Creative Warriors

Most of us have something that we’re really into. Maybe it’s a band, a sports team, or Harry Potter. Whatever it is, most of us can say we’re big fans of something and that we enjoy sharing in that community. But we often think of fandom as a surface level experience. In reality what we’re experiencing is a human bonding through a shared experience. And these days fandom can be found in so much more than sports or entertainment. Customers are hungry for human connection. Because of this, businesses and entrepreneurs are going back to the basics of building, connecting with, and honoring their fans. Some might even believe that nowadays cultivating relationships with their fans is more important than making sales.  To dive deeper into the power of fandom I welcome back to the show my buddy, David Scott Meerman.  David is an internationally acclaimed marketing strategist, entrepreneur, advisor to emerging companies, VC strategic partner, and bestselling author of 10 books. He is best known for his book “The

In big ways and in little ways, our worlds often get rocked. Especially as Creative Warriors. It can be something like losing a client, something not working or a sudden change. My world was rocked in a big way recently with the sudden death of my 59-year-old brother just before Christmas. But what I want to share is how you can handle the situation when your world gets rocked, whether it's in a big way or not. I think there's something for us all to learn here. 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 materia

We’re going to change things up on Creative Warriors. This week I’m thrilled to welcome a guest who’s 6-week course I will be taking in the new year. Once I’ve finished the course, I plan on having this guest back to discuss my results. Sure, it’s a little intimidating to be doing this so publicly. But my goal is to show you all how important this work can be. What is it I’m going to be working on? It’s called “Positive Intelligence,” or “PQ” for short, and I’m hoping this year we can all raise our PQ together. Positive Intelligence is the measure of your mental fitness, or your positivity quotient. It is how quickly you can recover from negative reactions to challenges and turn them into positive challenges. Understanding one’s PQ is also understanding what your “saboteur” is and how or why your personal mindset can be overtaken by negative things. When we work on our PQ we can begin to live, work, and respond from a place of joy, peace, love, and inspiration.  To dive deeper into understanding the power

I always love it when an episode lands on Christmas Day! It's yet another time when I get to reflect and be thankful for everything my Creative Warriors community has given me. So, I wanted to revisit one of our special Christmas episodes where we had two very special guests. First, we had the extremely rare opportunity to chat with the big man himself-- Santa Claus! I mean, seriously, how often do you get the chance to speak directly to Santa?! Our second guest is my good friend and fellow warrior, the very talented Cecelia Otto who performed a special holiday song for us. It's one of my favorite songs! I loved this very special episode, and send you all my very best wishes for the holidays. THE WARRIORS OF HOLIDAY SPIRIT “Love has always stayed the same. Love is love.” -Santa Clause Highlights - We should give and receive all year long.  Presents have changed, but love has always stayed the same.  Guest Contact - Cecilia's Website Jeff's Contact - Website Coaching support My book, LINGO: D

I’ll admit that the idea of creating a brand new category is intimidating. Not many of us feel like we might be the next Steve Jobs. But creating categories is not only more approachable than we think, but often right in front of us. All it takes is a simple re-framing of how you position your business as a specific human-focused solution. When broken down, creating a new category can be the answer to some very simple problems. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, you only have to position yourself in a way that speaks to a group. Once the validation comes then you can explore the world- or category- you’re creating. If you’re not receiving a response, you’re probably not creating a category. But if it’s working, the category will organically unfold.  To help us better understand the process of creating categories, I’ve brought on marketing expert Anthony Kennada. Anthony is the CMO of Front, and was the founding Chief Marketing Officer at Gainsight. He is passionate about creating new market categories,

In this episode, I offer you a tool to evaluate the true hourly value of your business. I call it the rule of thirds. Listen in and you'll understand why. Once you understand this, you'll know better what to say yes to and what to say no to. You'll be able to reevaluate what services and products are worth your time and which aren't. You'll be more clear on where to put your attention. And you can figure out how to scale your business. 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 LING

I consider myself a productive person. I have hard systems, apps, and even color-coding that I use to make sure that I complete projects and tasks in a timely fashion and still have time for myself.  However, it’s a topic that I love digging into. Who doesn’t want to find new ways to streamline their productivity? We Creative Warriors often have a lot of projects we are juggling and in an industry that is becoming more tech-reliant, it is important to know when things are helping, and when they are slowing us down. You’ve heard me talk about the soul’s gatekeepers which keeps us from doing the things that are the most personal to us. Often the projects that matter the most are the things we find ourselves putting off. How do we dig into those things that we fear? How do we stay on task with projects that don’t have a hard deadline? It can be daunting to begin a project near to your heart, and even more daunting to finish it. To dive deeper into finding your productivity, I’ve brought on productivity master

2020 is a leap year on the calendar but it can also be YOUR leap year. The year you make a big leap forward in your life and business. Find out how and the story behind my new talk, Life is an Everything Bagel, that will inspire you to stop choosing between things and choose everything instead! 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 cu

The world is moving deeper into the digital world and at an alarmingly fast pace. As a result, today’s technology has leveled the business playing field. In this fast-moving virtual age, establishing a strong personal brand has become a critical part of being a Creative Warrior. Whether it’s on or offline, your personal brand is about giving people in your community a choice. When you can be pure and clear about your values, product or services, and you why are most memorable, you will be giving your community the opportunity to choose you. Furthermore, the virtual age has brought upon the need for more skills, dexterity, and understanding of how AI can enhance your brand and what you do. To dive deeper into branding in the digital age, I’ve brought on entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and a leading authority on the topic of personal branding, William Arruda. William is the CEO of Reach Personal Branding and the co-founder of CareerBlast.TV. He regularly shares his thoughts on workplace trends and bran

The thing about goal setting is you can set all the goals you want, make all the plans and create the lists, but if you don't have mindsets to support you, your goals aren't as likely to work out. In this episode, I share ideas to strengthen positive mindsets and weaken mindsets that are obstacles. 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 profitabl

As entrepreneurs, we can always learn from studying companies that really understand what they’re doing. From branding to customer service, there is always more to learn. I especially get excited when I get the opportunity to unpack a brand with someone who understands it intimately.  Airbnb is a brand that I’ve come to truly respect. I’ll be completely honest- for the longest time, I was not a fan of the brand. But I’ve come to understand and appreciate why they are a brand that is incredibly respected in the hospitality and technology-driven space. Airbnb is a leader in making their customers feel like they are part of a community. They understand how to make people feel like they belong.  To dive deeper into harnessing the power of community, I’ve brought back a friend of mine, Joseph Michelli. Joseph is an internationally sought after speaker, author, and organizational consultant. His insights encourage leaders and frontline workers to grow and invest passionately in all aspects of their lives. Joseph

Often when launching a new company or business, we are looking for a map that will guide us from seed to conception. On my journey, I looked for any source that would help me on my path. Some strategies worked, but many of them did not. Looking back, I have to think of how helpful it would have been if someone would have been able to provide a map or guideline that spoke to my specific needs. A plan that lays out the process, framework, and proper sequencing of events that will reap the most significant benefits.  To dive deeper into launching a start-up, I’ve brought on serial entrepreneur, advisor, and author Jon Warner. Five-time company CEO, Jon Warner is a widely respected entrepreneurship expert and mentor having founded and led 3 start-ups. Jon is a noted speaker at businesses, colleges, and conferences across the world. He also lectures on entrepreneurship at both undergraduate and MBA levels. Jon is also a prolific author, having published 40 books, all concerning business, management, leadership,

There's one bit of advice I find myself saying to branding and coaching clients all the time, No, I'm not going to reveal it here. You have to listen to the episode! And I would listen as I'm sure if I had the good fortune to work with you personally, at some point I'm likely to give you the same advice.  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 pr

When people think about making changes in their business, they often think about massive life-altering changes. What if the changes we need to make are small detail-oriented changes? Subtle improvements in our customer service can increase the value of our relationships leading to major results over time. We can alter the way we interact with our customers making them feel more appreciated, recognized, and understood. Human connections are vital to our success in life and business. It’s the small touches and the kind things we do that make people come back for more. The way people feel about you and the experience you provided could be the difference between success and failure.  To dive deeper into harnessing the power of the human connection and the power of small changes, I’ve brought on renowned keynote speaker, trainer, and author Laurie Guest.  Laurie is an entrepreneur, author, and motivational keynote speaker. She graduated from Palmer College, is a member of the National Speakers Association and is a

I'm asked all the time what books I suggest. Reading two books a week to keep up with interviews for Creative Warriors, over 5+ years you can imagine how many books I've read. These are the best of the best. Links to each book are below. Enjoy and always respect the power of the written word to pass on wisdom! 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. Suggested Books - Self-Reliant Entrepreneur To Sell is Human Change or Die Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead Geography of Genius Fascinate On Fire The Brain Audit Louder Than Words Think and Grow Rich Man's Search for Meaning War of Art 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 Yo

As Creative Warriors, we’re always looking for ways to expand our business and build new relationships. We often look for things outside of ourselves that will help us gain a strategic advantage. What if the edge we need is something we currently possess? A gift and an ability that is within us already.  There is no master formula or a step-by-step guide to success. But there are character traits and habits that will cultivate an environment that will lead to success. A characteristic that is vital to your success in business and personal relationships is trust. If you want to set yourself apart from your peers and the competition, then you must have trust.  To dive deeper into the subject of trust, I’ve brought on author, speaker, and business consultant David Horsager. He is the leading expert on trust, and the impact it has on everything from individuals and organizations to global governments. David helps leaders and organizations become the most trusted in their industry through research, speaking, consu

In what has become an end-of-the-year annual tradition on Creative Warriors, in this episode I share ideas about setting your theme for next year. Why it's important, how to go about discovering your theme and how your theme integrates into your goals for 2020. Your theme is your north star, your guide and what will keep you on track! Listen in. 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 c

I am continuously looking for new authentic ways to connect with people. Personal connections have been essential for me when looking to create new business relationships. It's a vital part of my professional strategy. The goal is to expand my business in an organic way that genuinely connects with the people I intend to work with professionally.  There are many ways to accomplish this, but the strategies that interest me are the ones the maximize our human connections. I do business intending to inspire or to be of service to my clients and audience. The best way to do this is by having a presence in their lives. Video helps you create a presence and a relationship that's more intimate than an email, a text, or a web blast. As entrepreneurs, it can have a massive impact on our business. To dive deeper into the power of utilizing personal video in business, I've brought on entrepreneur and author Ethan Beute. Chief Evangelist at BombBomb, host of The Customer Experience Podcast, and co-author of Rehumanize Yo

In business, we're often taught to achieve at all costs. But what if there’s a better way to approach entrepreneurialism that still leads to success and achievement. A way to bring more peace, calm, and artistry to your business life. Being an entrepreneur is similar to being an artist. You are creating something from nothing, and you genuinely care about what you’re creating. For Creative Warriors, your business is truly an extension of you and what you want to offer the world.  When you start embarking on a journey of self-improvement, the results will simultaneously help both you and your business. To dive deeper into this approach, I’ve brought on John Jantsch, the CEO of Duct Tape Marketing. A powerhouse in the industry, John is CEO of Duct Tape Marketing, a small business marketing speaker, a marketing consultant, and bestselling author of Duct Tape Marketing, Duct Tape Selling, The Commitment Engine, and The Referral Engine.  To learn how to become a more mindful and productive entrepreneur who leads w

After observing a number of situations recently where leaders seem to have a lack of understanding of those they lead, it got me wondering about measurable empathy intelligence. We have tests, assessments and scales for every other kind of intelligence but empathy intelligence doesn't even exist. As far as Google is concerned. It's always wrapped up under emotional intelligence. I think we need to change that and in this episode you'll understand why.  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