The Self-Employed Life

I've always said that my journey to TEDx was more impactful than actually giving the talk itself; it was a journey in clarity and effective communication. I had to get across big ideas in only 12 minutes.  Today I'm joined by John Bates, a TED talk expert who explores the neurobiological principles of communication. Together, we unravel the secrets behind creating engaging, emotionally resonant speeches, and offer practical advice on connecting with your audience and embracing the fear that often accompanies public speaking. This conversation is full of insights for self-employed business owners looking to master the art of impactful communication and storytelling.   John Bates is a TED and TEDx speaker, Leadership Communications Executive Coach, Author, and Keynote Speaker with a deep focus on communication rooted in neurobiology. He is renowned for his coaching excellence in the TED format. His clients, including notable organizations like Johnson & Johnson’s JLABS, NASA, US Navy Special Operations, GE Aviation, and Boston Scientific, highly recommend him as a premier leadership communications coach. John's expertise lies in alleviating speaking anxiety, fostering strong leadership presence, and cultivating trust, loyalty, and connection through effective communication. His science-based approach benefits both logical, introverted individuals, and ambitious thought leaders, enabling them to craft influential speeches. John also offers top-tier pitch coaching, with affiliations in prestigious programs like Johnson & Johnson Innovations JLABS and Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge, empowering entrepreneurs to succeed in pitch competitions, secure VC funding, and obtain grants.   And be sure to subscribe to The Self-Employed Life in Apple Podcasts or follow us on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss an episode.   Everything you need can all be found at jeffreyshaw.com.   John Bates, thank you so much for being here! Remember, you might be in business FOR yourself but you are not in business BY yourself. Be your best self. Be proud and keep changing the world. Guest Contact – JohnBates.com  Your Amazing Itty Bitty Guide to Being TED-Worthy: 15 Essential Secrets of Successful Speaking Based in Human Neurobiology by John Bates Register for John’s Free Weekly Mini-trainings John Bates on LinkedIn (in/johnbates) John Bates on Facebook (@ExecutiveSpeakingSuccess) John Bates on Twitter/X (@johnbates) John Bates on YouTube (@ExecSpeakingSuccess) John Bates on Vimeo (@johnkbates) Contact Jeffrey – SelfEmployedNewsletter.com Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable complimentary resources to help you –   ·       The Self-Employed Business Institute- You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out! ·       Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap. ·       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.

Midlife is hard. I've often asked myself why no one's addressing this. Society paints a picture of coasting on easy street at this point, but the reality is far from it. Today I'm speaking to Tom Morgan about his groundbreaking article "What Nobody Tells You." Tom dives deep into the unspoken struggles of this transformative phase, offering guidance to self-employed entrepreneurs on finding profound meaning with patience and trust. Tom's personal journey and the power of curiosity will leave you inspired, revealing the untapped potential within your midlife challenges.   Tom describes himself as a curiosity sherpa to billionaires. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, two children, and a rabbit called Frank. Tom Morgan is a Director at Sapient Capital. He is responsible for the firm’s content. He has previously worked in Equity Sales on Wall Street at Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, and most recently as a Managing Director at Stifel. Tom holds a BA from Oxford University. His own hellish life transition has led him to insights that he thinks are applicable to life transitions and can point the way to a more meaningful life ahead.   And be sure to subscribe to The Self-Employed Life in Apple Podcasts or follow us on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss an episode.   Everything you need can all be found at jeffreyshaw.com.   Tom Morgan, thank you so much for being here! Remember, you might be in business FOR yourself but you are not in business BY yourself. Be your best self. Be proud and keep changing the world. Guest Contact – What's Important Substack “What Nobody Tells You: The Unspoken Truth About Growth” by Tom Morgan Tom Morgan on LinkedIn (in/tom-morgan-3a619372) Tom Morgan on Twitter (@tomowenmorgan) Contact Jeffrey – SelfEmployedNewsletter.com Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable complimentary resources to help you –   ·       The Self-Employed Business Institute- You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out! ·       Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap. ·       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.

Creating curiosity as a way to get people to step closer to you and your business may be one of the most underrated forms of marketing I know of. Yet perhaps one of the most powerful. Creating curiosity is one of the most important strategies in the Hug Marketing system that I teach. Find out about the power of curiosity as a marketing strategy.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!   Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.   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 Coach, 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.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to turn conventional business ideas upside down. The fact is, deviating from the typical business approach often yields superior results for us. Why? Because conventional business is transactional, but we find success in relationship-based business. Today I speak to Grant Muller about the transformative concept of “top of heart.” As a seasoned speaker, author, and certified high-performance coach, Grant breaks down why nurturing authentic, human connections isn't just a breath of fresh air in our tech-driven world; it's the secret sauce for success. Flip the script on conventional wisdom and embark on a journey to business excellence through genuine, heartfelt relationships.   Grant Muller is a speaker, author, Certified High Performance Coach™, and a seven-figure real estate agent. Ranked in the top 1.5% of realtors nationwide, he’s on a mission to help high achievers who have tried every tool and tactic to sell more, achieve more, and find more fulfillment but aren’t quite making the progress they desire. In his new book, Top of Heart: How a New Approach to Business Saved My Life, and Could Save Yours Too, Muller chronicles his 15-year journey from homelessness to a thriving real estate career, all from prioritizing real, human relationships.   And be sure to subscribe to The Self-Employed Life in Apple Podcasts or follow us on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss an episode.   Everything you need can all be found at jeffreyshaw.com.   Grant Muller, thank you so much for being here! Remember, you might be in business FOR yourself but you are not in business BY yourself. Be your best self. Be proud and keep changing the world. Guest Contact – GrantMuller.com Top of Heart: How a New Approach to Business Saved My Life, and Could Save Yours Too by Grant Muller TopOfHeart.com Grant Muller on LinkedIn (in/thegrantmuller) Grant Muller on Facebook (@TheGrantmuller) Grant Muller on Instagram (@thegrantmuller) Grant Muller on YouTube (@grantmullerTV) Contact Jeffrey – SelfEmployedNewsletter.com Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable complimentary resources to help you –   ·       The Self-Employed Business Institute- You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out! ·       Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap. ·       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.

Do you consider your business as serving the luxury market? If you don't, you may need to reconsider when you hear this. If you are serving the luxury market, there are several very important ways you need to think differently, and I share those secrets with you.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!   Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.   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 Coach, 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.

As self-employed business owners who put ourselves out there every day, no one knows better than us about the topic of today’s guest’s book. The title, Navigating Shitstorms, perfectly captures the essence of our experiences. Can you relate? In this episode, author Liz Long and I dive deep into the challenges self-employed business owners face, touching on the power of recognizing our heart voice. This conversation provides a personal and honest exploration of how inner dialogues, self-care, and self-love play a critical role in managing the hurdles of entrepreneurship and life in general. Tune in to gain actionable strategies for navigating your own shitstorms.   Liz Long spent over fifty years stuck in Victimtown. After a close family member, Lynda White, went missing, six-year-old Liz was forced into a shitstorm of epic proportions. Five years later, Lynda’s body was found, and her case remains one of Canada’s longest unsolved murders. Having discovered her own path to healing, including inpatient treatment at a recovery center, Liz is now dedicated to mental health advocacy and inspiring others by sharing her story.   And be sure to subscribe to The Self-Employed Life in Apple Podcasts or follow us on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss an episode.   Everything you need can all be found at jeffreyshaw.com.   Liz Long, thank you so much for being here! Remember, you might be in business FOR yourself but you are not in business BY yourself. Be your best self. Be proud and keep changing the world. Guest Contact – LizLongWrites.com Navigating Shitstorms: How to Find Your True Path When Life Gets Rough by Liz Long Liz Long on LinkedIn (in/author-selfhelp-victim-victimtown-trauma) Liz Long on Facebook (@victimtownvsfreedomville) Liz Long on Instagram (@LizLongWrites) Contact Jeffrey – SelfEmployedNewsletter.com Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable complimentary resources to help you –   ·       The Self-Employed Business Institute- You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out! ·       Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap. ·       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.

We can work hard. We can trust in our skillset. We can be confident and believe wholeheartedly in ourselves. And we also have to have hope. In this episode, I share a bit from Brant Menswar, author of Black Sheep, when he was a guest speaker in the Self-Employed Business Institute. This is the best perspective I have ever heard about hope.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!   Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.   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 Coach, 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.

Dr. Jud Brewer, a renowned psychiatrist and neuroscientist, explores the concept of eliminating unwanted habits that hinder personal and professional growth. He discusses the impact of anxiety and worry on behavior, as well as the role of scarcity mindsets and distractions in self-employed business owners. Dr. Brewer advocates for reframing unwanted habits and using curiosity to break them. He also emphasizes the importance of moving away from negative habits instead of solely focusing on goals.

  What could be more fun than being in the toy business, right? But, as we'll discover in this episode, this line of work isn't all fun and games. Today I'm joined by Brad Pedersen, who shares his remarkable journey from an expected career path in chiropractic care to an unexpected adventure in the world of toy making. Brad's story is one of resilience and reinvention, as he navigates the challenges of scaling a business too quickly, emphasizing the significance of strategic planning and timing. Self-employed business owners will find valuable insights in Brad's reflections on his journey and the importance of play.   Brad Pedersen is a serial entrepreneur with a remarkable journey that spans decades. A husband to Kelly for 27 years and a proud father of two, his entrepreneurial spirit ignited during his teens when he launched his first business venture. Brad initially pursued a career in healthcare but was captivated by a story about a young entrepreneur who successfully built a toy business, inspiring him to venture into the toy industry. He bootstraped his first toy company from a basement condo, propelling it to become one of Canada's largest toy companies in the early 2000s, earning accolades like the CYBF growth award, consecutive rankings among the Profit 100 companies, and an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year nomination. Brad's career includes founding Tech 4 Kids, which grew profitably, merging with The Bridge Direct to create Basic Fun with consolidated revenues of $150M. In 2017, he co-founded Pela, a socially responsible company striving to create a waste-free future by designing products that reduce waste's impact. Pela has gained recognition as a certified B-corp with an impressive record, including Jay-Z as an investor, ranking in Deloitte's Fast 50 for cleantech businesses in Canada, and crowdfunded campaigns like Lomi, which raised over $9M and became the most successful cleantech crowdfunded campaign ever. Brad's entrepreneurial journey has been shaped by both triumphs and adversities, and he continues to seek personal mastery and growth, driven by his faith, commitment to values, and passion for fitness and adventure.   And be sure to subscribe to The Self-Employed Life in Apple Podcasts or follow us on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss an episode.   Everything you need can all be found at jeffreyshaw.com.   Brad Pedersen, thank you so much for being here! Remember, you might be in business FOR yourself but you are not in business BY yourself. Be your best self. Be proud and keep changing the world. Guest Contact – BradPedersen.com Startup Santa: A Toymaker's Tale of 10 Business Lessons Learned from Timeless Toys by Brad Pedersen Brad Pedersen on LinkedIn (@in/brad-pedersen-77075012) Brad Pedersen on Twitter/X (@brad_pedersen) Contact Jeffrey – SelfEmployedNewsletter.com Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable complimentary resources to help you –   ·       The Self-Employed Business Institute- You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out! ·       Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap. ·       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.

Using the next very unique episode as an example, I share a few ideas about how to stand out, open some doors, and how to be memorable. Be sure to follow this episode by listening to the next with Brad Pedersen about his book, Start Up Santa: A Toymaker's Tale of 10 Business Lessons Learned from Timeless Toys.   Contact Jeffrey – Take the Self-Doubt Survey Self-Employed Newsletter Website Books Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!   Valuable resources to help you – The Self-Employed Business Institute You know you're really good at what you do. You're talented, you have a skill set. The problem is you're probably in a field where there is no business education. This is common amongst self-employed people! And, there's no business education out there for us! You also know that being self-employed is unique and you need better strategies, coaching, support, and accountability. The Self-Employed Business Institute, a five-month online education is exactly what you need. Check it out!   Take The Self-Employed Assessment! Ever feel like you're all over the place? Or frustrated it seems like you have everything you need for your business success but it's somehow not coming together? Take this short quiz to discover the biggest hidden gap that’s keeping you from having a thriving Self-Employed Ecosystem. You’ll find out what part of your business needs attention and you'll also get a few laser-focused insights to help you start closing that gap.   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 Coach, 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.