The Self-Employed Life

It's hard to talk negatively about positive thinking. But positive thinking means you're actually attached to the negative. If you think there was a reason for suffering it will cause you to stay in suffering. It's much better to create your own reality by thinking proactively. See the outcome you desire and then work backward to achieve it. This takes work, but you'll have much better results than if you act as a victim of your circumstances. If you blame it, you can't claim it. To dive deeper into the idea of owning your future, I've brought on author, coach, and podcast host Douglas Vermeeren. Douglas Vermeeren is known as the Modern Day Napoleon Hill through his interviews and research with more than 400 of the world's top achievers. His program Personal Power Mastery is rated among the top personal development programs on the globe today. We all need to be vigilant about striving to constantly better ourselves instead of thinking there is some finish line. To learn how to achieve personal power mastery, download this episode now. THE WARRIOR OF CREATIVITY AND PERSISTENCE "Momentum is more important than motivation." - Douglas Vermeeren Highlights - If you own it, you can change it. If you blame it, you can't claim it. The Willingness Continuum- On one end, people hold back and complain. On the other end, people do quality work every time they're asked and go the extra mile. The reason some people never change is that they feel like they don't have a choice. Humans are teleological beings. Settling is one of the greatest enemies of success. Don't build a dam and let the river stagnate. Positive thinking is a victim mentality. There are four kinds of thinking: negative, neutral, positive, and proactive. Guest Contact - Douglas' Website Douglas' Twitter Douglas' YouTube Channel Douglas' Podcast Douglas' Book Personal Power Mastery 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 - Think and Grow Rich By Napoleon Hill On Fire by John O'Leary The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Vincent Peale Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey 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

There are so many of us driven to do big things in the second-half of our lives. Feeling driven with a strong passion combined with impatience can be frustrating. What I've realized along my personal journey and in speaking to others is that some fundamental feelings in our lives may need to be looked at differently in order to succeed as a mid-life entrepreneur. 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

Artists are so often plagued by feelings of self-doubt. We're afraid to go after what we really want because we wonder if we're competitive enough to create a sustainable life. We'll talk ourselves out of pursuing a career in the thing that we love and try to fix our square peg into a round hole. But what if I told you that the thing you're most passionate about will probably be the thing at which you can be the most successful? Once you hone in on what you're meant to do, it will all fall into place. This should be the goal. I'm always encouraging artists to focus on business because of the creative freedom that comes from it. To remind us to follow our true passions and talent, I've brought on quirky illustrator and graphic designer Holly Hatam. She is the illustrator of #1 New York Times Bestselling Picture Book, DEAR GIRL, and has illustrated books for Dial Books, Random House, little bee books, Annick Press, and Tilbury House. Holly is also the owner and designer of TearDrop Paperie, where she designs and sells cheeky paper products for weddings and baby. Holly found true success by finally honing in on what she loves: illustrating children's books. To learn how to create your own business doing what you were born to do, download this episode now. THE GRIT AND HUNGER WARRIOR "If it doesn't speak to my soul, I don't do it." - Holly Hatam Highlights - You control your vibe. It doesn't take a long time for your career to turn around when you find the right niche. Work on your own personal style. Learn from artists you admire, take aspects you love, and make it your own. Your style is not something you're innately born with. You have to develop it. Cross-Creativity: find inspiration from a wide variety of endeavors like music, movies, and nature. Stop comparing yourself to other artists. Guest Contact - Holly's Website Holly's Instagram Holly's Books 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 - Charlotte's Web Where the Wild Things Are Harold And The Purple Crayon 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 Warriors are wired to work hard. Say that 10 times fast!:) That's true in business and often in life. I wonder, though, if it's how we should be showing up in the world. I wonder if the world wants a different way. Is it really how we get what we are striving for? My sense is that's there's a new way of being arising. A way to get all we want out of our lives without it being so hard. Come explore this idea with me. 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

A lot of creatives think we are doomed to a life without systems because that's not our natural inclination. Our business is "us," which makes it difficult to scale. I know that I personally have trouble making the connection between who I am as a photographer and my branding. Whether or not systems come easily to you, it's time to put on our "big-boy pants." All businesses need to revisit the fundamentals of mission statements, values, systems, and customers. You have to believe in your business and your ability to run it. Yes, it's all Business 101, but it works. To remind us of the basics of a successful business, I've brought on podcast host, speaker and interior designer LuAnn Nigara. LuAnn co-owns, with her husband Vince and cousin Bill, Window Works in Livingston NJ. It is a 10-person firm, specializing in window treatments and awnings, with annual sales of 2 million+, and have serviced more than 25,000 clients since opening in 1982. LuAnn is also the host of the #1, 5-star rated, interior design business podcast, A Well-Designed Business. To learn how to create your own well-designed business by dreaming, visualizing, and intending, download this episode now. THE STAND UP WARRIOR "Your ideal customer is like your favorite pair of jeans" -LuAnn Nigara Highlights - The best sale on the planet is a win-win. Carefully think about the intersection of confidence, goals, and a plan. If a car's goal is to have four wheels, they all have to go in the same direction. To grow your company, you need to have non-negotiable values you teach your employees. The customer isn't always right, but what you do want is an advocate for your company. When you can turn a negative customer into a happy one, that is your best advocate. They've seen the fulfillment of your marketing promise. Be a "systems freak." Dream, visualize, and intend. Guest Contact - LuAnn's Website LuAnn's Twitter LuAnn's Book The Making of A Well-Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action LuAnn's Podcast A Well-Designed Business LuAnn's YouTube Channel 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 - If You Give A Mouse A Cookie 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 month into the new year, how are your goals going? In this episode, I share a new way to set goals and structure your year. A way that, I believe, accomplishes the balance between setting your sights on big dreams while also taking care of yourself and avoiding disappointment and self-criticism. With this balance, you are more likely to achieve your goals! 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

So often we get bogged down doing the daily tasks of our business. We're spending time doing the marketing, the accounting, the receivables, and on and on. We can barely get our head above water to allow us to see our bigger picture. But if you create systems that other people can take hold of and continue to implement, you'll have more space to take your business to the next level. You'll be able to live the life you dream of instead of constantly putting out fires. Put in the work, then use a system so that the work can continue to happen without you. To break down this idea further, I've brought on business coach, trainer and strategist Scott Beebe. Scott liberates small business owners from chaos by creating a turnkey business. He helps people create an infrastructure that will put out the fires in your business for you. To learn how to create processes and roadmaps for your small business, download this episode now. THE FEAR WARRIOR "Do a task like it's the last time you'll have to do it." - Scott Beebe Highlights - Keep your head on a swivel to see where you can leverage your skill-set. Hire little firefighters to put out fires in your business so you can focus on leading. Create processes that other people can take hold of so your business will run without you. There is a four-step process: vision, mission and values; roadmaps; organizational infrastructure; process and implementation. Repetition is the mother of all learning. "It's just business" is not an accurate phrase. Your life and your business are intertwined. Guest Contact - Scott's Website Scott's Vision Tutorial 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

Some new thoughts on the classic phrase, "What got us here won't get us where we want to go." Perhaps it has more to do with old ways of thinking that are holding us back rather than adopting new practices and habits. I also share some thoughts about collective consciousness and manifestation. 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

It's hard to come up with a good answer to the question "What do you do?" We want to respond with something that is memorable, that incites conversation, and that can lead to a referral. So how can we find a sentence that does all that? By getting clarity. A clear message travels faster. If you want to create the opportunity for serendipitous referral moments, what you have to offer has to be easy to understand. You have to be able to communicate what you do, for whom you do it, and how you do it, why you do it, and where you do it in a succinct word package. Then you will be able to attract your ideal customer. Often, you need an outside eye to help give you clarity about yourself. To break down this idea further, I've brought on author, speaker, connector, consultant, and "King of Clarity" Steve Woodruff. Steve helps individuals and businesses discover their professional DNA, define their offerings, target their ideal clients, and articulate their differentiating message in less than a day. Clarity is the thing people need the most but it's the hardest to sell. To learn how clarity will make your message "human ready," download this episode now. THE CLARITY WARRIOR "Get heard, get referred." - Steve Woodruff Highlights - Not all business is good business. You can't read the label of the jar you're in. None of us can be objective, and it's very helpful to get an outside voice to help you see clearly. If you can get a clear message across to your audience, they will be able to refer you. The goal of clarity is to distill it down to that first moment of truth: what do you do. The second moment of truth is when they refer you to someone else. The "Bullseye Customer" is the exact person who is right for you. "Memory Darts" go directly into the mind of the person you're talking to and stick there. Guest Contact - Steve's Website Steve's Twitter Steve's Youtube Steve's Book- Clarity Wins: Get Heard. Get Referred. 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

It's time to redefine leadership. Often when we talk about leaders, we are talking about CEOs of companies, but here's the truth: we are all leaders. It's important that we, as Creative Warriors, learn to own that fact. The basis of leadership is creativity because it allows us to make something new. As a leader, you have to be cognizant of the language that you use. If you are coming from a vulnerable, truthful place, you won't have to "sell." You can instead share something you know will help someone else. The most important aspect of communicating effectively is authenticity. To break down the idea of leadership further, I've brought on Chris Westfall. A National Elevator Pitch champion, Chris is an American motivational speaker, entrepreneur and author. He's an award-winning coach to clients on Shark Tank and Dragon's Den and has appeared on CNN, ABC, NBC and more. His most recent book, The Language of Leadership, explores how to create lasting impact through communication. To learn how to hone your leadership language, download this episode now. THE WARRIOR OF INTENTION "Leaders listen with their eyes, not just their ears." - Chris Westfall Highlights - Not all leaders have followers, but all leaders have vision and challenge the status quo. Creative spirit is the foundation of leadership. Leadership is about service, connection, and authenticity. Selling is just sharing. Client are anyone on whom your success depends. There are four important words: "I've thought this through." Where you put your attention is where you're going to find results. When you're presenting, there are two conversations. The one you give, and the one the audience hears. Guest Contact - Chris' Website Chris' Twitter Chris' Youtube Chris' Book- Leadership Language: Using Authentic Communication to Drive Results 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