The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Business

"It takes a Village!"  This is a phrase that we have all heard of but is it something that we believe and embody?  73% of the workforce are taking care of someone else whether it's being a parent or caring for aging parents and everything in between.  So what are employers doing to support this large part of their team?  What would help?  This is the very question that guest Claudia Naim-Burt aske...

Mental Health was really thrust into the spotlight during the Covid-19 Pandemic and the effects of which are still being felt many years later.  With host Catryn Becker, listen in as Clinical Psychologist Dr. Brianna Gaynor shares her insights on mental health across a wide variety of applications: online bullying, starting a business, fostering a positive work environment, and creating your suppo...

Can you really balance life and work?  What does it mean to have a work / life balance?  Guest Leo Simpson II has a great take on work / life balance and how we can reframe our thinking around family life and business life and how to create mastery in each area.   Connect with Catryn Becker Website: www.optimizewe.com Email: Catryn@OptimizeWe.com LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/catrynbecker...

We have all heard the old sales tactic of "this product is so great it practically sells itself!" but what happens when the product doesn't do that?  What if the product is even described by some as 'disgusting'?  Seems unsellable right?  Well not for guest Cathy Nesbit!  Cathy has made a name for herself in vermiculture, aka composting with WORMS!  And she has been doing it successfully for the l...

Toxic Masculinity.  Mansplaining.  Unconscious Bias.   Whatever you call it, the vast majority of women have experienced it in some form or another.   For guest, Jessie Easley, it was too much.  Listen in to her story of finding the strength to stand up for herself and unleash her inner confidence. Connect with Catryn Becker Website: www.optimizewe.com Email: Catryn@OptimizeWe.com LinkedIn:  https...

"Travel is such a person experience" according to guest Ruksana Hussain, an award winning travel journalist.  In addition to chatting about the amazing power of travel and curating bespoke experiences, Ruksana and host Catryn Becker talk about what it is like to be solopreneur and how Ruksana would have made different choices.  We also look deeper about the challenges Ruksana faced as an Indian im...

Money can be a big barrier to starting a business and when you get it, it can also hamstring you in ways you can't even imagine.  So what is more important to have when starting a business if not money?  According to guest Chris Joyce, the answer is passion and time!  That is why he created Gusher - a platform to help you get that next big idea off the ground.  Listen in as Chris and host Catryn B...

"Every day that you don't go for it, you are losing time."  Wise words from a man that went from industrial product salesman to YouTube sensation by creating the kid friendly content that he wished to see for his kids.  Host Catryn Becker sits down with John Havard, better known as Cowboy Jack, to uncover how the unlikely journey began and what John has learned along the way.  If you have ever had...

"Public Relations is the motherload of all marketing because it is all about relationship building" according to guest Renee Warren.  And she knows what she is talking about with over 22 years as an entrepreneur in the space, founder of a global PR agency, and booking over a thousand media and blog appearances.  Host Catryn Becker and Renee go deep on what it means to have a personal brand, tips o...

There is more that unites us than divides us.  At least, that is what guest Rick DellaRatta believes.  Rick is an accomplished jazz musician who has worked tirelessly to reach for peace and teach business owners how to fundraise all with the intention of creating a better world.    Connect with Catryn Becker Website: www.optimizewe.com Email: Catryn@OptimizeWe.com LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.c...

Would you want to live in a world with no cell phones?  What about your computer?  Maybe, you think, you could live without them.  But what about pharmaceuticals and medical devices like aspirin and heart valves?  Those would literally be hard to live without.  The truth is that there are over 6,000 everyday products that are derived from oil and natural gas.  In this episode, host Catryn Becker c...

Have you ever been laid off?  It can be a really awful experience, filled with shame, but imagine being fired when you are 8-months pregnant?!?!  That is exactly what guest Lauren Kwedar Cockerell experienced but instead of letting it bring her down, she used it as a springboard to create her own Public Relations (PR) and Marketing Agency in Fort Worth, Texas. Connect with Lauren Cockerell www. Kw...

Get ready to be inspired by Melissa Ricker's incredible journey from a nuclear engineer to a successful online business owner, as she shares the pivotal moments that led her to the prestigious Two-Comma Club through ClickFunnels and Russell Brunson. Learn how she embraced persistence and mastery to conquer obstacles, find success, and scale her business using powerful funnels, automation, and AI. ...

Do you know how many companies reach $1 Billion???  It is less than 0.02%.  Why is that?  Most business owners would love to reach that number yet so few do.  Enter Adam E. Coffey, the CEO Whisperer.  With over $2.64 Billion in exits, the man has walked the walk and with his latest book, Empire Builder, he can also talk the talk.  This book is a cliffs note version of Adam's 35 years experience th...

America is a patchwork of cultures and nationalities, of immigrants seeking a better life.  Guest Mike Nguyen is a first generation American whose life has been shaped by the experiences of his parents and  ancestors from Vietnam.  Today Mike is the executive director of a non-profit in Houston, Texas created by his father called VN Teamwork, which provides outreach education, social services, and...

Cancer is awful and negatively affects everyone it touches.  One group particularly affect are children whose parents have cancer.  In this episode, host Catryn Becker speaks with non-profit Executive Director Alicia Kabir about her organization Kesem which offers camps to support those children.  Additionally, Catryn and Alicia discuss some of the business challenges that come with running a non-...

Have you ever met someone who just bubbles over with enthusiasm and zest for life? If you haven't yet, get ready - you are about to!  Roland "Gib" Stewart has done so much during his 76 years that he shares with host Catryn Becker in this episode.  He touches on his time in the army to be being a young married couple to his health scares all on his quest for success.   About Gib Stewart Roland (Gi...

Do you like hearing the word "No"?  Particularly in the context of getting new business?  Very few of us have the mental and emotional resiliency to hear no over and over without giving up but it is a crucial step to master when climbing the ladder of success.  No is a word that guest Roy Lynam has become comfortable with in his dual career as an actor and realtor.  Listen in as Roy and host Catry...

Do you have a fear of public speaking?  If so, you are in good company because 3 out of 4 people experience anxiety or fear to some degree from the thought of speaking in front of a crowd.  But like many fears in life, there are people and tools that can help you to overcome those fears.  Guest Dayna Kneeland shares with host Catryn Becker how she overcame her own bout with stage fright and uses t...

Would you be able to starting a company in an industry that you nothing about in a country where you don't speak the language?  For most of us, this is a nonstarter but not for guest Luciana Passeri.  She shares with host Catryn Becker her journey to do exactly that when she founded slow fashion company Passeri Footwear which encourages its customers to "Step into your power & come walk with us" J...

Do you live full out?  Do you know what it truly means to be authentic?  For most of us, there is safety in blending in to the crowd but not for this episode's guest.  Jaymes Buckman is the lead singer and front-man for rock band Hot Apollo lives full out as one of the most authentic and unique person I have ever met.   In addition, we discuss how being in a band is like working for a corporation...

"You can't skip the things that don't work" - wise words from author and creativity coach Eric Maisel. In this episode, Eric and host Catryn Becker discuss the idea of creativity and the differing needs of the creative mind as well as heavy subjects such as bullying in the home.   You definitely want to listen to this episode!   ABOUT ERIC MAISEL Eric Maisel is the author of 50+ books. His recent...

When you think of sales, what comes to mind?  For many of us, it is the image of the sleezy used car salesman.  But why is that?  In truth, most of us are selling something all the time.  Sales are really what makes the world go round yet the profession can really get a bad rap!  Listen in to this episode as guest Steve Gavatorta and host Catryn Becker discuss all kinds of selling but maybe the mo...

Should the "hospitality industry" only apply to bars, restaurants, and hotels?  Hospitality is defined as "the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers" so why do we only think about it for one sliver of business and not every aspect?  Author Neil Rogers believes that everything he learned about business and sales he first learned from behind the bar, so...

Do you love tacos??  Of course you do!  Everyone loves tacos and for Wing Lam, co-founder of restaurant chain Wahoo's Fish Tacos, he was able to take his love of tacos, surfing, and people to create a completely fulfilling life! First opening in Costa Mesa, CA in 1988, Wahoo's is celebrating 35 years of their tasty Asian fusion fresh fish taco.  Listen in to learn how Wing and his two brothers wer...