The Influential Personal Brand Podcast

Ian Koniak is a powerful example of how our philosophy works in practice! As someone who came in as a high-flyer from the world of sales, and made the leap into coaching and entrepreneurship using his unique set of skills and expertise, we are so proud to call Ian part of our tribe! We believe so strongly in what we teach, and this is something that Ian's story underlines boldly. In this recap of our recent chat with Ian, listeners will get to hear the top three takeaways from the conversation on how to sell more high-dollar offers, and feel great while doing it! We all hate the idea of feeling sleazy and slimy, and this can be so easily avoided by putting the needs and goals of your clients first. If you know what you are offering and the value of your services, you are able to find people who truly fit with you and can benefit from what you are selling. Listen in to hear about why 'no' is better than 'maybe', boosting referrals through over-delivering, and why helping others succeed is what we are all about at Brand Builders Group! 

Our guest today is one of the best salespeople we know! Ian Koniak has proven himself at all levels of the world of sales, having worked at Ricoh and Salesforce, and now as a full-time sales coach. Ian's message is something that we can really get behind, and in this episode, we get to dig down into his sales philosophy, and how you can start selling more today! Our guest talks about going from belief to energy to engagement, escaping neediness, and the all-important piece of closing deals. Listeners can expect to come away from today's chat with a huge dose of sales medicine, and a refresher on lead generation, how to increase referrals, and much more! Make sure to stay tuned to hear Ian unpack his P.R.E.D.I.C.T. selling framework, which makes any sales call so much easier. Listen in to hear it all! 

Authenticity may seem like an intangible concept, but in reality, there are methods you can use to strategically implement it in the workplace and get incredible results. Today on the show AJ revisits her conversation with Erin Hatzikostas, where they discuss authentic leadership and how it can transform our work environments. Tuning in you’ll hear AJ’s top four takeaways from their conversation, including Erin’s definition of authenticity, and how data from her research study demonstrates the parallel between authentic cultures and talent retention. We also discuss the difference between authenticity and transparency, and why you can never be too authentic, but you can be too transparent. Make sure you tune in for a recap of this essential interview about authenticity, both in life and in the workplace! 

Authenticity is all about exposing who you are when people least expect it. That insight comes from today’s guest Erin Hatzikostas, bestselling author of You Do You(ish): Unleash Your Authentic Superpowers to Get the Career You Deserve, podcast co-host of ‘b Cause Work Doesn’t Have to Suck’, and all-round authenticity aficionado. Erin is also a keynote speaker, coach, consultant, and leader of a recent national research study on the impact of authenticity in the workplace. In today’s episode, you’ll hear all about how Erin went from being a corporate CEO to, what she calls, a professional pot-stirrer. She shares the story of how she stumbled on authentic leadership in her role as CEO and how the experience led her down the path of entrepreneurship and data-driven research. You’ll learn why authenticity isn’t just whimsical fluff, but something you can strategically implement to achieve exceptional results, and how these claims are backed up by Erin's recent national study, The Impact of Authenticity in the Workplace. We discuss how authenticity in the workplace is proven to help retain talent, negotiate with business partners, build trust, and ultimately, achieve incredible results. We also unpack how authenticity can help address imposter syndrome, how to let go of societal misconceptions around success and sacrifice, and overcome our addiction to the grind. Today’s conversation is full of profound insights, expert advice, and a huge dose of authenticity. Tune in to learn how you can start implementing these lessons in your life and achieve results you never expected! 

For many of us niching down may seem unintuitive, but it’s actually the most effective way to reach your audience and build your personal brand. In today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Chris Ducker, Founder and CEO at Youpreneur®, where they discuss the tremendous value of niching down. Rory shares his top takeaways from their conversation: including how to optimize based on your resources, why you don’t need millions of followers, and the many benefits of niching down. For an insightful summary of our recent episode with Chris Ducker, make sure you tune in today! 

Some people might say that you should never promote your competitors or others in your field. But if you live with an abundance mindset then there’s no reason why you can’t lift up those around you. That is why we’re delighted to be joined by Chris Ducker, a fellow expert in personal branding who is helping entrepreneurs build profitable, future-proof businesses. In our conversation, Chris shares key lessons he’s learned over the course of his career, including the value of niching down and why it’s so much more effective at generating revenue than trying to serve everyone. Chris provides examples of how to niche down based on whom you want to serve and breaks down why it’s the most practical approach for finding your audience. We also discuss The Elevated Entrepreneur Experience that Chris is leading and how you can get involved. For an engrossing episode on personal branding, entrepreneurship, and finding your first client, make sure you tune in today! 

Thanks for tuning into this recap episode of the fantastic conversation we had recently with Denise Villa! This was such an insightful chat, and if you haven't already listened to that, you know what to do! Denise got so real with us about the ins and outs of life as an entrepreneur and shared a lot of important things that we think aspiring entrepreneurs need to know. Join us today as AJ recounts some of the things she found most impactful, talking about family businesses, the positives and negatives of working with a spouse, and what entrepreneurship really demands of us. For AJ, seeing Rory in his element has always been something to be grateful for, and makes all the other hurdles and difficulties worth it. AJ also teases out Denise's messages about the highs and lows of owning a business, and some of the parts of our work that might not be so glamorous. To finish off this recap, AJ reflects on the parts of her identity that reach beyond her work, and how becoming a parent gave her a new perspective on herself and her energy. Be sure to tune in to catch it all!

Taking the leap into entrepreneurship can seem incredibly daunting, especially when you already have an established career. As a result, it can often take a life-altering event to prompt you to reassess your trajectory and make a pivotal change. That was the case for today’s guest Denise Villa, Ph.D., and co-author of Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business―and What to Do About It. After structuring her entire career around teaching, a series of life events prompted Denise to reevaluate what she wanted to do with her life. In our conversation, we talk with Denise about how she made the shift to entrepreneurship and what it’s been like embarking on this journey with her husband and business partner, Jason Dorsey. We delve into the complexity of entering into business with your spouse, why trust is essential in any relationship, and how their different skills and traits complement one another. Denise also expands on their company called The Center for Generational Kinetics, why they are passionate about separating generational myth from truth, and what it was like co-authoring Zconomy with her husband. Today’s episode is full of refreshing insights on entrepreneurship, partnerships, and how to uncover what you truly want. Make sure you tune in for this joyful conversation filled with tons of relatable stories and useful advice! 

 In today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his fascinating conversation with Alan Stein, Jr., who spent 15 years working as a high performance and mental training coach for NBA superstars and athletes, before transitioning into the realm of leadership and speaking. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory share his top takeaways from their conversation, including the importance of mastering the basics and why, as a high performer, you can exhibit both confidence and humility. Rory also reflects on why it’s important to recognize that there is a big difference between being the world's greatest player and being the world's greatest coach, and how this knowledge can transform your mindset. For premium insights from our conversation with Alan Stein, Jr. and how they can help you build a personal brand, make sure you tune in today! 

It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to speak with someone who has spent years working closely alongside the likes of Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Our guest today, Alan Stein, Jr. has done exactly that. For 15 years he worked as a high performance and mental training coach for NBA superstars and athletes to help them achieve and maintain incredible levels of performance. Since then he has transitioned into the world of leadership and speaking, where he helps to improve and elevate individual and organizational performance. He is also the co-author of Raise Your Game: High-Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best as well as his latest book Sustain Your Game: High Performance Keys to Manage Stress, Avoid Stagnation, and Beat Burnout. In our conversation, Alan shares the insights he gained from working with ultra-high-level athletes such as why the best never tire of the basics, why repetition isn’t punishment, and why being process-driven is far more useful than chasing external results and validation. We also delve into how these lessons apply to life, leadership, and business, what it means to coach above your weight class, and why you can offer invaluable insight and support to your clients regardless of their level of expertise. Today’s episode is jam-packed with useful insights and high performance secrets. Join us for all this and much more!