The Elite Entrepreneurs Podcast

Loren Feldman is editor-in-chief and founder of 21 Hats, a platform for business owners, where he edits a daily newsletter for entrepreneurs and hosts the 21 Hats podcast. He has also co-hosted a call-in show for business owners, Mind Your Business, on Sirius XM.Previously, he was a senior editor at Forbes, where he created the Forbes Small Giants franchise and was responsible for entrepreneurial coverage in print and online. Before that, he was small-business editor of The New York Times, where he started the You’re the Boss small-business blog. He has also been editor of the Web sites at both Inc. and FastCompany.Before going digital, he was a top editor and writer for print magazines such as Inc., Philadelphia, Manhattan, inc., the American Lawyer, Money, and George. He has also written for GQ, The New York Times Magazine, and The New York Times Sunday Business section. And he has spoken and moderated discussions at numerous conferences and seminars on entrepreneurship.What you will learn in this episode:·        How covering entrepreneurship for Inc. Magazine left Loren bitten by the entrepreneur bug and sparked his interest in creating a community for business owners·        How Loren and 21 Hats have been communicating with seven business owners through the pandemic to get insights into the challenges and opportunities they've faced·        How the 21 Hats podcast has shined a light on the many unexpected struggles businesses have had to navigate throughout the global pandemic·        Loren shares the story of one of the business owners that has appeared regularly on the 21 Hats podcast and the journey he has gone through surviving the pandemic·        Why advice is much easier to give than to take, and why it can be challenging for business owners to listen to others and implement the wisdom they're given·        Why it can be difficult for business owners to prioritize doing work that will result in long-term gains for the business and, why instead they focus too much on the day-to-day·        Why it is important to find your "tribe," people who you share values with, who you trust, and who you can discuss your wins and challenges with·        How being transparent and honest with other like-minded business owners can help transform your business and give you a powerful source of support and encouragementResources:·        Website: https://21hats.com/ ·        The 21 Hats Podcast, with Loren Feldman: https://21hats.com/podcasts/ ·        LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/feldmanloren/ ·        LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/21-hats/ ·        Facebook: www.facebook.com/21HatsMedia ·        Twitter: https://twitter.com/lfeldmanAdditional Resources:·        Elite Business Health Assessment: https://growwithelite.com/health ·        Email: info@GrowWithElite.com·        Website: https://growwithelite.com/

Trying to find the time to develop your leadership skills can be frustrating when you’re also trying to run a successful business, but the payoff is worth the effort. Learn how even a few minutes of leadership development work each day can make a dramatic difference in your relationships and your success as a business leader.What You Will Learn:·        Everything you learn to become a better leader will pay dividends for as long as you live.·        How to leverage what you are already doing to improve your leadership skills.·        Why slow consistency beats perfection when becoming a great leader in all aspects of your life.About Brett GillilandBrett Gilliland is Founder and CEO of Elite Entrepreneurs, a company that specializes in giving $1M+ business owners the knowledge, processes, and tools to grow to $10M and beyond. Brett is an expert in organization development, leadership, and strategy and spent 10 years helping Infusionsoft grow from $7M in revenue to over $100M. Brett was involved in the foundational work of Purpose, Values, and Mission at Infusionsoft and facilitated the strategic planning process for many years.One of Brett’s favorite professional accomplishments is co-creating Infusionsoft’s Elite Forum along with Clate Mask and building the Elite business inside of Infusionsoft. As the leader of the Elite business, Brett has helped hundreds of struggling seven-figure business owners overcome their biggest challenges and achieve new levels of success. He also played a central role in the development of Infusionsoft’s Leadership Model and was serving as the VP of Leadership Development when the decision was made to spin the Elite business out of Infusionsoft. As the new owner of Elite Entrepreneurs, Brett can’t think of anything else he’d rather be doing professionally. When Brett isn’t busy helping $1M+ businesses succeed, he is a family man who enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife, Sharon, and their 8 children.Resources:·        Elite Business Health Assessment: https://growwithelite.com/health·        Email: info@GrowWithElite.com·        Website: https://growwithelite.com/ 

Charles Gaudet is the author of “The Predictable Profits Playbook: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Dominating Any Market and Staying on Top“ (voted #1 Book on Sales & Marketing by Indie Excellence) and host of The Beyond 7-Figures Podcast.The International Business Times called him “The Go-To Business Coach for 7 and 8 Figure Businesses” and perhaps the “busiest sales coach in the US.“GritDaily said Gaudet is: “regarded in entrepreneurial circles as one of the top coaches for helping entrepreneurs surpass the seven and eight-figure mark.”And Yahoo Finance referred to him as: “The CEO Whisperer.”He’s been an entrepreneur since the age of 4, created his first multi-million dollar business at 24, and has helped others generate millions with his strategies.He’s received numerous awards and recognition (including founding a company named as “One of the Best Seed Stage Companies” by Ernst & Young), received his Certificate of Leadership Development from The US Army War College and has his business advice featured around in the world – including Inc., Forbes, Salesforce, Success, Entrepreneur, and Fox Business – as well as on podcasts and radio.He was named one of American Geniuses’ Top 50 Industry Influencers.He trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (two gold medal finishes) and is a 3-time wrestling state champion. He lives in New Hampshire with his beautiful wife, three adorable kid-preneurs, and one badass dog.What You Will Learn:·        How Charles learned that everything changes in your business once you reach seven figures, and why leveraging your resources is crucial for moving to the next level·        Why getting more sales is only effective when you have the systems and team in place to deliver on those sales·        Why strategically simplifying your business at the seven-figure revenue plateau is the key to resuming growth·        How creating an overarching system specifically designed for creating systems in your business can be a powerful strategy for accelerating your growth·        Why, like a train, it takes four key parts to operate and scale a business (cogs, engine, engineer, and visionary)·        Why building out an effective leadership team can help you move from being the engine driving your business to being the engineer navigating·        Why when you’re just starting, you have to hustle and do everything, and why scaling means doing less or even none of what you’re doing now·        Why it’s important to remember that hiring great people is only the first step and that you must then support them and set them up for success·        Why hiring someone with all your same skills results in one of you becoming redundant, and why hiring for key specialties and skills is more effective in the long run·        Why a three-pronged strategy of optimization, systemization, and innovation is the key to getting to eight figures and beyondResources:·        Beyond 7 Figures podcast: https://predictableprofits.com/beyond-7-figures/·        Website: https://predictableprofits.com/·        LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlesgaudet/·        LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/predictable-profits·        Facebook: www.facebook.com/PredictableProfits/·        Twitter: @charlesgaudetAdditional Resources:·        Elite Business Health Assessment: https://growwithelite.com/health·        Email: info@GrowWithElite.com·        Website: https://growwithelite.com/

Josh Phegan is the internationally renowned go-to speaker, trainer, and coach for high-performance real estate agents and agencies. He is the number one preferred trainer for Australia’s top 100 agents and top 50 women in real estate.He personally coaches some of the who’s who in the real estate industry, both new, emerging, and high-performance agents, with his number 1 sales agent writing $707m in sales, $14m in fees, and 200+ transactions per annum.In 2021, he is the drawcard speaker at over 200 events in the UK, UAE, New Zealand, and Australia. He works with leading real estate agencies at both training and boardroom levels.He hosts industry-leading events such as the Real Estate BluePrint and is the producer behind the High-Performance podcast with Alexander Phillips, and the Fast Pace podcast with Dean Mackie and Josh Phegan Digital. What You Will Learn:How Josh had an eye-opening experience with an employee that taught him the critical importance of setting the Vision and getting clarity on the company’s MissionHow Josh’s real estate coaching business has grown over 15 years through intentionality, and what early challenges Josh had to face after crossing seven figuresWhy Josh needed to get clarity around his business and his future plans before he could move his business beyond the “one-person team” periodHow Josh used his own early experiences as a real estate agent to identify how he and his team could best help other agentsWhy planning, discipline, and clarity helped Josh and his team achieve 21% growth year-over-year for nearly a decadeWhy implementing systems was key to creating predictable success and the ability to adapt to changes swiftlyHow a scene in the movie “The Godfather” hides a valuable lesson when a character says “I don’t need a lot of clients, I need a few clients with a lot of problems”What key challenges Josh and his team faced, and what important lessons they were able to learn from them about how to run a business effectivelyHow being willing to learn and adapt meant the second business model they created took three weeks when the first had taken six yearsWhy it is important to develop your skills as a leader so that your team picks up those skills from you Resources:Website: https://joshphegan.com.auLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshpheganFacebook: facebook.com/joshphegancoachTwitter: @joshphegan Additional Resources:Elite Business Health Assessment: https://growwithelite.com/healthEmail: info@GrowWithElite.comWebsite: https://growwithelite.com

Dynamic results-oriented Strategic Implementation Consultant, Trainer and Executive Coach, Joel P. Martin, Ph.D., (she, her) is the Founder and President of Positively Powerful-Triad West, Inc. Dr. Martin has a demonstrated ability to create visionary transformational leaders; diverse, inclusive, and high performing teams; empowered women, people of color, new managers and other professionals who, after working with Dr. Martin, are less-stressed more creative, inspired, happier, and Positively Powerful™ in their lives and careers.For more than 20 years, Dr. Martin has trained, coached, consulted, and spoken before hundreds of thousands of individuals around the world. With her insightful expertise, unconditionally committed, heartfelt New York City style (her hometown), she provides clients with services that address their business development and DEI needs and provides innovative solutions that close the gap from where they are now and where they want to be. She is dedicated to changing lives and businesses for the better globally.Dr. Martin practices life-long learning and giving back to communities. She’s earned numerous awards as well as a MA in Psychology, PhD in Communications and admission into the Society of Fellows, Wharton Business School. Previously she owned and operated a full-service New York City advertising agency.What You Will Learn:·        How Dr. Martin’s career path led to becoming a globally respected speaker, thriving entrepreneur and business leader·        Why Dr. Martin chose to go back to school later in life and pursue her Ph.D., and why she believes strongly in lifelong learning·        Why a diverse and inclusive work environment inspired Dr. Martin to begin speaking and making a difference in people’s lives·        Why sharing your truthful and personal story can be a powerful way to create authentic, deep connections with others·        What steps you can take to improve your Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) skills, and why these skills are valuable business assets·        Why optics matter even more as more activities move to a digital space, and how to evaluate your company’s DEI optics·        Why you should consider becoming a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, and what benefits you can receive from that partnership·        Why stereotypes can lead to undervaluing and disrespecting people and can even impact your ability to hire the best peopleResources:·        30-Minute Complimentary Consultation: https://calendly.com/jpmartin·        Website: www.positivelypowerful.com·        LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drjpmartin/·        Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/COLeadership/·        Twitter: @DrjpmartinAdditional Resources:·        Elite Business Health Assessment: https://growwithelite.com/health·        Email: info@GrowWithElite.com·        Website: https://growwithelite.com/

Veronique James founded The James Agency (TJA) in 2005 with the goal of creating an agency focused on open communication and transparency with clients and employees. Today, the award-winning, integrated agency specializes in consumer advertising, public relations and digital and continues to exemplify Veroniques original vision.Veronique and her team collaborate to produce creatively-fueled, results-driven campaigns that help clients achieve their goals and positively impact their bottom line. TJA has worked with notable brands such as Hotel Valley Ho, Mountain Shadows, Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, Spinato’s Pizzeria, Marriott International, Epoch Residential, Fox Restaurant Concepts, among others. Under Veroniques direction, TJA has been honored with numerous industry and culture awards, including being named to the Inc. 5000 and Entrepreneur Top Company Cultures lists.Actively involved in the community, Veronique is currently a member of Entrepreneurs Organization, Arizona Chapter. She served as the organization’s third female president in 2017/2018. She has received numerous accolades for her leadership, entrepreneurship and community involvement.Veronique is originally from Southern California and graduated with a BFA in Visual Communication from the University of Arizona.What You Will Learn:·        Why The James Agency (TJA) being 16 years old helps to uniquely position them in their field of expertise, and what kinds of “business-to-human” work they do·        What key challenges and lessons learned helped Veronique and her team continue to grow beyond seven figures·        How going through a difficult period of financial hardship and divorce served as motivation for Veronique to push harder for business growth and success·        Why avoiding taking on debt and bootstrapping the business proved instrumental in teaching Veronique valuable leadership lessons·        How the journey to $1 million showed Veronique and her team that they were operating in the right niche in their industry and had something unique to share·        How Veronique and her team get intentional about their company’s Culture and maintain their identity even as they grow·        Why putting on blinders to block out distractions was crucial for Veronique to be able to grow her organization’s brand and build a reputation·        Why building the business in an authentic way was crucial for maintaining the TJA identity through periods of rapid growthResources:·        Website: https://thejamesagency.com/·        LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/veroniquejames/·        LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-james-agency/·        Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheJamesAgency·        Twitter: @TheJamesAgencyAdditional Resources:·        Elite Business Health Assessment: https://growwithelite.com/health·        Email: info@GrowWithElite.com·        Website: https://growwithelite.com/

If you want to stop being a doer and start being a leader, you need to stop wearing all the hats. Learn how with these deceptively simple techniques. What You Will Learn:v Why the global pandemic has created stress, exhaustion, and overwhelm for business owners of all kinds.v Why it’s crucial to put your oxygen mask on before you assist anyone else, and why taking care of yourself is a crucial part of being an effective leader.v What to do when feeling overwhelmed at work, and how the “Five Ds” (Dump, Delete, Delegate, Defer, Do) can helpv Why the abstract, information-overload nature of our modern life can add to our feelings of overwhelmv How the abstract problems we must deal with begin to stack up and fill our subconscious, causing energy drain and overwhelmv Why dumping everything in your head out and writing it down can help reduce your stress and overwhelmv Why deleting unnecessary tasks that aren’t critical to the success of your business can free bandwidth for the things that do matterv Why delegating things to other people can help relieve your burden and allow you to refocusv Why deferring the things that can put off safely and that aren’t significant priorities can help shorten your to-do listv Why the last step is to deal with the things you need to do that will further your progress. About Brett Gilliland:Brett Gilliland is the Founder and CEO of Elite Entrepreneurs, a company specializing in giving $1M+ business owners the knowledge, processes, and tools to grow to $10M and beyond. Brett is an expert in organization development, leadership, and strategy and spent ten years helping Infusionsoft grow from $7M in revenue to over $100M. Brett was involved in the foundational work of Purpose, Values, and Mission at Infusionsoft and facilitated the strategic planning process for many years. One of Brett’s favorite professional accomplishments is co-creating Infusionsoft’s Elite Forum along with Clate Mask and building the Elite business inside Infusionsoft. As the leader of the Elite business, Brett has helped hundreds of struggling seven-figure business owners overcome their biggest challenges and achieve new levels of success. He also played a central role in developing Infusionsoft’s Leadership Model and serving as the VP of Leadership Development when deciding to spin the Elite business out of Infusionsoft. As the new owner of Elite Entrepreneurs, Brett can’t think of anything else he’d rather be doing professionally. When Brett isn’t busy helping $1M+ businesses succeed, he is a family man who enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife, Sharon, and their eight children. Resources:Elite Business Health Assessment: https://growwithelite.com/healthEmail: info@GrowWithElite.comWebsite: https://growwithelite.com/

Jared Hummel is an experienced business leader with a history of building start-up organizations into streamlined, revenue-generating companies. As the President of Parqa, he leads with a strong financial background and is motivated by enhancing growth and finding solutions to complex operating and execution-based challenges. Jared enjoys working with company leaders to integrate digital strategies into overall business decisions, emphasizing nurturing clients and candidates through automation to drive revenue. At Parqa, he combines his finance, operations, and marketing background to help fuel growth for the company and its partners in the country. Jared is a knowledgeable and versatile speaker, always excited to discuss how his passion for sports informs his approach to team building. He has actionable and unique advice for staffing agencies, team leaders, marketers, and technology buffs looking to understand complex and niche strategies in action. What You Will Learn:v Jared describes the work he and his team do at Parqa Marketing and shares how he stepped into a leadership role and evolved the businessv How raising $10 million in capital allowed Jared and the Parqa Marketing team to fund the growth of the business to $25 million and beyondv How Setting the Vision, Building the Team, and Securing Fuel for Growth has been instrumental in overcoming the common seven-figure challenges Parqa has faced?v Why Jared’s background as a hockey player has served him in his role at Parqa Marketing and taught him the importance of a team working in synergy togetherv Why do Jared and his leadership team have quarterly offsite meetings to ensure everyone is on the same page?v Why eliminating staff turnover has been instrumental in allowing Parqa Marketing to continue to scale, and why Culture is crucial for growthv Why growing his leadership skills has been an important focus as Jared has stepped into a leadership role Resources:Website: https://parqamarketing.com/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/parqa/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jared-hummel/Facebook: www.facebook.com/ParqaMarketingTwitter: @ParqaMarketing Additional Resources:Elite Business Health Assessment: https://growwithelite.com/healthEmail: info@GrowWithElite.comWebsite: https://growwithelite.com/

About Joshua Gillow, in his own words: "Hello. I am Joshua Gillow, founder of YES Express! I have operated my own outdoor living & landscaping design/build company for 24 years. I loved the work and the satisfaction my team and I brought to clients' lives. But for many years, I struggled. Like practically all of us in this business, I jumped at every lead. Someone called, and I'd make an appointment for an in-person consultation. Getting them to sign up was hit or miss. Sometimes, I felt "in the zone" and did well on those in-person consults. Other times, I was off my game. Maybe there was traffic there, or I had too many things to think about. Some clients threw me off track, and the conversation just got lost. But that's just the nature of the beast, right?" Guess what? That's EXACTLY WRONG. What ALL successful business owners know (at least those with lives, time, and money freedom) is this secret: ONLY systems grant you the ability to successfully sell on your life's worst day! You cannot rely on your emotion or whether the stars aligned during the conversation. You cannot guess what to say. That is a loser's game. It's the game ALL of us are playing. Stop. Winners have the tools, systems, and resources to lead a client conversation from when they contact you until they write the check. DELIVERING THAT SYSTEM IS WHAT YES EXPRESS IS ALL ABOUT." What You Will Learn:v What common growth problems do entrepreneurs Joshua works with typically run into, and how growing your leadership skills and mindset is the key to overcoming those challengesv Why Joshua believes sales is about communicating from your client's perspective, and why he focuses his work exclusively on the outdoor living and landscaping industriesv Why understanding "why" you want to grow beyond seven figures is crucial, and why adaptability and intuition are key traits that will help you move the needlev How the book "The Big Five For Life" by John Strelecky transformed Joshua's mindset and outlook, and why having fulfillment in your life is vitalv Why transparency, authenticity, and vulnerability can be a superpower that can unleash your potential as a leaderv Why leveling up your leadership inspires loyalty and helps your team do their best work, and why it can create real, tangible returns on investmentv Why does letting your team make big swings, even if they sometimes miss, crucial for giving them the space to solve problems and grow in their roles?v Why Joshua draws motivation and passion for what he does from making the world better for his sons, and why everyone's core question is, "What's in it for me?"v Why you shouldn't accept every client that comes through the door, and why falling in love with your ideal clients rather than your offerings is crucial Resources:The Outerspaces Podcast with Joshua Gillow: www.outerspacespodcast.comWebsite: www.yes.expressWebsite: www.mymasterplan.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-gillow-04ba89a7/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/yes-express-sales/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/masterplan-outdoor-livingFacebook: www.facebook.com/YesExpressSalesFacebook: www.facebook.com/MasterPLANdesignTwitter: @MasterPLAN_LLC Additional Resources:Elite Business Health Assessment: https://growwithelite.com/healthEmail: info@GrowWithElite.comWebsite: https://growwithelite.com/

If you want to stop being a doer and start being a leader, you need to stop wearing all the hats. Learn how with these deceptively simple techniques. What You Will Learn:·        Why do business owners so often end up stuck in the business, “wearing too many hats” and covering too many roles, and why it’s important to transition to leading·        Which three hats should you keep when transitioning from entrepreneur to leader, and why these hats are your primary responsibility·        Why learning to lead is like learning a new language, and why setting your company’s Vision and creating an action plan to get there is a vital, ongoing task.·        What steps to take to build a team that fits your Vision and can help you achieve your Mission, and why delivering results is the third key that you should wear·        Why a meeting rhythm is crucial for keeping everyone moving in the same direction, and why it can help you balance the short-term and long-term in your business·        Why moving from “doer” to “leader” is the only path for the continued growth of your business, and what steps to take to develop yourself and get rid of your extra hats·        Why small, iterative cycles are the key to becoming a stronger leader, and why a short out-of-office vacation can help you identify hats you can give to others on your team. About Brett GillilandBrett Gilliland is the Founder and CEO of Elite Entrepreneurs, a company specializing in giving $1M+ business owners the knowledge, processes, and tools to grow to $10M and beyond. Brett, an expert in organization development, leadership, and strategy, spent ten years helping Infusionsoft grow from $7M in revenue to over $100M. Brett was involved in the foundational work of Purpose, Values, and Mission at Infusionsoft and facilitated the strategic planning process for many years. One of Brett’s favorite professional accomplishments is co-creating Infusionsoft’s Elite Forum along with Clate Mask and building the Elite business inside Infusionsoft. As the leader of the Elite business, Brett has helped hundreds of struggling seven-figure business owners overcome their biggest challenges and achieve new levels of success. He also played a central role in developing Infusionsoft’s Leadership Model and serving as the VP of Leadership Development when deciding to spin the Elite business out of Infusionsoft. As the new owner of Elite Entrepreneurs, Brett can’t think of anything else rather be doing professionally. When Brett isn’t busy helping $1M+ businesses succeed, he is a family man who enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife, Sharon, and their eight children. Resources:·        “Too Many Hats” cartoon on Office Guy Cartoons: www.officeguycartoons.com/product/too-many-hats/ Additional Resources:·        Elite Business Health Assessment: https://growwithelite.com/health·        Email: info@GrowWithElite.com·        Website: https://growwithelite.com/