Manage Smarter

Stephanie Brown, founder of Creative Career Level Up and author of 'Fired, Why Losing Your Job, is the best thing that can happen to you', shares her insights on how being fired can be a blessing in disguise and an opportunity for career development. She discusses strategies for career progression, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the importance of feedback and reflection for self-improvement.SHOW NOTES:Stephanie Brown is the Founder of Creative Career Level Up, a program that helps those in marketing, creative, and tech industries accelerate their careers and secure their next perfect role—along with a promotion and a salary increase. Stephanie has spent the last 15 years working in the marketing, creative and tech industries, and what makes her program stand out and a proven system is she used her 13 years’ experience working as a senior marketing executive at Nike (8 years in total) and Apple (5 years) to develop its curriculum. She’s been fired twice and took both opportunities to reframe her career. In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Stephanie discuss:  ·   How to take a different view of your career development ·   Her story about how getting fired can actually be a blessing·   How being fired and refocusing can by the driver for a total career makeover·   DO’S and DON’Ts of what to do after you’ve been fired·   How managers can create a culture of showing a clear career path for employees and for themselves"I had been let go and fired. My learning in terms of things that probably I didn’t do right is I tried to rush into the next job.”– Stephanie Brown Build Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast Join hosts Audrey Strong and C.Lee Smith every week as they dive into the aspects and concepts of goodbusiness management. From debunking sales myths to learning how to manage withand without measurements, you'll learn something new with every episode andwill be able to implement positive change far beyond sales.  Connect with Stephanie Brownhttps://www.creativecareerlab.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniebrowncareercoach/ Connect with Manage Smarter Hosts·         Website: ManageSmarter.com ·         LinkedIn: AudreyStrong                                                                    ·         LinkedIn: C.Lee Smith   Connect with SalesFuel ·         Website: http://salesfuel.com/ ·         Twitter: @SalesFuel ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luis Scott, a respected attorney and consultant, shares his insights on the difference between a manager and a leader, how to develop a predictable business, the role of mediation in management, and when to involve a lawyer. He also discusses how to overcome low credibility in professions like law through continuous education.SHOW NOTES:Luis Scott is a respected attorney and consultant. He is the owner of Bader Scott Injury Lawyers and 8 Figure Firm Consulting, specializing in helping legal professionals optimize and grow their practices. Over his 20 years as a legal professional, he has been recognized by various legal organizations, and was managing partner of a successful law firm with almost 200 employees.In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Luis discuss:  ·Luis' three different categorizations of employees in large firms·Managing employees with large egos·Managing and mediating diametrically opposed employees·Luis’ advice on how to grow your business and differentiate yourself from competitors"If you want to be a really great manager and mediator you have to look at the facts over the emotions.”– Luis ScottBuild Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast Join hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith every week as they dive into the aspects and concepts of good business management. From debunking sales myths to learning how to manage with and without measurements, you'll learn something new with every episode and will be able to implement positive change far beyond sales.  Connect with Luis Scotthttps://baderscott.com/about/attorneys/luis-scott/https://luisscottjr.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-scott-8ff/ Connect with Manage Smarter Hosts·         Website: ManageSmarter.com ·         LinkedIn: AudreyStrong                                                                    ·         LinkedIn: C.Lee Smith  Connect with SalesFuel ·         Website: http://salesfuel.com/ ·         Twitter: @SalesFuel ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Nelson, founder and CEO of Sphere Rocket VA, shares his journey from overcoming addiction to building a leading virtual workforce company. Discover the top functions of virtual assistants, the impact of AI, and how small businesses can leverage VAs for growth.SHOW NOTES:Justin Nelson is the Founder and CEO of Sphere Rocket VA, an industry leading virtual workforce company. Since 2020 Sphere Rocket has placed more than 5,000 virtual assistants, serving 1500+ growing small businesses. Justin began in real estate at age 17, running marketing, lead generation, and inside sales campaigns.After getting licensed, he quickly became a top producing agent, generating$320,000 in gross commissions his first year using social media and marketinggrowth hacks. In 2019 Justin started coaching new and veteran agents to createleverage in their businesses through social media, hyper growth strategies, andeventually virtual assistants. The need for a service to help small business owners hire and effectively utilize virtual workers quickly became apparent, and Sphere Rocket was born. Justin says he’s overcome addiction, depression, and anxiety along his entrepreneurial journey In leadership.  In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Justin discuss:  ·   How he overcame addiction, depression and anxiety to find entrepreneurship.·   How to create leverage through social media, hyper growth strategies and virtual assistants.·   Time spent managing a virtual assistant to get  the most ROI out of having one.·   How to use virtual assistants to push your social media posts out and look for warm leads for prospecting and referrals, and set up systems where they work for you full-time online, no matter where they are located."I have a unique perspective as a young entrepreneur, overcoming the pitfalls of success, and the journey of bootstrapping 8 figure companies.”– Justin Nelson Build Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast Join hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith every week as they dive into the aspects and concepts of good business management. From debunking sales myths to learning how to manage with and without measurements, you'll learn something new with every episode and will be able to implement positive change far beyond sales.   Connect with Justin Nelsonhttp://sphererocketva.com/https://www.facebook.com/justinnelson76 Connect with Manage Smarter Hosts·         Website: ManageSmarter.com ·         LinkedIn: Audrey Strong                                                                    ·         LinkedIn: C.Lee Smith   Connect with SalesFuel ·         Website: http://salesfuel.com/ ·         Twitter: @SalesFuel ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Carla Fowleris an MD PhD and elite executive coach. For the last decade, she has been asecret weapon for scores of CEOs, entrepreneurs, and other senior leaders.Carla’s unique approach combines the latest research from performance sciencewith timeless best practices to help top performers level up and achieve theirgoals.In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Carla discuss:  ·   Performance Science—how is it defined and measured?·   Mental Clarity—Why do leaders need it and how does a person get it?·   Dr. Fowler’s 3 elements of performance science ·   Why embracing uncertainty will push your leadership performance to higher levels"People are always looking for the "hack" or silver bullet as a shortcut to highperformance. There are always great tips/hacks out there... but I've found thatan important piece of high performance is not just getting a certain set ofresults, but also that the path you take to get those results is important todeveloping your foundation as a performer.”– Carla Fowler Build Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast Join hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith every week as they dive into the aspects and concepts of good business management. From debunking sales myths to learning how to manage with and without measurements, you'll learn something new with every episode and will be able to implement positive change far beyond sales.  Connect with Carla Fowler https://www.thaxa.com/https://twitter.com/DrCarlaFowlerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-fowler/  Connect with Manage Smarter Hosts·         Website: ManageSmarter.com ·         LinkedIn: AudreyStrong                                                                    ·         LinkedIn: C.Lee Smith   Connect with SalesFuel ·         Website: http://salesfuel.com/ ·         Twitter: @SalesFuel ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Horsager, CEO of the TrustEdge Leadership Institute and author of 'The Trust Edge,' discusses the pivotal role of trust in leadership and organizational success. Learn how trust influences retention, engagement, and performance, and discover practical strategies to build and sustain trust within your team.SHOW NOTES:David Horsager, MA, CSP, CPAE is the CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute, Trust Expert in Residence at High Point University and The Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Trust Edge, The Daily Edge, and Trusted Leader. He is also a podcaster, creator of the Enterprise Trust Index™, and director of one of the nation’s foremost trust studies, The Trust Outlook. ® Horsager has advised leaders and delivered life-changing presentations on six continents, with audiences ranging from Delta, FedEx, and Toyota to the New York Yankees, MIT and the Department of Homeland Security. His work has been featured in prominent media such as Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and MSNBC. Through speaking, training, consulting, and coaching, David and his team at Trust Edge Leadership Institute make it their mission to develop trusted leaders and organizations. With his trademark 8 Pillar Framework, David breaks trust down into tangible steps that can be leveraged right away to build a high-trust culture— because high-trust leaders and organizations bring out the best in their people and get measurable results.In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and David discuss:   Building Trust in Leadership: Trust is the foundation of effective leadership. Leaders who prioritize trust can foster better team collaboration and drive organizational success. The Trust Edge Model: David introduces the Trust Edge model, which outlines eight pillars of trust. These pillars include clarity, compassion, character, competency, commitment, connection, contribution, and consistency. Improving Employee Engagement: High levels of trust within an organization lead to improved employee engagement. Engaged employees are more productive, innovative, and committed to their roles. Trust and Customer Loyalty: Trust is crucial for building long-term customer relationships. Companies that are trusted by their customers see higher levels of loyalty and repeat business. Measuring Trust: David emphasizes the importance of measuring trust within an organization. Using tools and surveys to assess trust levels can help identify areas for improvement and track progress over time. "Leaders don’t realize that a lack of trust is their biggest expense. They often don't see how a lack of trust affects EVERY aspect of the business!”– David Horsager  Build Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast Join hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith every week as they dive into the aspects and concepts of good business management. From debunking sales myths to learning how to manage with and without measurements, you'll learn something new with every episode and will be able to implement positive change far beyond sales.  Connect with David Horsagerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dhorsager/https://trustedge.com/http://www.davidhorsager.com/ Connect with Manage Smarter Hosts·         Website: ManageSmarter.com ·         LinkedIn: Audrey Strong                                                                   ·         LinkedIn: C. Lee Smith  Connect with SalesFuel·         Twitter: @SalesFuel ·         Website: http://salesfuel.com/ ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maria Victoria Albina (she/they) is a Master Certified Somatic Life Coach, UCSF-trained Family Nurse Practitioner and Breathwork Meditation Guide with a passion for helping humans socialized as women realize that they are their own best healers by reconnecting with their bodies and minds, so they can break free from codependency, perfectionism and people-pleasing and reclaim their joy. She is the host of the Feminist Wellness Podcast, holds a Masters degree in Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health and a BA in Latin American Studies from Oberlin College. Victoria has been working in health & wellness for over 20 years and lives on occupied Munsee Lenape territory in New York’s Hudson Valley.FREE MEDITATIONS FOR MANAGE SMARTER LISTENERS: victoriaalbina.com/salesfuelIn this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Victoria discuss: -Signs and signals leaders should look for indicating they aren’t well-Why people pleasing and likability are a recipe for bad health for leaders-How past traumas play out in bad health today-A calming exercise to use at work to reset your nervous system and re-center yourself"The number 1 mistake managers make is Ignoring signals from their bodies that are telling them they are overstressed or overworked. They do this to be productive and to continue being seen as high performers..”– Victoria AlbinaBuild Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast Join hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith every week as they dive into the aspects and concepts of good business management. From debunking sales myths to learning how to manage with and without measurements, you'll learn something new with every episode and will be able to implement positive change far beyond sales.  Connect with Victoria Albina    ·        Website·        Instagram: @victoriaalbinawellness·        Podcast: Feminist Wellness·        Facebook·        LinkedInConnect with Manage Smarter Hosts·         Website: ManageSmarter.com ·         LinkedIn: Audrey Strong                                                                   ·         LinkedIn: C. Lee Smith  Connect with SalesFuel ·         Website: http://salesfuel.com/ ·         Twitter: @SalesFuel ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Shenbaum is the founder of Game On Nation, a nationally recognized communication firm that employs game dynamics and improvisation to teach high-performance teamwork as well as communication, story-telling, public-speaking and presentation skills.In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Steve discuss: ·        How gamification can help you become a better manager and leader·        Why younger workforce members respond more to games within the workplace·        Tangible exercises for you to use to bring out your team members’ authentic selves and to learn more about what they REALLY want to succeed.·        Specific ways to run your staff meetings to create a higher level of engagement and enthusiasm"I hope people will learn that we are all presenters, and that presenting is not exclusive to the noisiest, the loudest, the most dynamic person in the room…especially when we define “presenting” as any interaction with others..”– Steve ShenbaumBuild Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast Join hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith every week as they dive into the aspects and concepts of good business management. From debunking sales myths to learning how to manage with and without measurements, you'll learn something new with every episode and will be able to implement positive change far beyond sales. Connect with Steve Shenbaumhttps://www.gameonnation.com/https://twitter.com/gameonNATIONhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/steveshenbaum/https://www.linkedin.com/company/game-on-nation/https://www.facebook.com/gameonnationConnect with Manage Smarter Hosts·         Website: ManageSmarter.com ·         LinkedIn: Audrey Strong                                                                   ·         LinkedIn: C. Lee Smith   Connect with SalesFuel ·         Website: http://salesfuel.com/ ·         Twitter: @SalesFuel ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eddie Yoon, co-founder of Category Pirates LLC and author of 'The 22 Laws of Category Design', shares his expertise on category strategy and super consumers. Learn how businesses can leverage weird data to drive growth and why companies like Tesla and Starbucks excel in category design. Eddie offers actionable tips for scaling up by managing weirder, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to redefine their market and achieve superior growth.SHOW NOTES:Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of category strategy with a true authority in the field. We are thrilled to have Eddie Yoon as our guest. He's the Co-Founder of Category PIrates, LLC...a business writing band and top 10 business Substack. He's also a distinguished author and expert who has contributed extensively to the Harvard Business Review on category strategy. With his unparalleled knowledge and expertise, Eddie is set to share groundbreaking insights from his latest book “The 22 Laws of Category Design,” His other book is called “Superconsumers: A Simple, Speedy, and Sustainable Path to Superior Growth”.In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Eddie discuss: ·        What superconsumers are and how they affect your business·        What is category design and how can you fine tune it for greater sales·        Why categories matter MORE than your brand·        How to identify new sales channels by finding the superconsumers who are at the fringes of your business category"There are three types of business strategy. "Be the winner" (e.g., Toyota has #1 market share), "Be the best" (e.g., BMW...ultimate driving machine), and "Be different" (e.g., Tesla).”– Eddie YoonBuild Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast Join hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith every week as they dive into the aspects and concepts of good business management. From debunking sales myths to learning how to manage with and without measurements, you'll learn something new with every episode and will be able to implement positive change far beyond sales.  Connect with Eddie Yoon www.categorypirates.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-yoon-ewg/ Connect with Manage Smarter Hosts·         Website: ManageSmarter.com ·         LinkedIn: Audrey Strong                                                                   ·         LinkedIn: C. Lee Smith  Connect with SalesFuel ·         Website: http://salesfuel.com/ ·         Twitter: @SalesFuel ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest says she's an optimistic person but her favorite word is NO. Andrea Waltz is the co-founder of Courage Crafters, Inc. and co-author of the best-selling book, Go for No! Yes is the Destination, No is How You Get There. For almost two decades, Andrea has been teaching people in virtually every business and industry how to think and feel differently about failure, rejection, and the word, “no” to achieve their goals and dreams. A member of one of the highest regarded professional groups of women in sales, Women Sales Pros, Andrea is considered a top sales influencer online, featured on lists curated by Hubspot, Salesforce.com, Live Hive and many others. The book, Go for No! reached #1 on Amazon’s “Sales & Selling” list in 2010, and has remained in the top 50 Sales books for the last 13 years, having now sold over 500,000 copies. Her latest book with co-author Richard Fenton called, “When They Say No” was released in February 2023.In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Andrea discuss:  Embracing Rejection: Andrea Waltz emphasizes the importance of embracing rejection as a part of the sales process. By reframing rejection as a step towards success, sales professionals can build resilience and improve their performance. Go for No Strategy: The 'Go for No' strategy encourages salespeople to intentionally seek out 'no' responses. This approach helps in overcoming the fear of rejection and increases the chances of getting to a 'yes'. Mindset Shift: Changing your mindset towards rejection can significantly impact your sales success. Viewing each 'no' as a learning opportunity can lead to personal growth and better sales techniques. Tracking No in Your Sales Metrics: Tracking the number of 'no' responses can be a valuable sales metric. This unconventional approach can provide insights into your sales process and help in setting realistic goals. Building Confidence: Regularly facing rejection can build confidence and reduce the fear associated with it. This increased confidence can lead to more assertive and effective sales pitches. "The relationship you have with the word NO… what you think and feel when you hear it, and what you do afterward as a result… is THE single most important factor in determining the level of success you will achieve in your life.”– Andrea WaltzBuild Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast Join hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith every week as they dive into the aspects and concepts of good business management. From debunking sales myths to learning how to manage with and without measurements, you'll learn something new with every episode and will be able to implement positive change far beyond sales.  Connect with Andrea Waltzhttps://www.goforno.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/goforno/https://www.facebook.com/GoforNoConnect with Manage Smarter Hosts·         Website: ManageSmarter.com ·         LinkedIn: Audrey Strong                                                                   ·         LinkedIn: C. Lee Smith   Connect with SalesFuel ·         Website: http://salesfuel.com/ ·         Twitter: @SalesFuel ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Gielda is co-founder of Ignite Selling and author of Ignite Your Sales Strategies: A field guide to accelerating the pipeline - an Amazon Top 10 Sales Book! the book helps sales teams be able to think and act strategically, construct a seamless sales pipeline process, understand your customers’ buying factors for each unique sale, proactively manage the key influencers, navigate the competitive landscape and quantify the true value of your solution. Steve's company has trained over 25,000 salespeople and sales leaders worldwide.MENTION MANAGE SMARTER PODCAST WHEN CLICKING ON STEVE’S BOOK ON IGNITESELLING.COM GETS THE BOOK FREEIn this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Steve discuss:  Managing Assumptions in Sales: Steve emphasizes that assumptions in the sales process, especially during new product launches, can lead to failure. He highlights the importance of identifying and engaging with the right influencers and not assuming that the same influencers from past sales will be relevant for new products. Critical Decision Criteria: Steve points out that salespeople often assume price is the most critical decision factor for customers. However, research shows that other factors like ease of use and serviceability often rank higher. Salespeople need to ask the right questions to understand the true decision criteria. Creating Urgency: To drive urgency in customers, it's essential to quantify the value of your product and how it helps the customer's business succeed. Understanding and articulating the business metrics impacted by your solution can significantly reduce stalled opportunities. Role of Technology in Sales: Technology, including AI, helps by reminding salespeople of milestones and providing actionable steps to prevent opportunities from stalling. However, it's crucial to have a well-defined sales process and clear milestones. Importance of Sales Management: Sales managers play a pivotal role in accelerating the pipeline by holding salespeople accountable and challenging their critical thinking. They act as strategy coaches, ensuring that opportunities don't stall and guiding the sales team effectively. "The #1 mistake managers and leaders make is NOT challenging the critical thinking and common assumptions of salespeople. Let's face it, managers have a lot on their plate and they are running hard every day. Thus, they fall into the trap of asking questions about the facts of what's happening in one of their reps accounts, instead of challenging them to think more critically. ”– Steve GieldaBuild Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast Join hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith every week as they dive into the aspects and concepts of good business management. From debunking sales myths to learning how to manage with and without measurements, you'll learn something new with every episode and will be able to implement positive change far beyond sales. Connect with Steve Gielda www.igniteselling.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sgielda/Connect with Manage Smarter Hosts·         Website: ManageSmarter.com ·         LinkedIn: Audrey Strong                                                                   ·         LinkedIn: C. Lee Smith  Connect with SalesFuel ·         Website: http://salesfuel.com/ ·         Twitter: @SalesFuel ·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesfuel/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices