A Productive Conversation

Mike Michalowicz is an American author, entrepreneur, and lecturer. He is currently an author of seven business books published by Penguin Random House, including ‘Profit First’ and ‘Clockwork’, and is the former host of the "Business Rescue" segment for MSNBC's Your Business. It’s an honor and a privilege to have Mike on the show as we get to explore how to truly succeed through marketing your business.We explore how to be in control of your leads, Mike’s ‘DAD’ methodology, being different ‘enough’, plain text emails – and fun houses.Talking Points What inspired Mike to write ‘Get Different’ The attitude of experimenting vs planning How to specify your audience Being ‘different enough’ Seeking inspiration from other industries Learn how to instantly analyze your marketing campaigns  Quote"The creation of new is an improvement of old."Helpful Links GoGetDifferent.com ‘Clockwork’ by Mike Michalowicz Clickup Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

I’m excited to finally have my good friend Stephen Warley on the show today. He founded Life Skills That Matter in 2016, a platform that teaches individuals how to create a business that is in alignment with their values, needs and abilities. He is also the host of the Life Skills That Matter Podcast, where he has interviewed 500+ people who have made the transition from employment to working for themselves... and all the different ways they’ve done it.Tune in to this productive conversation as we discuss scheduling time for reflection, journaling, creating healthy habits, what Stephen does to slow down – and learning how to ski.Talking Points How to cultivate self-awareness  Stephen’s workshop at the BIG Ready 2021 Scheduling time for reflection and meditation Finding activities to stimulate mindfulness Building habits before tools Creating a retreat for yourself Quote"Are your habits taking you where you want to go?"Helpful Links Life Skills That Matter Podcast The BIG Ready LifeSkillsThatMatter.com/GetStarted Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

Jeff Brown was a reluctant reader at school, but he fell in love with it when he had to learn more about marketing in his career. Jeff is a podcaster, mentor, and speaker, with a mission to help people like you bridge the gap between intention and implementation. He does this primarily through public speaking, mastermind groups, membership platforms, courses, coaching, and consulting.I’m excited to learn more about his latest book, which co-authored with Jesse Wisnewski, ‘Read to Lead: The Simple Habit That Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career’. In this productive conversation we explore book clubs, speed reading, being a co-author, the free library movement – and why there will always be a place for books. Be sure to check out the links for all the books we mentioned in this interview!Talking Points Jeff’s relationship with reading The co-authoring experience Reading books digitally versus physically When to keep or let go of books The books Jeff re-reads the most Interesting findings from writing the book A process for skim reading The benefits of having a book club Quote"We are all lifelong learners."Helpful Links ‘Read To Lead’ by Jeff Brown and Jesse Wisnewski Episode 343: Consistency Over Authenticity with Seth Godin ‘Purple Cow’ by Seth Godin How to Be a Better Reader - YouTube Episode 360: A World Without Email with Cal Newport Episode 229: Exploring Digital Minimalism with Cal Newport Episode 73: Deep Work with Cal Newport ‘Digital Minimalism’ by Cal Newport ‘Punch Failure in the Face’ by David Knapp-Fisher ‘Anything You Want’ by Derek Sivers ‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team’ by Patrick M. Lencioni ‘Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day’ by Todd Henry Episode 340: Your Motivation Code with Todd Henry Episode 54: Voice Lessons with Todd Henry ‘Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smart’ by Liz Wiseman ‘How to Take Smart Notes’ by Sönke Ahrens ‘Getting Things Done’ by David Allen Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen ‘Greenlights’ by Matthew McConaughey ‘The Greatest Salesman in the World’ by Og Mandino ReadToLeadBook.com Read To Lead Podcast Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

Today’s guest, Adii Pienaar, is not a fan of labels, but he’s a true life-first entrepreneur and avid writer. He also co-founded WooThemes in 2007, founded Conversio in 2014. His latest book, Life Profitability: The New Measure of Entrepreneurial Success distills a new perspective for becoming self-aware, recognising your values, and understanding your impact. I found it really impactful, so I couldn’t wait to bring Adii on to the show.Listen to this conversation as we take a step back and review how to live an enriched life AND run a successful business. We discuss the power of language, journaling, what ‘harmony’ means to Adii – and cultivating ‘breadcrumbs’ of writing. Talking Points Being a seeker The pros and cons of ambition Why we shouldn’t strive for ‘work-life balance Measuring qualitative goals How to maintain and sustain your life profitability How journaling has helped Adii Breaking old patterns Quote"Seek the newer versions of your truths."Helpful Links ‘Life Profitability’ by Adii Pienaar  ‘Motion’ by Adii Pienaar  The Toxicity of Relentless Ambition ‘When Breath Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi Episode 226: How to Build a Company of One with Paul Jarvis ‘Siddhartha’ by Hermann Hesse ‘The Values Factor’ by Dr. John DeMartini 13 Questions with Dr John Demartini Adii.me Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

It’s personal building the right process for your business. ClickUp expert and business coach Yvonne Heimann shares how choosing the right tool will shift your business. From having been a German pub owner to now being a Californian business coach, Yvonne Heimann “sees systems everywhere”. I discovered her work on YouTube when I wanted to move over from Asana to ClickUp – and she massively helped me with this transition. Yvonne helps digital entrepreneurs increase profits and reclaim lost time by teaching how to implement proven processes, systems, using project management tools like ClickUp. As you can tell from our conversation, Yvonne knows her stuff when it comes to simplifying systems and building processes. Listen to find out more about her ‘Daily Method of Operation’, building a successful YouTube channel, why ClickUp is her favorite tool, using visual flow charts – and what it was like being brought up near the Berlin wall.  Talking Points Be clear on your ‘Why’ and ‘What’ Being a woman in the productivity industry How to find common values within your workflow Having patience with setting up your process Defining productivity across the US vs European culture Journaling and daily routines Tips on moving to a different project management tool Having a bigger picture with your process Quote "Look at the bigger picture, then drill down." Helpful Links Ask Yvi YouTube Ask Yvi Facebook Group AskVi.com Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

It’s time to take a pause. Athlete, author, podcaster and mentor Vernon Foster II shares his steps to mindful living. What’s clear from my conversation with Vernon Foster II is that living a fulfilling life is a lifelong journey. There is no silver bullet or magic pill. Through Vernon’s own personal hardship, and working closely with others, he’s put together all that he has learnt in ‘The 7 Laws of Mindful Living: A Soul Manual’.  I first met Vernon a few years ago at the Podcast Movement, so I couldn’t wait to learn more about this latest book. Join our reflective discussion as we spoke about Vernon’s ‘laws’ of mindful living, the power of taking a break, overcoming limiting beliefs, how to not get caught up in the doing – and a potential 8th Law... Talking Points The Law of Letting Go Limiting identities The art of embracing experiences Removing judgment The Law of Abundance The impact of releasing ‘The 7 Laws of Mindful Living: A Soul Manual’ Overcoming overwhelm with where to start Quote "Craft the narrative that supports who you want to become." Helpful Links VeronTFoster.com The 7 Laws of Mindful Living (Book Website) The 7 Laws of Mindful Living (Amazon / Audible) Podcast Movement ‘The One Thing’ by Gary Keller ‘Greenlights’ by Matthew McConaughey Put Up A Pretty Light (w/ Matthew McConaughey) ‘Eat That Frog’ Brian Tracy Episode 351: Eating Frogs with Brian Tracy Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

Master facilitator Marli Williams shares what you can get out of a retreat – and the real-life transformations you can expect from connecting with the right people.  Marli is a master facilitator of transformation who creates magic in beautiful epic places. She’s the founder and director of Camp YES! – a summer camp for women entrepreneurs, leaders and change-makers. She is also a wilderness guide, educator and mentor. Her mission is to create epic, transformational experiences.  Join our productive conversation as we discuss the power of taking a retreat, how to stay energized as a facilitator, being creative with virtual retreats, having informal hangout time – and sharing bourbon with Neal Pollack.   Talking Points The tipping point for taking a retreat Retreats vs conferences What makes a retreat stand out from the rest Co-creating experiences Manufacturing transformational experiences online Quote "Pay attention to what captures your attention." Helpful Links Camp YES! Episode 187: More Fun in Done with Marli Williams Episode 361: Being a Multipotentialite with Vanessa Tharp The BIG Ready World Domination MaxFunCon Think Better, Live Better ‘Jewball’ by Neal Pollack Marli’s Instagram Marli’s Facebook MarliWilliams.com Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

Buddhism and Taoism expert Mike Sturm joins the show to uncover how to develop a deep personal relationship with yourself – the Wabi-Sabi way. Mike Sturm has taught philosophy at college level for several years and researched Buddhism and Taoism extensively. He writes about self-improvement and productivity from the perspective of spirituality and first principles. In this reflective conversation, we focus in particular on ‘Wabi-Sabi’, an ancient Japanese philosophy that centres on appreciating​​ the beauty in imperfection and accepting the more natural cycle of life. Join us as we explore some of the key insights from his book The Wabi-sabi Way: Simple Principles to Bring Calm, Meaning & Authenticity to Your Daily Life. We discuss personal authenticity, reviewing habits, the power of validation and embracing imperfection – and Captain America.  Talking Points What is Wabi-sabi? The Western challenges with meditation and stillness The notion of time Ease vs. easy Where to get started with the Wabi-sabi mindset The practice of impermanence Simple steps to live the Wabi-sabi way Quote "Accepting where you’ve been is the only way of getting to where you want to go." Helpful Links ‘The Wabi-sabi Way’ by Mike Sturm Muse Headband “The Dexterous Butcher” by Chuang Tzu ‘The Seven Day Circle’ by Eviatar Zerubavel Episode 354: How To Decide with Annie Duke ‘How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices’ by Annie Duke Episode 243: The Art of Noticing with Rob Walker Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen Episode 360: A World Without Email with Cal Newport Episode 286: Doing Project 333 with Courtney Carver Captain America video essay ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X’ by Alex Haley and Malcolm X Mike’s Medium Mike’s Twitter MikeSturm.net Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

Small business expert and former photographer Jeffrey Shaw unpacks how live the best self-employed life. Jeffrey Shaw became one of the most preeminent portrait photographers in the United States. He decided to share his knowledge of business, branding, and marketing to support self-employed and small business owners as well as progressive-minded companies. I had a great time learning more about his strategies that have helped small businesses scale their big dreams. We unpack the insights from his latest book The Self-Employed Life: Business and Personal Development Strategies. We also explore personal development, redefining what we mean by ‘niche’, owning your area of expertise, and lessons from sea kayaking. Talking Points What’s needed to be successfully self-employed The ecosystem analogy The business model of multiples Daily habits for small business owners ‘The What’s Going Right’ journal Being clear with your meaning and marketability Quote “Set up your business for the capacity that is to come, not for it currently is.” Helpful Links The Self-Employed Life Podcast The Membership Guys Self-Employed Ecosystem Coaching ‘LINGO’ by Jeffrey Shaw Episode 227: Why You Need Atomic Habits with James Clear Clear Habit Journal SelfEmployedAssessment.com TheSelfEmployedLife.me Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

From virtually no spending controls to ‘just take some’ vacation, Netflix’s innovation has stemmed from a simple set of rules. Erin Meyer uncovers how you can foster a culture of freedom and innovation. Erin Meyer is an author and professor at INSEAD Business School, based in Paris. She is most known for writing the book, The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business. Her work focuses on how the world’s most successful leaders navigate the complexities of cultural differences in a multicultural environment. Erin joins the show to share how we can all lead with a culture of innovation. In this conversation, I go through her latest book that she co-authored with Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention. Tune in to learn more about what frameworks foster freedom, how a workplace can operate with no policies, and what you can learn from the ‘Keeper Test’. Talking Points The kind of ‘no rules ethos’ Netflix follows The impact of freedom and how it fosters high-density talent Having thick skin Building a culture of candor and feedback The ‘take some’ vacation policy How to build a culture similar to Netflix Quote “Feedback is rarely comfortable but it helps us in incredible ways.” Helpful Links ‘No Rules Rules’ by Erin Meyer and Reed Hastings ‘The Culture Map’ by Erin Meyer ErinMeyer.com Erin’s LinkedIn Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.