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

Stephen is the CEO of Predictive ROI and the host of the Onward Nation podcast. He is the author of three bestselling books including the recently released Profitable Podcasting. He is also a speaker, trainer, and his digital marketing insights have been featured in SUCCESS, Entrepreneur, The Washington Post, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and other media. Good Morning Onward Nation and welcome to Episode 631…it is always a pleasure and honor to have you here with me. Before we get to today’s solocast, Onward Nation – I owe you a couple important thank you’s. First, I want to say thank you for all of the ratings and reviews on iTunes. We just received a wave of new reviews and I want you to know how grateful I am for that. You taking time out of your day to let us know what you think of the show is something my team and I take very seriously – something we consider sacred – whether you give us a thumbs up or a thumbs down – hearing from you is how we get better each and every day. So thank you, Onward Nation, for you

Dustin Mathews is the co-founder of Speaking Empire – the disruptive company in the leadership and education space – whose chief mission is advancing the human race by empowering leaders to communicate powerfully, unlock their fullest potential, and ultimately step into their greatness. He is the author of several bestselling books, including his latest that he co-authored to Dan Kennedy, “The No B.S. Guide To Powerful Presentations: The Ultimate No Holds Barred Plan to Sell Anything with Webinars, Online Media, Speeches, and Seminars”. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The importance of having a message and delivering it with passion Why you should develop core content and figure out different ways to deliver it The value of education-based marketing through speaking The importance of providing value to your audience Why you should approach situations with a student mindset Why building relationships and delivering value is important The need to have influential communication The five core components

Barbara Trautlein is author of the best-selling book “Change Intelligence: Use the Power of CQ to Lead Change That Sticks”. She is the Principal and Founder of Change Catalysts and originator of the CQ System for Developing Change Intelligence. For over 25 years, Barbara has coached executives, trained leaders at all levels, certified change agents, and facilitated mission-critical change management initiatives – achieving bottom-line business and powerful leadership results for clients. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Recognizing that with change sometimes comes fear The importance of having empathy Why you need to be change friendly, ready, and intelligent What CQ means and why it is important Why 70% of major organizational changes fail The importance of change leadership How to overcome resistance to change What the three main styles of leading change are How business owners can assess their CQ Which change leader styles are most prevalent and how they lead How to best connect with Barbara: We

Dorie Clark is an adjunct professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and the author of “Entrepreneurial You” — and — “Reinventing You” and “Stand Out”, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of 2015 by Inc. Magazine. Dorie is also a frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review and consults and speaks for clients including Google, Microsoft, and the World Bank. You may remember Dorie and the wisdom she shared during Episode 97. If you haven’t listened to, studied, and applied all she shared during our first interview…I highly encourage you to add Episode 97 to your list of vital priorities. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Why Dorie wrote her new book “ Entrepreneurial You” How to monetize your expertise How to be successful in the entrepreneurial economy Why entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs need straight and honest talk The business impact of writing a book Why success is maximizing your own potential The importance of not looking too far ahead but focusing on the next goa

Stephen is the CEO of Predictive ROI and the host of the Onward Nation podcast. He is the author of three bestselling books including the recently released Profitable Podcasting. He is also a speaker, trainer, and his digital marketing insights have been featured in SUCCESS, Entrepreneur, The Washington Post, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and other media. For a full transcript please visit this link.

Joe Schmit is an author, a 18-time Emmy award-winning broadcaster, community leader, and popular keynote speaker. As a sports broadcaster, he has covered every major sporting event in the past three decades and has interviewed many of the biggest names in sports. His award-winning book, “Silent Impact-Stories of Influence Through Purpose, Persistence and Passion” is now in its 4th printing. You may remember Joe and the wisdom he shared during Episode 310. If you haven’t listened to, studied, and applied all he shared during our first interview…I highly encourage you to add Episode 310 to your list of vital priorities. What you’ll learn about in this episode: How great leaders are discovering new ways to lead Why silent impact is the future of leadership The importance of making your team feel significant How we make our biggest impact when we are not trying to be impressive Why some of the best bosses and leaders are tough but fair What the great leaders have figured out about success The value of making con

Shiv Kera is the founder of Qualified Learning Systems USA. He is the author of 14 books including the international bestseller “You Can Win”, which has sold over 3.5 million copies in 21 languages. His 30 years of research and understanding has put organizations on a path of growth and fulfillment and tens of thousands of people have benefitted from his dynamic workshops internationally in over 20 countries. Shiv’s trademark is “Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently”. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The importance of accepting that some things are out of our control Remembering life is full of choices and compromises Why we cannot choose the cards that are dealt to us, but we can choose how we react Why Shiv says “winners don’t do different things, they do things differently” How you can make positive habits into a reflex action The importance of forming good habits The benefits of journaling every day How winners form the habit of doing things that losers don’t like to do W

Gina Bianchini is the Founder & CEO of Mighty Networks…a rapidly growing SaaS platform for creating your own network effects brands and businesses –– replacing a blog or website with a niche social network. Gina and Mighty Networks have been featured in Fast Company, Wired, Vanity Fair, Bloomberg, and The New York Times. Before Mighty Networks, Gina and Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen launched Ning, a pioneering global platform for creating niche social networks. She also co-founded LeanIn.Org with Sheryl Sandberg, an organization dedicated to women leaning into their ambitions, where she launched Lean In Circles worldwide. What you'll learn about in this episode: How creating a community around a niche topic can lead to a successful business Why the demand for niche businesses is increasing Why digital entrepreneurs need to put a community at the core of the business they are building The value of connecting your customers and having them to talk to each other The need to learn quickly so you can ma

Maxine Harris is the CEO and co-founder of Community Connections, a large social service organization operating in Washington, D.C. She is a national expert in clinical practices for treating persons with serious mental illness, substance addiction, homelessness, trauma, domestic violence, and traumatic loss. She has authored or edited nine books and 10 training manuals and recently released her newest book, “LESSONS FOR NON-PROFIT AND START-UP LEADERS: TALES FROM A RELUCTANT CEO”. What you’ll learn about in this episode: How our mistakes can be our greatest teachers When starting out in business, why you should not hire your friends The reasons why you need to learn to delegate The importance of knowing what your priorities are The power of keeping your office door open and the sense of availability it provides Why culture is not something that you prescribe, it’s something that you live The importance of having a diversified revenue stream The value of taking a step back to be able to view the big picture

Johann Van Tonder is COO at AWA Digital — an award-winning conversion rate optimization agency that helps e-commerce businesses around the world grow online conversion rates and sales using a scientific process. He is also the co-author of the book, “E-COMMERCE WEBSITE OPTIMIZATION: WHY 95% OF YOUR WEBSITE VISITORS DON’T BUY, AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT”. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The value of using speaking engagements as an opportunity to teach rather than sell Why Johann and Dan wrote the book “E-Commerce Website Optimization” Why value proposition is a central concept in marketing and conversion rate optimization The importance of understanding and shaping consumer behavior How to research your customers to determine their consumer behavior The benefits of doing usability testing using online video services How to turn more of your website visitors into customers Why you should grow your business methodically over time The importance of listening to your customers Why the most critical sk

Ron Schutz consults with business owners to help them realize their full potential for their business, while also developing strategies and workable solutions to prepare them for transition. He has been giving financial advice to business owners for over 50 years and is the author of the new book, “AMERICAN FATHERS”, which explores the ideas of moral capitalism and what it means to be an entrepreneur in a global society with different values. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Some of the challenges that entrepreneurs are facing today Building yourself into a media channel to promote your business How technology has changed the way business owners spread their message The importance of collaborating with other business owners Why having more dialog with your clients, employees and vendors is important Taking time to be thankful and grateful The most critical skill needed to thrive in business: being an active listener Why having the ability to stay focused is vital to success How looking at a situation

Dina Dwyer-Owens is the co-chair of The Dwyer Group, a service-based franchise company which now includes 19 service brands and accounts for more than $1.5 billion in system-wide sales. She’s a certified franchise executive with more than 35 years of industry experience — 15 years as CEO of Dwyer Group. America also knows her for participating in CBS’s Emmy-winning hit reality show “Undercover Boss” and the first-ever special episode “Undercover Boss: Epic Bosses.” Dina is the author of two books: Live R.I.C.H. and Values, Inc. that both share her global message for living and leading with a proven code of values. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The importance of celebrating the successes of yesterday but learning from the mistakes Why leading with values is important within a company Why you should always treat people with respect and dignity How to create a system around your company’s values Why “living” your values is critical to success Gaining access to a free “Create Your Culture Workbook” Wh

Naphtali Hoff is an executive coach and president of Impactful Coaching & Consulting. He completed his doctorate in human and organizational psychology and holds two master’s degrees in education and educational leadership. Naphtali’s personal experience in the leadership field allows him to understand leaders’ needs and craft solutions to help them optimize their performance and success. He is also the author of the new book, “Becoming the New Boss: The New Leader’s Guide to Sustained Success”. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The outcomes of starting a new leadership position with success How having a podcast gives a business owner a new way to connect with people The importance of reaching out to other business owners and mentors Why setting goals is a critical daily habit How avoiding distractions allows for a high impact work day Why having a clear sense of direction is a critical skill to master The benefits of bringing everyone in the organization together to help make decisions Why it is

Gavin Zuchlinski is the founder of Acuity Scheduling, the slickest way for businesses to automate and manage their appointments online, allowing clients to schedule themselves. He is a self-professed tech geek who wholeheartedly believes that business should be fun. Acuity Scheduling supports over 50,000 businesses of all sizes, from people working for themselves to major corporations with thousands of employees. What you’ll learn about in this episode: The benefits of building your business slow and steady Why you should focus on creating a product that people will love How setting up a checklist of tasks to improve your product will improve your business Why spending time improving your product before you market the product is important The importance of listening to your customer’s feedback How reading and researching every day makes you and your business better Building a business with recurring revenue makes the business more attractive to buyers The importance of remembering the reason your business ex

Mike Canarelli is the CEO and Co-Founder of Web Talent Marketing and is recognized as one of the top digital marketing agencies in the United States who prides itself on providing unique, scalable long-term solutions for its clients. Mike holds a B.S. from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management where he studied Entrepreneurship and Management Information Systems. After six years as a freelance designer and web developer, he founded Axis Creative Group in 2006 and later merged with Web Talent SEO in late 2010. What you’ll learn about in this episode: How organization can help you tackle your daily vital priorities The importance of focusing on the details of each project The benefits of clearing out your email inbox by the end of each day The obstacles that can be overcome when your organization works as a team How adversity leads to great lessons on how to rebound and come out stronger Why being a strong leader can help your team weather the tough times Remaining calm under pressure: a cri

Peter Lisoskie is the founder of Chatbot Nation — a technology that fosters a more humanized and connected relationship between people and brands using chatbots, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. He helps business owners and entrepreneurs create an interactive experience with chatbots to deliver leads, improve sales conversions, provide customer service, sell products, and win new clients.   What you’ll learn about in this episode: What a chatbot is How chatbots create an instant interactive experience   How to use a chatbot as part of a lead generation strategy Why Peter feels businesses will be moving away from email marketing How chatbots allow the user to drive the experience The advantages of using a chatbot for customer service How chatbots contribute to your company’s bottom line The power of Messenger Codes as a marketing tool Why having an animated chatbot character helps create an elevated human connecting experience The importance of having clarity and focus to best ensure success  

Beth Storz is President and Innovation Process Consultant at Ideas To Go with a rich history of helping companies and brands to be more innovative. Beth's experience ranges from managing large flagship brands to smaller strategic portfolios. Beth is the co-author of the recent book, “Outsmart Your Instincts: How the Behavioral Innovation Approach Drives Your Company Forward.” What you’ll learn about in this episode: What cognitive biases are The cognitive biases that impede innovation How to overcome the cognitive biases and get your business to the next level How the negativity bias holds back innovative thinking The power of using positive words to trick the brain into problem solving What the curse of knowledge is and how it puts constraints on innovation How the fear factor can hold you back from trying new ideas Understanding that you alone do not have all the answers is a critical skill to master The impact of surrounding yourself with those who are smarter than you The importance of continuous improve

Amy Kirsch is the Director of Investor Relations at RealtyShares, an online marketplace for real estate investing connecting individual and institutional investors to private U.S. real estate investments. She has over 10 years of financial services experience & has worked in wealth management for Merrill Lynch, Dearborn Partners, and JP Morgan’s Private Bank before working as the Head of Investor Relations for PeerRealty, a Chicago real estate crowdfunding platform.     What you’ll learn about in this episode: How real estate investing has become democratized What steps need to be taken to become a real estate investor The benefits of making a vital priorities list for the week How time blocking can become an important part of your success Why the most critical skill to master is focus The importance of doing right by your clients, following up, and following through Why you should celebrate and reward the wins of your team Why having employees who have a sense of urgency is important The importance of h

Our special encore guest today is Jay Irwin and he is an adventurous soul who is determined to inspire people through wilderness experiences. He teaches audiences, from inner-city youth to executives, how to bring the gifts learned from wilderness experiences into daily life to create powerful and long-lasting change. He is the owner of CBST Adventures where he takes clients out of their comfort zone so they can experience the metaphors of nature. You may remember Jay and the wisdom he shared during Episode 306. If you haven’t listened to, studied, and applied all he shared during our first interview…I highly encourage you to add Episode 306 to your list of vital priorities. What you’ll learn about in this episode: What experiential leadership is The benefits of experiential leadership training How experiential leadership training leads to team building How experiential leadership training can help businesses with succession planning Why finding your motivators and demotivators is vital to your team’s succes

Stephen is the CEO of Predictive ROI and the host of the Onward Nation podcast. He is the author of three bestselling books including the recently released Profitable Podcasting. He is also a speaker, trainer, and his digital marketing insights have been featured in SUCCESS, Entrepreneur, The Washington Post, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and other media. Good Morning Onward Nation and welcome to Episode 612…it is always a pleasure and honor to have you here with me – I greatly appreciate your time and attention – and the fact that you have chosen to invest a part of your day making Onward Nation what you listen to and study means a great deal to me. So thank you very, very much. Today’s episode is going to be a solocast – with a bit of a twist. If you have been listening to the show for a while now – you know that from time to time, I record an episode without a guest – and I call those solocasts – and I do this – because a solocast gives you and me an opportunity to go deeper on a topic and to really explore the d