Amplify Your Business

Breaking Sales Shackles

In this episode of Amplify Your Business, Lance Johnson welcomes Coach Dan Gordon, an expert in transforming entrepreneurs' approaches to sales. Dan brings over two decades of experience in helping entrepreneurs break free from self-imposed limitations and achieve their full potential. 
Lance and Coach Dan discuss the concept of "no douchebag selling," the importance of personal development, and how to build trust with potential clients. Dan also shares his unique sales strategies and tools that help entrepreneurs stay at the top of their game.
Topics Covered:
The philosophy behind "no douchebag selling"
The importance of focusing on the client rather than the product
The role of storytelling in sales
The significance of personal development for entrepreneurs
Techniques to manage stress and improve performance
You can connect with Coach Dan Gordon on his website at Dan Gordon Enterprise, on LinkedIn as Coach Dan Gordon, and check out his podcast, For Badass Entrepreneurs Only.

The Rise of AI in Marketing: How to Stay Ahead in a Fast-Moving Industry

In the latest episode of Amplify Your Business, Lance welcomes Yoni Kominsky, a luminary in the field of entrepreneurship with a vast array of experiences as the co-founder and CEO of Ekeala and Multiply Mii. Yoni's journey embodies the very essence of entrepreneurship, from taking the plunge into the business world to fostering growth through strategic focus and understanding the necessity of effective team management.
Upon listening to this illuminating podcast, listeners will gather Yoni’s profound insights into starting an entrepreneurial voyage, the critical nature of measuring impact for business success, and the importance of honing focus to achieve set objectives. Amidst addressing the intricate balance of personal and professional life, Yoni also discusses how to navigate the complex nature of leading multiple business ventures simultaneously and the underlying strategies that bolster his success.
To learn more about Multiply Mii, visit https://www.multiplymii.com/

Cultivating Exceptional Leadership with Corinne Mason

Welcome to yet another engaging episode of Amplify Your Business. Today, we're privileged to have Corinne Mason, Partner at Summit Leadership Partners, who is committed to shaping leaders in mid-market businesses. Despite our usual focus on smaller ventures, this episode delivers invaluable leadership development insights that can benefit entrepreneurs of all scales.
With a wealth of entrepreneurial experience spanning over a decade, Corinne emphasises the growth of leadership style, comprehending marketing and communications, fostering creativity, and maintaining focus on organisational expansion. In this enlightening conversation, she provides insights on the hurdles mid-market enterprises face, particularly those backed by private equity, and the immense pressures they cope with to achieve exceptional year-over-year growth.
Our discussion focuses on building resilient leadership structures, where Corinne underscores their firm's focus on personal development, team efficacy, and considerations surrounding strategic human capital. The primary goal: to help leaders scale up and align with the quick-paced growth of their organisations.
Besides demystifying what leadership entails in fast-growing, high-stakes business environments, Corinne offers timeless advice pertinent to all leaders, irrespective of the size or industry of their ventures. Dive into this absorbing conversation and discover the secrets of exceptional leadership that can catapult your enterprise towards exponential growth!
Leadership Styles of Prominent Business Figures & Insights on Organisational Growth
Delve into this exhilarating episode where we explore successful leadership secrets in diverse sectors. From emphasising emotional intelligence and discipline as leadership pillars, to highlighting common leadership pitfalls like failing to delegate or maintaining a singular vision. Furthermore, we elucidate on change in leadership styles as organisations grow, necessitating leaders to put faith and support in their executives.
This episode also enlightens listeners on the pivotal role of systems and infrastructures in scaling a business, offering a unique perspective into the leadership styles of famous business personalities such as Elon Musk.
From HR Specialist to Entrepreneur: Corinne Mason's Journey to Promote Equity in Leadership
In this enlightening podcast episode, we are joined by Corinne Mason, PhD. Despite facing personal obstacles, Corinne decided to co-found her own venture? She aims to influence positive change and champion more equity, particularly for women in leadership roles. Reflecting on her journey, Corinne emphasizes the role of entrepreneurship as an agent for change and offers candid advice on effective team management and communication.
If you wish to connect with Corinne, you can find her on the Summit Leadership Partners' website or LinkedIn. Get ready for a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration from Corinne’s experiences and wisdom in leadership and entrepreneurship as you tune into this exceptional episode.

Redeeming Work: A New Approach to Entrepreneurship and Business Design

In this episode of Amplify Your Business, we sit down with Dan Rogers, an entrepreneur who brings an entirely fresh perspective to the table. The conversation dives deep into the foundational principles every entrepreneur must consider to succeed truly.
 
In the heart of the discussion, Rogers, the CEO and owner of WorkP2P, emphasizes the importance of a clear and articulate vision, which he believes is crucial for a business's growth. Transitioning to the practicalities, the episode sheds light on the distinction between designing a company as a societal system rather than the traditional corporate model. Dan elaborates on the success of his own company, which stopped outbound marketing and now thrives on inbound interest thanks to a focus on building trust and adding value without a hard sell.
 
To learn more about WorkP2P, visit https://workp2p.com/
 
00:00 Intro
00:00 Three things every entrepreneur should know. 
06:27 Why the traditional corporate model is flawed
09:42 WorkP2P and their mission to redeem work
12:23 How COVID-19 impacted business
14:00 Getting paid to practice beats working to get paid.
16:52 Sharing programs with smaller companies and individuals.
17:32 Stopping outbound sales as everything started coming inbound.
19:56 Trust and reciprocity are key in building relationships with customers.
23:48 Starting a consultancy business to help with sales & marketing
24:14 Dan Rogers explains the value of creating before taking
25:18 The importance of understanding how money moves
31:35 Pushing a business to its limits
32:17 The purpose of a societal system in developing community
36:19 Letting go of customers to align with the company's vision
38:05 Designing systems to incorporate essential elements
39:12 Importance of facing reality and accepting the truth
40:02 Pulling reality in rather than pushing it out
43:49 Outro

The Challenges of Entrepreneurship and Transitioning Out of Business

In this episode of Amplify Your Business, we're joined by Erika Anderson from the picturesque landscapes of Spain. Erika shares her profound insights on entrepreneurship, the critical importance of vision, and the intricate journey of transitioning from full-time leadership to a semi-retired role. This conversation unveils the essence of entrepreneurial resilience, strategic decision-making, and personal growth.
 
Erika Anderson is a seasoned entrepreneur and the founding partner of Proteus International, a company specializing in leadership development, executive coaching, and organizational transformation. With a career spanning over three decades, Erika has established herself as an authority on helping individuals and organizations clarify and move toward their aspired futures. She has authored a number of books focused on leadership and change management and currently splits her time between New York and Spain.
 
To learn more about Proteus International, visit https://proteus-international.com/ 
 
00:00 Intro
00:57 The importance of having a clear vision for your business
02:23 Being a fair witness and maintaining objectivity as an entrepreneur
03:57 The significance of having enough capital for your business
05:10 Challenges of scaling a business and managing capital
08:57 Gathering data and testing market demand before developing a product
12:26 Summary of the book "Be Bad First.”
13:37 The three practice areas of Proteus
19:27 Erika's transition to semi-retirement and operating Proteus from Spain
22:10 Advice for transitioning and trusting partners
24:44 Importance of clear roles and regular check-ins
29:48 Identifying what you love about your work.
31:53 Erika’s biggest challenge
39:36 How to connect with Erika Anderson
40:01 Find Erika's books on Amazon
40:35 Outro

Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey: Insights on Building Real Businesses and Raising Capital

In this episode of Amplify Your Business, Lance engages with the CEO of Capital Raise, Carl Grant III, diving into Carl's rich entrepreneurial journey and discussing the intricacies of raising capital for businesses. Carl's vast experience presents a treasure trove of insights that are critical for entrepreneurs navigating the complex world of investments and growth.
 
In this interview, Carl opens up about the evolution of his career from his initial foray as an entrepreneur with his father to his eventual return to entrepreneurship after years in the corporate sphere. The discussion sheds light on the essence of capital investment and the strategies that can make or break the success of a startup. By delineating between the perils of being overly reliant on investment capital and the strength of revenue-focused businesses, Carl provides a nuanced look into the world of venture capital and private equity.
 
To learn more about Capital Raise, visit https://capitalraise.net.
 
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Three important things every entrepreneur needs to know
03:00 Background and experience in raising capital
07:43 Overview of Capital Raise and its services
11:57 Early experiences in the video streaming industry
12:32 The market crash in 2000 led to the downfall of a startup
13:18 The impact of 9/11 on a financial services company
14:17 Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship
19:26 Working with family in business and the importance of trust
21:41 The significance of revenue and profitability in business success
25:31 Uber's dominance in the market and strategy for success
26:13 TikTok's shift towards driving commerce and monetization
26:51 The importance of generating revenue and being profitable as a startup
27:26 The entrepreneurial strategy of selling to the government
28:28 Overview of the book "How to Live the Abundant Life"
29:27 Focusing on giving and helping others for personal and financial benefit
31:30 Achieving seemingly impossible goals through bite-sized tasks
34:06 Where to find Carl’s book "How to Live the Abundant Life"
35:50 Outro

How to Scale and Grow Your Business: Lessons from a Hypergrowth Expert

In episode 268, Lance meets with Seth Temko, the founder of Full On Strategy, a go-to-market consultancy that helps companies achieve hypergrowth. With a background in entrepreneurship and startups, Seth has a wealth of experience in the technology sector. He has lived through the boom and bust of the dot-com era and has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that come with starting and scaling a business.
In this interview, Seth shares his top three tips for entrepreneurs, including that he believes that starting your own business is both the hardest and easiest thing you can do. While it comes with financial strain and stress, it also gives you control over your own destiny. Seth emphasizes the importance of patience, as everything takes longer than expected. He advises entrepreneurs to focus on the things they enjoy and are passionate about, and to outsource or delegate tasks that drain their energy. Seth also discusses his go-to-market strategy for Full On Strategy, which includes building partnerships and creating a community of restaurant tech executives and founders.
 
To learn more about Full On Strategy, visit: https://fullonstrategy.com/ 
 
00:00 - Introduction
01:15 - Three things every entrepreneur should know
07:08 - Go-to-market strategy
09:24 - Helping companies achieve hypergrowth
10:33 - Applying the principles of his consultancy to his own business
12:47 - Defining the consultancy and choosing a niche market
13:19 - Focusing on hospitality technology and generating value quickly
13:54 - Massive potential market size in the restaurant industry.
16:22 - Partnerships with Branded Strategic and other consultants.
17:27 - Focus on selling, defining partnerships, and driving pipeline for growth.
20:58 - Creating a restaurant technology-focused event to connect industry players.
22:04 - Building community and peer support is key for long-term success.
24:07 - Communities can be monetized and lead to strong relationships.
28:32 - Naive thinking can propel young entrepreneurs forward.
29:45 - Lesson from the dot-com bubble: value delivery is key.
33:07 - Importance of good product and customers willing to pay.
36:26 - Outro

How Good Debt Can Help You Transform Your Business

In episode 267, Lance sits down with Alex Mic Podar, the co-founder and CEO of Backyard Bookkeeper, a bookkeeping company that focuses solely on bookkeeping services. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Alex has built a successful business that is dedicated to providing high-quality bookkeeping solutions to clients. Alex is passionate about helping other entrepreneurs succeed and is constantly looking for ways to scale her businesses and create job opportunities.
 
In this interview, Alex Mick Podar shares her insights on entrepreneurship and the importance of financial literacy. She emphasizes the need for entrepreneurs to have a good relationship with their finances and to understand the concept of good debt. Alex also advises entrepreneurs to be cautious when doing business with friends or family and to learn how to surround themselves with the right people. She discusses her plans to scale her bookkeeping company and the challenges she anticipates in acquiring other businesses. Alex also addresses the impact of AI on the bookkeeping industry and the importance of staying ahead of the technology. She emphasizes the value of systems and replicable processes in scaling a business and shares her personal journey as an entrepreneur.
 
To learn more, visit Backyard Bookkeeper at https://backyardbookkeeper.com/ 
 
0:00:00 - Intro
0:00:22 - Three things every entrepreneur needs to know
0:02:26 - The importance of good debt in business growth
0:04:41 - Scaling a business through acquiring other businesses
0:06:03 - Backyard Bookkeeper's unique focus on bookkeeping services
0:08:32 - Plans to grow the team by acquiring other bookkeeping businesses
0:09:21 - Educating oneself and thinking outside the box for mergers and acquisitions
0:11:42 - Targeting retiring baby boomers to acquire their businesses
0:12:47 - The impact of AI on the bookkeeping industry and managing the risk
0:13:40 - The role of a good bookkeeper beyond data entry in the AI era
0:14:15 - Automation of data entry and the role of AI in accounting
0:15:21 - Working closely with AI developers to improve accounting AI
0:16:26 - AI empowering individuals to take on multiple jobs
0:17:37 - Alex's entrepreneurial journey and origins in Romania
0:20:58 - Importance of systems and hiring the right people
0:23:38 - The necessity of replicable systems for scaling a business
0:25:43 - Information about Amplify Your Business and upcoming symposium