The Self-Employed Life

An annual tradition on the podcast, we prepare for next year by considering our theme. Your theme is a feeling of what is right for you at this time in your life and the universe agrees. Your theme becomes your North star and guiding principle for next year. Let's find your theme for 2021! Join 18,000 subscribers looking to do "business with a soul" and sign up to receive my Self-Employed Nutshell Newsletter! Sign up here! 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 speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Make sure YOUR voice is heard as a self-employed business owner and add your name to the Voices of the Self-Employed advocacy group! A grassroots movement to protect your rights and influence legislation. Add Your Name Here! Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life(May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

Building a successful brand is about so much more than your product itself. It's about selling the mood your product creates; the experience, from start to finish. From the moment you enter a website and read the description of a product, to the messaging, the packaging, the vessel - it all needs to have a unified presence. This is how you captivate and inspire your client, through storytelling and connecting them to your product. When designing all aspects of your brand - product, packaging, social media, etc - it's important to pull from what inspires you. Your family history, travel, or current surroundings will help influence the vision of your brand. Storytelling through colors, design, fragrance, or sound can connect all of your inspirations and tie everything in your brand together. To help us better understand how to create a successful and unified brand - I've brought on travel and lifestyle expert, and founder of Harlem Candle Company, Teri Johnson. Teri, a native Texan, decided to make the New York City neighborhood of Harlem her permanent home and through intense research, she discovered Harlem's vibrant and rich past. She started the Harlem Candle Co. in her kitchen in 2014. Through her travels to nearly 70 countries, she discovered the power of scent and its ability to transport you through time and place. Teri now designs fragrances alongside award winning perfumers to produce beautifully scented candles that celebrate the Harlem Renaissance. Learn more about Teri's successful brand story - by downloading this episode now. "I want to constantly elevate the brand and constantly deliver the best customer service and fulfillment service possible. That's the goal." -Teri Johnson Join 17,000 subscribers looking to do "business with a soul" and sign up to receive my Self-Employed Nutshell Newsletter! Sign up here! Highlights – Examine what's important to you and what you believe; maintain those values while being flexible in your approach to life and business. Trust that enough people see value in what you do and want to work with you, be comfortable and confident in that. Don't become so much of an expert that you become selfish more than selfless. Be confident that you are giving your client what they need, even if it's not what they think they want. Pattern matching is the essence of everything we do; when you see the patterns, you can solve problems more efficiently. You can't connect the dots moving forward, only when you're looking back. See how your unique ability aligns with what you love to do through stepping outside yourself. Guest Contact – Teri Johnson's Website Teri Johnson's LinkedIn Teri Johnson's Twitter Teri Johnson's Instagram Teri Johnson's Facebook 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 customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

We live in world of limitations in business. There are only so many days in a year and hours in a day. Our calendars have limitations and our to-do lists max out. We bounce off the walls of these boundaries like a pinball machine. What if there was another way? A way to think unlimited instead of by the limits that seem to be imposed on us. There is. Have a listen. Join 18,000 subscribers looking to do "business with a soul" and sign up to receive my Self-Employed Nutshell Newsletter! Sign up here! 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 speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Make sure YOUR voice is heard as a self-employed business owner and add your name to the Voices of the Self-Employed advocacy group! A grassroots movement to protect your rights and influence legislation. Add Your Name Here! Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life(May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

Many professionals will tell you things they think you want to hear, but the people you trust are the ones who tell you what you need to hear. This is important to apply in your business because you are the expert and just because your client has a vision, they are hiring you for your expertise. When you are confident in your ability and present your client with the best result based on your expertise, they will come to trust you and your business will grow exponentially. Most people believe their business can only exist in one capacity but there are multiple way to position yourself across a broader spectrum; by narrowing your focus either vertically or horizontally. Vertical positioning being an expert in a specific industry but across multiple functions, and horizontally being a specific function but across multiple industries. To help better understand the business of expertise - I've brought on author, speaker, and advisor David Baker. David has authored four books including his newest, The Business of Expertise, as well as serving as an advisor to entrepreneurial experts. His educational background is in ancient languages and theology, and he's taught at both the undergraduate and graduate level. He has been a featured speaker at nearly every marketing industry conference, including multiple Tedx Events. David's work has been discussed in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Fast Company. Inc. Magazine, Forbes, MarketingProfs, and BusinessWeek, and he has been referred to in the New York Times as "the expert's expert". Learn how to make better business decisions - by downloading this episode now. "You're not always going to be told things that you want to hear, you're told things that you need to hear, and that's what expertise is about." -David Baker Join 17,000 subscribers looking to do "business with a soul" and sign up to receive my Self-Employed Nutshell Newsletter! Sign up here! Highlights – Examine what's important to you and what you believe; maintain those values while being flexible in your approach to life and business. Trust that enough people see value in what you do and want to work with you, be comfortable and confident in that. Don't become so much of an expert that you become selfish more than selfless. Be confident that you are giving your client what they need, even if it's not what they think they want. Pattern matching is the essence of everything we do; when you see the patterns, you can solve problems more efficiently. You can't connect the dots moving forward, only when you're looking back. See how your unique ability aligns with what you love to do through stepping outside yourself. Guest Contact – David Baker's Website David Baker's LinkedIn David Baker's Twitter David Baker's Instagram David Baker's Book: The Business of Expertise 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 customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

To be compelling is better than being different. Being compelling is the best way to draw people in. When you're compelling, you not only get attention but people can't take their eyes off you. Compelling is everything. What makes you compelling is your unique perspective. In this episode, I share what unique perspective is and how you can find your unique perspective. There are three coaching questions in this episode for you to ask yourself- 1) What expertise do you already have that can be layered on top of what you do now to give you a unique perspective? 2) What life story gives you a unique perspective about your area of expertise? 3) What past work experience can be added to what you do now that gives you a unique perspective? Join 17,000 subscribers looking to do "business with a soul" and sign up to receive my Self-Employed Nutshell Newsletter! Sign up here! 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 speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Make sure YOUR voice is heard as a self-employed business owner and add your name to the Voices of the Self-Employed advocacy group! A grassroots movement to protect your rights and influence legislation. Add Your Name Here! Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life(May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

One of the most human characteristics we have is empathy. Oftentimes you feel the need to change your persona when entering the workplace, being more guarded or less emotional. Large companies rarely give a demonstration of empathy in the workplace, but this can truly be the most important key to success. When you are empathetic to your clients and lead with compassion, you're reflecting your personal values and therefore the values of your brand. Your market isn't just for anyone who needs what you have, it's for the specific clients that share your values and appreciates the benefits you have to offer. Find your people by talking to them, understanding them and asking them how they would describe your work. Then use the words they are using in your branding and marketing messages, because odds are, the person reading these messages will feel heard and seen. This is the best way to get connective and empathetic messaging because you're seeking to understand things from the customers point of view. The actions of you as a person interacting with your customer, is what will make or break your brand. To help us better understand how to harness the value of compassion - I've brought on brand strategist, author, and speaker Maria Ross. Maria crafted branding and marketing strategies for Silicon Valley start-ups, global software firms, Internet companies, and consumer businesses and created communication and training strategies for Fortune 1000 clients at Accenture. She is an accomplished brand strategist, author, speaker, and actress. She earned a B.S in Marketing and a minor in Spanish from Indiana University, Bloomington. She has been a frequent guest writer for many business and lifestyle publications, such as Entrepreneur.com, The Huffington Post, OPEN Forum, MarketingProfs, Seattle Business, Columbus CEO, IntoWine and Life By Me - as well as being featured in outlets such as MSNBC, ABC News, NPR, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Learn how to demonstrate empathy in your business - by downloading this episode now. "It's the actions of you as a person, interacting with a customer, that makes or breaks your brand." - Maria Ross Join 17,000 subscribers looking to do "business with a soul" and sign up to receive my Self-Employed Nutshell Newsletter! Sign up here! Highlights – Cash-flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive. Find your people and understand them by talking to your ideal customer and persona, then use their words in your sales and marketing messages. Brand is expressed three ways - visually, verbally, and experientially. Align your values and humanize the work relationship. The future is automated, the only thing that will differentiate your business is the personal touch. When customers feel like you have their back, they'll have yours. They will cut you slack and be more forgiving. Live out your brand in the way you do business so that people get a consistent message. Guest Contact – Maria Ross's Website Maria Ross's Facebook Maria Ross's Twitter Maria Ross's Instagram Maria Ross's Youtube Maria Ross's Book: The Empathy Edge 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 customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

Empathy is the new buzz word. With the recent election of President-elect Joe Biden in the U.S., empathy is the word used time and again to describe him. Rightfully so if you knew his story. But how can empathy change your business? Have a listen to this episode and then follow up with Wednesday's episode with Maria Ross, author of The Empathy Edge: Harnessing the Value of Compassion as an Engine for Success. Join 17,000 subscribers looking to do "business with a soul" and sign up to receive my Self-Employed Nutshell Newsletter! Sign up here! 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 speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Make sure YOUR voice is heard as a self-employed business owner and add your name to the Voices of the Self-Employed advocacy group! A grassroots movement to protect your rights and influence legislation. Add Your Name Here! Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life(May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

Networking is arguably one of the most important skills in business but it can be extremely intimidating to build connections. No matter how hard you try, you cannot force anyone to like you. Instead, you have to first like yourself, and then be willing to share yourself with others so that they can see what is uniquely likable about you. Likability is the foundation of connection and from there you can become a successful connector by adopting these seven mindsets - being open and accepting, having a clear vision, believing in abundance, establishing trust, being social and curious, being conscientious and having a generous spirit. Becoming a better connector breeds faster, easier, and better results in whatever it is you are trying to do. There are tangible benefits such as increasing referrals, because people would rather work with someone they know and these relationships will win you the business every time. Part of being the most advanced connector comes from the mindset of having a generous spirit and is to not only respond but to initiate. If you're having trouble finding the time, allocate for one phone call or one email a week, devoted to connecting. If you're intimidated, ask permission before agreeing to initiate the connection - just be sure to always follow up and follow through. To help us better understand the seven mindsets of connectors and adopt those tendencies - I've brought on coach, author, speaker and trainer Michelle Tillis Lederman. An expert on workplace communications and relationships, Michelle's mission is to help people work together and advance their individual impact. She is an accomplished speaker, trainer, coach, and author of four books. Named by Forbes as one of the 25 Professional Networking Experts and also a former NYU professor, financial executive, and recovering CPA. She teaches from experience and shares what she learned during her extensive career. Michelle's clients range from government to academia to non-profit to Fortune 500 companies. Learn how to work better together and advance your individual impact - by downloading this episode now. "You will get the business because of the relationship." - Michelle Tillis Lederman Join 17,000 subscribers looking to do "business with a soul" and sign up to receive my Self-Employed Nutshell Newsletter! Sign up here! Highlights – Anybody can be a connector if you understand how to adopt and implement the seven mindsets. Look for multiple channels to connect with somebody and recognize that technology is in your favor. The foundation of connection is likability. Find what you like about yourself and be open with others so they can see those qualities. Initiate connections without feeling like you're limiting your own opportunities. See others as potential collaborators instead of competitors. Having empathy controls our natural tendencies to judge and draw conclusions. Slow down your thinking and stay in a place of curiosity, not conclusion. There are tangible results to becoming better connectors; 92% of people trust referrals. Do what you say you are going to do. Be careful what you say yes to and be willing to say no. Guest Contact – Michelle Tillis Lederman's Website Michelle Tillis Lederman's Facebook Michelle Tillis Lederman's Twitter Michelle Tillis Lederman's Instagram Michelle Tillis Lederman's Youtube Michelle Tillis Lederman's Book: The Connector's Advantage 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 customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

You know the expression, "You only have one chance to make a good first impression." Nowhere is that more true than in branding. And not just in the way that you think. Listen to this episode to find how why first impression is not only important to compel your ideal client but also to make your business easier. Join 17,000 subscribers looking to do "business with a soul" and sign up to receive my Self-Employed Nutshell Newsletter! Sign up here! 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 speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Having reviewed hundreds of websites, I can tell you 98% of websites are not. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. I'll email you a few suggestions to improve your brand message to attract more of your ideal customers. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Make sure YOUR voice is heard as a self-employed business owner and add your name to the Voices of the Self-Employed advocacy group! A grassroots movement to protect your rights and influence legislation. Add Your Name Here! Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life(May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.

More often than not, we are our own worst critics. Change the way you treat yourself - take time to set clear and exciting goals that you believe in. Try not to get caught up in how big the goals you set for yourself are - it doesn't matter how big if you have no belief in yourself to accomplish that goal. Keep your ideas big, but take small steps on your path to success. When you feel better, you do better. Give yourself permission to do self-care, you can't find clarity without taking some time for yourself. Even if it's just a short walk or brief meditation, be present in the moment and check in on what's important for you. Find one small thing you can do to combat stress. Ask yourself what you need and what you want and say no to things that aren't driving your agenda. To breakdown the 4 factors of her Success-Energy equation - I've brought on speaker, author, coach and consultant Michelle Cederberg. For 15 years Certified Speaking Professional Michelle Cederberg has captivated audiences across North America with her empowering and humorous messages about how to set worthwhile goals, get energized for success, and live a Carpe Freakin' Diem life. She holds a Masters in Kinesiology, a BA in Psychology, a specialization in Health and Exercise Psychology, is a certified exercise physiologist, a Certified Professional Co-Active Life Coach, and an ORSC-Trained Team Coach. She truly combines mind, body, and practicality to empower change. Learn how to set worthwhile goals and get energized for success - by downloading this episode now. "Time is finite, but energy is infinite." - Michelle Cederberg Join 17,000 subscribers looking to do "business with a soul" and sign up to receive my Self-Employed Nutshell Newsletter! Sign up here! Highlights – Big ideas, small steps - set resonate goals rather than big goals. Belief is the most important factor in your success. When your goals are important to you, you will be excited to achieve them. Take time for self-care because when you feel better, you do better. When combating stress, pause and find one small thing you can do right now. Don't be afraid to say no to things that aren't driving your agenda. Check in with yourself often, be present in the moment and ask yourself if what you're doing is beneficial to accomplishing your goals. Guest Contact – Michelle Cederberg's Website Michelle Cederberg's Facebook Michelle Cederberg's Twitter Michelle Cederberg's Instagram Michelle Cederberg's Youtube Michelle Cederberg's Book: The Success-Energy Equation 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 customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Host Jeffrey Shaw is a Small Business Consultant, Brand Management Consultant, Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker and author of LINGO and The Self Employed Life (May 2021). Supporting self-employed business owners with business and personal development strategies they need to create sustainable success.