Onward Nation With Stephen Woessner | Interviews With Todays Top Business Owners | Careers

Darla Hall is the owner of In the Sports Zone, creating licensed activity books for college, NFL, MLB, NBA and other brands. Her idea started as a gift for a little boy who was struck by a car and suffered two broken legs. She developed the first Roll Tide Activity Book as a gift for him and secured her first license in 2012. He has fully recovered and Darla has grown her business by adding product lines, teams, and leagues each year. She is currently writing a memoir titled, “Ball Cap, Boots, Backflips & Business”, which will be released in 2019. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why focus is hard to accomplish The importance of having a drive and passion for your business How having a daily task list helps keep you focused The benefits of spending 80% of your day on selling How to use social media to build your platform and impact your business Why selling is the most critical skill business owners need to master Why you can’t be afraid of failure when you are trying to build relationships and s

Jeff Hyman is the Chief Talent Officer at Chicago-based Strong Suit Executive Search — whose focus is on recruiting and building rockstar teams for growth companies. He’s recruited over 3,000 people and has advised hundreds of entrepreneurs along the way on the recruitment process — and from that experience — he wrote the book “Hiring Growth Rockstars: The 10 Step Playbook to Find the Winners and Ignite Your Business” to share the lessons he learned. Jeff also hosts the five-star podcast, Strong Suit. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Hiring the very best talent can be what helps your business win in your industry How rockstar employees are up to 10 times more productive and efficient than average employees What happens if you hire 5 rockstar employees but pay them like 8 rockstar employees Why you should not look at hiring employees as an expense The importance of having a compensation philosophy The benefits of not paying top of market prices for an employee How to find a rockstar employee that is t

Good Morning – I’m Stephen Woessner, CEO of Predictive ROI and your host of Onward Nation. And welcome to Episode 690, which is this week’s solocast. Before we go behind-the-green-curtain of today’s topic...I want you to know how extremely grateful I am for your time – and I am also grateful that you have chosen this episode to be what you listen to – to study. Or, maybe you’re taking our podcast with you on your daily commute – or however the lessons we share make their way to you – please know – I am thankful we have become part of your day. Thank you. We all have the same 86,400 seconds to invest today...and the fact that you have chosen to invest a portion of your time in taking this journey with us means a great deal to me. So thank you, Onward Nation. For our time together today...I am going to step us through what I see as the four seasons each and every business owner needs to recognize in order to successfully navigate their company, employees, and clients through as part of the business’s natural li

Brandon Steiner is the CEO and Founder of Steiner Sports. Over 30-years ago, he started Steiner Sports with $4,000 and a computer and has grown it to be a leader in the sports memorabilia and marketing industry. Brandon is also a speaker and host of the Unplugged Podcast and the author of two bestselling books, "The Business Playbook" and "You Gotta Have Balls." What you’ll learn about in this episode: The power of relationships when building your business Why you need to create a lot of chaos and confusion before you can see the clarity in your business The importance of thinking outside the box and having your own thoughts and ideas Why resilience and diligence are two important daily habits How being a good communicator helps others join in your vision Why picking the right customers and clients to sell to is a key to success Why thinking is the hardest work you are going to do in your business How the art of selling is differentiating yourself, adding value, and serving Learning how everything is negotia

Today’s episode is going to be different from any other -- in fact -- it is fair to say that today’s episode will be another power installment of How to Do the Hard Right Over the Easy Wrong. I can boldly make such a claim because my guest today is Larry Broughton. Larry is Founder and CEO of broughton HOTELS; Broughton Advisory Group; and yoogozi.com. Larry is an award-winning entrepreneur & CEO; a best-selling author; keynote speaker; and former U.S. Army Green Beret -- who is committed to helping visionaries, leaders and high-achievers step into the leadership gap. You may also remember Larry and the wisdom he shared during Episodes 18 and 166 of Onward Nation. If you haven’t listened to, studied, and applied all that Larry shared during our first interview...I highly encourage you to add Episodes 18 and 166 to your list of vital priorities. You’ll be glad you did. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why entrepreneurship and capitalism are catalysts for positive change in the world Larry Broughto

Jim Horan is the founder and president of The One Page Business Plan Company, an experienced Fortune 500 executive, sought after thought leader, advisor to startups, CEOs and their management teams as well as other industry leaders. Seventeen years ago, Jim simplified the business plan to a single page and began a revolution that continues to this day.  Jim’s first book, “The One Page Business Plan for the Creative Entrepreneur” instantly became an Amazon best seller and Inc. Magazine listed the book as one of the Top 10 “Start Your Own Business” books of 2015. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why business is first and foremost about people The purpose of a one page business plan Why the most significant risk to your business is not being understood How a one page business plan helps your business clarify its objectives The importance of professional trade business associations The power of picking up the phone to accelerate your business Why you should not try to sell to people within your network T

Ian Lamont is the founder and president of i30 Media Corporation, a media venture specializing in reference materials, technology news, and how-to guides, including the award-winning “IN 30 MINUTES” series of guidebooks and “PRIORITY PAYLOAD REPORT”, the independent newsletter of industrial automation. He is also the creator of the Lean Media framework, which helps creative people and production teams develop media that matters. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why businesses today need to have the DNA of being a media company The importance of building an audience for your brand What issues surround creating media for your business What mistakes businesses make when creating media The benefits of making a list to help tackle your priorities each day The importance of knowing when your most productive time of the day is Why the most critical skills to master are building and selling The need to create media that is going to benefit your customers What mistakes to avoid when creating media for your bu

Good Morning Onward Nation...I’m Stephen Woessner and welcome to today’s solocast. As part of my role as host of Onward Nation...and as CEO of Predictive ROI...I am blessed with this amazing opportunity to meet, talk with, and really get to know business owners as well as the critical skills and strategies they have applied to be successful and the lessons they learned along the way. But these owners have also been kind enough to take me behind the green curtain and share their fears, their insecurities, and the constraints to success that they face each and every day. And the constraints can vary from business owner to business owner...and from industry to industry. But there is one constraint that is universal. There is one constraint that affects all of us. There is one constraint – that no matter who you are – you have faced and have been impacted by it. So for today’s solocast...I am going to take you on a deep dive into this constraint, and more importantly, how to conquer it and give you a couple of ke

Patrick Ewers is an executive coach and the founder of Mindmaven, a company that helps professionals generate more opportunities by introducing experience-based relationship management -- and -- helps them drive growth by increasing their overall mindshare within their network. He was called Silicon Valley’s top relationship management expert by Forbes and was also one of LinkedIn’s earliest team members, where he was responsible for launching and building up “LinkedIn for Groups.” What you’ll learn about in this episode: The story of how Patrick ended up at LinkedIn so early in the life of the company The four life themes that came to Patrick while meditating on a Buddhist retreat that led him to starting his business Mindmaven Why what’s common to you isn’t always common for everyone else and why you need to focus on that to deliver greatness to the world Positive alacrity: delivering micro-experiences to others that have a profoundly uplifting impact Why good things happen when you do counterintuitive thi

Robert Glazer is the founder and Managing Director of Acceleration Partners and the founder and Chairman of Brand Cycle. He is a serial entrepreneur with an exceptional track record and passion for growing revenue and profits for business-to-consumer based companies. He has extensive experience in the consumer, e-commerce, retail, online marketing, and ad-tech industries—partnering with brands such as Adidas, Reebok, Target, Tiny Prints, and Warby Parker. Robert is a highly sought-after speaker who presents to global audiences and serves as an advisor to high-growth businesses. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Robert’s purpose: finding a better way to do things Acceleration Partners: the top independent affiliate marketing agency in the US Is affiliate marketing right for you? Using The Whole Life Dashboard to set up your morning for success Getting your top priorities checked off as soon as you can each day Focusing on strategy, thinking, and quiet Learning from Player-Coaches: coaches/mentors who h

Brendon Lundberg is co-founder of Radiant Pain Relief Centres whose vision is to build the safest, most consistently effective, and appealing solution to the epidemic of chronic pain. Combining a mission to change the way chronic pain is treated, Brendon and Dr. David Farley opened Radiant Pain Relief Centres in February 2014 and have plans to open centres in new markets, both nationally and internationally. Previous to founding Radiant Pain Centre, Brendon played key operational and business development roles for two other businesses and was the Director of Sales and Marketing for a medical device start-up. What you will learn in this episode: Why a Regulation A-Plus Offering might apply to your business How to learn more about the Regulation A-Plus Offering process The importance of having the right mindset The benefits of setting your day with intention How having ambition without the right discipline can lead to being unfocused The importance of building relationships and connecting with people Daily str

Angelique Rewers is the CEO of The Corporate Agent and her team helps small businesses and self-employed professionals land corporate clients. In four years, she went from the starting gate to being among the top 1 percent of women business owners nationwide and was recently named an Enterprising Woman of the Year by Enterprising Women Magazine. Her groundbreaking INSIDE EDGE global conference has brought entrepreneurs together with major brands like IBM, Intel, HP, PayPal, AT&T, Marriott, Chevron, and Major League Baseball, to help them work together more effectively. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The importance of focusing your energy into what you want to create How business requires us to have a certain degree of inner strength and grit Why it’s all about the speed in which you need to make decisions as a business owner Why you need to have the skill set to navigate the decisions that you make Mastering the skill of critical thinking as a small business owner The joy and success that comes

Lee Caraher started Double Forte in 2002 as a new kind of communications firm designed to provide the best service in the business. Lee has managed multiple offices and hundreds of people of all ages and was named in the 40 under 40 by PRWEEK Magazine. She holds a bachelor’s degree in medieval history — which she finds useful every day. You may also remember Lee and the wisdom she shared during episodes 180, 269, 523, and 669 of Onward Nation. If you haven’t listened to, studied, and applied all that Lee shared during our earlier interviews...I highly encourage you to add episodes 180, 269, 523, and 669 to your list of vital priorities. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why people are so skeptical about fake news Why your followers trust you more than they trust news sources How the news business has changed so dramatically in the last decade How fake news increases the distrust of information across the board How we are all influencers, but don’t even know it Why we should all become media companies

Our special encore guest today is Mark Howley and he is the CEO of Pacific Bag, Inc., which manufacturers unique pre-made bags for specialty coffee, tea, pet food, specialty foods, ag, chemicals, and other niche markets around the world. Mark’s company serves over 5,000 customers in over 60 countries. Mark’s experience covers the gamut of sales, marketing, product management, and executive management. You may remember Mark and the wisdom he shared during Episode 552. If you haven’t listened to, studied, and applied all he shared during our first interview...I highly encourage you to add Episode 552 to your list of vital priorities. What you’ll learn about in this episode: One of the biggest challenges for small businesses today How the quote “When you’re in your own mind, you’re behind enemy lines” can apply to many things in your life The value of pausing and getting someone else’s perspective on something Why you need to have an intimate awareness of people when you own a small business The most important

Our special encore guest today is Dianna Booher and she is the founder and CEO of Booher Research Institute and author of “COMMUNICATE LIKE A LEADER.” Dianna works with organizations to help them communicate clearly — and with leaders — to expand their influence by having a strong executive presence. She works with some of the largest Fortune 500 companies and governmental agencies, such as IBM, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Siemens, NASA, and the U.S. Navy. She has been featured on Good Morning America, and in USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Investor’s Business Daily, CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. You may remember Dianna and the wisdom she shared during Episode 502. If you haven’t listened to, studied, and applied all she shared during our first interview...I highly encourage you to add Episode 502 to your list of vital priorities. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why it’s vital to build your brand along with sy

Eric Levenhagen founded ProWise Financial Coaching (formerly known as ProWise Tax & Accounting) in 2005. His mission is to perform a comprehensive service for his clients, unlike any other firm out there, and help clients lead a life of financial abundance. He is both a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Tax Coach who integrates both disciplines into a holistic, client-centered approach towards maximizing his client’s after-tax income and wealth. You may remember Eric and the wisdom he shared during Episode 25. If you haven’t listened to, studied, and applied all he shared during our first interview...I highly encourage you to add Episode 25 to your list of vital priorities. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The two biggest advantages for business owners with the new tax reform Why vehicle deductions are getting better under the new law The family tax strategy: how this has improved How the qualified business income deduction works and how it can benefit business owners The importance of

How to strategically create cornerstone content, with Stephen Woessner. Good Morning Onward Nation – I’m Stephen Woessner and welcome to today’s solocast. Before we dive into the strategies that I wanted to share with you this morning – I first wanted to say thank you. Thank you for making 2017 the best year for Onward Nation – the most downloads we have ever had...the most countries we have ever reached...and the most impact we have ever created. Each and every day – my team and I are so very grateful for your generous gift of you sharing your time with us by listening to our episodes and then sharing your feedback by letting us know – thumbs up or thumbs down and how we can get better the next time. I am honored that you choose to invest a portion of the 86,400 seconds you have each day with our guests and with me. So I want you to know how much I appreciate you and that we are committed to raising the bar – the standard of excellence – the value we deliver to you. We as business owners – each of us every d

Jennifer Sertl is a business strategist and internationally recognized as an influencer in social media and a thought leader in the emerging field of corporate consciousness. She is president and founder of Agility3R, a leadership development company dedicated to strengthening strategic skills and helping leaders become more resilient, responsive, and reflective. She is also co-author of the book, “Strategy Leadership and the Soul.” What you’ll learn about in this episode: The importance of giving frontline people the tools that they need to create value for the customer Why business isn’t about customer acquisition, but about employee delight How our competitive advantage is not about our skill set, but rather how well we read our environment and how we use that to act Thinking and acting globally Why everyone should have an 18-month calendar How being afraid to choose can dilute your value proposition Why leaders today really need to be versed in social The value that comes from spending time with people w

Bernie Swain is the founder of the Washington Speakers Bureau, a lecture agency which represents many prestigious authors, politicians, journalists, athletes, and business leaders. At the firm’s start back in 1980, he began signing every speaker with a handshake -- this proved to be the hallmark of trust that helped accelerate the company’s growth. Years later, Bernie’s roster of speakers would be the greatest in history and the firm still continues its practice of signing speakers on the strength of a handshake. Today, the best of Bernie's fortunes turned out to be the speakers themselves because these remarkable leaders had become his friends and he captured many of their most personal, powerful influences and defining moments in his book, “What Made Me Who I Am.” What you’ll learn about in this episode: How an error became a defining moment in Bernie’s career Why passion is so much more important than talent when you’re starting a company on your own Why there are no shortcuts to long term success How a h

Gordon Tredgold is a business and IT transformation expert who has successfully delivered $100 million programs, run $300 million departments, and led teams of 1,000 staff members for Fortune 100 companies. Gordon is the author of the critically acclaimed book “FAST” and works with enterprises on implementing results-based leadership initiatives to rapidly accelerate growth. You may remember Gordon and the wisdom he shared during Episode 446. If you haven’t listened to, studied, and applied all he shared during our first interview...I highly encourage you to add Episode 446 to your list of vital priorities. What you’ll learn about in this episode: How to make writing articles seem a little less daunting The three key components of every article Why context is so important when writing an article As a leader, why it’s about the command that you have rather than the orders that you give How to get everyone on your team to believe that the goal that what you want to achieve is possible The power of starting sma