Franklin Taggart's Virtual Coffee Break

Last week I released the new course, Fridgeworthy Freebies. I'm still adding examples to the course, but everything you need to plan, design, and create your own is already there. A client asked me the other day where I would go if I didn't have enough time or money to pay for a high-value freebie for networking events and other business purposes. My first answer didn't take long. Canva.com. I've...

Offering a ride to our son's friend that was immediately refused is the fodder for this morning's Coffee Break. I became immediately aware that I've habitually done this in my life - turning down generosity.  Then I was flooded with the idea of how many different ways I block people from flowing into my life. Keeping my needs and desires to myself, Pointing out other people who need things mo...

In a conversation with a client earlier this week, we talked about her being an influencer. She was surprised I would use that word to describe her because she tends to shun the spotlight, and she's not someone who feels much like anyone pays attention to her.  I told her that every human has some ability to influence others. We all have ways of being persuasive, and not only that, we all hav...

After an illness interrupted her post-active-duty work as a cable internet technician, Daphne Jones began an extensive study of finances and wealth. Finding herself drawn to a career in life insurance, she continued to learn all the ways she could make her money make more money. In the past few years, Daphne has turned her career path to teaching other Gen X women how they can build wealth - from...

The last week or two have seen a handful of unforeseen technical difficulties visiting my home and studio.  Ever notice that when you update Zoom, they reset your settings and choose defaults that you don't want? I didn't know until this morning that I recorded three separate Zoom meetings thinking that My regular super duper studio microphone was working, when in fact, Zoom had changed my mi...

I guest-hosted a songwriters in the round event tonight in Fort Collins that reminded me of how deeply I can be affected by music and some of the reasons I'm changing my direction. I loved music from a very young age and I played records and tapes and the radio constantly when I was growing up. Songs have always gone straight to my soul and that's one of the factors in my decision to be a musician...

When I was working on the Elevator Pitches That Don't Suck course, one of the lessons was about the things we give away to promote our business - the freebies! I did a lot of looking to find some of the coolest freebie ideas and made a presentation for Fort Collins Comic Con vendors about making freebies people won't throw away. That turned into another mini-course in my school - Fridgeworthy Free...

In the Clients Everywhere! Workshop today we talked about barriers that we unconsciously put between ourselves and people who could become customers. For me, the two that are most familiar are timidity and self-consciousness. Timidity is something I've defaulted to for as long as I remember. I usually wait for others to speak before I feel comfortable saying anything and often if they don't start...

Learning is central to living. We are learning the whole time we're here. The bulk of learning is practicing. I have a number of clients who are starting things for the first time and they're frustrated that they weren't born doing these things perfectly. I've been there, too. Every time I've learned something new. In this Coffee Break, I share some insights I've learned about the art of practicin...

I have an artist friend who had a realization in one of my workshops that many people she had known for years had no idea she was an artist. For reasons unknown, she never revealed her creative work to people, even those in some of her closest circles. And her chief concern about being an artist was that people weren't buying her art. People won't buy what they don't know about. Another friend has...

Early in her mortgage business career, a co-worker suggested that Roberta Ravella was well suited for sales. Over the next twenty years, Roberta discovered ways of marketing and selling that were aligned with her own personality, skills, and values instead of the traditional methods that were being taught. In 2019, Roberta stepped into the role of coach and trainer, showing realtors how to discove...

Willpower has always been an interesting phenomenon for me. Mainly because mine seems low. Most of the time. Some close to me know I can be very stubborn but when it comes to setting goals that motivate me and that have any real drive attached to them, I don't have much. While I can't say that willpower is something I have a lot of, I do have a deep appreciation for my will, and I see it as a diff...

Hi All! For the Coffee Break today, I'm featuring this live stream I did with my friend, Jess Kotzer from SelfPubHub. We had a fun chat about some creative possibilities for authors in podcasting. You should be following her channel! https://www.youtube.com/user/youngyessington I'll be back with another Coffee Break tomorrow. See you then! Jess writes: We've only just begun to learn how podcasting...

Good morning on July 5th, where the neighborhood fireworks ended around midnight and the birds started chirping a little before 4 AM and the dog started sighing in my ear and the neighbors started lighting fireworks at 8 AM and I can hear my wife on her phone call from the other room. Such is life. Today I have to cultivate my own solitude and find some inner quiet in spite of my surroundings. In...

Today I'm thinking about all the personal Independence Days I can celebrate - the days when I declared my freedom and autonomy and vowed to call my own shots. The day I left my last full-time job and a few part-time jobs, too. The day a relationship ended and I was given a sense of relief and freedom that had been missing for a while. The day I finally stopped grieving the loss of a person or rela...

Continuing the theme from yesterday about hearing different things from different teachers, this morning I was struck by the number of people I know who actually followed their young dreams through to actualize them. It isn't a large number. Most of the people I know, like me, have figured out ways to bloom where they've been planted, learning as they go. You'll hear so many things you should do t...

The family road trip to Boulder today with our son at the wheel became fodder for tonight's Coffee Break.  It's interesting to me how many times I've fallen for the fallacy that there is only one right way to do things. Seems this is a common one for other people in my circles, too. I noticed today that there were two teachers in the car and growing frustration on the part of the driver at ha...

Here's July 1st and it's time to look back on the year so far and see what's been happening. Reporting on the video-a-day commitment, the production/consumption ratio, the lessons learned so far, and the things I've done to stay sane. Also included is the encouragement to do the best you can with what you've got for even a few minutes every day. Build a body of work that will make a positive diffe...

I signed up to pitch at One-Million Cups in Fort Collins this morning. I decided to share my pitch with you here on the Coffee Break. 1MC is one of my favorite networking organizations. If you have one where you are you should check it out. If you can't find one, see if you can jump into one of the Zoom meetings that are still happening. My pitch is all about creating a leave-behind that people wi...

I haven't always been good at asking for help, and it's still often the last resort because I like the feeling that goes with figuring things out for myself.  That all started to change back when I was going through the illness that sidelined my music career and opened my eyes to possibilities I otherwise wouldn't consider. Asking for help became more of a necessity during those years than a...

Working on course videos for my wife this weekend was a great reminder of what a star I'm sharing life with. She's an exceptional teacher and deserves a much wider path of influence, even though she's already created a very positive name for herself. Visit https://simplybeingwell.com and see what I'm saying. I've also been working on a Quiz Quick Start mini-course to highlight Interact Quiz Maker...

A lost afternoon at a trout pond with a five-year-old is the inspiration for today's Coffee Break. If we're making money by selling anything, one of the questions we have to ask is whether there is a demand for it. I work with some artists who don't believe there is a demand for things like art, but I challenge them to find a building in the world that doesn't have some kind of creative something...

Several recent conversations about concerns over inflation and the economy are the inspiration for today's Coffee Break. As purse strings tighten, and people start to curb their spending, what can small businesses, freelancers, and artists do to weather the changes? An interesting observation from past recessions suggests that people who cater to higher-income earners tend to not be as negatively...

Finding a way to leave a situation that is unbearable can be terrifying. When Jesse Panama found himself in the middle of a job he dreaded and with no known prospects, he yearned for a blueprint that would help him find the life he wanted. That was the beginning of a search that has paid off in extraordinary ways. Jesse found his way into the world of digital marketing largely by accident. In 1998...

We've been having a lot of conversations in our house about how devices like smartphones and computers promise connection, but actually deliver isolation. Isn't that the case with anything we can become addicted to?  And then there are times when we place devices between ourselves and others in what seems to be a positive light, like as a way to take notes or to feel more engaged in a convers...