entrepreneurs. When you fail, replace "but" with an "and." Manage your calendar with "immovables" - items that take top priority. Everyone has lies they tell themselves like, "In the long run, I'm doing this all for my family." Unless you've sat down with your family and asked them what they want, you're creating a false narrative. Guest Contact - Carlos' Website Carlos' Twitter Carlos' YouTube Carlos' Book: The UnAmerican Dream: Finding Personal and Professional Happiness Establishing Work-Life Boundaries 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 - Read more about Alexis Ohanian's take on "Hustle Porn" Read Brené Brown's Book: Daring Greatly 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

Many people think PR is either going to get you on the Today Show, or get you in magazines which hardly exist anymore. It feels like a mystery that couldn't possibly work for them. As a result, they don't attempt to engage in media relationships at all. But it's time to reset our minds regarding PR. We can all benefit from it, and it's not limited to an article written about you. How you appear on social media is part of PR. It's your image and reputation. PR needs to be a part of your company from the ground up as it can both give you legitimacy and open you up to new opportunities. To dive deeper into the idea of utilizing PR as a creative entrepreneur, I've brought on author and venture capitalist, Heather Burgett. Heather is an award-winning publicist and host of "The Shine Strategy" Podcast. She is also the founder and CEO of The Burgett Group & PR Stars. To learn how to be a PR Star, download this episode now. THE CALM WARRIOR "Press begets press." - Heather Burgett Highlights - Recognition is a strategy, not a goal. Be in the local press. Once you've mastered that, then you can start to take it to the next level. Heart-centered creatives often think they're not ready to put themselves out there and have trouble recognizing their gifts. Heather's six-step PR Formula is "PR STARS:" P is for persistent mindset and spiritual alignment R is for research S is for shine T is for time A is for awareness R is for results Sign up for HARO (Help A Reporter Out). Get started with "reactive publicity." Respond to the anonymous posts and be quick. Guest Contact - Heather's Website Heather's Twitter Heather's Instagram Heather's Podcast: The Shine Strategy Heather's HARO pitch template 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 - Read Marianne Williamson's Book of Poetry 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

So much of our success depends on what's going on inside and how we react to the challenges along the way. If you don't work on your mindset, you'll end up giving up when facing adversity. You might even be too afraid to start. Unless you spend time figuring out your ultimate goal, visualize that goal, and take action to accomplish it, you'll find yourself spinning your wheels. Your path to your goals likely won't be a straight line. For example, I wrote my book Lingo for creative entrepreneurs, and now I'm being hired by companies to work with their HR departments. I would have never thought I'd end up working in these areas, but if I had never started I would have never found this new path. I had to have the confidence to begin writing my book and the belief that I could follow through. To dive deeper into the idea of changing the inside to affect the outside result, I've brought on author and venture capitalist, Kenneth Aldrich. He is the cofounder of the International Stem Cell Corporation, a publicly-traded regenerative medicine company and is an active member of the Tech Coast Angels, the largest angel investment organization in the United States. He's a graduate of Harvard Law and has founded over eleven companies. Kenneth describes the methods of creating an entrepreneurial mind as a "Dream Toolbox." To learn how to utilize your Dream Toolbox, download this episode now. THE CAPTAIN WARRIOR "The shortest route is rarely the fastest" - Kenneth Aldrich Highlights - An entrepreneurial mind sees every obstacle as a puzzle, not as a barrier. Active Dreaming is when you take a look at your vision and revisit it daily in the mirror. A dream is nothing but a wish if you don't take action. You control your reaction to what happens. Write down the three most pressing problems you're facing and write down three solutions. The shortest route is rarely the fastest- this is true in sailing and business. Plot out the targets you need to hit on the way to your ultimate goal. Success is not a Zero-Sum Game. There is no winner and loser. Guest Contact - Ken's Website Ken's Twitter Ken's Instagram Ken's Book: Dream Toolbox: Building an Entrepreneurial Mind and Financial Abundance Ken's Podcast 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

You know the common term to level up your business? In this episode, I lay out the 4 levels of business development from zero to $1 million to everything in between. It's only important that you reach the level YOU want to. You'll gain an understanding of each level, what it may feel like to you at this level and how to level up if you chose to do so. 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. Mentions- Dorie Clark article 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

We often think of wisdom as flowing downhill, but that's not the case. Young workers and more seasoned employees have so much to offer each other, especially with the fast-paced changes in technology today. Instead of judging different generations, turn those feelings into curiosity so that you can learn. The world needs a different perspective on aging. We are going to be younger longer; it's time to think of middle age not just as a time to "wind down" but as a new opportunity to grow. By continuing to try new things and explore perspectives, the aging generation can avoid becoming "elderly" and instead be a "modern elder." To dive deeper into the idea of creating a new narrative around age in the workplace, I've brought on rebel hospitality entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author, Chip Conley. At age 26 he founded Joie de Vivre Hospitality (JdV), transforming one inner-city motel into the second largest boutique hotel brand in America. After running his company as CEO for 24 years, he sold it and soon the young founders of Airbnb asked him to help transform their promising start-up into the world's leading hospitality brand. Chip served as Airbnb's Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy for four years and today acts as the company's Strategic Advisor for Hospitality and Leadership. To learn how to embrace aging, download this episode now. THE SERVANT WARRIOR "Let's retire retirement." - Chip Conley Highlights - Karmic Capitalism - When you create joy for your employees, they create joy for your customers, and it ultimately comes back to you. We should no longer live our lives in three phases: learn, earn and burn. Perennials - People in their 60s, 70s, 80s whose spirits are ageless. We are constantly renewing and alive. A modern elder is someone who is not appreciated with reverence but for their relevance. Research shows that people who have a positive view of aging live seven years longer. If you have integrity, you don't live your life in two different ways. As you get older, you learn to edit out the things that don't allow you to be integrated. Liminality is the change that happens during mid-life. Intergenerational collaboration needs age diversity which is just as important as any other kind of diversity. A modern elder has reciprocity which involves listening and giving back. Guest Contact - Chip's Website Chip's Twitter Chip's Instagram Chip's Book: Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder 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 - Victor Frankl's Book: Man's Search For Meaning The Diamond Cutter By Geshe Michael Roach Rebecca Levy's Research on Aging 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

The whole idea of work/life balance is a misnomer. Or is it even work/life balance that you strive for? Perhaps it's more of a relationship between money and lifestyle. As you'll hear in this episode, there's a time to attain and a time to attune. And it very well may be that at different stages of life, while one is in attainment mode that work/life balance is a struggle. Whereas when one is in the attunement stage of life, you may be more interested in the relationship between the life you want to live and how hard you're willing to work to support your lifestyle. Which begs the question- are you fitting life into work or work into life? 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 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