Creative Warriors

We have a guest as close to Santa Claus himself as we can ever get. Year after year his creations inspire all the wonder, the joy, the childlike spirit, that is this time of year. It was a privilege and honor to get a glimpse into the creative process and passionate inner workings of Paul Busse is the award-winning creative genius of Applied Imagination. Paul and his creative team are behind one of New York City's top 5 holiday attractions: the Holiday Train Show at The NY Botanical Garden. As well as numerous landscape model train exhibits across the United States. Once you've seen a masterpiece by Applied Imagination, combining model trains meandering through landscaped forests and cityscapes, crossing bridges towering overhead, passing by replicas of famous landmark buildings created with all natural materials, this botanical architecture is something you will never forget. Paul is retired, but remains creatively involved, and the driving force of Applied Imagination lives on through it’s enthusiastic, art

In this season of giving and receiving, we are fortunate to have the co-authors of the book The Go-Giver to help us get to the heart of what it means to give and receive. The value of understanding how to give and also receive is one of the many gifts we can unpack from this episode. Like a coin, you can not have one without the other. Think about that.  Bob Burg and John David Mann are the co-authors of the Go-Giver and how to be leaders of the Go-Giver culture. The Go-Giver, has sold more than a half-million copies, has been translated into 21 languages. John has been writing about business, leadership, and the laws of success for more than 30 years. As a high school student, he led a group of friends in successfully creating their own high school. After establishing himself as a concert cellist and prize-winning composer, he built a multimillion-dollar sales organization of more than a hundred thousand people before turning to writing and publishing. Bob is a sought-after speaker that shares the platform

Do you think of yourself as a writer? In today's online world, we're all writers. Between emails, social media posts, marketing materials, and content creation we are all writing more than ever before. Learning how to be an effective writer is key. We're joined today by one of the world's leading marketing experts who wants to shed light on writing and the future of marketing. Ann Handley is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the world’s first Chief Content Officer. She speaks and writes about how you can rethink the way your business markets. Cited in Forbes as the most influential woman in Social Media and recognized by ForbesWoman as one of the top 20 women bloggers, Ann is the Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs, a training and education company with the largest community of marketers in its category. She is a monthly columnist for Entrepreneur magazine, a member of the LinkedIn Influencer program, and the co-author of the best-selling book Content Rules: How to Create Kil

When was the last time you heard a creative person say "I don't have a career I have a business? Well, buckle up because we've invited the Warrior of No Fear to join us for a passionate conversation about being a successful artist and business owner. All Creative Warriors want to be seen and heard for their work. The ultimate acknowledgement for your work IS a sustainable business. Ann Rea is on a mission to stamp out the "Starving Artist" slur and to help artists secure their creative freedom through business savvy. Her artistic talent is commended by Wayne Thiebaud, an American art icon, and she has been featured on Creative Live, HGTV, ABC, and The Good Life Project, in Fortune and The Wine Enthusiast magazines, and in the book Career Renegade. Ann teaches The MAKING Art Making MONEY Semester. An interactive, eight-part, foundational, business semester specifically for artists. Ann is always ready to get down to business whether she's holding a brush, teaching or speaking.

Let's face it. It's hard to make changes in our lives. We've all heard really good information about creating change. But what you're going to hear today, may be the best we've come across. It's a clear, systematic, effective way to make a Smart Changes. This episode is for anyone who has struggled to make a sustainable change. Art Markman is the Professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also the Founding Director of the Program in the Human Dimensions of Organizations.  Art's research explores thinking.  He has studied the way people form and use analogies, the mechanisms of decision making, the modes that allow people to form categories, and the influences of motivation on reasoning. Art is the author of 3 books- Smart Thinking, Habits of Leadership and Smart Change.  Art is also on the scientific advisory boards for the Dr. Phil Show and the Dr. Oz Show. This conversation was so incredibly inspiring; it's a game-changing episode.

A Creative Warrior wants to be at their best. Maximizing personal energy so we can put our best work out in the world. For many of us this is a key motivation. Today we are digging into where we get our energy from, what sustains it and how to best manage both positive and negative energy sources. Dr. Bob assist leaders in discovering their potential and how to maximize their energy. He is a Certified Executive Coach, Registered Corporate Coach, and Senior Consultant with Birkman International and a Founding Partner with the John Maxwell Coaching, Training, and Speaker Program.  Dr. Bob has authored four books and numerous articles on leadership. He is the founder and president of Energy Driven Leader Inc. and combines his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with 30 years of experience working with Corporate Executives and Entrepreneurs. Most importantly, this work is clearly Dr. Bob's calling, and I'm thrilled to bring his insights to our community!

We don't often think about our online marketing, social media or website as being peaceful. Our guest today has a way of making the complex-simple, the noisy-quiet and marketing a bit more zen-like. Known as the “Zen Master of Marketing” by Entrepreneur Magazine and the “Millennial Master of the Universe” by Fast Company, Shama Hyder is a visionary strategist for the digital age. She is the bestselling author of the Zen of Social Media Marketing and international keynote speaker who’s shared the stage with the world’s top leaders, including President Obama and the Dalai Lama. As the CEO of the award-winning Marketing Zen Group, Shama was named as one of the “Top 30 Under 30” Entrepreneurs in America by Inc Magazine in 2013 and was honored at the White House as one of the top 100 U.S. companies to be run by a young entrepreneur by Empact100. A trusted media expert, Shama has frequently appeared on Fox Business, CBS, CW33 and Fox News and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepr

I'm looking forward to an awesome conversation today! That is what's considered a power lead. Leading with a powerful and optimistic statement that hopefully made you feel optimistic too. In this episode, you're going to hear about power leads and many other techniques so that you can live with a positive attitude, influence others and learn to broadcast happiness. Michelle Gielan, national CBS News anchor, turned positive psychology researcher, is the bestselling author of Broadcasting Happiness. Michelle is also the Founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research and is partnered with Arianna Huffington to study how transformative stories fuel success. She is an Executive Producer of “The Happiness Advantage” Special on PBS and a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course. Michelle holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and her research and advice have received attention from The New York Times, Washington Post, FORBES, CNN, FOX, and Harvard Business Re

Welcome to our special Thanksgiving episode! When you think about it, Thanksgiving is a savory holiday. The stuffing, the turkey, the delicious pies. All savory. But these are also the moments that can so easily slip by in all the busyness and be forgotten. Today we're going to talk about being present so you can get the most out of your holiday while savoring the moment. Achim Nowak and his work have been featured on 60 Minutes, Fox News, NPR, in The New York Times and The Miami Herald. His weekly Energy Boost message champions an energized life delivered to his devoted global following. Achim is an author, speaker, C-Suite coach, and international authority on personal presence. His new book The Moment: A Practical Guide to Creating a Mindful Life in a Distracted World which follows his previous books, Infectious and Power Speaking, both have become prized resources for executives around the world.

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

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-cla

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 differenc

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!  

We all know, it's a noisy world. There is a constant flow of content being created and consumed. You can stand out from the noise, by tapping into what makes you effective and compelling. You can use your quiet power to separate yourself from the noise! Tara Gentile is a business strategist and the author of Quiet Power Strategy. She works with entrepreneurs and idea people to help them leverage their Quiet Power and build businesses that generate wealth, peace, and ease. Tara’s work has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, Design*Sponge, and in the New York Times bestselling book The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau. She’s a regular instructor on CreativeLive and speaks on entrepreneurship, money, and the New Economy all over the world.