The Entrepreneurial You

Stephen A. Hart is a marketer, podcaster, and brand alignment strategist. Stephen hosts Trailblazers.FM™, the #1 interview style podcast, exploring stories of today’s successful black professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders. This weekly podcast has featured more than 150 black professionals and has been heard by more than 250,000+ from 140 countries around the world. Show Notes I am excited to share this interview for a number of reasons:   it was recorded live from Podcast Movement 2019 in the beautiful city of Orlando.  I spoke with a friend who I actually met in person for the 1st time at Podcast Movement.  He is a fellow Jamaican podcaster based in the US.   As a Brand Alignment Strategist, Stephen has a lot to share on the topic of personal branding. During our conversation he says:    “I realize more and more that almost in 2020, what someone finds out about you when they search for you, it’s going to leave them more or less inclined to do business with you or to hire you.    It do

Vlad founded two non-profits at the age of 16, then dropped out of college, moved to another country with two 2 his friends, built Planable (Techstars London ’17) at 19 y.o and became an honoree Forbes 30 Under 30 at 22 y.o. Vlad has been featured as a guest writer & marketer by multiple publications including Social Media Examiner, Entrepreneur and many others. Show Notes   “It's not what you sell that matters as much as how you sell it!” — Brian Halligan, CEO & Co-Founder, HubSpot   Can you recall what you wanted to do at 16? I was too busy being confused to figure me out let alone start anything.   Not so with this week’s guest, Vlad Calus. While many were getting into all sorts of trouble, Vlad enrolled into the Academy of Manliness to learn how to become a better man.   At the age of 19 years, he dropped out of College and moved to Romania from the Republic of Moldova, leaving behind family, job, girlfriend and pretty much everything he had at the time.   Planable.io was the main reason for

Since 1982, May has helped to start and grow six successful companies as large as $100 million in annual revenues. She is a best-selling author, speaker, university lecturer and angel investor. She serves on business, philanthropic, arts and university boards. She is the author of the best-selling book The Path to Wealth and her newest title, The Gratitude Formula: A 7-Step Success System to Create a Life That You Love. Show Notes “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” —Zig Ziglar   Now is a good time to sing Koffee’s “Toast”, “Gratitude is a must! “Gratitude is a tool for success”, says May in our conversation. Gratitude puts our Reticular Activating System (RAS) into gear. Ever notice that one you begin to think about something and you see it once then suddenly you begin to see it everywhere?   Being Grateful We attract what we think about. The more grateful we are for wha

Leslie is Award-winning #over50 entrepreneur who started a bath and body gift company in her farmhouse kitchen building it into a multimillion dollar brand.  Show Notes “The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing.” –Walt Disney, Co-Founder, Disney   Difficult childhood seem to be the thread running through the fabric of our guests recently. And no, we didn’t specifically go chasing after them. It just goes to show that stories that started out badly can have beautiful endings.   Leslie was treated differently by her father during childhood. She had a learning disability and so did not go through the formal school system. Then to top things off, her childhood hero, her brother, was fatally hit by a drunk driver.   Later on in life, a bad marriage follows. When will this end perhaps was a question Leslie silently asked.   US Coast Guard As a rebellion against her father she joined the US Coast Guard to rescue people from the stormy seas.   Leslie decided to start a business with the

Jon is among the world’s foremost experts on building relationships that yield amazing results for his clients. Jon has worked directly with some of today’s most powerful and influential business and thought leaders, celebrities and more importantly people just like yourself looking for a way to connect and create a life of their dreams. Show Notes "The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity." -- Keith Ferrazzi You may have heard it said over and again that, “you network is your net worth.” How does one with a story such as Jon’s get to talk about leveraging the power of your network anyways?   After all, having witnessed his parents go through a messy divorce, among other things that no child should have to, Jon was no stranger to hard times. In fact, there was a point when a  woman who was entrusted to take care of him did everything but. At a point, Jon was so ashamed of himself he washed his face at an angle to prevent himself from seeing his reflection in the mirror.   Eventuall

Teri is a former career ICU nurse turned pioneer in the emerging field of professional patient advocacy. She is the founder of Chicago’s first and largest advocacy firm founded in 2011, NShore Patient Advocates and is a public speaker and best-selling author of Patient Advocacy Matters. She has served on the board of NAHAC and helped develop national standards, practices and ethics for the profession. Teri has received multiple awards from civic and business organizations for her dedication to social causes, leadership and business success,including the national Ken Schueler Patient Advocacy Compass award. Show Notes   "Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance." -- Samuel Johnson   Teri has proven to us that it is never too late to start a business. If she can do it at age 54, so can you. The oldest of 9 children, leadership seem to have been thrust upon her from an early age. It was embedded into her from early that she is supposed to make a difference. The fact that her father

Nancy who holds a BA in broadcasting and psychology, altered her career path throughout the years as her eyesight worsened. She worked for Oregon News, Good Day Oregon, Good Morning America, and Entertainment Tonight. Nancy was later a singer, a top-producing realtor in Southern California, and is currently a successful business owner.  Show Notes “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” C.S. Lewis   Nancy didn’t grow up in the proverbial ‘bed of rose’ as many are accustomed to. Observing domestic violence in the home, later with divorced parents and the ensuing struggles didn’t exactly provide fertile ground for greatness. Or did it?   Nancy's Determination She was determined to live full out regardless of the hand life has dealt her, including news at 16 years that a genetic disease would cause her to start going blind by years 40. Of course she was hoping that a cure would come. But being in her forties now, she has been declared legally blind.   Nancy began to psych

David is the Co-Founder and CEO of Voices.com, the online marketplace that connects business people with professional voice over talent. The unique blending of his audio engineering background with self-taught business savvy and website development afforded David the creative freedom to pursue his passion for innovation during the first dot com boom, the result of which catapulted him onto the scene as a pioneer in his field in the early 2000s.    Show Notes "Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance." -- Samuel Johnson David was always fascinated with sound, music and technology as a child. It was no surprise then that he studied sound engineering in school and now owns his own recording studio in his home city of London, Canada.   Setting boundaries Part of his own growth mindset development entails being able to set the context for working with his partner who is now his wife. Having been able to set boundaries, communicating who he is when he is having a conversation. For exam

Shane is a digital marketing consultant who specializes in influencer marketing, product launches, sales funnels, targeted traffic, and website conversions. He has consulted with Fortune 500 companies, influencers with digital products, and a number of A-List celebrities.  Show Notes   The great myth of our times is that technology is communication. - Libby Larsen   What is Influencer Marketing? Influencer Marketing, what is that really and how do you build a successful program? Well, that’s what Shane will share with us on this episode of The Entrepreneurial You podcast.   Surely it has been around for a while. When we think of the term we sometimes think about celebrities but if you have influence over a community - well - you are an influencer.    Anyone can be one without having 100,000 followers on Instagram. Bear in mind too that some of these followers that are online are fake. Yes, that’s a thing. People can buy followers. It all comes down to engagement.    If you are putting out great co

With more than 30 years of experience in designing and delivering the highest quality classroom-based training for adult learners, Janet has made the transition to the on-line classroom and created Alliance Learning. This leading edge platform provides clients with the opportunity to provide custom-built, learner centered e-learning opportunities for their employees and members. WeLoveLearning courses are built using the best available tools and are designed to Janet's high standards of learner interactivity. Show Notes   The great myth of our times is that technology is communication. - Libby Larsen   10 years ago Janet travelled extensively to her clients to conduct training. Now the table has taken a drastic turn to move along with the times. Doing in person workshops now account for 1% of her business at most.   She has completely transitioned to the online worlds. “People have always wanted training when they need it (just in time training). But we didn’t have the tools available to us to do it,

Hailey is a certified content strategist and founder of Your Content Empire, where she partners with small business owners who are over the shoulds and ready to build their content empires – their way. Through her programs, DIY content kits and award-winning, tell-all weekly blog, she’s helped thousands of entrepreneurs create smarter content on a consistent basis that delights them and their customers while growing their bottom lines. Show Notes “Traditional marketing talks at people. Content marketing talks with them.” - Doug Kessler Content is King! Perhaps you were hoping otherwise but there is just no getting around this reality. But all content isn’t created equally. So how do you create the content that connects with your audience? This episode of The Entrepreneurial You has Hailey divulging all you need to know about your content plan. Firstly, let’s debunk the myth that Content Marketing is only about creating written blogs. It is rather of way creating content and using it to build your audience

Nathan is a 29 year old long time entrepreneur and expert in remote hiring and eCommerce. He started his first eCommerce business out of his college dorm room and has sold over $30 million online. He is now the co-founder and CEO of FreeeUp.com, a marketplace that connects businesses with pre-vetted virtual assistants, freelancers and agencies in eCommerce, digital marketing, and much more. He regularly appears on leading podcasts, such as Entrepreneur on Fire, and speaks at live events about online hiring tactics. Show Notes “Marketing is telling the world you’re a rock star. Content marketing is showing the world you are one.” – Robert Rose The experts make it look easy but running an e-Commerce business is anything but. Whilst success isn’t impossible, it takes an enormous effort to win at it. Nathan starting hustling in college but a cease and desist letter from his institution led him to pivot. Starting to sell baby products on Amazon before Amazon was a thing is the direction that he took. Having

John has helped thousands of entrepreneurs succeed in their business by doing outsourcing differently. He created and runs OnlineJobs.ph, the largest website for finding Filipino virtual workers, with over 500,000 Filipino resumes and over 100,000 employers from around the world using it. He works about 17 hours per week, choosing to spend his time with his family rather than working. Show Notes   “If you deprive yourself of outsourcing and your competitors do not, you're putting yourself out of business.” Lee Kuan Yew   No, you don’t have to do it all alone. Outsourcing has been increasingly popular. But what are the main things to consider when looking to find talent outside of your office? John enthusiastically shares his journey on The Entrepreneurial You podcast. As a Programmer, John started a few online businesses, some of which didn’t last very long. John discovered how working with talent from the Philippines has positively impacted his very successful business. It worked so well, persons fr

Amanda is the CEO of getalifeatsea.com and is the author of the How the Heck to Get a Job on a Cruise Ship Guide. Amanda sailed the world onboard cruise ships for over a decade, working within a variety of roles with multiple cruise lines. She then moved into Cruise Ship Recruitment and Cruise Employment Education Provision Services. Amanda now helps adventurers successfully navigate cruise line application and interview processes so they too can travel the world. Show Notes “Don't sit and wait. Get out there, feel life. Touch the sun, and immerse in the sea.” — Rumi Many are quite happy in a comfort zone with life on land so venturing out into the vastness of the Ocean may not be appealing. Then there are those who get excited by the mere idea of a life at sea. The icing on the cake is getting paid to travel on board, connect with passengers from all over the globe. Interestingly, anything you can imagine in a 5-star resort, is available on board. There are a myriad of opportunities that are available

Tony became known as “The Side Hustle Millionaire” after his book with the same title became a #1 best-seller on Amazon. But, this book title isn’t just fiction; it is based on his actual story. As an active entrepreneur himself, he still owns a few businesses. But, his real passion is teaching entrepreneurs how to start, scale, and sell their business, within his consulting brand 365 Driven.   Show Notes "Opportunities don't happen. You create them." - -- Chris Grosser There is so much to say about the side hustle, some curse it while others swear by it. Tony has been a hustler for a while. He has always been the kid working while others were having fun, sometimes at his expense. But as they say, hard works always pay off...Tony had the skateboards, videogames and bicycles to prove it. Tony early on had the goal of being successful the evidence of which would be 6-figure income - the American dream. An Engineer Degree would be his pursuit. Between waiting tables, waxing cars and other jobs, Tony soo

Paul is a Mentor, Entrepreneur, & Television Host whose goal is to help you live your best life. He's the world’s most influential matchmaker, founded and exited three businesses, host two television shows, spent nearly a decade working directly for a billionaire, and shares his experiences by mentoring through Knowledge Share. Show Notes Paul defines mentorship as "personal development in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person guides a less experienced or less knowledgeable person." After over one year, I finally get Paul on The Entrepreneurial You podcast. Our conversation on mentorship for entrepreneurs was over before we knew it. It was filled with insights on the benefits of mentorship and how to become mentee material. There are lots of strategies to become a mentee but it always begin with your being ready to accept criticism. You must have a high level of self esteem and self love. Knowing you are enough is necessary. Shared Values Develop your north star for all areas of your life

Tim Laskis. Ph.D. Clinical Psychology -Life coach since 2003 -Mental Performance Coach with high profile professional athletes since 2014 -Author: Finding Your Costa Rica: Five Powerful Steps to Personal, Professional and Financial Success. -Founder, Coach Wherever: Life Coach School -University Instructor for over 10 years -Podcast Host: 2 shows: The Tim Laskis Show and Coach Wherever: Life Coach School Podcast. Show Notes As an entrepreneur, stress is inevitable, in fact, as a living, breathing person, there is no getting away from this feeling of emotional or physical tension. What goes on in our thought process about the events going on in our lives will determine how we feel about them. As entrepreneurs, we can get wiped out easily as the only speed we know is go. Dr. Tim Laskis was the perfect guest to break down this whole matter of stress for us. Tim shared insight about what causes stress as well as how to effectively manage it. When our brains are over-stimulated for extended periods

Sushil is a Speaker, Trainer and Author, Brig Sushil Bhasin. Sushil has training and speaking experience of 34 years in the Indian Army and 14 years in the Corporate. His forte is Leadership and Teamwork. In 14 years he has conducted over 550 corporate training workshops. Sushil is an author of  2 books: “Design Your Life.” and “Million $ Second,” published by CNBC TV 18. Show Notes Life has a way of doling out lessons and we would do ourselves some good if we listened. When we think about the army, we may wonder, what lessons can it actually teach us. As it turns out, lots. This episode of The Entrepreneurial You podcast examines some of the lessons being in the army can teach us. You won’t always have all information. You never have all the information you need to make a decision. Nevertheless, you must think on your feet quickly and make the decisions that you take. You must be able to live with the consequences of the decision that you take. Leadership Being a veteran requires that you are able to

Jared is a brand strategist, marketing maven, and publicist with over 15 years of experience in the entertainment and media world. As the former editor in chief of the Miami headquartered Ocean Drive Magazine Jared utilized his 13 years of experience in NYC as the editorial director of In Touch Weekly and Life & Style Weekly to further broaden Ocean Drive’s international appeal and global reach. Jared is also a New York Times Best Selling Author, and principal of marketing + branding + strategy +PR agency, The Tag Experience. Branding and Marketing There is just so much noise in the world of marketing. So just how does one stand out as a small business owner or even just starting up?  In this week episode of The Entrepreneurial You podcast, Jared shares some tips on how to do just that. Every year there is an addition to the options available for marketing. The constant change keeps us on our feet. We have to be constantly changing in order to stay relevant. The first thing to note is that you need to d

Susan Young is an award-winning publicity strategist. Her online coaching programs teach entrepreneurs how to untangle their words and supercharge their content, credibility and community. Susan also manages Communication Nation on Facebook. Her favorite accomplishment: Being named one of the ’Top 75 Badass Women on Twitter.’(@sueyoungmedia). Show Notes Ever wondered how to get that coveted access to those high profile conference speakers? Susan Young has interviewed many - from homeless people to presidents throughout her media career. She has mastered the art of getting media attention. How do you plan ahead to leverage your attendance at conferences? Make a strategy to reach out to speakers confidently. “Today, every company has a press pass but many don’t know what to do with it. We have the power but we are just not using it,” says Susan. A press pass is symbolic of having access to people and being able to talk to people. Everyone is a media company in our world today. We just need to think abou