Growth Think Tank

Everyone’s journey to being an entrepreneur is a little bit different. However, I love the stories of finding a passion and making it your business. Adam Karwoski is one of those stories that follows a path to his own business. Adam develops social business strategies for corporate executives in the B2B space and he shares some great ways to listen in to your ideal prospects using social media. We even discuss a critical element to success in embracing social media: “What is your capacity for change?” Get the show notes for 045 Adam Karwoski | Social Business is Conversations and Relationships to Build Trust Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Leaders in the Trenches with @GeneHammett #SocialBusinessStrategy #Passion #Episode045 #Podcasts Give Leaders in the Trenches a review on iTunes!

Every entrepreneur I know wants to make a difference in the world yet they also want to build a life of freedom along the way. Laura Roeder did just that! After college, her career started in web design, but in 2008, the social media craze pulled her in a new direction. We talk about mindset issues and even the fears Laura faced on her journey to a business centered around “freedom”. Learn from Laura’s ups and downs in this episode. Get the show notes for 044 Laura Roeder | From Web Designer to a Business Based on Freedom Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Leaders in the Trenches with @GeneHammett #JourneytoBusiness #Freedom #Episode044 #Podcasts Give Leaders in the Trenches a review on iTunes!

Every expert can give you their “opinion” of the critical elements of business success. The truth is there are many critical elements that every business owner must master to grow and stabilize their business. Today, we dive into “follow up” with Patty Farmer who has a defined process for re-connecting with people to build a strong network of relationships. Patty is a master at building deep relationships that eventually pay off. I just love the part about asking better questions…listen in when Patty talks about her process. Patty has also recent won the SWIBA award for social media influencer of the year for 2014 which means she knows what she is talking about. Get the show notes for 043 Patty Farmer | Follow Up the RIGHT Way to Build Relationships Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Leaders in the Trenches with @GeneHammett @GetSocialSavvy #Payoff #BuildingDeepRelationship #Episode043 #Podcasts Give Leaders in the Trenches a review on iTunes!

The success of your business comes down to the number of quality conversations you are having. In my 20+ years experience in sales and growing my own companies, all the key elements came down to how good are you at conversations. Today we talk about what you are REALLY selling…it is NOT your services, programs, and packages. Listen in to find out what it is and get the 4 parts to to help you with your enrollment conversations. Get the show notes for 042 Gene Hammett | Enrollment Conversations that Get You Clients Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Leaders in the Trenches with @GeneHammett #QualityConversation #GrowingCompanies #Episode042 #Podcasts Give Leaders in the Trenches a review on iTunes!

If you do not have the business you want or dream of…this interview is for you. Kim Walsh-Phillips shares her journey from crying in your car after working 10 years to build her business to doing over a million in revenue. Kim’s story really touched a nerve with me as she talks about the difficulties she has chasing prospects and not having a clear ROI for the work she did do. We dive into the specifics of how Kim changed her mindset first…then how she took practical steps to take her business to a new level. Check out the 3 specific steps she took that changed her business forever. Get the show notes for 041 Kim Walsh-Phillips | Changing Your Business Forever Starts with Mindset Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Leaders in the Trenches with @GeneHammett @KWalshPhillips #Revenue #Mindset #Episode041 #Podcasts Give Leaders in the Trenches a review on iTunes!

Marketing is a critical component to business success. In it’s simplest terms, marketing is all about awareness and attention. Well, Tad Hargrave totally gets it and today we dive DEEP into niching. I am on a mission to interview everyone that has a book on “niching” and that includes the pending publishing of Tad’s new book “The Niching Spiral”. We go back to the time before Tad had his niche and the struggles he had. We look at how Tad discovered that he is a hippie that does marketing for hippies. Listen in to the interview as we uncover the critical elements of finding your niche. Get the show notes for 040 Tad Hargrave | When the Niche is Unclear Everything is a Struggle Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Leaders in the Trenches with @GeneHammett @TadHargrave #DeepNiching #NichingSpiral #Episode040 #Podcasts Give Leaders in the Trenches a review on iTunes!

You will be able to relate Matt’s journey if you have ever had hard times. I know I have. Matt lost it all many years ago by not seeing the SHIFT in the music business. Even though he tells the story of bagging groceries for a friend…he did not let that keep him down. Matt leaped into real estate and through a few pivots there, he has built a strong business with multiple streams of income. You are not define by what happens to you, but by what you do in response to life’s tough times. Get the show notes for 039 Matt Theriault | Failure Can Be A Catalyst to Success Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Leaders in the Trenches with @GeneHammett @EpicREInvesting #MusicBusiness #Income #Episode039 #Podcasts Give Leaders in the Trenches a review on iTunes!

Success in business does not require a website or a big marketing budget. In today’s episode, I am talking with Luke Charlton who coaches other coaches on how to focus on relationships. Specifically we talk about strategic relationships that can fuel your business to a new level. Luke shares with you tips about small, intimate events that can put you in a room full of the right people for your business. Even if you are not a coach, you can learn how to fill the room and details on how to make this event truly special. Get the show notes for 038 Luke Charlton | Cultivating REAL Relationships with Intimate Events Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Leaders in the Trenches with @GeneHammett @lukecharlton #Coaches #Relationship #Episode038 #Podcasts Give Leaders in the Trenches a review on iTunes!

Many digital agency owners attempt (in the very beginning…or longer) to take any client that has money. They want the experience and they want to get a portfolio. But commonly this leads to a path down the wrong road. Even if you are not a digital agency, you can benefit from today’s interview. Gary George started his agency in 1998 and began to focus on his network in the music business. Discover what Gary did from there to “landing the big names” and how he pulled himself out of the trenches. Get the show notes for 037 Gary George | Landing the BIG Name in your Niche-Not Just for Digital Agency Owners Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Leaders in the Trenches with @GeneHammett @GaryGeorge100 #DigitalAgency #LeadersintheTrenches #Episode037 #Podcasts Give Leaders in the Trenches a review on iTunes!

Becoming known in today’s marketplace requires you to be crystal clear on who you are and who you serve. This is all about creating a personal brand. When you think of virtual assistants, you likely think of today’s guest, Chris Ducker. Chris has positioned himself as an authority in the area of outsourcing (which includes virtual assistants) and that has led him “out of the trenches”. Chris has gone through burnouts where he hit the wall within his business which was when he decided to make a major shift in his life and businesses. Discover new insights about Chris and his journey in this episode. Get the show notes for 036 Chris Ducker | Building Your Personal Brand with 3 Facets Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on Leaders in the Trenches with @GeneHammett @ChrisDucker #Insights #LifeandBusiness #Episode036 #Podcasts Give Leaders in the Trenches a review on iTunes!