The Self-Employed Life

As a business coach, the quickest way I see that most entrepreneurs can improve their business is by nurturing their past client relationships that they have left dormant. The potential to dramatically improve your business with this one thing alone can be life changing. That is exactly why we've invited Noah Fleming on today to discuss how to build a thriving business through customer loyalty. As an expert in strategic marketing and customer loyalty, Noah helps his clients dramatically and rapidly increase sales, multiply profits, and maximize customer value. He is the author of the Amazon #1 bestselling book in Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service – EVERGREEN: Cultivate The Enduring Customer Loyalty That Keeps Your Business Thriving. Noah is a trusted source for consulting and coaching to thousands of business owners and executives. He’s an expert blogger for Fast Company Magazine, and a regular contributor to The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business. Noah is routinely quoted and mentioned in publications like Forbes, The New York Times and Reuters.

We have a compelling and beautiful story of an artist, in this case, a violinist, who despite being incredibly talented and accomplished, sought to use his instrument for an even greater purpose, inspiration. Kai Kight shares his music and journey and in the process provides ideas that you can take to compose your life, in your own way. Kai is an innovative violinist, composer, and speaker who has inspired thousands to reach their own creative potential. He brilliantly uses music as a metaphor to empower people at many of the world’s leading organizations, from The Walt Disney Company to PricewaterhouseCoopers, to the Superbowl winning Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. With a diverse background, Kai holds an engineering degree from Stanford University’s design school and as a violinist since age three he has performed in venues including the White House and the Great Wall of China.

Creative Warriors podcast has been an amazing journey that has inspired us, motivated us, and changed our world as we knew it. There is nothing quite like having a "real" reason to do some of the geeky things Jeffrey loves to do most; read thought-provoking stuff and talk about it! We wanted to do something special to mark this 100th episode milestone marker. So who better to ask than our Creative Warrior community. It started with Jeffrey posting a request on our private Creative Warriors Unite Facebook group, which quickly turned into an onslaught of emails suggesting he be interviewed. That he get personal and yes, get vulnerable too. Friend, coach, and radio host Jennifer Powers took the time to peel back the onion and get beneath the surface to make sure Jeffrey shared some of his back story, insights and things he doesn't typically talk about on or off the air. The last 99 episodes have been heartfelt and more rewarding than we can express. We are looking forward to continuing to bring the best-in-class line up to the Creative Warriors community so we can all leverage the best ideas for our live's and businesses so we can create, serve and be prosperous.

Wouldn't it be fantastic if marketing your business and your work didn't cost anything? If your marketing budget was Zero? Not only is it possible, but it may also just be the best way to promote your business. One of the most sought-after consultants, speakers and thought leaders on innovation, marketing, new media and social media, Joseph Jaffe is Founder and CEO of Evol8tion, an innovation agency that connects startups with established brands. Joseph’s most recent book is ZERO- zero paid media as the new marketing model. His impassioned, straight-shooting and honest perspectives have made him a go-to marketing expert for every major media outlet. Jaffe’s popular blog and audio podcast, "Jaffe Juice,” provides daily and weekly commentary on all things new in marketing.

While every industry has it's nuances; there can also be remarkable similarities and crossover that all entrepreneurs can leverage. Today you can glean lessons from a coach to jewelry designers about marketing, selling a luxury item and how to succeed in a highly competitive business. Tracy Matthews story is one of stepping into her passion, having great success, losing it all, experimenting further and ultimately finding the ideal business model to attract her perfect clients. Her journey is one of creation, redemption, perseverance and accomplishment. Tracy is an eco-luxury jewelry designer specializing in bespoke engagement rings, wedding bands, and heirloom redesign. Her passion for making the business of jewelry led her to found Flourish & Thrive Academy, an online resource and community for jewelry designers. Tracy's mission is to help designers get their work with more of their DREAM clients and create raving fans. Her motto: “community and collaboration over competition.”

How helpful would it be to be able to spot a trend? In business, it can mean the difference between staying relevant or fading away. We're digging into how to spot trends. We also chat about trends that will affect all Creative Warriors, from selfies to celebrities and vending machines! Rohit Bhargava is a trend curator. He is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author of five books on topics as wide ranging as the future of business, building a brand with personality, and why leaders never eat cauliflower. We discuss Rohit's latest work, Non-Obvious: How to Think Differently, Curate Ideas and Predict The Future. Rohit is an expert at helping brands and leaders be more influential and has advised hundreds of global brands. He also teaches marketing at Georgetown University; is a two-time TEDx speaker and is regularly featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and NPR.

Just do as I say! How often did you hear that from your mother? Today we're going to hear a lot of the phrases your mother used to say, and surprisingly how valuable marketing lessons can be extracted from that motherly advice to grow our businesses. Chad Pollitt, a decorated veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and former Army Commander, is VP of Audience and Co-founder of Relevance, a digital magazine, agency-events company dedicated to content strategy, promotion and marketing He’s also an Adjunct Professor of Internet Marketing at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. Chad is a Top 20 CMO Influencer and a member of a Forbes Top 100 list. He consistently serves by creating innovative content that solves real problems!

It's fair to say that most education is about learning techniques, processes and rules that will help us avoid failure and excel. We learn to become our best selves; sometimes reducing our creativity and taking on behaviors that eliminate the space where creativity is most rewarding, during risk-taking, trial & error, or applying ourselves with empathy. We can reclaim our true creativity and be productive! Today we're going to be talking about habits and a life by design with expert, Bernie Roth. Bernie is the Rodney H. Adams Professor of Engineering at Stanford University. In 2003, he joined a small group of colleagues to bring more cross-disciplinary collaboration into education. These discussions led to the formation of the Stanford Institute nicknamed "the d.school," which is changing the approach to problem-solving regardless of your discipline. Bernie is also the author of The Achievement Habit; He has found that creative learning experiences empower people to make a meaningful positive difference in their lives and by extension the lives of others.

At times, most of us question whether we're good enough or worry we simply are not ready to do something we desire. That people might think we're not really who they think you are; that you are an impostor! Creative Warriors is digging into negative self-talk and discussing the Impostor Syndrome with Tanya Geisler. How it can serve us, get in our way and, of course, the best practices to leverage this state of mind. Tanya is a certified Life and Business Coach, TEDxWomen speaker, and writer – who teaches leaders how to step into their starring roles, own their authority, and overcome the Impostor Complex in their life, in their work, and in their life’s work.

Have you ever seen someone with a rewarding and diversified career that is constantly motivated and thought, how do they do that? I want that! Today we are going to get the insights and motivations of one of the more diversified guests we've had on Creative Warriors. By age 24, Lee Silber sold his successful chain of retail stores that he developed while in art school and began his second career as a writer and trainer. Lee went on to self-published his first four books before signing with Random House to write the popular "Creative Person" series of books about mastering the business side of the arts. Today, Lee has 21 books to his credit and is a sought-after speaker and consultant. Our conversation was a blast! It's full of terrific tips on everything from being in business as a creative to dating. Yes, you read that right!