The Self-Employed Life

As we start each day as busy self-employed business owners with lots of demands on us, we often think about everything we have to give. And we give it our all every day, don't we? But what about what you'll gain? What would it look like if as you started each day you considered the energy you were going to gain from other people and from doing the tasks you love? Would it change how you felt about the day ahead? That's what we're discussing on this premiere episode of Coaching Break! 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! 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.

For my first official episode of The Self Employed Life, I'm very excited to share a life-changing conversation with one of my absolute favorite authors, Todd Henry. Today we define something that is often glossed over but is essential, not just for the self-employed, but for all of us trying to tackle some of the world's current major challenges: motivation. Todd and I discuss what it means to crack your personal motivation codes by understanding our patterns, what makes us tick, and how we can understand the motivational codes of those around us. I love where art and science intersect. And this is how we take the art of living and turn it into a scientific understanding of what uniquely motivates us. Todd Henry is an author, international speaker, consultant, and advisor. He is the founder of Accidental Creative, and author of The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, and Louder Than Words, which have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Positioning himself as an "arms dealer for the creative revolution", Todd Henry teaches leaders and organizations how to establish practices that lead to everyday brilliance. He speaks and consults across dozens of industries on creativity, leadership, and passion for work. Start doing the work to understand your own motivational energy, by downloading this episode now. "We need people fully engaged now more than ever." - Todd Henry Highlights: Find your personal patterns by starting with your story. There are 17,550 possible motivation codes. If we can understand the unique code that drives people, we can engage them better. There are 27 motivational themes that are the specific ways we are motivated. Every motivation is a gift, but it also has a shadow side to it. We have big problems to tackle right now. What the world needs more than anything is motivational energy. When we're operating within our motivation code we will bring more discretionary energy to the work we do. Guest Contact: Todd's Website Todd's Twitter Todd's Book: The Motivation Code Todd's Instagram Todd's Podcast: The Accidental Creative

A BIG and very Special Announcement! Be sure to turn in for the big news. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and share your feelings and continue the conversation. Contact Jeffrey - Website Services and 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! Music by Jawn

We are all more than one thing. But self-employed entrepreneurs have been told over and over again that we can't have a division between who we are in business and who we are at home. Studies show, however, that having and sharing other dimensions make you better at your job. When I work with my coaching clients I help them connect the dots of who they are to figure out how they can serve their customers the most authentically. And believe me, we really dive in and find all the dots. We are all more than our jobs, so why do we feel pressure to pretend we are not? Sharing your "ands" is a wonderful way to stand out beyond your technical skills. They add texture to your humanity. It is important for self-employed business owners to bring their whole selves to their work, as well to give themselves the time and space to cultivate all of their sides. To dive into the power of sharing our "ands" I've brought on nationally recognized speaker, emcee, and stand-up comedian, John Garret. John draws on his condition as a recovering Big Four CPA to deliver messages that hit home with corporate audiences. This professional member of the National Speakers Association is on a mission to shatter the definition of "stereotypical professional" and in the meantime, show organizations how to create a stronger culture that increases engagement and reduces turnover. John has performed for leading companies ranging from "Big Four" accounting firms to banks and technology companies to professional associations seeking an outside-of-the-box way to engage their audiences.​ John reminds us that we can be good at our jobs without having them tattooed on our hearts. To learn how to fully embrace your "and," download this episode now. THE EXPERIENCE WARRIOR "We can be good at our jobs, but they don't have to be tattooed on our hearts." - John Garrett Highlights - Studies show that sharing your other dimensions makes you better at your job. People that don't separate their work life from their personal life make better, more moral decisions. 90% of people have a hobby outside of their job. Self-overlap is the interconnectedness between the different parts of you. Putting an "and" in your email signature is a great, subtle way to share something about yourself. You stand out if it's in a place that you don't think you should put your "and" Eudemonia: the optimal state of human existence. People who identify as having other dimensions are less prone to anxiety. What are you doing today that will make you memorable twelve years from now? Guest Contact - John's Website John's Twitter John's Instagram John's Facebook John's Book- What's Your "And"? 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! Music by Jawn

It can often feel in business, especially during challenging times that recovery is far away. Or that your business needs a complete overall or change of direction. That is often not the case. It may be that turning your business around is just a tweak or two away. This episode should give you hope! The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and share your feelings and continue the conversation. Contact Jeffrey - Website Services and 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! Music by Jawn

When you are in business, you are in the wish-granting business. When you really think about it, what you offer is what helps your customers achieve what they're wishing for. And when you can find a way to communicate what you stand for, how you will grant those wishes, and why you are unique in doing so, you will elevate the humanity of your business. But it begins with you; especially for the self-employed. What is your backstory? How can you connect the dots of your life to figure out where you fit in the market? My origin story of being a photographer is what distinguishes me in what I do today; I help people truly be seen for who they are and what they do. And so as you set the stage for your business you can then begin to weave in all the elements of your narrative that will ultimately lead your customers to invest in you, the person, the human, not just your brand. To dive deeper into the Business of Story, I've brought on The World's Most Industrious Storyteller, Park Howell. Park helps leaders of purpose-driven brands grow by as much as 600 percent. His 35 years in brand creation includes 20 years running his own ad agency Park&Co. He was named Advertising Person of the Year in 2010 by the American Advertising Federation of Metro Phoenix. The following year, his agency was recognized among the Top 10 Impact Companies in Arizona by the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. His new book, Brand Bewitchery: How to Wield the Story Cycle System to Craft Spellbinding Stories for Your Brand, helps readers clarify their brand story and teaches how to tell it through three proven narrative frameworks that captivate audiences and convert customers. Find out how to "hack through the noise and hook the heart" by downloading this episode now. THE FOOL WARRIOR "What do you exist to do that is greater than your product or service?" - Park Howell Highlights - Stories literally make us humans. We're all intuitive storytellers. It's time to be intentional about it. Stories hack through the noise to hook the heart. We purchase with our hearts and justify with our heads. There are three that help you set your narrative: Setting the stage, disruption, and victory. Your origin story defines your market category. People buy from people. Not from brands. We give our customers an emotional promise. The most potent story you tell is the one you tell yourself. Guest Contact - Park's Website Park's Twitter Park's Book- Brand Bewitchery Mentions - The Hero and the Outlaw Awakening the Heroes Within 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! Music by Jawn

Cyber attacks are not just against the big guys. The fact is that for a variety of reasons, attacks against small businesses are extremely common. We all need to be concerned, no matter how small or big our business is, especially during times of major distraction or disconnect, like, say, during a pandemic. We're in a weird social place right now, we're stressed, some of us are even desperate. Cyber attackers prey on these times, often by using false information and fake links from sources we recognize to lure the most vulnerable into downloading malicious code or surrendering credentials. These cyber attacks are well-orchestrated, convincing, and truly raise the hairs on the back of my neck. To help us get us into the minds of cyber attackers I've brought on author and speaker, Mark Sangster. Mark is the author of "NO SAFE HARBOR: The Inside Truth About Cybercrime and How to Protect Your Business." He is an award-winning speaker at international conferences and prestigious stages including the Harvard Law School, and author on various subjects related to cybersecurity. Mark has served on the LegalSEC Council with the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA), and now advises the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) to establish their cybersecurity policies. His 25-year career was established with industry giants like Intel Corporation, BlackBerry, and Cisco Systems. At BlackBerry, Mark worked on the first secure devices for government agencies. Learn how to protect yourself from cybercrime, download this episode now. THE WARRIOR OF PREPARATION "You can't insure your reputation." - Mark Sangster Highlights - Criminals move around in source code, not zip code. The media usually only covers the big breeches so small businesses get lulled into false security. Cyber attacks fall into 3 broad categories: ransomware, fraudulent wire transfers, and fishing campaigns. You can't insure your reputation. Reputation assasination is a personal attack. Most of us don't understand the complexity and power of our mobile phones. Keep good password hygiene. When you read it in the news, it's too late. The SBA has guidelines and checklists to help small businesses protect themselves. Guest Contact - Mark's Website Mark's Twitter Mark's Instagram Mark's Book- No Safe Harbor Mentions - The Small Business Administration 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! Music by Jawn

We face a big challenge as business owners in today's overload of information. What's good information and at what point does that information influence us so much that we lose the ability to be different than the rest? This is particularly true in trade associations which I am a big proponent of. Have a listen for an idea about how to handle the balance of information and influence. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.joinwarriors.com and share your feelings and continue the conversation. Contact Jeffrey - Website Services and 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! Music by Jawn

Creativity is iterative. It is about possibility. True creativity is about the everyday making of things; of just doing and refining until we can eventually get to our genius. Sometimes all we need is the discipline to just start. So if we can give ourselves the permission to just start with whatever terrible ideas we have, we can often get into that sought after "flow state" even sooner. Many creatives are binary when it comes to what and how they produce work. Either it's all about inspiration and the arts, or it's sitting down and hammering out an idea. Too many of us are quick to judge a thing as good or bad. And in doing that we paralyze our process with fear of failure or looking foolish. But there is an unfiltered nature to "starting ugly" and if we own it, we can open up a variety of pathways until we get to where we want to be. But being a fulltime creative and/or self-employed means you have to wear your discipline hat. You have to have a routine in order to clear your brain and just start. To dive deeper into how to "start ugly" I have brought back a friend and past guest, best-selling author and photographer, David duChemin. David is a leading expert in the field of creativity. His podcast and book, A Beautiful Anarchy, help him share his message with tens of thousands. Fueled by his endless creative hunger, he has built a seven-figure business with the goal of inspiring others to realize that the creative life is for everyone—not just artists. David spent the last twelve years travelling the world as a humanitarian photographer and creativity workshop instructor on all seven continents. His expertise has been profiled in magazines and podcasts including Overland Journal, Elephant Journal and The Accidental Creative. Find out how to own your "ugly" by downloading this episode now. THE WARRIOR OF EMPATHY "Poetic over perfection." - David duChemin Highlights - We can get to the "flow state" faster if we give ourselves the permission to start with bad ideas. Inspiration comes from discipline. Perfection can be reframed as something that is "complete" not something "without flaw." If we wait until our fear goes away, we'll never get to our best work. Perfection is not what endures. What leaves a legacy is poetic, not perfect. "Write drunk. Edit sober." - Hemingway Make your start automatic. Routine clears the brain and gets it ready to work. Setting constraints around yourself to give yourself less of a chance for choice paralysis. Guest Contact - David's Website David's Facebook David's Instagram David's Book- Start Ugly David's Podcast Mentions - The Geography of Genius 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! Music by Jawn

My biggest competition has always been myself. Additionally, I'm a spender. Or, at least I used to be, and I've put a lot of thought into my spending habits and what that means for my lifestyle and business. Entrepreneurs often feel pressure to have as big a business as possible because of the competition or the false notion that a business isn't "real" unless it's a certain size. I battle with this quite a bit. My business as a photographer was much bigger than my current business. And despite being very happy with both my professional and personal life, I sometimes feel driven to have a bigger business than I do. Many of us who are self-employed are constantly trying to figure out: when it comes to our happiness, what is 'big enough?' If your business doesn't make you happy, is it worth it? Better yet, how can you optimize your business to live the life you want but also keeps you happy in ways other than money? To dive deeper into this I've brought on the co-founder of Common Craft and author of The Art of Explanation and Big Enough, Lee LeFever. Since 2007, Common Craft has won numerous awards; worked with respected brands like LEGO, Google, Intel, and Ford; and created original explainer videos that have earned over 50 million views. Today, Common Craft produces educational guides, ready-made videos, and digital visuals that are used by educators in over fifty countries. Lee and his partner, Sachi, are Common Craft's only employees and work from their home off the coast of Washington State. Learn how to manage an abundance that is right for you, by downloading this episode now. THE WARRIOR OF SATISFACTION "People are seeing that 'the good life' comes with other factors." - Lee LeFever Highlights - Choice is power. The "good life" can come with being rich in ways other than money. If you're going to have a business that's 'big enough' you have to come to terms with the money that is just enough as well. Having your financial house in order gives you the power to choose what size business is enough. Gamifying your spending and saving can help put it in perspective. Studies show that making around $80K/year is where most feel satisfied with their lives whereas making over $200K/year often provides less satisfaction. Deciding on constraints up front can drive you to end with the business you truly want. Having a Lifestyle business doesn't mean it's not scalable. Self-employment brings more personal development than you might expect. Guest Contact - Lee's Website Lee's Twitter Jennifer's Instagram Lee's Book- Big Enough Mentions - How to Live a Good Life by Jonathan Fields 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! Music by Jawn