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Absolute Advantage Podcast

The Absolute Advantage is about learning from some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, leaders, and achievers at the top of their game. When chasing your dreams, a lot of times there isn’t a need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, shorten your path to success by learning from the stories, strategies and concepts shared by our guests. Then shorten it even further by learning about amazing resources (books, webinars, tools, software, events, coaching, etc.) that should be on your radar. You are not alone in the challenges you face! It's my mission to help you walk away with at least one idea you can apply each episode and to offer content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and progress QUICKLY both professionally and personally.
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Now displaying: 2016
Dec 22, 2016

Kelly Hatfield is co-founder of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group, Enginuity Virtual Recruiter and Impact Real Estate Real Estate Group based in Everett, Washington. She has been in the recruiting and HR field for over 20-years and loves serving others. Kelly and her business partner have built three successful companies with the purpose of helping others succeed and delivering remarkable results. Kelly and her team strategically align themselves as “The Partner of Choice” with clients and strive to be the first place clients call when they are looking for extraordinary service, quality, and reliability. The resulting outcome has been an outstanding referral network that has built and continues to build their companies.

As Co-Founder and Owner of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group and Enginuity Virtual Recruiter, April (together with her amazing partner) has created and developed three successful businesses aimed at matching exceptional talent with the top organizations. With 17 years in the human resources and staffing realm, April has experience, knowledge and a love for people and aims to offer solutions to all who are served. Being a natural problem solver, she prides herself on developing and leading a team of recruiting professionals whose mission is focused on connecting people to opportunity. Through creative and exhaustive methods, the Enginuity Group successfully matches the right talent with the right businesses each and every day.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • The high demand and low supply that requires you to always be recruiting engineering talent
  • Using social media to engage with engineering talent
  • Getting involved in professional organizations like The American Council of Engineering Companies
  • Partnering with engineering departments in colleges
  • Getting clear on your culture and brand and shouting it from the rooftops
  • Getting your employees involved in your recruiting efforts
  • Why you need to move FAST
  • Why you need to be very clear with candidates

Ways to contact Kelly:

Ways to contact April:

 

Dec 20, 2016

Super Julie Braun is a clever cocktail of right brain (creativity and big picture), left brain (knowledge and process), and a splash of a sassy attitude.

In her corporate career, Super Julie’s held Creative Director, Executive Vice President, and Chief Marketing Officer positions with super-sized brands like Victoria’s Secret, MTV, Bath and Body Works, Estée Lauder, Nike, and Carter’s Childrenswear. At Carters, in just 18 months, Super Julie’s team contributed to the company doubling their business from $500 million to over $1 billion, which also led to a public stock offering.

When she started her own company, Super Julie did what Super Julie does best. She immediately recruited interns to help her grow her business. Super Julie’s interns were working directly with clients on high-level projects, serving as integral, contributing members of her team. Realizing that other businesses and organizations could greatly benefit from her experience, mentorship abilities, and proven systems, SuperInterns.com was born in December of 2008.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Julie’s background and how she built her intern business
  • How Julie turned her dyslexia from her biggest liability to her biggest gift
  • Focusing on what makes you the most money and delegating everything else away
  • Why you should use interns to leverage your resources
  • Paid vs. unpaid internships: what you need to know
  • The rules and regulations that come with unpaid internships
  • How to create a culture for virtual internships (or employees)
  • The benefits of working from home
  • The impact Julie’s live broadcast has had on her business
  • Julie’s business’ manifesto (that was written by interns!)
  • A piece of Julie’s process for vetting the super interns that work for her
  • Why you need someone that will call you out
  • Why you need to listen to those around you
  • Why you can’t do it alone

Ways to contact Julie:

Dec 15, 2016

Kelly Hatfield is co-founder of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group, Enginuity Virtual Recruiter and Impact Real Estate Real Estate Group based in Everett, Washington. She has been in the recruiting and HR field for over 20-years and loves serving others. Kelly and her business partner have built three successful companies with the purpose of helping others succeed and delivering remarkable results. Kelly and her team strategically align themselves as “The Partner of Choice” with clients and strive to be the first place clients call when they are looking for extraordinary service, quality, and reliability. The resulting outcome has been an outstanding referral network that has built and continues to build their companies.

As Co-Founder and Owner of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group and Enginuity Virtual Recruiter, April (together with her amazing partner) has created and developed three successful businesses aimed at matching exceptional talent with the top organizations. With 17 years in the human resources and staffing realm, April has experience, knowledge and a love for people and aims to offer solutions to all who are served. Being a natural problem solver, she prides herself on developing and leading a team of recruiting professionals whose mission is focused on connecting people to opportunity. Through creative and exhaustive methods, the Enginuity Group successfully matches the right talent with the right businesses each and every day.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • How toxic relationships impact your life and business
  • The impact of removing toxic relationships from your business
  • How removing toxic employees impacts the rest of your team
  • How to recognize a toxic relationship
  • The difference between a toxic client and a challenging client
  • How to end a toxic relationship
  • How to attempt to fix a toxic relationship before ending it

Ways to contact Kelly:

Ways to contact April:

Dec 13, 2016

Don Yaeger is a nationally acclaimed inspirational speaker, longtime Associate Editor of Sports Illustrated and author of 25 books, nine of which have become New York Times Best-sellers. He began his career at the San Antonio (TX) Light and also worked at the Dallas Morning News and the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville before going to work for Sports Illustrated.

As an author, Don has written books with, among others, Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, UCLA basketball Coach John Wooden, baseball legends John Smoltz and Tug McGraw and football stars Warrick Dunn and Michael Oher (featured in the movie The Blind Side). He teamed with Fox News anchor Brian Kilmeade to pen the 2013 best-seller “George Washington’s Secret Six,” a look at the citizen spy ring that helped win the Revolutionary War and then again in 2015 writing “Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War that Changed American History.”

Don left Sports Illustrated in 2008 to pursue a public speaking career that has allowed him to share stories learned from the greatest winners of our generation with audiences as diverse as Fortune 10 companies to cancer survivor groups, where he shares his personal story. More than a quarter-million people have heard his discussions on What Makes the Great Ones Great.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Don’s background
  • Learning from mentors from afar
  • Don’s new book “Great Teams”
  • Why it’s so important to understand your “why” — and what Don’s “why” was while writing his new book
  • What great teams look like — and what they all do to keep achieving greatness
  • The four pillars of great teams: purpose, effective management, activating efficiency, and mutual direction
  • How Don defines organizational culture
  • What “A Players” are
  • How to prepare for top employees leaving by having a strong bench
  • Why Don is a very open leader with his team
  • Why Don makes sure he learns something every day

Ways to contact Don:

Dec 8, 2016

Kelly Hatfield is co-founder of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group, Enginuity Virtual Recruiter and Impact Real Estate Real Estate Group based in Everett, Washington. She has been in the recruiting and HR field for over 20-years and loves serving others. Kelly and her business partner have built three successful companies with the purpose of helping others succeed and delivering remarkable results. Kelly and her team strategically align themselves as “The Partner of Choice” with clients and strive to be the first place clients call when they are looking for extraordinary service, quality, and reliability. The resulting outcome has been an outstanding referral network that has built and continues to build their companies.

As Co-Founder and Owner of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group and Enginuity Virtual Recruiter, April (together with her amazing partner) has created and developed three successful businesses aimed at matching exceptional talent with the top organizations. With 17 years in the human resources and staffing realm, April has experience, knowledge and a love for people and aims to offer solutions to all who are served. Being a natural problem solver, she prides herself on developing and leading a team of recruiting professionals whose mission is focused on connecting people to opportunity. Through creative and exhaustive methods, the Enginuity Group successfully matches the right talent with the right businesses each and every day.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Some powerful quotes about the power of saying no
  • Why you need to set firm boundaries
  • Why it can be a challenge to say no
  • Getting clear on what really matters
  • Understanding that you can’t be everything to everyone
  • Why — if you always say yes — your time is devalued
  • Why you should say no fast
  • Why you need to ask questions before saying yes
  • Why — if it’s not “hell yes” — you have to say no
  • Why you should delegate to people who are well equipped
  • Being prepared to let go
  • Why you need to put a dollar amount on your time

Ways to contact Kelly:

Ways to contact April:

Dec 6, 2016

Geoff Tamble is Project Manager and Principal at The Blueline Group, an award-winning first choice for developers, builders, architects, property owners, and municipalities who need civil engineering and land use planning services throughout Washington State.

Blueline was founded in 2003 by Brian Darrow, PE; Todd Oberg, PE, LEED AP; and Geoff Tamble, PE; with the belief that superior engineering and planning services could be achieved with a more enjoyable process for all by focusing on employees first. The ability to contribute to the community whenever possible was also important and a portion of profits have been dedicated to supporting charities and events from day one. Three years later, Ken Lauzen, PE, joined the ranks of Principal bringing the senior management team to four.

Today, more than 90% of their clients are repeats or referrals…a testament to client satisfaction.

Geoff has been part of a joint leadership strategy that helped Blueline Group earn several awards:

  • Top 50/100 fastest growing companies in WA in 2007, ‘08, ‘13, ‘14, and ‘15 by Puget Sound Business Journal (50-Bellevue Eastside and 100-Statewide).
  • Best Company to work for in 2007 (2nd) and 2008 (5th) as rated by WA CEO Magazine.
  • Top 50 Best Company to work for in WA in 2008 as rated by Puget Sound Business Journal.
  • Top 25 Best Engineering Company to work for in 2008 in the Nation as rated by CE News Magazine.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Geoff’s background and what led him to start Blueline
  • Why you should write your business plan like you’re writing a prenup
  • What Geoff learned from being coached by legendary college football coach Don James
  • What Geoff and the Blueline team learned that helped them focus their website
  • Why you employees need to fit in your culture
  • Blueline’s “work hard, play hard” culture
  • Why you need to invest in your employees — and how Blueline does this
  • Why Blueline is extremely flexible with their employees
  • What “A Players” look like to Geoff
  • The political skills Blueline employees need to navigate the tricky waters of the engineering industry
  • What Blueline’s relaxed interviewed process looks like
  • How Blueline keeps their employees
  • Why Seattle is going to be great job security for Blueline

Ways to contact Geoff:

Dec 1, 2016

Ben Brown is a Best Selling Author, Keynote Speaker, and the CEO of 360 Sales Consulting. He has over 20 years background in Sales and Sales Management. His passion is helping business people with their sales. Many companies focus on marketing but leave the most important part of the business out. That is sales! 360 Sales Consulting has a 10 step sales process that can help anyone understand the simple law of properly selling a customer something that they can help and benefit from.

360 Sales Consulting specializes in sales training and coaching for small business and entrepreneurs who need help with their sale process. We have a proven method of the sales process and also can analysis current method to see where improvements need to be added.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Ben’s background
  • Bringing in the right person to lead up your sales department
  • Finding the right mentor to push you to the next level
  • Why you have to be ready for your relationship with your business partner to blow up
  • Emulating the behavior that you want your team to put forth
  • What you need to know about recruiting and hiring sales people
  • Why Ben isn’t afraid to hire people who have never worked in sales before and use them as salespeople
  • Why employee training must be ongoing
  • Why salespeople need to be fit — physically and mentally
  • The best time to sell to people
  • Why you need to communicate with everyone on your team
  • Why you should never assume anything
  • Ben’s book: “Master the Art of Closing the Sale: The Game-Changing 10-Step Sales Process for Getting More Clients and Referrals”

Ways to contact Ben:

 

Nov 23, 2016

George Wright has over thirty years’ experience as a management consultant and is the founder and President of WrightOne Consulting. He specializes in psychological assessment analysis, organizational assessment as well as leadership and team development. He has experience helping clients with selection, executive development, performance management, strategy formulation, change management, and organizational development.

George is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a Bachelor’s in Psychology & Sociology. He also has a Masters Degree from Radford University in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Economics. Additionally, he has studied Technology Management at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

He is an Adjunct Instructor in Industrial & Organizational Psychology, Social Psychology, and Positive Psychology at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, NJ. He has also served on the faculty of the NJ Judicial College, lecturing on Cognitive Bias.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • George’s background
  • Why listening is the most important skill for leaders — and why you need to listen with more than just your ears
  • George’s two most influential mentors
  • Learning from your mistakes and looking for three lessons to learn from a mistake
  • Combating fear and giving yourself permission to try something
  • Why it’s so important to take care of yourself, especially as a leader
  • What emotional intelligence is and why it’s so important in the workplace
  • Why you need to get people to prove that they belong on your team
  • The fundamental characteristics that make up “A Players”
  • Building a plan that will help someone become successful inside your organization
  • How to prevent employees from leaving your company
  • How to lead from the top and challenge mediocrity
  • Why you shouldn’t fall in love with a candidate and ignore

Ways to contact George:

Resources:

Nov 22, 2016

Jason Treu is a business and executive coach and former lawyer. He’s an expert in leadership, human behavior, influence, networking, and culture-building. He’s helped his clients meet influencers such as Richard Branson, Bill Gates, Tim Cook, create more than $1B in wealth in last 3 years, and get on influential boards such as TED and Xprize.

His bestselling book, “Social Wealth, the how-to-guide on building personal and professional relationships,” has sold more than 45,000 copies on Amazon, has been #1 in four business and self-help categories, and has more than 125+ five star reviews.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Jason’s journey
  • “Social Wealth”: Jason’s bestselling book
  • Why you need to focus on soft skills the most — even though we typically focus on them the least
  • What Jason has learned from Brené Brown from her Ted talk and books
  • Why Jason had to part with his business partner to move his business towards the next level
  • Building a team that helps you see your blind spots
  • Why it’s so important to know what you’re doing what you’re doing right
  • Surrounding yourself with the right people
  • Practicing gratitude in your life
  • Why you need to get comfortable with your circle adapting to where you’re going
  • Creating a people-first culture
  • The difference between “A Players,” “B Players,” and “C Players”
  • How “C Players” kill organizations and zap productivity away from “A Players” and “B Players”
  • Why you need to have a succession plan
  • Why you have to invest in your “A Players” — and why people tend to focus on their “B Players”
  • Why you MUST invest yourself
  • Why keeping a tight calendar is so important

Ways to contact Jason:

Nov 17, 2016

Adrienne Garland is the founder of She Leads Media, a media company dedicated to leadership – both professionally and personally – for women, worldwide. The mission of She Leads Media is to inspire, educate and ultimately, to showcase women as the leaders we were all meant to be. Adrienne has an extensive marketing background and has helped media companies such as Cablevision, DIRECTV, SiriusXM, PR Newswire and PricewaterhouseCoopers with customer growth and digital transformation over the course of her career. She is a sought-after marketing consultant with expertise in bringing together and activating audiences and brands to achieve tangible results. Adrienne is a New York Business Journal 2016 class of Women of Influence honoree.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Adrienne’s background that led into the founding of She Leads Media
  • Why it’s so important to trust yourself
  • What Adrienne learned from her former business partner Laura — and how she’s moved on in her business since Laura left
  • What Adrienne learned from hosting a conference that she lost money on
  • The importance of thinking in a bigger way
  • How Adrienne works with vendors for her conferences
  • How to figure out what to outsource
  • How to vet your outsourcing partners
  • Why it’s so important to talk to yourself in the right way
  • Why Adrienne follows Ben Franklin’s “early to bed, early to rise” advice
  • Why you need to put everything in your calendar
  • Why women need to hold off on the perfect and think really big

Ways to contact Adrienne:

Nov 15, 2016

Jeff Jensen has been involved in recruiting and building companies for 30+ years in a number of industries and in a number of positions.

Jeff was President/Principal of two private placement companies, the Knapp Agency Seattle a Mgmt., & staffing company as well as The Lynnwood Placement Center that placed people in the Logging industry.

Jeff has held positions as Sr. V.P., Exec., V.P., Branch Manager and Sales Manager in the lending industry. He is a Past President of the Seattle Mortgage Bankers Association and a current director for the Washington Association of Mortgage Bankers. He has Chaired Non-Profit groups as well.

He recently published a book on recruiting called “What A HOOT! Let’s Recruit!” wherein he shares techniques that work in a number of industries to improve the performance of the recruiting initiative.

Jeff has been married to his wife Taryn for 40 years and lives in Woodinville, Wa.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Jeff’s background
  • Why integrity is so vital
  • What Jeff learned from his mentor Jim Moats
  • What Jeff learned from a time where he felt like he failed
  • Why Jeff hires for soft skills
  • How to avoid make a bad hire — and why this must be done at all costs
  • Why culture is so important
  • What “A Players” in Jeff’s organization look like — and what qualities he looks for in potential hires
  • Why Jeff loves using LinkedIn during his employee search
  • Jeff’s Six E’s for keeping his attention level where it needs to be to nurture employees
  • What Jeff does to take care of his body and mind
  • How to recognize and capitalize on momentum

Ways to contact Jeff:

Nov 10, 2016

Kelly Hatfield is co-founder of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group, Enginuity Virtual Recruiter and Impact Real Estate Real Estate Group based in Everett, Washington. She has been in the recruiting and HR field for over 20-years and loves serving others. Kelly and her business partner have built three successful companies with the purpose of helping others succeed and delivering remarkable results. Kelly and her team strategically align themselves as “The Partner of Choice” with clients and strive to be the first place clients call when they are looking for extraordinary service, quality, and reliability. The resulting outcome has been an outstanding referral network that has built and continues to build their companies.

As Co-Founder and Owner of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group and Enginuity Virtual Recruiter, April (together with her amazing partner) has created and developed three successful businesses aimed at matching exceptional talent with the top organizations. With 17 years in the human resources and staffing realm, April has experience, knowledge and a love for people and aims to offer solutions to all who are served. Being a natural problem solver, she prides herself on developing and leading a team of recruiting professionals whose mission is focused on connecting people to opportunity. Through creative and exhaustive methods, the Enginuity Group successfully matches the right talent with the right businesses each and every day.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • What an accountability partner is and why you need one
  • How April and I hold each other accountable
  • Why you will justify anything in your own mind if you don’t have someone else hold you accountable
  • Why the words you use create your reality — and why you need to have another voice to change what you say
  • How a good accountability partner can add objectivity
  • How to know who the right accountability partner is for you
  • What qualities to look for in an accountability partner
  • Being aware of when you outgrow your accountability partner
  • Making the accountability relationship fun by making a game out of it

Ways to contact Kelly:

Ways to contact April:

Nov 8, 2016

Kevin Chadwick is a Principal with FSi Consulting Engineers, and has been with the firm since 2005.

FSi Consulting Engineers provides HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection engineering for a wide range of buildings, as well as process systems for specialized industrial functions. FSi’s projects have been recognized by professional organizations, government agencies, and industries, for design excellence and for elegant solutions to complex problems. Their award winning projects range from airplane hangars to chocolate factories, to civic buildings.

Kevin is a licensed mechanical engineer and LEED Accredited Professional with more than 13 years of experience. Kevin has led FSi’s team on the firm’s largest contracts, with construction costs up to $185M, and prime contracts as large as $15M. Beyond the technical side of things, Kevin is part of the leadership team at FSI and a big contributor to the amazing culture they have.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Kevin’s story and how he ended up at FSi
  • Why caring about people is the best thing you can do as a leader — and what that looks like at FSi
  • What Kevin has learned from Larry Ransom, a business coach that FSi works with
  • Why people you work with need to buy into who you are and what you do
  • The benefits of being very intentional
  • Choosing who you’re going to be as a leader
  • The challenges of finding the right experienced people
  • FSi’s culture and why they focus on vision, value, and purpose
  • FSi’s recruiting process
  • What “A Players” look like to Kevin — and why they absolutely need to be coachable
  • The challenges of integrating 3D design into the construction world and other challenges that face the industry in the coming
  • Why you will have very little turnover if you hire people that fit your culture

Ways to contact Kevin:

Nov 3, 2016

Judy Robinett has led both public and private companies as CEO and served in management positions at Fortune 500 companies.

She is on the advisory boards of Illuminate VC, Pereg VC, and Springboard Enterprises. Judy previously served as a managing director of Golden Seeds Angel Network and as a member of the faculty of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Business Program.

Judy’s book, “How to Be a Power Connector: the 5+50+150 Rule,” was named the #1 business book of 2014 by Inc. She has been profiled in Entrepreneur, Vogue, Fast Company, Forbes, CBS, Huffington Post, and Bloomberg Businessweek.

Judy also has a program called Crack the Funding Code for helping entrepreneurs obtain investor funding for their early-stage businesses and startups.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Judy’s background
  • What she learned when she ran out of money
  • Why you need to vet people before working with them
  • Utilizing people in your network
  • The reasons startup fail
  • Fighting your own worst enemy: you
  • Why you can’t do it all by yourself
  • How to outsource when you don’t have a lot of resources
  • Understanding your blind spots
  • Creating a safe place for your team and understanding what motivates them
  • How to get the right team for each stage of your business
  • Strategies Judy uses to lead herself
  • Judy’s Crack the Funding Code program

Ways to contact Judy:

Nov 1, 2016

Travis Snider is Co-President of BETS Consulting. He is a successful business coach and consultant focused on creating profit ideas for small business. As the Creator and Lead Instructor of the Small Business Accelerator at Everett Community College, he conducts a ten month workshop and coaching program for experienced business owners.

Travis has developed a collection of “Profit Strategies” of Successful Small Business Owners which guides his profit improvement coaching. This collection includes over 300 profit ideas to “supercharge” any small business. He has created a unique set of assessment tools that allow companies to identify and manage key profit drivers critical to growth.

Travis is a former CPA and partner in local and regional accounting firms. He has served as Chairman and Director of numerous business and social service organizations in the Puget Sound community. Travis writes frequently about growing small business and is a regular speaker on the subject. He received his MBA from Seattle University.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Travis’ background
  • The importance of seeking out coaching, mentorship, and mastermind groups
  • Why you need to have a vision for the future
  • Travis’ relationship with his wife and how they complement each other inside their business
  • Why you shouldn’t make assumptions without vetting them
  • Getting clear on your most important priorities — and acting upon them
  • How to find and hire the right people
  • Hiring for attitude — not skills
  • When is it time to part ways with an employee?
  • The characteristics Travis sees in “A Players”
  • How to keep your “A Players” around
  • What drives millennials
  • How to deal with employees leaving and how to have effective turnover
  • Keeping relevant through constant learning, embracing change, and making it fun

Ways to contact Travis:

Oct 27, 2016

Kristin Marquet is the founder and managing director of Creative Development Agency (formerly award-winning firm, Marquet Media). She oversees the day-to-day operations of the agency as well as directs all client accounts and projects. Kristin also develops, manages, and implements various internal and external communication and social media initiatives. With a strong eye for creating memorable brands and a diverse range of knowledge, Kristin provides strategic counsel to clients interested in developing successful internal and external communication programs across all media platforms.

Kristin has forged successful partnerships with celebrity fashion designer and correspondent NV Nick Verreos; womens wear designer Yunes Swathe; Vancouver Fashion Week; prestige hair care brand Briogeo; French accessory designer Mona Roussette; and many more. She has generated media placements in Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, Seventeen and Lucky magazines, Glam.com, and countless other outlets.

Kristin holds a master’s degree in marketing and PR from New York University, and is also a contributor to Entrepreneur.com and NYDailyNews.com. She is also the founder of the business blog LifestyleandBusiness.com and lifestyle tech startup, TheLABDaily.com.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Kristin’s background and journey
  • What you need to figure out before you start hiring employees
  • Kristin’s story of how losing a big piece of business led to a bigger, better opportunity
  • The mentorship lessons Kristin took from her father
  • How Kristin learned to let go and start delegating effectively
  • How she finds and hires people
  • Looking at your company from your hire’s perspective
  • What “A Players” look like to Kristin
  • How to nurture your employees so that they stick around
  • Leading yourself through focus and time blocking
  • Why prioritization is so important
  • Kristin’s brand coaching packages

Ways to contact Kristin:

Oct 25, 2016

Lee Caraher is the CEO of Double Forte PR & Digital Marketing; an acclaimed communication strategist, she’s known for her practical solutions to big problems. Her company works with some of the top consumer and technology brands in the country.

Lee’s the author of “Millennials & Management” based on her experience with failing and then succeeding at retaining Millennials. Her next book, “The Boomerang Principle,” will be published in April 2017.

Lee has a reputation for building cohesive, high producing teams who have fun together at the same time. She is a straight talker who doesn’t hold too many punches, although she does her best to be pleasant about it. Her big laugh and sense of humor have gotten her out of a lot of trouble.

Lee is active in the community and currently serves on three nonprofit boards. A graduate of Carleton College with a degree in Medieval History, which she finds useful every day, Lee lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two sons, and a blind cat.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Lee’s background and journey
  • What Lee and Double Forte did to survive the market crash
  • How that crash forced Double Forte to become exceptional at customer service
  • Why they changed their model from only hiring people with 10 years of experience to hiring people straight out of college and what their balance of employees under/over 30 looks like today
  • How Lee’s experiences failing and then succeeding at retaining Millennials led to her publishing “Millennials & Management”
  • Why you have to have millennials in your business if you want to have a future
  • Why you need to work at creating an environment where your millennials will thrive
  • Creating a culture where employees are appreciated
  • Why you need to explain to millennials why they need to do things
  • What “A Players” look like to Lee
  • How Lee finds her “A Players” and what Double Forte does to use them effectively
  • Running an alumni program
  • What Double Forte’s interview process looks like

Ways to contact Lee:

Oct 20, 2016

John Livesay is a funding strategist who helps CEOs craft a compelling pitch that engages investors in a way that inspires them to join a startup’s team. He is partners with Judy Robinett in Crack The Funding Code which gets founders funded fast. He hosts The Successful Pitch podcast with investors from around the world. He is the Pitch Mentor at Startfast.net, the number one accelerator in Upstate New York. INC magazine calls him the Pitch Whisperer. After a successful 20 year career in media sales with Conde Nast where he worked across all 22 brands in their corporate division, John won salesperson of the year in 2012. John is the author of “The Successful Pitch: Conversations On Going From Invisible To Investable.”

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • John’s background
  • John’s book “The Successful Pitch: Conversations On Going From Invisible To Investable”
  • What makes a great pitch
  • Why collaboration is the secret to success
  • How to improve your confidence
  • What John learned from his mentor Tim Sanders
  • Why John started his podcast The Successful Pitch
  • Why building your team with people that fit your culture is more important than anything else
  • What John’s interviewing process looks like
  • How to avoid making the wrong hire
  • What you need to do to inspire your employees
  • Strategies you can use to lead yourself
  • Why you must meditate if you want to be good at sales
  • Strategies to maximize productivity

Ways to contact John:

Oct 18, 2016

Tracey and Doug Hepner founded IWS in 1987. IWS has built a staff of seasoned personnel with a reputation of broad experience, pride in craftsmanship and the ability to deliver both complicated and off the shelf solutions to their customers. The integrity of what they supply from the bid to the installation shows in their professional approach and desire to supply the very best.

Their key to success comes from running a well-managed small business that supports their dedicated family of employees and includes their extended family of vendors and customers.

They take the team approach to everything they do. They involve all the right people and create a winning attitude that allows long-term relationships to be built and maintained. IWS works under the belief that their reputation and signature is on every piece they deliver and that’s the way they like it! IWS applies the same quality to production runs as it does to custom runs, ensuring that the inside is as strong as the outside is beautiful. That is one reason their customer base is so loyal — if they say they can do, they do it. Their slogan is, “If you can draw it, we can build it.”

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Tracey’s background and how IWS came to be
  • Why you need to surround yourself with quality people and why you need to listen to what they have to say
  • What Tracey learned from her dad, an entrepreneur himself
  • How Tracey made it through the time when IWS was on life support — and how her business mentor helped her turn it around
  • Why Tracey had to turn away a major business opportunity and why it turned out for the best in the end
  • The point where Tracey decided that her team was wearing too many hats and how she grew the team to where it needed to be
  • The award-winning project for the University of Washington that moved IWS to the next level
  • Why the organizational chart is so important for the growth of your company
  • How to recognize which employees are holding you back
  • Why “A Players” are self-motivated and have the entrepreneurial spirit
  • What IWS’ hiring process looks like
  • How IWS onboards their employees — and why Tracey believes this is something that needs improving
  • Getting the processes out of your head and onto paper
  • How IWS stands out through their culture and opportunity

Ways to contact Tracey:

Oct 13, 2016

Kelly Hatfield is co-founder of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group, Enginuity Virtual Recruiter and Impact Real Estate Real Estate Group based in Everett, Washington. She has been in the recruiting and HR field for over 20-years and loves serving others. Kelly and her business partner have built three successful companies with the purpose of helping others succeed and delivering remarkable results. Kelly and her team strategically align themselves as “The Partner of Choice” with clients and strive to be the first place clients call when they are looking for extraordinary service, quality, and reliability. The resulting outcome has been an outstanding referral network that has built and continues to build their companies.

As Co-Founder and Owner of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group and Enginuity Virtual Recruiter, April (together with her amazing partner) has created and developed three successful businesses aimed at matching exceptional talent with the top organizations. With 17 years in the human resources and staffing realm, April has experience, knowledge and a love for people and aims to offer solutions to all who are served. Being a natural problem solver, she prides herself on developing and leading a team of recruiting professionals whose mission is focused on connecting people to opportunity. Through creative and exhaustive methods, the Enginuity Group successfully matches the right talent with the right businesses each and every day.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

Quotes from the following people and the lessons that we have learned from them:

  • Maya Angelou
  • Henry Ford
  • Oprah Winfrey
  • Warren Buffett
  • Benjamin Franklin
  • John Wooden
  • Dr. Seuss

Ways to contact Kelly:

Ways to contact April:

Oct 11, 2016

Kute Blackson is a charismatic visionary and transformational teacher who offers a fresh, bold look at spiritual awareness for a whole new generation. Blackson’s unique lineage lay the blueprint for his approach to breaking down barriers and setting the gifts and greatness of others free. Born in Ghana, West Africa, Blackson’s multicultural upbringing as the child of a Japanese mother and a Ghanaian father has spanned four different continents. His unique lineage lay the blueprint for his approach to breaking down barriers and unlocking an individual’s true gifts and greatness.

Blackson has had a gift for transforming lives — including his own — since childhood. The son of a revered spiritual leader and healer, Blackson was speaking to his father’s congregations in more than 300 churches by the age of eight. At the age of 14, he was ordained into his father’s ministry and groomed to carry on the family’s spiritual legacy. But his heart’s truth told him that his destiny would not be in the church. He would need to take a leap into the unknown and forge a path of his own.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Kute’s background and why he decided to pursue the path he’s pursued
  • Why entrepreneurs can feel unfulfilled and why living a life of service can alleviate that feeling
  • What to do when it feels like nothing is working
  • Avoiding the trap of success
  • Why we constantly lie to ourselves and why the truth will set us free
  • Why it’s so important to stay in the moment
  • Why you have to lead yourself first
  • Kute’s personal routines and rituals for staying on track and leading himself
  • Kute’s book “YOU.ARE.THE.ONE.”

Ways to contact Kute:

Oct 6, 2016

Kelly Hatfield is co-founder of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group, Enginuity Virtual Recruiter and Impact Real Estate Real Estate Group based in Everett, Washington. She has been in the recruiting and HR field for over 20-years and loves serving others. Kelly and her business partner have built three successful companies with the purpose of helping others succeed and delivering remarkable results. Kelly and her team strategically align themselves as “The Partner of Choice” with clients and strive to be the first place clients call when they are looking for extraordinary service, quality, and reliability. The resulting outcome has been an outstanding referral network that has built and continues to build their companies.

As Co-Founder and Owner of Enginuity Advantage, Advantage Staffing Group and Enginuity Virtual Recruiter, April (together with her amazing partner) has created and developed three successful businesses aimed at matching exceptional talent with the top organizations. With 17 years in the human resources and staffing realm, April has experience, knowledge and a love for people and aims to offer solutions to all who are served. Being a natural problem solver, she prides herself on developing and leading a team of recruiting professionals whose mission is focused on connecting people to opportunity. Through creative and exhaustive methods, the Enginuity Group successfully matches the right talent with the right businesses each and every day.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Why it’s sometimes necessary to use a staffing firm in lieu of trying to hire alone
  • Some of the common complaints about staffing firms
  • Choosing the right recruiting firm for your specific needs
  • Why your recruiting firm must be a partnership, not a vendor-client relationship
  • Why working with multiple recruiting firms is a bad idea
  • The prep work that needs to be done to set expectations and why you should expect pushback from a good recruiting firm
  • Why you need to be clear on what you’re hiring for
  • Making sure the employees you spend a premium to hire will succeed in your company
  • Interviewing staffing firms like you would an employee

Ways to contact Kelly:

Ways to contact April:

Oct 4, 2016

Marty Wolff is a serial entrepreneur having started and operated four different businesses. Those businesses were in transportation, retail, management consulting and business/executive coaching.

Marty has been recognized as a Presidents Club member as the leading indirect sales person for Cellular One, the VP of Sales and Marketing in the state of CA for Patrick Media Group, the Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for US Foodservice in Baltimore, MD, and the Director of Sales for Reinhart Foodservice of Eastern PA.

As a business coach and consultant Marty has played an important role in the success of large publicly traded companies, some with revenues exceeding $20 billion and with privately owned firms in many different industries.

Marty serves as an executive coach for several CEOs of privately owned companies. In 2012 Marty started the Business Builders Radio Show and Podcast. The show has nationally and internationally recognized speakers, authors and CEOs as guests.

Marty is also the host of Business Leaders Radio, a Northeastern PA based radio show for entrepreneurs, which is a production of Bold Gold Media. Effective March 2016, the Business Builders Show is also doing video interviews at major conferences across America. Combined with Marty’s success as a business/executive coach, the podcasts have created a demand for Marty as a professional speaker, meeting facilitator / emcee and as part of the media teams at major conferences.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Marty’s entrepreneurial journey
  • What freedom looks like to Marty
  • The importance of seeking advice from a number of different sources
  • Why you need to read Ari Weinzweig’s books before you do anything
  • The mentors that Marty has learned from throughout his career
  • The failure that led Marty on his path
  • What you need to think about when scaling your business
  • Why “A Players” are team players
  • What to look for on potential employees’ social media accounts
  • What Marty’s hiring process looks like and techniques he uses to find the right employees
  • The challenges of engaging with your employees in 2016
  • What causes people to leave and how to prevent it
  • Marty’s tips for continual growth
  • Why keeping a routine is so important
  • Why your to-do list needs to be focused on what moves the needle

Ways to contact Marty:

Sep 29, 2016

Heather Ann Havenwood, CEO of Havenwood Worldwide, LLC and Chief Sexy Boss, is a serial entrepreneur and is regarded as a top authority on internet marketing, business strategies, and marketing. Since marketing her first online business in 1999, bringing together clients and personal coaches, she has played an active role in the online marketing world since before most even had a home computer.

In 2006 she started, developed and grew an online information marketing publishing company from ground zero to over $1 million in sales in less than 12 months. Starting without a list, a product, a name, or an offer, Heather Ann molded her client into a successful guru now known as an expert in his field.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Heather Ann’s story
  • What Heather Ann learned going through bankruptcy
  • Why you need to give yourself permission to fail
  • “Does this feed my confusion or strengthen my clarity?”
  • Why Heather Ann doesn’t refer to people who work with her as employees
  • Hiring for attributes, not for experience
  • Techniques Heather Ann uses when bringing on vendors, partners, and team members
  • What to do when key people leave your business (and why you need to prepare for that)
  • Holding people accountable
  • Tactics for growing your business through personal growth
  • Living from your calendar

Ways to contact Heather Ann:

Sep 27, 2016

Paul Kirch is the President and CEO of sales management consulting firm Actus Sales Intelligence and founder of BOSS Academy and host of BOSS Academy radio. He has a passion for entrepreneurship, sales and sales coaching and a proven track record of success.

The BOSS Academy is the ultimate resource for anyone who is trying to grow their business or if you’re looking to get started on your entrepreneurial journey. They’re truly raising the bar for excellence through Business Ownership Success Strategies (BOSS) by bringing you some of the best tools, tips and techniques from industry leading experts.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Paul’s journey
  • How Paul has scaled his business without bringing in employees
  • What Paul does so that he focuses on the tasks that move the needle
  • The importance of empathy in leadership
  • What motivates your team?
  • What Paul learned from an incredible mentor on his second sales job
  • The impact Paul’s divorce had on his business and how he came back from that low point
  • What “A Players” look like to Paul
  • How to find the right employees and/or partners
  • Why new entrepreneurs need to get clear on what they want
  • How to overcome the overwhelm
  • How to stay motivated

Ways to contact Paul:

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