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Listen to these two tracks of booster content just for ambitious small business leaders. Today on Track 1, I'd like to share with you how to win the battle between short-term satisfaction and long-term goals, excerpted from my friend Barry Moltz's terrific book, Change Masters. This is Track 2, where I want you to offer you an insight into my own change process. Track 1 385: Start by cultivating a change culture with guest expert Barry Moltz These distinctions can help you get out of a stuck state with your own work or they might be useful when meeting with a direct report or colleague. Promotion vs. PreventionAutonomy vs. NonatutonomyMastery vs. PerformanceWhat we want to do vs. What we are supposed to do Track 2 I want you to offer you an insight into my own change process. The most common obstacle to change occurs when I don't make a clear commitment. Commitments are decisions, and decisions have consequences.The next most common hurdle to my own personal change is when I neglect to connect my why.The third biggest obstacle to change is when I fail to set my environment up for success. That might include a daily tracking system, adding reminders on my iPhone calendar, or making sure I have the resources needed to make the change easy and automatic, as James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, instructs. Visit AskBillRingle.com and book a call if I can be of help in getting you on track with your commitments.

Chandler Bolt, author of Published: The Proven Path From Blank Page To 10,000 Copies Sold Bill Ringle and Chandler Bolt discuss the top obstacles and paths to becoming a published author based on 6,000 success stories at SelfPublishingSchool.com for ambitious SMB leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways Push hard for your dreams, and even harder when people tell you that you can't make it. Do not wait for the perfect time to write a book. Write now or you might write never. Push yourself and test whether something is possible or not. Read the Show Notes from this Episode His brother Seth, who plays bass in Grammy-nominated rock band NEEDTOBREATHE, inspired Chandler to reach hard for his dreams even when people tell him it's impossible. [01:13]A New York Times article quoted a survey that found that 81% of people want to write a book, but only 1% actually do. Chandler details why for some people, someday becomes never. [03:07]Chandler gives expert advice on overcoming internal conflicts that prevent writers from getting through their first drafts. [04:42]Here are the four most common reasons why people write books: Passion, shared experience, becoming a full-time author, and growing your business. [06:38]Debunking the myth that if we share our experience and knowledge in writing, people won't need us anymore and why generosity is the key to business growth and longevity. [07:59]When his first self-published book didn't exactly rake in the success and the money he expected, Chandler's manager introduced him to SAM. Every self-published author needs to know what SAM represents.[10:38]Chandler talks about copy writing was pivotal for him when he released his first book and had $15,000 in credit card debt. [12:43]Why we need to approach our marketing like a Toyota Camry, not like a Lamborghini. [14:51]The Amazon algorithm and a series of steps to use "Amazon juice" to get your book more readers and recommendations. [21:06]My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [24:44] Expert Bio With us today is Chandler Bolt, the author of Published, The Proven Path From Blank Page To 10,000 Copies Sold. As a seven-time bestselling author and CEO of Self-Publishing School and selfpublishing.com, Chandler knows exactly how instrumental writing books can be in sharing your message and even growing and scaling your business. His message is that you can't wait for the “perfect time” in life to get writing, the perfect time to get writing is now. Contact Info and Social Media for Chandler Bolt Primary website Travels from: Fort Myers, FL Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further. Tony RobbinsOprahGrammysThink You Have a Book in You? Think Again by Joseph Epstein in the New York TimesNEEDTOBREATHEMichael Hyatt80/20 Sales and Marketing: The Definitive Guide to Working Less and Making More by Perry Marshall Published by Chandler Bolt

Scott Jeffrey Miller, author of Master Mentors Volume 2: 30 Transformative Insights from Our Greatest Minds Bill Ringle and Scott Jeffrey Miller discuss the importance of being clear and explicit with your intent in all communications for small business leaders because in the absence of details, people make up stories and those stories can become a(nother) mess. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways We can't have a work-life balance every day. There are busy seasons and seasons of relaxation. You don't have to meet someone in person to make them your mentor. It could be anyone who is wise or experienced that you can learn from. A mentor doesn't need to be someone perfect or someone who is always successful. A mentor can also be someone who failed because we can learn from their failures so we won't fall into the same traps they fell into. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Two quotes that guide Scott: Life happens for you, not to you. Live life through the lens of "I get to..." rather than I have to our I ought to do something. [01:38]Highlights from the Miller family's Italian holiday. [04:41]Work-life balance advice given to him by The Biggest Loser fitness coach Jillian Michaels. [07:03]What does it take to be a 'Master Mentor'? [08:41]Scott gives further emphasis on the concept 'vulnerability is leadership competency.' [14:59]Master Mentors contains Hidden Stories that readers can watch by scanning the QR codes at the end of the chapters. One from Chapter featuring Leena Rinne is discussed for its powerful impact. [16:20]Another hidden gem accessible by QR in his book is the funny story of Ed Mylett, one of the top business leaders and performance experts, and the Mercedes kit car he purchased. [20:11]My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [27: 22] Expert Bio Recruited by Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s team, Scott built a 26-year career in the world’s most respected and influential leadership development firm, serving nearly every role imaginable. From a front-line salesperson to project manager, sales leader, general manager, vice president, chief marketing officer to executive vice president of thought leadership. Scott’s professional roles evolved as he became a multi-bestselling author, radio and podcast host, leadership coach, columnist, and global keynote speaker. He continues to consult with FranklinCovey and is proud to continue their collaboration as he expands his influence through new books, speeches, and coaching offerings. Scott currently serves as the Special Advisor on Thought Leadership for the Franklin Covey Company and hosts their weekly podcast series, On Leadership, with Scott Miller.  Contact Info and Social Media for Jeffrey Scott Miller Primary website Travels from: Salt Lake City, Utah Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook Check out Scott's podcasts! FranklinCovey On Leadership with Scott MillerC-Suite Conversations with Scott Miller Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources we discussed so that you can explore further. My Quest for the Best Interview: 410: From Management Mess to Leadership Success with guest expert Scott Jeffrey Miller Listen to more inputs from Scott Miller on On Leadership Podcast. Bonus Content! Master Mentors Vol 2 Hidden Story: Leena Rinne Additional Resources: Get Out of Your Own Way: A Skeptic's Guide to Gro...

Listen to these two tracks of booster content just for ambitious small business leaders. Today on Track 1, I'd like to share with you a mini case study of how Starbucks is persuasive by design, from my friend Brian Ahern's book, Influence People.  This is Track 2, where I want you to offer you a framework for increasing your follow-through to commitments based on the acronym PAVE, as in pave the way for success.  Track 1 384: Influence accelerates the quality of your business relationships with guest expert Brian Ahearn Smooth jazz is playing as the barista and staff hustle behind the counter, helping a diverse group of people who pop in and out for their daily caffeine fix. With the smells of roasted coffee beans in the air, all the senses are engaged when you visit Starbucks. Add to that the huge selection of great drinks, and you have a winner when it comes to product and service. Here are a handful of reasons why Starbucks is so persuasive. They create an experience when you walk into a store.The Baristas and others who work at Starbucks really seem to enjoy their jobs.Something that stands out about Starbucks is how easily recognizable Starbucks cups are.The Starbucks App.Starbucks makes paying easy. Track 2 With the PAVE framework, you want to get clear on a commitment and then: Make it Public with at least one other person. Take Action to build momentum. Treat it as Voluntary, not as compulsory, so you own it.Put in Effort because the rewards you get out are proportional to the effort you invest. Visit AskBillRingle.com and book a call if I can be of help in getting you on track with your commitments.

Brian Ahearn, author of Influence PEOPLE: Powerful Everyday Opportunities to Persuade that are Lasting and Ethical Bill Ringle and Brian Ahern discuss improving your ability to influence others ethically as a small business leader. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways Our mission statement defines our goals and creates a clearer view of our desired results in business and life.When we help others, building authentic relationships is not about us; it is about them. It is about knowing them, and connecting with them as people, not just prospects.Influencing others would be impossible if you can't even persuade yourself. Read the Show Notes from this Episode “Luck was where preparation met opportunity,” a piece of advice by Brian's high school football coach, resonated with him. [01:44] Brian shares his career in the insurance agency and his transition to leading his speaking and training company, and landing his first client, Al. [03:07] The benefits of creating and using a personal mission statement. [06:09] How our mission statement correlates with our effectiveness in serving others in a way that serves both them and us? [08:26] How ‘the liking principle is often the first step of ethical persuasion. [13:28] The second principle of ethical persuasion: is unity and how it has even more impact than liking. [18:18] In the book, Influence People, learning from the protagonist, John, shows how reaching out to someone we are deeply connected to is not just helping them; it also feels like we are helping ourselves. [20:17] My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [24:05] The principle of authority is the third principle of ethical persuasion. Brian elaborates on the importance of building our reputation in our field. [28:30] Expert Bio Brian Ahearn is a dynamic international keynote speaker, author, coach, and consultant. He specializes in applying the science of influence in everyday situations. He is one of only a dozen individuals in the world who currently holds the Cialdini Method Certified Trainer® (CMCT) designation and one of just a handful to have earned the Cialdini Persuasion Trainer (CPT) designation. These specializations in the psychology of persuasion were earned directly from Robert Cialdini, Ph.D., the most cited living social psychologist in the world on the science of ethical influence. Brian is also a Competent Toastmaster and a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter. A cum laude graduate of Miami University, Brian has been in the business arena for more than 30 years and training people for over two decades.  Named one of the Top 100 Influencers of 2016 by the Science of Digital Marketing, Brian’s blog has readers in 200 countries and was one of the Top 30 Psychology Blogs of 2012 according to the Online Psychology Degree Guide. Brian’s first book – Influence PEOPLE: Powerful Everyday Opportunities to Persuade that are Lasting and Ethical – came out in August 2019 and quickly reached Amazon's best-seller status in several categories. It was also named one of the Top 100 Influence Books of All Time by BookAuthority. His second book, Persuasive Selling for Relationship Driven Insurance Agents, was an Amazon new release bestseller in several categories. Contact Info and Social Media for Brian Ahearn Primary website Travels from: Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

Listen to these two tracks of booster content just for ambitious small business leaders. Track 1: A the behind-the-scenes look at the work that The Richardson Group (TRG), Chick-fil-A's marketing agency, did to produce an outstanding tagline. Track 2: Here is how to make your interactions with clients more positively memorable by responding better to the expression of appreciation. Track 1 383: Resolving conflict is a critical skill for workplace relationships with guest expert Dr. Paul White Maybe we're making a joke at someone else's expense and thinking incorrectly that they'll laugh along. Maybe you've been puzzled by a key team member who resists taking an assignment — others know that he is leaving for another company and hasn't told you yet. Maybe you've left someone out of an announcement unintentionally because you were in a rush and didn't review before pressing send.   That's where the apology languages come in! Expressing regret ("I'm sorry.")Accepting responsibility (I was wrong.)Accepting restitution (What can I do to make it right?)Planned change (I'll take specific steps to prevent a recurrence.)Requesting forgiveness (Will you please forgive me?) Track 2 Here are three common business missteps that lead to deflating your API: intent, motive, and value.Listen to these instances to help you find examples from your own experiences. Misperceiving Intent – where you choose to think someone is not well-intentioned.Many years ago, a friend of mine asked a few of us to share which gemstone we thought was prettiest to help him in designing a ring for his SO. Afterward, a colleague confided in me with some bitterness in her voice: "I didn't like that he asked my opinion about his stinking gems – he did that to rub my nose in the fact that no one ever did that for me."  Misperceiving Motive – where you choose to assign a negative rather than positive motive to a colleague's actions or decisions. Bruce is gregariously vocal and outgoing, and at a poolside party, called everyone together to sing happy birthday when he found out that it was a colleague's birthday. She cried afterward because she thought he was being mean when he was just being himself and amplifying what he thought was a happy occasion.  Misinterpreting Value – where you devalue someone's contributions, usually in comparison to your own, instead of accepting independently. As a board member, I remember resenting one colleague who always asked for issues that were covered in the advanced materials to be explained during the sessions.

Liz Kelly, author of 8-Second PR - New Public Relations Crash Course (2nd Edition, 2022) Bill Ringle and Liz Kelly discuss how to refine your story and your message to the elements that will get the greatest response from the media to promote your book, product, or cause for small business leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways To be successful in your message, remember to not make it all about you. For anyone who wants to be a guest on TV shows and podcasts, start with smaller shows first to gain more experience, growing your qualification and reputation as a guest people want to have in their shows. Impart to your audience the richness you have inside and allow them to relate to you. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Liz talks about what it's like growing up with a really great mother, who happens to be her biggest influence. [01:38]From writing her dating book to being the go-to person for PR, Liz talks about why she decided to serve others. [03:48]A great tip to people who want to write a book or start a business: It's not all about you. [06:04]To find your media gold, Liz gives strong emphasis on not holding back when working with a publicist. [10:00]Josh is a CEO who runs an addiction center for veterans. Josh's media gold is his own humbling experience his clients and a lot of people who are struggling with addiction can relate to and he shares it in a funny, humbling, and very inspiring way. [11:13]Bing on a big TV show like Oprah or a podcast like Tim Ferris is not the first step. [14:33]Michelle is a client of Liz's who is a natural spokesperson. Liz talks about what makes someone an ideal guest. [16:35]Rick is another great client of Liz who knows how to draw people in. Because of this, he is always invited back to be a guest. [21:33]My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [24:45] Expert Bio Liz H. Kelly (Santa Monica, CA) is Goody PR Founder, Award-Winning Author of “8-Second PR”, Podcast Host (8-Second Branding) and Goody Business Book Awards Founder. Based on 15+ years of public relations and marketing experience, Kelly is passionate about magnifying brands and experts through timely marketing and public relations campaigns. After working as an executive at Paramount Pictures, MySpace, Sprint PCS, and LA startups, Kelly decided to start Goody PR. While booking 500+ TV, print, radio and podcast media interviews for her first book (“Smart Man Hunting”) over 5 years, Kelly fell in love with the art of brand storytelling and creating timely media hooks. Her work has been featured on CNN, ABC News, FOX News, USA TODAY, The Chicago Tribune, Thrive Global, Buzzfeed, KTLA, KCBS, BBC Radio, NPR and many more. She has booked clients on the TODAY Show, PBS, CNN, FOX Business, BBC World News, NPR, and in TIME, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and thousands of media outlets. As fun facts, Kelly is a Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business alumni from Baltimore, Maryland, loves photography, has been a red carpet reporter at Oscar events, Sundance, Comic-Con, and more with several videos with 1+ million views, and is an autism advocate. Contact Info and Social Media for Liz Kelly Primary website Travels from: Santa Monica, California Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes,

Listen to these two tracks of booster content just for ambitious small business leaders. Track 1: A the behind-the-scenes look at the work that The Richardson Group (TRG), Chick-fil-A's marketing agency, did to produce an outstanding tagline. Track 2: Here is how to make your interactions with clients more positively memorable by responding better to the expression of appreciation. Track 1 382: Brands fail when they do not listen to the customer enough with guest expert Steve Robinson A lot of work goes into it. As you'll understand, even in this very condensed version, that'll be excerpting from Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A by the company's first chief marketing officer, Steve Robinson, you'll get some great value from it. In the case of Chick-fil-A, a perspective client they were looking for a single idea around which to build a campaign. The most persuasive idea has 5 points. It capitalizes on the one advantage that no competitor can.It matches the brand's character and culture.It's unique.It's endearing.It's memorable. Track 2 So how do you make this a positive interaction that adds to the business relationship?Contrast asking for a water bottle at the front desk at a 3-star vs a 5-star hotel and you'll understand the difference high standards and excellent training makes. At a 3-star hotel, I might not even see someone behind the desk. The last time I asked while traveling to a client's office and receiving a complimentary water bottle, I said, "thank you so much!" and got a shrug and an "OK" as a reply. Both the interaction and the water bottle were lukewarm, and that experience dampened my relationship with the hotel — not just the individual, but with the brand. At a 5-star hotel, everything about that same interaction has a different feel. I remember being in the DC Ritz Carlton and asking for a water bottle at the front desk on the way out to a morning walk. Three people were staffing the desk, and the two who weren't helping another guest looked at each and flashed an expression at each other like two ball kids at a professional tennis match who was going to compete to get the stray ball. Justin handed me the chilled water bottle with two hands, smiled, looked me in the eye, and said, "My pleasure."

Byron Morrison, author of The Effective CEO: How to hone your focus, prioritize your time and take control of your CEO role Bill Ringle and Byron Morrison discuss how you as a business leader can avoid becoming the bottleneck in your own business by working on your mindset, emotional control, and performance routines. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways While as leaders, our goal is to lead our organizations to success, we should not neglect essential areas in our personal lives, like our relationships and our health, to keep up our high energy. Our energy directly impacts our performance which directly affects the people we lead. Not prioritizing our personal development tanks our ability to lead. Instead of committing to following a to-do list, we should instead figure out what works best by aligning our energy and our schedule to what's most important. Read the Show Notes from this Episode A unique source of inspiration for Byron when he was growing up is Tome Delonge from Blink 182. [05:52]Byron shares how the artist he looked up to and his band, through their music, influenced his career as a businessman. [02:38]The impact Byron wants to achieve when he wrote The Effective CEO and how it's the other side of his previous book, CEO In Control. [04:29]Byron recalls the day he decided to change as a person, which led to him writing his first bestselling book, Become a Better You, and starting his business. [05:33]Matthew was a client of Byron's who runs a small advertising agency. He was struggling with his team not getting on board and him not knowing how to effectively delegate. [07:33]Why our personal lives should not be brushed off to purely focus on our role as leaders. [09:05]A key principle in Byron's book The Effective CEO is figuring out your energy and how to structure your schedule to align with that. [11:20]Jason is another client of Byron's, running a tech startup in Silicon Valley. Jason loves his to-do lists, not realizing that this practice of checking the boxes is a terrible approach for CEOs. [13:06]How to effectively implement and commit to time blocking and make it a part of your work style. [15:40]My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [24:36] Expert Bio Byron Morrison is the author of the books "The Effective CEO" and "CEO In Control", as well as being a speaker and coach. He helps CEOs take control and become more effective in their role so that they can maximize their time, lead with confidence and grow a business without losing their sanity. Contact Info and Social Media for byron Morrison Primary website Travels from: Warwick, Warwickshire Connect on: LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further. CEO In Control: Stop reacting, get out of your own head, and master the mental game needed to be a highly effective CEO by Byron Morrison Become a Better You: Stop dieting, start living by Byron Morrison Awaken the Giant Within- How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! by Tony Robbins High-Performance Habits- How Extraordinary People Become That Way by Brendon Burchard Published by byron Morrison

Listen to these two tracks of booster content just for ambitious small business leaders. Track 1: I'd like to share with you the keys to The Self Discipline Challenge that Barbara Oakley describes in her book, Learn Like a Pro: Science-based Tools to Become Better at Anything.  Track 2: I want you to offer you the 5 Paperclip Technique for building a stronger environment to support you as you pursue new skills or adapt to new tools. Track 1 Listen to Ep381- Expand your possibiBetter learning is today’s competitive advantage with guest expert Barbara Oakley for even more. A good way to become more disciplined is to take measures that reduce the need for self-discipline in the first place. Here are 5 tips to implement this insight for ambitious SME leaders:  Make tough choices easy.  Change your habits.Identify your obstacles in advance.Remember to recharge.Involve others on your team. Track 2 Once set up, the 5 paperclip technique has 3 steps: Start your day with a pile of 5 paper clips easily within reach on your desk.Whenever you notice that you've slipped away from your goal of using a new tool or spending time on a particular task, reach over and move a paperclip from the supply pile to the used pile and get back on track right away. At the end of the day, record how many paperclips you used to get back on track. Any of us could help get us further along on our journey until a new tool, procedure, or habit becomes automatic. I hope that this technique proves useful for you or someone on your team.  Any of us could help get us further along on our journey until a new tool, procedure, or habit becomes automatic. I hope that this technique proves useful for you or someone on your team.  The work you do matters, and people are lucky to have you as a colleague.

Jonathan Milligan, author of Your Message Matters: How to Rise Above the Noise and Get Paid for What You Know Bill Ringle and Johnathan Milligan discuss what it means to share a message, be a messenger, and find your voice so that you can be paid for your knowledge and expertise for entrepreneurs, experts, and small business leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways There is power in being specific, so create a specific message that is worth sharing and that you can monetize. It is better to narrow it down to a specific audience and provide a specific solution to target a particular problem. It lets our niche know that we are the experts in this subject matter, and the solution we offer is worth more than their money. Find out what kind of messenger you are, if you're a writer, a teacher, a speaker, or a coach. If you know your strength, you can build a business that you love, and that will make you better at serving others. Read the Show Notes from this Episode  As a kid, Jonathan got his first glimpse of how to run a business by observing his grandfather and witnessing how both his customers and employees trust him. [01:05]When the need to handle a delicate matter arose during his teaching career, Jonathan remembered how his grandfather acted when challenges arose and handled the situation in the same calm and caring manner as his grandpa did. [03:02]Know your message, how to be an effective messenger, and create a message that is not only worth sharing but also something you can monetize.[05:21]Bryan was a student of Jonathan's who had a good message, but it was not specific enough for his target audience. Jonathan helps him learn how the more specific a message is, the more powerful it is. [06:57]Jonathan shares his own story of how he succeeded by narrowing down his message to a specific audience. [09:00]His Influencer Voice Assessment breaks down the kinds of messenger roles into four: Writer, teacher, speaker, and coach. [11:46]Martha was a student of his who wanted to start a business that would enable her to use her experience and knowledge as a consultant to help others. However, she does not want to be a coach and fears this is the only way to move forward if she wants to make something of herself. After she took Influencer Voice Assessment, Jonathan was able to help her move forward with a career that not only suits her better but she actually loves. [13:43]Jonathan talks about four keystone habits that make effective messengers: Creating free value, capturing habits, compiling habits, and connecting habits. [17:08]My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [24:34] Expert Bio Jonathan Milligan is an author, blogger, speaker, and online business coach. He has spent the last decade guiding and directing creative professionals on how to pursue meaningful work. Since 2009, Jonathan has run his own portable lifestyle business online. Today he teaches others how to build a business with their passion, story, or message. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with his wife, Charity, and their two kids. Contact Info and Social Media for Jonathan Milligan Primary website Travels from: Jacksonville, FL - Florida Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further.

Steve Wexler, author of The Big Picture: How to use data visualization to make better decisions--faster Bill Ringle and Steve Wexler discuss the approaches and benefits of presenting data as charts, images, and infographics to make better decisions, build consensus, and tell a better story about the results you are producing for small business managers and leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways If we are data literate, we can read data faster, interpret them better, and be quicker in making decisions and providing solutions. The goal of data visualization is to provide the most significant degree of understanding in the least amount of effort. It spares us from cognitive overload because it is easier to understand what we can quickly see.Collaboration is about creating something far more significant than you can make independently. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Steve talks about his fourth-grade teacher, Mario Messi, who developed his love of reading. He is part of Steve's pursuit of data literacy. [01:45]How do the best leaders create the best conditions that allow their people to be their best and perform at their best and make sure to celebrate it. [04:29]Recognizing good work is not about physical rewards, like a plaque, but a genuine understanding of your people's contributions. [05:18]The Big Picture and The Big Book of Dashboards are geared toward data visualization practitioners. Steve talks about his fear in writing about this topic of serving some things that experts may already know about. [06:07]People tend to cling to their old tools, like spreadsheets, even if they are not as effectively reporting data as data visualization. Steve encourages us not to fear being a beginner again and embrace data literacy. [08:19]How to know if you are data literate. [10:16]Why do we see so many bar charts? [11:43]Data visualization versus storytelling: How to go from being just data literate to be able to use data to tell a story or make decisions. [14:27]The four components of setting the stage for effective data visualization: 1. Somebody needs to know the data. 2. somebody has to know the tool. 3. Have stakeholders help steer decision-making. 4. Be able to iterate quickly as you get feedback from others.[16:00]Steve shared his experience as one of the many people making graphs for Seth Godin's upcoming book, The Carbon Almanac. [21:15]Chapter eight of the book talks about Charle Menard's chart, which is considered the Monalisa of data visualization, and the problems that Steve finds in it. [23:25]Collaboration versus compromise. [25:34]My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [29:32] Expert Bio Steve Wexler is the founder of Data Revelations, author of The Big Picture: How to Use Data Visualization to Make Better Decisions—Faster (winner of Data Literacy’s Most Insightful Data Book), and co-author of The Big Book of Dashboards: Visualizing Your Data Using Real-World Business Scenarios. Steve has worked with ADP, Gallup, Johnson & Johnson, Deloitte, ExxonMobil, Convergys, Consumer Reports, The Economist, SurveyMonkey, Con Edison, D&B, Marist, Cornell University, Stanford University, Tradeweb, Tiffany, McKinsey & Company, and many other organizations to help them understand and visualize their data. A Tableau Zen Master (Hall of Fame) and Iron Viz winner, Steve also serves on the advisory board to the Data Visualization Society and is co-host of the popular w...

Anne Janzer, author of Get the Word Out: Write a Book That Makes a Difference Bill Ringle and Anne Janzer discuss the beneficial reasons for writing a book, overcoming common obstacles, and how to maximize a book as part of your business growth strategy for small business leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today's top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways Thought leaders do not put out their ideas to the world for glorification but to serve others. We model the tone and style of our writing to give our audience what they need.Writing for our readers makes us part of a community. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Denise Brosseau's quote on "Thought leaders speak on behalf of others" highly influenced Anne's book. [01:11]Anne Janzer goes more profound on the meaning of 'service authorship.' [02:22]Why writing isn't a solitary activity and how writing for someone else helps authors. [03:22]Sarah was a client of Anne's whom she helped write two books by helping her structure her writing based on who she wanted to serve. [04:43]The 'pond metaphor' and what it teaches us about reaching a bigger audience by starting in a small area. [05:56]Anne talks about 'priming the pump in writing' and how this is helpful to know the kind of voice you need to use to reach your audience.[08:16]Books don't always end up how they're supposed to be. Anne talks about Kathy Capino and how her interaction with people and research changed the texture and nature of her book. [09:20]Steve was another author that Anne worked with. From writing his memoir to writing a business book, Anne helped him shift from having his voice to having the voices of his audience in his new book. [10:18]The six steps of the sprint framework: Start with the easy, prime, relax, incubate, notice, and trust your future self. [11:55]On your buyer's shelf, whose book is yours placed next to? Anne talks about authors being collaborative, not competitive. [21:42] Expert Bio Anne Janzer is an award-winning author, nonfiction writing coach, and unabashed writing geek committed to helping people make a positive impact with their writing. She supports and encourages writers and authors through her books, blog posts, webinars, and teaching.Her writing-related books explore the science and practice of effective writing. Before she started writing books, Anne was a freelance marketing consultant, working with more than a hundred technology businesses to articulate positioning and messaging in crowded markets. She's been writing business emails longer than she cares to admit—and has made all of the mistakes in her latest book, and more, over the years. She wants to save others from the same problems. Contact Info and Social Media for Anne Janzer Primary website Travels from: San Luis Obispo, CA Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites, and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further. My Quest for the Best interviews:192: Understanding Subscription Marketing with guest expert Anne Janzer378: Always review before you click Send with guest expert Anne Janzer Denise Brosseau Books by Kathy Caprino:Breakdown Breakthrough The Most Powerful You Radical Candor Dilbert Cartoon Published by Anne Janzer

Listen to these two tracks of booster content just for ambitious small business leaders. Track 1: I'd like to share a mini-case study that Julie Winkle Giulioni shares in her terrific new book, Promotions are So Yesterday, about Kai and Leland.  Track 2: I want to offer you three key distinctions around micromanaging and micromanaging that participants in this new program, Get Your Year in Gear, have said were very helpful. Track 1 Listen to Ep379 - Expand your possibilities for employee professional development with guest expert Julie Winkle Giulioni, author of Promotions are so Yesterday for even more. Imagine what that would mean to your teammate at your next 1:1 to share what you've noticed and ask if that's something your team member would like your help with. Then you brainstorm a plan to help them, and the intervention works. That would build their confidence, strengthen your work relationship, and make them want to contribute even more to advance your company's goals and objectives.  Track 2 Three key distinctions between micromanaging and macro-managing First of all, think of how micromanaging can sometimes be helpful. When people want to avoid thinking of themselves as micromanagers, they sometimes deflect or defend acknowledgment of that behavior.Micromanagers tend to focus on compliance, whereas macro-managers build commitment. Micromanagers tend to build a hub and spoke workflows, putting themselves at the center of all decision-making. Macro-managers delegate work and decision-making authority once the standards have been established and verified.

Stu Heinecke, author of How to Grow Your Business Like a Weed Bill Ringle and Stu Heinecke discuss growing like a WEED model to grow, conquer, and protect your turf for small business owners. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways from this Interview In a world of stiff competition, we've got to cultivate unfair advantages, or we will perish. If we are optimistic, we do our work with more excitement, effort, determination, and conviction. Feeling depressed will diminish our performance. Scaling is an excellent example of unfair advantage because it goes beyond just you. It involves meaningful relationships with people that can help us advance our business. Read the Show Notes from this Episode 'Deal with what is' is a message that Stu got from the weeds.[00:37] The admirable traits of weeds we can try to emulate. Stu elaborates on what we can learn from them in using the unfair advantage to grow. [03:21] While weeds are often considered a boundless inconvenience, Stu thinks that weeds are conquerors and elaborates further on the formula they follow. [04:46] Stu defines optimism as the absence of depression. He appreciates the weeds' boundless optimism and what this teaches us. [06:25] Stu on why we should think like a weed to grow our business and shares the six attributes that define the weed mindset. [07:06] Scaling your business vs. growing your business. Stu distinguishes how one involves more than yourself. [08:23] The power of operating on a collective scale- is a lesson we can learn from dandelions. Stu shares how he and his Author's Leverage group scale collectively. [09:57] Who is the Chief Weed Officer (CWO)? Why is having a recorded process important? [13:10] Weeds are often treated as pests. But how they grow and, most importantly, thrive inspired great people to use them as metaphors for complimenting growth. [15:21] Why founders are not supposed to be part of the deliverables. [16:50] Expert Bio Dubbed by the American Marketing Association the “Father of Contact Marketing,” STU HEINECKE is a Wall Street Journal cartoonist, hall of fame-nominated marketer and the bestselling author of How to Get a Meeting with Anyone and Get the Meeting! Stu is also the founder of Cartoonists.org, a group of WSJ and New Yorker cartoonists who donate their art to help charities raise funds. Contact Info for Stu Heinecke Primary Website Travels from: Freeland, WA Connect on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Books Authored by Stu Heinecke Resources Mentioned During the Interview My Quest for the Best interview: Using creativity and humor to make contact and build your business with guest expert Stu HeineckeAuthors LeverageDavid PetraeusBarry McCaffrey

Listen to these two tracks of booster content just for ambitious small business leaders. Track 1: I'd like to share with you the specific tips that Anne talks about in her book on how to craft a better subject line. Track 2: I want to offer you a challenge that participants in the Get Your Year in Gear program rave about because it frees their inboxes from clutter and builds stronger systems in their company. Track 1 Anne points out 5 common mistakes that thwart effective email subject lines in work messages: Avoid these email subject mistakes for more effective communications Meaningless subjectsToo much detail Ambiguous emojis Clickbait subject lines Spammy-sounding subject lines Track 2 Instead of going through it step by step, here is the pivot that you can benefit from right now: This exercise is called email triage.  Dedicate 30 minutes, look at the email you've sent -- not received -- and look for patterns and proportions based on these 3 questions. Who are the top 3 people you message? In the last week, what subjects did you write about the most?Which email messages took the most of your time? Effort?  It doesn't take much to cut down on the email you send. for those of you who have jumped to the significant implication, it is far more effective to model the behavior or change you want than to continue to operate the same way and ask others to change. Use this Email Triage challenge to Cut Down the Junk eMail at Work. | Start with yourself and see what a difference it makes.

Melina Palmer, author of What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You: Unlocking Consumer Decisions with the Science of Behavioral Economic Bill Ringle and Melina Palmer discuss how to identify and apply the science underlying the decisions your customers are making each day for small business leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways Execute a successful strategy by leveraging language patterns to influence people to choose you, and feel good about choosing you.Make it easy for your buyers to do business with you, and support them in the process.Know your worth, and do not be afraid to name your price. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Paul McCartney became a legend even if he couldn't read music. This inspired Melina that you don't have to have the skill ready when you want to pursue something. [01:28]Behavioral economics decodes what makes us buy things. [03:49]Language is a very powerful determinant of what we buy or if our products get sold or not. [06:04]Melina discusses the five wording mistakes we need to avoid.[08:08]Why we should not be afraid to say our price. Melina shared a story of one of her clients who were hesitant to name her price but was both shocked and rewarded that the client wanted her most expensive package. [11:56]Milan advises on how to make attractive prices. [13:57]Steve was a client of Melina whom she helped with their company messaging. She helped turn their complicated company statement into a simple question that is easy to understand and gets the customer thinking they need what is offered.[18:08]The elevator experiment shows that nudges or incorporating a bit of friction into an existing process can change behavior.[23:58]Melina recommends these reframes to help nudge people into changing behavior: When vs. if, anyone vs. everyone, and question vs. statement. [25:44]Understanding the brain's rules makes it easier for people to choose you. [27:34]My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [28:23] Expert Bio Melina Palmer is the founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses of all sizes from around the world. Her podcast, The Brainy Business: Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy, has downloads in over 170 countries and is used as a resource for teaching applied behavioral economics for many universities and businesses. Melina obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration: and marketing and worked in corporate marketing and brand strategy for over a decade before earning her master’s in behavioral economics. A proud member of the Global Association of Applied Behavioral Scientists, Melina has contributed research to the Association for Consumer Research, Filene Research Institute, and writes the Behavioral Economics & Business column for Inc Magazine. She teaches applied behavioral economics through the Texas A&M Human Behavior Lab. Her first book, What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You, was published in May 2021 and was a finalist in two categories of the International Book Awards. Her second book, What Your Employees Need and Can’t Tell You, is scheduled for publication in October 2022. Contact Info and Social Media for Melina Palmer Primary Website Travels from: TUMWATER, WA Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites,

Listen to these two tracks of booster content just for ambitious small business leaders. Track 1: I'd like to share a story that Lance tells in his book, The WE Gear, about when he and his friend Richie, as teenagers, convinced a BMW salesman to let them a test drive a high-end sports car.  Track 2: Where I want to share an important distinction that has helped many of my private coaching clients who are also ambitious small business leaders.  Track 1 Track 2 Who do you know at work who would step in to help you in a situation where you were overwhelmed and not at your best?How many of your work colleagues would name you their go-to for this level of support? Here are three tips to help you use confrontation productively and effectively. When you identify an issue that must change, get clear on the specific behavior you want to change. Behavior drives results.Request a short meeting because confrontation is best done privately, not in a hallway or as an add-on to another meeting or call.After you clarify the cause and effect that you want to produce, ask for an agreement. Informing someone can enlarge awareness. Gaining an agreement establishes stakes in the relationship for both of you, even if you don't have a direct reporting relationship.

Nikki Rausch, author of The Selling Staircase: Mastering the Art of Relationship Selling Bill Ringle and Nikki Rausch discuss relationship selling as working with your prospect to solve a problem and not at them to make a sale for small business leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways Selling is not about you; it is about the clients.Offer what the client needs, not what they can afford. Remember, we are not just selling to them; we are providing a solution for their problem.Selling is a process of building trust, creating curiosity, and discovering through conversations. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Nikki recalls working at her grandfather's tool store and how this experience honed her skills in selling. [01:00]Armed with experience and her grandfather's wisdom, Nikki was impressed at her first job, being so natural at selling she got promoted at eighteen. [02:35]Working for Hitachi America, Nikki observed Patrick, a more tenured employee who was not only killing it with sales but was creating customer loyalty. He taught her what it means to 'make it about the customers.' [06:52]Nikki talks about selling as a process: Building trust, creating curiosity, and discovery. [10:03]Selling, according to Nikki, starts at the discovery process because it is in this step where the conversation, virtually or in person, happens. [13:18]Lisa was a client of Nikki's who has her clients ready to take the next step with her. But Lisa was confused with the steps and was taking two steps back. [16:14]How to prospect a client. Nikki likens this to the difference between calling versus calling a dog. [23:34]Nikki talks about The Sales Maven Society and how this group didn't only become a place of learning but a community of people helping each other. [26:32]My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [31:25] Expert Bio CEO of Sales Maven, Nikki Rausch has the unique ability to transform the misunderstood process of “selling”. With 25+ years of selling experience, entrepreneurs and small business owners now hire Nikki to show them how to sell successfully and authentically. Nikki has written 3 books, all available on Amazon and she has a podcast called Sales Maven which you can find on your favorite podcast platform. Contact Info and Social Media for Nikki Rausch Primary website Travels from: Boise, ID Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further. The Sales Maven Podcast The Sales Maven Society Hitachi Published by Nikki Rausch

Listen to these two tracks of booster content just for ambitious small business leaders. Track 1: No matter what industry you serve, here are the 6 core buyer motivations. Track 2: A mindset around taking personal responsibility that I learned from T. Harv Eker. Track 1 No matter what industry you serve, here are the 6 core buyer motivations: Profit or gain Fear of loss Comfort and pleasure Avoidance of pain Love and affection Pride and prestige Track 2 A mindset around taking personal responsibility that I learned from T. Harv Eker.