Podcast 660: Walking to Destiny with Chris Snider

I met author Chris Snider at a Exit Planning Institute meeting here in San Diego.  As I listened to him speak, everything he was saying resonated with me personally and professionally.  How many of you reading this blog entry have businesses and are making an effort to build the value in the business, but it seems to be a struggle?  Believe me this is not uncommon, it happens more that most business owners think.  Dealing with the challenge of building value in your business, not just working for an above average salary with nothing left in the end to sell.

In Chris’s new book “Walking to Destiny-11 Actions An Owner Must Take to Rapidly Grow Value & Unlock Wealth” he points out the reasons why business owners don’t not build value, and the solutions to building great value in your business.  Chris is the designer of a process called the “Value Acceleration Methodology” which is the formula that he developed and can help any business owner build value, and sell their business when they decide to transition for a value that they expect and are happy with.

If you are a baby boomer and own you own business chances are you are going to have to make the decision to create your succession plan very soon.  In the next 20 years over 20 trillion dollars in business value will be sold, transferred to the next generation or merged with other acquiring company.  This is a huge problem, and opportunity for you the business owner to take action and create value now so you get the most for your business when you choose to sell.

I would encourage you to listen to this podcast with Chris, for he is one of the leading experts in the field of exit planning.  His organization Exit Planning Institute help advisors get certified as CEPA’s (Certified Exit Planning Advisors).  Enjoy this great interview with Chris Snider the author of “Walking to Destiny” it’s worth your time to read his book and if you have a business and are attempting to create greater value this book is a must!!!!

Podcast 650: Obroni and the Chocolate Factory with Steve Wallace

I don’t know of too many people that hate chocolate, so for all you chocolate lovers you are going to love this interview.

Steve Wallace is the author of a new book entitled  “Oberoni and the Chocolate Factory-An Unlikely Story of Globalization and Ghana’s First Gourmet Chocolate Bar.” This book is about a fascinating journey about a man who truly has made a difference in the production of chocolate.  When we think of chocolate we immediately think of Switzerland, France, Belgium–but why?  Cocoa beans are not from those places.

Steve used to live in Ghana (one of the largest regions producing cocoa) when he was 16 years old. This experience transformed him and he wanted to return to Ghana and give back.  While the people of Ghana’s vertically-integrated cocoa bureaucracy, overseen by Ghans’s Cocoa Board, aspired to move up the cocoa value chain, they were unwilling to invest in doing so.  They were content to stay at the bottom of the value chain.

Needless to say with tremendous hard work and lots of maneuvering the cocoa bean system, Steve Wallace build a very successful chocolate bar factory called Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company.  The chocolate bars are produced and manufactured in Ghana and shipped to Wisconsin for boxing, sales, and shipping.  Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company is truly a global company employing and housing over 200 natives.  Steve provides his employees with a fair wage,  and housing and has infused the local economy with a newfound wealth from what was once a place of poverty.

If you want to listen to a truly great story about a social-entrepreneur on a mission to change the lives of hundreds of people, then you won’t want to miss my interview with Steve.

To learn more about Steve and his new book ” Oberoni and the Chocolate Factory” please click here to be directed to the Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company website.   Enjoy this great interview with a social entrepreneur making a difference in the world!

 

Podcast 646: Blueprint to Business with Michael Alden

This is my second interview with author and entrepreneur Michael Alden.   What I love about Michael is his passion for his work and life, he truly is a trailblazer.

His new book entitled ” Blueprint to Business-An Entrepreneur’s Guide To Taking Action, Committing To the Grind, And Doing The Things That Most People Won’t” is a must-read for any entrepreneur.  Michael has had his share of ups and downs like many entrepreneurs, but he has learned from his lessons and applies the learning to make the next venture he gets engaged with just that much more successful.

Michael’s book is the ultimate guide with practical advice from a master entrepreneur who can really teach new entrepreneurs invaluable lessons.  I can really appreciate his chapter on “Doing What You Say”.  “In business and in life, always do what you say you’re going to do. Keep your word. When you tell yourself that you are going to do something, and you don’t do it, you’re doing yourself a disservice, and you’re setting yourself back. Not following through on something you said you were going to do is an absolute travesty.”

This sound advice runs throughout “Blueprint to Business” In my interview with Michael we speak about his personal life and business ventures, as well as he imparts practical and sound advice about becoming an entrepreneur.  I know you will love this lively and engaging interview with the author, entrepreneur Michael Alden.

If you want to learn more about the book click here.   You can also click here to be directed to Michael’s Facebook page. Enjoy the podcast.

Podcast 643: Entrepreneurial You with Dorie Clark

I have had the opportunity to interview Dorie Clark on several different occasions, and every time I emerge from the interview I feel that I have been given additional information that will help me be a better person and entrepreneur.

In my recent interview with Dorie, we speak about her new book entitled ” Entrepreneurial You“.  This is a comprehensive guide to any entrepreneur that wants to learn unique ways to monetize their expertise and create multiple streams of income while thriving in the process.  In our interview together we discuss the importance of our personal brand and building a great brand.  Dorie explains that sustainable monetization requires a solid foundation build through a three-step process: 1) Building your brand. 2) Monetizing your expertise. 3) Extending your reach and impact

“Entrepreneurial You” is a hands-on guide filled with new ideas, stories, and applications to launch any entrepreneur to new heights.

I hope you enjoy my interview with author Dorie Clark, if you want to learn more about her new book please click here to be taken to the book website, you can also download a free Entrepreneurial You Self-Assessment which will give you the blueprint for professional independence. Enjoy the podcast!

 

Podcast 642: The Path to Personal Power by Napoleon Hill with Don Green

Every time I interview Don Green from the Napoleon Hill Foundation I learn something new.  Don is a  continual learner with more knowledge and understanding about Napoleon Hill than anyone I have ever met.  He has been the executive director and spokesperson for the foundation for the last 20 years and is just a wonderful person.

In my interview with Don, we discuss a newly released book entitled ” The Path to Personal Power“.  As Don states, personal power is acquired through a combination of individual traits and habits.  The ten qualities of personal power are: 1) the habit of definiteness of purpose 2) the promptness of decision 3) soundness of character 4) strict discipline over one’s emotions 5) obsessional desire to render useful service 6) through knowledge of one’s occupation 7) tolerance on all subjects 8) loyalty to one’s personal associates and faith in a Supreme Being 9) enduring thirst of knowledge 10) alertness of imagination. The old adage “knowledge is power” is not quite true. Knowledge never is power until it has been expressed in some term of useful service.

“The Path to Power” is a powerful roadmap that leads to a single discovery: You already have the power to attain whatever wealth, success, and prosperity you desire in life.  All you need to do is walk the path without straying, and the rest will follow.

I hope you enjoy yet another great interview with Don Green the executive director of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.  If you want to learn more about the courses, books and audio recording available through the foundation please click here to be directed to their website.

Podcast 640: Innovation Made Simple with Jeff Havens

I really enjoy when an author can write a book and make a topic that can be complicated simple.  That is what author and speaker Jeff Haven’s has done in his new book entitled ” Innovation Made Simple”  Jeff is also the author of another book entitled “Us vs. Them Redefining the Multigenerational Workplace”.

In my interview with Jeff, we discuss how all big ideas start as small ideas and usually grow over time.  As a matter of fact, Jeff states that every one of these ideas and incredible inventions took the creators a great deal of time to work out the kinks.  If you look back in history you will see that many of companies like Microsoft, Apple, Hewlett Packard all started in a garage.  In the 1990’s Apple asked themselves, “is there a way we could provide a legal avenue for customers to purchase the songs they want?” Two years later iTunes was launched and it has since grown to account for 75% of the digital music market and generates over 7 billion a year in revenue for Apple.

If you look back in history you will see that many of companies like Microsoft, Apple, Hewlett Packard all started in a garage.  In the 1990’s Apple asked themselves, “is there a way we could provide a legal avenue for customers to purchase the songs they want?” Two years later iTunes was launched and it has since grown to account for 75% of the digital music market and generates over 7 billion a year in revenue for Apple.  What is your idea?  How will you start the process of development?  Do you have the courage to pursue your dreams?

One simple idea Jeff speaks about is speeding up the creative process.  He says if you want to speed up the creative process, you need to slow down.  It might sound counter-intuitive but it is not our creative genesis is usually more active when we learn how to slow down, play, take walks in nature and learn how to be instead of do.

If you want to learn more about Jeff Havens the author and speaker, please click here to be directed to his website.  I hope you enjoy this great interview with Jeff Havens.

Podcast 634: Hacking the Gap-A Journey from Intuition to Innovation and Beyond with Greg Voisen

It is kind of weird writing my own blog about myself and my new book, but hey what the heck someone has to do it and who better than the author.

I recently released my new book entitled “Hacking the Gap-A Journey from Intuition to Innovation and Beyond.”  I have been asked what the book is all about?

The answer to this questions is that the book is about my personal journey as a serial entrepreneur, my ups, and downs and the struggles to birth new products and or services and then take it to market successfully.  Believe me, I have had plenty of failures, but the learning lessons from the failures and setbacks provided me with the persistence to continue on in spite of the disappointments.

My podcasts program, Inside Personal Growth, set the foundation for the learnings that I share with the readers.  I’ve interviewed over 630+ authors on personal growth, business, wellness, and spirituality.  It is virtually impossible not to have a personal transformation from learning and soaking in all that information. I have weaved the learnings from many of my over 10 years of interviews into Hacking the Gap.  Everything I learned has made me a better person, more authentic, more sensitive, more understanding and forgiving of myself and others. As we work on ourselves we naturally become better people, and to me, this is the important element of the personal growth work.  If you are not improving and becoming a better person, you won’t be a better father, husband, employer or whatever you are to the world.

So remember when you read this book, listen to your soul’s calling and get in touch with your intuition.  What you are being informed to do is vital to your growth.  Listen carefully, learn how to discern between your intuition and your ego.  Once you do this and are not afraid of taking action, you will find that your world will change forever–and for the better.

I hope you enjoy the interview that my friend Reese Harris did with me.

Please go to Hacking the Gap.com to learn more about the book, and download a couple of chapters for free.  Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter and free webinars.  I am here for you please reach out want to hear from you.

Podcast 623: Gen Z @ Work with David and Jonah Stillman

I’ll bet that many of you reading this blog entry are not aware of the Gen Z generation.   So, let’s put this in some context–Gen Z’ers are the generation born between 1995 and 2012.  There are over 72.8 million of them in the US, and they are characterized as a generation that has only known smartphones and are true digital natives, and they have access to information 24/7.   I recently got to interview both David and Jonah Stillman about their new book entitled ” Gen Z @ Work“.

While always being plugged in they are also suffering from what is referred to at FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) because they are so plugged into information 24/7.

In this dynamic interview with a father-son team, they inform us of what is recommended to work effectively with the Generation Z .  Jonah who is a senior in high school states that this generation will bring important entrepreneurial spirit to work.  They are consistently looking to streamline processes and procedures, and are more independent that the Millennials.   David, Jonah’s father states that the Gen Z group responded to their survey stating that they prefer face to face communications versus that of texting or social media platforms—quite interesting considering they are considered digital natives and love technology.

If you want to learn more about the preferences of this generation in the workplace, then I highly recommend that you listen to this podcast with David and Jonah Stillman.  I also suggest that you check out their book website by clicking here.  You can reach them on Facebook by clicking here.