The Self-Employed Life

Some people think email marketing is dead. They couldn't be more wrong. If you want to really build success in your business, one of the most important things you can do is build a strong email campaign. In the end, it's the only online marketing asset you can really own. Your social media following will never be owned by you, it'll be owned by Facebook, or Instagram, or Twitter. The problem today is that you can't get away with mediocre emails. You need to use each email you send out to bridge that gap of humanity. Take the time to show your consumers you understand them, that you really know what they want and ultimately that you care. On this episode of Creative Warriors, we are joined by one of the greats when it comes to online marketing: Michael Barber. Michael Barber is the Senior Vice President, Chief Creative Officer at Godfrey. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. His work has been awarded numerous industry awards, but more importantly has driven successes including the most effective and cost-efficient campaign in the history of a Fortune 500 company, a 160x return on ad spend, and 50 million earned media impressions within the first month of a new product launch. I'm not going to lie about this one, it was a very selfish interview. I wanted to get as much knowledge from Michael as I could about improving my email campaigns and I know it'll be a tremendous help to you as well. Download this episode now to learn how you can increase your open rates, and boost your profits through your email effort. WARRIOR OF GRIT "Care about your authentication." - Michael Barber My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Highlights - Always be a student. The only lists you own are email lists. Know the standards for emails in your industry. Focus only on the metrics that matter for your business. Start adding a metric to measure your replies. Close the personality gap in your emails. Authenticating your accounts will let ISPs know you aren't spam. Have a healthy image vs text ratio. Your subject line size doesn't have an affect on engagement. Emails are as intimate as text messages. Make sure your content is accessible across all platforms. Guest Contact - Michael's Website Michael's Twitter Mentions- 17hats 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

Do you ever worry that you're charging too much for your services? If you're like most of my Creative Warriors, you do. So many times creatives lack self-worth. They discount themselves so much, that in the end even their clients don't value them as much as they should. Instead of acting like an item on the clothing rack of Walmart, think of yourself as a limited edition item at Louis Vuitton. You're not meant for everyone. You're special. You're Unique. You're worth top dollar. In the end, you want to find that perfect client. The one that you really connect with. It's ok to pass on some clients, and charge premium for your unique skill sets. There's only one you, and as long as you are delivering on quality, you should never be on sale. Instead of trying to focus on getting as many clients as you can, focus on getting your ideal clients. Find the ones that respect and appreciate your work so much that they are willing to spend the extra money. Look at it like this, at the end of the day you need $10. Would you rather spread yourself thin and hustle with 10 clients for $1 each, or dedicate yourself to providing the best service you can for one client at $10? To go further into this I brought on someone who knows about finding your true value, and selling yourself to the clients you deserve: Michelle Weinstein. Michelle has the unique ability to help you immediately identify business strengths to create a unique plan of action. More importantly, she helps you zero-in on the hidden trip wires that keep you from achieving your financial dreams. She has knocked down the doors and impressed CEO's at many billion dollar companies. Her relentless pursuit towards buyers at Costco Wholesale earned her coveted shelf space that also led to national deals with The Vitamin Shoppe. As a result of amazing relationships and opportunities, Michelle has honed a unique skill set that will help you develop the most important and valuable relationships. Download this episode of Creative Warriors today and learn how you can find yourself worth to make the money you deserve. WARRIOR OF URSULA "When you miss the boat on your worth, that's when sales is really a struggle." - Michelle Weinstein My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Highlights - Sales is connected with self-worth. A lot of self-worth stems from our past. Try to give your all to one person instead of discounting to many. It only takes a few tweaks in your business to make you unique. Come up with boundaries that you stick to no matter what. You have to understand your ideal client's problem to a T. Each client needs to have an equal opportunity. Let your clients do most of the talking. Be as flexible as you can for your clients. Your No's should follow the same 80/20 rule as your income. Guest Contact - Michelle's Website Michelle's Twitter Michelle's Podcast Mentions- 17hats 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

What's the fastest way to grow your business and be profitable? Should I tell you or make you listen to the episode? Hmm.....alright, I'll tell you. It's to only work with your ideal customers. Does that sound obvious? Then why do so many businesses accept whatever business comes along and never get ahead? You'll have to listen to the episode to understand how working with your ideal customers is your #1 growth strategy and especially to hear what NOT to do. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation. My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking Resources - Joey Coleman's book, Never Lose a Customer Again 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

Many businesses today stress one thing: customer acquisition. As important as this may seem, studies have shown that 20-70% customers stop doing business with a company in the first 100 days. Then what? Ultimately, customer retention will make sales itself. When you keep your customers happy, they will become your best sales team. So how do you work on customer retention? The first step is to understand that, no matter what your industry is, you are dealing with humans. Take into account the human brain. Consider their emotions. Look for where they need support, and what you can do to really show you care about they position they are in. What would you want if you were in their shoes? On this episode of Creative Warriors, we are joined by Joey Coleman. Joey helps companies keep their customers. He's an award-winning speaker and works with organizations around the world ranging from small startups to major brands such as Deloitte, Hyatt Hotels, Zappos, and Whirlpool. His First 100 Days methodology fuels the remarkable experiences his clients deliver and dramatically improves their profits. In his upcoming book, Never Lose a Customer Again, he shares strategies and tactics for turning one-time purchasers into lifelong customers. Download this episode this episode today to hear how you can keep your customers and turn them into your largest sales force by simply giving them a piece of your heart. THE NEVER QUIT WARRIOR "Serve emotional needs with nearly telepathic accuracy." - Joey Coleman My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Highlights - Life is so much easier if you're nice. You have to account for the human brain and how emotions work. Most companies reward acquisition over retention. You have to believe what you have is valuable. Think about your requests as thought you are doing others favors. Be sure to follow up and check in with all of your customers. Your quality of work still has to be exceptional. No matter what you do you're in an H2H (Human to Human) business. Celebrate the success your clients achieve with your services. Retention can lead to more acquisition. Guest Contact - Joey's Website Joey's Twitter Joey's Book Never Lose a Customer Again: Turn Any Sale into Lifelong Loyalty in 100 Days Mentions- 17hats 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

Customer retention is one of the most important metrics for any business to follow. In this episode, I share my thoughts and practices about how to create amazing customer retention to prepare you to learn the strategy to do so from the guest on our next episode, Joey Coleman. Customer retention is a strategy, not a "nice to have." For every customer that you retain, you make doing business easier and easier, year after year. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation. My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking Resources - Joey Coleman's book, Never Lose a Customer Again 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

As people we all want two things: Joy and Money. It's been a stereotype that we have to choose between one or the other. How many times have you seen the cliche of a starving artist on the verge of eviction every month, or the business man who hates his life but has a car full of Ferraris? The truth is we can have our cake and eat it too. Especially as a Creative Warrior. Creatives spend their times mastering skills, and as a result you should be charging premium rates for it. On the other hand, running a business can come with it's challenges, and things we may dread. Luckily there are things we can do to make sure there is joy in our work literally every day. You may need to take some tasks and delegate them to others. Other times you may need to change your perspective in order to find the joy in the tedious. On this episode of Creative Warriors, we are joined by Lauren Fritsch. Lauren Fritsch is a speaker, entrepreneur, artist, and mom. Her mental model, the Joy|Money Matrix, is a simple tool that empowers creative entrepreneurs to make strategic decisions to prioritize joy and improve revenue simultaneously. She calls the movement the Joy Imperative. Lauren has been an entrepreneur since the age of 23. For most of her career, she ran TCC Consulting Group, a boutique firm that focused on the specific sales and leadership needs of mid-market businesses in the United States. Lauren has created a Joy Money Matrix to discover ways to improve your productivity and earning power. Download this episode today to learn more ways you can bring joy to your business. WARRIOR OF PALLAS ATHENA "You have permission to prioritize the dream of being." - Lauren Fritsch My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Highlights - Start by changing one thing at a time. We all want more joy and more money. Both money and joy are what sustain us. Many entrepreneurs de-emphasize the importance of joy. Most of our best ideas come when we are zoning out. Give yourself permission to be and do. It's important to consider both ROI and ROE (Return On Enjoyment). Consider what you can do to bring joy to the things you don't enjoy in your business. Guest Contact - Lauren's Website Lauren's Twitter Lauren's Free Survey! The Joy|Money Matrix Mentions- 17hats 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

Like my TEDx talk, Validation Paradox: Finding Your Best Through Others, in this episode I clarify how working with your ideal customers also brings out your best. By surrounding yourself with people who can see more in you than you can see in yourself, you will rise to unimaginable heights. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation. My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking 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

Branding is something that confuses people. When they hear the world they think pretty colors and pictures, catchy slogans and jingles, or large marketing departments and resources a solopreneur couldn't afford. When it comes down to it, branding really is one of the most important things you can do for your business - and you don't need a big budget for it. The branding of yesteryear, with catchy slogans that sound like something from a nursery rhyme, repel customers more than it attracts them. Today, branding is about starting with YOU. Starting with what YOU provide for the customer. Once you have a grasp on that, you want to use lingo that your ideal customer would understand and be attracted to. Your branding will repel some people, and that's great. You want to push away people who aren't your ideal customer and magnetize those that are a perfect fit for your business. Branding in business, especially small business, is no longer about having a one size fits all, catch as many fish as you can brand. You want to find the clients that are willing to spend more for your expertise, harness in that small group, and not waste your time with people that aren't the right fit. On this episode of Creative Warriors I bring you a very special guest that is a bad-ass branding guru, Pia Silva. Pia Silva is a partner and brand strategist at Worstofall Design where they build "Badass Brands without the BS" for 1-3 person service businesses in 1-3 day intensives. On top of all of that, she's a Forbes contributor and author of Badass Your Brand: The Impatient Entrepreneur's Guide to Turning Expertise into Profit. Download this episode today to learn how you can develop bad ass branding for your business. UNIVERSAL WARRIOR "Own it in a deep and all encompassing way." - Pia Silva My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Highlights - You start finding your ideal customer through who you are. Badass branding attracts your ideal customer and repels everyone else. Tagline and slogans are outdated. People want to pay top dollar for a high-level expert. Know what it is you love to do the most, and what is the most profitable. Analyze your opportunity costs. Experts sell results and take control of a project. Guest Contact - Pia's Website Pia's Twitter Pia's Book Badass Your Brand: The Impatient Entrepreneur's Guide to Turning Expertise into Profit Pia's Brandshrink Giveaway! Worstofall Design Mentions- 17hats 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

After years of coaching clients through major pivots in their lives and having done more than a fair share of pivots in my own life, this episode will offer you some things to consider. There are several things that are inherent in making a change and pivot in your life. It will be very helpful for you to know what to expect. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - We want to hear your opinion on the topic. Let us know what you think or share a personal story. Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and add to the conversation. My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support Available for speaking 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

Public speaking is people's #1 greatest fear. But why are we so scared of it? Is it because we're afraid to be judged by others or is it because we aren't passionate about the ideas we're speaking about? When you get in front of an audience and you're actually passionate about the idea, the fear vanishes. Your desire to spread knowledge and awareness is felt by the audience, neutralizing the fear of judgement. This is why we've witnessed the rise of TED talks in recent years. When people speak on their greatest passions, the audience receives the content in full force. On this episode of Creative Warriors, we are joined by TEDx Lincoln Square organizers, Tricia Brouk & Jamie Broderick to discuss just what goes into a TEDx conference. With Jamie, a visibility strategist who helps shine the spotlight on entrepreneurs and leaders and Tricia, the director/producer who helps speakers craft their content, they make the perfect team to tackle an event of this magnitude. Download this episode today to learn about the behind-the-scenes effort of a TEDx conference, and what you can do as an applying speaker to increase your chances of getting onto the stage! WARRIORS OF PAST EXPERIENCE & DETACHMENT "It's an environment to create community and help each speaker lift everyone else up." - Tricia Brouk & Jamie Broderick My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Highlights - Stay in your own lane when collaborating with a creative partner. Pitch ideas and themes, not your business, books, or personal brands. Passion for the idea is what separates those who get selected and those who don't. Use elements of theatre and drama when explaining complex, academic subjects. Share the idea from your point of view to give a unique lens. Be sensitive to the collective consciousness of the greater world. Express your progress on the idea to the organizer before the event. Rehearse your speech in similar environments to simulate the day of. Business is making commitments and then fulfilling them. Guest Contact - Tricia's Website Tricia's Twitter Jamie's Website Jamie's Twitter Watch the TEDx Lincoln Square Livestream on Tuesday March 27th: TEDxLincolnSquare.com/Livestream Mentions- 17hats 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