Creative Warriors

As self-employed business owners who put ourselves out there every day, no one knows better than us about the topic of today’s guest’s book. The title, Navigating Shitstorms, perfectly captures the essence of our experiences. Can you relate? In this episode, author Liz Long and I dive deep into the challenges self-employed business owners face, touching on the power of recognizing our heart voice. This conversation provides a personal and honest exploration of how inner dialogues, self-care, and self-love play a critical role in managing the hurdles of entrepreneurship and life in general. Tune in to gain actionable strategies for navigating your own shitstorms.   Liz Long spent over fifty years stuck in Victimtown. After a close family member, Lynda White, went missing, six-year-old Liz was forced into a shitstorm of epic proportions. Five years later, Lynda’s body was found, and her case remains one of Canada’s longest unsolved murders. Having discovered her own path to healing, including inpatient treatme

We can work hard. We can trust in our skillset. We can be confident and believe wholeheartedly in ourselves. And we also have to have hope. In this episode, I share a bit from Brant Menswar, author of Black Sheep, when he was a guest speaker in the Self-Employed Business Institute. This is the best perspective I have ever heard about hope.   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 educatio

In my work as a business coach, I often talk about adding good habits, morning practices, daily habits, and such. In this episode, we're going to talk about eliminating unwanted habits that might be keeping you from your full potential. Today, I speak with Dr. Jud Brewer about the fascinating concept of eliminating unwanted habits that can hinder personal and professional growth. Jud sheds light on how habits like anxiety and worry can be viewed as behavioral patterns. We explore the habit loop of worrying and delve into the impact of habits like distraction and scarcity mindsets on self-employed business owners. If you want to break free from these patterns and boost your personal development, this conversation is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and business owners.   Dr. Jud Brewer MD, PhD is an internationally renowned psychiatrist, neuroscientist and New York Times best-selling author. He is an associate professor at Brown University's School of Public Health and Medical School. He also serves as the Chi

  What could be more fun than being in the toy business, right? But, as we'll discover in this episode, this line of work isn't all fun and games. Today I'm joined by Brad Pedersen, who shares his remarkable journey from an expected career path in chiropractic care to an unexpected adventure in the world of toy making. Brad's story is one of resilience and reinvention, as he navigates the challenges of scaling a business too quickly, emphasizing the significance of strategic planning and timing. Self-employed business owners will find valuable insights in Brad's reflections on his journey and the importance of play.   Brad Pedersen is a serial entrepreneur with a remarkable journey that spans decades. A husband to Kelly for 27 years and a proud father of two, his entrepreneurial spirit ignited during his teens when he launched his first business venture. Brad initially pursued a career in healthcare but was captivated by a story about a young entrepreneur who successfully built a toy business, inspiring hi

Whenever I've been asked about the number one characteristic required for success, I've often answered with “resilience.” However, it turns out that resilience isn't quite what I thought it was. In today’s episode, I speak to Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier about the fascinating relationship between resilience, mental health, and business success. We delve into the concept of a daily resilience planner, aligning values, the three pillars strategy, and the importance of adaptability. This conversation will provide you with a different perspective on the concept as well as offer strategies on nurturing your resilience amidst the challenges of entrepreneurship.   Throughout her career in business management and psychology, Dr. Pelletier has spearheaded a national dialogue on the crucial issues of leadership resilience and workplace health. Drawing on her extensive background in corporate, insurance, governance and public sectors, she brings national and international perspectives and expertise on mental health and

Have you ever thought that your life was like a movie? Have you had someone suggest you write a book, implying that your life is as dramatic as a novel? What if you could harness that idea as a tool to script the life you genuinely desire? This is the core of the Holllywood Approach by the brilliant Kristina Paider. Kristina and I discuss the art of crafting a one-line structure for your life story, using storytelling techniques and the hero's journey as tools for personal growth and self-discovery. Kristina offers a creative and practical approach to scripting our lives, setting meaningful goals, and achieving personal and professional success. Join us and discover how to shape your life's narrative and business journey.   Kristina Paider – “KP” – is a world-class storyteller and best-selling author. Her book and workshops, The Hollywood Approach, helps people accelerate results in their business and life. KP’s executive track record includes overseeing the marketing and research for a $15 billion-dollar g

Let's keep these show notes simple – because simplicity wins, especially in marketing and messaging. I'm joined by Ben Guttman, marketing entrepreneur and author, as we dive deep into this concept. Ben highlights the challenges of communicating effectively in today's world filled with distractions, emphasizing the need to break through the brain's natural filtering process. We discuss the importance of delivering messages that are noticed, remembered, and understood.  Tune in to learn why embracing simplicity in communication is crucial for connecting with your audience.   Ben Guttmann is a marketing and communications expert and author of Simply Put: Why Clear Messages Win — and How to Design Them. He’s an experienced marketing executive and educator on a mission to get leaders to more effectively connect by simplifying their message. Ben is former co-founder and managing partner at Digital Natives Group, an award-winning agency that worked with the NFL, I Love NY, Comcast NBCUniversal, Hachette Book Group

Investing in your business growth and your personal development is essential. Whether it's coaching, training or technology, we're always looking at our options. In this episode I provide some practical tips on how to make the best decisions on what to invest in. Having been making such decisions for 40+ years, these are my own practices for making the big decisions.   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,

Some business owners still cling to the old-fashioned idea that quality takes time or that customers will wait due to the demand. In the past, I built my photography brand on these beliefs. But today, customers expect not just quality, but also something else – speed. Today, I’m joined by customer experience expert Jay Baer. With a strong background in research and renowned brand consulting, Jay explains how speed has become a pivotal factor in today’s business landscape, just as important as price. We delve into strategies for enhancing responsiveness and the value of setting accurate speed expectations. Jay also introduces the innovative concept of offering a “fast pass” to customers who are willing to pay more for expedited service. Tune in to discover how to leverage speed for success!   Jay Baer is a business growth and customer experience author, researcher, and advisor. A 7th-generation entrepreneur, Jay has written 7 best-selling business books, and created 6 multi-million-dollar companies. He has c

I fully support our guest's perspective of retiring the term “retirement;” as Dr. Jann Freed aptly puts it, “We are not retiring from life, but moving on to something else.” In this episode, Jann and I explore the concept of “Breadcrumb Legacy” - a forward-thinking approach to leaving a meaningful impact. We discuss how legacy isn't just something at life's end, but a collection of intentional actions woven into the present. From the influence of Mr. Rogers to the power of silence, we uncover how focusing on relationships over achievements shapes a purposeful legacy. Whether approaching retirement or not, as self-employed business owners, we can all benefit from aligning our actions with our values. By doing so, we not only foster personal growth but also make a positive impact in both our business and personal lives.   As a former professor for decades, Dr. Jann decided to practice what she was teaching and preaching.  She says she is out to retire the word “retirement.” We are not retiring from life, but

When we talk about systems in business, we are most often referring to processes and technology. However, the best and most important systems you can create are around your behavior. By systemizing your behavior, you are able to move forward more efficiently and consistently and that is the way to grow your business.   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 n

Here on “The Self-Employed Life,” we often focus on businesses with under five team members, and even one-person businesses. Consequently, we don't often talk about scaling. However, regardless of your business's current size, I want to provide you with the opportunity to think big – even “Biggby.” Today, I'm joined by Mike McFall as we delve into essential insights from his book Grow, exploring crucial facets of business leadership and growth. Mike's journey of co-founding Biggby Coffee reveals the power of practical experience and people-centric approaches over rigid business norms. Together, we unpack the significance of leadership consistency, nurturing a unified workplace culture, and mastering effective communication. Mike McFall is the co-founder and co-CEO of BIGGBY® COFFEE, one of the fastest-growing coffee franchises in the United States. Despite not having an MBA or being a workaholic, McFall has built his career through hard work and real-world experience. He prioritizes people and purpose over b

Observing my coaching clients and students of the Self-Employed Business Institute, I see far more fear of success than failure. In this episode I break down the fear of success. Why it shows up and what to do about it. It's important the fears associated with success not be thrown into one big bucket.   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 o

If you're like most people, when you hear the term “seven figures,” you probably immediately think of money. There's nothing wrong with that, except we don't hear as much about the holistic approach it takes to get there. This approach goes way beyond the hustle and focusing on the seven digits of money. In this episode, you're going to hear some of the most practical, down-to-earth, learned-from-real-life experience advice I've heard about not just a seven-figure income, but a seven-figure lifestyle. Today I'm joined by Dr. Noah St. John, the father of “Afformations,” who shares his unique method of using empowering questions to rewire the brain for success and happiness. We discuss the concept of the “familiar zone” and why breaking free from it is crucial for achieving success. Noah's practical strategies for overcoming limiting beliefs and increasing income will be incredibly beneficial for any self-employed business owners seeking a balanced and fulfilled lifestyle. Dr. Noah St. John is known as “The F

I recently learned a new term called biomimicry, which is mimicking what we observe in nature and applying it elsewhere – such as in business. This concept aligns with my self-employed ecosystem approach and encourages viewing business as a natural ecosystem. In this episode, I have a fascinating conversation with Matt Treacey, who draws insightful analogies between ecological systems and email marketing. We delve into engagement strategies, including a five-stage awareness approach, to encourage buying behavior. Matt emphasizes the importance of understanding individual subscriber journeys while catering to audience needs, and he shares valuable insights on segmenting lists and delivering personalized content. Whether it's understanding customer preferences, optimizing engagement, or building effective email lists, our conversation will offer valuable tips on enhancing your marketing efforts for your business success. Matt Treacey is the go-to email marketing consultant for some of the world's top business

I've often said that recognition is a strategy, not a destination. Few of us want to be stars or celebrities, but smart marketers today understand that recognition is a strategy to build your brand and business. So, how can you leverage social media to build your brand image like a celebrity? Let's find out from someone who's been behind the scenes of some of the most iconic artists’ social media marketing. Today I'm joined by Cassie Petrey to discuss the importance of recognition in building a brand and business on social media. Cassie shares insights from her work with celebrated creators, emphasizing that while recognition is essential, it should not be the sole focus. Cassie and I explore the need for discipline, self-belief, and passion in navigating the challenges of social media, as well as adapting one's style to suit different platforms while maintaining brand consistency. Tune in to discover valuable strategies for leveraging social media to its fullest potential for your business. Cassie Petrey has