Creative Warriors

It's built into my sign off that, “you may be in business for yourself, but you're not in business by yourself.” You are not alone. You're part of a much larger community, and we need to come together. My guest today, Natalie Franke, has her pulse on self-employment better than most. In today’s conversation, Natalie highlights the significance of terminology and how it can impact the sense of unity and identity within the self-employed community. She also discusses the growing trend of self-employment, and the need for infrastructure and support for independent business owners. Together, we explore the importance of building relationships, reframing failure, overcoming self-doubt, and the role of communities in supporting personal and professional growth. I am positive that Natalie’s inside perspective will offer you valuable insights and, more importantly, provide a comforting reassurance that you are part of a thriving and supportive community. Natalie Franke is an author, community builder, and advocate f

One of the biggest mindset shifts I experienced was at a time when I felt like I had my feet in several different industries and went to all the different industry conferences - coaching, speaking, authorship, podcasting, you name it. The mindset shift was when I realized there was really one business model, and all those roles fell under this one business model: The expert business model. As experts on a topic, we often find ourselves wanting to be a speaker. In today's conversation, I sit down with Grant Baldwin to delve into the state of the speaking industry in a post-pandemic world. Grant sheds light on the industry's resilience, emphasizing the success brought about by virtual events and hybrid formats. We discuss the vital importance of treating speaking as a professional endeavor and investing in sales and marketing efforts. Grant shares invaluable advice on finding the right speaking opportunities and carving out a niche to gain momentum. Join us as we uncover the secrets to thriving in a competitive

Ever feel discouraged? Ever wonder if "this time," this latest attempt of whatever it is you're trying to do, is really going to turn out any different? Of course you have. We have ALL felt these moments of discouragement. There is a way through these moments, whether brief or for what feels like a whole period of life and that's what I share in this episode.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-mo

I think there are times in life when we're stuck and we don’t even know it, and of course, there are times in life we know we're stuck. How did we get stuck in the first place?  And what do we do to get ourselves out? Today I speak with Cara Brookins about how to end procrastination using her proven system to work with your brain to actually do the work. Cara shares her inspiring experience of building a house through how-to videos and explains the psychology behind how they helped her get unstuck. Cara also explains how we can get stuck in life due to either a "sneak attack" or a "lightning strike," and how modern problems don't always fit into our primitive brain wiring. She encourages us to recognize our physiological behaviors and use them to reach our goals using her “Press Your Own Play Button Strategy.” If you've ever felt restless, uncertain, or unable to move forward, my conversation today with Cara Brookins is certain to motivate you, inspire you, and get you going. Cara Brookins is best known as t

I often refer to myself as a wisdom junkie. I love a good quote or pearl of wisdom, and it never ceases to amaze me how one thing, one thing said in just the right way at the right time can change everything – or as our guest today says, “we’re all one question away from a completely different life.”  Today my guest Marc Champagne shares his insights into how to train our minds to work for us, not against us. Marc emphasizes the importance of cultivating resiliency, presence, and training our minds to be their best. He highlights the significance of habits, rituals, and intentions in supporting our journey towards our objectives. Marc stresses the importance of asking questions to enable us to go beyond the surface level and address the core of a problem. Join us for an insightful and empowering conversation that will help you enhance your mental fitness and achieve success in business and in life. Marc Champagne unpacks the mental fitness practices and reflective questions shaping the lives of some of the m

I've been hearing a fair amount of scarcity money mindset lately so I offer a couple of solutions to turn that truck around. It's not good for your mindset and as far as I know, no one has even gotten wealthy cutting back and thinking narrow. Instead, I want you to feel like opportunity and money can fall in your lap any day, at any time.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education

“Before we can have a customer, we must first have a buyer.” That is one of my favorite lines from the book we’re going to discuss today.  It is a notion that is intuitively simple, but not initially obvious. Today I speak with author Carole Mahoney about her upcoming book Buyer First: Grow Your Business with Collaborative Selling. Carole explains how a buyer-centric experience starts from the very first interaction, and why it's essential to challenge traditional notions of sales. She reiterates that "selling is not something we do to other people; it is something we do with them," and explores how collaboration is key to creating a positive buyer experience. Carole shares common mistakes businesses make when creating buyer experiences, including relying on the product to sell itself, and offers valuable insights on how to approach sales with a buyer-centric mindset. Whether you're an entrepreneur or a sales professional, this conversation offers practical advice and actionable steps to help you put the buye

Being in the business of helping business owners improve the brand messaging on their websites and seeing the explosion of AI, I wanted to share my do's and don'ts of using AI for your website.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out! Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like

One of the things that intrigues me about the journey of success and being a high achiever is the internal challenges, often unexpected, that we face when where we end up in life is very different than where we started. In today’s episode, I talk with Anthony Trucks about his personal journey of transforming his identity and overcoming challenges. Anthony shares his own experience of feeling stuck between his current and desired selves, what he calls the "identity gap." He emphasizes the need to tap into something deeper and darker than positivity alone to overcome obstacles. Anthony offers valuable insights on changing your mindset, beliefs, and habits to achieve your goals. Join us as we discuss how to make an identity shift and bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. This conversation will inspire you to transform your identity and reach success beyond your expectations. Anthony Trucks is a former Foster Child, NFL Football Player, Competitor on American Ninja Warrior, Author, Shift

There’s a good chance that no matter how great you are at what you do, you’re likely to be overlooked if you don’t speak up on your own behalf.  Has it ever bothered you that someone else less qualified, less impactful, or even less sincere got attention that you think you deserve? As is often the case when you’re self-employed, the only person you have to hold responsible for that feeling is yourself.  Maybe you need to be a better advocate for yourself.  In today’s episode, I speak with Lisa Bragg about her new book, Bragging Rights. Lisa shares her insights on why it's important to speak up on your own behalf, even if it goes against societal norms of humility. We discuss the difference between self-aggrandizing and expressing pride in your work, and why waiting for someone to notice your work is no longer enough in today's noisy world. Being too humble can cost you opportunities; tune in to learn how to promote yourself effectively and grow your business! Lisa Bragg has literally written the book on how

This we know for certain. People have to feel confident that they are going to get the results they want before they buy into your offer. They likely even want tangible results either by clearly understanding your offer promise or because they already have a high level of trust and respect for you. In this episode I share my Get This Formula to help you find the clear and concise promise in your offer.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. Th

I’ve come to really like referring to limited thinking and mindsets as ceilings, because I think it really encompasses the problem. A limited mindset is a ceiling sitting on or close to your head, not enabling you the space you need to grow to your next level, particularly when it comes to money mindsets, which is what we're going to talk about today. My guest Israel Duran discusses the concept of a revenue ceiling, which can be both a hard barrier and a self-imposed mindset. He explains that to overcome this ceiling, you must become a different person and let go of the things that helped get you to where you are now. Israel offers three areas to focus on: mindset, toolset, and skillset, and emphasizes the importance of asking yourself who you need to become in order to break through the barrier. Whether you’re feeling stuck or simply looking to take your business to the next level, I’m sure you will find valuable insights and actionable steps in this conversation. Founder Israel Duran is known as the only “

Often we set goals, write them down, and maybe even create a vision board. We might even stick a post-it on our bathroom mirror intending to look at it goal every day. The problem is these things can eventually be easily overlooked. At the suggestion of a future podcast guest, Cara Brookins, let's consider how we can create a goal your brain can't ignore.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month

Often, in order to move forward, we need to unwind from the past. As I like to teach, we must let go of something in order to grab the next thing in our lives and businesses, or to change a fundamental way we look at the world. This is because what got us here won’t necessarily get us to where we want to go next. Today I speak with Ellie Shefi, who shares her insights on how we can unprogram ourselves from external expectations and create a clear personal vision that drives every aspect of our lives. Ellie explains how to develop an Impervious Mind: a rock-solid identity that can withstand adversity. She emphasizes the importance of exploring our motivations and values, practicing self-care, and intentionally choosing our language to shift our mindset and overcome obstacles. Ellie also shares her experience with intentional and aligned business diversification. I am positive our conversation will help listeners examine their personal vision and values to move forward in business and life.   Ellie Shefi is a

As small businesses, sometimes it doesn’t occur to us to reach as big as we could. If you’re a coach, consultant, or subject matter expert, there may be much bigger clients out there for you than you’re currently thinking. Or maybe you're already landing corporate clients and want it to be easier and more consistent. Today, my guest Angelique Rewers shares insights on how small businesses can reach bigger corporate clients. She encourages business owners to stop ruling out opportunities because they seem out of reach. Angelique stresses the importance of thinking from the point of view of the corporate decision-maker and becoming a resource within their network. I’m positive our conversation will offer ideas and strategies that are applicable to all small businesses seeking to reach clients bigger than their current market.   Angelique Rewers is the CEO and Founder of BoldHaus®, an Inc. 5000 company, who specializes in helping small and diverse businesses win and work with corporate clients. With over 25+ y

I find that purpose-driven and heart-centered business owners often have an instinct that they want to run their business differently.  They sense that they don’t like the way they see other people marketing their businesses, but aren’t sure what to do about it. Today I speak with Sarah Santacroce, who shares how she's challenging the status quo and revolutionizing the way we think about marketing. Sarah discusses the power of questioning assumptions, unlearning, and breaking habits to create a more connective and humane way of doing business. Sarah also shares her three phases of transformation and the 7 P's of Humane Marketing, showing us how we can put heart back into our businesses and build stronger relationships with our clients. If you're looking for a new approach to marketing that resonates with your values and connects with your clients on a deeper level, this episode is for you. Over a decade of running a successful LinkedIn Consulting business inspired a yearning in Sarah to create a global movem

If you sell your services or products, in any way pitch yourself, or reach out to let people know what you do (and everyone does), then this mindset shift will be valuable for you. The idea of being "resource minded" came up in a previous episode guest, Nikki Rausch and really resonated for me. It has already shifted the way I approach many things, I just had to share!   Contact Jeffrey – Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! Take the Self-Doubt Survey   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institut