The Authority Builder Podcast

When you talk to people, it’s not just the words that matter, says Arthur Joseph. How you say something is just as important - if not more. Arthur teaches this Vocal Awareness through his Institute of the same name. Communication is part of everyone’s business – and life. So you’ll want to pay attention to what Arthur has to say about how to create belief, trust, engagement, and more just by chang...

What makes for a successful business? Coach, author, and speaker Jennifer Dawn says too many entrepreneurs need to change their idea of what success really means, as well as the mindset and practical strategies they’ll use to achieve it. Jennifer has built two multimillion-dollar companies (with a third on the way) and even had tremendous success in a corporate position (although the experience st...

With 400 employees spread across dozens of locations, Robert Hartline has spent a lot of time thinking about how to communicate his vision to his team… and have them communicate effectively with each other. Robert, a serial entrepreneur who splits his time between Nashville and Costa Rica, has ditched email for the most part… he hates phone calls. And now company-wide they’re using an app that all...

Jay Lucas’s positivity is infectious. It’s no surprise, he says that the root of success is how you view the world. We explore ways to stay optimistic even when faced with even the most difficult situations. Jay has used his philosophy to excel in government and business, including his work today with the Lucas Group, which works with private equity investors to grow companies. But advising and bu...

These days it’s common for businesses to have “virtual” teams spread across the country… even the world. But when Tina Forsyth coined the term online business manager back in 2008 and wrote her first book on the topic, she was a pioneer in the outsourcing space. She continues to innovate, helping business owners find the right people they need to run and grow their business. We talk about how to f...

Mike McDerment didn’t know much about accounting – the nitty-gritty stuff, at least – when he started FreshBooks out of his parents’ basement. He feels that his “inexperience” was an asset as he grew the business. It also inspired his strong views about how professional service providers should be billing for their work. Too many, says Mike, take an approach that leaves clients unhappy and the pro...

Jesse Cole’s motto is “Normal gets normal results.” As the owner of a minor league baseball team, he does what he has to to get butts in the seats for games… leading to record-setting attendance (and revenues) that has garnered national media attention. And, along the way, he’s discovered a way to create amazing experiences that turn customers into raving fans… and evangelists that become your bes...

Word of mouth can be responsible, at least in part, for 50% to 91% of your sales, depending on your industry. But, says Jay Baer, are you under the mistaken impression that word of mouth is something that just happens? Jay, digital marketing pioneer and co-author of the new book Talk Triggers, shares techniques for ensuring that word of mouth happens “on purpose” and has a measurable and major imp...

You don’t have to sacrifice money to be fulfilled and make a positive impact in the world, says JV Crum, III, bestselling author, podcaster, and founder of Conscious Millionaire. JV specializes in helping business owners go from six figures to seven figures. It’s not about working more… or taking on more clients. It takes a personal transformation and also requires a whole new way of providing you...

Kim Butler, co-founder of the Economics Prosperity Movement, is passionate about helping people keep their finances as efficient as possible and spot opportunities to grow their wealth. Often that means taking an unorthodox approach to investing and financial planning…and going against what mainstream financial advisors will tell you to do with your money. So if you take your money out of the stoc...

You became an entrepreneur to achieve financial freedom. But, says CPA and financial advisor Maddie Brown, too many business people have a mindset about money that ensures that will never happen. If you neglect your financial records. If you’re not sure how – or how much – money flows from customers to your pocket. If you blame the economy or other “outside forces” for problems. If you’re always o...

When you’re struggling in business, whether you’re having trouble getting started or you’ve plateaued, the tendency is to blame yourself. But that way of thinking could be the root of the problem, says business transformation expert Nina Cooke. Until she adopted the right mindset, Nina struggled in her corporate career and as an entrepreneur – even though outwardly she had “made it.” She reveals t...

You start a business… you run it successfully for decades. But, asks Molly Grubb, what’s your exit strategy? The nightmare scenario – you get to the end and don’t have a sellable business or one you can pass on to the next generation. Molly helps people avoid that situation. Try this exercise: If you took a two-week vacation with no contact with your business… what would happen? If the prospect ha...

You have goals for your business (hopefully). A good first step. Let’s kick it up a notch, says Scott Beebe, and create your vision. It’s the only way to get what you really want out of your business and your life. Scott, founder of My Business on Purpose, outlines seven things that you must consider when putting together your vision. All these elements work together to create a plan for you to fo...

It’s clear that if you’re marketing products or services online (and who isn’t these days), video has to be part of your strategy, says Jason Hsiao, co-founder of Animoto, an intuitive video creation platform. And here’s why… Market watcher Tubular Insights has found that 64% of consumers make a purchase after watching a branded video. And 51% of marketers surveyed by Insivia say video is the cont...

In all of our work with clients, there’s a theme… And I believe it extends to virtually all businesses… The theme? That you’re sitting on, and ignoring a valuable asset in your business. Your existing database of prospects. The story of leads generated, then forgotten is an epic tale of missed opportunity and lost profit in business. Why? Because it’s damn hard to follow-up consistently. In fact,...

This is Part 2 of our podcast series on escaping obscurity. Today, I share the 3 secrets to creating momentum in business development. Most people look around and see the “overnight” successes that are popular in the business press and on the web, and think that’s normal. The truth is that there is no such thing as an overnight  enduring  success. All enduring successes in business have a foundati...

Why “obscurity” is the real enemy in business An old friend once told me there are two types of prospects… The ones you know, and… The ones you don’t know. While that’s trite and true, I think it’s better said this way… There are prospects that know you, what you do, and when to call you… And ones that don’t know you exist. The fundamental problem in business is figuring out how to move people fro...

Whether you’re in startup mode or trying to get to the next level, personal and business finance expert Jordan Goodman has some solid advice what to do and what *never* to do with your money. There are some funding sources out there that would have been unheard of just a few years ago, including some that you *must* stay away from. It might surprise you to learn you can also contact creditors, ask...

Too many professional service providers feel uncomfortable selling, says Brian Greenberg. But you can be a trusted advisor and do right by your clients – and still market yourself effectively. For Brian, that means selling without selling. We unpack what exactly that means and how to do it so you land more new customers and make more money while marketing more efficiently (that means you get to fo...

You might love your business, says Todd Palmer, but it doesn’t always love you back. Todd, an entrepreneur and business coach, says that it’s what you do when faced with tough times that counts. First, you have to come to grips with a mental block most entrepreneurs have. Second, you can’t be afraid to get help (from the right people and in the right way). Todd almost lost his business about 10 ye...

For many professional service providers the decision to “specialize” brings fear of shutting out potential clients. It’s actually the opposite, says author and positioning expert Philip Morgan. When you narrow your focus previously hidden profitable opportunities seem to come out nowhere. Of course, how you go about specializing and the niche you pick have a lot to do with it. Philip highlights so...

Sixty to 80 hour workweeks… no freedom… scrambling for every dollar. Like many business owners, Paul Maskill found himself working too hard for too little return, financial or personal. Then he made key changes in how he ran his business so he could reduce his workload, boost profits, and live the true dream of an entrepreneur. These days, Paul coaches other entrepreneurs to escape the grind by ma...

You have a potential product… service… or tool. Or even just an idea. Gavin Zuchlinski, founder of Acuity Scheduling, says that you shouldn’t try to develop it on your own. He knows you have a resource right under your nose that’ll help you create a winning – and profitable – concept. The lessons Gavin learned when creating his scheduling software apply to every industry, in every niche. He also h...

As an entrepreneur, you can feel pretty lonely. But you don’t have to face your business challenges alone, says strategic consultant Pam Wasley. She highlights a specific type of networking you can use to identify the real issues you’re facing and figure out how to overcome them. Pam also talks about a little-known sector of the gig economy that can help struggling companies boost profits and stay...