Building your LeaderBrand - Personal Branding, Digital Marketing, Sales, Leadership & Entrepreneurship for Expert Business Owners & Executives.

If you've ever felt stuck or that some invisible force is holding you and your business back, this episode is for you. It's easy to blame external factors like technology or strategy, but more often than not, the real barriers are internal. Fear is a powerful force that can keep us from reaching our full potential, often in ways we don't even recognize.In this conversation with Mark Franklin, author of "The Four Fears of Business Ownership," we get to the heart of what's really stopping you. We explore the common fears that show up for almost every entrepreneur and discuss how to move past them, not by ignoring them, but by understanding and embracing them.Here are a few key things we explored:The Four "Surface" Fears 👹: We break down the four most common fears that hold business owners back: perfectionism ("I'm not ready"), imposter syndrome ("I'm not good enough"), overwhelm ("I don't have time"), and the fear of failure.Your Internal "Thermostat" 🌡️: We discuss the idea that we all have a subconscious comfort zone or "thermostat" that dictates the level of success we allow ourselves to achieve. Pushing past this setting is key to growth.The Power of "What Do You Really Want?" ✨: Mark shares the two simple but powerful questions he asks every client to cut through the noise and connect with their deepest motivations, making it easier to take brave action.To help you start exploring this for yourself, here are three actions you can take:✍️ Journal with intention: At the end of each day, write down three things that went well or made you happy. It shifts your brain into a more positive mode.🏃‍♂️ Move your body: Even a 15-minute walk or workout can help clear your head and reset the mental noise.🫂 Explore "Havening": Look into this simple self-soothing technique of gentle touch to calm your brain and disarm historic limiting beliefs.Apple Podcasts & Spotify Chapters:(00:00) - The Two Most Important Questions for Clarity(01:59) - Meet Mark Franklin: The Four Fears Guy(03:26) - What Are The Four Fears of Business Ownership?(09:44) - Why Business Owners Are on a "Quest"(16:13) - The Alchemist's Metaphor for Personal Growth(20:48) - Moving from "Small" Fears to "Big" Fears(27:26) - How to Start Exploring Your Own Fears(31:47) - Practical Tools for Building Self-Awareness(37:28) - What Does an Amazing Client Look Like?(39:22) - How to Connect with Mark----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.

If you're an expert, consultant, or coach trying to explain what you do, you've probably experienced that sinking feeling when someone's eyes glaze over mid-conversation. You know your work matters, but somehow the message isn't landing. This episode tackles one of the most critical skills for building your personal brand: the ability to communicate your expertise in a way that actually connects.Brian Miller, founder of a message design firm, joins me to break down how smart people can explain their big ideas to the rest of us. We explore why traditional presentation skills training often fails, how to design speeches that do the heavy lifting for you, and why your next keynote shouldn't try to teach everything you know.Three Key Areas We Discussed:🎯 The Audience-First Principle - Brian introduces the AFA (Audience First, Always) framework and explains why most experts lose their audience in the first three lines. We dig into the four ways to build a compelling premise: wants, problems, beliefs, and fears.🎤 The One Page Keynote Method - Forget charisma training and presentation skills workshops. Brian reveals why great speeches matter more than great speakers, and how his framework treats keynotes as a sequence of questions the audience is already asking.📝 Structure vs. Improvisation - We tackle the controversial question of how much you should script your talks. Brian's take? You need a plan, and "being authentic" isn't an excuse for winging it.Three Actions You Can Take:✅ Create Your Filter Framework - Before any communication (keynote, email, networking conversation), write one sentence: "For [audience] to achieve [impact] via [action]." This becomes your filter for what belongs in your message and what doesn't.🤔 Practice Curiosity Over Interest - When someone talks about something you don't care about, ask yourself: "Why do they care about this?" This shift creates genuine connection and opens doors to unexpected relationships.💬 Embrace Radical Responsibility - Adopt Brian's mantra: "Everything can be said clearly." When people don't understand you, it's not because they're not smart enough. It's because you haven't found the right way to explain it yet.https://keynotedesignbook.scoreapp.com/----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.

In this episode, we dive into the world of personal branding and career development with Andy Storch, who has just published his new book, "Own Your Brand, Own Your Career," co-authored with Mike Kim. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or professional, understanding how to build and leverage your personal brand is crucial for success. Andy shares insights on how to navigate the complexities of personal branding, the importance of authenticity, and the role of content creation in career advancement.Key Takeaways:📈 Personal Branding as a Career Tool: Discover how personal branding can elevate your career by making you a known quantity within your organization and industry.📝 Content Creation Strategies: Learn safe and effective ways to start creating content that aligns with your career goals and personal brand.🤝 The Power of Networking: Understand the importance of building relationships and how walking the floor, both physically and virtually, can accelerate your career growth.Actions You Can Take:🔍 Define Your Brand: Reflect on what you want to be known for and ensure your actions align with this vision.✍️ Start Creating Content: Share insights from books, articles, or podcasts you consume to establish yourself as a thought leader.🌐 Engage with Your Network: Regularly connect with colleagues and industry leaders to build a strong professional network.✳️ Get the book : https://amzn.to/4pzEG3w✳️ Andy's Website : https://andystorch.com/----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.

The world has fundamentally changed, and waiting for things to return to "normal" isn't a strategy - it's a trap. My guest Rick Yvanovitch, serial entrepreneur and author of "Business as Unusual: How to Thrive in the New Renaissance," learned this firsthand during COVID lockdowns in Vietnam. As experts and entrepreneurs building our personal brands, we need frameworks that help us thrive in this "business as unusual" world while maintaining balance across all areas of our lives.Three Key Areas We Explored:🏰 The Castle Framework for Life BalanceRick's powerful alternative to the Wheel of Life uses a castle metaphor where seven buildings represent different life aspects. Unlike the rigid wheel demanding perfect balance, your castle can be uniquely shaped with towers of different heights based on your priorities. The key insight: we all know when we're out of balance, even if we can't define perfect balance.💪 Strengths vs. Weaknesses: The Strategic ApproachInstead of working on weaknesses, Rick advocates doubling down on strengths while solving for critical weaknesses that could derail you. Since you like your strengths and you're good at them, there's no resistance to improvement. His solution for people management as an introvert? Using psychometrics as a "mathematical formula for people."🎯 Breaking Through Success ThermostatsWe explored internal success limits - that psychological thermostat keeping us at certain levels. The solution involves coaching to identify blind spots and raise that internal bar. Like sports teams, sometimes you need different coaches for different growth stages.Three Actions You Can Take:📚 Read "The Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson - Rick calls this one of the most important books he's ever read, focusing on seven-step principles that have become his philosophy of life.📧 Subscribe to Rick's Newsletter - "Business as Unusual TLDR" focuses on leadership challenges with simple acronyms and coaching-style exercises to help you practice solutions.🤝 Connect and Ask - Rick encourages reaching out on LinkedIn. As he says, "If you want anything, if you need anything, just ask." Building relationships and seeking guidance is how we grow.More from Rick : https://www.rickyvanovich.com/Ricks Book : https://amzn.to/4pZkLvT----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.

Building a personal brand isn't just about posting content - it's about creating genuine connections that drive referrals, opportunities, and business growth. Whether you're a consultant, coach, or executive, the stories you tell become the raw materials for how people remember and refer you.In this conversation with brand storyteller Renee Frojo, we explore three critical areas that separate memorable personal brands from forgettable ones:🎯 The Big Story Framework - Moving beyond the single "signature story" to develop your ownable premise. Renee walks through her process of identifying cultural tensions in your industry and finding the intersection with your unique approach. We practice this live, demonstrating how to dig deeper than surface-level professional achievements to uncover the real transformation stories that connect.🔄 From Authenticity to Self-Awareness - Why "being authentic" has become problematic advice that leads to oversharing and trauma dumping. Instead, we discuss the concept of "becoming in public" - allowing your audience to witness your evolution and thought process without crossing into inappropriate territory. The goal shifts from showing everything to showing up with intentional self-awareness.📚 The Daily Story Collection System - How to never run out of content by developing what Renee calls "narrative intuition." Everything becomes potential content when you learn to spot the moments of change, the shifts in perspective, and the connexions between daily experiences and bigger business lessons.Three Actions You Can Take:📖 Read "The Human Brand" by Susan Fisk - Learn the warmth + competence formula that creates instant credibility and trust in all your communications.🎧 Listen to "How Stories Happen" podcast by Jay Akunzo - Study how excellent communicators break down their most effective stories and develop your own premise.✍️ Start "Homework for Life" practice - Spend 5 minutes daily noting what made you feel something today. Ask: what was the moment of change? This becomes your endless database of story material.https://www.reneelynnfrojo.com/----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.

If you're building an expert business, you already know that referrals are the lifeblood of sustainable growth. What you might not realize is that 60% of revenue in healthy consulting businesses comes from referrals - yet most of us are doing it wrong. We're either constantly asking (which feels needy) or hoping great work alone will generate referrals (it won't). This episode breaks down a systematic approach that transforms how you think about and generate referrals.Three Key Areas We Explored🎯 The Problem with Asking for Referrals Stacey explains why the traditional "just ask" approach creates two major problems. First, it puts you on a hamster wheel - you have to keep asking forever because the ask becomes the trigger. Second, it psychologically burdens the person you're asking by adding work to their already full plate and forcing them to manufacture something that doesn't naturally exist.💡 The Five-Step Framework for Existing Referral Sources We dove into Stacey's proven system for getting more referrals from people who already refer you. The framework covers identifying your existing referral sources, creating a proper thank-you process, developing a 5-7 touchpoint plan over 12 months, using specific language that plants referral seeds, and systematizing the process so it actually happens consistently.🔄 Creating a Referable Client Experience The conversation shifted to Stacey's new book focus - making sure you're actually referable before trying to generate referrals. She breaks down the client experience into three stages (new, active, alumni) and explains the formula: great work + relationship-building touchpoints = referable experience. The key insight? How your clients feel while working with you matters more than the results you deliver.Three Actions You Can Take Right Now📝 Map Your Current Client Journey Take out a piece of paper and map every touchpoint from when someone says yes to working with you until they're done. Mark each touchpoint with a "W" for work or "R" for relationship-building. Most businesses will find they have mostly W's and need to add more R's - aim for about 20% relationship touchpoints.🔍 Identify Your Existing Referral Sources Go back through your last three years of clients and list where each one heard about you. Any name that appears is a referral source - this becomes your "list of gold." These people are usually closer to your next clients than you are, making them your lowest-hanging fruit for generating more referrals.📚 Get the Books Start with "Generating Business Referrals Without Asking" to work with your existing referral sources, then move to "The Referable Client Experience" to systematize how you make clients feel. Both books include practical frameworks you can implement immediately rather than just theory.Stacey's Website : https://staceybrownrandall.com/Stacey's Book : https://amzn.to/4p75yrD----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.

If you’re building a personal or leadership brand - whether you’re an entrepreneur, a consultant, or an exec thinking about your next move - LinkedIn and how you present yourself matters.In this episode I speak with Laurie Macpherson about making your personal brand employer-friendly, standing for something specific, and using simple, repeatable actions to be seen by the right people. These are practical signals that directly affect whether you get hired, promoted, or invited to collaborate.Three key areas we covered :✳️ Leadership brand vs. business brand - Why employees need their own “home base” online (LinkedIn) and how frequency of exposure builds reputation inside and outside organisations.✳️ Profile signals that attract employers - The headline, the About section, examples of impact, and the need to fill gaps so recruiters and hiring managers can quickly understand your fit.✳️ The BOLD method + practical career moves - Build, Own, Land, Distinguish - a simple way to plan next steps, own your achievements, tailor applications, and increase your visible credibility.Three actionable takeaways (do these this week)✨ Optimise one profile signal now - Update your LinkedIn headline to answer: Who do you help? What do you do for them? Add a one-line “how” so people instantly know your fit. (Small change, big signal.)✨ Turn achievements into proof - Pick one recent project and write 2–3 bullet points that show the outcome (numbers or concrete change). Use those bullets in your About, CV, and one LinkedIn post.✨ Make targeted outreach part of your routine - Pick three people who could help (former manager, peer, or small-business contact). Send a short message offering value (comment on their work, share a useful link) and ask one simple question. Repeat weekly.https://www.lauriemacpherson.com/----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.

As we navigate a world increasingly shaped by AI, it's easy to get lost in the technical details of prompts and automation. But what about the human side of the equation? If you're building a business based on your expertise, understanding how AI is rewiring our psychology and our customers' behaviour is critical. It changes how we build relationships, create content, and ultimately, how we monetise our knowledge.In this episode, I speak with Mark Schaefer about his latest book 'How AI Changes Your Customers: The Marketing Guide to Humanity's Next Chapter', which explores the profound psychological impact of AI on humanity and marketing. We moved beyond the usual talk of efficiency and productivity to discuss what it truly means to be human-centric in a world where AI can simulate empathy.Here are three key areas we explored:🤖 Marketing to the AlgorithmWe discussed the shift where AI is becoming the decision-maker, acting as the new "customer". This means our marketing efforts need a dual focus. On one hand, we need to feed the AI with fresh, detailed data and social validation. On the other hand, we must create "AI overrides" through strong branding and word-of-mouth marketing, ensuring our businesses are chosen not by an algorithm, but by human preference and trust.🫂 The Pillars of Human ConnectionWe talked about the three foundational pillars that remain untouchable by AI. Your personal brand, your community, and your artful, human content. These elements create an emotional connection that AI can only mimic. We explored why showing up with vulnerability and creating content that reflects a genuine human experience is no longer just a good idea- it's a core strategy for relevance.💡 The Empathy IllusionMark shared how AI can create a convincing illusion of empathy, which can be weaponised to keep users engaged. We delved into the difference between this synthetic connection and the messy, imperfect, but real empathy that comes from shared human experience. The most humane company will win, but it requires the courage to be genuinely human.Based on our conversation, here are three actions you can take this week:1️⃣ Read 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship' by Peter Drucker. An old but incredibly relevant book that lays out a formula for integrating innovation into our daily lives.2️⃣ Refine your AI prompts. When using tools like ChatGPT, treat it like an intern. After giving your instructions, add the question, "Before you begin, do you have any questions?". This will help you get a much better result.3️⃣ Work on your personal brand. Every day you invest in your personal brand is like taking out an insurance policy for your career. It's the 20% AI can't replace and your last line of defence in an automated world.About Mark : businessesgrow.com----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.

As a business owner or expert, you know you should be on LinkedIn, but the platform can feel like a chore. You want to look like an authority, but you don't have time to be online all day, and the endless scroll of the news feed can be draining. How do you show up in a way that feels authentic, attracts the right people, and respects your time?In this episode, I speak with Judi Fox about how to have fun and get results on LinkedIn. We explore how to navigate the platform with intention, so it works for you, not the other way around.Here are some of the key areas we cover:✳️ How to solve the puzzle of looking like a busy, in-demand leader while still being approachable to new clients.✳️ Why being different, even a bit quirky, is your greatest asset in attracting the right opportunities and filtering out the wrong ones.✳️ A healthy and effective way to use AI to support your content, using it as a tool for leverage rather than a shortcut that feels robotic.Ready to take action? Here are three things Judi suggests you can do right now:🦊 Build your own custom news feed. Instead of scrolling aimlessly, pick 10-20 peers, mentors, or ideal clients and intentionally engage with their content. This focuses your energy and tells the algorithm who you want to see and be seen by.🦊 Do the opposite of AI. In a world of automation, lean into human connection. Pick up the phone, write a personal note, or schedule an in-person meeting. These simple acts are powerful and will make you stand out.🦊 Create a 'wish list'. If setting rigid goals feels too high-pressure, try creating a wish list instead. It’s a gentler, more creative way to connect with what you want to invite into your life and business.https://stan.store/judifoxrocks----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.

Today, I sat down with the brilliant Philip VanDusen, and we explored the critical importance of building your personal brand. For all of you experts, entrepreneurs, and executives out there, understanding and actively shaping your personal brand isn't just about looking good; it's genuinely about future-proofing your career and business. In a world where jobs can disappear through no fault of your own, your personal brand is your ultimate career insurance policy.Here are three key areas we delved into:✳️ Defining Your Brand: We discussed how to uncover what makes you tick, the problem you solve, and why you're different through strategic tools like the Brand Positioning Statement and Brand Pyramid. It's about finding clarity and making tough decisions on what you offer and to whom.✳️ Manifesting Your Brand in the World: Once you have that crystal-clear identity, we talked about how it becomes a filter for all your actions, from product development to social media posts. This ensures everything you put out into the world is aligned and intentional.✳️ Overcoming Emotional Hurdles: Philip and I tackled the emotional challenges of personal branding, like imposter syndrome and comparison. We highlighted the importance of being inspired by others without copying them directly, and knowing when to pull the plug on things that aren't working.Inspired by Philip's invaluable insights, here are three actionable takeaways you can implement today:✳️ Embrace Community, Not Competition: Shift your mindset. Instead of viewing others in your industry as rivals, see them as colleagues, collaborators, and part of a valuable community. These connections can fast-track your learning and open doors to incredible partnerships.✳️ Content is Currency: Start creating a body of work that showcases your expertise. Whether it's videos, articles, or audio, this content acts as a digital asset that works for you even when you're not actively selling, building visibility and attracting clients over time.✳️ Utilise the Personal Brand Wheel: Philip has developed a fantastic tool to simplify the often-overwhelming process of personal branding into 12 core activities. You can download this resource with examples and instructions at philipvandusenn.com/pbw. It's a brilliant way to gain focus and make your personal branding efforts more manageable.----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.