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.

 

Podcast 615: 5% More-Making Small Changes to Achieve Extraordinary Results with Michael Alden

In my interview with author Michael Alden, he states that most self-help program don’t have the anticipated impact on people’s lives that they expect.  The reason is that in his estimation people reach too high, then don’t achieve their goals and become disappointed.

Simply stated Michael says to just do 5% More in every area of your life and you will achieve your goals.  This technique is not new, but Michael is absolutely one-hundred percent correct– if we just complete the incremental short term goals our larger goals and vision will manifest.  Do they always manifest that we envision, no but we do  make progress toward our goals and dreams–you bet.

In my interview with this dynamic author that has reached the pinnacle of success, we discuss his challenging youth being brought up in the housing projects, having a mother as a drug addict, and loosing other members of his family to drugs.  Mike has seen it all, and as a result decided to take an alternative path, he became a lawyer then started a very successful marketing company called Blue Vase which sells millions of dollars of health related products through infomercials.

If you are on a quest to improve your batting average relative your goals in life then I would highly recommend that you read and study the techniques that Mike talks about in his new book 5% More.  If you want to learn more about Mike and his book 5% More, please click here to be directed to the book website.

You can also connect with Mike through his Facebook page, or watch a great video on YouTube.

I hope you enjoy my interview with author Michael Alden about reaching and achieving your goals.

 

Podcast 609: Your One Word with Evan Carmichael

What a brilliant book.  Evan Carmichael has created not only a great book for any entrepreneur, but the book layout and ease of use and read is fantastic!!!!

In Evan’s new book “Your One Word” you are guided to helping  find that “one word” that infuses you with passion, fire and desire to go big.  Evan one word is “Believe”.  Your one word will become your personal motto, and will help you capture your purpose and passion.

Evan asks a series of questions that help you find your “One Word”.  He also gives great examples and stories.  Now once you have found your “one word”, he does not leave you there.  He provides practical advice on using your “one word” to grow and develop your business.

In his section of the book on the “Planning Checklist’, Evan helps you get started by taking action on your campaign.  There are nine steps: 1) The Right Mindset 2) The Powerful Credo 3) Your Founding Story 4) Your Tribe of Followers 5) Rituals and Gestures 6) The Purposeful Name 7) knowing your Enemy 8) Memorable Logos, Fonts and Symbols 9) An Impactful Sound.

Remember that when you start your campaign for your business you are not just running a quick marketing project, you are in this for the long haul.  You are here making a statement, and you are going to change the world.

I hope you enjoy my insightful and inspirational interview with Evan Carmichael the author of “Your One Word“.  If you want to learn more about Evan you can find him at his website by clicking here, or through Facebook by clicking here—also Twitter #believe.

 

Podcast 606: Beyond the E-Myth with Michael Gerber

I think this is the fourth time I have interviewed Michael Gerber, and each time I set down to speak with Michael I am amazed as how vibrant and alive he conveys his compelling message about entrepreneurship.   In his newly released book entitled “Beyond The E-Myth”  Michael takes the reader beyond all previous iterations of his E-Myth message to a place that will transform the reader.

Michael states that we need to think of our small business as prodcuts that need to be packaged and sold.  We can no longer be the one man or woman operation expecting to break through the ceilings of complexity.  If we are to grow we need to think of growing our organizations into business with a 1,000 employees, it is not necessary that we accomplish this goal but we need to shift our thinking that we are going to be larger organizations.

Michael know that the best entrepreneurs have a dream, a mission and a vision.  Knowing what they are and remaining focused on your dream, mission and vision are key components in transforming your business and your own personal life.  Michael also believes in having a Great Story and being able to articulate your message is one of the key to success–a Great Story is always about going beyond the ordinary and achieving greatness.

If you have an interest in transforming your business into one that will as some point not need you and will run without you, then you need to listen to my interview with Michael Gerber about his new book “Beyond The E-Myth”  If you want to learn more please click here to be directed to Michael’s website where you can learn more about his workshops and events.

I hope you enjoy this interview with Michael Gerber.

 

Podcast 600: The Geography of Genius with Eric Weiner

In a quest to discover not only where the great geniuses came from, but the environments that stimulated their development author Eric Weiner in the “Geography of Genius” does just that.  In a very lively interview Eric we discuss the conditions, places and circumstances that helped to develop geniuses such as Socrates, Aristotle, Plato and many others.  Erics book is an exploration and travel guide into a look back in history.  Eric actually visits these places and digs into the history of these geniuses, and the stories and tapestry that make for a very interesting read.

Eric writes ” The toddler steps of incremental innovation don’t even earn you a patent, or the title of genius.  Only a leap does.  The question that intrigues someone such as myself, a creature of geography and a student of history, is not simply what these leaps look like but where, and when they take place…certain places, at certain time, producing a bumper crop of brilliant minds and good ideas.  The question is why.”

If you are a history buff, or just interested in what conditions existed to foster the development of “genius” then reading Eric book “Geography of Genius” is a must.  I highly recommend “Geography of Genius” for anyone who wants to learn about the “why” of genius.

For more information about Eric Weiner please click here to be directed to his website.

 

Podcast 595: The Fearless Mindset-The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Getting Fit In Less Time, Double Your Income & Become Unstoppable with Peter Scott IV

Fear is something that is immobilizing, it keeps us from spreading our wings and doing things that we might not otherwise do.  If you are an entrepreneur then you have to be a bit of a risk taker, and willing to be afraid.  You are venturing into unchartered waters and have to learn along the way.

I had the pleasure of doing this interview with Peter I Scott IV the author of a book entitled ” The Fearless Mindset-The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Getting Fit in Less Time, Double Your Income & Become Unstoppable“.   Sound great doesn’t it?  I am pleased to report that Peter is a thriving entrepreneur and he has had to face many major fears in his life.   He spoke with me about the irrational fears and the rational fears, and how many of our fears are irrational once you take a deeper look at how the fear manifest in our lives.  Take for instance the fear of speaking in front of a crowd of people.  It is reported that this is the #1 fear for many people.  Most people would rather do anything other than speak in from of a group of people.  Usually that fear comes from our insecurity and that we might look bad in the eyes of others, we won’t be enough.

So how would you replace that fear and displace it from your mind—know you are enough, that you are confident and secure in who and what you are.  Exude confidence and understand that most of the audience does not know as much about what you are going to speak about as you do.  Reaffirm this through positive self-talk.

Peter said that one of the most profound pieces of wisdom he ever learned was from psychologist Fritz Pearl.  Fritz Pearl said “Fear is excitement with breath”  The lesson here is to breath, your breath is so important to calming you down and grounding your body.  Peter recommends yoga, meditation or any practice that will help to center you and focus on your breath to overcome your fears.

If you want to learn more about Peter I Scott IV and is upcoming 3-day course please click here to be directed to the website.

If you want to sign up for Peter’s newsletter just click here.  I hope you enjoy this great interview with Peter I Scott IV the author of “The Fearless Mindset“.

 

Podcast 591: Get A Grip with Mike Paton

I recently sat down to conduct an interview with author Mike Paton about his book entitled “Get A Grip” which is the companion to the bestselling book “Traction”  We discuss both books in this interview, because the content  of “Get A Grip compliments the content in “Traction”.

If you are like most entrepreneurs your daily life is filled with new challenges and opportunities.  It is not an easy job to juggle everything and keep your sanity.  I personally know because I am an entrepreneur and I have worked with hundreds of visionaries with similar challenges .  What I appreciate about “Get A Grip” is that the book provides the reader with tools and practices which if followed will make their life simpler and more efficient.

An important point that Mike Paton makes during our interview , is that many visionaries/entrepreneurs don’t have an integrator in their business.  So just what is an integrator?  This is someone who compliments the visionaries role by who’s role is to guide, direct the organization while seizing the opportunities.

The integrators role is to analyze the P&L, remove obstacles, work on legal and compliance issues and overall handle the daily operations of the business.  A visionary can not operate their business without an integrator.   Now while this may sound obvious to many of you reading this, believe me many businesses have not identified who the integrator is, or they don’t have one and this can lead to chaos.  The visionary is not the right person to be playing this kind of role, nor do they usually have the business acumen for the role of a integrator.

Mike spoke about the Six Key Components  and  the philosophy of EOS Worldwide the company behind both books.  Mike stated that “First is that there is a “Vision” shared by all in the organization, Second is that of “People” putting the right people in the right seats. Third, track the “Issues” keep an issues list. Forth, is Traction to keep momentum you need to have meetings that Mike refers to as “Rocks”, Fifth is Process that is the documentation followed by all.   Sixth and lastly is Data, keep a scorecard and measure the progress of the organization in the critical areas.”

If you are really interested in simplifying your business and being provided with great tools and techniques I highly recommend reading “Get A Grip” and “Traction” both great books on business growth and organization.

To learn more about the processes and tools discuss in “Get a Grip” please click here to be directed to the EOS Worldwide website.

I hope you enjoy this great interview with Mike Paton, author and EOS Worldwide Integrator.

 

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