The Self-Employed Life

I'm sure you've heard a lot of people preach about how you need to find your niche. Although this is true, as an entrepreneur you want to make sure you find your niche. By that I mean your area of expertise. Although you want to be able to identify your audience, you don't want to close yourself off from other business opportunities. For example, if Amazon had been called Online Books for Cheap, they would have significantly reduced their ability to pivot. A study has shown that about three quarters of all businesses make a pivot within their first two to three years, so you want to make sure you give yourself the ability to. I imagine you're next question is, "How do I know when it's time to pivot?" To be honest, you'll know through analysis. Take the time to sit back, look over your business, your industry, and even do a bit of self reflection. Once you have a strong analysis, now comes the time to play. Let your creative side take over. Don't use your stats to go to an obvious place. Use your creativity to play with where you think things are going. Where you think you are going. To dive more into this, I brought on an expert in balancing your creative and analytical side to achieve the most success possible: Marc Gruber. Marc Gruber is a world-leading researcher in the domain of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. He is Vice President for Innovation at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he also heads the Chair of Entrepreneurship & Technology Commercialisation. He works as the Deputy Editor for the #1 empirical research journal in management, the Academy of Management Journal. He received multiple 'Thought Leader' awards for his breakthrough research. Gruber is actively engaged in teaching, consulting, and executive training programmes in Europe, the United States, and Asia, and regularly acts as a jury member in start-up and corporate entrepreneurship competitions across Europe. Download this episode now, no matter how long you've been in business, to learn when and how you can make the pivots you need to. WARRIOR OF CREATIVITY "You have to be agile and you have to be focused." -Marc Gruber Highlights - Entrepreneurs need to carefully choose where to play. You can learn a lot by analysis and reflection. There are a lot of business opportunities out there waiting to be discovered. You can combine analysis and creativity to come to a variable outcome. 73% of all new ventures have to pivot in the first 2-3 years. Your niche is your area of expertise, not a specific market. Develop an attractiveness map. Think about a broader brand name to give you more options in the future. It's never too late to pause and reevaluate your business. Take the time to really study your market. Making a pivot is usually not as drastic as it may seem. Find new ways to compete with others. Guest Contact - Marc's Website Marc's Twitter Marc's Book 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 - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been handed a whole bunch of malarky about who we are and how business works that simply doesn't work for us. It's time to set it straight! This tool will give you the insights you need to think your way to success as a Creative Warrior and keep you on track. Check out the Creative Warriors RESOURCE page! A collection of the best companies, hand-selected, to help you succeed! You'll find vendors, services, products, and programs to help you Create, Serve, and Be Prosperous! All these companies have been used and approved by Jeffrey and most are used every day in his business. Music by Jawn Affiliate Links: Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links". This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Story telling in business has become the "in" thing. It's a great way to tell the story of your business and why you do what you do. But let's flip this around. How about stories that create relevancy with your ideal customers? Told in the right way, stories can create a bond between you and your ideal customer. So it's not about you or your business. It's also not a story about them. It's a story of shared values and life experiences to create relevancy and build relationship.

One of the most important things you can do in this world is discover your purpose. It's really heartbreaking when an entrepreneur spends decades building a business that's something they don't care about. They start to feel burned out, and are too scared to try anything else because they've become dependant on the income that's been created. The good news is, you can start making sure your business' purpose lines up with your personal purpose at any time: and the sooner the better. You do that through brand identity. This is where you explore exactly what your business is and how you communicate it to your target consumer.By knowing what you stand for, and what your company is all about allows you to make the changes you may feel are necessary. And don't be afraid of change. It's important in every business. The world is constantly changing, and any business that's been around for decades has had to make changes to fit into this constantly evolving world. On this episode of Creative Warriors, I am joined by branding expert Gregory Diehl. Gregory Diehl is the author of multiple Amazon best-selling books on identity development for businesses and individuals. He is also the founder of Identity Publications, an organization that produces and publishes meaningful books containing ideas that matter. Download this episode today to learn how you can find purpose in your business that will make your personal life feel fulfilled. WARRIOR OF DETERMINATION "The last thing you want is to find success in something you don't actually care about." -Gregory Diehl Highlights - The point of brand identity is for people to know if they love you or hate you. You need to know what you are trying to communicate right away. There's not only a personal purpose, but also a purpose in your business. Ask what changes you need to make to maintain your success. You can turn something you don't care about into something you care about. Be the kind of person who works towards mastery of their environment. We make decisions, not based on reality, but based on the stories of how we see things. Know the stories happening in the minds of your customers. Empathy is the bridge between two stories. The role of a business is to trade something of value for something of higher value. Your customers are looking for an increase in happiness and value according to their perspectives. Break through your limitations on how big your brand can be. Don't assume there is only so much you can do. Guest Contact - Gregory's Website Gregory's Twitter Gregory's Facebook Gregory's Book Gregory's Brand Identity Breakthrough Report 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 - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been handed a whole bunch of malarky about who we are and how business works that simply doesn't work for us. It's time to set it straight! This tool will give you the insights you need to think your way to success as a Creative Warrior and keep you on track. Check out the Creative Warriors RESOURCE page! A collection of the best companies, hand-selected, to help you succeed! You'll find vendors, services, products, and programs to help you Create, Serve, and Be Prosperous! All these companies have been used and approved by Jeffrey and most are used every day in his business. Music by Jawn Affiliate Links: Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links". This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Many people have a hard time charging what they are worth. This is often because it's easy to not see value in what comes easy to you. Your gift. Most people have no problem charging a lot for what's hard or takes up a lot of time. It's actually the other way around. What comes easy to you is likely what you should charge the most for. Mellissa Seaman will help you find your gift and work with your gift, not against it. 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. If you want to apply to be a guest on Creative Warriors Talking Stick, CLICK HERE. Guest Contact - Mellissa's website Mellissa's SoulGiftQuiz Mellissa on LinkedIn 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 - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been handed a whole bunch of malarky about who we are and how business works that simply don't work for us. It's time to set it straight! This tool will give you the insights you need to think your way to success as a Creative Warrior and keep you on track. Check out the Creative Warriors RESOURCE page! A collection of the best companies, hand-selected, to help you succeed! You'll find vendors, services, products, and programs to help you Create, Serve, and Be Prosperous! All these companies have been used and approved by Jeffrey and most are used every day in his business. Music by Jawn Affiliate Links: Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links". This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Running a business is a lot like playing sports. Now, I'm not a big sports guy myself, but I certainly respect the passion and drive that athletes have. One of the most important things that sports does right, which a lot of businesses fall short on, is having the support from others. Entrepreneurs tend to try to do it all themselves, which in the beginning is a necessity. As your business starts to grow, though, it quickly becomes a team sport. You need to know who to have that makes up for your weakness, and who who you can pass the ball to when it's required. More importantly, at any phase of a business (just like any athlete) a business really needs a coach. In sports there are always multiple coaches for one team, and your business should run the same way. Even in solo sports, like Tennis, athletes have coaches to make sure their game is as good as it can be - and they look for problems that the athlete may not see. You should be doing the same. A coach is a great thing to have, no matter how big your business is right now. It's always great to have an extra set of eyes to show us what we can improve on. The last things athletes do that's truly remarkable is seeing things through to the end. Even if they know they are going to lose a game, they finish it. They do it, not because they have to, but because they can always continue to learn - even if there's no hope. In business this is a little trickier. We don't have a clear ending, but we need to know when is the right time to move one. When we're done learning and the game is over for us.On this episode of Creative Warriors, I brought in someone who really knows what it means to see things through to the end: Christopher Wirth. Christopher is the Founder and President of No Quit Living. NQL is a Speaking, Coaching and Training Company that focuses on a number of topics, such as: Accountability, Goals, Time Maximization, Networking, Leadership, Sales, Personal Development and Mentoring No Quit Living works with individuals, families, teams and corporations to help improve accountability, effectiveness and efficiency. Christopher aims to motivate and inspire his clients to never give up on themselves, their dreams or their goals. After playing both Basketball and Tennis in College, Christopher began his coaching career as an AAU Basketball Coach (Amateur Athletic Union), Collegiate Basketball Coach, as well as High School Basketball Coach. Download this episode today and learn how you can live a life filled with accomplishments. THE NO QUIT WARRIOR "No matter what happens to you, you can always attack it with a positive attitude." - Chris Wirth Highlights - You always have the choice to stay positive, even if bad situations. Always reverse engineer wherever you are looking to go. Just like in sports, businesses need a good coach to be successful. There's no need to have only one coach. Starting your day by looking at your phone puts you in a reactive mindset, instead of a proactive one. In some ways you're alone, but you always have the ability to reach out to a mentor. Be in a place that helps motivate and inspires. You always have the ability to learn. It's not quitting if you give it your full effort, and everything you have. Always be open to listening to other people. Use the "waffle method" of goal setting. My greatest source of inspiration is other people. You can always find positive information, if you look for it. Guest Contact - Christopher's Website Christopher's Twitter Christopher's Facebook Christopher's Email 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 - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been handed a whole bunch of malarky about who we are and how business works that simply doesn't work for us. It's time to set it straight! This tool will give you the insights you need to think your way to success as a Creative Warrior and keep you on track. Check out the Creative Warriors RESOURCE page! A collection of the best companies, hand-selected, to help you succeed! You'll find vendors, services, products, and programs to help you Create, Serve, and Be Prosperous! All these companies have been used and approved by Jeffrey and most are used every day in his business. Music by Jawn Affiliate Links: Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links". This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

One of the things that holds many people back is a fear of becoming "that person." As if getting recognition or having financial success is going to inherently change who you are. Sure, perhaps it does for some people. But if you are kind-hearted, person-driven in the first place, it's unlikely success is going to change you into someone you're not proud of. Often, quite the opposite. Financial success can free you to do your best work and give back. In today's marketing world, recognition is also often necessary. Or, as I like to say, "recognition is a strategy, not a goal." 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. If you want to apply to be a guest on Creative Warriors Talking Stick, CLICK HERE. Guest Contact - Debbi's website Dare To Dream podcast Debbi on Twitter Debbi on LinkedIn 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 - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been handed a whole bunch of malarky about who we are and how business works that simply don't work for us. It's time to set it straight! This tool will give you the insights you need to think your way to success as a Creative Warrior and keep you on track. Check out the Creative Warriors RESOURCE page! A collection of the best companies, hand-selected, to help you succeed! You'll find vendors, services, products, and programs to help you Create, Serve, and Be Prosperous! All these companies have been used and approved by Jeffrey and most are used every day in his business. Music by Jawn Affiliate Links: Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links". This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Do you ever feel ignored if you are out to eat with someone and they keep checking their phone? Does it make you feel insecure? Well, you're not alone. We all feel that way. Today it seems like everyone pays attention to their device and not the world around them. It's an addiction not many people are addressing, but lucky for you this can easily play in your favor as an entrepreneur. To build stronger relationship (whether personal or business) all you have to do is put your phone away. Wear a watch so you're not tempted to pull it out. When you do this, you're instantly going to show the person you are with that you care more than the majority of our modern world. When you do that, you'll build loyalty. They will appreciate the fact that you are appreciating them and their time. It honestly goes a long way, and will pay you back in many ways. It's such a simple thing to do, yet we've lost that genuine connection to our phones. To go more into this, I have a special guest today: Neen James. Neen James is the author of Folding Time and Attention Pays. In 2017, she was named one of the top 30 Leadership Speakers by Global Guru because of her work with companies like Viacom, Comcast, and Abbot Pharmaceuticals among others. Neen has boundless energy, is quick-witted and always offers powerful strategies for paying attention to what matters so you can get more done and create more significant moments at work and home. Neen is the kind of speaker that engages, educates, entertains, and delivers the real-world solutions that apply in your organization, your home, and your community. She also provides one-on-one consulting in a variety of leadership topics and loves serving her audiences. Download this episode to learn all about her insights and how you can increase your revenue through your attention to others. WARRIOR OF LIGHT "Choose consciously, act deliberately, and invest transformationally." - Neen James Highlights - We are constantly distracted and have made technology more important than people. Because of devices, 9-5 became 24/7. Listen with your eyes. Attention is about connecting at a deeper level. Focus is an activity that needs to be completed. Retaining customers and talented employees requires you to pay attention. Instead of being busy, be productive. Always consider who you are with and what you are trying to achieve. Try to keep your devices out of sight. Move from unconscious attention to conscious attention. Work/life integration is different for everyone. Educate the people around you about your work/life integration. Make sure your actions are aligned with the choices you want to make. It's just as important to know what to say no to as it is what to say yes to. Think about the impact you make as an individual contributor. Guest Contact - Neen's Website Neen's Twitter Neen's Facebook Neen's Book 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 - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been handed a whole bunch of malarky about who we are and how business works that simply doesn't work for us. It's time to set it straight! This tool will give you the insights you need to think your way to success as a Creative Warrior and keep you on track. Check out the Creative Warriors RESOURCE page! A collection of the best companies, hand-selected, to help you succeed! You'll find vendors, services, products, and programs to help you Create, Serve, and Be Prosperous! All these companies have been used and approved by Jeffrey and most are used every day in his business. Music by Jawn Affiliate Links: Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links". This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Unleash your inner misfit! In this conversation with serial entrepreneur and host of Misfit Entrepreneur podcast, Dave Lukas, you'll learn how to leverage all that makes you unique. Being a misfit entrepreneur is about finding what makes you think differently and using it to your advantage. You'll also learn about the power of choice. I'm sure you'll find our conversation motivational! 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. If you want to apply to be a guest on Creative Warriors Talking Stick, CLICK HERE. Guest Contact - Dave's website- Misfit Entrepreneur Misfit Entrepreneur podcast Dave's guidebook- Top 10 Lessons To Thrive and Succeed 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 - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been handed a whole bunch of malarky about who we are and how business works that simply don't work for us. It's time to set it straight! This tool will give you the insights you need to think your way to success as a Creative Warrior and keep you on track. Check out the Creative Warriors RESOURCE page! A collection of the best companies, hand-selected, to help you succeed! You'll find vendors, services, products, and programs to help you Create, Serve, and Be Prosperous! All these companies have been used and approved by Jeffrey and most are used every day in his business. Music by Jawn Affiliate Links: Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links". This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

All of us entrepreneurs have heard about the importance of building a brand. What you're not hearing enough is the importance of building a personal brand. People don't follow a brand, they follow the founder. They don't think SpaceX, Virgin, or Apple. They tend to think Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and Steve Jobs. That's where you want to be. You want people to think of, because that's when your business will become change proof. Starting a new business doesn't mean starting from the ground up. You'll have a strong base audience that will support anything you take on. The biggest thing to remember when trying to become a Youpreneur is that you have to be authentic. Don't copy people like Gary V, or Tim Ferris. Find your own originality: and do that by throwing yourself out there and beta testing what you think the audience wants. They will give you feedback, and that's how you'll be able to hone in on what they need and how you can really serve them. To dive deeper into the subject of personal branding and becoming a Youpreneur, I've brought on the man who wrote the book on the subject: Chris Ducker. Chris is a serial entrepreneur and author of the bestsellers, "Virtual Freedom", and more recently, "Rise of the Youpreneur". Based in Cambridge, England, he owns and operates several businesses, that combined house over 450 full-time employees internationally. He's also a trusted international business mentor, keynote speaker, podcaster, blogger, as well as the founder of Youpreneur.com - the leading personal brand business education company in the world. Chris hosts the annual Youpreneur Summit, which is held in London, U.K. each November and is the self-proclaimed 'Proudest Brit' doing business online! Download this episode today and learn how you can build a brand that will hold up to any kind of economic change by having an audience that will support any of your endeavors. HEALTH AND FITNESS WARRIOR "If you treat it like a hobby, you're not going to make any money at all." -Chris Ducker Highlights - Everybody has a personal brand: monetize and market it properly. It's how you handle change that will make you the person you become. When you build a business of you, nobody can copy it. Building a personal brand will allow you to be future proof. People know the founders more than the company they run. People want to do business with other people. It all starts by knowing who you are and what you want to be known for. If you do everything you are great it, you'll become somebody's favorite. Like is not enough anymore. You've gotta be loved. Have a beta mindset so you can get feedback from others. You have to be a genuine authority for people to want to pay you. Always keep a backup of the content you create. Build out on what you control. An original is always worth more than a copy. Guest Contact - Chris's Website Chris's Twitter Chris's Facebook Chris's Book Free Resource! 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 - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been handed a whole bunch of malarky about who we are and how business works that simply doesn't work for us. It's time to set it straight! This tool will give you the insights you need to think your way to success as a Creative Warrior and keep you on track. Check out the Creative Warriors RESOURCE page! A collection of the best companies, hand-selected, to help you succeed! You'll find vendors, services, products, and programs to help you Create, Serve, and Be Prosperous! All these companies have been used and approved by Jeffrey and most are used every day in his business. Music by Jawn

To succeed, even survive, as a Creative Warrior takes resilience. You will get knocked down at times. Discouraged. Impatient. What really matters is your ability to get back up again. Perhaps not just survive but THRIVE after a big set back. Sandra Younger has a survival story few of us could ever imagine. Sandra not only survived but is using the experience in great service to others. Many lessons to be learned in this episode! 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. If you want to apply to be a guest on Creative Warriors Talking Stick, CLICK HERE. Guest Contact - Sandra's website The ComeBACK Formula Guidebook Sandra's book- The Fire Outside My Window: A Survivor Tells The True Story Of California's Epic Cedar Fire 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 - 12 Must-Have Mindsets for Uncommon Entrepreneurs! A FREE tool for Creative Warriors to help you get clear on the ways you need to think differently to get the results you want. We've been handed a whole bunch of malarky about who we are and how business works that simply don't work for us. It's time to set it straight! This tool will give you the insights you need to think your way to success as a Creative Warrior and keep you on track. Check out the Creative Warriors RESOURCE page! A collection of the best companies, hand-selected, to help you succeed! You'll find vendors, services, products, and programs to help you Create, Serve, and Be Prosperous! All these companies have been used and approved by Jeffrey and most are used every day in his business. Music by Jawn