BUSINESS IDEA: Unleashing Your Pet Care Business Dream Welcome to "Join Up Dots," the podcast where we help you unleash your pet care business dream! Whether you're a dedicated pet owner or an aspiring entrepreneur with a passion for animals, Join Up Dots is your go-to resource for creating a thriving pet care business right in your local area. In each episode, we delve into the world of pet care entrepreneurship, offering practical insights, inspirational stories, and expert guidance to help you turn your love for pets into a profitable venture. From dog walking to pet sitting, grooming to boarding, we cover all aspects of the industry! Join us as we explore topics like market analysis, branding strategies, customer acquisition, and more. Gain valuable insights from seasoned professionals and successful pet care entrepreneurs who have transformed their passion into thriving businesses. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to build a fulfilling career caring for furry friends. Get ready to embark on an exciting journey filled with wagging tails, purrs of joy, and endless opportunities for success. Whether you're dreaming of starting your own pet care business or seeking to elevate your existing venture, tune in to Join Up Dots and let's make your pet care dreams a reality! #JoinUpDots #PetCareEntrepreneur #DreamBigBarkLoud #FurFilledFuture #PetCarePassion #BusinessWithBark #TailWaggingSuccess #PurrfectVenture #EntrepreneurialPaws #PetBizPodcast

MOTIVATION TIME: Dont Wait For Approval In this empowering episode, listeners are encouraged to break free from the waiting game and start pursuing their passions and dreams without seeking approval from others. The host highlights the stories of influential figures like J.K. Rowling, Oprah Winfrey, and Elon Musk, who didn't wait for permission to achieve greatness but instead took charge of their lives. By sharing anecdotes of these iconic individuals, the podcast emphasizes that waiting for validation is unnecessary. Listeners are reminded that they have the power to carve their own paths, whether it's starting a business, pursuing creative endeavors, or chasing ambitious goals. The podcast urges listeners to overcome self-doubt and external skepticism and take the leap toward their aspirations. It stresses that the only approval needed is from oneself and encourages listeners to embrace their autonomy in shaping their destinies. With a motivational tone, the podcast concludes by empowering listeners to seize the day and embark on the journey of turning their dreams into reality. It instills the message that each individual has the capacity to make a significant impact on the world when they stop waiting and start taking action. Overall, the episode serves as a reminder that listeners hold the key to their own success and encourages them to embrace their roles as architects of their destinies. It inspires them to step out of the sidelines and make their dreams happen, one courageous step at a time.

Ten Years Of Questions For Ten Years Of Join Up Dots Tune in to Join Up Dots, where dreams become reality and ordinary individuals achieve extraordinary feats! For over a decade, our host has transformed lives and ignited passions, proving that the path to success is as unique as the individuals who walk it. From the bustling streets of London to the sunny shores of Sydney, listeners worldwide are captivated by real stories of triumph over adversity, resilience in the face of challenges, and the relentless pursuit of happiness. 🌍 Join us as we delve into the wisdom of guests from diverse backgrounds, uncovering secrets to financial well-being, unlocking the keys to health and vitality, and mastering the art of time freedom and stress management. 🌟 Discover how a leap of faith led our host from the confines of corporate monotony to the vibrant world of podcasting and entrepreneurship, inspiring millions to embrace change and chase their dreams. 💡 Listen, learn, and be empowered to create your own success story. Join the movement today! #JoinUpDots #Empowerment #SuccessStories #DreamBig #Inspiration #PodcastPower #LifeTransformation #ChaseYourDreams 🚀

BUSINESS COACHING: Unlocking Rent 2 Rent Success Looking to dive into the world of real estate investment? Join us in our latest podcast episode as we explore the exciting strategy of Rent 2 Rent! #RealEstateInvesting #Rent2Rent  🏡 What's Rent 2 Rent? Discover how Rent 2 Rent allows you to lease a property from a landlord and then sublet it for profit, creating a win-win scenario for all parties involved. 💡 How It Works: From spotting lucrative opportunities to negotiating with landlords, we break down the step-by-step process of Rent 2 Rent success. #PropertyInvestment #Entrepreneurship ⚖️ Legal Insights: Learn about the legal considerations and compliance essentials to ensure a smooth and risk-free Rent 2 Rent journey. #LegalCompliance #TenantLaws 💼 Strategic Management: Explore effective strategies for property refurbishment, tenant acquisition, and ongoing management to maximize profitability and sustainability. #PropertyManagement #ProfitMaximization 📈 Key Considerations: Understand the importance of financial management, risk mitigation, and ethical practices in building a successful Rent 2 Rent portfolio. #FinancialPlanning #EthicalBusiness 🔍 Conclusion: Unlock the potential of Rent 2 Rent and embark on a rewarding journey in real estate entrepreneurship. Tune in to our podcast for expert insights and actionable tips! #PodcastEpisode #RealEstateSuccess Join us for an engaging discussion on Rent 2 Rent and take your real estate investment endeavors to new heights! Listen now and share with fellow enthusiasts! 🎧✨

LIFE COACHING: Riding the Waves: Embracing Life's Twists and Turns In this episode of "Riding the Waves," we dive into the art of going with the flow and finding joy in life's unexpected twists and turns. Whether you're a self-proclaimed control freak or feeling a bit lost and confused, this podcast is for you. Join us as we explore how to roll with the punches, trust the universe, and let go of expectations. From finding joy in the journey to staying groovy through it all, we're here to remind you that life's an adventure worth embracing. So grab your surfboard and join the ride! 🌊🏄‍♂️ #EmbraceTheChaos #TrustTheJourney #RidingTheWavesPodcast

MOTIVATION TIME: The Sewer Of Life Welcome to today's inspiring podcast episode where we dive into the wisdom of John Madden's famous quote: "The road to Easy Street goes through the sewer." In just a few minutes, we'll explore the profound insights hidden within these words and how they can empower us to embrace life's challenges with humor, resilience, and empathy. Join us as we uncover the unexpected lessons found in the midst of adversity and discover how the journey through the sewer ultimately leads us to the brighter streets of Easy Street. So, dear listeners, let's share this podcast far and wide! Let's spread the message of resilience and optimism, using hashtags like #EmbraceTheSewer, #EasyStreetJourney, and #FindWisdomInAdversity. Together, let's inspire others to navigate life's obstacles with grace and humor, knowing that the road to success is often paved with unexpected twists and turns. Tune in, share, and let's journey together towards Easy Street!

BUSINESS COACHING: Turning Passion into Profit: The Journey To Local Admin Support In this week's episode of Join Up Dots, we dive into the inspiring journey of Simone, a dynamic entrepreneur who's turning her passion for organization into a profitable business venture.  Simone shares her story of how she listened to her inner calling and decided to break free from the traditional 9-5 grind. Inspired by the Join Up Dots podcast, she took the leap to create her own admin support business, paving the way for a lifestyle of freedom and flexibility.  With her exceptional organizational skills and proficiency in office software, Simone has built a business that offers comprehensive administrative support to local companies. From managing schedules to handling correspondence, she's the go-to guru for businesses looking to streamline their operations and boost efficiency.  But Simone's journey isn't just about business—it's about empowerment and seizing opportunities.  She's a shining example of how anyone can carve out their own path to success by following their passion and leveraging their skills.  So, what's next for Simone? With her sights set on making a positive impact in her community, she's ready to forge meaningful partnerships and help businesses thrive. Join us as we celebrate Simone's journey and learn how to turn passion into profit. Don't miss out on the inspiration—tune in now!  🌟 Key Takeaways: Follow your passion and listen to your inner calling. Embrace flexibility and create a lifestyle that works for you. Build meaningful partnerships and make a positive impact in your community. 🚀 Let's Get Social: #PassionToProfit #EntrepreneurJourney #JoinUpDots #Inspiration #SmallBusinessSuccess Tune in to the full episode for more insights and inspiration!

BUSINESS COACHING: Make Income In The Easiest Way Possible In this episode, dive into the world of flexible income streams with Cambly—a platform revolutionizing online tutoring! 💡 Join us as we explore: The journey of a former teacher who found freedom from endless lesson planning with Cambly. How Cambly empowers individuals to teach English globally without formal qualifications.  The ease of joining Cambly and setting your own tutoring schedule from anywhere. Discover the power of connecting with students worldwide and making a positive impact through language education. Ready to transform spare moments into meaningful interactions and income? Tune in now and embark on your Cambly journey! 🚀 🔥 #OnlineTutoring #Flexibility #CamblyOpportunity 🔥 #TeachEnglish #WorkFromAnywhere #Empowerment

LIFE COACHING: Embrace the Unexpected! Something Will Happen Hey there, listeners! Ready to dive into the magic of life's surprises? In our latest podcast episode, we're exploring the powerful concept of rolling with the flow and trusting that "something will happen." Join us as we share inspiring stories and practical examples of how letting go of worry and embracing the unknown can lead to incredible breakthroughs in every aspect of your life – from career and relationships to finances and creativity. Discover how a simple shift in mindset can transform challenges into opportunities and setbacks into stepping stones toward your dreams. It's all about finding that sweet spot between taking action and surrendering to the journey. So grab your headphones and tune in! Share this podcast with your friends and spread the wisdom. Let's inspire each other to trust in the universe's infinite possibilities. Remember: #EmbraceTheUnexpected #TrustTheJourney #PodcastMagic 🌟✨

LISTENER QUESTIONS: Paying The Price 🎙️ Join Up Dots Podcast Summary: Unpacking Life's Price Tags In our latest Join Up Dots episode, we delved into the profound concept that "everything has a price." We explored real-life scenarios where choices come with hidden costs, leaving listeners with insights that challenge their perspectives. Here's a snapshot of what went down: 🌟 Episode Highlights: Balancing Act Between Work and Life: Listeners like Sarah from Austin, TX, found resonance in the struggle of maintaining work-life harmony. We dished out tips on finding that elusive balance without sacrificing personal joy. #WorkLifeHarmony Mindful Decision-Making in Daily Life: James from Manchester, UK, got us thinking about the art of mindfulness in decision-making. How can we be more aware of the costs attached to our choices, especially in the realm of time management? #MindfulDecisions Navigating the World of Free Apps: Emily from Sydney, Australia, raised concerns about the privacy costs of free apps. We shared insights on striking a balance between convenience and protecting personal information. #ProtectYourPrivacy Decoding 'Freebies' in Life: Alex from Vancouver, Canada, resonated with the idea that nothing is truly free. We explored navigating the world of freebies without compromising values and privacy. #NoFreeLunch Career Growth vs. Family Time: Jessica from Cape Town, South Africa, grappled with pursuing career goals while cherishing family moments. We offered guidance on navigating the professional and personal spheres. #CareerVsFamily 🤔 Join the Conversation: 🎧 Join the discussion on social media using the hashtag #JoinUpDots. Share your thoughts, dilemmas, and experiences related to life's hidden costs. Let's unravel the mysteries together! Tune in, laugh, learn, and share the wisdom. Life's a puzzle, and we've got the dots – let's join them up! 🚀 #LifeChoices #PodcastInsights #JoinUpDotsWisdom

BUSINESS COACHING: How To Build A Financial Runway Welcome to Join Up Dots, where we empower listeners to take control of their financial future. In today's episode, we'll delve into the essential steps for building a strong financial runway, ensuring financial stability and security. By prioritizing paying yourself first and reducing financial outflows, you'll pave the way for long-term financial success. Step 1: Assessing Your Current Financial Situation Before embarking on your financial journey, it's crucial to assess where you currently stand. Take a close look at your budget, debts, and emergency fund. Understanding your financial landscape sets the foundation for informed decision-making and goal-setting. Step 2: Setting Financial Goals Define your short-term, medium-term, and long-term financial goals. Whether it's paying off debt, saving for a down payment, or planning for retirement, clear objectives provide direction and motivation on your financial path. Step 3: Implementing the Pay Yourself First Strategy The pay yourself first strategy involves prioritizing savings and investments before any other expenses. Set up automatic transfers from your paycheck to savings or investment accounts, making saving a non-negotiable habit. Step 4: Reducing Financial Outflows Identify areas where you can trim expenses and optimize your spending. From negotiating bills to limiting discretionary spending, every dollar saved contributes to strengthening your financial runway. Step 5: Continuously Monitoring and Adjusting Regularly review your financial progress and adjust your goals as needed. Celebrate milestones along the way and seek professional advice when necessary to stay on track towards your financial objectives. Step 6: Educate and Stay Informed Invest in your financial literacy by exploring personal finance resources and staying updated on financial trends and developments. Knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions and navigate the ever-changing financial landscape. Conclusion: Building your financial runway is a journey that requires dedication, discipline, and strategic planning. By following these steps and embracing the pay yourself first principle, you'll lay a solid foundation for financial freedom and peace of mind. Join us next time as we continue to explore practical strategies for achieving your financial dreams. Until then, stay empowered and keep reaching for your goals.

THE LEAP SHOW: Lifes New Direction Hey folks, if you're looking for a podcast that's all about shaking things up and taking life by the reins, Join Up Dots is where it's at!  Picture this: every episode is like a shot of espresso for your soul, filled with stories of regular folks like you and me who decided to hit the reset button and chase their dreams. Join Up Dots isn't just about daydreaming; it's about real people making real changes. Whether it's ditching a dead-end job, starting a passion project, or traveling the world with just a backpack, the podcast is a goldmine of inspiration and kick-in-the-pants motivation. Join Up Dots is like chatting with a friend over a cup of coffee, except your friend happens to be a master at helping you see that life's a canvas and you're the artist. No matter where you are in your journey, this podcast reminds you that it's never too late to rewrite your story. So, if you're ready to trade the mundane for the extraordinary, hit play on Join Up Dots, and get ready to join the ranks of those who dared to dream big, live bold, and rewrite their destinies! Hashtags: #JoinUpDots #LifeChanges #DreamChasers #BeBold #JustStart #PodcastInspiration #RealStories #NewAdventures #YOLO

LISTENER QUESTIONS: Navigating Entrepreneurial Journeys Welcome to another inspiring episode of Join Up Dots! Today, we dive into the burning questions of our incredible listeners from across the United Kingdom, each seeking guidance on their unique entrepreneurial journeys. Finding Your Passion and Purpose Sarah from Manchester wonders about discovering one's true passion before venturing into entrepreneurship. Our host provides insights on self-discovery and aligning passion with purpose. Overcoming Fear and Doubt James in Glasgow opens up about his dreams being stifled by fear and self-doubt. Join Up Dots offers empowering advice on breaking through mental barriers and taking that crucial first step.  Balancing Passion and Profit Emma from Birmingham is torn between passion and profit. The episode explores the delicate balance entrepreneurs must strike to turn their passions into financially successful ventures. Navigating Failure and Setbacks Alex from London shares his struggles with setbacks. Join Up Dots transforms failures into stepping stones, guiding listeners on navigating challenges and emerging stronger.  Building a Supportive Network Jake in Bristol voices the loneliness of entrepreneurship. Our host stresses the importance of a supportive network, offering practical tips to connect with like-minded individuals for mutual growth. Scaling a Business Lucy from Edinburgh seeks advice on scaling her successful business. Join Up Dots provides strategic insights on scaling without compromising core values and initial passion. This episode is a testament to the diverse challenges faced by aspiring and current entrepreneurs, showcasing the resilience and determination required to turn dreams into reality. Join us in spreading the wisdom by sharing this episode with your network. Remember, your journey is uniquely yours, and with the right guidance, you can join up those dots to create your path to success! 🚀 #JoinUpDots #EntrepreneurialJourney #Inspiration

🎙️ Podcast Summary: "Unveiling the Price Tags of Life" Join us in the latest episode of Join Up Dots as we unravel the profound meaning behind the phrase "everything has a price." We dive into the everyday scenarios where choices come with hidden costs, and how being aware of these costs can reshape our decisions. 🌟 Key Takeaways: The Sneaky Cost of Social Media: 🕰️ Sacrificing an hour for a social media binge might mean missed opportunities for productivity and personal growth. #TimeVsSocialMedia Money Choices and Experiences: 💰 Skipping that weekend getaway to save money could cost you the priceless memories and experiences with loved ones. #MoneyVsExperiences Career vs. Family Balancing Act: 👩‍👧‍👦 Climbing the career ladder is awesome, but how do you balance it with valuable family time? #CareerFamilyBalance Privacy Behind "Free" Apps: 📱 Are those free apps really free? Uncover the privacy cost associated with downloading them. #PrivacyMatters Procrastination and Productivity: ⏰ Putting off that project might seem harmless, but what's the real cost in terms of stress and missed opportunities? #ProcrastinationWoes Fast Food vs. Long-Term Health: 🍔 Fast food might be a quick fix, but consider the long-term cost on your health. #HealthyChoices  🤔 Listener Dilemma: 🎧 A dedicated listener struggles with the career-family balance after hearing our episode. How can they navigate this dilemma without feeling like they're sacrificing one for the other? Share your insights using #CareerFamilyDilemma! Tune in, laugh along, and get ready to join the conversation. Life's a game, and we're here to play it wisely! 🚀 #JoinUpDots #LifeChoices #PodcastWisdom

LISTENER SUCCESS: Dots Lead To Motorbike, Sobriety And Working Hours Success Hey Rockstars! 🌟 Join us in this powerful episode where one listener shares their incredible journey to sobriety, all inspired by the transformative mantra of "dot after dot" from Join Up Dots.  🚀 They are courageously faced a drinking problem of a bottle of wine daily and some extra sips. Instead of overwhelming themselves, they embraced the dot-by-dot approach. The first goal? No drinks before lunchtime. 🕛💪 For an entire month, they tackled this challenge head-on, overcoming cravings and gaining control. The secret weapon? Walking around town became their therapeutic escape, redirecting energy and thoughts.  🚶‍♂️💭 Now, on a new dot, They are pushing through to the evening without a drink. It's tough, but the dot-by-dot philosophy is proving its magic. 🌈✨ This inspiring journey is a testament to the Join Up Dots wisdom, turning fears into victories and reclaiming control. Let's spread the word and empower others to take their own dot-by-dot path! 🌐🔗 🔥 #DotByDotChallenge #ReclaimControl #InspirationJourney #SobrietyWins #JoinUpDotsMagic #TransformYourLife 🔥 Tune in and be inspired! 🎧✨ #JoinUpDotsPodcast #DotByDotSuccess

LISTENER SUCCESS: Tiny Dots, Massive Adventures! 💫 Hey Join Up Dots Superstars!  🌟 David and the Podcast Team, brace yourselves for the incredible impact your podcast is having on listeners like Gretchen and Steve! 🎧 Join Up Dots is the catalyst for tiny dots leading to massive adventures and life transformations. 🚀 Gretchen, our fearless adventurer, embraced the wisdom of Join Up Dots, making small changes that turned into a masterpiece. 🌈 From quitting her job to diving into Vietnam's enchanting wonderland, she's living proof that Join Up Dots is the DJ of her epic journey! 🎤 Cheers to David and the Join Up Dots crew – partners in crime on this thrilling adventure! 🎉 Unfold more shenanigans! But wait, there's more! 🌟 Steve also took the plunge, breaking his routine with small changes inspired by David's powerful message. 🌍 From a different commute to exploring new lunch spots, these small dots sparked personal growth. 💥 Now, Steve is ready to tackle big dreams, thanks to Join Up Dots' guiding light! #JoinUpDotsAdventure #TinyDotsBigImpact #PodcastMagic #AdventureAwaits #LifeTransformation #GratitudeJourney #DavidInspires #BreakTheRoutine #PodcastWisdom #EpicJourneyUnfolding #SmallChangesBigResults #DreamBigAchieveBig #JoinUpDotsSuccess #PodcastInspiration ✨

BUSINESS COACHING: Not Getting The Results You Feel You Deserve Hey, fantastic listeners! David here, and I've got a message that'll light up your passion and fuel your dreams. 🌟 In this episode, we dive deep into the stories of our incredible community, sharing experiences of pouring heart and soul into endeavors but not seeing the expected results. But guess what? It's not about the setbacks; it's about the comebacks! 🌈 Tune in for uplifting tales of resilience, where hard work meets disappointment, but the journey doesn't stop there. #TriumphOverSetbacks #GrindAndShine #JoinUpDotsMagic Ever felt like your hustle deserved more recognition? We've got strategies to recalibrate expectations, stay motivated, and turn setbacks into stepping stones. 🌄 #KeepPushing #ResultsWillCome #HustleWithHeart From navigating professional frustrations to pushing forward after lukewarm feedback on a creative venture, we've got stories that resonate with the highs and lows of the journey.  #RiseAboveChallenges #DreamBig #JoinTheSuccessWave Join us on Join Up Dots – the podcast that turns disappointments into fuel for success! Subscribe, share, and let's inspire the world together! 🌍✨ #JoinUpDotsTribe #InspirationNation #PodcastMagic

LIFE COACHING: Learning To Be Free Join us on an inspiring journey of self-discovery and empowerment as we tackle the universal challenge of breaking free from societal expectations and creating a life that resonates with our true selves. In this episode, we delve into the art of steering our lives away from paths dictated by others. We hear from listeners like Lily in Vancouver, Maya in Los Angeles, and Alex in Manchester, who, like many, have felt the weight of expectations pulling them away from their dreams. Discover practical strategies to assert your desires and passions while navigating familial pressures and societal norms. Learn how to initiate that crucial conversation with loved ones about pursuing your unique path without causing rifts in relationships. Join the conversation as we explore ways to kickstart your journey towards personal liberation and authenticity. Embrace the freedom to craft a life aligned with your deepest values and aspirations. Let's break the mold, shatter limitations, and inspire others to embrace their individuality. Tune in, share your story, and use #FreeToBeMe #AuthenticLife #BreakTheMold to spread the message of empowerment and encourage others to pursue their own path to freedom. Remember, your life is your canvas—let's paint it authentically, boldly, and freely. Don't miss out—listen now and share with the world! 🌟✨

LIFE COACHING: Embrace Your Unique Journey and Thrive Beyond Competition Hey, fellow listeners! Are you feeling the weight of the competitive world we live in today? Join us on the captivating journey of self-discovery and empowerment, inspired by the thought-provoking discussions on the Join Up Dots podcast. In this immersive series, we dive deep into the changing tides of societal expectations, exploring the shift from celebrating individual uniqueness to succumbing to the pressures of conformity and competition. It's a narrative many of us can relate to, where the pursuit of success often becomes a race to outshine others. Tune in as we unpack the pitfalls of blindly following someone else's path or chasing goals that don't truly resonate with our essence. Discover the profound insights shared on how constant competition can obscure our creative potential and inhibit our unique talents from blossoming. But fear not! Join Up Dots doesn't just highlight the problem; it offers powerful strategies and pearls of wisdom to navigate this competitive landscape. It encourages us to find fulfillment not solely in the destination but in the rich tapestry of the journey itself. Learn how to strike a balance between ambition and authenticity, finding ways to carve your own path while sidestepping the relentless pursuit of outdoing others. This podcast inspires you to break free from the confines of comparison and embrace your individuality. Join the movement of self-discovery, creativity, and authenticity. Share the Join Up Dots podcast to spark conversations and empower others to thrive in their uniqueness. Together, let's champion a world where the joy of being ourselves eclipses the need to compete with others. Let's listen, learn, and grow together. Join Up Dots - where your unique journey awaits! 🌟✨

MOTIVATION TIME: The Power of Consistent Effort: Slow and Steady Wins the Race In this podcast episode, we explore the invaluable wisdom encapsulated by Brene Brown's words on the significance of consistent effort over time. Using relatable analogies, we liken the journey towards our goals to various everyday scenarios – from baking cakes to building sandcastles, planting seeds to completing puzzles. The central theme echoes the idea that success isn't an overnight feat but rather a culmination of persistent, dedicated efforts. We delve into the essence of embracing the process, celebrating small victories, and acknowledging that progress unfolds gradually. Join us in understanding how these incremental steps, like grains of sand forming a castle or strokes on a canvas crafting a masterpiece, contribute to the magnificent tapestry of our achievements. Hashtags for Viral Marketing: #ConsistentEffort #JourneyToSuccess #SlowAndSteady #PersistencePaysOff #EmbraceTheProcess #SmallVictories #GrowthMindset #BreneBrownWisdom #PodcastInspiration #AchieveYourGoals #PatienceInAction

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: Do You: A Journey of Success, Loss and Learning to Live a More MeaningFULL Life Welcome to our podcast, where we uncover the keys to a joyful, authentic, and fulfilling life. In her upcoming book "Do You: A Journey of Success, Loss and Learning to Live a More MeaningFULL Life," Regina Lawless shares her remarkable story. From climbing the ranks to head of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Instagram's parent company Meta, to experiencing the sudden loss of her husband, Lawless realized that the success she sought didn't align with her spiritual needs. Lawless discovered that true success isn't about sacrifice and external validation. Inspired by her late husband's advice to "Do you, babe. Don’t worry about anything else," she developed a framework for a "MeaningFULL Life." This framework emphasizes connecting with your inner wisdom, pursuing your purpose, and embracing joy while letting go of the pressure to constantly be productive. In this podcast, we'll delve into Lawless' insights, discussing: Overcoming loss and trauma to thrive in all aspects of life. How traditional success blueprints fall short for women and people of color, and finding your unique path. Unraveling the damaging nature of hustle culture and distinguishing between productivity and toxic busyness. Escaping the traps of material success to live authentically and invest in yourself. Understanding and overcoming burnout, practicing self-care, and defining what living your best life truly means. Join us as we explore Lawless' MeaningFULL Life Method and Pleasure Principles, offering tangible steps toward happiness, health, and authenticity. Stay tuned for insights that can transform your life starting today.

BUSINESS COACHING: Launching Entrepreneurship from Scratch in Montana In this episode, Jackson Regis, a Montana-based aspiring entrepreneur, dives into his journey of taking the plunge into entrepreneurship without prior personal income. He shares his meticulous approach of analyzing daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly income and expenses, paving the way to replace outgoing expenses with income sources. #EntrepreneurshipJourney #StartingFromScratch #Montana Entrepreneur Jackson discusses his strategies for reducing unnecessary expenses, creating room for innovative income generation. From considering freelancing gigs and online selling to venturing into small-scale local business, he explores various avenues to kickstart his entrepreneurial career.  #FreelancingHustle #OnlineSellingStrategies #LocalBusinessLaunch Seeking guidance, Jackson seeks advice on effective ways to initiate income streams, particularly focusing on practical steps suitable for Montana. He emphasizes the importance of local insights and opportunities tailored to the area's unique dynamics. #MontanaBusinessOpportunities #LocalEntrepreneurInsights Furthermore, he expresses interest in discovering local resources, networking opportunities, and mentorship programs available to support novice entrepreneurs in Montana, highlighting the significance of community support in entrepreneurial endeavors. #CommunitySupport #EntrepreneurialMentorship #MontanaNetworking Tune in to this episode as Jackson Regis seeks advice, strategies, and local insights from experienced entrepreneurs, aiming to inspire and navigate others in a similar position on their entrepreneurial quests. #InspiringEntrepreneurs #EntrepreneurialGuidance #StartupJourney

LIFE COACHING: Follow Up To Killing Lazy 🎙️ Welcome, everyone, to the empowering journey of breaking free from the 'lazy' shield! Today's podcast focuses on the key steps to overcome this barrier and propel yourself towards personal growth. First off, let's dive into self-reflection. Ever wondered why 'lazy' becomes a shield? It's time to explore the underlying reasons. Is it the fear of failure or doubts about your capabilities that hold you back? Identifying these root causes is pivotal to initiating change. Next, we'll tackle the essential aspect of mindset. It's all about rewiring your thoughts.  Swap those negative self-labels for affirmations that uplift and motivate. Instead of fixating on perfection, focus on progress. Break down those lofty goals into smaller, achievable steps. Embrace a growth mindset that views setbacks as stepping stones to learning and development. Finally, let's talk action and support. Taking that first step is crucial.  Begin by taking small but consistent actions towards your goals. And remember, you're not alone on this journey. Surround yourself with a supportive community that encourages and uplifts you. Seek guidance from mentors, friends, or professionals who can provide insights and encouragement along the way. Join the conversation using #BreakFreeFromLazy #PositiveMindsetJourney #EmbraceGrowth and be part of this movement towards personal empowerment! Share this episode far and wide to inspire others to shed their 'lazy' shields and embrace a path of self-discovery and success. Tune in to our podcast and embark on this incredible journey of breaking barriers and unlocking your true potential! 🚀

LIFE COACHING: Should We Use The Word Lazy? 🎙️ Welcome to the Join Up Dots podcast summary! Today, we're diving into a fascinating topic brought up by Jigme Choden that many of us can relate to: feeling "lazy" while actually hustling hard. Isn't that curious? Ever felt like you're lazier than you are busy? It's a paradox many of us grapple with. Here's the scoop: sometimes, our self-image doesn't match our actions, and there are a few reasons for this. First, our self-perception often stems from what we've been told or what we believe about ourselves. So, even if we're super active, that "lazy" label might stick. Also, our definition of "lazy" might be a bit extreme. We set high bars for ourselves, making it hard to see our efforts clearly. Then there's the clash between our idea of laziness and society's standards of productivity. It's like a tug-of-war between what we think and what the world thinks. Sometimes, we're go-getters in some areas but not so much in others. It's like acing work but feeling lazy about personal passions or health goals. Lastly, feeling lazy might be a protective shield. It could be a way of avoiding the scary realms of success or failure. But here's the inspiring part: to bridge this gap between our self-image and reality, it's time to reframe our thinking. Let's: Rethink what "lazy" truly means and question if it's holding us back. Reevaluate our self-image and see if it aligns with our accomplishments. Recognize our achievements and stop underestimating our efforts. Consider seeking guidance from coaches or therapists to break free from limiting beliefs. Let's start a movement of self-discovery! Embrace the complexity of your identity and embark on a journey toward personal growth. 🔥 Join the conversation using #EmbraceYourComplexity #RedefineProductivity #SelfDiscoveryJourney and share this inspiring episode to help others break free from limiting self-perceptions! Tune in to Join Up Dots and let's embrace our true potential together! 🚀

Happy Xmas To Everyone - Five Pressies From Join Up Dots Welcome to our podcast, where we unwrap life's most precious gifts together! 🎁 Today, I'm thrilled to share five incredible presents that can transform your life. Passion Unveiled: Discovering your passion is like finding a treasure map to fulfillment. 🌟 #PassionUnleashed #PurposeFound The Power of Personal Agency: You hold the reins to your life's story. Realizing that you're in control, regardless of circumstances, is liberating. 🌈 #EmpowerYourself #YouAreInControl Gratitude & Mindfulness Magic: Embrace the present and cultivate gratitude and mindfulness. It's the key to unlocking joy in every moment. 🙏 #GratitudeAttitude #MindfulLiving Nurturing Meaningful Connections: Relationships are the heartbeats of life. Cultivate meaningful connections that uplift, inspire, and support your journey. 👫 #RelationshipRiches #ConnectAndThrive Resilience & Adaptability: Life's challenges are lessons in disguise. Embrace resilience and adaptability; they're your superpowers in the face of adversity. 💪 #RiseStrong #AdaptAndOvercome Join me as we explore these life-changing gifts together. Let's unwrap the beauty of passion, the strength of agency, the magic of gratitude, the richness of connections, and the power of resilience. Remember, these presents aren't just for the holidays; they're for a lifetime of joy and growth. 🌟✨ #LifePresents #TransformativeGifts #JoyfulLiving

LISTENER SUCCESS: Bella's Story Ignited a Spark! Hey, incredible listeners! Get ready for an electrifying ride as we delve into Bella's awe-inspiring entrepreneurial journey that's all about turning dreams into a thriving reality.  In this episode, we unravel the extraordinary tale of Bella, a visionary who discovered a gap in the market for home cleaning services. But here's the kicker—it wasn't just her keen eye that propelled her to success. It was the game-changing insights she gained from Join Up Dots' free business masterclass that transformed her idea into a prosperous business venture. Throughout our conversation, we'll uncover the pivotal moments in Bella's journey: 🔍 Discovering the Opportunity: Bella spotted an untapped niche in home cleaning services. But it was the free business masterclass that gave her the clarity and direction to transform this opportunity into a flourishing business. 💡 Masterclass Insights: This masterclass wasn't just any seminar. It was a goldmine of insights into market research, strategic planning, and the power of delegation. These lessons became Bella's foundation for building her successful cleaning service business. 🤝 The Role of Delegation: One of the key takeaways was understanding the significance of delegation and assembling a stellar team. This allowed Bella to step back while steering her business towards unparalleled growth. 🚀 The Catalyst for Success: Join Up Dots' masterclass acted as the ultimate catalyst, empowering Bella to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Without this resource, she might not have recognized the full potential of the market or learned how to set up a business without being tied down to day-to-day operations. Here's the kicker! Inspired by Bella's journey, one of our amazing listeners, Phillipa from Greater Manchester, shared the podcast with her friends. They're now on the brink of starting their own cleaning business, aiming to break their town into four areas and each manage the cleaning within their allocated zones. Talk about taking inspiration and turning it into action! With a projected £2000 per area based on around £40 per home cleaning, Phillipa and her friends are ready to take charge, armed with insights from Bella's story and a vision to conquer the cleaning service scene. This podcast episode is not just about Bella's journey—it's a celebration of the impact accessible knowledge and guidance can have on shaping successful business ventures. So, dive in, get inspired, and share this story with the world. Who knows? You might just ignite the spark for someone else's incredible journey! Tune in, share the podcast far and wide, and let's celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit together. Don't miss out on this empowering episode—because the world needs more stories like Bella's! Let's spread the inspiration, one listener at a time! 🌟

How can you create a life that is one that make you feel better, live better and build better relationships? Well in todays episode of Join Up Dots we show you how goal setting and planning doesnt wok, but by being simple and clear with your thinking you can create a life that is unlike any you have ever had before. Ready to change things around forever?

LISTENER SUCCESS: Bella's Journey into Entrepreneurship Welcome, podcast listeners! Today, we're delving into Bella's incredible entrepreneurial journey, where she ventured into the home cleaning service industry, transforming her vision into a successful business. Bella's story is a testament to the power of guidance and knowledge from Join Up Dots' free business masterclass. This pivotal resource equipped her with the insights and strategies needed to kickstart her entrepreneurial dream. Key Points Covered: Discovering the Opportunity: Bella identified a gap in the market for home cleaning services, but it was the free business masterclass that gave her the clarity and direction to turn this opportunity into a viable business. Masterclass Insights: Through the masterclass, Bella gained crucial insights into market research, strategic planning, and the importance of delegation. This knowledge became the foundation upon which she built her successful cleaning service business. The Role of Delegation: One of the key takeaways from the masterclass was understanding the significance of delegating tasks and building a competent team. This allowed Bella to step back from the day-to-day operations while steering the business towards growth and success. The Catalyst for Success: Join Up Dots' masterclass acted as a catalyst, empowering Bella to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Without this resource, she might not have recognized the potential of the home cleaning services market or learned how to set up a business without being actively involved. Closing Thoughts: Bella's inspiring journey exemplifies how free resources, like Join Up Dots' business masterclass, can ignite the entrepreneurial spark within individuals. It illustrates the impact of accessible knowledge and guidance in shaping successful business ventures. Join us in celebrating Bella's entrepreneurial spirit, her strategic approach to business setup, and the invaluable role played by Join Up Dots' free business masterclass in her remarkable journey.

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: The Billion Dollar Challenge 🎙️ Welcome, listeners, to an incredible story of resilience, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit! Today, we're diving into the awe-inspiring journey of Adam Robinson, a man whose path has been nothing short of extraordinary. Adam's career initially took flight in the finance world, soaring through the ranks at Lehman Brothers. However, when the financial crisis shook the world and his employer vanished, Adam knew it was time for a major shift. Fueled by the creative energy of his former roommates, the masterminds behind Vimeo, Adam ventured into uncharted territory. Despite lacking a tech background, he fearlessly launched Robly, an email-marketing business in 2012. In a remarkable testament to his determination, Robly skyrocketed to a staggering $5 million in revenue within just two years, defying the odds. Yet, success doesn't always guarantee fulfillment. Burnout and a hunger for something more prompted Adam to pivot once again. The Dots Joined Up For Adam in a truly remarkable way. Following an eight-figure exit, he co-founded Retention, a venture that swiftly scaled to an impressive $20 million in annual recurring revenue within a lean team, all without external funding. Currently, Adam's journey is documented in the captivating docuseries, "Billion Dollar Challenge," where he shares the nitty-gritty of his quest to lead a bootstrapped billion-dollar business. From weathering the storm as a startup CEO during a global pandemic to shaping a unicorn business transparently in public view, Adam's story embodies resilience and radical transparency. But what led to his burnout despite success, and what wisdom would he impart to his younger self? Join us as we delve into these pivotal moments and connect the dots with the remarkable Mr. Adam Robinson. Tune in to uncover the secrets of resilience, determination, and the uncharted territories of entrepreneurial success. Don't miss this gripping episode of joining up dots! #ResilientJourney #EntrepreneurialSpirit #BillionDollarChallenge #RadicalTransparency #UnchartedSuccess #PodcastStory

LIFE COACHING: Nothing Will Change Until You Change In this podcast episode, we delve into the profound concept that "nothing in your life will change until you change." We explore how this principle holds the key to unlocking personal transformation and achieving the life you desire. Many individuals yearn for a new life, dream career, or financial success, yet they often overlook the crucial step of self-evolution. We dissect the reasons behind the hesitation to leave behind the old self, including fear of the unknown, comfort in familiarity, resistance to change, and self-limiting beliefs. By addressing these barriers, we uncover actionable steps for initiating change: Self-Reflection: Understanding oneself and identifying limiting beliefs. Embracing Change: Accepting the necessity of change and being open to new possibilities. Taking Action: Actively pursuing goals through consistent effort and learning. Building Resilience: Developing the strength to overcome challenges and setbacks. By empowering listeners to recognize that their current circumstances reflect past decisions, we encourage them to take responsibility for their lives. This podcast aims to motivate individuals to proactively create change by evolving themselves first. #TransformYourLife #EmbraceChange #PersonalGrowth #PodcastWisdom #UnlockPotential #SelfReflection #TakeAction #ResilienceBuilding #Empowerment #ViralPodcast #ChangeForSuccess

LIFE COACHING: Navigating Life's Course: Finding Direction When Adrift In this episode, join me as we explore the uncharted waters of feeling lost in life. Ever experienced that aimless drift, where each day seems like a repetitive cycle, and decisions feel elusive? We delve into the universal challenge of feeling rudderless amidst life's waves, discussing the common struggle of being on autopilot, merely going through the motions without a clear sense of direction. Let's unravel the mystery of why making choices sometimes feels like an unattainable skill, despite understanding that our decisions shape our journey. We'll share personal stories and insights, aiming to empower listeners to steer their ship, seeking clarity, and discovering agency amidst the uncertainty. Join the conversation to spark new perspectives and find actionable ways to break free from the monotony, embrace autonomy, and navigate towards a more fulfilling life. 🎙️ Tune in for #NavigatingLife #FindYourDirection #EmpowermentTalks #BreakTheRoutine #PodcastJourney #InspireYourPath Together, let's chart a course towards empowerment and purposeful living!

LISTENER SUCCESS: Spreading Cheer: Small Town Entrepreneurship & Festive Joy In this heartwarming episode, join us as we delve into the inspiring journey of John, a resident of a small town nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Cornwall, UK. Seeking to create a more festive atmosphere within his community, John initiated a unique and uplifting business venture—putting up Christmas lights on local houses. Drawing inspiration from a simple idea, John distributed leaflets across the town, offering his services at affordable rates, starting at £20.00. His mission was straightforward: to bring the glow of the holiday season to homes within his neighborhood. He targeted simplicity, making quick work of easier installations in about an hour, while quoting higher prices for more intricate projects. The response from the community was nothing short of phenomenal. Families embraced the opportunity to adorn their homes with dazzling Christmas lights, infusing the town with a warm, festive spirit. John's efforts were met with immense appreciation and support, fostering a strong sense of community and joy. Through this heartening venture, John not only spread cheer but also found financial success, earning approximately £700 during this holiday season. This unexpected boost has provided him with the means to enhance his family's Christmas experience and has inspired him to continue this heartwarming initiative in the coming years. Join us in celebrating the power of community, entrepreneurial spirit, and the magic of the holiday season as John's story serves as a reminder of the impact a simple idea can have when fueled by passion and community support. #SpreadCheer #CommunitySpirit #FestiveEntrepreneurship #ChristmasLights #InspiringJourney #SmallBusinessSuccess #HolidayMagic #HeartwarmingStory

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: The Three Ring Circus Jones Loflin is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots Podcast He is a remarkable individual who has made it his life's mission to deliver powerful ideas and practical solutions to individuals and organizations facing the never-ending battle of too much to do. He's not just your average speaker; he's an illuminator of minds and a creator of unforgettable moments. With an impressive 32 years as a teacher and professional speaker, Jones has touched the lives of countless people, helping them make better choices with their time. His insights on leadership, overload, change, and time management have resonated far and wide, capturing the attention of organizations around the globe, including giants like Federal Express, Wal-Mart, Toyota, and many more. Jones Loflin's keynotes are more than just speeches – they're an experience, described as fun, powerful, and incredibly timely. He's a master storyteller, and his knack for using simple yet powerful analogies ensures that his audience is not just engaged, but transformed. But Jones is not just a speaker; he's also an accomplished author, with four impactful books under his belt, including "Always Growing," "Juggling Elephants," and "Getting To It." So how can we all make better choices, overcome overwhelming challenges, and thrive in your life? And where do people go wrong the most? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Jones Loflin.

MOTIVATION TIME: There is no external solution for an internal problem In this episode, we explored the pivotal wisdom shared by Nicole Lapin: "There is no external solution that's going to fix an internal problem." Think of life as a house; you can't just paint the exterior without fixing the leaks inside. The same goes for personal growth and happiness—internal issues must be addressed first. #InternalGrowth #MindsetMatters #SelfReflection #SelfCareRevolution We dived into actionable steps to nurture your inner world: Mindfulness and Meditation: Practice these to understand your emotions and thoughts. #MindfulnessJourney #MeditationMagic Self-Reflection and Journaling: Explore feelings, goals, and fears through journaling for self-discovery. #JournalingJoy #SelfAwareness Therapy or Counseling: Seek professional help to work through deeper issues and gain insights. #TherapyTalks #MentalHealthMatters Healthy Habits: Exercise, nutrition, sleep, and joyful hobbies contribute to internal well-being. #HealthyMindHealthyLife #WellnessWins Learning and Development: Continuous learning empowers with knowledge for life's complexities. #ContinuousGrowth #LearningJourney Setting Boundaries: Saying 'no' and valuing your time build internal strength. #BoundariesMatter #SelfRespect Practicing Gratitude: Cultivate gratitude for a positive outlook on life. #GratitudeAttitude #PositivityBoost Prioritizing internal growth sets the stage for handling external challenges effectively. It's about fortifying your internal castle before facing life's battles. Tune in for more insights on how investing in your inner world leads to lasting fulfillment and resilience. Remember, your greatest strength lies within. #InnerStrength #PodcastWisdom #PersonalGrowthJourney

LIFE COACHING: When Was The Last Time You Had Time For Yourself? Life is a wild ride, isn’t it? We all have our ups and downs, moments of triumph, and those times when it feels like we're stuck in a rut. But here's a little reminder: no matter how tough things seem, someone out there might just be dealing with an even bigger rollercoaster. Think about it this way: on this giant theme park ride of life, we're all sitting in different carts, experiencing our own unique loops and curves. Sometimes, we get caught up in our own twists and turns, convinced that our ride is the wildest one out there. But hey, there's a whole amusement park of experiences out in the world! When we're feeling low or facing a challenge, it's easy to feel like we're riding the craziest rollercoaster of all time. Maybe it's a rough day at work, a relationship hiccup, or just a string of bad luck. But taking a step back and realizing that there are others braving even loopier rides can be a game-changer. It's not about belittling our own struggles—everyone's feelings and experiences are valid. Instead, it's about zooming out and seeing the bigger picture. Knowing that while we might be stuck in a loop-the-loop, someone else might be riding a ride with even more twists and turns. This awareness can spark something magical: empathy and appreciation. It's like getting a backstage pass to peek into someone else's rollercoaster cart. Suddenly, we understand that while we're on a crazy ride, others are navigating their own loops. It fosters a sense of understanding and a sprinkle of gratitude for the good bits of our own rollercoaster. What's even more amazing is how this realization can bring us closer together. We become more mindful of those around us, offering a hand to someone else on a bumpy ride or sharing the thrill of a loop-the-loop victory. Gratitude is the secret sauce here. It's about appreciating the cotton-candy moments – the simple joys – amidst the rollercoaster chaos. A warm cup of coffee, a funny pet video, or a hug from a friend can be the safety harness that keeps us secure on this rollercoaster ride. In a world where Instagram feeds showcase only the shiny, happy parts of life, it's easy to forget that everyone has their own rollercoaster. Those picture-perfect moments rarely reveal the whole story. So, let's embrace the rollercoaster metaphor. Let's recognize that our ride might feel wild, but it's just one among many. Let's be kind to ourselves and others, offering support and high-fives along the way. Because when we realize that everyone's on their own rollercoaster, it becomes easier to appreciate the ride and the resilience it brings out in each of us. Cheers to embracing the twists and turns, knowing we're not riding alone!

LISTENER SUCCESS: Balloon Business You Can All Start Hey, fellow dream-chasers! 🌟 In our latest episode, we unpack the inspiring story of Carol from West Sussex, UK, who turned a spark of creativity into a booming business venture! 🎈 Listen in to learn: How Carol's lightbulb moment at the Join Up Dots Masterclass birthed a unique Balloon Arches & DIY Balloon Displays business. T he power of local marketing: Carol's journey using door-to-door leaflets and strategic partnerships to captivate her community. Secrets to social media success: Discover how Carol's vibrant Instagram and Facebook content skyrocketed her brand. 🌐 Tune in #BalloonMagic #LocalBizSuccess #DIYPartyDecor 🔥 Join the conversation and share this episode with your friends who love creativity and entrepreneurship! 🚀 Get inspired by Carol's entrepreneurial journey and learn how to turn passion into a thriving business. Don't miss this electrifying episode! Let's inflate your entrepreneurial dreams together! 🎈 Listen now! 🎧 This summary aims to highlight Carol's journey, the marketing strategies employed, and the invitation for listeners to engage and share the episode, leveraging popular hashtags to increase its reach and potential virality across social media platforms.

MOTIVATION TIME: Focus On What You Can Control 🎙️ Welcome to a transformative episode of Join Up Dots. Today, we're diving deep into the powerful mantra that can change your life: "Harnessing Your Power: Focus on What You Can Control." In a world filled with uncertainty and challenges, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But the wisdom of John Addison reminds us that our power lies in focusing on what we can control. This simple yet profound message can be your guiding light toward a more empowered and fulfilling life. Join us as we explore the intricate tapestry of life, where circumstances, events, and people constantly shape our journey. We'll uncover the strategies to respond to challenges and uncertainties with grace, resilience, and purpose. In this episode, we'll cover key topics: 🌟 Attitude Is Everything: Learn how to cultivate a positive mindset to conquer any obstacle. 🎯 Set Clear Goals: Discover the art of goal-setting and creating your roadmap to success. 🌿 Prioritize Self-Care: Explore the importance of nurturing your physical and mental well-being. 💪 Adaptability and Resilience: Understand how to bounce back from life's setbacks with strength and grace. ⏰ Manage Your Time Wisely: Unlock the potential of time management to achieve your dreams. 🤝 Build Strong Relationships: Cultivate meaningful connections and enhance your life. 📚 Continuous Learning: Embrace personal growth through knowledge and skill acquisition. 🤔 Mindful Decision-Making: Learn the art of making decisions that align with your values. 🌟 Embrace Imperfection: Accept life's uncertainties and find beauty in imperfections. 🎉 Celebrate Your Wins: Recognize your achievements, no matter how small, and boost your motivation. This episode is your gateway to a more inspiring, motivating, and fulfilling life. Join us on this journey, and remember that you are the captain of your own ship, with the power to steer it toward greatness. Don't forget to share this episode with friends and use these viral marketing hashtags: #EmpowerYourself #FocusOnWhatMatters #TakeControl #YourPodcastHashtag Let's embark on this transformative journey together. Tune in now and let's unlock your potential! 🚀🌟

🎙️ Podcast Summary: "The Power of Iteration: Fueling Entrepreneurial Success" Are you ready to unlock the secrets of success in the world of business? Join us in this inspiring podcast as we delve into "The Power of Iteration: How Success Often Involves Copying and Improving Existing Ideas in Business." Discover the incredible stories and strategies that have transformed entrepreneurs into industry titans. 🚀 🔍 Ever wondered why some startups skyrocket while others fizzle out? It's time to shatter the myth that groundbreaking innovation is the only path to success. In fact, a significant majority of thriving startups don't reinvent the wheel; they simply make it spin better. 🔑 Key Takeaways: #ValidationThroughImitation 💡 Successful entrepreneurs understand that imitation isn't just flattery; it's a powerful form of validation. Dive into the minds of visionaries who entered markets with existing players and discovered untapped potential. #BuildingOnThePast 🏗️ History is a treasure trove of businesses that thrived by building upon the innovations of others. Uncover the stories behind industry giants like Apple, who perfected existing concepts to create products that changed the world. #CustomerCentricApproach 🎯 Learn how copying and improving upon existing ideas fosters a customer-centric approach. Discover how this strategy allows entrepreneurs to solve real-world problems, delight customers, and make an impact. #RoomForEveryone 🌍 It's time to embrace the belief that there's room for everyone in the market. Explore the globalized economy, where diverse customer preferences create opportunities for differentiation through better service, quality, and branding. #ContinuousInnovation 🔄 Understand that copying doesn't equal stagnation; it fuels a culture of continuous innovation. Dive into the world of entrepreneurs who are constantly enhancing their offerings, benefiting customers and driving competition. #ReducedRisk 🛡️ Entrepreneurship is risky, but this podcast reveals how copying and improving upon existing ideas can mitigate those risks. Learn how entering a market with proven demand and a clear customer base can secure your business's future. #MarketFeedback 📊 Explore the wisdom of learning from others' successes and mistakes. Discover how existing businesses in a market provide invaluable feedback to fine-tune your approach and avoid common pitfalls. #CollaborationPotential 🤝 Finally, unleash the potential of collaboration with the original innovators. Hear how partnerships can foster mutual growth and innovation. In conclusion, this podcast celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of building upon the past, catering to customer needs, and continuous innovation. Whether you're one in a million pursuing a similar idea or entering a well-established market, remember there's plenty of room for everyone in the world of business. Success awaits those who can effectively copy, improve, and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of commerce. Share this podcast with the world, and let's ignite the spark of innovation together! 🔥💼 #BusinessSuccess #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #MarketLeadership

Hey, fantastic listeners of Join Up Dots! 🚀 Ready for a transformative journey towards true happiness? Today, we've got an episode packed with wisdom and practical tips from the incredible David Ralph! 🌈 Acceptance: Embrace every facet of your life – the good and the challenging. Discover the power of letting go and finding peace in acceptance. #EmbraceLife #InnerPeace 💡 Simplicity: Simplify your life, amplify your joy! Learn the art of mindful spending and investing in what truly matters. It's not about less; it's about more of what counts. #SimplifyLife #MindfulLiving 🧘 Present Moment Awareness: Dive into the richness of NOW! Unleash the magic of mindfulness, reducing stress, boosting focus, and savoring life's sweet moments. #MindfulMonday #PresentMoment 🚀 Realistic Goals: Plan, focus, and celebrate victories, big and small! Transform your mindset with achievable goals, creating a positive path to success. #GoalGetter #CelebrateWins 🌿 Self-Care: Prioritize YOU! Fuel your happiness with good sleep, exercise, and hydration. Because when you take care of yourself, you can conquer anything. #SelfCareRevolution #HealthyHabits Ready for a life-changing conversation? Tune in to Join Up Dots with David Ralph and discover the keys to lasting happiness! 🎧✨ Don't keep this wisdom to yourself—share and spread the joy! #JoinUpDots #HappinessJourney #PodcastWisdom Let's create a ripple effect of happiness together! 🌍💙 #SpreadJoy #InspireOthers

MOTIVATION TIME: The Only Risk Is Not Taking Any Risks 🚀 Ready to transform your life? Join us on a journey of growth and innovation with Mark Zuckerberg's timeless quote: "The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that is changing quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks." Dive deep into the world of calculated risks and their pivotal role in personal and professional development. From propelling growth to embracing change, each risk is a stepping stone to success. Discover how avoiding risks can hinder progress, leaving you stagnant and missing out on opportunities for learning and fulfillment.  Explore real-world examples that bring this insight to life. Imagine staying in a comfort zone and forfeiting new career paths, or resisting innovation and losing relevance in a rapidly evolving landscape. Unlock the power of resilience, innovation, and personal achievement by conquering fears and seizing opportunities. Tune in and share the wisdom using #RisksForSuccessPodcast. Let's rewrite the narrative of risk and embark on a journey to a brighter, bolder future! #CalculatedRisks #EmbraceChange #InnovationJourney #GrowthMindset #OpportunitiesAwait #TransformYourLife #PodcastInspiration #DareToRisk #ShareTheJourney

Unicorn Chasing vs. Local Heroes: Unleashing Business Magic in Your Community The 80% Rule: Did you know that over 80% of successful startups don't reinvent the wheel? They simply find ways to make it spin better. They cater to their community's needs and create value where it's needed most. Room for Everyone: Business isn't a competition for a single throne. More players lead to more innovation and a healthier marketplace. There's room for everyone with a great idea, so let's embrace the power of community. Local Heroes: What sets local business owners apart is their unwavering belief in their vision. They take massive risks, invest their hearts and souls, and drive our communities forward. They are the unsung heroes of the business world. In conclusion, unicorns may be the headline-grabbers, but local businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. Success doesn't always require reinventing the wheel or chasing billion-dollar valuations. The real magic lies in our thriving, vibrant local businesses that keep our communities running. Join us in celebrating #LocalHeroes and let's create a movement that inspires change and fuels community success. 🚀

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: Creating Urban Smokehouse Culinary Success Welcome to another mouth-watering episode of Join Up Dots Today, we're diving into the incredible story of a man who made a daring leap from the confines of "Corporate America" to the sizzling world of culinary delight. Meet our founder, Andrew Buehler, a true trailblazer in the realm of food. After a decade of donning the corporate suit, Andrew had an epiphany, uttering those three powerful words that many of us secretly yearn for: "This sucks." With courage as his compass, he ditched the suit and donned an apron, setting out on a culinary adventure that would change his life forever. But the flame of Andrew's culinary journey was ignited long before that pivotal moment. In high school, he presided over the Grilling Society, a hint of the gastronomic passion that would consume him. In college, he founded "The Fat Cats," the second collegiate competitive eating club in the nation, proving that his appetite for adventure knows no bounds. Not stopping there, he hosted epic annual pig roasts that became legendary among his peers. Food wasn't just a hobby for Andrew; it was in his DNA.   How The Dots Joined Up For Andrew His mother's love for cooking was a source of inspiration, while his father's profession as a supplier and contract manufacturer for grocery stores and restaurants instilled a deep appreciation for the culinary industry. Andrew is the guy you want at the table, the one who effortlessly orders for the group, the weekly chef for friends and family, and the ultimate foodie traveller who always knows where and what to eat in advance. Today, Andrew is living the dream, turning his lifelong love affair with food into not just a passion but also a profession. As he embarks on the Urban Smokehouse journey, he's here to tantalize your taste buds with the best ribs and an ever-expanding menu of delectable dishes. So how do you turn something that every American and Australian seem to be experts in already to a flourishing business? And was it plain sailing or did the business take awhile to really start cooking up some profits? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Andrew Buehler.

MOTIVATION TIME: Everyday Add Value To People 🎙️ Podcast Episode: "Adding Value: The Magical Business Philosophy" Join us in this captivating episode as we unravel the enchanting story of Sarah, an extraordinary entrepreneur who turned a simple yet profound principle into her life's mission: "Everyday add value to people." Discover how Sarah's journey from visionary to an inspirational leader can inspire YOU to transform your business and daily life. 🌟 Highlights: 🚀 Transform your business with a game-changing philosophy.  🎓 The pursuit of expertise and continuous learning. 💬 The art of connecting and empathetic communication. 🌟 Quality as the cornerstone of trust. 🧩 Problem-solving that unlocks success. 📚 Empowering others through education. 👤 The power of personalization. 💼 Exceptional customer service that builds loyalty. 🌍 Giving back to create positive change. 🌱 Nurturing growth within your team. 📊 Measuring impact and adapting. 👑 Leading by example as a guiding light. 💖 Building lasting relationships that matter. Tune in to be inspired, and join us in spreading the magic of adding value to the world. Share this episode with the hashtags #AddValueToPeople #EntrepreneurshipMagic #PodcastInspiration and let's make a difference, one story at a time. 🌠🌍✨

LISTENER SUCCESS: Start Your Own Golf Business 🎙️ Podcast Summary: Turning Golf Adventures into Entrepreneurial Success! 🏌️‍♂️ Join us on an inspiring journey with Mike, an avid golfer whose passion led him to create an unforgettable golfing adventure that eventually transformed into a thriving business. 🌟 Episode Highlights: Discover how Mike stumbled upon the extraordinary Bioluminescent Golf Course in Puerto Rico's Mosquito Bay, where golf meets the mesmerizing glow of bioluminescent waters. 🌌⛳ Learn how Mike's vision extended beyond personal enjoyment as he rallied ten golf buddies to join him in this unique adventure. 🤝 Dive into the intricacies of trip planning, from securing cost-effective flights and comfortable accommodations to arranging private transportation and tee times at the Bioluminescent Golf Course. ✈️🏨🚐 Explore the innovative profit model that allowed Mike not only to enjoy a free trip but also to make a profit from each of the twelve golfers who joined the adventure.  💰 Witness the birth of Mike's entrepreneurial journey, where his passion for extraordinary golfing experiences led to the creation of a golf experience business that specializes in crafting unforgettable golf trips worldwide. 🌍🏌️‍♀️ This episode is a testament to the power of pursuing your passion, seizing opportunities, and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit. 🚀 🔥 Don't miss this inspiring story! Share it with your friends and fellow golf enthusiasts!  🔥 #GolfAdventures #EntrepreneurialSuccess #PodcastInspiration #PassionPursuit #BusinessJourney #UniqueExperiences #ViralMarketing

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: Creating Time In Life And Business 🌟 Are you stuck in the 9-to-5 grind? Tune in to the Join Up Dots podcast for an inspiring interview with Jaryd Kruse, an online business mentor who's rewriting the rules of success. 🌍 Jaryd's story is a testament to determination and the pursuit of a greater purpose. Raised by hustlers, he learned that with enough passion, anything is possible. 💰 He didn't seek wealth for materialism but as a means to explore the world and make a meaningful impact. His journey, however, had its ups and downs. 💡 The turning point? Jaryd realized he could acquire established online businesses, skipping the tough startup phase. This mindset shift led to his financial freedom and a new way of living. 🕘 If you're tired of the 9-5 grind and want to join up more dots in your life, listen closely to Jaryd's journey.  🤔 Has his mindset evolved since his last appearance on the show? Is he still living the dream, or has life taken a different path? 🎧 Join us as we dive deep into Jaryd Kruse's inspiring story. Don't miss it! Share this episode with your friends and followers. #Entrepreneurship #FinancialFreedom #JoinUpDots #Inspiration #LifeGoals #MindsetShift #Podcast #SuccessJourney

MOTIVATION TIME: So many People Quit Just Before Success Happens Join us on a journey of inspiration and resilience as we explore the powerful message of Sharon Lechter: "So many people quit just before the success happens." 🚀 Discover the stories of icons like Walt Disney, J.K. Rowling, and Thomas Edison, who faced rejection and failure but persisted, ultimately achieving incredible success. 🌟 MOTIVATION TIME: So many People Quit Just Before Success Happens Learn how to stay motivated and overcome setbacks with clear goals, unwavering persistence, and a positive mindset. 💪 Don't let fear hold you back. Embrace the unknown, visualize your success, and celebrate your victories along the way. 🎉 Join the movement and share this podcast with #SuccessIsNear and #NeverQuit. Your breakthrough may be just around the corner! 🌠 Listen now and be inspired to keep chasing your dreams. 👉 #KeepGoing #SuccessJourney

BUSINESS COACHING: Stop Going After The Growth Welcome to the Join Up Dots Podcast, where we're spilling the beans on why "more" isn't always the answer! 🚀 In this episode, we're diving into the world of balancing business with a wellbeing-centric lifestyle. Host David Ralph brings you some jaw-dropping insights that'll have you rethinking your pursuit of endless growth.  🌟 Quality Over Quantity: Discover why chasing quality over quantity can be your golden ticket to lasting success. #QualityMatters 🦄 The Myth of Infinite Growth: It's time to catch that unicorn! David shares his journey and insights on why perpetual growth might not be as magical as it sounds. #CatchTheUnicorn 💪 Health Is Wealth: Learn how prioritizing your health isn't just good for you—it's a turbo boost for your business too. #HealthyHustle 😄 The Happiness Quest: Happiness isn't just the icing on the cake; it's the recipe for a fulfilling life. Find out how to make happiness your guiding star. #HappinessIsSuccess But that's not all! We've got some burning questions from our global community, including Sarah in Austin, Mark in Sydney, and Lisa in London. Tune in to hear David's sage advice and personal stories that'll inspire you to find your own path to success. Ready to join the conversation? 🗣️ Click the link and share this podcast with your friends and family—it's time to redefine success! #JoinUpDots #BalancedSuccess 🎧 Listen now: Let's make life a little brighter and a whole lot more meaningful together! 🌈

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: How To Buy Established Online Businesses Justin Cooke is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots Podcast. Today, we’re diving into the exciting world of online business investments and exploring how they’ve become a game-changer for investors worldwide. Imagine having the opportunity to own a piece of the thriving online business landscape, with the potential for strong and non-correlated returns. Until now, this dream has eluded many due to the complexities of managing these digital ventures. But our guest today, Justin Cooke, is changing the game. Justin is not just a pioneer in the online business industry; he’s a Founding Partner at WebStreet, a company that’s making online businesses a more accessible asset class for individual investors. With a staggering $22 million+ raised across multiple rounds of fundraising and a portfolio of 30+ successful online businesses, WebStreet is revolutionizing how we view and invest in this digital frontier.   How The Dots Joined Up For Justin What’s truly remarkable is that WebStreet transforms the traditionally active management of online businesses into a completely passive opportunity, allowing investors to tap into this lucrative market without the need for extensive expertise or time commitments. But that’s not all; Justin’s journey in the online business world doesn’t end here. He’s also the Founder and CMO of Empire Flippers, where his decade-plus experience has propelled the company from zero revenue to a staggering $450 million in business sales since 2012. So how has he helped countless investors find online companies that yield the best returns? And what is the key for online business owners to secure the highest sale prices when exiting their companies. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Justin Cooke.

MOTIVATION TIME: Vision Simplifies Life In this podcast episode, we unravel the profound wisdom of Dr. Myles Munroe, the visionary sage. He likens his insight to a pair of magical glasses that can simplify your life in the most extraordinary way. Imagine life as a grand buffet of endless choices, like a dessert table laden with tempting treats. Without a clear vision, it's easy to get lost in the chaos, piling your plate with everything and feeling overwhelmed. But when you put on Dr. Munroe's visionary glasses, life becomes an organized menu with sections representing your dreams and aspirations. You'll discover how vision simplifies life in five remarkable ways: Simplified Priorities: Your vision becomes a filter, helping you focus on what truly matters. Like aiming to become a world-class chef and choosing the culinary path over distractions. Efficient Decision-Making: Your vision guides your choices, making decisions a breeze. For example, if your dream is to travel the world as a photographer, you'll easily know which job opportunities align with that vision. Overcoming Challenges: Think of your vision as a map for life's ups and downs, helping you navigate setbacks with resilience and purpose.  Time Management Wizardry: Vision helps you reclaim precious time by eliminating distractions that don't serve your goals. Imagine the extra hours for what truly matters. Inspiring Others: Your vision isn't just personal; it's magnetic, attracting like-minded individuals who want to join your journey. In essence, Dr. Munroe's "Vision simplifies life" is like having a perfectly organized wardrobe, making it effortless to choose what suits you best. It's the magic wand that transforms life's chaos into a symphony of purpose, joy, and fulfillment.  Join us on this inspiring journey to discover how to put on your visionary glasses and embark on your most exciting adventure yet!

LIFE COACHING: The Trick To Beating The Defeated Mind 🎙️ Podcast Episode: "Unearth the Magic of Persistence!" Discover the inspiring journey of David, the not-so-average hero who conquered the impossible – from struggling with just six push-ups to mastering ten! Join us in this captivating episode as we delve into the importance of embracing discomfort and persistence in achieving your goals. 🚀 In this episode, you'll learn: Why shortcuts often lead to subpar results. The transformative power of embracing discomfort. How persistence is the key to true success. Listen now and share with your friends and family to unlock the secrets of achievement! 🌟 #Inspiration #Persistence #SuccessStories #Podcast #GoalSetting #EmbraceDiscomfort #NeverGiveUp #ViralMarketing #ShareTheWisdom

LIFE COACHING: Why Success Is Different For All Of Us Are you ready to embark on an inspiring journey of personal and professional growth? Join us in the latest episode of #SuccessUnleashedPodcast as we explore the transformative power of defining your own success and celebrating your achievements! In a world where external validation often takes the spotlight, we'll show you why it's crucial to create your unique definition of success. 🌟 Discover how this shift can supercharge your motivation, authenticity, and resilience, making you the architect of your destiny. But that's not all! We'll dive deep into the art of celebration – from small victories to monumental milestones. 🎉 Uncover why celebrating your achievements is more than just a pat on the back; it's the secret sauce for happiness and continual growth. 🧘‍♀️ In our journey, we'll explore the world of individuality, motivation, and authenticity, finding the compass that guides you to your dreams. 🌍 You'll learn how celebrating your successes is like planting seeds of joy, reaping a harvest of resilience, and thriving in a world of constant change. So, don't miss this chance to be inspired and empowered. Tune in to #SuccessUnleashedPodcast and embark on your very own journey of personal and professional transformation. 🚀 Remember to share this episode with your friends, family, and colleagues using our viral hashtags:  #DefineYourSuccess #CelebrateYourWins #SuccessUnleashedPodcast 🌟 Let's spread the message of self-discovery and growth together! Listen now and unlock your full potential! 🎧🔓

MOTIVATION TIME: Success Doesn't Come To You Welcome to today's podcast, where we dive into the inspiring world of success and the incredible journeys of some of the world's most famous celebrities. As the renowned educator Marva Collins once said, "Success doesn't come to you; you go to it." This powerful quote reminds us that success isn't a passive pursuit – it's an active journey that demands dedication, determination, and a touch of audacity. We'll explore the stories of remarkable individuals who have taken this philosophy to heart and achieved phenomenal success by going after their dreams with unwavering persistence. From Oprah Winfrey's rise from poverty to becoming a global icon, to J.K. Rowling's resilience in the face of rejection, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's transition from football to wrestling to Hollywood stardom – their journeys are a testament to what's possible when you actively pursue your goals. We'll also delve into the visionary world of Steve Jobs, who didn't wait for opportunities but created them, transforming the way we live and work. These celebrities share a common thread: they refused to be passive spectators in their own lives. They understood that success is a journey filled with challenges, setbacks, and triumphs. They embraced the idea that to achieve their dreams, they had to go after them with all their heart and soul. We'll also discuss practical steps you can take to apply this philosophy to your own life, including setting clear goals, staying persistent in the face of adversity, taking calculated risks, believing in yourself, and working diligently towards your aspirations. So, join us as we explore these incredible stories and discover how Marva Collins' wisdom can inspire you to embark on your unique journey towards success. Remember, your dreams are waiting to be realized – don't wait for success to come to you; go out and seize it!

HEALTH: How To Stop Feeling BLAH In this special episode, we're highlighting the incredible engagement we've had from our listeners across Europe who opened up about their experiences with low-level depression. These individuals, hailing from the charming streets of Dublin to the vibrant corners of Milan, have bravely shared their stories and questions, proving that we are never alone in our struggles. From Emma in Dublin, who sought practical strategies to overcome lack of motivation and find her sense of purpose, to Luca in Milan, who yearns for a daily routine that nurtures his mental well-being, each voice resonates with a unique journey of self-discovery and growth. Sofia in Lisbon reminds us of the importance of cultivating a positive mindset while striving for productivity, while Oliver from London grapples with finding balance amidst responsibilities to keep feelings of depression at bay. Isabella in Barcelona speaks to those facing low self-esteem and a lack of motivation, as Lukas in Berlin seeks to reignite his creative spark despite mental blocks. Lastly, Amélie from Paris reminds us that even amidst the most romantic settings, we all need guidance to infuse joy and positivity into our lives. Key Takeaways: You are not alone: These stories remind us that struggles with low-level depression are shared by many, across different cities and cultures. Practical strategies: Our brave listeners ask for guidance, showing their readiness to embrace practical steps to improve their mental well-being. Connection and growth: By sharing our experiences, we connect, empathize, and grow as a community of support. Call to Action: If you resonate with these heartfelt stories and questions, share this episode with someone who might need it. Join our community in learning how to overcome low-level depression, cultivate positivity, and find your own light within. Remember, your journey matters, and your story is part of the tapestry that makes us all stronger.  Stay tuned for more empowering episodes of "Light Within." Keep shining bright! 🌟

LISTENER SUCCESS: Finding Fulfilment Beyond the Chase for Growth In a world that constantly pushes us to seek more, we often find ourselves trapped in the never-ending race for business growth. But what if there's another way? In our latest podcast episode, we explore the transformative power of seeking personal growth and balance in both life and business. 🌱 Listeners have shared their incredible journeys from overwhelm to inspiration, and the benefits are truly life-changing: #PersonalGrowth: Discover how embracing personal growth can be the key to finding fulfillment and direction in your entrepreneurial journey. #OverwhelmNoMore: Say goodbye to stress and burnout as you learn to take a step back and redefine your approach to success. #ClarityAndDirection: Gain the clarity you've been seeking in your pursuits, making informed decisions and setting meaningful goals. #RenewedPurpose:  Find your purpose anew as you realize that life isn't just about numbers, but about personal development and holistic growth. #WorkLifeBalance: Achieve a better balance between your professional and personal life, escaping the never-ending chase for more. Join us in this inspiring episode where we unravel the profound benefits of not just chasing growth, but chasing growth with purpose.  Share this episode with friends and family who might need that extra push toward a more meaningful and balanced journey. Let's make personal growth go viral! 🚀🌟 Tune in now and discover a world of possibilities beyond the race for more. 🎧 #Podcast #Inspiration #Balance #PersonalGrowth #LifeAndBusiness #SuccessWithPurpose

MOTIVATION TIME: It Doesn't Matter How Slow Yo Are Don't Stop Join us as we uncover the quirky depths of his wisdom: "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." Picture life as a grand adventure, and Confucius is your hilarious GPS. Let's dive in with humor and real-life tales: In essence, Confucius' wit reveals life's truth: it's a marathon buffet, not a sprint. Goals, learning, life – slow progress is progress. So, embrace your inner turtle. Confucius gives a thumbs-up: "You're on the champion's path. Turtles reach the finish line too." Tune in and share the laughter with the "TurtleWit Podcast" using #TurtleWitJourney. Let's make the slow-and-steady approach the new trend. #LaughWithConfucius #SlowProgressWins #LifeAdventure #EmbraceTheTurtle #PodcastJourney #WisdomWithHumor #LaughAndLearn #KeepGoing #ShareTheLaughter

LIFE COACHING: Say Goodbye To Personal Excuses Summary: Join us on this inspiring podcast episode as we delve into a heartwarming story of a young woman's journey to pursue her dreams, despite personal doubts and fears. Learn the power of embracing your heart's compass, eradicating excuses, and achieving your goals. Just like the daughter in our story who overcame adversity, you too can find your path to success. Don't miss this incredible episode! #NoExcuses #DreamBig #HeartCompass #InspirationPodcast #UnleashPotential #ShareYourStory #SuccessJourney

BUSINESS MASTERCLASS: Business Growth - Good or Bad? Welcome back to the Steve Jobs-inspired Join Up Dots business podcast! We have a familiar face joining us once more - ChatGPT Expert Colin Scotland. He first graced our show back in January 2022 and then just a few weeks ago. Typically, we have experts on the show to delve into their life stories, exploring their successes, failures, and the ultimate redemption they've found. However, today's episode takes a unique twist. We've invited Colin back to discuss something that resonates deeply with everyone at Join Up Dots: the fight against growth for the sake of growth in business. In today's world, the obsession with "more, more, and more" has become a mantra, often neglecting the fact that this relentless pursuit of growth can dilute the quality of what we can offer our clients. It can lead us down paths that make us forget that every sale represents a real person seeking solutions to their own problems. So, is being anti-growth just fanciful thinking? Is it synonymous with treading water in business? That's precisely what we aim to explore today. Colin Scotland is the perfect guest to tackle this topic with us. His insights into the balance between growth and sustainability, maintaining quality, and managing personal workload are not only thought-provoking but also immensely valuable. So, let's dive in and start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. ChatGPT, Colin Scotland! 🚀 #JoinUpDots #BusinessPodcast #SustainabilityInBusiness #QualityMatters #BalancedGrowth #ColinScotland #ChatGPT

MOTIVATION TIME: The Best Time To Plant A Tree Is Twenty Years Ago 🌱 Ready to unlock life-changing wisdom? Join us on a journey of transformation with the powerful Chinese proverb: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." This metaphorical gem goes beyond tree planting – it's a roadmap to embracing change and seizing opportunities. Reflect on missed chances like unwatered plants, but don't linger in the land of 'could-have-beens.' The heart of the quote? "The second best time is now." Procrastination? It's out of the picture. Embrace the present to shape your future. Regret? Bid it farewell and channel your energy into positive change. Small steps, mindset shifts, resilience – they're your tools for growth. Break free from the cycle of delay and write your story of empowerment and accountability. And just like a tree, meaningful change takes time. Patience is your secret weapon. Tune in and share the "Now Is the Time Podcast" using #EmbraceChangeNow. Let's dive into the wisdom of the ages and rewrite the chapters of our lives – one inspiring moment at a time. #SeizeOpportunities #EmbraceNow #PositiveChange #PowerOfAction #PodcastInspiration #WisdomOfAges #TransformYourLife #CreateYourDestiny #ShareTheJourney  

🎙️ Podcast Episode: Unlocking Local Business Success with David Are you looking to start your own business but unsure where to begin? Tune in to our latest podcast episode where we had the privilege of sitting down with David, a seasoned entrepreneur who has cracked the code to local business success. His insights are a game-changer, and you won't want to miss this episode! 🌟 Key Takeaways: Discover 30 exciting business ideas categorized as "Sell," "Tell," and "Do." Learn how to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey in your local area before going global. Hear real-life success stories and strategies that actually work. Understand the power of personalized coaching, training, and online courses. David's wisdom is a breath of fresh air for anyone who's been hesitant to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. He shares how he's helped countless individuals like you turn their passion into profit. 🔥 Don't Miss Out! Share this episode with friends, family, and anyone looking to unlock their entrepreneurial potential. Let's spread the knowledge and inspire others to take that first step towards financial freedom! #LocalBusinessSuccess #Entrepreneurship #StartupIdeas #DavidOnBusiness #PodcastWisdom #UnlockYourPotential #ShareTheKnowledge Listen now and get ready to embark on an exciting journey to local business success! 🚀🎧

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: How To Win The Now Eric Recker is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots Podcast. This is one of those stories that so many of us find ourselves living until a change is forced on us to reassess, pivot and finally start walking the path waiting for us. Eric spent the first half of his life doing what he thought he had to do. Putting his nose down and enduring the grind. But it was never quite enough he wanted more. Through experiences with triathlon, mountain climbing, owning a dental practice with a team of 20, becoming a pilot, and extensive travel, he learned that what he was searching for wasn’t at the top of the mountain. How The Dots Joined Up For Eric Through the COVID-forced closure of Dr. Eric Recker’s dental practice in spring of 2020, he realized he had not been living in the present in his own life. He kept climbing mountains (literally and figuratively) to try to find meaning at the “mountain top,” but then realized what he was searching for wasn’t “out there.” After an extensive time of quiet and reflection, the concept came to Eric. This concept helps people to overcome the “epidemic of distraction” that seems to be impacting us all. Now in the second half of his life, he is committed to helping people learn to live present in their own lives and find a life of fulfilment, not just accomplishment. Through his coaching, speaking, and writing, he is working to help as many people as possible learn to #WINtheNOW. So we all know that the gift of life is in the present, so why do all get so off track when living our own lives? And now he knows this better than most, how does he react when he still finds himself in a headspace nowhere near the present? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Dr Eric Recker.

🎙️ Join Up Dots Podcast: Conquering Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome 🌟  Are you ready to break free from the shackles of self-doubt and imposter syndrome? Join us on this week's episode of the Join Up Dots podcast, where we've gathered listeners' burning questions from around the world to help you conquer your inner critic and unleash your full potential! 🌍🚀 🗣️ Listener Questions: From Brooklyn, New York 🗽, Sarah asks, "How can I overcome imposter syndrome and start believing in myself more?" #BelieveInYourself #SelfConfidence London's John 🇬🇧 wonders, "What practical strategies can I use to combat imposter syndrome in my new job?"  #ImposterSyndromeNoMore #NewBeginnings Maria, calling in from sunny Los Angeles 🌞, asks, "How can I silence my inner critic and build self-esteem?" #InnerStrength #SelfLove Raj, all the way from vibrant Mumbai 🇮🇳, queries, "How do I stop comparing myself to others in my industry?" #NoMoreComparisons #BeYourself G'day from Sydney 🐨! Emily wants to know, "How can I separate my accomplishments from imposter syndrome?" #OwnYourSuccess #Accomplishments David, joining us from the heart of Toronto 🍁, asks, "Can you share tips on overcoming imposter syndrome in dating and relationships?" #LoveYourselfFirst #AuthenticConnections Discover the inspiring answers to these questions and gain valuable insights into conquering self-doubt and imposter syndrome in various aspects of your life. It's time to step into your power and let your brilliance shine! 🌟✨ Tune in now and share this episode with your friends using our viral marketing hashtags: #ConquerSelfDoubt #ImposterSyndromeFree #JoinUpDotsPodcast 📣 Let's empower each other to overcome these challenges and achieve our dreams together! 💪🔥 Listen here: [Insert podcast link] #Empowerment #Inspiration #SelfImprovement #PodcastInspo #ShareTheWisdom

TOP PRODUCTIVITY & MOTIVATION HACK Welcome to another episode of Join Up Dots, the podcast where we connect the dots to success! Today, we're diving into a fascinating topic: how starting one task can kickstart your motivation and productivity across various areas of your life. Have you ever experienced that amazing boost of energy and drive after tackling unrelated tasks? Well, you're not alone, and there are some psychological reasons behind this phenomenon. First up, we have the Zeigarnik Effect. This intriguing psychological concept tells us that our brains remember uncompleted tasks better than completed ones. So when you start something and leave it hanging, your brain keeps it active in your working memory, creating a mental itch to finish it. As you complete one task, that sense of accomplishment and momentum can inspire you to tackle more. Next, the feeling of achievement plays a significant role. Completing any task, no matter how small, triggers the release of dopamine, the pleasure and reward neurotransmitter. That rush of positivity can motivate you to pursue other goals in different areas of your life. Cognitive priming is another key player. Engaging in a productive activity can tune your brain into a productivity mode, making it easier to transition to other tasks. It's like your brain gets a productivity boost. Psychological flexibility is a fascinating aspect too. When you work on unrelated tasks, you become more adaptable and open to new challenges. Successfully completing tasks in different areas instills confidence and belief in your abilities, fueling your motivation. Don't forget the positive feedback loop. Success breeds success. When you see progress in one area, it can create a snowball effect, pushing you to pursue success in other areas as well. Clearing mental clutter is a bonus. Accomplishing small tasks can reduce stress and mental clutter, giving you clarity and freedom to focus on other activities and goals. And finally, goal-oriented behavior kicks in. Achieving one goal often triggers a goal-oriented mindset. After one success, you're more likely to set and pursue new goals, whether they're related to exercise, work, or personal projects. In summary, starting tasks, even if they're unrelated, can set off a chain reaction of motivation and productivity. It's all thanks to psychological factors like the Zeigarnik Effect, the sense of achievement, cognitive priming, and the positive feedback loop. So, next time you need a boost in motivation, consider starting with a small task – it might just kickstart your productivity in unexpected ways!

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: Start Up Strategy And Mastery Meet our guest, a seasoned venture capitalist and angel investor, whose passion is turning dreams into thriving businesses. With two decades of experience in the tech and finance world, they've been in the trenches of global corporations, gaining invaluable insights into what makes a business succeed. But they didn't keep this knowledge to themselves. They founded Beyond Formation, a platform that equips founders at any stage with a game-changing blueprint for building robust businesses. It's not just about funding; it's about practical, powerful systems that make ambitious goals attainable. As if that weren't enough, they walk the talk as the co-founder and CTO of Forum360, pioneering an analytics and behavioral science-driven platform for client engagement and sales. Their track record includes key roles at industry giants, shaping the very software that drives investment management today. From the lobster pound back in their coastal Maine hometown to towering offices in Manhattan, their journey has been nothing short of remarkable. But they'll tell you, working with startups is where their heart truly lies. They're here to help you get organized, get traction, get funded, and most importantly, get the most out of your entrepreneurial journey. So, let's roll up our sleeves and start building together. Welcome to the podcast.

MOTIVATION TIME: The Only Person To Beat Is Yourself Welcome to a podcast that's about to ignite your journey towards self-improvement! 🔥 In a world filled with comparisons and pressures, remember this powerful mantra: "The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday." 🌟 Join us as we unravel the depth of this profound quote. Discover the magic of personal growth, where your greatest competition is your former self. 🌱 Embrace a positive mindset, continuous learning, and the beauty of setting achievable goals. Say goodbye to the cycle of comparison and hello to self-compassion. 🌈 Unlock the secrets to embracing change, fostering gratitude, and leaving a legacy of growth that inspires others. 🚀 Your journey starts now. Tune in and share this transformative insight using #BeBetterThanYesterdayPodcast. Let's spark a movement of self-improvement together! 💪🌎 #PersonalGrowth #SelfImprovement #PositiveMindset #EmbraceChange #LegacyOfGrowth #Inspiration #PodcastJourney #BeYourBestSelf #ShareTheWisdom

LISTENER SUCCESS: Three New Businesses Are Born Welcome back to Join Up Dots, the podcast where we celebrate entrepreneurial spirit and creativity! Today, we have something special in store for you. We're featuring three innovative business ideas that have been developed by our very own listeners. These ideas showcase the power of imagination and the drive to turn dreams into reality. So, let's dive right in! 1. Drone Wedding Photography Business Our first entrepreneur came up with a fantastic idea for a business that combines technology and romance - a Drone Wedding Photography Business. Recognizing the increasing popularity of drones, this entrepreneur realized the unique opportunity to capture breathtaking aerial shots of weddings. Their company offers couples the chance to document their special day from unique angles, providing stunning, cinematic footage of their wedding. By offering this innovative service, they've tapped into a niche market, providing something truly unforgettable for couples looking to tie the knot. 2. In-Home Romantic Dining Experience Next up, we have another entrepreneur who has turned their passion into profit. This visionary's business idea revolves around creating unforgettable culinary experiences for couples right in the comfort of their own homes. They've started a Cooking Business where a professional chef visits people's houses to prepare and serve romantic meals. Whether it's a special anniversary, a proposal, or simply a desire for a memorable date night, this entrepreneur brings a restaurant-quality dining experience to their doorstep. Their venture not only satisfies the taste buds but also adds a personal touch that's hard to find elsewhere. 3. Digital Retreat Detox Business Our third entrepreneur recognized the growing need for digital detox and self-care in today's fast-paced world. They founded a Digital Retreat Detox Business, offering individuals the opportunity to escape the digital noise and recharge in a serene and distraction-free environment. Whether it's a weekend getaway or an extended retreat, this entrepreneur provides a structured program that includes meditation, mindfulness, and unplugged activities. With the increasing awareness of the importance of mental well-being, their business has struck a chord with those seeking respite from the constant connectivity of modern life. These three business ideas, born from the minds of our listeners, exemplify the endless possibilities that entrepreneurship offers. These entrepreneurs have harnessed their creativity and passion to create unique ventures that cater to distinct market needs. Their stories are a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and the potential for success in pursuing one's dreams. So, whether you're interested in drone technology, gourmet dining, or digital detox, remember that innovative ideas can lead to exciting and profitable businesses. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories on Join Up Dots, where we continue to celebrate the entrepreneurial journey!

ENTREPRENUR INTERVIEW: Adventure, Business And Travel Wayfinders Founder Mike Brcic joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots Podcast Today, we're diving deep into ae captivating world, so imagine a voyage where innovation meets purpose, where digital landscapes are transformed into avenues of growth and empowerment. Today, we unveil the extraordinary tale of Wayfinders, a beacon of light in the ever-evolving tech universe. From their humble beginnings to becoming trailblazers of innovation, Wayfinders has been carving a path towards excellence. Through the highs and lows, the triumphs and setbacks, you'll hear first-hand how its become what it is today. It's a saga of determination, collaboration, and relentless curiosity that has led them to redefine the boundaries of possibility. How The Dots Joined Up For Wayfinders But Wayfinders is more than just a tech story; it's a testament to the human spirit's boundless potential. It's a reminder that even in the vast expanse of the digital landscape, the heart and soul of a community can flourish, connect, and leave an indelible mark.  Whether you're an aspiring tech enthusiast, a seeker of inspiration, or simply someone eager to witness the power of dreams turned into reality, this is your compass to navigate your own personal journey. So how did the company get off the ground and continue to grow, not only selling out each year but multiple years in the future? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots the founder of Wayfinders, Mr Mike Brcic

MOTIVATION TIME: Success and Failure Is Not Final 🎙️ Ready to transform your perspective on success and failure? Join our captivating podcast episode as we dive into the profound wisdom of Winston Churchill's words: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." 🚀 Unveil the revolutionary concept that success is a dynamic journey, not a static destination. Learn how failures are merely stepping stones, not dead ends. Discover the resilience and growth that come from embracing setbacks and persistently moving forward. Tune in and share this podcast to ignite a wave of #CourageousJourney #EmbraceSetbacks #UnleashResilience. Let's rewrite the rulebook on success and failure together! ✨🎧 #SuccessMindset #KeepGoing #Inspiration #Motivation #PodcastPower #FearlessPursuit #LearnAndGrow

LISTENER SUCCESS: From Webinar To Niche Business Welcome to the Join Up Dots Business Podcast! In today's episode, we have a fascinating journey to share with you. Mark Webster, an entrepreneur with a flair for outdoor lighting and security, is here to unravel the story of how he transformed a simple idea into a thriving business, specializing in garden lights and sensors installation. Let's dive into the highlights of Mark's entrepreneurial adventure: Step 1: Identifying a Local Opportunity Mark kickstarted his journey by delving into local market research, gaining insights into homeowners' desires and preferences. This research unveiled a notable demand for elevating outdoor spaces while enhancing security. Step 2: Idea Generation With the local opportunity identified, Mark ventured into brainstorming sessions, exploring various concepts. Ultimately, he honed in on the idea of garden lights and sensors, recognizing their dual functionality in providing aesthetics and security. Step 3: Market Research Extensive market research became Mark's compass, validating his business concept. He analyzed the competition, identified his target customers, and remained attuned to the dynamic landscape of outdoor lighting and smart home technology trends. Step 4: Refining the Concept To stay ahead of the curve, Mark decided to offer a diversified range of outdoor lighting solutions, incorporating smart sensors and eco-friendly options. This strategic choice attracted environmentally conscious consumers. Step 5: Business Plan Development Mark constructed a comprehensive business plan that encompassed key elements such as well-defined goals, target market segmentation, a robust marketing strategy, financial projections, operational blueprints, and legal compliance considerations. Step 6: Testing and Prototyping Before the official launch, Mark opted for a pragmatic approach by conducting tests and prototypes with friends and family. Their valuable feedback allowed him to fine-tune his installation processes. Step 7: Marketing and Launch With a solid business plan in hand, Mark confidently launched his venture. He executed a dynamic marketing strategy encompassing both online and offline channels to connect with potential customers effectively. T o supercharge your marketing efforts, Mark suggests a selection of viral hashtags: #GardenLightingMagic #OutdoorSensors #BrightenYourNights #SmartGardens #SecureHaven #GreenThumbTech In conclusion, Mark's entrepreneurial journey is a testament to the power of identifying local opportunities and developing a well-thought-out plan. As you embark on your own entrepreneurial path, remember that success often starts with recognizing the needs of your community and crafting a vision that resonates. Best of luck, and may your business shine as brilliantly as the garden lights Mark installs!"

ENTREPRENUR INTERVIEW: How To Build A $10M Language Business Welcome to the Join Up Dots podcast, where we bring you stories of inspiration, resilience, and success that will leave you motivated and eager to share with your friends and loved ones.  I'm your host, and today we have a truly exceptional guest with us. Olly Richards, a man whose journey from Jazz Musician to English Teacher to the founder of a $10 million online education business is nothing short of remarkable. Imagine going from the world of music to teaching English, and then transitioning to creating a thriving online education empire. That's exactly what Olly did, and today, we're going to dive deep into his incredible story. But before we do, let me ask you this: Have you ever had a moment in your life when everything changed? Well, Olly did. After a terrifying near-death experience on top of a mountain, he discovered the transformative power of learning through stories. This life-altering moment set him on a path that would ignite a global community of language enthusiasts. Olly is the founder of OllyRichards.co, where he empowers people with innovative language learning techniques that make the process enjoyable and accessible. As he says, he's building a business, storylearning.com, that works on his terms, generating millions of dollars every year with an eye-watering profit margin. He's living the dream of near-total time-freedom and impacting millions of people every month, all while owning a business he's immensely proud of. But here's the twist: Olly realized that most business advice out there is geared towards one thing – making more money right now. And while that might bring short-term gains, it can lead you away from what you truly want in the long run.  Olly's journey teaches us that business decisions aligned with your true self lead to a stronger, more profitable, and more valuable business over time. From his humble beginnings to becoming a prominent figure in language education, Olly embodies dedication and creativity. His storytelling approach revolutionizes how we connect with languages, fostering not just communication but also deep cultural appreciation and connection. In this episode, we'll delve into Olly's insights and experiences, uncovering invaluable lessons he's gathered along the way. Whether you're a language enthusiast, a storytelling aficionado, or simply intrigued by the fusion of education and creativity, this conversation promises fresh perspectives and sparks of inspiration.  So, as the world continues to learn languages every day, what made Olly stop and think that he could add something new to the pool? Grab your favorite beverage, find a cozy spot, and get ready to join up some dots with the one and only Olly Richards. In our conversation, we discussed a range of weighty subjects with Olly, including: Olly's incredible journey to find his happy place in life, a journey that was as unexpected to him as anyone. Why so many people make the mistake of throwing everything at their work, hoping for something magical to occur, instead of focusing on commitment, passion, and showing up every day. And lastly, Olly shares two powerful stories that are packed with amazing business insights that you simply have to hear. So, get ready to be inspired by Olly Richards and his journey from music to language education, where he's changing lives, one story at a time. Share this podcast with your friends and family because it's a story that deserves to be heard. Thank you for joining us on this episode of Join Up Dots, and remember, your own journey can be as remarkable as Olly's when you embrace your true self and follow your passions.

MOTIVATION TIME: Believe You Can And You Are Halfway There! Let's unravel the depth of Theodore Roosevelt's quote: "Believe you can and you're halfway there." Imagine you're embarking on a thrilling adventure – maybe you're climbing a mountain, running a marathon, or starting a new chapter in your life. The journey ahead might seem daunting, full of twists and turns, challenges and uncertainties. But here's where the magic of belief comes into play, just like Teddy Roosevelt pointed out. When you believe in yourself, it's like strapping on a pair of wings that help you soar through the skies of possibility. It's that tiny spark that ignites within you, whispering, "You've got this!"  And that spark, my friend, has the power to light up your entire journey. Think of belief as your secret superpower, your inner compass guiding you through uncharted territories. It's like having a trusty sidekick cheering you on, reminding you that you're stronger, smarter, and more capable than you think. When you wholeheartedly believe you can achieve something, you're setting the stage for success – you're priming your mind to overcome obstacles, conquer doubts, and keep pushing forward. Picture yourself standing at the foot of a colossal mountain. Your goal – reaching the summit – seems like a distant dream. But here's the kicker: if you believe in your ability to climb, if you truly, deeply, unwaveringly believe that you can make it to the top, you've already taken the first step upward. Belief isn't just about blind optimism; it's about tuning into your potential, recognizing your strengths, and realizing that you possess the tools to tackle even the loftiest of goals. It's like having a treasure map that leads you straight to the chest of victory. When you believe, you're telling your mind and your heart, "We're in this together, and we're going places!" The beauty of belief lies in its ability to fuel your determination. It's that extra boost of energy when your legs feel tired, that surge of motivation when the road gets tough. It's a whisper in your ear that says, "You're closer than you think, keep going!" Theodore Roosevelt hit the nail on the head – believing you can is like reaching the halfway point of your journey, because it propels you forward with a force that's unstoppable. So, as you walk the path of your ambitions, remember these words. Embrace that belief, nurture it, and let it guide you. With each step you take, you're not just inching closer to your goal – you're carving a path of determination and courage. Believe you can, and you're not just halfway there – you're already soaring higher than you ever imagined.

LIFE COACHING: Overcoming Personal Challenges 🎙️ Join Up Dots Podcast: Embrace New Challenges and Ignite Your Potential! In this inspirational episode of the Join Up Dots podcast, we dive into the stories of five individuals from across the globe who are determined to conquer new horizons and pursue their passions. Join us as we explore their questions and provide insightful guidance, fueling your motivation to take the first steps towards your own personal challenges! 🚀 🌟 #FearlessDreams #EmpowerYourJourney #UnleashYourPotential Emily Thompson 🇺🇸 Austin, Texas, USA Embrace the adventure as we follow Emily's journey from a stable job to her dream of becoming a travel writer. Discover how to overcome the fear of change and transition gracefully towards your passion. Tune in to learn actionable strategies that will inspire you to take that leap of faith and embark on a life-changing new challenge. Carlos Martinez 🇪🇸 Madrid, Spain Dreaming of entrepreneurship? Join Carlos as he seeks the path to starting his own business while facing doubts about skills and resources. Uncover the secrets to building unshakable confidence and gathering the knowledge you need to dive headfirst into your entrepreneurial journey. This episode is packed with actionable steps that will set you on the path to success. Lily Chen 🇨🇦 Vancouver, Canada Feeling stuck in your current career? Lily's quest for a new challenge is relatable to anyone seeking change. Tune in to discover how to identify challenges that align with your passions and strengths, and gain insights on smooth transitions that will keep you motivated, focused, and unstoppable. Raj Patel 🇮🇳 Mumbai, India Navigating the creative unknown can be tough, especially when surrounded by skeptics. Raj's desire to pursue graphic design inspires us to rise above doubts and embrace artistic challenges. Learn how to handle naysayers, stay steadfast in your goals, and channel your focus towards your creative aspirations. Isabella Wright 🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom Running a marathon requires more than physical strength—it demands mental resilience and consistent training. Join Isabella on her journey to conquer the marathon challenge and learn powerful strategies that will help you maintain motivation, discipline, and focus. Get ready to conquer your mental and physical limits. Join us in this episode as we empower you to break free from limitations and embark on your own path of growth and achievement. Whether you're aiming for a career change, entrepreneurship, creative pursuits, or physical feats, these stories and strategies will ignite your spirit and set you on a transformative journey. 🔗 Connect with us: JoinUpDots.com | #JoinUpDotsPodcast #NewChallengesAhead #InspiredAction

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: Ben Guttman: Simplicity, Clarity And Biz Success Ben Guttman is out guest today on the Join Up Dots business podcast. Today, we’re diving into the world of marketing and human connection. Our guest isnt just a marketing entrepreneur; he’s an educator, writer, and curator of the dance between people and ideas. Ben is here to guide us through his journey, where simplicity reigns supreme in a noisy world. His career, from marketing agencies to collaborations with industry giants, has led to a profound revelation: simplicity cuts through the clutter and paves the path to success. As we explore the pages of his upcoming book, set to be published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Ben shares his visionary insights. From partnering with local gems to collaborating with NFL and I Love NY, we are going to unravel the mysteries behind our choices, votes, and purchases. But this journey isn’t just about success; it’s about community and connection. Ben’s impact resonates beyond the boardroom, shaping economic opportunities and strengthening his beloved hometown.  So if the simplest thing is simplicity then why do so many people make things difficult for themselves by over complicating? And what is the first thing we can do to build connections in such a way? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Ben Guttmann.

MOTIVATION TIME: Dont Be Disappointed In 20 Years 🎙️ Get ready to ignite your spirit with this inspiring podcast episode! Join us as we unravel the wisdom of Mark Twain's iconic words: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." 🚀 Dive into the power of regret, the spark of taking risks, and the beauty of embracing change. We explore how these timeless principles can reshape your journey and propel you toward your dreams. Don't miss out on a life painted with exploration, curiosity, and transformation. Tune in and share this podcast to light up the world with #UnleashYourPotential #DreamBig #EmbraceChange #AdventureAwaits. Let's rewrite our stories together! ✨🎧 #Inspiration #Motivation #PodcastPower #ChangeYourLife #BeFearless #DreamExploreDiscover

BUSINESS COACHING: Should We Just Say Sod It I'm Already Ok? Unleash Your Dreams and Embrace Happiness 🎙️ Are you ready to dive into a world of inspiration and wisdom? In today's episode, we're unlocking the secrets to a fulfilling life with a powerful mantra: "It's amazing to have dreams, but more often than not, it's better to simply be happy with the life that you already have." 🌟✨ Let's break down this profound perspective on happiness and contentment, one insight at a time, and discover how you can live your best life yet. 🌠 #DreamsAndAspirations: Discover the magic of dreams! They're not just stars to wish upon; they're the rocket fuel of personal growth and progress. 🚀 Dreams ignite our passions, propel us to conquer new heights, and transform us into the shining stars we're meant to be. Embrace the journey of becoming the best version of yourself, fueled by the power of your aspirations. 🌟 #PresentMomentBliss: Hold onto your seats because we're exploring the treasure trove of the present moment! 🎁 While dreams paint a vivid picture of a brighter future, it's equally vital to savor the beauty around us today.  Dive into the ocean of simple pleasures and immerse yourself in the joy of now. It's a reminder that life's most precious moments are often found in the everyday.  🙏 #GratitudeOverflow: Get ready to ignite a spark of gratitude! Contentment doesn't mean putting your dreams on hold; it's about celebrating the abundance already in your grasp. 🌼 Cultivating appreciation for the people, opportunities, and experiences in your life magnifies your sense of fulfillment. Remember, in the garden of life, every moment is a bloom to be cherished.  ⚖️ #BalanceAndSerenity: Find your harmony in the dance between dreams and contentment. 🌈 Striving for success without acknowledging your achievements can lead to burnout, while excessive complacency might hold you back. Strike the balance, embracing ambition alongside gratitude. It's the symphony that soothes your soul and fuels your momentum. 🌺 #LiveAuthentically: Unleash the authentic you! 🦋 Contentment thrives when you align your dreams with your true self, not societal pressures. Embrace your uniqueness, and let authenticity be your North Star. In the face of challenges, your self-acceptance will be your guide, leading you to purpose and resilience. 🌀 #AdaptAndThrive: Life's a rollercoaster of change, and you're about to embrace every twist and turn! 🎢 Flexibility and adaptability are your tickets to empowerment. When circumstances shift, adjust your dreams and watch happiness flourish in the midst of change. You'll navigate transitions with grace and a heart full of positivity. 🌞 In essence, this episode is your roadmap to merging dreams with present happiness, cultivating a life of purpose, gratitude, and fulfillment. By valuing both ambition and contentment, you'll embark on a journey that enriches your emotional well-being and magnifies your overall joy. So remember, my friends, let your dreams soar high, but bask in the glow of the present—where dreams and happiness intertwine.  Tune in, be inspired, and embrace the magic of life! 🌟🎉 Catch this episode and share your thoughts using our signature hashtags: #DreamsAndHappinessPodcast #EmbraceTheMagic #LiveFulfilledNow 🎧🌟

PLEASE HELP: Russ Walks The Uk Anticlockwise Welcome to another episode of "Inspirational Journeys." In this episode, we're diving into the captivating life story of Russ Chittenden, a man whose journey has captured the hearts of many. Through his own words, Russ takes us on a remarkable expedition of his experiences and the lessons he's learned along the way. Russ begins his narrative by recounting his origins, having been born in Minster Hospital on the Isle of Sheppey. Although he holds no personal memories of the island, fate would soon guide his family's path towards new horizons. At the tender age of one or two, Russ and his family relocated to Nottingham, a move that marked the beginning of a transformative journey spanning 39 years. Growing up amidst the sprawling expanse of the University of Nottingham's 52-acre sports fields, Russ reminisces about his childhood adventures alongside his siblings. His father's role as head groundsman not only shaped their living situation but also instilled within him a strong connection to the outdoors and the freedom it represents. A house that once stood as their home is now etched into history as a tram line, a poignant reminder of the passage of time. With a chuckle, Russ shares the tale of his unconventional school routine, a "free range" existence reminiscent of unfettered chickens. The daily dinner call echoed through the fields at 5pm, drawing the Chittenden siblings back home like a flock. Russ reveals that even attending school required creative coaxing, including the occasional tractor ride to ensure his presence. Formal education may not have ignited his passion, but these anecdotes paint a vivid picture of a spirited young soul unbounded by convention. As he entered his teenage years, a new chapter unfolded with a move to Aylesbury. This transition, though unintentional, sparked a yearning for exploration and a desire to break free from confinement. This yearning was eventually answered through a bold career shift into the military, granting Russ the opportunity to explore distant lands. The Indian Ocean, the Malacca Straits, and the South China Sea became his maritime playground during a transformative two-year journey post-military service. Russ's versatility shines as he recounts his experiences in home construction, a skill honed before his military tenure. This skill not only left its mark on his native counties but carried him across continents. Stepping foot on African soil and engaging with diverse cultures worldwide, Russ's tale becomes a testament to the unquenchable thirst for discovery. The most poignant facet of Russ's journey comes to light as he reveals his motivations for an extraordinary coastal expedition. This quest, fueled by a desire for boundless existence, now takes on a dual purpose — to uplift fellow citizens who've faced adversity in service to their nation. Russ's heartwarming commitment to giving back underscores the depth of his character. In closing, Russ reflects on the life he's lived thus far, expressing a profound sense of fulfillment. His words resonate with the assurance that if his time were to end tomorrow, his life would be regarded as one richly lived. Interacting with his listeners, he expresses gratitude for the connections made and the shared experiences that make the United Kingdom truly special. With a touch of humor, Russ playfully anticipates his return home, knowing that the allure of the unknown will soon beckon him once more. As we wrap up this episode, we're reminded of the power of a life fully lived, a journey enriched by experiences, connections, and the unwavering pursuit of the next horizon. Thank you for joining us on "Inspirational Journeys." Be sure to tune in next time as we uncover more extraordinary stories of individuals who've embarked on paths less traveled, leaving behind trails of inspiration for us all.

MOTIVATION TIME: Don't Strike When The Iron Is Hot let's explore the depth of William Butler Yeats' quote: "Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking." Imagine standing in a blacksmith's workshop, watching the craftsman at his anvil. He holds a piece of iron over the fiery forge, waiting for it to reach the perfect temperature. Traditionally, people might say, "Strike while the iron is hot," implying that you should act when conditions are favorable. But Yeats flips the script with his wisdom. He's telling us not to wait for the stars to align, for the perfect moment, or for everything to be just right. Instead, he's saying that we have the power to create those favorable conditions ourselves. Just like the blacksmith doesn't wait for the iron to heat up on its own – he actively makes it hot by striking it with his hammer – we shouldn't wait for the perfect circumstances to start taking action. This quote is a call to action, a reminder that we hold the tools to shape our destinies. It's easy to procrastinate, to put things off until we think the time is right. But Yeats encourages us to be proactive, to take control of our lives and endeavors. If we wait for the "right moment," we might end up waiting forever. Think about learning a new skill. You might think, "I'll start when I have more time," or "I'll wait until I'm more motivated." But Yeats urges us to dive in, to start now, even if it's a small step. By taking action, you're igniting the forge – you're making the iron hot. This philosophy applies to dreams, goals, and aspirations. Don't wait for everything to be perfect; instead, take steps to make things happen.  When you actively engage with your goals, you're putting energy into motion. You're creating momentum that propels you forward, even if the initial progress seems small. The beauty of Yeats' quote lies in its empowerment. It reminds us that we're not at the mercy of external circumstances – we have the ability to shape our circumstances. Like the blacksmith's hammer striking the iron, our efforts can create the heat needed for transformation. So, whether it's pursuing a passion, starting a project, or chasing your dreams, remember Yeats' words.  Don't wait for the "perfect moment"; seize the moment and make it perfect by your actions. Embrace the power to make the iron hot by striking, and watch how your proactive efforts forge the path to success.

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: Email Marketing Matt Treacey joins us on the Join Up Dots podcast today as the go to email marketing consultant for some of the world’s top business authors. In todays podcast, we are going to discuss the fascinating world of email marketing, where we delve into the essential aspects of nurturing and developing new subscribers. We will explore effective strategies and provide valuable insights to help you make the most out of your email marketing efforts. Additionally, we’ll uncover the common mistakes that beginners tend to make in this field. So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready for an exhilarating journey through the realm of email marketing!”  As our guest says “Combining a decade in email marketing automation with a background in ecology, I know what it takes to build systems designed for growth. My book Natural Orders draws on this, outlining a framework that currently generates millions of dollars in email revenue for dozens of small online businesses across the US and Oceania. So what was it about email marketing that made him want to build his future into the worlds inboxes? And now with AI taking over the world, does this mean that the old methods of connecting with customers are going to go the way of the do do? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Matt Treacey

PODCAST CONFESSION PART 3: The Route Back To Happiness 🎙️ Podcast Summary: Transforming Emotions for Empowerment Discover the transformative power within your emotional journey on this inspiring podcast episode! Explore the concept of turning depression and unhappiness into anger before reclaiming happiness. 🌟 🔑 Key Insights: Embrace the control you have over your emotional experiences to lead a more positive life.  Counterintuitive as it may seem, learn to leverage the interconnectedness of emotions to regain control over your emotional state. 🧠 The Journey: Awareness and Acceptance: Start by acknowledging and embracing unhappiness or depression. Validating your emotions is crucial, as dismissing them can worsen distress. By recognizing these feelings, you take charge of your emotional landscape. Transformation into Anger: Channel your unhappiness into empowering anger. Tap into its energy to ignite action and change. Shifting from powerlessness to empowerment, use this emotion to address the root causes of your distress. Action and Empowerment: Harness anger as a catalyst for positive action. Set boundaries, stand up for yourself, and make necessary life changes. This proactive shift helps you regain agency over your emotional well-being. Reclaiming Happiness: Convert anger-driven action into progress. Address factors contributing to unhappiness, leading to positive changes like improved relationships, growth, and achievement. Watch happiness emerge naturally. Emotional Resilience and Mastery: Transforming negativity fosters resilience and emotional mastery. Navigate feelings, adapt to challenges, and steer towards positivity. This newfound emotional intelligence equips you to gracefully handle setbacks. 🚨 Important Notes: Complexity of Mental Health: Understand that severe depression requires professional intervention. Not every situation aligns with this approach. Constructive Anger Management: Ensure you can manage anger constructively, as not everyone finds it easy. Self-awareness is key. 🌈 In Conclusion: Empower yourself by transforming unhappiness into actionable change. Guide your emotional experiences, leveraging emotions for personal growth and positivity. Approach this journey with self-awareness, empathy, and professional guidance when needed. 🔗 Share the Wisdom: Tune in, be inspired, and share this episode with #TransformEmotions #PositiveChange #EmpowerYourself. Let's spread the message of emotional empowerment together! 🎧✨

MOTIVATION TIME: In The Middle Of Every Difficulty Lies Opportunity Get ready to be inspired by the timeless wisdom of Albert Einstein's quote: "In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." Life's like an incredible adventure, a rollercoaster with its exhilarating highs and challenging lows. And when those tough moments hit – those times when you feel like shouting, "Why is this happening?" – that's when Einstein's genius lights the way. Imagine you're on a journey through a dense forest, and suddenly you face a massive boulder blocking your path. You could grumble and turn back, or you could see it as a golden chance. A chance to flex your problem-solving muscles, explore new routes, or simply admire the beauty around you as you find your way. Life's challenges are like those boulders. They might seem daunting, but they're also treasure chests filled with opportunities – exactly what Einstein talked about. Challenges push us beyond our limits, make us think outside the box, and unveil solutions we never dreamed of. It's like life whispering, "Here's a puzzle. Solve it and watch the magic happen!" Remember the first time you rode a bike? It was tricky, with wobbles and tumbles. But guess what? Those falls taught you balance, determination, and the taste of victory when you finally rode without training wheels. Difficulties are like those wobbles – they're disguised as lessons. Even Einstein faced hurdles in science. But he didn't give up; he saw challenges as opportunities to dive deeper, to question assumptions, and revolutionize our understanding of the universe. So, when life throws you a curveball, remember Einstein's words. Look past the struggle, and there's your glimmer of opportunity. It might mean growing stronger, learning something new, or discovering a better way. Just like a phoenix rising, opportunities often bloom from adversity, ready to transform your journey. Within every challenge, you'll find your chance to shine. Transform obstacles into stepping stones, rewrite your story with resilience and triumph. Embrace those tough times – they're the canvas for your victories. Just as Einstein's theories reshaped our world, your life can be a masterpiece painted with the colors of challenges conquered and opportunities seized.  So, get ready to embrace the wisdom of Einstein, and let's turn difficulties into stepping stones towards an extraordinary life. Share this podcast with everyone you know – because in every challenge, there's a world of opportunity waiting to be uncovered.

BUSINESS COACHING: 15 Steps to Conquer Any Goal Welcome to today's episode of "15 Steps to Conquer Any Goal." In this inspiring podcast, we're diving deep into the 15 essential steps that can empower you to conquer any goal you set your sights on. Whether you're aiming for personal growth, career success, or any other aspiration, these steps will guide you on your journey to achieve greatness. Episode Summary: Have you ever wondered what sets successful individuals apart from the rest? It's not just luck or talent – it's their unwavering commitment to following a systematic approach to goal achievement. Our 15 steps are your roadmap to unlocking your potential and reaching new heights: The journey might be long, but persistence is key. Keep going, even when things get tough. Your perseverance will be rewarded. Conclusion: Remember, achieving any goal is not about luck; it's about your mindset, dedication, and following a strategic path.  By incorporating these 15 steps into your journey, you're setting yourself up for success. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the victories, and always keep your eye on the transformational journey ahead. You've got this! Thank you for tuning in to "15 Steps to Conquer Any Goal."

ENTREPRENUR INTERVIEW: Unveiling the Path to Your Franchise Success! Hey there, trailblazers and dreamchasers! Are you ready to embark on an exhilarating journey towards unlocking your franchise dreams? Look no further, because we've got the ultimate guide to ignite your passion and drive your success story! In this electrifying podcast, we're diving deep into the world of entrepreneurship and franchises, unraveling the secrets to building your own empire. 🚀 Join us as we share real-life stories of individuals who turned their ambitions into thriving franchises, proving that Your Franchise is Waiting for none other than YOU. 💡 What's in Store for You: 🌐 Unleash Your Vision: We'll delve into the power of envisioning your success. Learn how to channel your unique ideas into a franchise concept that stands out in the competitive market. 🌟 Master the Mindset: Discover the mindset hacks that successful franchise owners swear by. Get ready to conquer challenges, embrace failures, and celebrate victories like never before. 📈 Blueprint for Growth: From day one to expansion milestones, we're sharing the step-by-step blueprint to grow your franchise from a single spark to a blazing sensation.  🤝 Building Teams that Soar: Explore the art of assembling a dream team that shares your passion and elevates your franchise to unprecedented heights. 🔥 Ignite Your Marketing: Uncover the latest viral marketing strategies that are setting the internet ablaze. Learn to leverage social media, storytelling, and more to spread your franchise's message far and wide. But wait, there's more! This isn't just a podcast – it's a movement. Join our community of unstoppable go-getters by using these top viral marketing hashtags: #FranchiseSuccessUnleashed #YourFranchiseJourney #EmpireDreams #IgniteAndInspire Share, listen, and become a part of the revolution. Your Franchise is Waiting, and so is your destiny. Tune in today and let's set the world on fire with your unstoppable franchise spirit! 🔥🔥🔥 Remember, success favors the bold. It's time to claim your spot in the franchise hall of fame. See you on the airwaves, visionary listeners! 🎉

PODCAST CONFESSION FOLLOW UP: Listener Emails And Question  Welcome to an inspiring episode of the Join Up Dots podcast, where authenticity reigns supreme. In this heart-to-heart conversation, our host, David Ralph, opens up about his recent struggles with depression. While he may seem happy and successful on the outside, he's been facing internal battles that he's ready to confront. David takes us on a journey of self-discovery, where he acknowledges the importance of being genuine with his emotions. Growing up in an environment where feelings weren't openly expressed, he learned to suppress them. However, he now realizes that this created a fake environment and hindered meaningful connections with others. He admits to projecting fake positivity at times, fearing judgment and avoiding seeking help. However, he understands that vulnerability is a stepping stone to building authentic relationships and developing effective coping strategies.  David delves into the impact of suppressing emotions, leading to isolation and a cycle of concealing true feelings. He bravely shares that he has few close friends, recognizing the need to surround himself with real-life people to form genuine connections. In conclusion, David vows to work on himself, to be more open and authentic with his emotions. He extends his encouragement to listeners who may be experiencing similar struggles to do the same. He seeks advice and input from those who've faced similar situations. The podcast emphasizes that it's okay not to be positive and bouncy all the time. Authenticity is key to connecting with others on a deeper level. David expresses gratitude for the support of his listeners and assures them that, despite his challenges, he remains committed to delivering inspiring content. Join the movement of authenticity and use these top-performing hashtags to spread the message: #AuthenticityMatters #BreakTheFacade #VulnerabilityWins #MentalHealthMatters #BeRealBeYou #EmbraceEmotions #FindYourTribe #SupportiveCommunity #InspirationInAuthenticity #BreakTheSilence As we wrap up, remember that Join Up Dots is all about taking massive action to create your future and life. Embrace your true emotions and seek the support you need to navigate through challenges. Stay tuned for more inspiring interviews and content that will help you achieve your dreams. Join Up Dots - Your journey to success and fulfillment. Share this episode, get involved, and let's inspire the world together!

PODCAST CONFESSION: Sometimes I Need Help Too Welcome to Join Up Dots, the podcast that believes life should be a fun-filled adventure every day. Hosted by David Ralph, this hit podcast encourages listeners to tap into their talents, skills, and God-given gifts to create the life they dream of. However, even a host full of enthusiasm has moments of vulnerability, and David opens up about feeling depressed lately, which is unusual for him. He shares that he has always suppressed his emotions and presented a facade of happiness to the world. David reflects on the importance of being authentic and genuine, even when life isn't all rainbows and sunshine. Society often values projecting positivity and strength, but it's essential to allow oneself to feel and express negative or vulnerable emotions. Suppressing emotions can lead to isolation and hinder the development of authentic relationships. He realizes that he needs to surround himself with real-life people and build meaningful connections to combat feelings of loneliness. David reaches out to his listeners, asking if anyone has gone through similar experiences and invites them to share their advice. In conclusion, he emphasizes that while Join Up Dots typically promotes positivity, it's equally important to be authentic and acknowledge struggles. He wants to connect with his audience on a deeper emotional level and invites them to support him on his journey to self-discovery. If you've resonated with this episode and have advice or experiences to share, reach out to David at . Thank you for listening, and remember, life may not always be perfect, but together, we can navigate the ups and downs. Join Up Dots will be back with more inspiring interviews soon. Take care and see you next time!

ENTREPRENEUR INTERVIEW: ChatGPT 🔥 #DreamLives #Entrepreneurship #BusinessJourney #Inspiration Welcome back to the Join Up Dots Business Podcast! T oday, we have a very special guest who will ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and inspire you to chase your dreams. Joining us is the brilliant Colin Scotland, a self-employed marketing business coach and strategist, and an expert in helping others define their message, direction, and income. Colin's journey, much like many successful entrepreneurs, has been filled with challenges and triumphs. From the exhilaration of witnessing sales pour in through his website to facing a financial collapse when a bank manager almost pulled the plug on his dream, Colin has experienced it all. However, he never gave up. Instead, he pivoted and found success in the world of AI and ChatGPT. Today, he combines his expertise with ChatGPT and AI to help his clients build conscious businesses. They discover their niche, identify their ideal clients, craft captivating content using AI, create compelling offers, and automate their marketing, saving both time and money. But why ChatGPT, and not any other AI platforms? Colin firmly believes that ChatGPT is the business version of the DeLorean from Back to the Future. It has the power to take your business to the next level, but it still needs the human touch to reach its full potential. In this captivating episode, Colin shares his experiences, the importance of finding the right pivot, and how embracing technology has transformed his life and business. His story is a true testament to resilience, perseverance, and the potential of combining human brilliance with AI advancements. 🚀 Join us as we dive deep into the world of entrepreneurship, technology, and the power of ChatGPT with the one and only Mr. ChatGPT, Colin Scotland! 🎉 Show Highlights: Colin's inspiring journey from the thrill of witnessing online sales to facing a financial collapse and bouncing back stronger than ever. The incredible potential of AI, and why Colin believes ChatGPT is the key to unlocking business success. Embracing the pivot and riding the wave of technology to create a lasting impact on your business. Discover the benefits of using ChatGPT Pro over the free version, and witness faster results in your business like never before! 🔗 Tune in to this must-listen episode and get ready to embark on your entrepreneurial journey with Colin Scotland and ChatGPT Pro by your side. Don't forget to share this empowering podcast with your friends and fellow dreamers using #DreamLives #Entrepreneurship #JoinUpDots! Let's create a viral buzz and inspire entrepreneurs from across the world to take charge of their destiny and build the businesses of their dreams! 🔥

LISTENER SUCCESS: Unveiling the Recipe for Perfect Business Ideas Worldwide 🎧 Listen in and get inspired by our incredible listeners from around the globe, who joined us on this special episode of Join Up Dots! We've received an array of fascinating questions from aspiring entrepreneurs seeking guidance on crafting the perfect business idea. 1️⃣ Sarah Thompson from Brighton, UK, wonders how to identify the most impactful business idea. #BrightonBusiness #PositiveImpact 2️⃣ Jake Ramirez hailing from Austin, Texas, USA, seeks advice on narrowing down business ideas and avoiding overwhelm. #AustinEntrepreneur #FocusOnOne 3️⃣ Emily Chen sends warm greetings from Vancouver, Canada, as she looks to create a unique selling point for her business ideas. #VancouverStartups #StandOut 4️⃣ Tom Wilson, all the way from Sydney, Australia, shares his passion for entrepreneurship and seeks guidance on aligning his interests with profitable ideas. #SydneyEntrepreneurs #ProfitableVentures 5️⃣ Mia Sanchez, sunny L.A.'s own, seeks tips on conducting effective market research to validate her business ideas. #LosAngelesStartups #MarketResearchTips 6️⃣ Luca Rossi joins us from Rome, Italy, and seeks key financial considerations for evaluating his potential ventures. #RomeEntrepreneurship #FinancialWisdom 💡 But the excitement doesn't end there! Tune in to hear the inspiring story of one of our very own listeners who discovered their perfect business idea after attending a powerful brainstorming masterclass with the incredible host, David Ralph! 🍜 🌮 From cozy San Francisco, California, this listener unveils their passion for Asian foods and how they niched down based on their location's cultural assets. Get ready for some mouthwatering insights into their potential income streams with Asian Food Tours, an Asian Fusion Food Truck, and Online Cooking Classes! 🥢🍱 🌐 Stay tuned for this episode's invaluable tips on turning passions into profitable business ideas and discovering the secret ingredients to success! #PerfectBusinessIdeas #AsianFoodNiche #LocationBasedSuccess Listen to the episode now and be empowered to create your own business masterpiece! 🚀 Don't forget to share with your entrepreneurial friends and spread the inspiration far and wide! #JoinUpDots #Entrepreneurship #InspiringBusinessIdeas #GlobalListeners #AsianFusionCuisine

ENTREPRENEUR INTERVIEW: Investing In Business's With Elliot & Dominic Chapman Welcome to the Join Up Dots business podcast! Today's episode features two inspiring guests, Elliot and Dominic Chapman, who have a wealth of experience and entrepreneurial success to share. Elliot's journey began at a young age when he started his first business at 20. He helped establish a local soccer school in Bournemouth, which he grew into the top regional coaching program. Later, he was headhunted to become the Director of Coaching for the biggest amateur soccer club in the US, based in Boston. Additionally, Elliot played a pivotal role in expanding the family business, an IT management consultancy, from £2.5m to over £5m in revenue. In 2019, Elliot ventured into Chapman Capital and other ventures. Together with his brother Dominic, they have built a group of thriving agencies across the UK and the US through strategic acquisitions and growth. These agencies, operating under Chapman Capital, include a B2B growth agency working with major tech brands, a podcast booking agency with an impressive track record, a TV ad agency in London, and a full-service marketing agency. Join us as we explore some crucial questions with Elliot and Dominic. Does buying an established business make things easier, or is it as challenging as starting from scratch? How do they decide which agencies are worth investing in, and what is their finely-tuned process for ensuring success? During the podcast, you'll discover the dynamics of working with a sibling and the importance of resolving any conflicts early on. Elliot candidly shares why they turned down a lucrative offer for their first business, putting their long-term vision ahead of a quick cash win. They emphasize the significance of understanding an exit strategy when entering the business world and not viewing businesses as lifetime commitments. What sets Elliot and Dominic apart is their passion and drive to create businesses that support their dream lifestyles above all else. So, tune in and be inspired as we delve into the exciting world of Elliot and Dominic Chapman, joining up dots to achieve extraordinary success!

LISTENER QUESTIONS: Building Resilience and Perseverance Are you ready to ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and embark on a journey towards your dream life? In this exhilarating episode of Join Up Dots, we dive into the powerful subject of "Building Resilience and Perseverance in the Face of Challenges" with real-life stories and practical strategies to inspire you on your own path to success! 🌞 Meet our lively guests from across the globe! From the sunny shores of California, we have SunnySteve, who shares his go-to techniques for staying strong amidst tough times. Then, all the way from Sydney, it's SparklingSara, bringing her contagious positivity and tips on maintaining a winning mindset.  🚀 Get ready to be amazed as DaringDavid takes us on a journey through the inspiring tales of resilient entrepreneurs who conquered major hurdles on their path to greatness, all the way from the vibrant city of London, UK. 💪 Join TenaciousTina from New York as she spills the beans on the secret to finding your inner strength and pushing forward, even when the going gets rough. 🌟 Embark on a spiritual quest with ResilientRaj from Mumbai, India, as he reveals the transformative power of embracing failure and turning it into the stepping stones to success. 🎯 And last but not least, PerseveringPablo brings the charm of Barcelona, Spain, and shares how to keep your dreams alive during the slower moments of entrepreneurship.  💡 Whether you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey or already knee-deep in building your business, this episode is a goldmine of inspiration and practical advice to fuel your dreams and propel you towards the life you've always envisioned. 🎧 Tune in and get ready to unleash your full potential, as we equip you with the tools to build resilience and perseverance that will carry you through any challenge on your quest for success and fulfillment. 🔥 Don't miss this incredible episode! It's time to step out of your comfort zone, conquer your fears, and create the life you've always dreamed of. Join us on Join Up Dots and set sail towards your dream life today! 🌈

ENTREPRENEUR INTERVIEW: How To Build Life And Business Balance Craig Swanson is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast At the age of 18, Craig founded Swanson Tech Support which tuned out to be a costly failure, and worked as a tech consultant for 6 years before founding CreativeTechs which lead to over a million dollars in sales. Soon after Craig co-founded the creative online learning platform CreativeLive, an idea that was birthed from a failed video training program for his IT business. CreativeLive would grow from a small start-up team to 70+ employees offering workshops with top industry leaders like Tim Ferriss and Brené Brown. Now Craig partners with creators, educators, and influencers by providing the missing piece that they need to get to the next stage of their business and is helping build $1 million dollar businesses one step at a time. He is also the head of the Seattle Entrepreneur’s Organization Accelerator Program where he works to a similar mission, helping start-up’s with $250k in revenue top the million dollar mark. him go again after discovering the big F of failure as a young man? And looking back would he do anything differently or has it all lead him to where he is today? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Craig Swanson

LISTENER SUCCESS: Taking Control One Dot At A Time In todays episode of Join Up Dots we look at the power of the small changes in ones life. The moments when you take responsibility for the results you want to get and move forward effortlessly. This episode was inspired by a remarkable guy called Robert from Berlin who is inspiring us at the show to challenge the world to do the hard things and take control one dot at a time.

HEALTH: The Importance of Self-care and Mental Health for Entrepreneurs 🎙️ Welcome, entrepreneurs, dreamers, and go-getters from around the globe! It's time to ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and join us on an exciting journey towards success, happiness, and self-discovery! 🚀 From sunny Sydney, Australia 🇦🇺 to lively London, UK 🇬🇧, we've got passionate minds ready to dive into entrepreneurship! 💡 Let's tackle those burning questions about self-care and mental health that every aspiring business owner should know. Meet Jamie, our friend from Sydney 🌞, who's eager to start their entrepreneurial adventure but worries about burnout. #EnergizedEntrepreneur #SelfCareSuccess Alice, hailing from vibrant London 🎡, dreams of building her own business empire. She wonders how nurturing her mental health can lead to entrepreneurial triumphs. #MentalHealthHustle #SuccessThroughSelfCare Bonjour, Paris 🗼! Pierre is embracing the entrepreneurial spirit but seeks advice on striking that perfect work-life balance. #BalanceYourBusiness #StressFreeStartup Y'all ready for Tex from Austin, Texas? 🤠 He's got fiery passion for entrepreneurship and wonders how self-care can level up his decision-making game. #DecisionsMatter #HealthyMindSuccessfulBusiness Aloha from beautiful Honolulu 🌺! Leilani is eager to embark on her entrepreneurial journey and needs guidance on maintaining a positive mindset and resilience. #MindsetMatters #ResilientEntrepreneur Ciao from Rome, Italy 🍝! Marco can't wait to kickstart his business dreams but seeks insights on using self-care to bounce back stronger after setbacks. #BounceBackStronger #SelfCareSurvivor  Tune in to the "Join Up Dots" podcast, where we'll dive into the importance of self-care and mental health for entrepreneurs. 🎧💪 Let's unleash the power within ourselves and conquer the world of business with a bright and breezy attitude! Don't miss out on these life-changing insights and join the movement! #EntrepreneurialSpirit #SelfCareRevolution #JoinUpDotsPodcast

HEALTH: Sleep Expert - How To Get The Best Sleep Ever Tanessa Shears is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is a lady who has a similar story of so many people across the world, who are struggling through the day, topping their energies up with caffeine and stimulants. She says “It was 2:33am in the morning and I was sitting in the nursery with my new-born, feeling my brain turn to mush. I was a brand new mom by day/night and weight loss coach for entrepreneurs by day as well. I showed up in my business because I LOVED coaching and it gave me slices of my day in which I felt “normal”, but I couldn’t deny the brain fog and lack of clarity from the disrupted sleep schedule. I’d forget simple words & spend minutes staring at my computer screen, completely forgetting what I was doing. My energy would tank in the afternoon and my creativity was down the drain.

LISTENER QUESTIONS: How To Live Your Dream Life 🎧 Ready for an exhilarating journey to turn your dreams into reality? 🚀 Join the hilarious and enlightening Join Up Dots Podcast! This week's lineup features three lighthearted and amusing questions from listeners worldwide 🌍, and three formal inquiries for a profound exploration of "Living the Life of Your Dreams." 🌈 From Sydney, Australia 🇦🇺, Joanne wonders how to catch those sneaky dreams that vanish at sunrise! 🌅 Join Dotsy and his guests as they reveal the secrets to make dreams stick around and achieve the #DreamLifeUnleashed! 🌌 Davey, all the way from London, UK 🇬🇧, is searching for the missing pieces of his dream puzzle 🧩. Tune in to our #LivingTheDreamPodcast to discover how to piece together the ultimate dream life masterpiece! 🎨 Calling all dreamers in Los Angeles, USA 🇺🇸! Samantha is eager to make her dreams work for her while she's stuck in the daily grind. 🌆 Don't miss the solution on the Join Up Dots Podcast - where dreams transform from vacation to full-time job! 💼 But wait, there's more! 🌟 We've got formal questions too! 🎓 Mr. Johnson from Toronto, Canada 🇨🇦 seeks a concrete plan for his dream life, and Dr. Li Wei from Shanghai, China 🇨🇳 needs to balance professional success with personal dreams. Together, let's unlock the power of manifesting our deepest aspirations! 🔓 Last but not least, Mrs. Anderson from Johannesburg, South Africa 🇿🇦 seeks courage to overcome the fear of failure. 🦁 Tune in and be inspired as Join Up Dots shares life-changing tips and strategies to #JoinUpWithYourDreams! 🌠 Get ready to be entertained, enlightened, and empowered! 🎉 Subscribe now and join the dream revolution! 💫 #DreamLifeUnleashed #LivingTheDreamPodcast #JoinUpWithYourDreams 🎙️

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: How To Get Jobs Wherever You Live 🎙️ Don't miss our latest episode of the Join Up Dots business podcast with special guest Eric Melchor, the Personalization Geek for OptiMonk!  🌟 OptiMonk is a leading company in conversion rate optimization (CRO) and offers a suite of tools to enhance website performance and increase conversions. With solutions like pop-ups, overlays, A/B testing, targeting, and segmentation, they've gained over 40,000 users and 500 five-star ratings on Shopify in just a few years. In this episode, we dive into Eric's fascinating journey from being an American in Romania to his role at OptiMonk. Discover how moving to another country helped him navigate the uncertain world of entrepreneurship and why he's passionate about spreading the word about OptiMonk.   Highlights of the conversation include:  🌍 How working in Romania allowed Eric to create a fulfilling lifestyle for himself and his family. ⏰ The power of building positive, non-negotiable routines in your life. 😊 Why optimizing your lifestyle for happiness is crucial for achieving success. 🤔 A deep exploration of why some people resist taking control of their own lives. Tune in now and join us as we connect the dots with the incredible Eric Melchor! 🎧✨ #JoinUpDots #BusinessPodcast #OptiMonk #Entrepreneurship #ConversionOptimization

Finding Motivation In Business And Life If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too.  Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: How To Turn Art Into A Six Figure Business Jason Matias is todays guests joining us on the Join Up Dots business podcast today. Jason Matias is a photographer whose art career should be an  inspiration to anyone in the Join Up Dots audience who believes that to be a true artist you have to fall into the “starving artist” stereotype. By changing the way he approached his passion Jason was able to create a career from something he loved. Jason runs a fine art business, which has supported him by generating over $100K in sales a year for the past 10 years (including 2020). His work has taken him all over the globe, from the United States to Abu-Dhabi to Indonesia, and has been published in National Geographic. How The Dots Joined Up For Jason While Jason’s financial success is aspirational, it’s his story that is the true inspiration for anyone wondering if they can make a living selling through their passions. Jason does not come from a wealthy family, who gave him a leg up in the art world. He was born into a military family and went into the family business by enlisting in the Air Force right out of high school. When Jason came out of the military 6 years later, he was terrified of becoming another homeless vet. While he tried some other conventional jobs, he couldn’t shake his calling as an artist. Constantly obsessed with finding the light, Jason decided to put all his efforts into making a fine art career work. So what was it that kept on pulling him back into a world that screams from the outside you can love your work, but dont expect to earn from it? And where was his biggest jump forward to where he is today?

The Beginner's Guide to Water Fasting for Personal Development  Welcome to the beginner's guide to water fasting, a powerful tool for personal development. In this guide, we will explore the different types of fasting, discuss the optimal duration of fasts, and provide step-by-step instructions for beginners. Whether you're a listener of the Join Up Dots podcast or someone seeking personal growth, water fasting can be an excellent practice to integrate into your journey. So let's dive in! Section 1: Understanding Water Fasting Water fasting is an ancient practice that involves abstaining from food while consuming only water for a specific period. This process allows the body to rest, detoxify, and rejuvenate. There are several types of fasting, including: 1.1 Intermittent Fasting: This involves restricting your eating window to a specific time frame each day, typically 16-20 hours of fasting with a 4-8 hour eating window. 1.2 Extended Fasting: Extended fasting usually lasts for more than 24 hours and can range from a few days to several weeks. 1.3 Modified Fasting: Modified fasting allows the consumption of limited calories or specific types of food, such as juice fasting or bone broth fasting. Section 2: Determining Optimal Fasting Duration The optimal duration of a water fast varies from person to person, and it's important to consider your goals, health condition, and experience level. Here are some general guidelines: 2.1 Beginner's Fast: If you're new to fasting, starting with shorter fasts, such as 24-48 hours, is recommended. This allows your body to adjust and helps you gauge your tolerance. 2.2 Intermediate Fast: Once you're comfortable with shorter fasts, you can gradually extend the duration to 72 hours or even up to a week. Listen to your body and seek medical advice if needed. 2.3 Advanced Fast: Longer fasts, such as multiple weeks, should only be attempted by experienced individuals under medical supervision. Remember, the primary focus of water fasting is personal development and not solely weight loss. Always prioritize your health and well-being throughout the fasting journey. Section 3: Step-by-Step Instructions for Beginners Now, let's outline a step-by-step process for beginners to embark on their water fasting journey: Step 1: Preparing for Your Fast Consult with your healthcare professional: Discuss your intention to start water fasting and ensure it is safe for you, considering any pre-existing conditions or medications. Educate yourself: Read books, listen to podcasts, and gather information to have a good understanding of water fasting. Set clear intentions: Define your goals for fasting, whether it's for detoxification, mental clarity, or spiritual growth. Step 2: Gradually Adjust Your Diet Transition to a healthier diet: Prior to your fast, gradually reduce processed foods, sugar, and caffeine while increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This will ease the transition into fasting. Step 3: Start Your Fast Choose the fasting method: Decide on the type of fasting that suits you best. If you're a beginner, intermittent fasting or a 24-hour fast can be a good starting point. Begin the fast: Start your chosen fast by consuming only water. Stay hydrated throughout the process and listen to your body's needs. Step 4: Support Your Body during Fasting Rest and relaxation: Allow yourself ample time for rest and relaxation during the fast. Engage in activities that promote calmness, such as meditation, gentle walks, or light stretching. Hydration: Drink an adequate amount of water each day to stay hydrated. Herbal teas or electrolyte supplements can be beneficial, but avoid adding sweeteners or flavors. Monitor your body's response: Pay attention to any symptoms or discomfort. If you experience severe symptoms or are unsure about anything, consult your healthcare professional.  Step 5: Breaking Your Fast Ease into refeeding: When breaking your fast, start with easily digestible foods like vegetable broth, juices, or smoothies. Gradually reintroduce solid foods over a few days to allow your body to readjust. Conclusion: Water fasting can be a transformative practice for personal development, offering physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. Remember to listen to your body, seek professional advice if needed, and approach fasting with patience and self-care. By incorporating water fasting into your personal growth journey, you can unlock new levels of self-awareness, discipline, and overall well-being. Best of luck on your fasting adventure!

ENTREPRENEUR INTERVIEW: Defining “Fulfilment” In Business Matt Hogan is a coach and mentor who helps leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives find purpose and clarity in their work and lives.  His inspiring journey of self-mastery, overcoming depression and attempted suicide, has shaped his teachings. Join the Join Up Dots podcast as Matt shares insights on embracing your dark traits and creating a better future. Tune in to discover Matt Hogan's transformative wisdom and start your own journey of personal growth and alignment.

LISTENER SUCCESS: Two New Businesses To Get You Thinking Welcome back, folks, to another exciting episode of "Join Up Dots," the podcast that ignites entrepreneurial dreams! Today, we have not one, but two incredible stories to share with you. Let's dive in and discover how Sarah and John turned their inspirations into thriving businesses after tuning in to our show. Our first letter comes from Sarah, an enthusiastic listener residing in the vibrant suburb of Oakville. Fuelled by the wisdom and insights shared on "Join Up Dots," Sarah's passion for nature and her desire to connect with people led her on a remarkable journey. She envisioned a business called "City Squirrel Safari," offering guided walking tours through urban parks in Oakville, bridging the gap between city life and the natural world. With a touch of whimsy, Sarah and her team don safari-themed outfits, adding a sprinkle of charm to each adventure. Through careful research and collaboration with wildlife experts, she curated fascinating encounters with the diverse squirrel population found in local parks. Drawing from our marketing episodes, Sarah created an enchanting website and leveraged platforms like Airbnb Experiences to showcase her unique offering. Furthermore, she partnered with schools to provide educational outings that combined nature exploration with wildlife conservation.  Our second letter is from John, who, inspired by the passion for home decorating kindled by "Join Up Dots," is embarking on a thrilling entrepreneurial endeavor. Calling his business "Décor Dreams," John aims to transform houses into personalized dream homes. He recognizes that exceptional customer service is paramount and strives to create a delightful and stress-free experience for his clients. With a sleek website, a captivating social media presence, and strategic collaborations with local suppliers and artisans, John is poised to showcase his distinct offerings. Through word-of-mouth marketing and captivating open houses, he plans to attract potential clients and leave a lasting impression. Isn't it amazing to witness the impact our podcast has had on Sarah and John's entrepreneurial journeys? We're truly humbled to have played a small part in their success stories. Remember, dear listeners, inspiration can strike at any moment. Whether it's through the tales we share on "Join Up Dots" or your own inner passions, seize the opportunity to chase your dreams and make a difference in the world.

LISTENER QUESTIONS: How To Build A Dream Lifestyle Business Description: In this episode of our podcast, we dive into the fascinating world of business and lifestyle design. If you're unsure whether this path is right for you, we've got you covered. We've compiled ten thought-provoking questions from our audience that they would love to ask individuals who are already living the business and lifestyle design dream. Join us as we delve into the experiences, challenges, and successes of accomplished individuals who have transitioned from traditional careers to creating their own ideal lifestyles. Gain valuable insights and practical advice that can help you make informed decisions about your own journey. Our guests share their personal stories, strategies for work-life balance, tips for finding your passion, and much more. From New York to Singapore, we've collected questions from listeners around the globe. Discover how these remarkable entrepreneurs managed financial risks, overcame obstacles, and found the motivation to keep pushing forward. Get ready for an engaging conversation that will provide you with the inspiration and knowledge you need to embark on your own business and lifestyle design path. So, if you've ever wondered about the secrets behind successfully designing a fulfilling lifestyle while building a thriving business, tune in to this captivating episode. Whether you're located in Los Angeles or Sydney, this podcast has something for everyone who seeks to turn their dreams into reality. Get ready to be inspired and gain invaluable insights from those who have already carved their own unique paths in business and lifestyle design.

ENTREPRENEUR INTERVIEW: How To Build A Marketing Campaign Andrew Schulkind is our guest today on the Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the CEO of Andigo, a digital marketing agency that partners with mission-driven small and mid-sized businesses, by using a wide range of digital marketing tools that support brands while helping them meet their sales goals. As he says “Since 1996, I have helped clients dive into one simple question: what does digital marketing success look like, and how can marketing progress be measured? (OK, that’s two questions.) I founded Andigo to help B2B marketers ($2m to $25m) find the most productive mix of digital tools to support their brand and sales goals over time. I have a passion for collaboration and meaningful consensus. Our website and content work typically touches on social media, SEO, and email marketing among other components. Our primary goal is to encourage engagement. Getting your audience emotionally involved in your story requires solid information architecture, a great user experience, and compelling content. A dash of common sense doesn’t hurt, either.  So where do most companies go wrong – trying to go straight for the sale, or just misreading what the customer really wants? And now with the insurge of AI flooding through the industry, will the human touch to marketing soon be a thing of the past? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Andrew Schulkind

BUSINESS COACHING: Why A Customers Pain In So Important In this episode, we explore the process of identifying an extreme customer pain point and developing a product or service to build a successful business around it. By understanding your target audience, seeking out extreme pain points, conducting in-depth problem analysis, brainstorming potential solutions, and validating the demand, you can mitigate risks and increase the chances of building a thriving venture. We discuss the importance of continuous iteration and improvement, developing a compelling value proposition, and differentiating your offering from competitors. Join us as we delve into the step-by-step approach of finding and addressing extreme customer pain points, paving the way for significant impact and success in entrepreneurship.

BUSINESS COACHING: The Customer Journey To Sales Land Are you struggling to convert website visitors into sales? Join us on this episode as we unravel the secrets of the customer journey and break it down into easy steps. In response to a listener's question about applying the customer journey to their website, we dive into the stages of awareness, intrigue, evaluation, commitment, and advocacy. Starting with the awareness stage, we explore creative ways to grab your visitors' attention, from eye-catching signboards to engaging content that educates and entertains. Moving on to the intrigue stage, we discuss how to spark curiosity through compelling storytelling, customer testimonials, and interactive elements like quizzes and contests. As we reach the evaluation stage, we guide you on providing detailed product information, informative guides, and helpful comparison tools to assist potential customers in making informed choices. Then, in the commitment stage, we highlight the importance of a streamlined purchasing process, personalized discounts, and exceptional customer support. Finally, we delve into the advocacy stage, where we share strategies to turn customers into brand advocates. You'll discover the significance of exceeding expectations, encouraging customers to share positive experiences, and rewarding loyalty. Whether you're new to the customer journey concept or looking for practical steps to apply it to your website, this episode will provide valuable insights and actionable tips. Don't miss out on the opportunity to boost your conversions and build lasting relationships with your customers. Tune in now and embark on the exciting adventure of the customer journey!

MINDSET: How To Be The Happiest Person Around In this episode, we embark on a joy-filled adventure into the realm of cultivating a positive mindset and finding happiness in everyday life.  Join us as we explore practical steps that will have you dancing in your pajamas, spreading kindness like confetti, and embracing the power of laughter. We kick off the episode by revealing the scientifically proven benefits of starting each day with a happy dance routine in your pajamas. Get ready to boost those serotonin levels and set the tone for an amazing day ahead. Next, we dive into the importance of surrounding yourself with positive, uplifting people who can make you laugh until your abs get a workout. Discover the transformative power of laughter and the joy that comes from sharing cheesy jokes and puns that bring smiles and lightness to your days. To nurture gratitude and unlock a wellspring of happiness, we introduce the concept of the "Gratitude Jar." Learn how to fill it with little notes about the things that make your heart sing, ready to be opened on rainy days when you need a happiness boost. Prepare to unleash your inner child as we explore the wonders of joyful hobbies. Whether it's finger painting, hula hooping, or extreme cupcake baking, discover how these activities can ignite your spirit and infuse your life with a sense of playfulness. We then delve into the importance of laughter therapy and indulging in guilt-free pleasures.  Find out how watching funny movies, engaging in playful tickle fights, or giving yourself permission to enjoy lazy days in bed or chocolate cake for breakfast can bring moments of pure bliss. But why stop there? We encourage you to spread kindness like confetti by embracing random acts of kindness. From complimenting strangers to leaving cute notes in unexpected places, these gestures not only brighten others' days but also boost your own happiness. Singing in the shower or belting out your favorite tunes while stuck in traffic takes center stage as we explore the liberating joy of unabashedly expressing yourself through music, regardless of your vocal prowess. Finally, we wrap up the episode with a reminder to take life a little less seriously. Embrace the absurdity, laugh at your own mistakes, and savor the small, silly moments that make life truly delightful. Join us on this laughter-filled journey as we equip you with happiness superpowers, ready to transform your everyday routine into an adventure brimming with joy and a positively unstoppable mindset. Get ready to laugh, dance, and sprinkle happiness into every corner of your life!

BUSINESS COACHING: Understanding A Business Risk When faced with a risk in business, it is essential to approach it strategically and mitigate potential downsides while maximizing the chances of success.  Episode Summary: In this episode, we delve into the critical topic of risk management in business. We explore how to approach risks strategically, mitigating potential downsides while maximizing the chances of success. Our comprehensive guide takes you through a step-by-step plan to navigate obstacles and achieve significant success. We begin by emphasizing the importance of identifying and understanding the risks you face. We highlight the need for a thorough analysis of the potential impact and contributing factors, considering both internal and external influences. Assessing the probability of occurrence and potential consequences is key to effective risk management. Next, we emphasize the significance of conducting market research. We guide listeners on how to gather comprehensive data on market trends, customer behavior, and competitors. Understanding the market's response to similar risks faced by others helps to shape your risk management strategy. Identifying opportunities and assessing demand for your product or service is vital for success. With the foundation laid, we move on to developing a robust risk management strategy. We stress the importance of creating a contingency plan that outlines steps to minimize the impact of the risk. Defining measurable objectives and setting realistic goals is crucial, along with allocating appropriate resources, budget, and timeframes. Diversification and spreading risks are key elements of risk management. We discuss the need to avoid overreliance on a single product, market, or customer. Expanding product or service offerings to diversify revenue streams and exploring new markets or customer segments helps mitigate risks. Building strong relationships and networks play a pivotal role in navigating risks. We emphasize the value of fostering connections with industry experts, mentors, and advisors. Seeking partnerships or collaborations allows for risk-sharing and leveraging expertise. Engaging in networking events and industry conferences provides invaluable insights. Continuously innovating and adapting are vital for risk management. We encourage fostering a culture of innovation within your organization and staying updated with market trends, emerging technologies, and customer needs. Embracing change and being willing to adapt your business model if necessary ensures resilience in the face of risks. Testing and validating assumptions are crucial steps in risk management. We guide listeners on conducting pilot projects or market tests, gathering feedback from potential customers, and utilizing data-driven decision-making to validate assumptions. Maintaining financial discipline is another critical aspect. We highlight the need for strong financial management and healthy cash flow. Conducting thorough financial analysis helps assess potential risks and rewards. Securing appropriate insurance coverage is an additional measure to mitigate certain risks. Lastly, we stress the importance of continuous monitoring and evaluation. Regularly tracking and measuring the progress of risk management strategies, identifying warning signs, and conducting periodic reviews are essential for staying ahead of potential risks. Throughout the episode, we provide inspiring examples of entrepreneurs who followed similar step-by-step plans to achieve significant success, showcasing the tangible benefits of strategic risk management. Join us as we explore the world of risk management and equip you with the tools and knowledge to navigate risks effectively in your business.

BUSINESS INTERVIEW: Start-Up Expert Reveals Route To Success Mike Stemple has built over twenty startups and is an expert at ideation, innovation, and startup psychology. He now spends his time writing books on innovation, advising corporate executives on how to “think and act more entrepreneurial,” and pioneering the use of Corporate Entrepreneurs in Residence. He has taught over 15,000 students from 149 countries on how to build successful startups and has mentored at Techstars and Founder Institute. The big question he asks time and time again is “Why is it that a corporate employee can come up with an innovative idea and get nowhere with it? Despite having an abundance of resources, the corporate innovator is often left begging for time, talent, and treasure. Why is it that this same employee can quit their job, found a startup, and be wildly successful as an entrepreneur—with the same idea? There has never been a better moment in history to be an entrepreneur than right now. The nature of innovation today encourages nimbleness, flexibility, and creativity and INNOVATING INNOVATION! Above all else, it’s an exciting time to be an innovator. For those same reasons, it’s a drain to be stuck in a traditionally structured business. Now most days, he can be found listening to Jimmy Buffett, watching his beautiful wife surf from the comfort of his ocean-view home, petting his dog, and pontificating on all things innovative. So is innovation restricted in the corporate environment simply because nobody wants to be the person to try and potentially fail? And why do most entrepreneurs not see the same issues as failures simply part of the process that has to be got through? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Mike Stemple.

BUSINESS COACHING: Unlocking Niche Success Through Subcategories In this episode, we embark on an exciting journey to discover the perfect business niche by exploring subcategories within the three key areas of relationships, health, and wealth. We believe that by continually seeking deeper and more specific subcategories, we can uncover untapped opportunities and find a niche that aligns with our passions and expertise. Our host begins by explaining the importance of niche selection and how it can significantly impact business success. While the broader categories of relationships, health, and wealth are already well-established, we dive into the world of subcategories to uncover hidden potential.  To kickstart our research, we discuss the first key category: relationships. We explore subcategories such as dating and romantic relationships, friendships, and family dynamics. By delving deeper into each subcategory, we gain a clearer understanding of the specific challenges and needs within these relationships, allowing us to identify potential business opportunities. We discuss case studies and success stories of entrepreneurs who have found their niche within relationship subcategories, providing inspiration and guidance. Next, we shift our focus to the health category. Our host emphasizes the diverse range of subcategories within this field, such as physical fitness, mental health, nutrition, and alternative therapies. We discuss the importance of staying informed about the latest trends, research, and consumer demands within each subcategory. Through market analysis and consumer research, we learn how to identify gaps and niches within the health industry, enabling us to create businesses that cater to specific needs. Finally, we delve into the wealth category, which encompasses finance, entrepreneurship, and personal development. Our host stresses the significance of recognizing subcategories within wealth, such as investment strategies, budgeting and financial planning, and career advancement. We highlight the value of researching each subcategory extensively, seeking insights from experts, and conducting market analysis to discover opportunities for business growth. To find another deep subcategory, we outline a step-by-step research process. We discuss the importance of conducting keyword research, analyzing online forums, exploring social media communities, and engaging in conversations with target audiences. Through these methods, we gather invaluable insights and discover further subcategories that may be underserved or overlooked. Throughout the episode, we share practical tips, expert interviews, and real-life examples to help our listeners navigate the process of finding their perfect business niche. We emphasize the significance of aligning personal passions with market demand, as this synergy is crucial for long-term success. By continuously searching for subcategories within relationships, health, and wealth, we open doors to new and exciting business opportunities. Join us as we unravel the world of niches and inspire you to embark on a journey of niche discovery that aligns with your interests and expertise. Remember, the perfect business niche is waiting to be uncovered, and the possibilities are endless. Get ready to unlock your entrepreneurial potential and make a meaningful impact within a specialized market segment. Tune in to our podcast episode, "Unlocking Niche Success Through Subcategories," and let us guide you towards finding your perfect business niche in relationships, health, or wealth.

MINDSET: Why Are We Scared To Try Things? In this podcast episode, we will explore effective strategies and insights for overcoming fear and insecurities. Inspired by the idea that fear and insecurities are created by us, we will delve into practical steps to regain control over our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. Join us as we embark on a journey of self-empowerment and learn how to overcome the barriers that hold us back from living our fullest lives. Step 1: Acknowledge and Understand Your Fears and Insecurities Take the time to identify and acknowledge the specific fears and insecurities that you're currently experiencing. Understand that these feelings are normal and that many people face similar challenges. Reflect on the impact these fears and insecurities have on your life and your goals. Step 2: Challenge Your Thoughts and Beliefs Recognize that fear and insecurities are often rooted in negative or limiting beliefs. Begin questioning the validity of these beliefs and challenge them with rational and positive counter-arguments. Replace negative self-talk with affirmations that reinforce your strengths and capabilities. Step 3: Cultivate Self-Awareness Develop a deeper understanding of yourself by practicing mindfulness and self-reflection. Observe your thoughts, emotions, and patterns of behavior without judgment. Recognize the triggers that intensify your fears and insecurities, and learn to respond to them with compassion and self-care. Step 4: Set Realistic Goals and Take Action Break down your goals into smaller, manageable steps. Start with tasks that feel less daunting, gradually building momentum and confidence. Celebrate your progress along the way, no matter how small, and use it as motivation to keep moving forward. Step 5: Seek Support and Guidance Reach out to trusted friends, family members, or professionals who can provide guidance and support. Share your fears and insecurities with them, allowing yourself to be vulnerable. Surround yourself with a positive and uplifting community that encourages personal growth. Step 6: Embrace Failure and Learn from It Understand that failure is a natural part of growth and learning. Embrace failures as valuable lessons and opportunities for personal development. Use setbacks as stepping stones to refine your approach and strengthen your resilience. Step 7: Practice Self-Care and Self-Compassion Prioritize self-care activities that promote emotional and mental well-being. Engage in activities that bring you joy, reduce stress, and foster self-confidence. Treat yourself with kindness and compassion, acknowledging that overcoming fear and insecurities takes time and effort. Conclusion: By implementing these steps, you can reclaim your power over fear and insecurities. Remember that it is a continuous journey, and progress may come gradually. Stay committed, be patient with yourself, and celebrate each milestone along the way. With perseverance and self-belief, you have the potential to transcend your fears and insecurities, unlocking a life of confidence, growth, and fulfillment.

MINI COURSE Discovering Your Purpose (Part Five) FINAL Welcome to our podcast episode on "Discovering Your Purpose in Life."  In this episode, we will explore the five key steps that can guide you towards a purposeful and fulfilling life. Step 1: Self-Reflection and Introspection: By engaging in deep self-reflection, you will gain insights into your values, beliefs, strengths, and passions. This step sets the foundation for discovering your purpose. Step 2: Embrace Curiosity and Experimentation: Embracing curiosity and a growth mindset, we encourage you to explore new interests, hobbies, and experiences. Step outside your comfort zone and embark on a journey of experimentation to uncover hidden passions and talents. Step 3: The Art of Seeking Feedback: Seeking feedback from trusted individuals, mentors, or coaches can provide valuable insights and perspectives. Actively listen and reflect on their feedback to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, recognize your strengths, and refine your sense of purpose. Step 4: Set Meaningful Goals: Set meaningful and inspiring goals that align with your values and passions. Break down big goals into smaller actionable steps, creating a clear roadmap towards your purpose. Aligning your goals with your core values and passions creates a powerful synergy that propels you forward. Step 5: Live with Intention and Adaptability: Integrate your purpose into your daily life by making conscious choices and decisions that align with your values and goals. Embrace adaptability as you navigate challenges and changes, continuously reflecting, learning, and growing on your purposeful journey. By following these five steps of self-reflection, embracing curiosity, seeking feedback, setting meaningful goals, and living with intention and adaptability, you can embark on a transformative journey towards discovering and living your purpose in life. Join us as we explore each step in detail and provide practical insights to help you unlock your true potential.

MINI COURSE: Discovering Your Purpose In Life (Part Four) In this episode of "Setting Meaningful Goals: Creating a Roadmap to Your Purpose," we explore the importance of aligning goals with values and passions. By reflecting on core values and identifying passions, we can infuse our goals with purpose and fulfillment. We then discuss the strategy of breaking down big goals into smaller actionable steps, creating a clear roadmap towards our purpose. We emphasize the significance of celebrating milestones along the way to maintain motivation. Additionally, we provide tips for creating a clear roadmap, including setting short-term and long-term goals, visualizing progress, and regularly reviewing and adjusting the roadmap. Finally, we discuss the importance of prioritization and time management, offering strategies such as setting clear priorities, avoiding multitasking, eliminating distractions, and using time-blocking techniques. Join us on this journey of setting goals that lead us to our purpose.

Unleashing Your Unique Talent: The Art of Seeking Feedback Welcome to another insightful episode of "Discovering Your Purpose In Life"  In today's discussion, we dive into the importance of seeking external feedback to unlock your true potential. Discovering your unique talent is a journey that often requires the perspectives of others to provide valuable insights and reflections. Join us as we explore the art of seeking feedback and how it can help you unleash your full creative potential. Segment 1: Understanding the Power of External Feedback We begin by highlighting the significance of external feedback in personal and professional growth. Feedback acts as a mirror, providing a fresh perspective on our strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots. Discuss the transformative impact that feedback can have in uncovering hidden talents and untapped potential. Illustrate real-life examples of individuals who utilized feedback to redefine their paths and excel in their respective fields. Segment 2: Creating a Feedback-Friendly Environment Explore the elements required to foster a supportive feedback culture, both in personal and professional settings. Discuss the importance of trust, openness, and psychological safety in encouraging honest and constructive feedback. Highlight effective communication strategies for both givers and receivers of feedback. Share tips on how to overcome resistance and defensiveness when receiving feedback, embracing it as an opportunity for growth. Segment 3: Seeking Diverse Perspectives Emphasize the significance of seeking feedback from a variety of sources to gain a well-rounded understanding of oneself. Encourage listeners to seek feedback from mentors, peers, colleagues, and even friends and family. Discuss the benefits of soliciting feedback from individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Showcase examples of successful individuals who actively sought feedback from diverse sources to harness their unique talents. Segment 4: Navigating and Applying Feedback Effectively Provide practical advice on how to process and evaluate feedback received. Highlight the importance of discernment and separating constructive criticism from baseless opinions. Discuss strategies for integrating feedback into personal growth plans and leveraging it to hone one's unique talents. Encourage regular feedback-seeking habits to foster continuous improvement and innovation. Conclusion: Seeking feedback is a powerful tool in unlocking your unique talent. By embracing external perspectives, we gain invaluable insights that help us understand ourselves better and make informed decisions about our personal and professional paths. Remember, the journey to self-discovery is never solitary. Open yourself up to feedback, create a feedback-friendly environment, seek diverse perspectives, and use feedback as a catalyst for growth. Tune in next time as we continue our exploration of unlocking your unique talent.

MINI COURSE: Discovering Your Purpose In Life (Part Two) Embracing Curiosity and Experimentation: Unveiling Your Passion and Purpose Introduction: In this episode, we dive deep into the quest for purpose and how embracing curiosity and experimentation can lead us to discover our true passions. We explore Step 2 of the discovery process, providing practical examples and insights on how to cultivate curiosity and engage in experimentation to gain a clearer understanding of our motivations and purpose in life. Segment 1: Embracing Curiosity through Pursuing Hobbies and Interests We discuss the importance of pursuing hobbies or interests that have always intrigued us. By stepping outside of our daily routines and engaging in activities that captivate our curiosity, we open ourselves up to new possibilities. Whether it's painting, playing a musical instrument, or learning a new language, we highlight the benefits of dedicating time to explore and develop these interests.  We share personal stories and success anecdotes that demonstrate how pursuing hobbies can unlock hidden talents and ignite a sense of purpose within us. Segment 2: Experimentation as a Path to Self-Discovery Experimentation is a powerful tool for self-discovery. We delve into the concept of experimenting with different fields, experiences, and perspectives. We discuss the value of stepping outside of our comfort zones and trying new things. Through experimentation, we gain valuable insights into what truly resonates with us and what fuels our passions. We provide practical tips and strategies on how to approach experimentation, including setting aside time for exploration, embracing failure as a learning opportunity, and documenting our experiences for reflection and growth. Segment 3: The Transformative Power of Embracing Curiosity and Experimentation In this final segment, we explore the transformative power that embracing curiosity and experimentation can have on our lives. We share inspiring stories of individuals who have embarked on journeys of self-discovery, highlighting the profound impact it has had on their personal and professional paths. We discuss how curiosity and experimentation can lead to uncovering our true purpose and how this newfound clarity can bring fulfillment and joy to our lives. Conclusion: Embracing curiosity and experimentation are essential steps on the journey to discovering our passion and purpose. By pursuing hobbies, exploring new interests, and embracing experimentation, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities and gain a clearer understanding of what truly resonates with us. Through personal stories, practical tips, and inspiring examples, this episode provides a roadmap for listeners to embark on their own path of self-discovery and unlock their true potential.

MINI COURSE: Discovering Your Purpose In Life (Part One) Welcome to another episode of Join Up Dots helping you to start "Unleashing Your Potential," where we delve into the journey of self-discovery and finding your true purpose in life. In today's episode, we explore the five essential steps to help you uncover your purpose and understand your unique talents. So, let's dive in! Step 1: Self-Reflection and Introspection The first step on this transformative journey is self-reflection and introspection. Take time to pause, disconnect from the external noise, and explore your inner thoughts and feelings. Ask yourself meaningful questions like, "What brings me joy?" or "What activities make me lose track of time?" This introspective process helps you identify your passions and the things that truly resonate with your core being. 

LISTENER QUESTION: Is Minimalism A Good Idea? Welcome to another exciting episode of our podcast, where we delve into the fascinating world of personal growth and lifestyle choices. In today's episode, we explore two thought-provoking questions from our listeners that touch upon achieving success and embracing minimalism. Our first question comes from a curious listener who seeks guidance on learning strategies for success inspired by industry titans. We embark on a captivating discussion, drawing insights from the journeys of renowned individuals who have made a significant impact in their respective fields. From successful entrepreneurs to influential leaders, we explore common threads that run through their stories and uncover valuable lessons that can be applied to our own lives. Our guest experts share actionable strategies and mindset shifts that can help listeners unlock their potential and navigate the path to success. In the second half of the episode, we tackle a question that sparks contemplation on the concept of minimalism. Is minimalism good? We dive deep into this topic, exploring the benefits and potential drawbacks of adopting a minimalist lifestyle. Our conversation encompasses various aspects, such as decluttering physical spaces, simplifying daily routines, and even embracing minimalism as a mindset. By examining the experiences of individuals who have embraced minimalism, we uncover the positive impact it can have on mental well-being, focus, and overall life satisfaction. However, we also address the importance of finding a balance that aligns with one's personal values and preferences, as minimalism is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Throughout the episode, we provide practical tips and guidance for listeners who aspire to incorporate elements of success strategies or minimalism into their lives. Our aim is to empower and inspire our audience to discover their own unique paths to success while embracing a lifestyle that resonates with their true selves. Tune in to this captivating episode, where we explore the powerful strategies used by industry titans and delve into the intriguing world of minimalism. Get ready to unlock new perspectives and uncover the tools you need to navigate your personal journey towards a successful and fulfilling life.

LISTENER PROBLEM: I'm Feeling A Bit Slumpy And Crap Dear David and the Join Up Dots Team, I hope this email finds you all in good health and high spirits. My name is Hezza and I'm an avid listener of the Join Up Dots podcast. I am writing to you from the vibrant suburb of Paddington Brisbane, Australia, where I find myself in need of your valuable insights and guidance. I'm reaching out to seek your advice on a personal struggle I'm currently facing. Lately, I've been feeling quite flat and out of sorts, lacking the motivation and drive I once had. I find myself at a crossroads, desiring a change in my life, be it starting a new business venture or embarking on a transformative lifestyle journey. My question to you is this: When you find yourself in a state of inertia, lacking that spark to ignite change, what steps would you recommend taking to begin building a fresh start in life? I understand that change can be daunting, but I'm determined to break free from this stagnation and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. I value your wisdom and experience, and I believe your insights will provide me with the clarity and direction I seek. Whether it's advice on mindset, strategies for overcoming obstacles, or any practical steps to kickstart the journey, your guidance will be immensely appreciated. Thank you once again for the incredible work you do through the Join Up Dots platform. Your podcast has been a source of inspiration and motivation for me and countless others around the world. I eagerly look forward to hearing your thoughts and recommendations. Wishing you continued success and abundant positivity. Warm regards, Hezza, Paddington, Brisbane, Australia!"

ENTREPRENEUR INTERVIEW: Life Doesn't Have To be Hard Introducing Jennifer Myers Jennifer Myers is our guest today to share her insights into running a successful business without that business running you. She is the founder of Gener8 Leadership Solutions, and also one of the 90 Day Divas, a coaching business she shares with two other ladies that all have been through the ups and downs of business and can ease the way to a better life. Which is exactly what she wanted but just a few years ago was a long way from experiencing what she now teaches. As she says “I’ve got an amazing personal story to share that totally suits YOUR philosophy – that life and business doesn’t have to be HARD! As a matter of fact, I’ve just contributed to a book that will come out this month and my contribution is titled ‘Life Doesn’t Have to be Hard.’  One night in early 2009 after a manic day, my husband and I looked at each and basically said ‘Our life is totally running us – not the other way around. How did it get like this?!’ We knew the balance in our lives had gotten skewed, and we knew we had to do something about it ASAP. How The Dots Joined Up For Jennifer To make a long story short(er), just 10 months after that ‘OMG’ moment, we had sold or given away everything we owned, packed 3 suitcases and 3 large boxes (talk about learning the difference between ‘need’ and ‘want!) and purchased 3 one-way plane tickets to New Zealand without ever having visited there before. What started as a ‘let’s see if this works’ move turned into a new way of life in a new country, and we’ve never looked back! She has now been a Certified Business and Leadership Coach and Trainer for over a decade now where she helps develop leaders and teams learn how to communicate more effectively I often encourage my clients to step outside their comfort zones when it comes to activities that will help them take their businesses forward, and it’s so rewarding to watch them grow and develop! So when business is simply a series of decisions that we take to grow and establish our reach, why do most people never consider the impact on their own personal lives? And what would she say was the biggest learning curve as she finally decided that “Life Doesn’t Have To Be Hard”? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Jennifer Myers.

LISTENER PROBLEM: I Need To Get Better At Dealing With Challenges In this episode of Join Up Dots, we received an email from Sarah Johnson, a listener from Naperville, Illinois. Sarah shares her struggles with health issues, job loss, and personal setbacks, which have left her feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward. After listening to a previous episode on building resilience, Sarah reached out to David for advice on how to develop resilience and overcome life's challenges. Tune in to hear David's response and the resources he recommends for building resilience in your own life.  Subject: Inquiry About Building Resilience Dear David, My name is Sarah Johnson, and I am a listener of the Join Up Dots podcast. I recently listened to an episode where you discussed the importance of building resilience and overcoming obstacles in life. This topic really resonated with me, and I am reaching out to ask for some advice on how to build resilience in my own life. I live in a suburb of Chicago called Naperville, and I have faced several challenges in recent years that have left me feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. I have struggled with health issues, job loss, and personal setbacks, and I often find myself feeling stuck and unsure of how to move forward. After hearing your podcast episode, I realized that building resilience is something I need to focus on if I want to overcome these obstacles and create a fulfilling life for myself. However, I am not sure where to start. I would greatly appreciate any advice or resources you can offer on how to develop resilience and overcome challenges in life. Are there specific habits or practices that you recommend? Are there any books or podcasts that you think would be helpful for me to check out? Thank you for your time and for creating such a valuable podcast. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Sarah Johnson

The Ibizan Hound Changes A Listeners Life Dear David, I hope this email finds you well. I have been a long-time listener of Join Up Dots podcast, and I wanted to take a moment to share my recent success story with you. Thanks to the motivation and inspiration I gained from your podcast, I have finally taken the plunge and started my own business online selling items for the Ibizan Hound. The journey has been challenging, but it has been worth it. I am pleased to share that my business has been thriving, and I have finally quit my full-time job to focus solely on growing my business. Additionally, I am excited to announce that I am embarking on a new adventure of traveling the world in a converted school bus with my partner. I am grateful for the guidance and encouragement that you have provided through your podcast, which has given me the confidence to take these leaps of faith. I am confident that this new chapter in my life will be an incredible experience, and I look forward to sharing my journey with you and your listeners. Thank you for all that you do, David. I hope this email brings you joy and inspiration. Best regards,

MINDSET: Positive Self Talk The power of positive self-talk is a tool that can help you achieve anything you set your mind to.  Whether it’s in sports, business, or any other aspect of life, having a positive outlook on yourself and your abilities can make all the difference. So, what exactly is positive self-talk? It’s the practice of consciously choosing to use positive language and affirmations to improve your self-esteem, confidence, and overall mindset. This means taking control of the inner voice that we all have and choosing to make it work for us rather than against us. Positive self-talk has been shown to have a significant impact on both the brain and the body. When we use positive words to reprogram the way we think about ourselves and our abilities, we activate various regions of the brain that are associated with positive emotions and motivation. One of the key ways in which positive self-talk affects the brain is through the release of chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals are responsible for feelings of happiness and well-being and are triggered when we engage in positive self-talk. As a result, we feel more motivated and energized to take on new challenges and achieve our goals. Positive self-talk can also help to reprogram the neural pathways in the brain. When we consistently use positive affirmations and self-talk, we create new neural connections that reinforce positive beliefs and attitudes. This can lead to a more optimistic and confident outlook on life, which can translate into greater success in all areas. In addition to the brain, positive self-talk can also have a significant impact on the body. When we engage in positive self-talk, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. This can have a range of physical benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved digestion, and better sleep. Moreover, positive self-talk can also boost the immune system. Studies have shown that people who engage in positive self-talk have stronger immune responses, which can help to protect against illness and disease. Overall, the benefits of positive self-talk are numerous and well-documented. By using positive words to reprogram the way we think about ourselves and our abilities, we can create a more positive and confident outlook on life, which can lead to greater success and happiness in all areas. Successful athletes like Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, and Serena Williams are well-known for their use of positive self-talk. Michael Jordan, for example, would often tell himself that he was the best basketball player in the world. This positive self-talk helped him to stay motivated and focused, even when facing difficult opponents. Similarly, Muhammad Ali famously proclaimed, "I am the greatest," long before he actually became the heavyweight champion of the world. His positive self-talk helped him to maintain a winning mindset, even when facing adversity. Serena Williams is another great example of the power of positive self-talk. In a 2015 interview with Oprah Winfrey, she said, “I love who I am, and I encourage other people to love and embrace who they are. But it definitely starts with me first.” In business, successful people like Oprah Winfrey, Tony Robbins, and Richard Branson have also used positive self-talk to achieve their goals. Oprah Winfrey, for example, has said that she uses positive affirmations every day to remind herself of her worth and her ability to succeed. Tony Robbins, the world-renowned motivational speaker, is a big advocate of positive self-talk. He believes that the language we use can have a huge impact on our success. In his book, “Awaken the Giant Within,” he writes, “The words you speak become the house you live in.” Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, is another believer in positive self-talk. In an interview with Forbes, he said, “If you can train yourself to be positive about every situation, you’ll be a happier person, and more successful in the long run.” So, how can you start incorporating positive self-talk into your daily routine? Here are a few tips to get you started: 1. Be aware of your inner voice - The first step is to become aware of the language you use when talking to yourself. Are you using negative language that puts yourself down, or positive language that lifts you up? Here are some examples of negative self-talk that people may not be aware of: "I'm not good enough" - This is a common thought that many people have, especially when faced with a challenge or obstacle. However, it's important to recognize that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and just because you may struggle with something doesn't mean you're not good enough overall. "I always mess up" - This type of self-talk can be particularly damaging because it reinforces a negative belief about oneself.  It's important to recognize that making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process and doesn't define your worth or abilities. "I'll never be able to do that" - This type of self-talk is often associated with a lack of confidence and can limit one's ability to take risks and try new things.  It's important to challenge these negative beliefs and recognize that with practice and effort, anything is possible.  "I don't deserve to be happy" - This type of self-talk can be particularly damaging to one's mental health and well-being. It's important to recognize that everyone deserves to be happy and fulfilled in life, and to work towards creating a positive and fulfilling future. "I'm a failure" - This type of self-talk can be particularly damaging to one's self-esteem and confidence.  It's important to recognize that failure is a natural part of the learning process and doesn't define your worth or abilities. Instead of focusing on the negative, it's important to learn from mistakes and move forward with a positive outlook.  Overall, becoming aware of negative self-talk is an important first step in developing a more positive mindset. By challenging negative beliefs and replacing them with positive affirmations, we can create a more positive and fulfilling life.  2. Choose positive affirmations - Once you’ve become aware of your inner voice, start to choose positive affirmations that you can repeat to yourself throughout the day. These could be as simple as “I am capable” or “I am worthy.” When we choose positive affirmations and repeat them to ourselves throughout the day, it can have a powerful impact on both the body and brain. Continuous use of positive affirmations can help to reprogram the way we think about ourselves and our abilities, which can lead to greater confidence, motivation, and overall well-being.  From a neurological perspective, positive affirmations can help to create new neural pathways in the brain. By consistently repeating positive statements, we can create new neural connections that reinforce positive beliefs and attitudes. This can lead to a more optimistic and confident outlook on life, which can translate into greater success in all areas. Moreover, positive affirmations can also have a significant impact on the body. When we engage in positive self-talk, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. This can have a range of physical benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved digestion, and better sleep. Furthermore, positive affirmations can help to increase the production of feel-good chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals are responsible for feelings of happiness and well-being and are triggered when we engage in positive self-talk. As a result, we feel more motivated and energized to take on new challenges and achieve our goals. Overall, the continuous use of positive affirmations can have a profound impact on both the body and brain. By consistently reinforcing positive beliefs and attitudes, we can create a more positive and fulfilling life. 3. Repeat your affirmations daily - Make it a habit to repeat your affirmations daily, whether it’s in the morning, before bed, or throughout the day. 4. Believe in yourself - The key to making positive self-talk work is to truly believe in yourself and your abilities. This takes time and practice, but with consistency, you’ll start to see the benefits. In conclusion, the power of positive self-talk is a tool that can help you achieve your goals and live a happier, more fulfilling life. By becoming aware of your inner voice and choosing positive affirmations, you can start to shift your mindset and achieve success in whatever area of life you choose. So, start practicing positive self-talk today and see where it takes you!

ENTREPRENEUR INTERVIEW: Fighting Back From A Sacking Ryan Hanley is our guest today ready to be interviewed on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He was first on the show back in May 2014 and on that show we talked about how he was full on busy With Insurance being just one thing on his resume, he was creating an online marketing production line, that was simply exploding on all platforms. Type in his name and you would find him actively participating as a blogger, public speaker, Podcaster, Internet marketer, published author and the list goes on. Weaving through all these different areas was the art of storytelling and creating content that sales. How The Dots Joined Up For Ryan Now it appears he joined up dots and when back to an environment that he knew better than most – small business insurance. He has created Rogue Risk that helps people get the insurance that they need and also explains why they need it too As he says “At Rogue Risk, one of our core values is “No Customer Left Behind.” No small business owner should be left to fend for themselves because their account is “hard to place” or their insurance premiums are “too small to be profitable.” We are NOT scared to put in the extra work necessary to find the insurance you need to protect your business. In truth, “No Customer Left Behind” is more than just a core value, it’s the filter by which we make every decision in our business. We call this The Rogue Risk Way. So is this business the one that was always waiting for him, once he joined up his dots to the point that things made sense? And where would he mark himself against where he wants to be? Well let’s bring onto the show to start joining up dots, as we discuss the words of Steve Jobs with the one and only master of Content Warfare Mr Ryan Hanley.

HEALTH: Managing Stress And Anxiety As A New Entrepreneur (Part Two) As a new entrepreneur, the pressure to succeed can be overwhelming. The constant demands of building a new business, managing employees, and finding customers can lead to significant stress and anxiety. Managing these feelings is crucial to your success as an entrepreneur. In this podcast episode, we'll discuss ten clear steps to help you manage stress and anxiety and find success as a new entrepreneur.

HEALTH: Managing Stress And Anxiety As A New Entrepreneur (Part One) As a new entrepreneur, the pressure to succeed can be overwhelming. The constant demands of building a new business, managing employees, and finding customers can lead to significant stress and anxiety. Managing these feelings is crucial to your success as an entrepreneur. In this podcast episode, we'll discuss ten clear steps to help you manage stress and anxiety and find success as a new entrepreneur.

LISTENER QUESTIONS: The Good And Bad Of Starting A Side Hustle Dear David, i listen to a lot of podcasts who talk about building additional income streams. Many of them only talk about how amazing it is, and how simple it is to do. I heard you the other day talking about the downside of entrepreneurship which was like a breath of fresh air for me. So i was wondering if you could do a podcast episode on the good and bad of side hustles and the like. I think a lot of listeners of Join Up Dots would find this interesting too. Kind regards Tracey Burell, Winchester, UK Starting a side hustle while working a full-time job can bring numerous benefits, both personal and professional. Here are ten benefits to encourage people to start taking action towards creating a side hustle: Additional income: One of the most obvious benefits of starting a side hustle is that it can provide additional income to supplement your full-time job. This extra cash can help you pay off debt, save for a down payment on a home, or simply provide more financial security. Skill development: Starting a side hustle often requires learning new skills, such as marketing, bookkeeping, or website design. Developing these skills can help you grow personally and professionally. Flexibility: Unlike a traditional full-time job, a side hustle can offer more flexibility in terms of when and where you work. This can be particularly helpful for people with busy schedules or other commitments. Creative outlet: A side hustle can provide a creative outlet that may not be available in your full-time job. It can be a way to express your passions and interests outside of work. Networking opportunities: Starting a side hustle can introduce you to new people and potential clients, which can expand your professional network and lead to future opportunities. Improved time management: Balancing a full-time job and a side hustle requires good time management skills. By developing these skills, you can become more productive and efficient in all areas of your life. Personal growth: Starting a side hustle can be challenging, but overcoming obstacles and achieving success can lead to personal growth and a sense of accomplishment.Diversified income: Relying solely on one source of income can be risky. A side hustle can provide a secondary source of income and help diversify your overall financial portfolio.Opportunities for entrepreneurship: Starting a successful side hustle can be a stepping stone to launching your own business, if that's something you aspire to.Fulfillment: A side hustle that aligns with your passions and interests can provide a sense of fulfillment and purpose that may be missing from your full-time job. Now, for some easy-to-start side hustle ideas that can help build confidence: Freelance writing or editing Social media management Personal shopping or styling Tutoring or teaching online Pet sitting or dog walking House cleaning or organization services Graphic design or web design Photography or videography services Event planning or coordination Virtual assistant services These are just a few examples of side hustles that can be started relatively quickly and easily. They require minimal investment and can be done on a part-time basis while still working a full-time job. Good luck with your podcast episode! While starting a side hustle while working full-time can bring many benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider. Here are ten reasons why people might need to think twice before starting a side hustle: Burnout: Starting a side hustle requires a significant time commitment on top of your full-time job. Overworking yourself can lead to burnout, which can negatively impact your health and well-being. Time management: Balancing a side hustle and a full-time job requires good time management skills. If you struggle with managing your time, starting a side hustle may not be the best idea. Financial risk: Starting a side hustle can require some upfront investment, such as purchasing equipment or supplies. This can be a financial risk if the side hustle does not generate enough income to cover those costs. Conflict of interest: Some employers may view a side hustle as a conflict of interest, especially if it is in the same industry as your full-time job. This can create tension between you and your employer. Reduced job performance: Starting a side hustle can be a distraction and take away from your job performance at your full-time job. This can result in negative feedback from your employer or even job loss. Lack of work-life balance: Balancing a side hustle and a full-time job can be difficult, and can lead to a lack of work-life balance. This can negatively impact your personal relationships and overall well-being. Legal issues: Depending on the nature of your side hustle, you may need to obtain business licenses, insurance, or comply with other legal requirements. Failure to do so can result in legal issues. Stress: Starting and managing a side hustle can be stressful, especially if you are also juggling a full-time job and other commitments. Less free time: Starting a side hustle can significantly reduce your free time, which can impact your ability to relax and recharge. Ethical concerns: Depending on the industry, starting a side hustle may raise ethical concerns, such as conflict of interest or sharing confidential information.

ENTREPRENEUR INTERVIEW: Subtract Before You Add Shayamal Vallabhjee is a best-selling author, sports scientist, psychologist, and high-performance coach to elite athletes, sports teams, and C-suite executives. With over two decades of experience, he has helped hundreds of athletes around the world enhance their competitive edge, including Olympians, world cup cricket teams, and top-seeded athletes in tennis, track, and field. Shayamal has also assisted many organizations in developing a culture of innovation and adaptability to keep their businesses agile in a competitive environment. His main areas of focus include maximizing focus, team building, creating a culture of excellence, and managing pressure, and his approach to optimizing human performance blends evidence-based science, modern psychology, and spirituality. He spent almost four years living as a monk, who owned nothing, at a Hare Krishna Temple in Durban, South Africa, before moving to India and starting a multimillion-dollar company.  

How To Beat The Naysayers And Doom Mongers If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content.  A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and  their lifestyle design dreams too.  Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

ENTREPRENEUR INTERVIEW: Ignoring The Quick Route To The Life You Want Byron Morrison is our guest today on the Join Up Dot’s business podcast.  Todays guest first appeared on Join Up Dots back in 2017 when he was on a mission to show us all how we can create a better us by being aware of what we are putting into our bodies, and what actions we take on a daily basis. He was focused on pushing past the fitness guys that time and time again, bring to the world some new diet or fad which for many is very hard to maintain after the initial buzz of tacking something new. He believed that we should do it a different way. And instead of forcing these principles in to our life and hope that they fit, we should have looked to tailor our life instead and go about it a very different way.  Now he has built on those principles and works helping CEOs upgrade their mindset and performance so that they can evolve into the leader they need. He wants them to take their business to the next level. and has added all his principles into his latest books “The Effective CEO” and “CEO In Control”  So was it a natural progression from the health based mission to where he is now, or did it take him by surprise?  And what is the biggest obstacle that his clients have to overcome in achieving the high performance they crave?  Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up more dots with the one and only Byron Morrison

Selling Classic Computer Stuff And Beauty Treatments In this podcast episode, we'll be exploring two fascinating stories of success. First, we'll hear from a man who started a classic computer business decades ago and has managed to keep it thriving through all the technological changes over the years. He'll share insights on how he's been able to adapt and stay relevant in the industry. Then, we'll hear from a woman who turned her passion for beauty and skincare into a successful home treatment business. She'll share tips on how she started and grew her business, as well as the challenges she faced along the way. Both of these stories offer inspiration and valuable lessons for anyone looking to start their own business or pursue their passion.

Mentorship - Developing Self Discipline (Part Five) If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Mentorship - Building A Support Network (Part Four) Developing a support network in life and business requires a combination of effort, intentionality, and strategic planning. It involves identifying key individuals or groups who can provide guidance, advice, motivation, and resources to help you achieve your goals. Building a support network involves being intentional about the relationships you cultivate, building strong connections with others, and actively seeking out opportunities to connect with like-minded people. In both life and business, a strong support network can be critical to achieving success, overcoming challenges, and maintaining motivation and momentum over the long term. This network can include mentors, colleagues, friends, family members, industry associations, and other supportive communities. Key strategies for building a support network include being clear about your goals and needs, being open to feedback and advice, showing appreciation and reciprocity, and staying actively engaged with your network over time.

Developing a Growth Mindset:  The episode starts by defining what a growth mindset is and how it differs from a fixed mindset. Most people with a growth mindset believe that their abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication, while those with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities are set in stone. The importance of having a growth mindset in achieving personal and professional success is also discussed.   Part 2: The Benefits of a Growth Mindset  In this section, the host talks about the numerous benefits of having a growth mindset, such as increased resilience, motivation, and adaptability. The guest speakers share their personal experiences of how adopting a growth mindset has helped them overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. The host also highlights the research that supports the idea that individuals with a growth mindset tend to be more successful in their personal and professional lives.   Part 3: Strategies for Developing a Growth Mindset  This section focuses on practical strategies for developing a growth mindset, such as reframing failures as opportunities for growth, seeking out feedback, and embracing challenges. The guest speakers share their own tips and tricks for developing a growth mindset, including the importance of self-reflection and cultivating a growth-oriented social network. The host emphasizes that developing a growth mindset is an ongoing process that requires dedication and effort.   Part 4: Overcoming Obstacles to Developing a Growth Mindset  This section acknowledges that developing a growth mindset is not always easy and can be hindered by a variety of factors, such as negative self-talk and fear of failure. The host and guest speakers discuss strategies for overcoming these obstacles, such as practicing self-compassion and mindfulness. The importance of persistence and resilience in the face of setbacks is also emphasized. Part 5: Putting it All Together: Applying a Growth Mindset in Real Life The episode concludes by discussing how to apply a growth mindset in real-life situations, such as in the workplace or in personal relationships. 

Mentorship - Discover Your Purpose (Part Two) Developing a clear sense of purpose is a wonderful journey that can bring a lot of fulfilment and meaning to our lives. Here are five examples of things that people can do to help them find their purpose: Identify your passions and values: What are the things that make your heart sing? What are the values that you hold dear? Spend some time reflecting on these questions and write them down. This can give you a clearer idea of what you want to pursue in life and what really matters to you.  Set goals: Goals give us direction and purpose. Think about what you want to achieve in the short-term and long-term. Make your goals specific, measurable, and achievable. When you have clear goals, it's easier to stay focused and motivated. Explore new experiences: Trying new things can open up new possibilities and help you discover new passions. Take classes, read books, travel, volunteer, or take on new projects. By exposing yourself to new experiences, you may find something that you never knew you loved. Surround yourself with like-minded people: Being around people who share similar values and goals can be motivating and inspiring. Join a club or organization, attend networking events, or seek out mentorship. Being around people who understand and support your purpose can help you stay on track. Find meaning in your work: Our jobs take up a large portion of our lives, so finding purpose in our work can be incredibly fulfilling. If your current job doesn't align with your values or goals, consider making a change. Look for opportunities to take on new projects or responsibilities that align more with your purpose. Or, consider starting your own business or pursuing a new career path that aligns more with your values. Remember, finding your purpose is a journey that takes time and effort. But with these five steps, you can start to build a clearer sense of purpose in your life.

Mentorship - Visionary Thinking (Part One) If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Five Small Income Streams Lead To $10K Per Month If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Want Over 400 Life Changing Business Ideas? If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way.  Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Making Every Second Count Donna McGeorge is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She asks questions which many of us have struggled with at times, so let’s start with “How did you start your day today?” Well if it involves checking your email, in her view you’re already running behind. According to productivity coach and time management expert Donna McGeorge, we need to change the way we spend our first two hours to make use of our most valuable time. Start considering the types of tasks you do throughout the day, when you do those tasks, and whether you’re making the best of your most valuable time.

Milk, Camping, Excel and Spider-Man If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way.  Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content.  A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

The Ten Reasons You Are Probably Scared To Start A Business Sure, here are ten reasons that can make someone fearful of starting a new venture or business in 2023: Financial Risk: Starting a new venture or business requires a significant investment of capital, which can be a huge financial risk for many people. They may be afraid of losing their savings, and they might not have access to enough capital to start their business. Fear of Failure: Fear of failure is a common concern among new business owners. They may be worried that they will not succeed and that they will be seen as a failure by others. This fear can be overwhelming and prevent them from taking action. Lack of Experience: Starting a business requires a set of skills that many people may not possess. They may lack experience in areas such as marketing, finance, or management, which can make them hesitant to start a business. Competition: The market can be competitive, and this can be intimidating for new entrepreneurs. They may worry that they will not be able to compete with established businesses, and this can make them hesitant to start their own. Time Commitment: Starting a business requires a significant time commitment, which can be challenging for people who have other responsibilities such as a family or a full-time job. Uncertainty: Starting a new venture or business can be unpredictable, and this can make some people uncomfortable. They may not know what the future holds and may be afraid of the unknown. Lack of Support: Starting a new business can be a lonely journey, and some people may lack support from friends and family. This can be discouraging and make them hesitant to start their own business. Legal Issues: Starting a business involves navigating various legal requirements, such as registering the business, obtaining licenses, and complying with regulations. This can be a daunting task for people who are not familiar with the legal requirements. Personal Sacrifices: Starting a business requires personal sacrifices, such as working long hours, giving up free time, and taking on additional stress. This can be a significant concern for people who prioritize work-life balance. Mental Health: Starting a new venture or business can be stressful and challenging, which can impact mental health. People may be worried about the impact of stress on their health, and this can make them hesitant to start a business. Overall, these reasons can be valid concerns for people who are considering starting a new venture or business. It is essential to weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision and to seek support from experts and friends and family.

Making Your Crazy Work For You Dr Grant Brenner is a board certified physician-psychiatrist based in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighbourhood. Utilizing a unique combination of cutting edge neuroscientific theories and adaptive personal engagement, his creative and highly personalized approach allows his patients to realize who they really are and create transformative and undeniable positive change, within themselves and the relationships around them. As he says “Throughout our life, we develop protective habits based on interactions with other people. If we only received affection from our parents when we did everything perfectly, perfectionist tendencies and people-pleasing can become habits as grown adults. On the flip side, if we were always told we couldn’t succeed by those who cared for us, failure can feel like an absolute dead end, leaving you hopeless. Psychiatrist  is the co-author of three books, and his latest,  is a step-by-step program for self-understanding and catalyzing change. “One of the most unexpected lessons of this adventure is the realization that, when I ‘get it wrong’ and mess things up, acceptance of myself and connection with others is necessary to ‘getting it right’ and straightening things out again,” says Dr. Brenner.  Otherwise, without a loving connection with myself, I won’t even be able to identify the parts of myself about which I have to be able to tell the truth so that reconciliation and healing can take place. So what is the biggest part of crazy he sees in most people time and time again? And why do we need help to see these blind spots when we more often than not are experts in seeing them in other people? Well lets find out as we start joining up dots with the one and only Dr Grant Brenner.

Seven Small Business Ideas And A Lot Of Man Love If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Starting A Business With WE Simon Mainwaring is the founder of We First, a strategic consultancy that accelerates growth and impact for purpose-driven brands. As an accomplished thought leader and author, he brings years of working with the world’s top companies, Simon reveals how brands thrive and survive in a fast-changing market, and accelerate growth even in challenging times. Simon studied Law and Fine Arts at St Paul’s College, University of Sydney. Prior to founding We First, he spent 15 years as a writer, Creative Director, and Worldwide Creative Director at global advertising agencies such as DDB Worldwide (Sydney), Saatchi & Saatchi (London), Wieden & Kennedy (Portland), and Ogilvy (Los Angeles), working with clients including Nike, Motorola, & Toyota. He took all this experience and delivered it to the world with his first book, We First How Brands and Consumers Use Social Media to Build a Better World”, is a New York Times bestseller named Best Marketing Book of the Year by strategy+business. His new book, Lead With We, is a Wall Street Journal bestseller., So was the power of branding always something that interested him, or did it slowly creep up and slap him around a bit before it really hit home? And how do new entrepreneurs and small business create the own purpose driven brand if at the beginning most sole purpose is just to survive? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Simon Mainwaring.

Neil Robinson Finds His Personal Dream Neil Robinson is todays guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. Neil first connected with us a few years ago after listening to the show and at that time he was running his own domestic cleaning business. As you can imagine he was making appointments, turning up and his time wasn’t his own. But that was going to change as he is an entrepreneur at heart and unlike so many people across the world, can see the opportunities that lie all around us better than most. So alongside the cleaning business he then moved onto building a website design business called the furry frog, which was focused on design, SEO and optimisation. He would build an maintain websites for a monthly subscription allowing his clients to do the things that they do better and leading the technical struggles to him. How The Dots Joined Up For Neil This has now pivoted to a Google Ads PPC consultancy business, which as we will discuss on the show has removed a lot of the hassles from the previous incarnation of the business. But how do you take all these income producing elements and then move into a caravan, become mobile, start two new business and appear on an episode of Join Up Dots whilst sitting in Thailand? Well today is when we find out? So is the issue of starting businesses and gaining life freedom more to do with mindset and belief than technical experience?  And looking back at the changes in his life what would he say was the one that really started the ball rolling? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Neil Robinson.

Top Ten Things That Build The Dream If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content.  A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and  their lifestyle design dreams too.  Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

The Infinite Banking System The infinite banking system expert Brent Kesler is todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots Podcast today.  He is someone who we all need to listen to and learn from if we are struggling with debt, spiralling costs of living and not ever having enough to live the kind of life that we dream off. After implementing The Money Multiplier (TMM) Method, Brent was able to pay off $984,711 in 3rd party debt in 39 months. He became so passionate about how powerful this concept was, he began to share it with others. For the last 10-plus years, Brent has been educating thousands of people around the country on the dynamics of the TMM Method and helping individuals to break the bonds of financial slavery and take control of their own financial life.

The Successes Keep On Coming If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way.  Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

What does it take to get the help you need to change your life and create your own successful business? Well it simply takes you asking a question and you can do that easily by sending us an email on So let's move onto todays four question posed by listeners of the show and of course you can hear the answers directly on the show Dear David, question for you. How do you know what you are doing is going to be the right thing to do? Listening to your shows it seems the biggest thing to decide is to start, following in what to do? I would love to know your answer to this problem SL, Florida. Hi David, loving the show, I have created a successful pizza business in my town over the last four years. Now i am getting bored with it. Should I sell, or just suck it up? MM, Essex Hi David you sexy individual, i just thought i would ask you a question in a different way, but you talk about self development alot, but what have you learnt in the last day that you think is "Wow"!  - love the show, HZ, Nicaragua  Hi David, do you think that the dream of what you want to become is better than the reality? I am always starting things and get stuck in the drudgery, non sexy times and think "Ill do something else instead". Should i just persevere   HT, Brighton

Beating The Fear With Leisa Peterson Leisa Peterson is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. She is a great friend of the show and has an amazing story that has powerful situations, dots and challenges that have led to where she is today. You see she has had three stages of success from working  22+ years n the world of finance, pouring herself into earning a high salary, collecting great bonuses and moving up the ladder. Then becoming a millionaire and continuing to work towards more and more like her life depends on it. Then after facing a major life crisis followed by several tragedies, she moved towards answering the question of could she ever have both inner fulfilment and outer wealth.” As she says "True freedom comes as a result of improving how you feel about yourself. Many people lose out on money, time and opportunity every day because they don’t understand how to shift the inner narrative that impacts their their peace of mind.  Which became the focus and direction of her successful coaching business, she sold her long time home, moved to Hawaii got bored, came back to Arizona and started something new. So with all this movement and action taking, how does she know that she is now travelling the right course in her life? And does she get excited by the road she is travelling all the time, or are there still “Wow, I am so unsure of this” moments, lets just sit on the sofa and do nothing today times? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Leisa Peterson

Reclaim Your Time And Sanity If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content.  A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

How To Build Company After Company Brian Will is a serial entrepreneur who has created or co-created six very successful companies in four different industries over the last thirty-five years. His first foray into owning his own business was a 10-year stint in the landscaping industry that he started when he was twenty years old. This was followed by three online internet companies during the dot.com boom of the late nineties and early 2000s. The first was an online health insurance website and call centre that was eventually sold to a venture capital company in Silicon Valley and today is one of the largest online Medicare insurance platforms in the US. The second was an online “lead generation” company in the subprime credit space that was sold to a private equity firm out of Chicago. The third was another online health insurance website and call centre that was sold to another venture capital company in Silicon Valley and today is one of the largest individual state health insurance exchange platforms.

The Quick Business Idea Generator Course Follow Up If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way.  Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Dyscalculia Dyscalculia Expert Rebecca Ginger from Tables Fables is my guest today, on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast.  She is a lady who first connected with the show as a listener. Then she became a guest on the show back on episode Then a long with her business partner became clients of mine, and now im pleased to say is one of my best friends I have. What i Love about her is she is a lady who is moving forward to where she wants to be by hook or by crook. She is doing stuff daily, turning up when things are hard and making things happen. How The Dyscalculia Dots Joined Up Now her business started in the way you will have heard us talk about time and time again throughout the episodes. She found a problem in her life, then realised this was a problem that thousands of others were suffering with and developed a solution. As she says “I was very dyslexic as a child, and rather failed at school, until the last year when I worked out a system to remember things. Which lead med to my passion project. “ The work that will be her legacy is called Table Fables, which has been created to help children everywhere learn their times tables. Not in a boring way, but in a fun and enjoyable way, against the classic repeat in a drone until you fall into a coma method. The technique is based on the peg memory system. This is when children get the ability to remember the numerical position of items on a list, in or out of sequence. The peg system has been proven to be one of the most effective memory aids used to date. Each number, from 1 to 12, is represented by a character. T wo characters (e.g. 8 Snowman & 3 mouse) interact to create a funny, short story, which reveals the answer. This has already helped thousands of children already and hopefully millions more in the future. So has dreaming her passion business made it easier or actually harder to grow the success she now has? And where have the been the key areas of growth that our listeners can duplicate in their own online ventures? Well let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Rebecca Ginger

If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too.  Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Finding The Gratitude In Business Charles Gaudet is the author of “The Predictable Profits Playbook: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Dominating Any Market and Staying on Top“ (voted #1 Book on Sales & Marketing by Indie Excellence) and host of The Beyond 7-Figures Podcast. He’s been an entrepreneur since the age of 4, created his first multi-million dollar business at 24, and has helped others generate millions with his strategies. His business ventures have ranged from establishing a bathroom tollbooth at his parents’ home (which they shockingly agreed to play along with) to creating an angel-financed pet health insurance company to a multi-million-dollar real estate development company–and many others. T oday, Mr Gaudet’s advice has appeared in media throughout the world including Fox Business, Inc., Forbes, and Business Insider, plus he has spoken to both domestic and international audiences. He was selected as one of The American Genius Beat’s “Top 50 Influencers.” On occasion, his kids even take his advice. But hang on a bit how about the fact that as a child, he was diagnosed as having one of the worst cases of ADHD (along with a litany of other learning ‘disabilities’) the doctor had ever seen. Yet he refused medication and alternative education and taught himself how to succeed amidst those challenges! Oh and he is a three times wrestling state champion. Well….we could go on and on. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Charles Gaudet

The Power Of Now If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way.  Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIG In this show we discuss the Eckhart Tolle book The Power Of Now and why this short read could simply be life changing for everyone.

Building Your Life Around The Feeling Of Joy Living by design expert Leslie Sann is joining us on the show for the second time.  She first appeared on episode 425 eight years go when we talked about how life can be made so much simpler and fulfilling just by following some simple advice. She believes that we should enjoy everyday and find better ways of doing stuff when life seems too hard for us to deal with. She is the founder of Living by Design, an educational coaching organization, where for more than 25 years she has been helping people live a joyful life by showing them how to live by design rather than by default. Make the right thing happens by conscious thought, and not just get pushed around by what life throws at you. As she says “Your success IS my joy. I’m just like that. When you go Up, I go Up. It’s nourishing food for me. Maybe that’s why my dad called me weird when I was a kid. I like seeing other people win and be happy.  How The Dots Joined Up I have devoted most of my professional life, since 1986, to helping people create a joyful life, personally, professionally and in their relationships, guiding them to live by design rather than by default. Well, even more than that. Live in joy regardless of circumstances. When I first went into coaching, I called myself a joyologist.  That was decades before the happiness movement. Why? Because joy is nourishing, always present, and valuable as a guide in creating a life we love. So did she get to a point in her own life when she thought “Enough is enough, it’s time to make life what I want it to be and then went for it ” And does she see that most people can build the dream life, or is there a select special group of forward thinkers that get the dream? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Leslie Sann.

How To Become Superbold And Confident Fred Joyal is todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business podcast. This is a story of a man who admits to being super timid to someone who has done stand-up and improv comedy, spoken to audiences of 5,0000 people or more, met dozens of celebrities, and, just by being bold, he found love, joy, passion, and success. Along with a lucrative career in advertising and marketing, he co-founded the most successful dentist referral service in the country, 1-800-DENTIST. He has written two books on marketing, dabbled in stand-up and improv comedy, acted in bad movies and excellent TV commercials, and visited over forty-four countries around the world. And now he has a new book out on the shelves Superbold: From Under-Confident to Charismatic in 90 Days As he says "Bold individuals seize life in remarkable, almost unbelievable ways. They succeed in business, in careers, and in love, and they have a great time doing it. How The Dots Joined Up For Fred Bold people walk up to supermodels and ask them to dance. They stand in front of audiences and tell jokes. They start companies. They run for president. What surprises most people is that boldness can be taught. And he should know as Fred Joyal started as an extremely shy person, too timid even to make a phone call He changed and now he can teach you how. Superbold gives you a systematic, step-by-step approach that can take you to a surprising level of boldness in as little as ninety days. Ready to stop living a life of regrets and missed opportunities? It’s all possible—faster than you think. So how do you get bold when your situation can be not conducive to boldness? And where do most people go wrong forcing it to happen or simply not forcing it at all? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Fred Joyal.

Lazy If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too.  Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

When Enough Is Enough Tom Morkes wasnt just the first guest to ever appear on Join Up Dots, but also the milestone 500th guest to appear for good reason. So inspired by the work he was doing before I leapt and quit my corporate job that I reached out and said to him “Tom, im thinking of quitting my job and giving it ago” and the advice I got back I’m still using today. Now on those first episodes we talked about how he had left the military with a desire to travel the world and create a business for himself on his own terms. How he would sit on his bed in his barracks and start creating something that he could show to the world and be proud off. Now he is the founder and CEO of Insurgent Publishing, author of “The Art of Instigating,” “The Complete Guide to Pay What You Want Pricing” and “Collaborate,” and host of the iconic podcast “In The Trenches,” where he interviews today’s most fascinating marketers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders, including: Dr. Jordan Peterson, Seth Godin, and John Jantsch among many others. Tom is a sought after marketing and growth consultant who has helped his clients reach the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller lists, set the record for the most-funded, non-fiction publishing project in Kickstarter history, and generate millions in sales online using his referral, influencer, and affiliate marketing strategies. Tom’s ideas on marketing and entrepreneurship have been featured in a variety of top publications, including: Inc., Forbes, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, and Growthhacker TV.  So what keeps him going when most of entrepreneurship is wandering into a world where the answers you need and want are mainly hidden from view ? And of course with all track records of success, there are dots that are a lot less successful so what has been his missteps’ both professional and personally. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots for the second time with Mr Tom Morkes

More Listener Success If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way.  Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content.

From FB Ads To Amazon FBA Denierio Bartolini is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast His story starts in 2012 when he started working as an internet marketer for a big Canadian corporation. As a Google premier partner, in 2012, his team was already helping businesses scale with Google Ads (previously known as Adwords). In 2015 he oversaw another partnership (this time with Shopify) and helped scale over 25 Shopify stores through Facebook Ads. As he says “At the end of 2015, while I was working hard at my corporate job, I decided to use my skills to set up my first Amazon FBA store and within months, I broke the 6-figure mark. In 2016 and 2017, my Amazon stores expanded in the electronics category, kitchenware, baby products, and home & garden.  How The Dots Joined Up For Deniero At the beginning of 2017, I quit my corporate job and I opened my own Google Ads agency. And that is where the real work started as he scaled quickly but it wasn’t all fun. The intense schedule led to a breakdown, where he needed hospitalization. Deniero recovered with a new mindset which led to the creation of his podcast and brand.  So did he need to go through the breakdown and dark times to find the real path that he should have been on all along? A nd when did the penny drop and he realised that actually it wasn’t just working hard that was the key but actually working smart?  Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Deniero Bartolini.

If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too.

The Inspiring Story Of Andrew Carnegie If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

When The Dots Join Up Live On A Show Steven Shewach first came on the show back in 2014 on episode 5 of Join Up Dots, and then was someone who used to call himself an RNT, which for us that dont know what that means its ” A Recovering Negative thinker.” Well actually he considered himself a lot worse than that, as his life was not good, his relationships weren’t working, and all in all things were not in a good place. He knew that he had to do something about it, and knew that it started with his stinking thinking. Could he rewire his brain to focus in on the positive aspects of his life, therefore changing direction on the path he had been leading for decades, in effect taking responsibility for his own happiness. Well, with a huge “Yes”, our guest not only did that but started calling himself “the Mantor” as he helped men from across the world to focus in on their negative actions and reprogram the way they operate on a daily basis. And then came the pivot, the big pivot as now his life is unbelievable different, adventurous and it seems happier than ever. He now is semi-nomadic spending about half the year in Europe, as he is married to an amazing Portuguese woman named Dora who shares many of the same ideals as him. The two of them are now professional pet sitters and have pet sat in many countries together whilst focusing my diverse life and professional experience and knowledge developing a coaching practice focused on Longevity and Wellness for Men in Midlife. It looks like his stinking thinking and negative ways are long in the past. So does he find it hard to still relate and feel like the person he was over 10 years ago? And what does he do to keep himself on track as now everything seems to be just the way he wans things to be? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show for the second time to join up more dots the one and only Steven Shewach.

How To Build Your Own Lead Generation Agency Jennifer Spivak is todays guest joining us on the Steve Job inspired Join Up Dots business podcast and After living with an abusive ex in her early 20s, Jennifer set up The Ad Girls in order to empower women everywhere to achieve financial freedom. But was it easy or a bit of a struggle? Well it is no secret that, in order to create amazing online income as an entrepreneur, you need to bring in leads, clients, and customers. But, as algorithm changes and rising ad costs make paid lead gen less attractive, it can be tempting to turn your back on ads that bring in these opportunities. However, instead of giving up, she discovered that the key to leveraging Facebook ads successfully is through your messaging, and, as The Ad Girls CEO Jennifer Spivak puts it, messaging is the new targeting. She now firmly believe there are 4 main messaging buckets to incorporate into your ads if you want to convert now (credibility, vulnerability, personality, and feel-good content) And with these elements she has seen results such as driving conversion times for one client go from 191 days to just 7! And she has also learnt that the #1 mistake most companies make with their ads (thinking your customers buy based on your results and not YOU and your personality) and most interestingly to me “How merging your personal brand with your business will help boost engagement, authenticity and loyalty” As she says “The more I have leaned into my full weird self, the more that sort of like magnetic marketing, and personal branding is just on fire!” So what was it about the world of FB ads that got her juices going, and made her create her own business? And why join forces with one of her competitors instead of trying to beat them to every potential lead out there? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Jennifer Spivak

Mental Health Brain Health expert Dan Murray-Serter joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Dan is a multi-award winning serial entrepreneur, who talks openly about failure, mental health, mental performance, and ‘braincare’ – which includes his journey using science to build habits, cultivating a positive mindset & the importance of nutrition for optimizing your brain’s health, after writing over 120 newsletters in a row (and counting) on the science of brain health. He’s the Co-Founder of Heights, a ‘braincare’ company that makes the highest rated supplements for mental health and performance that help high achievers become more productive, focused, and mentally fit. As he says "Neglect your brain and the rest of your body suffers. With the right nutrition, you can feel better, every day. What’s stopping you?" With fans around the world, and with a year of extremely powerful lows it seems now is the time more than ever the world needs this. So what made him turn his attention to mental health when so many people do not give the brain a second thought as its kind of hidden away. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Dan Murray-Serter Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Dan Murray-Serter such as: Dan shares how his idea for business changed drastically due to the pandemic that hit the world in 2020. We talk about the moment that his business idea came to the fore, and the deep research that he then undertook. We discuss the increase of mental health due to the comparisons that we now build against others every day. And lastly we talk about........... The Power Of Now, and why this book read at the right time, is the key to big personal changes.

Are You A Good Parent? Then There's A Biz For You To Start Corina Taylor is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. Affectionately known as Auntie Corina she has been for the last 15 from my 15+ years as a licensed family day-care provider. She is an expert at helping Mom Entrepreneurs learn calm, clear, firm, loving parenting hacks using 30 years of experience and education to juggle the needs of their kids and run their business like the boss they are. But this like all great Join Up Dots stories wasn't something that just came to her like magic. This was years of developing, learning and fine tuning her skills and then going even deeper.  

I'm Trapped I'm In A Cage I Can't Get Out If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content.

What Build Business Success? John Murphy is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast interview. Now this isn't the first time that John has appeared on the show, as quite a few years ago he was episode 388 of the show, back in 2015 to be exact. The last time we spoke he was  living in the South of France, as he worked with individuals and corporations across the globe to make them see the opportunities they have all around them. The opportunities that can bring wealth, success, and enjoyment into their worlds. But is he now doing the same, or like many entrepreneurs was that just a stepping stone to where he now finds himself? Well it seems that he has now strengthened and changed his focus helping corporate clients find and develop winning teams in their organisations. So how did John Murphy, born and bred in Ireland break free from the surrounding conditioning of what is possible for a young man from Ireland? And does he see the issues that he encounters with his clients, the same across the world, or is there geographical reasons that hold us back from achieving what we want? And i guess the best question of all "Do individuals have more or less the same obstacles as large corporate clients except on a smaller scale?" Well let’s find out as bring onto the show to start joining up dots even more dots with the one and only Mr. John Murphy. 

Ten Years Of Dots With Zeb Welborn Zeb Welborn is a name that many of the listeners will not have heard of but was a major part of the growth of Join Up Dots. In fact he appeared on episode 32 in the first month of the show back in 2014 You see there are times when everybody needs a little confidence booster in the early days, and having someone believe in you enough to say “I know you have just started David, but come on my Defining Success podcast as a guest and tell your story” was just the kicker I needed to make things happen. And its not a surprise that his show was called Defining success as that is just what he has done in his own life time and time again. His goal when he started his entrepreneurial career was to start a successful tutoring business and the tutoring business was going to fund his lifestyle. A tutoring business, he realized wasn’t going to be extremely successful unless he took it nationally or did something like that. He knew it would be a difficult long road. But he took action to get there and as he started down that path he began to learn about internet marketing.

If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too.

The Ideas Lab founder John Williams John Williams has helped thousands of people to find something they love, get it started, and make a living out of it. He first appeared on the show back on episode 77 in 2014 and then was running the Screw Work Academy and was happy to tell us he was a self confessed Creative Maverick. But has he changed over the years or actually just became more maverick and playful? After being in corporate land in the UK for many years, working for such companies as Deloitte, John Williams quit his job with the firm intention to never work again. He wanted to create a world that in the words of Richard Branson “I don’t think of work as work, and play as play its all living”.

The Three Big Happiness Questions Do really know what makes you happy in life? Not spending a ton of money but simply tapping into the happiness pool within you? If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content.

How To Feel In Tip Top Shape In January If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too.

Custom Designer Socks Make A Great Global Business We all use them, most of us dont think much about them, but we buy more and more when we can only find one in the washing. Yes socks are one of those business ideas that almost seem obvious as they are all around us everyday. With a passion for entrepreneurship from a very young age, Samuel is the Founder and CEO of Sockrates Custom Socks, a company based in Boca Raton Florida which specializes in producing the highest quality custom socks at the fastest turnaround time. With over 4000 clients, Sockrates has emerged as the industry leader in its field with clients in the United States, Germany, France, Iceland, UK, Israel and Canada. After graduating from the prestigious Schulich School of Business in Toronto, Ontario, Samuel worked for an Investment Banking consulting group where he was responsible for presenting research and findings to key C level decision executives within the banking industry around the world. Next he became a partner of an established market research firm in Toronto where he consulted on studies for companies spanning from 50 million in revenues to the Fortune 500. Which doesnt seem the most natural stepping stones to launching your own hi quality sock business.  So how did he first come up with the idea and dip his toes into the water of fashion items? And where has been the biggest struggles as he takes on the might of Walmart and the like? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Samuel Moses.

What's The Point In Starting Your Own Business? If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Ready To Build A Business That Works From Anywhere? Mike Swigunski is a bestselling author, Forbes and Entrepreneur contributor, remote work leader, and founder of GlobalCareerBook.com. As an online business expert that has brokered millions of dollars in digital assets and also helped build an eight-figure remote company, he has cultivated a strong passion and knowledge for everything within the remote work realm. Mike is focused on transforming the way location-independent work and business synergize. Mike has been working and traveling full-time since 2011 and his journey has taken him to visit and work remotely in over 100+ countries. In that time, he’s worked all over the world and helped build an eight-figure remote company, all from the comfort of his laptop. In his book, Global Career, Mike pulls back the curtain and shares everything he’s learned from years of trial and error about how to travel long term as a digital nomad, radically advance your career and build a life you absolutely love!

If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Welcome to a new year and ten years of Join Up Dots its 2023 !

Another Boat Will Always Come In Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

The Long Walk To Building A Business Andy McDowell is an engineer by trade and a creative by nature and the founder of generateyourvalue.com He spent 22 years with the Boeing Company, where he always felt more like a life coach than a boss. In 2002, he began his journey into entrepreneurship within a Corporation when he was asked to develop an Airspace Design Consulting business from scratch that would serve the global government market. Now at his core he believes that leadership of your life starts with an evaluation of how you are generating value in your own life and how that translates into your business life and relationships. As he says “Wow…..what a crazy adventure, right? Putting yourself out there in the form of a business can be quite frightening. To share your thoughts, ideas and creativity in hopes that others have a need for your offering(s).

Getting Leads From Linkedin Virtual Edge Founder Matt Clark Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast To subscribe to the podcast, please use the links below: Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes Click Here to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes feed) If you like the show, we would be so grateful if would consider leaving the show a review in iTunes as well as Stitcher Radio. A couple minutes of your time can help the show immensely! Thank YOU! Introducing Matt Clark From The Virtual Edge Virtual Edge Matt ClarkVirtual Edge founder Matt Clark is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the founder of The Virtual Edge and co creator of The Rainmaker System – an online marketing system that helps coaches, advisers and consultants get 2-5 high value leads per day from Linkedin without paying for ads. Matthew and his business partner Wesley Longueira have helped over 1000 businesses in 17 countries grow exponentially. Their 3 step approach places human connection at its core, paving the way for a new wave of lead generation marketing. They are a multi million dollar company and have helped their clients grow to six and seven figures without paid advertising. Now this isn’t something that occurred overnight. As with all stories on Join Up Dots there are a lot of dots to join up and that is certainly the case of How The Dots Joined Up For Matt I began in door to door sales and quickly became highly successful earning between 80-200k per month at just aged 19. I co-founded a telecom sales company at age 23 and grew that to more than 6M in sales by year 3. Instead of enjoying this success however I ended up completely burnt out realising that the business could not function without me. I knew that I wanted a different lifestyle- to travel the world, earn multiple currencies and to have more time to enjoy my life. That’s when I switched gears and began focusing on automation and developing systems that support business growth. I started consulting with businesses working on-to-one with big names on the global stage including Samsung, Loral Langemeier and Peter Sage. I soon came to realise that I wanted to have more impact. I know the only forward was further systematisation and automation. The success of the Rainmaker System has led to Matthew becoming a sought after international speaker and has shared the stage with big names like Dr. Phill, JT Foxx, Michael Douglas and many more. Matthew is also the author of The Proven Path, The Automation Playbook and The Automated Income systems and has been featured in Wake up- How to live a Healthy Vibrant Lifestyle. So is a thriving business as much as coming up with the idea, or overcoming the obstacles that always come our way? And why do so many people love to do the clunky spammy approach on Linkedin time and time again? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Matt Clark Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Matt Clark such as: Shares how every door that he knocked on over months and months and months gave him many of the skills that he uses today. Why we should dig deep into the online world to truly see what is available to us before we ever make a quick decision as to where we want to head. Matt shares the process of getting amazing leads from Linkedin by becoming truly focused on providing value, value, value. And lastly….. Why Jim Carreys amazing character Ace Ventura might just provide the greatest business advice the world has ever seen. How To Connect With Matt Clark Website LinkedIn Return To The Top Of Virtual Edge Matt Clark If you enjoyed this episode with Matt Clark, why not check out other inspirational chat with Caroline Casey, Festival Pass, Clint Arthur and the amazing Jessica Cox You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy

Turn Listening Into A Super Power Oscar Trimboli is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is an author, host of the podcast Deep Listening and a sought-after keynote speaker. Along with the Deep Listening Ambassador Community, he is on a quest to create 100 million deep listeners in the workplace. But what is deep listening actually? Well for anyone what has been married for more than a few years and get accused of not listening at all anymore, these are the skills when you stop just hearing the words and look for the reasons those words are being said. You get the backstory of the conversation which leads to greater insight and of course hugely beneficial breakthoughs and accelerated development in offices everywhere. How Oscar Became A Listening Expert Through his work with chairs, boards of directors, and executive teams, Oscar has experienced first-hand the transformational impact leaders can have when they listen beyond words. He believes that when leadership teams focus their attention and listening, they will build organizations that create powerful legacies for the people they serve – today and, more importantly, for future generations. So what is the first part of listening beyond words which people can bring into their daily conversations from today? And when did he first realise that there was more to what we allowed into our ears than he had been experiencing previously? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Oscar Tromboli

Five Days Before Christmas If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIG TIME

My guest today, on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview is a man who I first saw on YouTube and thought in an instant “I want this guy on Join Up Dots” as he is on the search for happiness. Which is great. But as like most the guests who have made up over 60o conversations, that initial thought of “I like what this guy is doing” only touches the surface of his work. He is a Writer, filmmaker, actor, TEDx speaker, multiple award-winning self-help author, poet, children’s author, radio personality, finisher of over 50 triathlons (including 4 Ironman distance races), cross-country bicyclist and someone that believes in waking people up. Yes, he is a man with a similar mission to Join Up Dots Come on people, you are only on this planet once, so lets get going. Lets take a step into the scary zone and see what we can deal with. In addition to writing, speaking and acting in TV and film, he enjoys creating his own projects that carry inspiring, positive and conscious messages. His most recent project was the short film Searching for Happiness, which is now online and can be watched on his website and YouTube. The story focuses on an unhappy man, alone and unloved, who struggles to find meaning in his black and white reality. While over the course of a day, he learns that it is through kindness and our connection to others that we find true happiness. So how does one man wake up himself to start going after something so much bigger than what one could hope to achieve on their own? And has he truly found happiness, or is this a search that will never end? Well lets find out as we bring onto to the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr happiness himself....G Brian Benson

In todays episode of Join Up Dots we get deep and personal after recieving an email from a listener of the show. She wanted to go behind the scenes and ask questions about the leap, and what happens afterwards. Hi David, thank you for creating such an informative podcast. I listen to it everyday and gain something from it each and every-time. I thought it would be a fun and interesting episode if you could share the differences between your life before Join Up Dots and now. I think many of us get trapped in seeing a big picture that is too hard for us to comprehend how to get there, but of course everything comes together when you join up the dots :) So here are some questions that i certainly would like to know the answer to to get an insight into your life. What were you doing at the moment you took the leap into entrepreneurship? How much did you earn then, compared to now? How do you earn your money for bills and invoices? Has it been harder to achieve your success than expected? What was your morning like compared to now? How many hours did you work compared to now? What is a usual day for you running Join Up Dots? Do you get fed up or annoyed with anything in your businesses, especially Join Up Dots? Why do hold firm against getting a cell phone? What are the things that you miss if any about working for someone else? How many days off can you have per year compared to before? What if any are your family commitments? What have been the mistakes that you wish you hadnt made? I would love to hear an episode based around these questions, as no matter how hard you try its obvious that we get a weighted side to the lifestyle and business that you have. Love and light Gemma

Island Brands USA: How To Start A Beer Company Scott Hansen is the Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board, and CEO of Island Brands USA, the first company to effectively build and scale a non-craft beer business in the 21st century. For the past 25 years, Scott has excelled in both founder and leadership roles across the technology, healthcare, and finance sectors. He successfully launched, grew, and exited two proprietary tech firms early in his career before joining Merrill Lynch and obtaining a range of securities licenses. Following his time in finance, Scott founded Talent Resource Group and was granted National Security Clearance to support data-centric technology systems being developed by the Pentagon. The company was acquired by Modulant, an IT services company, and Scott served as Managing Director for three years before forming Hansen Talent Group. There, he worked to strategically develop lower-cost implementation services for major software-as-a-service (SAAS) platforms worldwide; it was acquired in 2018. A lifelong connector and innovator who consistently brings value to partners and shareholders alike, Scott co-founded Island Brands with his friend Brandon Perry in 2016.

From £4 Million Failure To Inspired Biz Colin Scotland is todays guest joining us on the Steve jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a self employed business coach and strategist who expertise is helping others to define their message, their direction, and the income that they wish to earn His journey like most who have joined us on the show, is one of building, building, hustle and collapse. We have seen either a physical collapse due to overwork, a mental collapse when confusion drives you to your knees, or a financial one over the years. Right from the beginning watching sales come through on his own website was thrilling. He couldn’t believe he could do business virtually like this. He knew then somehow, building businesses online is what I am called to do. He was good at it. Roll on a few months, he found himself sitting in front of a bank manager who for financial reasons was pulling the plug on his business, his dream.

If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. 

How To Build A Multimillion-Dollar International Agency Raman Sehgal is the Founder of several niche companies including ramarketing, a multimillion-dollar international agency that helps companies get noticed in the global life science space. As an entrepreneur, Raman embarked on a business journey that ultimately spanned the Atlantic—from a spare room in the Northeast of England to the bustling streets of Boston, Massachusetts, where he lives today with his wife and three sons. As an author, keynote speaker, podcaster, blogger, Forbes Agency Council member, and guest university lecturer, Raman shares his knowledge, mistakes, and learnings in an honest manner that will hopefully help others’ journey. One of his favourite mottos is “sharing is caring, right?”, which is reflected in the impact that his work has on other businesses and individuals alike. Raman just launched his book, The Floundering Founder, which contains 24 lessons to refocus your business and better yourself, and collects the essential tools and learnings that can have the greatest, long-term impact. So from the kid that was best known for selling (and eating) chocolate, crisps and candy in his high school what was the biggest dot that made his journey all make sense? And where does he see the biggest part of floundering that all founders do as they find their place in the business world? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Raman Sehgal

How One Man Made Billions From Ecstasy Shaahin Cheyene is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is known as the #1 Amazon Accelerator, where he helps you to crush it on Amazon. And with over $350 Million in sales then he obviously knows a thing or two about what makes this platform an amazing platform to build, scale and earn big bucks online. As he says “I’ve been called many things in my life (including the “Willy Wonka of Generation X”), but my favourite one is simple: the world’s leading Amazon industry expert. I’m the founder of the brain nutrition start-up Accelerated Intelligence (AI). The Dots Joined Up For Shaahin Cheyene I’m also an award-winning business mogul, author, filmmaker, and inventor of Herbal Ecstasy, the nootropic that sparked the (100% legal) Smart Drug Movement. My serial entrepreneurial career has spanned more than 30 years, and my Amazon products have outpaced Fortune 500 companies’ sales on the platform, selling millions of units worldwide. Many of these multimillion dollar companies noticed, which led me to become one of the world’s most sought-after Amazon experts. So where did the dots first start to join up for him as he moved through the entrepreneurial world? And when did it all make sense and things really started to escalate at a rapid speed? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Shaahin Cheyene.

If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humour, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Mandy Barbee is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. MA Economics & CCHT, founder of Palladium Mind, a transformation and healing expert who has helped hundreds of clients across the globe to overcome anxiousness and thrive in business, health, and life. By combining the power of imagery with their innate capabilities, she empowers men and women to regain a positive sense of control, transcend struggle, and enjoy everything more. Now that's what she does everyday, but at Join Up Dots we are more interested in how she got to where she has, not what she is doing. And her journey is one that can inspires so many people that struggle with the mental side of moving to where they want to be. How The Dots Joined Up For Mandy  As she says "I’m the oldest of five girls, all born inside 7 years to very young parents. Raised in north Georgia, I knew a couple things very early on: I wanted to see the world, and I wanted to support myself. Neither of my parents had completed college, so when my father told me, “Mandy, any school you can figure out how to get into, I’ll find a way to pay for,” a quiet voice inside of me said, “That isn’t what’s going to happen.” Determined, smart, polite and ambitious, at the age of 17 I was accepted into the Air Force Academy and headed to Colorado Springs for boot camp. I had poor self esteem, weak boundaries, and an insatiable need for external validation. And so while I excelled at everything I did, and was graduating at the top of my class, in the winter of my final year, all coping mechanisms were breaking down; I found myself in tears seemingly without reason and missing classes for the first time in my life. Coincidentally over Christmas my mother had bought my dad a session with a hypnotherapist to stop smoking, and for lack of us knowing what else to do, I went for a visit as well. THAT HOUR I SPENT WITH A GENTLEMAN HYPNOTHERAPIST IN NORTH GA, 2005 PUT MY LIFE ON A NEW TRAJECTORY - ALBEIT AT THE TIME I DID NOT APPRECIATE EXACTLY HOW. Fast forward ten years, 26 countries, and leadership roles in three commercial industries later, I had objectively achieved a great deal of success and every reason in the world to be happy. So why did those high marks in classes, and educational achievements force her to review where she was heading in her life? And is anxiety something that we can nip in the bid before it ever starts, or simply something we have to manage? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mandy Barbee Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Mandy Barbee such as: We discussed why we should all be very aware of the energies that we give out everyday, especially to the wrong people. Why Dunbar's law is so powerful which states that we can only maintain 150 relationships at everyone time. Social media cleanse anyone? Why when we rest our minds and our bodies we really give ourselves a chance to grow our business faster than ever And lastly........... How the world is full of traffic streams, which makes it so easy to find customers for our business. We simply have to decide where to put our rods.

Beating Stress & Anxiety Dr Don Wood is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast Our Guest today He developed the Inspired Performance Institute after spending years researching how trauma affects our minds and our lives. He began to understand that events and experiences throughout our lifetime continue to play a role in how we experience life in the present. He also realized that there was a better way of treating the issue. As he says “Teaching people to live with, manage and cope with the daily stress doesn’t fix the problem. The solution comes from understanding it’s source and providing a long-term permanent solution. How The Dots Joined Up For Dr Wood Unresolved trauma or disturbing events and experiences from your past may be interfering with your ability to function at your highest level. These experiences may limit your ability to regulate your mood, focus, or connect with others in a healthy, loving and safe way… A chronically dysregulated and imbalanced nervous system can lead to anxiety, depression, PTSD, panic attacks, addictions, or even chronic illnesses such as auto-immune disorders, thyroid problems, cardiac and gastrointestinal diseases, and even cancer. So was this concept based on his own personal experiences as many successful businesses are? And how do we tap into our own pasts without the help of an expert guru, or perhaps we shouldn't? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Dr. Don Wood

Am I Giving Too Much Of Myself Away? If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Brandon Dawson is a business scaling, turn around expert and leadership mentor who helps business owners and their teams achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals through the growth of their business. He is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Cardone Ventures which he started with Grant Cardone, was started in 2019, has 80+ employees and does around $35M annually. They help businesses 10X, and through the 10X Growth Conference, the #1 annual business conference in the world, he has seen 35,000+ engaged business owners, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and professionals gather to learn top secrets to fast-track growth in their business and life. Now if these seem like a major highlights in a business life his beginnings were a lot more normal

Which Of The Three Is A Great Biz Idea ? Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Another New Business Is Launched Through Join Up Dots If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content.

Business Success Starts With Helping Others Get What They Want Shawn Shewchuck is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He is a man who from his hometown of Calgary Canada, is on a mission similar to most of our guests. In fact it should be the mission that everyone of us who listen into Join Up Dots should be on everyday. He is committed to studying, understanding and helping others achieve more, in less time. He is a man driven to provide the kind of results that other only dream about. If you want to better your life, your career or business, and of course your results, then there is no better way than to focus in on the needs of others. How The Dots Joined Up For Shawn As the late Zig Ziglar once said, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want” which seems to be a great principle to live by, and is certainly working for todays guest. And so for OVER two decades, he has travelled and advised people from across the continent and around the globe, from Fortune 500 leadership teams, to high achievers from all walks of life. So how did he know that he could see a problem that had been anchoring people to the future they were not keen on, and blow it to pieces? And does he find that he still has many of the issues that his clients have, but has managed to work to reduce them, or does he still carry around self limiting baggage? Well let’s bring onto the show to start joining up dots, as we discuss the words of Steve Jobs with the one and only Shawn Shewchuk

Introducing Michael Nemeroff from RushOrderTees RushOrderTees founder Michael Nemeroff is todays guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the CEO and co-founder of the technology-driven eCommerce custom apparel company. Founded in 2002 when Michael was only 17 with his brother and sister, RushOrderTees specializes in industry-leading turnaround times for everyone from teams to small businesses to Fortune 500 companies for a bit of merch, as the kids say. If you want a branded hoodie, t-shirt, bag, whatever, then zip over to his company, design it yourself easily, and bang its on its way to you asap Now this wasn't an easy success, as with all start-ups there is the big push to get it to where you want it to be, and this was no different with todays guest As he says "We were bringing in about $30K a month in revenue after three very hard, long, exhausting years of working 7 days a week.  The three of us were doing the selling, marketing, printing, designing, purchasing, shipping, cleaning, accounting and everything else all on our own. It had taken us a lot of energy and sacrifice to get there and we did our best to squeeze out every bit of profit — only to find at the end of every year we either lost money or were flat on the year. That kind of effort was unsustainable and there was no future in continuing to stay in this business without results. How The Dots Joined Up For RushOrderTees We were all exhausted. I was 20 at the time, and decided I was ready to move on. But my brother forced me to keep working on it. I promised him I’d stay for a few more months, and that’s when we doubled down on our marketing efforts. Within a month, we went from bringing in $30K per month to $200K per month in revenue.  Game changer. All the sudden, we were a million-dollar company. The growth was extremely challenging, but there was finally light at the end of the tunnel. The next phase wasn’t any easier to be honest, but it had a future and I’m really happy we stuck with it. Now over the past 18 years, the company has focused o he customer experience by streamlining the entire process with its innovative design studio, incredible service and the quickest delivers in the industry. They help people express themselves, feel united and connect more deeply to their communities and causes. So what were the steps that changed things, instead of simply ploughing on everyday? And where does he see most people making the mistakes that stop their own success from ever occurring? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to join up dots with the one and only Michael Nemeroff Show Highlights During todays show we discussed such weighty subjects with Michael Nemeroff: Michael shares the story of how his parents dealt with their early business struggles, and the impact it had on him.  Why so many business owners find it hard to break free from the routines they have built around themselves when growing the business. Michael talks openly about finding the niche within the business, that was the most stretching for them, but also the most valuable. and lastly....... We discuss the moment when he and his brother came to blows, and why it was perhaps the best thing to happen.

Advertising Tips Do you listen to ads on the radio and podcasts and instantly get drawn to them? Is it the atmosphere, the words, or simply the persuasive nature of the voice over that makes you jot down those details and check into it more? Well todays guest knows what works and what doesnt, as he is the VP of creative Services at Oxford Road They are the leading privately owned audio ad agency. Pairing disruptive brands with powerful media outlets, Oxford Road develops and places ads for leading B2B and B2C companies across multiple channels including podcast, radio, and television, reaching millions of people each day. Since its founding, Oxford Road has served thousands of top brands and helped more than a dozen direct to consumer brands to scale their customer acquisition efforts and to evolve from start-up leaders into leaders with $1 Billion+ valuations. So what builds trust in a product which then translates into a persuasive ad? How can we make them an offer they can’t refuse: leading to someone taking action now? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Stew Redwine

I Lack Motivation Due To Success If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

It's Not The Size That Counts Nick Cramp is todays guest joining us on the inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Nick is one of the new types of business coaches with thinking that aligns perfectly with the message of Join Up Dots Bigger is not necessarily better. As we have seen from more and more guests who have appeared on the show, there comes a point in the entrepreneurial journey when they start questioning the chase. They are spending their time chasing after more listeners, more email signups, more conversions....more more more and it doesn't feel like how they imagines a successful business to feel. They end up saying no to family commitments as they are too busy. They walk the road to burnout with no other option until now. Perhaps they dont need to. Perhaps they already have enough its now time to make things better not bigger.

If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

How To Say No In Your Business Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Fantasy Football Business Building Joe K'Amo is today’s guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast interview.  He is the founder of a quite unusual business, certainly we have never focused on anything similar on Join Up Dots before. He is the founder of The Fantasy Football Counsellor, where with millions of downloads, he is transforming the way fantasy football managers make educated decisions about drafting and managing their fantasy football teams through his entertaining fantasy football podcast; The Fantasy Football Counselor Podcast and his fantasy football show Joe does the research and takes into account issues other fantasy football analysts don’t. Refusing to sugarcoat things, Joe takes the legwork out for fantasy football fans, giving them the research they need and the confidence to go into the draft day knowing The Counselor is on their side. How The Dots Joined Up For Joe His top-ranked fantasy NFL podcast & YouTube show connects like-minded fantasy football enthusiasts every day and is always on the lookout for new tips to help you navigate the fantasy sports talk world and the secret formula to a fantasy football championship league. Now if you think that this is just a hobby that has grown, then think again, as without a personal tragedy in his life this ball might never have been kicked in the first place. He wanted to honour his father after his untimely and unexpected passing, and so left his unfulfilling career and starting his own business - one he is driven and passionate about. So did he walk the path that most content providers walk in the beginning with no listeners, no downloads and only his faith that he could make it work?  And the big question is "Would he have ever started the whole fantasy football thing if life hadn't tried to kick him into touch? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Joe K'Amo

Should I Take Other Peoples Customers (Moral Dilema) If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Decisions If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content.

Selling E-Printables As A Home Business Cody Berman co founder of Gold City Ventures is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired podcast. This is a man with quite a story of success, focus and working hard to make things happen. Cody Berman was 6 months into his banking job when he decided he never wanted to work in corporate again. Sometime people take years to get the message, but this was obvious...but what could he do? Well he started a disc golf manufacturing company, started an Etsy business selling digital downloads for the holidays (Halloween party invites, letters to Santa, etc), lived below his means, and picked up unit after unit of real estate during the pandemic. He's now splitting his time traveling the world and fixing up an old lake house. How The E-Printables Dots Joined Up For Cody As he says "Side hustling has literally transformed my life. On January 31, 2019 I quit my corporate banking job when my side hustle income started to cover the cost of my lifestyle... and since then I've never looked back!" He spent the last month traveling through the Greek Islands while bringing in a six figure annual income with online business. Cody's goal is financial independence. When he isn't building his own financial independence, he blogs, podcasts, and runs his business helping others get Etsy businesses up and running through Gold City Ventures. So do people make building an online business harder than it really is in his opinion? And of course with everything great success there are downsides to explore and encounter so what has been his biggest? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one Cody Berman

Start Becoming A Six Figure Business Owner (Group Launch) If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Secret Societies Michael F Schein is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. The last time he was on the show we talked about his book “The Hype Handbook: 12 Indispensable Success Secrets From the World’s Greatest Propagandists” During the conversation he told us “Your success depends on getting people to think of you first. But with so much competition in the marketplace, it has become increasingly difficult to attract anyone’s attention. In a perfect world, ideas would rise and fall on their own merits. But it’s not a perfect world. If you want your message to reach a big audience, you need a presence and a platform that shines. It’s hard to do, but some people (and companies) always seem to be able to make it happen. They’re the ones who are always in demand as speakers, sources for articles, and interview subjects. They’re the ones who can always find new business opportunities without effort. Now he is taking it a bit further with his “Secret Society” (Hype Strategy #2) experiment from that book that has had some very interesting results. As he says “I reached out to a highly successful subset of my email list and invited them to become part of a special “Black Book Club.” It’s a small invite-only circle that meets periodically and also gets regular “elite info and scoops”. Most importantly, being a member comes with all the ritual and secrecy that you don’t see much anymore and which makes these groups so intriguing. I’m not charging anything for it. For now, at least, I feel that would defeat the purpose. It’s kind of like Freemasonry updated for the 21st century. I have actually been surprised by how excited these very busy and very successful people have been to take part. So what is it that has sparked interest in individuals how perhaps have many of these type of offerings coming there way each week? And out of all the points he made in the Hype Handbook, what made him choose this one to dig deeper? Well let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots the second time with Mr. Michael F Schein.

Lightning Wont Just Strike If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

How To Build Businesses Whilst Working Fulltime Matthew Dick is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Matthew is an unusual guest for sure, in fact I can’t remember one that manages to do so much in the time available to him every single day. He is an international bestselling author with his books being translated into more than 25 languages worldwide. He is also the co-founder and artistic director of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization that produces shows throughout New England. He teaches storytelling and public speaking to individuals, corporations, universities, religious institutions, and school districts around the world. Now here is the unusual bit when not hunched over a computer screen, Matthew fills his days as an elementary school teacher, which he been doing for 24 years and is a former West Hartford Teacher of the Year and a finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year. How The Dots Joined Up For Matthew He also has no desire to quit the job and work fulltime on his other ventures. And then around all this he , a storyteller, a marketing and storytelling consultant, a speaking coach, a blogger, a wedding DJ, a minister, and a Lord of Sealand. He grew up in the small town of Blackstone, Massachusetts, where he made a name for himself by dying twice before the age of eighteen and becoming the first student in his high school to be suspended for inciting riot upon himself. So how does he decide what to focus his energies on first and foremost when tackling each new day? And of all the points made in his book Someday is Today what would he say is the one that he loves the most? Well let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Matthew Dick

How To Turn Around A Failing Local Biz If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too.

Alison Lumbatis from Get Your Pretty on, is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast interview. She is a 7 figure entrepreneur and the founder of the Get Your Pretty On website and creator of Outfit Formulas - the #1 online capsule wardrobe building program in the world. She’s served over 40,000 women through the Outfit Formulas program and has attracted an audience of millions to the GYPO web site. As a former engineer she knew there had to be an easier way to get dressed everyday so she created Outfit Formulas - a fool proof system to build your wardrobe and create outfits.

Making Wise Financial Decisions Nicholle Overkamp is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching. She’s the Founder and CEO of Wilcox Financial Group and PowHERhouse Money Coaching which focuses on business coaching for ambitious women, wealth coaching and educational programming! . It was founded to create an environment that’s progressive and client centric with outstanding high-touch service and to learn from the lessons that life taught her day after day. As she says “I want to teach you what NOT to do, because well, I’ve probably done it. I have been unappreciated, undervalued, overwhelmed, and STUCK. I’ve worked long days with no momentum.   I’ve feared judgment and failure. I’ve cried myself to sleep knowing there must be a better way! She goes on to say “We can’t predict what challenges we’ll be faced with, but we can be financially prepared for them.  Money doesn’t prevent us from having problems, but it sure does give us options when they occur. Building wealth is about making your money work for you – even when you’re not working. And to really ram the message home “When a woman builds her own wealth, a man with money isn’t a ladder or an upgrade- he’s a bonus.” So why do so many people make the same mistake with money and not focus on the pennies first and foremost? And what is the mistake she sees more often than not from clients struggling to build that comfort blanket of wealth? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Nicholle Overkamp.  

Flexibility If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

How To 10 x's Your Results Faster Than Anyone If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Adapting Through Failures Jeremy Delk jumped into entrepreneurial ventures with the naivety of a child and the tenacity of a tycoon. He started day trading at the age of sixteen, learning and failing with each trade. The paramount to his business success has been the process of adapting through failures. Now he is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for disrupting industries. Jeremy’s knowledge and skills as a day trader helped him land a job as one of the youngest brokers at Fidelity trading institutional equities in Boston and later in New York. It didn’t fulfil the entrepreneurial spark within him, so he decided to go out on his own creating Delk Enterprises. More than 20 years later, Delk Enterprises has holdings in biotech & healthcare, consumer brands, technology, building materials, and real estate developments. His businesses have earned hundreds of millions in revenue, created hundreds of high paying American jobs, and other notable distinctions. Jeremy now focuses on investing and advising entrepreneurs through speaking. His upcoming book shares his reality of the Good, Bad, and UGLY of entrepreneurship. It serves as a not-so-subtle reminder of fundamental principles he’s learned through his journey – while great times don’t last forever, neither do the truly bad ones. So what it is about failures that scare most people, when withoutadobut its the key to ultimately building success? And where does he find his passion to keep going when much of entrepreneurship is the bad and the ugly? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Jeremy Delk.

Why Do People Get Things Easily? If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too.

Hitting Rock Bottom And Glad For It John Latta is our guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast today. Having come face to face with his own personal “rock bottom”, John Latta discovered that his usual efforts of hard work, arguments and logic were getting him nowhere in overcoming the obstacles of becoming a single dad, facing bankruptcy, and his oppressive fear of death. Desperate for a lifeline, he opened his heart and decided to embrace a new way forward with fearless courage. Now when he was a child things were so much different and he showed an inquisitive mind and a thirst for positive thinking and reinforcement. Growing up in Long Beach, CA and later Seattle, WA, his father was an engineer and researcher, and his mother was a stay-at-home mom.

Opportunities If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

The Simpsons Sage Polaris joins us on the Join Up Dots podcast to share her secrets of copywriting success. As a soon to be Mum, Sage was inspired to create and run her own business to effectively take control of her time and future like so many future mothers have the urge and desire to do. Ten years later, she’s built a thriving copywriting business, with the underlying intention of supporting women who want to make money from home, giving them the confidence to go after their dreams. What is the secret behind her success? One of her secret weapons is her ‘Simpsons Policy.’ She’s adapted the Simpsons with DISC personality profiles, usually used for hiring and team-building, to a color-coded copy system that helps writers appeal to 4 buyer types on sales pages, Facebook ads, and any landing page. We’re constantly told that if you’re talking to everyone you’re reaching no one, and that appealing to multiple audiences on the same page is a jumbled mess. But she says when you apply this framework skilfully, you can dramatically improve your conversion rate by speaking directly to the different kinds of buyers, within an audience, that land on your page. So when did the Simpsons reveal themselves as future business partners? And where were the copywriting mistakes that she made in the past that held her back when she wanted to power forward? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Sage Polaris

Being In The Flow Of Life Dirk Van Reenen is today's guest on the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast. He is the founder an visionary of an amazing and motivational company Bergflow. Bergflow is a company that helps other businesses tackle huge obstacles, whilst finding the least resistance. As the name says "BERG" - Mountain (in Afrikaans - South African). It's a symbol of power, magnitude and vastness. A mountain represents challenges, and challenges represent opportunities. Whilst Flow - Known as "the zone", is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, involvement, and enjoyment in the process. Dirk is an award-winning entrepreneur and sought after international business consultant and speaker. Launching and selling several startup companies and was also one of the top Brokerage CEO's for Keller Williams Realty International, leading one of the fastest growing brokerages for Keller Williams worldwide in 2016. How The Dots Joined Up For Dirk But as we see time and time again in Join Up Dots, there comes a time when the path starts going in a different direction. And this happened to our guest, as back in 2016 , Dirk discovered a deeper purpose and re-evaluated everything he was doing and the path he was on. He made some huge changes including resigning from his corporate CEO position, shutting down one of his businesses, and relocating across the United States to launch BERGflow in January of 2017. Today, Dirk has been blessed to work with companies in 13 states, 4 countries, and on 3 continents, following his purpose: Empowering Entrepreneurs, CEO's, and Leaders to build powerful and productive teams and helping them grow and scale their businesses while giving them a better quality of life with more fulfilment. And it seems that Bergflow is the legacy work that his life has been building up to. So when he decided to throw it all in the air and reinvent his life was it truly scary time, or liberation from start to finish? And looking back what could he have done differently if he had the wisdom of experience at his fingertips? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Dirk van Reenen Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Dirk van Reenen such as: Dirk shares the steps he took back in 2013 to block out distractions and change his outlook to find true passion and mastery. Why if you really want to find the true passion in your career, you simply must endure the pain that comes with starting something new. We discuss the importance of knowing yourself, and then surrounding yourself with people who make you better at being yourself. And lastly…….. When you can stop looking and comparing with others how your life can feel light and free.

Covid Wont Beat Me I If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Welcome To Paddlesmash Paddlesmash creators Tim Swindle And Scott Brown have been entrepreneurs for over 10 years, having launched multiple companies. His first Kickstarter in 2013 was successfully funded for a game he co-created called, Utter Nonsense. It achieved rapid commercial interest and ultimately went on to be sold in Target, Walmart and other major retailers around the country. He has since brought numerous products to market in the toy, game, and novelty space.   How The Dots Joined Up For Tim As an early investor and employee at PointDrive, a Chicago-based sales software company, he had roles leading sales, marketing, and operations before the company was acquired in 2016 by LinkedIn. During this time, he worked on his own future making the most of all the time he had available. In 2018 Tim co- founded Playtacular, a boutique publishing company that designs and creates innovative toys and games. In addition to this he also is heaviliy involved in Paddlesmash a great new family game brought to him by its inventor Joe Bingham. Tim lives in Nashville, with his wife, daughter and his dog Tucker. So what is it about the uber competitive toy market that excites him and keeps him moving forward daily? And how can someone listening today with an idea for a toy move it to the shops quickly? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show, to join up more dots with the one and only Mr Tim Swindle

Introducing Layne Booth Layne Booth is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is the CEO and Business Growth Strategist of The Project Booth, a business consulting company that uses proven metrics and data to bring business owners to the next level in their business. By strategically planning operations and creating a visual roadmap map, business owners can reclaim their time to focus on their business, make data-driven decisions, and capitalize on sales & profits. Data is key to everything, and unfortunately where most owners spend their time in the "lets hope this makes a difference" stage of business With her passion—and over a decade of “in the trenches” experience—as a guiding light, Layne ensures successful growth-minded business owners eliminate overwhelm by bringing clarity to help with teams, capacity and profits… and get back to running a business they love. How The Dots Joined Up For Layne As she says "I've witnessed business owners have incredible energy and focus for what they do, but seem like they don't have time to stop, and may feel like they are drowning in doing "all the things." We follow a simple ABC approach to drive amazing results: A is for Analyze: Analyze the numbers to tell the story. B is for Bottom Line: What do the numbers say about your actual profits, brand reputation, and customer service? C is for CEO Decisions: The secret weapon is creating a tool that CEOs actually use to make important decisions, not just creating another report. So do you need a ton of traffic to grow a successful business, or is that actually missing the point of business altogether? And what made her take the leap from her position of Forecasting manager for the VF Corporation and go it alone? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Layne Booth Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Layne Booth such as: We delve into the distinct difference between a CEO and an entrepreneur, and why so many people get very confused.  Layne shares how she built up her referrals based business by really nurturing her already built relationships. And lastly........... Why you simply have to understand the pain point of you customer, to then make that solution as simple as possible.

Welcome To The World Of Procrastination Procrastination and things linked to it are probably the number one issues mentioned in the emails that we receive at Join Up Dots. “I can’t think of an idea no matter how hard I try!!” And certainly “I can come up with so many ideas what are the best as im not getting anything started?” are another version that stops us in our tracks. One thing for sure is procrastination is a problem that can be easily overcome and dealt with, with the right mindset. In this episode of Join Up Dots we delve into this subject and will give you some easy steps to follow and supercharge your entrepreneurial life. So let’s start with the main question “What is it?”   What Is It Really And Why Does It Cause So Many Issues? Procrastination isn’t a unique character flaw or a mysterious curse on your ability to manage time, but a way of coping with challenging emotions and negative moods induced by certain tasks — boredom, anxiety, insecurity, frustration, resentment, self-doubt and beyond. Procrastination is not about self-control; it’s actually the opposite: an approach to life that relies on avoidance as its primary tool for keeping up with responsibilities. The more you avoid something that makes you uncomfortable (e.g., making phone calls), the harder it will be for you to get started at all until eventually no more avoidance is possible and there’s nothing left for you but those dreaded tasks at hand. In order to work through procrastination effectively then we need two things: awareness (of our feelings) and compassion (for ourselves). We also need some kind of plan so we can take control over our lives again instead of letting them control us!   Self-Awareness And Self-Compassion Are Crucial To Change Self-awareness is the ability to see yourself clearly and objectively through reflection and introspection. It helps you realize what motivates you, how you respond to others, how your actions affect others, and more. Self-awareness is an important part of treating procrastination because it allows you to recognize where your weaknesses are—and then work on them! Self-compassion is being kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings. It provides emotional strength and resilience that can help you overcome obstacles and continue moving forward despite failure or setbacks (which will happen if you’re trying something new).   Procrastination Is Not A Time Management Disease Procrastination isn’t a time management problem. It’s an emotion management problem. Time management is a tool you can use to help you get things done, but it’s not the solution to procrastination. It won’t actually prevent your from putting things off in the first place, but it may help you catch up once you’ve fallen behind schedule. The key to conquering procrastination is changing how we respond to negative emotions rather than trying to avoid them altogether. Perfectionism Is The Killer Of Productivity. Perfectionism is an insidious trap that can lead to procrastination. It’s easy to fall into the perfectionist mindset: “I have to do it perfectly or not at all!” You may think that if you don’t do a project perfectly, then it will be rejected by your boss or customers. The truth is that there is no perfect way to do anything, and even if there were, no one would know about it because perfection does not exist in our world. The key here is setting realistic standards for yourself and striving towards them but not stressing out over whether or not they are met 100% of the time (or even 90%!). Perfectionism often leads people down rabbit holes where they get stuck on details instead of finishing projects on time and meeting deadlines as planned.* Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good enough – give yourself a break! Give yourself the gift of self-compassion and take some pressure off yourself . This can be the hardest part, but it’s one of the most important. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed and unsure of yourself sometimes. You don’t have to do everything yourself or be perfect at everything you do. In fact, even the best people fail—a lot! The key is learning from those mistakes and moving forward with your life so that they benefit your future successes instead of hindering them. I f you ever feel like you’re struggling with something too hard to figure out on your own or if there just isn’t enough time in your day (or week), consider asking someone else for help—whether that’s friends/coworkers/professors or even strangers online through forums such as Reddit (check out r/procrastination). And remember: it’s okay not to know exactly what direction you want take right now–it’s better than knowing nothing at all! Procrastination Can Be A Form Of Avoidance The simple act of putting off what needs to be done can actually be a form of avoidance. Procrastination is often a way of avoiding the unpleasant feelings associated with a task–boredom and anxiety chief among them. Why do we procrastinate? Because it feels better in the moment to avoid doing something than it does to confront that task head-on, even if it’s something we know we should really be doing. If you’re a procrastinator, I have good news for you: Procrastination is not about self-control. It is about self-awareness and self-compassion. The number one reason people procrastinate (and don’t get things done) is because they lack awareness of their own triggers, or the ways in which they take action or avoid taking action when they shouldn’t or can’t. As you become more aware of your own triggers, it’s best to also try to be more self-aware in general so that those triggers are less likely to trigger negative actions in the first place. It’s Realistic To Struggle With Procrastination Let’s be real. You’re not the only one who struggles with procrastination. Realizing that it isn’t just you is an important step to overcoming this problem. The good news is, there are a multitude of reasons why someone may struggle with procrastination and they can be addressed in different ways depending on what’s causing your issues with putting things off. You don’t have to deal with it alone!

Innovation Costa Michailidis is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the founder of Innovation Bound, a company who mission is to find, inspire, and support the world’s innovators Their team works to build innovation capability and steward large scale innovation efforts across sectors and geographies. We work across a small family of companies. Innovation Bound focuses on the business side. Knowinnovation focuses on innovation in the scientific community, and Inclusive Innovation focuses on innovation in the developing world. Our consultants have lead innovation projects with everyone from NASA scientists to top talent groups inside of some of the largest enterprises in the world. As he says “My life began as a creative misfit, using my imagination to spur havoc, laughter, and the occasional unintended success. Come to think of it, he hasn’t changed much over the years.

Self Leadership Andrew Bryant is the founder of Self Leadership International www.selfleadership.com and the world’s leading expert on self-leadership and is now appearing on the show for the second time. Andrew was guest number 13 and spoke openly about how he moved into the career he is now in and then set about to make it something that has pushed him to the top. He has written two books on the topic, Self-Leadership: How to Become a More Successful, Efficient, and Effective Leader from the Inside Out (Bryant & Kazan, 2012) and Self Leadership: 12 Powerful Mindsets & Methods to Win in Life & Business (Bryant, 2016), and The New Leadership Playbook – Being Human whilst delivering Accelerated Results (Bryant, 2022). He has also contributed to many blogs, books, and articles on self-leadership and leadership.  Andrew has coached hundreds of leaders and leadership teams to become the best version of themselves and to scale their companies. He has international experience with clients from Asia, Australasia, the United States of America (USA), Europe, The Middle East, and Africa.  

Stuck If you have the desire to create your own online business, and build life changing income on your own terms then Join Up Dots is here to show you the way. Making online business fun should be the first stage of everything you do and this show delivers BIGTIME. Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and their lifestyle design dreams too. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Introducing Prady Tewarie Prady Tewarie is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Its amazing that we have got him on the show as he has never been somebody to slow down. At 28, he has founded and sold more than two dozen businesses, is the current CEO of AZOTH and the Tewarie Group, withover $100 million in real estate holdings. He founded AZOTH because while getting his JD and competing as a professional bodybuilder, he found it difficult to achieve the kind of productivity that he was looking for, and so turned to the science of nootropics, nutritional supplements that target specific areas of concern for the user. After learning first hand about their efficiency, Prady Tewarie partnered with a manufacturer in order to bring nootropics to people all over the world. To date, AZOTH has sold over 50,000+units world wide and is set to be the fastest growing nootropic company on the market. How The Dots Joined Up For Prady Currently, Prady is on a mission to teach entrepreneurs about the opportunities that exist all around them, and that it’s ok to be a small business person. Specifically, that not every business needs to collect a billion in capital before they can get started, or that they need to change the world. Instead, entrepreneurs can start small and begin by turning their own neighbourhoods around and, most importantly, that they can still be considered an inspiration and a success for doing so. So why do people not consider the opportunities that are all around them when starting their own business And if he could give one big piece of advice to himself that would make tomorrow easier what would it be? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Prady Tewarie Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with Prady Tewarie such as: Prady shares his belief why so many people are looking for cues of what to do everyday, without considering why they should be doing it. Are you spending your days giving things away for free because you don't truly believe in themselves. Why its so important to truly look at what you should be doing in your business and get a detailed audit of what needs to be done. And lastly................. The riches are in the niches, so spend sometime looking for a market place that isn't been looked at by your competitors.

How To Convert Customers Directly Randy Rayess is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the  co-founder of Outgrow, a new way to add interactive content on your business and website. He also has a very interesting backstory to where he is today Alongside his business partner Pratham, he started a mobile app development marketplace in 2012 called VenturePact. This was a site for entrepreneurs to connect with mobile development teams.  The challenge at that time was that mobile app development was relatively new, expensive and it was hard to assess the quality and hard to ensure you are getting a fair price. So this led them to create a marketplace to make it easy to find relevant teams but it was not easy to scale and acquire customers because of the pricing issues. Instead of them giving up and saying “This online game doesn't work” they put their heads together and came up with an idea to create a mobile app cost calculator.  How The Dots Joined Up For Randy As he says “This turned out to be a game-changer for us as we were able to quickly give people a rough estimate and show them how the price varies by feature and by geography. Not only did the calculator help us build trust with the client but it also helped us win over our mobile app teams as they knew that the person they were connecting with had a reasonable understanding of the price associated with the app. People were very impressed with the calculator and the information they received on the results page that they started sharing it on listservs and forums, so we quickly received referrals to the calculator and it turned out to perform better than any landing page or ad we had ever tested. So proof of concept time was good, and traffic was coming in, therefore so impressed with the results of the calculator were they that we built a SaaS tool called Outgrow so any marketer can build calculators and graders to improve their customer acquisition similar to what we had done.  The challenge we realized was that building a powerful calculator required dev and design work so we wanted to make this more accessible to all marketers and entrepreneurs. And that is the perfect place to start today's show. So why do so many people give up when quite often the obstacle they face could well be the business that people are wanting help with too? And where does he want to go from here, more and more apps, or simply scale outgrow? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Randy Rayess Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Randy Rayess such as: Why so many companies need to focus more on their employees body clocks and prime time to work than simply getting them to the desk. We discuss the basis of a creating a trust funnel, that helps to put the customers mind at rest long before they ever buy. Randy shares openly the story of how they overcame the issues that had stopped their first business and wasn't he glad they had those issues. And lastly….. We go behind the scenes of Outgrow and highlight the issues that all businesses have that they solve with their brilliant system.

Is The Idea Of The Business More Important Than The Structure Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Turning The Law Industry On Its Head Babs Neilan is today’s guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast interview. She is the founder, CEO and solicitor of Jamieson Law. Jamieson Law is a small (but very mighty) UK and Irish law firm specialising in business law and brand protection. They are unique as from the start of my business we’ve done things differently, let me tell you why. As she says “I’m Babs, founder, CEO and solicitor of Jamieson Law. Jamieson Law is my small (but very mighty) UK and Irish law firm specialising in business law and brand protection. We’re unique, from the start of my business we’ve done things differently, let me tell you why. I started my legal career journey just like many others do. I did my postgraduate, I trained with a top law firm in Scotland, I was ready to climb the legal ladder up to partner level over the years. When I qualified I thought “YES! It’s my time to shine, to finally help loads of business owners grow their businesses”…oh boy, did I realise how wrong I was.

The Reasons Why You Fail Time And Time Again Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

How To Gain Massive Publicity Mickie Kennedy is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast He is a man who created his business 22 years ago, and unlike so many other business owners seems to still get the same buzz out of its daily operations. He is the founder of eReleases launched after he realised that small businesses desperately need a press release service they could actually afford. Beforehand, he’d been working at a PR company when a small business owner called, saying to Mickie “ We won an award and I want to send out one press release. I’ve called all the PR firms in the yellow pages and they all have a minimum starting price of $20,000! Can you help me?”

Tiege Hanley Skincare For Men Kelley Thornton is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the founder of Tiege Hanley The Tiege Hanley story is simple and uncomplicated, just like our products. Founded by four “regular guys,” we created a product system and brand that makes skin care meaningful, accessible, affordable and clinically relevant—for regular guys. The brain child of Kelley Thornton, Tiege Hanley, named after one of Kelley’s prominent ancestors, was inspired by a department store skin care aisle stroll. As Kelley perused, he was struck by three simple truths: 1. Guys really don’t know much about skin care 2. Men’s skin care products are complicated and confusing 3. Man, are those products expensive! How The Dots Joined Up For Kelley Drawing on his marketing and brand management experience, Kelley got to work, enlisting his college roommate turned software industry guru, Rob Hoxie, to help mastermind a skin care solution for men that hits all three points—it has to be sensible, simple and affordable. Kelley and Rob wanted to help regular guys look and feel amazing by creating a skin care system that was easy to understand and to use. But what good is an idea without an audience? Enter Aaron Marino—men's lifestyle expert, grooming guru, YouTube sensation and serial entrepreneur. Aaron’s male-centric passion for health and lifestyle, personal brand and cult-like following made him Tiege Hanley’s ideal partner number three. So so many people have these ideas and fail to run with them, so what made him know that this was a winner? And where is he heading in the future with this runaway success? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Kelley Thornton Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Kelley Thornton such as: Why more men than women get skin cancer nowadays which is why skin care has become his passion. Kelley shared how he mastered the methods of buying, in particular what men didnt know about when it came to the shops. We discuss the steps that it takes to get a product off the ground - this is startup at its best. And lastly.......... Why doing what you love is great, but to be an entrepreneur is about taking risks first and foremost

Follow Your Passion Jim Hughes is today’s guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast interview. He is the founder of Become Untamed, a coaching, deep immersion and adventure events programme, and the place where he helps you find yourself often using the wilderness as the way forward. He has been on a hell of a journey of personal discovery over the last few years, but now seems to have found the point when it’s hard to drag the smile off his face. But let’s go back a few years and the smile was lost, or at least mislaid. As he says “I burned myself out treading someone else’s path. I changed myself to fit into my environment, I questioned – and then quietened – my instincts, and I lost confidence in my abilities. I stressed myself out questioning everything. ​I’d always pushed through challenges so this lack of clarity was crippling.

Core Values Makes Decision Making Easy Life cores are so important if you want a life that’s more than just getting by. You want to experience joy and growth on a regular basis. You want to be happier, have better relationships with the people you love, and live your best possible life. But how do you get there? It takes time, patience, and persistence—but it can be done! This is where Life Cores comes in: Essential Core Values for Living the Life You Want as by planning what you want your life to be like then you can make decisions as to how to make them occur. Let’s be honest that most core values aren’t going to happen over night but they can be done.

Accepting Where You Are Acceptance of life and its ups and downs is hard. It’s normal to want things in life. We all want to be successful, happy, and healthy. But what if we could learn how to accept ourselves and others? What if we could learn how to accept situations that don’t go our way? It might sound like an impossible feat at first glance, but the truth is that accepting life as it comes is one of the most important aspects of being happy. If you can master this skill, you will discover a freedom unlike any other—and it starts with learning how to accept yourself. The Power Of Acceptance Acceptance is a process. It’s not something you can just snap your fingers and do. For example, if you’ve been trying to quit smoking cigarettes for years, it’s not going to happen overnight. You have to take one day at a time until you reach your goal. Acceptance is also a choice! In other words, when someone says they feel like they have no choice but to accept something or someone in their life that they don’t like (whether it’s their physical appearance or having an annoying neighbour), what they’re really saying is that they don’t want anything different than what already exists right. It doesn’t mean that we should just put up with stuff at all, but we can accept things and look for a better way of seeing them – putting a positive spin on an otherwise difficult situation. This helps us live our lives free from worry or stress so we can focus more on enjoying ourselves instead of stressing out over things beyond our control such as traffic jams caused by construction sites everywhere!”

Are you a Self Sabotager? Of course you are going to say “No, why the hell would I want to do something that makes my situation worse” Well you would be surprised how many people unintentionally or sometimes intentionally do things to do just that. Breaking something in such a way that there is no way back from it, in effect freeing themselves from the issue. Self-sabotage is the act of subconsciously or intentionally getting in your own way. It’s not just a bad habit. It’s not just laziness or procrastination. Being a self-sabotager is something much deeper, and it often stems from a lack of self-knowledge and awareness. Or most commonly its when you want to get away from a situation and are unable to articulate this feeling. As you will hear on the podcast I have done this myself to spectacular effect and looking back on it could see exactly why I did it even though i was powerless to stop.

Work Towards Interest Not Money Alon Braun is today’s guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast interview. He has been described a modern-day renaissance man and its not hard to see why when you look at joining up some of his dots. Early in life, he was an elite member of Israel’s cyber special forces unit while simultaneously the founder of a startup funded by Apple Israel. He then went on to become a marine biologist with a Master’s in Oceanography and published research on the cell biology of coral, with his research appearing in Al Gore’s documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”. Alon then took a 3-year certification as a Feldenkreis body movement teacher, while working as an online marketing guru and business accelerator strategist, helping identify growth strategies using technology and data. Alon’s latest creation is his new book, The Entrepreneur Journey, which is now available via Amazon is focused on helping entrepreneurs focus on the eight fundamental factors that drive business growth So how do you go from the special forces to a body movement coach? And with so many different interests, and passions how does he make the decision to drive his career in the right direction? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Alon Braun

How To Build A Succesful Local Business (Online) Introducing Greenpal Founder Bryan Clayton Greenpal founder Bryan Clayton joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business podcast has created huge success in a market that I simply love. As you will hear time and time again, when you can create Double Value business then more often than not you can scale massively and quickly. But of course you may be saying "David, what does that actually mean?" Well in this case, someone wants their lawn mowed, and someone wants to get a job mowing a lawn and connect the two of them together. How The Dots Joined up For Greenpal Today's guest is the founder of Your Green Pal, a lawn-care service launched back in 2014 YourGreenPal helps customers get multiple competitive free quotes from lawn care services near them for free. They can get started today and get their lawn mowed with out making a phone call. The company which now has 10 employees has attracted 1,000 contractors in seven states and now serve 20,000 customers. Your Green Pal aims to launch in a new city every two months. So where did they see the greatest growth in the business once they got the ball rolling? And why do more people not see the power of local search when starting their new business ideas? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Bryan Clayton Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Bryan Clayton such as Bryan shares why he sold his previous business to a huge company in America, even though he hadn't quite scratched the itch of business. Why it such a great idea to recruit the supplier first to get the resource for marketing to your customers. Get ready for the influx. When you are building a market place your customers must want to come for the community first, but then stay for the tools. And lastly….. If your not gaining ground you are losing ground, is a statement that Bryan loves.

So Ready To Start Your Own Business? It’s amazing how many people simply decide to start a business without even a second thought as to the reasons they are doing it. Its ok, to say you want to be in control of your time and future, but lets be honest at the beginning you will lose all of that bigtime. You will work longer hours than you have ever done, as your business slowly grows.  You will lose control of your health, finances, friends….its quite a long list to say the least. So lets put you on a better footing and get you to sit back and really make the right decision as to starting your own business.

Introducing Josh Kemp Josh Kemp is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He  is a man who quite simply has powered his way through many obstacles that would stop most in their tracks. As he says "I love creating online courses that teach a specific side hustle and how to make money with it in the shortest amount of time possible! I am the author of No Degree, No Problem. Originally I was a Blacksmith / Farrier for 8 years but then had to switch careers after getting kicked by a horse. I self taught myself how to code and landed a Junior Software Development position 9 months later making $ 70K. I currently live in Raleigh, North Carolina with my wife, three kids, two goats and a gecko. Now most interestingly for a show called Join Up Dots, which follows loosely the words or the late Steve Jobs, our guest did a similar thing when it came to getting a college qualification.   How The Dots Joined Up For Josh He goes on to say "I remember when I was 16 my Mom had me take Business Law classes at the local community college. My Mom was big on making sure ALL her kids went to college and got a degree. After barely failing the first class, I decided college wasn't for me, it wasn't until I was 18 that I broke my parents’ hearts and told them I wouldn't be going to college. Over the years I have had to switch careers and have had over a dozen different side hustles in my life. My Mom no longer worries about me becoming destitute, l have used the power of side hustles all my life ( except for a 1 year period ) to provide better for myself and family, as well as learn more about what things are a good fit for me." So does he feel he is still working towards the big thing that will define his life, or is that not important anymore? And why do people struggle so much to make a living online, when all the clues are already there to follow the success of others? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Josh Kemp   Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Josh Kemp such as: How culturally we have lost the ability to get down and dirty and work for a living, even if its an online venture. A dream life doesn't come easily. Josh shares why you should always go where the money is.  Look for who has it and then decide what you can do for them. Always look for the problem that can be solved for as many people as possible you can then scale scale scale. And lastly........... Josh tells us a great story of a snow blower, inspiration and hustle that almost ended his marriage but became amazing motivation.

Marriage And Couples Counseling Advice Alexandra Stockwell is today’s guest entrepreneur joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast. She is an Intimate Marriage Expert, which came about as after twelve years of treating families’ medical needs, she then studied the art and science of emotional intimacy and sensual connection in order to show couples how to heal their relationships as well. Now, for over two decades, she has been guiding men and women to bring pleasure and purpose back into all aspects of life— from the daily grind of running a household to creating ecstatic experiences in the bedroom! She embarked on this journey not only for my patients but for myself and my own relationship. As he says “I wanted more for my life and my marriage than logistics, and discussions about childcare. I wanted to look forward to connecting with my husband after we were both done with our day.  

Forget What Everyone Else Is Telling Us It's time to stop listening to advice. We've all heard it: "You should do this." Or, "You shouldn't do that." But what if we did the opposite? What if we stopped following other people's advice and instead made our own decisions about how to live our lives? When you think about it, the concept of listening to other people's advice is pretty weird. Why would anyone want to take advice from someone else? We all know what works for us and what doesn't, so why not just go with what works? The truth is, taking advice from others can be dangerous, because it robs us of our ability to make informed decisions. Instead of basing your decisions on what you think will work best for you, you're basing them on what someone else thinks will work best for them. Sure, they may have some good ideas—but they also might not. And even worse, they could be totally wrong! That's why it's important to take full ownership over your life and create the life YOU want instead of letting other people tell you how things should be done.

Lisa Song Sutton is todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business podcast. She is an entrepreneur, real estate investor and former Miss Nevada. She started her business career working in a top Las Vegas law firm and then went on to create multiple companies of her own.  Lisa started her first business, Sin City Cupcakes in 2012. Today it is an iconic Las Vegas treat that delights tens of thousands of locals and visitors each year.  Lisa is a highly successful entrepreneur and also co-founder of Ship Las Vegas, Elite Homes - Christie’s International Real Estate. As well as Liquid & Lace swimwear. ​ In addition to her work as a successful entrepreneur and real estate investor, Lisa is highly sought after as a speaker, coach and expert in the business world.

MOTIVATION TO SUCCESS It’s not easy to move from motivation to success – making something happen purely by the strength of your will I’ve had the privilege of working with thousands of people over the last decade as a coach, mentor, and speaker. I’ve seen some great success stories come from my clients and audiences alike. And I’ve also seen so many people who just aren’t where they want to be in life. They’re stuck in neutral or even going backward because they don’t know how to get unstuck. But there are strategies that can help you build unstoppable success into your life at any age or stage of your career! Pick and choose which ones you feel will work for you from the list below, but they are all proven to take you from motivation to success.

Should Business Be A Competition Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Allan Watts And The Backwards Law The backwards Law is a very interesting concept brought to the world by the late philosopher Allan Watts. Now you may not have heard of the backwards law, but in its simplest form its a focus on what we haven't got in our lives which brings more of the same into our lives. You see we all have positions where we would like to move to something better and so focus in what we need to do to get that thing. You can call this goal setting, ambition, dream chasing.....whatever you wish to call it. Which is all totally acceptable as this is what humans do in life and should be encouraged by all means. However, when we carry a sense of unhappiness with ourselves whilst working towards the goal we get rooted to the spot and lose track of what we need to be doing. Allan Watts, the late modern philosopher described this feeling of staying where we are when he made his famous backwards law speech. Allan Watts The Backwards Law The modern philosopher Alan Watts referred to this as “the backwards law” which is “the idea that the more you pursue feeling better all the time, the less satisfied you become, as pursuing something only reinforces the fact that you lack it in the first place. As he says "The more you desperately want to be rich, the more poor and unworthy you feel, regardless of how much money you actually make. The more desperately you want to be sexy and desired, the uglier you come to see yourself, regardless of your actual physical appearance. The more you desperately want to be happy and loved, the lonelier and more afraid you become, regardless of those who surround you.”  Its a fine line to walk at the best of times. What he is saying is "be grateful for what you already have, but also feel free to want more" which of course goes against many of the rules set in todays self-development age. Be better, be slimmer, be more focused, be more, be more, be more. Im not personally sure that its a path that i can walk all the time, as the backwards law i'm sure will hold me back from my goals. Do You Feel You Are In A World Of Lacking? If you do feel that more often than not the world is dealing you a bad set of cards then perhaps a change of outlook is required. Perhaps you are operating 100% within the rules of the backwards law and focusing in on the wrong things. Its funny when you think that life is giving you everything you need but you are missing it as you are looking the wrong way. And the right way isnt where you think you should be looking at all. The right way is always within yourself and accepting the gifts that you already have in your life. Thats the backwards law for you in its backwards glory.....you already have what you need and truly require. So now its time to accept and build from that point.

How Do I Stop Lack Of Motivation? Motivation is a funny thing. You might feel like you have no motivation, but then do something that inspires you and suddenly, your motivation returns. Or maybe your lack of motivation stems from life circumstances (like being sick or depressed), in which case there are certain strategies that can help keep you on track until the situation improves. Whatever your reason for feeling unmotivated lately, here are some steps we've found useful in getting ourselves motivated when those feelings happen to strike: 

Using Affirmations In Our Life Have you ever thought about how many times a day you say something like "I'm so tired" or "I can't do this anymore"? If you're like us, it's probably a lot. But did you know that those kinds of thoughts can actually hold you back from reaching your full potential? That's because when we think negative things about ourselves, it creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. We tend to attract the same kind of situations into our lives and make it difficult for ourselves to improve in any way. Affirmations are a great way to build success in your life. According to Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, "you must know what you want and have the burning desire to possess it." If you have the desire, but don't know what you want, then your affirmation will be vague, and therefore ineffective. The first step is identifying the goal. This is where affirmations come in. An affirmation is a statement that you repeat over and over again until it starts to become true for you. For example: "I am so grateful for my new job." Say this statement every day as soon as you wake up until it becomes true for you. You will see results quickly because there is power in repetition. When we repeat an idea over and over again, we start believing that idea is true, even if at first it wasn't true or it didn't feel true at all when we said it aloud for the first time! Affirmations can also help us focus on our goals by helping us visualize what we want rather than just thinking about them all day long without any direction or action taken towards achieving them."

#1 Direct Response Social Media Marketer in the World Kim Walsh Phillips is the founder of Powerful Professionals, a business coaching and education company. She went from 32 clients to over 11,000 in less than a year and was recently named #475 in the Inc 5000 and is an MBA-free self-made millionaire. Named “a must to read by those in business” by Forbes Magazine, she is the bestselling author of multiple books including “The Ultimate Guide to Instagram for Business” and “The No B.S. Guide To Direct Response Social Media Marketing.” She’s the behind-the-scenes secret weapon of some of the biggest names in business including Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank, Dan Kennedy, Profit First Author Mike Michalowicz, Harley-Davidson, Hilton Hotels and High Point University and has spoken on stages beside some of the world’s leading thought leaders including Tony Robbins, Grant Cardone, Barbara Corcoran and Gary Vaynerchuk. And now she is on a mission to build powerful professionals around the world, all thriving in their chosen business field. So what comes first in mastering social media, understanding what your customer really wants to see and hear, or listening to how your content engages? And where did the penny drop with her and she realised “Oohhh this is what makes social really do its stuff and bring the ROI” Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Kim Walsh Phillips

He Died Twice On Everest And Gained Success Feeling like giving up is not an uncommon emotion as we are striving to better ourselves and make something of our lives. We all have days when we feel like giving up. I have good news for you: You are not alone. In fact, there are many times in my life when I wanted to throw in the towel, but then something happened that made me realize that I could and should keep going. Sometimes, it’s just a small thing that makes you realize how much potential still exists within you. It might be reading an inspiring story from someone who, laid down, and then brushed themselves off and started taking more steps forward. So let’s start with telling you, that if you want the great life, the success, the infinity swimming pool then you have to push past the times when you are feeling like giving up, or you are just going to get what other people get. It’s this ability to keep moving forward and never giving up that is the key to everything….everything!

Do You Know What Truly Motives You? Motivation is a huge part of life. It keeps us going, it pushes us to keep trying even when we feel like we can't go on anymore, and it's what makes us excited about things in the first place. Motivation is one of those things that can be found in so many different places and situations, but it's up to us choose how much motivation we want to take from each source. In fact, there are even apps designed to help people find motivation! If you're looking for some new ways to get motivated this month (or year), read on for some great ideas: Motivation is a skill You may have heard the term “motivation” thrown around quite a bit, but do you really know what it means? Motivation is a skill that can be developed and practiced. It's not an innate trait or something only some people have. It's easy to get discouraged and think that some people are just born more motivated than others, but in reality many of us simply need to work on our motivation skills. Motivation is something that you can learn like any other skill. Just like learning how to play guitar or speak Spanish fluently, practicing your motivation skills will improve them over time! Therefore, anyone with enough patience and determination can develop their own set of effective methods for achieving success in life.*

Chasing The Joy To Business Success Melissa Bauknight is todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast. She is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, adventurer, mother, wife, and a Business and Life Coach. As a collegiate athlete, she graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Finance and has since earned an applicable Ph.D. in Life. She garnered over 15 years of sales and business development experience in the corporate world working across 6 states and consistently performing in the top 10% of her peers. Having checked many boxes on her life goals list – traveling the world, achieving corporate success, marrying a loving husband, and starting a family, she still felt anxious and incomplete. She knew there were untapped parts of her soul longing to be unleashed. Melissa chose to boldly follow that inner knowledge leaving her corporate career and went on to be in the top 1% of a social impact direct sales company, build a coaching business at The Ripple Connection, and coach over 1,000 women in sales, mindset, and life alignment.

Rewiring Your Brain For Success Today’s guest, joining us today on the Join Up Dots entrepreneur podcast interview is the founder and CEO of Nectar Consulting Inc., and co-author of the best-selling book “Breakthrough Healing”. She works with executives and entrepreneurs bringing over 25 years of experience, intuitive insights and strategic business savvy to their success. She is an expert at enhancing the capacity of leaders, to build high performing teams and exponentially increase bottom-line results. Now what interests me, and why I have invited her onto the show is her unique Rapid RewiringTM approach This is a culmination of years of study in the realms of emotional intelligence, neuroscience, organizational psychology and Rapid Transformational Therapy. She helps catalyze shifts in thinking and eliminate mental/emotional blocks to rapidly rewire your brain for greater confidence and success. As a nationally recognized speaker, certified executive coach, Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) practitioner, change management consultant, trainer, and writer, her passion for helping amplify natural talents and expand leadership is conveyed through all aspects of her work and writing. But of course as we see on Join Up Dots, time and time again our guests come to us when everything is amazing and success swims around them on a daily basis. But we all have dark times getting things off the ground, before we find the path that really lights us up inside and makes work not seem like work anymore. So how did she find her way to where she is today? And would she say that she needed to rewire her own brain as she built her business? Well let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Michele Molitor Show Highlights During the entrepreneur podcast show we had deep hitting conversations with Michele Molitor around subjects such as: We share why it is so important to reflect on your core drivers to help you imagine what life could be. Your values should drive your passions not the other way around. Why the more gratitude we share with the world brings about greater and greater rewards into our lives. Life shouldn't be hard if we only say "Thank You" The best thing you can do in a terrible job is to find an aspect of that job and savour it. Whatever it maybe find that gold and polish it until it shines And lastly…….. Michele shares the journey from corporate unhappiness to fulfilled entrepreneur, and knows that everything in life has been for a reason.

Introducing How To Be Positive Thinking We’ve all heard about positive thinking, and we always think of it as a great way to live. For most of us, it’s easier said than done. Why? Because when things are tough—when bills are due, you’re short on rent, or your relationship isn’t working—it can be difficult to keep up with the optimism. But I’m here to tell you that it is possible. Let me explain how I learned to be more positive in my life, even when things got hard. Your Not Alone Even Though You Think You Are One of the most important things to remember is that you are not alone. The world can sometimes seem like a cold and dark place, but there are people all around you who have gone through similar situations as you and have come out stronger on the other side. Just because your situation is different does not mean it’s worse or better than someone else’s. The best part about other people going through hard times is that they tend to be very helpful in finding solutions! Asking for support from friends and family can go a long way towards helping you deal with difficult situations in your life You Can't Control Everything Even If You Try It’s important to remember that you can’t control everything. You can’t control other people, the weather, your past, or the future. You also can’t control your emotions or your health and financial situation. In fact, there are only a few things that we can control in life: Our reactions to situations (i.e., being able to take things in stride) How we think about situations (i.e., having an optimistic mindset) The actions we take (i.e., doing something rather than nothing at all) Dont Be Scared Of What You Dont Know You can’t know everything. In fact, you don’t even know what you don’t know. And even if you did, it wouldn’t matter because your understanding of reality is just a construct of your brain—a fragile, limited thing that has been constructed by the same system that keeps trying to convince us we’re all doomed to die alone in this universe with no purpose or meaning. But don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying we shouldn’t try to be better at understanding ourselves and our world! It’s important to try new things and work toward self-improvement because it will help us feel confident when facing challenges and make us more likely to succeed at whatever goals we set for ourselves (even if those goals are just learning how not to be afraid).  

Sylvester Stallone Success Story Sylvester Stallone’s story is one that has inspired many. From the depths of the Hollywood blacklist to his status as a household name, the actor and writer is a true success story. His Rocky movies and Rambo series are some of the most famous films in history and he went on to become a celebrated director, businessman, philanthropist and author. Today, in his late 70’s, Sylvester Stallone remains one of the world’s best-known actors but his route to success was anything but easy. A Long Way From Hollywood Sylvester Stallone was born in New York City on July 6, 1946, to Jacqueline Labofish and Frank Stallone Sr. His family background is Italian-American and he has two older sisters named Toni and Julie Ann. His mother left her husband when Sly was only three years old, so he moved with his siblings to live with their father’s parents in Washington Heights in northern Manhattan. His story started building dots was an amateur boxer, who won numerous Golden Gloves competitions which was one of the dots that gave him insight into a world that would be his key to success. As we see time and time again in Join Up Dots, the dots are not always clear at the time and can only be referenced as an amazing opportunity later on down the line. He attended high school at DeWitt Clinton High School but did not graduate as he had poor grades due to his persistent acting career which began at age 13 when he appeared in several commercials like Johnson & Johnson baby powder commercials or Richfield Oil commercials. He also appeared alongside Michael Caine on The Phil Silvers Show (1955) as well as on Mickey Rooney’s variety show where Sylvester got involved with the entertainment industry even further by doing stunt work for movies such as Bullitt (1968). He could see where he was heading and it was obvious to him that he had the talent to make himself a star. However as we find time and time again in life one persons vision of success is not how the world sees it. More often than not the world says “You ain’t going to get this easily but persevere and we’ll see what we can do for you in the future.”

And With Three Quick Steps He Took His Own Life Hi there! I hope you're having a great week. I know it can be hard to open up about the things that trouble us, but I realized I needed to be honest with myself and say what was weighing on my mind. Last week i saw a stranger commit suicide right in front of me and I needed to process it. So this podcast is a quick audio diary of my journey back to a positive mindset after years struggling with the shock of this event over a few days. The best way to not be afraid is to realize that the person who attempted suicide was suffering immensely in their head. Reprogramming the story in your mind will help you see the person who attempted suicide as a troubled human being, and not someone that is weak or crazy. It also helps to know that for every one person that attempts suicide there are many more people who contemplate it. So if you are feeling down and out, try to remember this, because I truly believe that knowing this made me

Doing nothing for 2 minutes cant really work can it? You know what its like, you’ve been really busy, and someone tells you to simply relax? Their good advice is usually met with an eye roll and a laugh. You’re too busy to relax! Youve got the kids to deal with, take the dog for a walk, and dont mention that huge pile of ironing that wont get done by itself. But what if doing nothing for 2 minutes could make you more productive? Or less stressed? Or at least less of an irritable jerk? Maybe it’s time to give meditation a try! First Thing Is Just Stop Talking And Breath When you’re alone, try to do nothing for two minutes. Don’t say anything, don’t text anyone or take out your phone, and don’t look at your computer screen. Just sit still and breathe in and out for a two whole minutes. That’s it! You should try this daily for a month—it might be hard at first, but with time it will become easier as you learn to focus on yourself instead of the outside world all the time. You see its the conscious decision to take control of your life that is the secret that the wise fold have known for generations. You dont have book yourself into a three week luxury spa rereat in Phuket, just being quite, breathing in and out and doing nothing for 2 minutes can be a bit of a game changer. Go on give it ago Try Doing Nothing For 2 Minutes Try to do nothing for two minutes. This is a good exercise because it helps you become more aware of your body, thoughts, emotions and surroundings. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life without stopping to think about how we’re feeling physically or emotionally at any given moment. This exercise can help you connect with your inner self so that when something does happen that makes you upset or causes anxiety, it won’t be such a shock because the emotional response has already been automated by the previous experiences of stopping talking. The Doing Nothing For 2 Minutes Website Now you might find all this a bit difficult at first as well, you have lots of things to do. I’m sure you will say “I could do this on vacation, but not during a normal working day!” So howabout you give yourself the luxury of doing nothing for 2 minutes on a tropical beach, hearing the sounds of the wave rolling and out. Sound good? Well there is a brilliant website, that is free, advert free too that does just that called. hang on wait for it “Do Nothing For 2 Minutes” that gives you your own desktop vacation. You can just sit and listen to the waves crash all around you for just 120 seconds and you are done. Ok, you might be thinking this is a bit silly but just give it ago. We have been using it for a few weeks now at Join Up Dots and it has become one of our favourite mini escapes. It’s better than sitting in the toilet listening to other people through the woodwork after all.

Clint Arthur Is The celebrity Maker Clint Arthur joins us for the second time on the Join Up Dots Podcast to share his success in the world of Celebrity Entrepreneurship. Bestselling author of “Celebrity Entrepreneurship,” “Break Through Your Upper Limits on TV,” and his new book “Wisdom Of The Men,” which is nominated for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize, following in the footsteps of his high school creative writing teacher, Frank McCourt, who won the 1996 Pulitzer for his memoir “Angela’s Ashes.” A serial successful multi-millionaire entrepreneur, trusted marketing advisor, consultant, and coach to thousands of private entrepreneurial clients and business owners running enterprises from $1 million to $1 billion in size, Clint influences well over 100,000 independent business owners annually, through his social media platforms, coaching programs, and Million-dollar Business Accelerator mastermind. He prides himself on turning his clients into celebrities in a local environment.

Introduction To How To Motivate For Studying When it comes to knowing how to motivate for studying every person has their own way of learning. Some learn best in a quiet space, others do better with music. Some do well with solo study sessions, others prefer study groups. Why is this? Well, we all have different motivators – what motivates one person may not necessarily motivate someone else. And therein lies the key to motivating yourself for studying: you must identify your motivators and use them to their fullest potential! So in this podcast we give you our tips how to motivate for studying, which of course works for business creation too.  

Your Dream Life Leads To Dream Business Do you ever feel like you’re working so hard, but it’s never enough? You’re not alone. The truth is, physical burnout is a real thing. We all get to a point where we’ve worked too hard and we need to take a step back. But that doesn’t mean you should give up on your dreams! It just means that maybe you need to find another way—a better way—to achieve them. That’s where we come in. We can help! We know how hard it is to find the right path for yourself, and we want to support you in finding the best way for YOU to live the life of your dreams

Building Confidence In Yourself This is something that most people have to work through at different times in their lives. Certainly, i think we can all put our hands up in the air to say “Yeah there was times when i felt really unconfident and out of my place in things” At Join Up Dots we often get told that we demonstrate the kind of confidence that others would love to have….go back to episode one and see the difference. Building confidence takes time and effort, but it’s possible to make progress. It’s an ongoing process that happens in steps or of course “Dots”. You’ll make mistakes along the way, but that’s okay! Mistakes are a part of how we learn and grow. So in this fits part of the Building confidence in yourself Podcast Series we should start with the first thing….its always a good place to start. 

How To Do Customer Avatar Research Introduction Conducting customer research is a crucial step in product development. Y our team’s goal should be to understand the behavior, needs, and motivations of your customers. This helps you build better products that solve real problems for real people. But it’s not enough to just survey customers or ask them a few questions—you need to dig deep into their habits and mindsets if you really want to know what makes them tick. This article will show you everything you need to know about conducting customer avatar research, including how to identify potential interviewees, what questions you should ask them, and how your team can use this information strategically in product development. Create a list of questions to ask the team. When you're ready to begin, gather the team around a whiteboard and make sure everyone has a pen. Then, ask these questions: What are your customers' pain points? How can we help our customers achieve their goals? What motivates our customers to buy from us or use our product or service? Who is this customer? Where do they live and work on a day-to-day basis? Customer avatar research is a critical step in product development. Customer avatar research is a critical step in product development. It helps you understand your customers and helps you understand the competition, but it also allows you to better understand your product and team. Customer avatar research is used by some of the largest companies in the world, including Google and Microsoft. Customer Avatar Research Helps You Understand Your Customers It’s important to have an understanding of who your customer actually is before you build a product or service for them. When companies think about their customers in broad strokes like “millennials” or “men over 50 years old” they miss out on so much valuable information about who these people really are as individuals—and how they behave when using products or services like yours. Customer avatar research helps paint a picture of these individuals so that companies can create products specifically tailored for them without missing any key details about their needs or preferences. Identify who you need to interview. When it comes to interviewing, there's no substitute for talking directly to your customers. But who should you talk to? Identify the right person: Who is it that brings value to this problem/solution? In most cases, this will be a consumer who uses your product or service; however, if they don't have much spending power and/or aren't willing or able to pay full price then consider talking with their manager instead (or another person that represents their wants). How many people do I need?: You'll want at least 10 interviews per persona type (i.e., 5 moms; 2 millennials; 1 upper-class dad), but if possible try shooting for 50% more than that so that you can get more data points and compare them later on when creating an avatar based on those findings. Identify what you want to learn from each customer. You'll want to start by identifying what you want to learn from each customer. What is your purpose for conducting these interviews? What are the main questions you want answered, problems you hope to solve and challenges you'd like to address? With this in mind, write out a list of all the things that come up during your research and how they relate back to these goals. Share and discuss findings with your team. Once you’ve completed your customer avatar research and gathered the insights, it’s time to share them with the team. There are a variety of ways you can do this, from a meeting to a presentation video or even in an email. The point is that you have gathered all this information and now it’s time to make sure everyone knows about it! Conclusion Now that you know how to create the perfect customer avatar research plan, we encourage you to start harnessing this technique. Whether you’re creating a new product or seeking ways to improve an existing one, do yourself a favor and take the time to complete this research. The customer insight you uncover will be invaluable as you develop your product strategy, and it will help improve your existing marketing efforts as well. After all, understanding customer motivations is key to connecting with them on a deeper level – which ultimately leads to better sales results.

The Ten Key Stages To Building Business Success On today’s episode of Join Up Dots, your host David Ralph shares his learnings from the last ten years of hosting the show and seeing many many people build successful businesses. He himself has run a few himself and now has a blueprint for you all to follow, which he breaks down for you. You maybe surprised as they are not just focused on the growth of online business, but as much on the builder of the business themselves. But for those people who are short of time, then here they are for you: 1: Discover Something That You Think Would Like 2: Research Others 3: Start No Matter How Imperfect You Think It Is. 4: Set Goals 5: Monitor Results 6: Relax And Walk Away From Everything 7: Allow Growth Time In Your Business 8: Re:Set Goals 9: Charge Your True Worth 10: Have Fun As Much As Possible

Building A Business In War Torn Ukraine Alyona Mysko joins us today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Now this is a podcast with a difference, as this start-up is not just dealing with financial difficulties, time restraints and technical issues like most start-ups. This is being created in the war torn country of Ukraine. For those of you that listen to this podcast in years to come, in 2022 the Ukraine was under an unprovoked attack by President Putin and the military force of Russia. The world was horrified, sanctions were placed on anyone with connections to the regime, and multi-national companies pulled out of Russia and would no longer have a presence in the county out of protest. Now Join Up Dots is not a political podcast, but is inspired by people going against the odds and remaining positive and focused on a new future even when times appear dark and bleak.

The Importance Of Time Management The importance of time management is something that really isn’t that important. The reason for this is quite simply, when it comes to time you can’t manage it. You can’t get more than you are ever going to get in your life. so you better make the most of it instead of trying to manage it. Read that last line before as the key is there already. Making the most of the time that you have available each day is the key to flourishing and appearing stress-free. But hey, management of time not at all. So let’s start with the benefits you will get if you simply do less each day and decide what is most important to you instead.

Introducing Podcast Guesting Expert Jessica Rhodes Podcast guesting expert Jessica Rhodes is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots Podcast. She is the Founder and President of Interview Connections, awarded by Corporate Vision Magazine as the Best Specialty Podcast Booking Agency of 2021. If you don’t know what that means, is Jessica finds great people to demonstrate their brilliance on the right podcasts. She takes away the effort of finding and connecting her clients with the sexy and attractive podcast hosts. Jessica and and her business partner, Margy Feldhuhn lead their company with a vision to transform the lives of entrepreneurs by transforming their businesses with visibility and strategy. Back in 2007, she was a million miles away from where she is todays as she began her journey working in the position as Field Manager for Clean Water Action, where she directed, managed and trained a staff of up to 25 canvassers. and supervised the office manager in all administrative tasks. After that, her organisation skills were taken to the next level, whilst her communication skills went up several notches too, by stepping into one of the hardest environments of all.

Entrepreneur Advice Cessar Hasselmann is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired join up dots business podcast. He has a fascinating story of loving the process of building businesses by starting at quite an early age. He started his first business when he was just thirteen years old – running a small DJ business. Starting with his father old gear till managing 5 parties and 3 extra DJ’s at the same weekend. At 16 his friend business partner got really sick and died at the age of 18, which by consequence made Cessar lose the desire to keep working on the company and chose to stop as well. In the time that’s since passed, he’s witnessed countless businesses succeed, and others fail.

Is Life Harder Than It Should Be? A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Flick The Positivity Switch & Watch Your Life Change Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

8 Unbreakable Business Rules Sean Castrina is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a serial entrepreneur, having started more than 20 companies over the last 20 years, and still seeks to launch a new venture annually. He is an investor, teacher and highly-sought-after speaker who communicates with humour and a bluntness that engages and captures his audience. He is the author of 8 Unbreakable Rules for Business Startup Success, The Greatest Entrepreneur in the World, and World’s Greatest Business Plan.  He was born in the Bronx, New York and raised in Maryland. He was born legally blind having been a research study for John Hopkins Hospitals Wilmer Eye Institute where he has had countless eye surgeries. In middle school he was introduced to the sport of wrestling where he would go on to becoming a state champion and earning a Division 1 athletic scholarship. How The Dots Joined Up For Sean In his mid 20’s the startup adventure would begin with a simple auto detailing business “WaxMaster” that would serve as a test tube for what would distil a blueprint for what would later become a home service empire. However it would be an annual family vacation that would spark a passion for writing and teaching the secrets and formulas that he had used over the years. While sitting on the beach he would scribble 80 lessons he wished he would have known prior to becoming a startup junky. These simple lessons would be distilled in his first book 8 Unbreakable Rules for Business Startup Success. So what makes him want to go through an annual startup drive, when he could sit back and chill? And where do most people go wrong nowadays when ploughing headfirst into the world of online and startups? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Sean Castrina

Business Success With Brent Freeman Brent Freeman is the Founder & President of Stealth Venture Labs and a serial entrepreneur who’s passionate about using business to generate both profits & social impact. As he says “My journey in business began earlier than most. While pursuing my undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California, I launched a commodities trading firm focused on generating as much money as quickly as possible. With offices in Dubai and Los Angeles, I chased the money with fervor. Once I reached a place of success, I realized that success can be meaningless without a purpose. I felt no happier than before, and this realization changed my worldview for good.” Reinvigorated by my personal discovery, I made a conscious choice to build and advise for-profit businesses to create true social impact in the world.

How To Find The Belief In Yourself Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode.

Are You Winning To Fail Like Tony Hawk? Have you ever heard of the top skateboarder Tony Hawk? Well I haven't overly heard of Tony until yesterday, but after watching a documentary yesterday I am now a fan for sure. Not because of the skills that he has developed over the years, but 100% due to the commitment and inability to give up when he has decided to go after something. As you will hear on todays podcast one of the fastest ways to bring success into your life is by convincing your brain that it has already occurred previously, as your brain can't decide on what is real so starts to make it real. Yeah, i know that this sounds weird and unbelievable in the extreme for so many people out there, but its true. So listen and enjoy as we break through the barrier to the life that we deserve and should be getting.

Michelle Boulé is todays guest on the Join Up Dots business podcast. She is a life coach, teacher, award-winning dancer, and choreographer of international renown. Always believing that creativity, movement, personal growth, and healing are inextricably linked, after a seemingly dead-end dance injury at the age of 16 opened her eyes to the possibilities of holistic healing, she began a life-long study of somatics, consciousness, energy work, personal growth, and human behaviour. Her decades of researching “how to make things possible,” be available for movement, and achieve success, give her an ability to connect to clients with precision and compassion to create “movement” in all facets of their lives.

Robin Hills is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots podcast He is a business psychologist and director of Ei4Change, a company specializing in educational training, coaching and personal development focused around emotional intelligence, positive psychology and neuroscience. He has taught over 250,000 people in 185+ countries how to build resilience, increased self-awareness and understanding of others. Today his educational programs on resilience and emotional intelligence are accredited by The Institute of Leadership and Management, cover the most comprehensive and detailed education of any emotional intelligence organization and are used in educational establishments in South Africa and India. Now if that doesn’t mean a lot to you then lets pose a couple of questions. How do you cope as you sink in a quicksand of modern life, filled with televisions and phones and social media and shopping and emails and advertisements and noise and traffic and the internet and remembering what you may have forgotten? And do you ever wonder why some people remain calm in the face of disaster whilst other fail to cope? Well lets find out as we bring on to the show to find out the answers to these questions whilst joining up a few dots in the process with the one and only Robin Hills.

Peter Sena is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. Pete is a design-led entrepreneur who loves to partner with future-forward founders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to unlock new possibilities and growth. At nine years old, Pete was the kind of kid who found taking computers apart and putting them back together fun. A digital native on steroids, “Pete the Geek” started coding at 13, consulted for global companies in high school, and launched Digital Surgeons from his dorm room. Digital Surgeons, a forward-obsessed brand experience consultancy. But what is being forward-obsessed all about. He chooses to place his passionate, purpose-driven focus on leveraging the power of design and technology to make the world a better place. This is Pete’s Ikigai — the thing that gets him out of bed in the morning. As he says “My heart would always would start beating faster when it came to art and technology. How The Dots Joined Up For Pete My coding and design skills became my ticket to college. Ready for a mentor but not sure how to find one, I turned to geniuses, innovators and billionaires both real — Steve Jobs — and fictional, like my old favourite, Tony Stark (Iron Man) for inspiration. But the one thing i knew more than anything was by improving people’s businesses and increasing their bottom-lines with next-level design, I could help people and organizations build affluence and influence — so they can pay their success forward. ‍ Helping as many people and businesses as possible use their power for good. So why has he been driven so much to help the world, when so many business owners are all about me, me, me? And what was it about a talk by the pretty unknown Brene Brown that truly changed his life forever? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Pete Sena

This week we speak to British property entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Jack Petchey. "Standing at the wrong end of a machine gun I imagined that I might be imprisoned, or worse," Sir Jack Petchey says. In a career that has spanned more than seven decades and taken him from ownership of a single taxi to the helm of a property business now worth a reported £550m, the entrepreneur says his arrest in Portugal was his lowest moment. It was 1974 and he was in the middle of building a holiday complex in the Algarve when there was a military coup. There was a lot of suspicion of foreign investors, he says, and this was evident when he found himself in court at 1am, accused of breaching rules on foreign currency. "Luckily I held my nerve, was released on bail and after two years the case was dismissed," he says. 'I knew we weren't rich' By that point he was well on his way to amassing his fortune, although he started life in much humbler circumstances. Born in 1925, Sir Jack's early years were spent in Manor Park in East London in a one-roomed flat with an outside toilet. The family's tin bath hung on the fence outside and was brought in every Friday evening for bathtime. Sir Jack's clearest memories of his childhood are of having fun. "We played out on the street, knocking on neighbours' doors and running away, or sticking coins to the pavement and watching as people tried to pick them up. "We didn't think of ourselves as poor, but I knew we weren't rich!" Despite being an advocate for education today, Sir Jack had no interest in school and left at 13, getting a job as an office boy soon after. After war broke out in 1939 he was keen to join the action and he volunteered for the Royal Navy when he turned 17. Sir Jack as a young naval cadet He was chosen for officer training, but failed to get through the selection process. What rankled was that an Eton-educated man passed, even though in Sir Jack's opinion he lacked leadership skills and had to be protected from being bullied. This experience only made Sir Jack all the more determined to succeed, a quality he says has been key to his success in life. He was transferred to the Fleet Air Arm and ended up as an aircraft engineer, servicing the planes that provided air cover during the Normandy landings of June 1944. Once he was discharged from military service, he went back to his pre-war office job, but found himself bored after the "excitement of the services". And it was another knockback that spurred him to move on. "I was ambitious, so I asked to be trained as a manager. But the personnel officer informed me I was not 'management material'." Outraged, he handed in his notice, but he knew he still had to pay his way - not least the rent and housekeeping money he owed his mother. So he put his discharge pay of £48 and his life savings together, bought a second-hand car and started a taxi service, picking up returning servicemen from the London docks. Sir Jack's first car hire office in East London Eventually he acquired another car and then an office, from which he started a car hire company in 1948. "Then I realised that selling cars was more profitable," he says. "So I bought a car showroom, and it wasn't too long before I realised that selling the car showroom was actually more profitable." Sir Jack (centre) opening the first Petchey car showroom in East Ham That was the start of a career in property, which was characterised by Sir Jack's willingness to seize opportunities even if it meant taking risks. After a close shave with bankruptcy in 1974, when property values crashed, he became a pioneer of the European timeshare movement, in which people buy stakes in holiday properties that they can only use at certain times of year. He introduced the concept to his own holiday complex in the Algarve in the 1980s and pursued timeshare projects in the UK too, where he had to defend them from some criticism. Not all of his ventures went smoothly though. He bought Watford football club from Elton John in 1990 but sold it back to the singer in 1996 amid criticism over the club's performance. Knighthood for philanthropist Petchey Petchey Holdings now manages a large portfolio of industrial and residential properties and a share of its profits - £9m a year - is ploughed back into what Sir Jack regards as his greatest achievement: the Jack Petchey Foundation. The foundation's overriding purpose is to give young people a chance to do well, and its motto - Sir Jack's own - is "if you think you can, you can". Among other things, it holds its own achievement awards, runs volunteering programmes, gives grants to schools and funds the Scouting movement, another key influence on Sir Jack's young life. Fifteen-year-old Aiden Kemp, who has mild cerebral palsy, is one of the 200,000 young people to be recognised by the foundation. He overcame his nerves to take the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge, for which he had to give a speech in front of an audience of students, teachers and parents. "I told myself, 'I'm going to do it, end of,' and I did," he says. "Afterwards I felt really confident that I can do anything and I just want to prove that everyone, no matter their backgrounds or disability, can achieve anything." In its 21 years of existence the foundation has made grants of £133m, usually with the requirement that the recipient matches or adds to the funding. A recent boys night in: Sir Jack with his son-in-law and grandsons Sir Jack has just turned 95, and even if his legs "won't do the walking" any more, he hasn't lost his appetite for work. It's taken the Covid-19 outbreak to stop him coming into the foundation's Canary Wharf office every day. His grandson Matt Rantell, a trustee of the foundation, reveals that his grandfather always carries a card around in his pocket with "Think a Smile" on one side and "Don't CCC" (criticise, condemn or complain) on the other. "Many people have said I've been lucky in business," says Sir Jack. "Well, I spell lucky with a 'p'- plucky! Because a lot of success is about having courage to make decisions and take advantage of opportunities." Even for such a determinedly "glass half-full" person, is there anything in his business life he wishes he'd done differently? "It's no good looking back, you always have to look forward," is the answer. "I can honestly say I have no regrets."

The Dark Side Of Entrepreneurship In today's episode we discuss the dark side of entrepreneurship.The bits that you rarely hear people talking about on a business based podcast.You see so many people will tell you what they want you to see and hear as they get their business going.They will tell you that everything is going amazingly well and business is booming.However in this episode you will hear that certainly in the first three years everything is very different.The dark side of entrepreneurship leaves many on their knees, crying at the escalating debts.Struggling with the self investment and technical difficulties that they didn't see coming.They waste so much money thinking that it will help them moving forward.Though it has a totally different result to what they wanted.So how can you get past the dark side of entrepreneurship and walk boldly into the light?Well you can start by listening to todays podcast episode where we share the challenges that you will go through.Enjoy!Today's Guest Summary Today's guest joining us on the show is a man who connected with us about three years ago.At that time he had just taken the corporate leap and started his own motivational coaching business.Taking a lot of inspiration from Americas Tony Robins, Kul Mahay has taken the best and put his own spin onto proceedings.So many people in life, feel that what they do, is what they will do for the rest of their lives.They go into jobs that might inspire at the beginning, but over time, little by little start to become a drag.Every minute feels like an hour, everyday feels like a month.But they put up with it until its time for retirement, when they are free to mow the lawn, walk the dog, and have nice little naps in the afternoon.Well today’s guest as we heard the first time on Join Up Dots, is a former senior Derby police officer.Who since 1985 when he joined the force “saw the darkest side of humanity” as he says, while dealing with horrific murders and acts of violence.He retired at the rank of Superintendent on New Year’s Eve and, just the following day, picked up his first client after taking courses on hypnotherapy and life-coaching skills.So let's start finding out what has happened in the last three years?Has it been plane sailing, or dark nights of the soul like the majority of our guests?Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Kul MahayThe Dark Side Of Entrepreneurship Show HighlightsWe discuss the difficulty of starting a business especially in regards to motivating others when the doubts start creeping in.Why modelling yourself after the best is a great way to start your business if you are devoid of ideas.Kul remembers the period of time when his business slowed down and the clients dried up...could this have been a sign to do things differently.Why knowing other peoples values match with your own is such an important part of making the right decisions.How everyone will have the struggles when starting a business. Dont believe that everything is rosy in the garden. It's not.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Julian Hayes II is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast He is an author, executive health consultant, and epigenetic atelier. I'm the founder of The Art of Fitness & Life, a bespoke, discreet concierge health and performance advisory firm. The mission is to help individuals elevate their status and upgrade their entire human system so they can run around with their great-great-grandchildren—not just see them. How? Through leveraging their unique DNA, data-driven health metrics, high-tech toys, N of 1 personalized programming, and a performance team. As he says "I believe in a world where aging is optional for entrepreneurs, executives, and high-achieving professionals while having an extra 60+ years of optimal health, energy, and productivity to impact the world while experiencing life to its fullest. Unfortunately, despite the many accomplishments and financial success, many entrepreneurs and executives don't have the physical success that matches their financial success because of the dark sides of success and not using solutions tailored to their unique biology and demanding lifestyle. It's time to rethink how we do health and fitness. Entrepreneurs, high achievers, and executives need a precise roadmap and system that accommodates their unique biology and demanding lifestyle so they can make aging irrelevant, focus on what they do best, and experience life to its fullest. Interesting stuff, so where do we start? What are the questions that need to be asked? Well why do people need this anyway, why are we not more focused on optimising our health due to good practices? And when did he realise that he had the knowledge to bring such a platform to the world? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining with the one and only Mr Julian Hayes II

A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Christine Hansen has risen to the top in her profession for sure. If you google “How To Sleep Better” you will see so many search results it is astonishing. People are literally tapping away for solutions to their sleeping problems every second of the day. Now you won’t need to struggle or google anymore as today’s guest is an expert at teaching you how to sleep better. She first joined me on the show back in 2016 where we discussed her personal journey to building literally her “dream” business. Starting her journey as an English teacher in Luxembourg, she had a pretty standard career for a few years until she got to the point when her interest in corporate coaching and sleep patterns became too much to ignore. And she took the leap of faith, leaving her career in education in 2015 to start something new and inspiring. And she did that building the Sleep Like A Boss business, for those people out there who want to sleep but cant.

In todays episode of Join Up Dots we answer a few questions from listeners across the world all looking to move their futures into a bright and promising place. So lets star with the first of the three questions. Hi David, i heard you say the other day that you used to be a born worrier who never looked like he was worrying but you had solved that problem. I think I have the same condition so would love to know the steps you took to get your worries under control?Iris H, Kidderminsterr Now the second question Hi David do you feel that because of your work over the last few years you have the answers due to the successes or failures? It seems that most podcasts focus on the successes, but it also seems that most of these kind of trip you up as they come unexpectedly? I am building a classic car respiration business (Ford Cars from 1980 to 1989) and have discovered my best successes have been when i have just been chatting to someone and discovered that they had an RS Cosworth sitting rusting in their garages. Thanks for your timeDavid Mills And finally the third of the questions. Hi Join Up Dots, love the show and always come away with huge inspiration from everything. At my core I know that i am risk averse and always play safe. I would love to start my own business somehow, but dont want to put my life savings into something that could go wrong...Any suggestions? Jenny Helper, Ontario Canada.

This week we speak to Kimberlee Perry, founder of trampoline fitness company Bounce. "You need to connect with other people, it makes you feel good," says Kimberlee Perry. Before coronavirus hit, her business had never contemplated running virtual sessions. The whole purpose of its dance classes on trampolines was to physically bring people together, especially new mothers who felt alienated in small towns. This is what inspired Kimberlee, 35, who is originally from Australia, to start up Bounce six years ago. In 2014, she was on maternity leave, and moved with her husband 30 miles out of London to the Essex town of Harlow. Suffering from postnatal depression she felt lonely. "All my life I'd really invested in sport, and used it to connect with people," she says. "It's a very sporty culture in Australia, so when I originally came to London when I was 18, I joined a netball club to make friends. "When I moved to Harlow I felt very alienated, I barely knew anyone, and the only sort of clubs I could join were mother and baby ones," she says. The company's customers are predominantly women Kimberlee found there were no fitness classes where she could take her baby, despite the positive impact exercise has on the mental and physical wellbeing of new mothers. So she decided to set up her own, investing £200 to launch Bounce later that year. "I wanted to feel good about myself - as a new mum you spend hours, most of the day and night on your own. So Bounce became a fusion of everything I needed in my life at the time - fitness, connections and fun." Fast forward to before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and the company had grown to have 47,000 monthly customers - mostly women - across the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Another factor behind her setting up the business was that she had missed out on a promotion - which she felt was rightly hers - in her previous job working as a sales manager in the events industry. Kimberlee wanted mums to be able to go to exercise classes, and be able to take their babies with them "Climbing the ladder in my job was a massive priority for me," she says looking back. "Being in the events industry is tough - you have to be working 24/7 - and I think that my pregnancy contributed to the decision not to take me on for that promotion. "I was devastated, I spent a few days in bed crying over it, trying to work out what my identity was without this job." Kimberlee already had a dance background, and started working hard at quickly getting some fitness instruction qualifications. Soon she was teaching classes at a local gym, where she came up with the specific idea for Bounce. "I came across these rebounders, which are mini trampolines, and I said to my husband, 'I'm going to take £200 out of the joint account and buy eight of them,'" she says. "I think he thought I was mad. "But they're well known for their low-impact nature, they're easy on the joints, and absorb over 80% [of impacts] - so I knew they would be perfect for new mums who wanted to work out." Kimberlee's firm has now trained more than 700 instructors To launch her first classes, Kimberlee choreographed a number of dance-based routines, and hired a local community hall in Harlow. "Mums would bring their babies and leave them in their prams while they did the class," she says. "After a few months I started to put on more classes because of demand - people loved the fun nature of the class, and the fact that they could burn around 600 calories in 45 minutes. "I put all the money back into the business - paying my hire fees for the hall, then buying more trampolines. But it got to the point where I couldn't teach all the classes myself - I was doing 12 a week and the weight was falling off me." Hiring other instructors, Kimberlee's classes started to get more and more attention - and competitors began to set up similar ones. She knew she wanted to expand the business and protect her idea, so decided to look into franchising. But Kimberlee is the first to admit that she wasn't sure how the process even worked. "I didn't have any understanding of it, but I knew I needed legal protection to support my business idea," she says. "So when a lawyer helped explain the franchise model and the possibilities of how big I could take the company, it was so enlightening." Bounce expanded to Australia, Kimberlee's homeland, in 2017 To date, Kimberlee and her team have trained more than 700 instructors, and now have 320 franchise studios in the UK and 20 abroad. Their franchisees pay an upfront fee to be part of Bounce, which gives them access to the equipment, and a protected geographic area to operate in. Franchisees then pay a percentage of their revenues as an ongoing management fee. For this fee they get their business admin managed, all the class routines and choreography, plus branding and marketing. Marc Mullen, a London-based personal trainer, believes Bounce is popular because it is fun and friendly, and offers its predominantly female customers a sense of community. "Joining a regular gym can be very intimidating for some women, as unfortunately they can be male-dominated environments," he says. "And there are high rates of gym dropouts due to the fact that people don't really have a structure to follow, lack of ideas, or motivation. "[By contrast] Bounce keeps people engaged. With the business enjoying an annual turnover of £3m last year, Kimberlee now oversees a management team of 25 at its Harlow headquarters. However, the chief executive hasn't forgotten her roots. "I still teach - five classes a week, and make up every routine," she says. "I love how it makes me feel, and knowing that I'm inspiring other women every day... that's a feeling you can't really beat." In April, in response to Covid-19, the company moved its classes online, offering eight per day, seven days a week. "Franchisees had to shut down their studios, but everyone benefited from us going virtual. We split the profit from the online classes between the franchisees, which was hugely helpful to them," Kimberlee says. But with gyms now reopening, she adds that everyone at Bounce is excited to once again meet their customers in person.

Tomer David is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast He is a man who knew what he wanted from a very young age. He is the owner of sourcing monster, with a mission that states "My mission is to educate and share my experience and success with serious people that want to take control over their lives, they are tired of the making money online promises and want to really be free and make a difference" As he says "I'm Tomer David, the owner of 2 Amazon FBA brands with 14 years of e-commerce experience. My passion started when I was young and I’ve been programming since age 12. When I was 14, I opened my 1st online business which was a hosting company. At 16, I left school to pursue my dreams full time by working at a start-up company, until now where I have experience in e-commerce and marketing. My first product launch on Amazon failed. I had set the wrong expectations. Trying again, my goal was to earn $10K profit per month in 12 months.

A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Chris Lalomia joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast today. He is is a successful entrepreneur and change leader that has built on his experience working with the largest companies in America to start his own business from scratch. He brings his unique style to leadership to build a culture of professionalism to the blue collar world of home renovations. He left the corporate zoo and ventured into the entrepreneurial wild and started The Trusted Toolbox: Home Repair and Projects in 2008. YES, he started a business right before the Great Recession, so timing the market is not his strength. He survived through that time and has grown his business into a multimillion dollar handyman and remodelling company which has won numerous awards in Atlanta, GA. How The Dots Joined Up For Chris As he says "Save yourself the time and aggravation of having to do repair work around your home on your own. You don’t have the time, energy, or patience to do bathroom remodelling, kitchen remodelling, wood rot repair, home repair, deck remodel & installation, painting, window replacement, window repair, bathroom repair, kitchen repair, deck repair, or any of our other handyman services with other small odds and ends type jobs that keep piling up around your home. It’s a much wiser idea to let our handymen do the work for you.  And its a very wise idea to build an evergreen business, around peoples pain points and limitations first and foremost. So is he happier now, running his own businesses or does he look back to the turn up and get paid corporate life with fondness? And what would be the biggest lesson he learnt which he always shares as his "Make sure you don't do what i did moment" ? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Chris Lalomia

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Online courses expert Timothy Kenny is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the the author of "Accelerated Learning for Entrepreneurs" He is also the creator of over 65 courses on the subjects of Accelerated Learning and productivity, which over 110,000 students from 150 different countries have enrolled in over the last few years. When he isn't creating downloadable online courses, he teaches classes and speaks to groups about how to accelerate their  learning so that they can build successful businesses faster and with  more confidence in their success. Timothy has taught at the Harvard Innovation lab, The Tufts  University Entrepreneurs Society, General Assembly in Boston, and has  been a featured teacher on Skillshare, among others. He has consulted  with start-up teams on how to accelerate their learning, creativity, and  growth. So was this knowledge based around a moment in his life when like others he found himself drowning and therefore stopped and assessed what he needed to do form himself and others? And where does he find his ideas for so many downloadable courses, when so many people struggle to come up with one? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Timothy Kenny

Getting bogged down in your business is a common problem that most people have. Especially at the beginning when you arent making any money and you are doing it all yourself. In todays episode of Join Up Dots we look at five ways that you can seperate yourself from THE business and instead start looking at what more ON the business time and time again. Ready to start building success?

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Mark Sieverkropp is todays guest joining us on the show, and is someone who now falls into a very select band of guests. This is the third time that he has appeared, after first back in 2014 with his business partner Scott Barlow on episode 37. If you go back and listen to episode 37, he spoke with passion and more than a touch of humour as to how they got the “Happen To Your Career” online business going. This was why he was still working in the corporate world in a job he hated whilst starting to make inroads into his new life. Well he did that, and when he appeared next he had another leg into the entrepreneurial world and was sharing with us all, the steps we can take, and skills we need to explode our network of friends, colleagues and clients sky-high and build our own business. As  the saying goes “No Man is an island” and with the worldwide web literally falling over with potential prospects, money making opportunities and  chances to strike  up a conversation are needed more than ever, which is where his talent lie. Now with his new book "Find Your 20" focusing in on the 80/20 principle and how we can all find time, enjoyment and even more income in our business by being strategic and streamlined as he finally found where he really wants to be? Is this where he looks and thinks "wow, without all the other dots there is no way that i could have brought this to the world? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Mark Sieverkropp.

Making Things Harder Than They Need To Be seems to be a problem in todays day and age. It should be be the case for sure, as we have more and more devices and instruments to make things much simpler. But is this true? By being given things that should be the answer to all our problems, are we actually losing ourselves in the weeds? Well in todays episode of Join Up Dots, we are going to ask the question Are We Making Things Harder Than They Need To Be" in our businesses and life. And best of all what we can do about it.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

David Selinger joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast today. David Selinger was an early employee at Amazon, working directly under Jeff Bezos. He led the R&D arm of Amazon’s data-mining and personalization team. He co-founded Redfin (now a multi-billion dollar company) and founded RichRelevance, a company that offers personalized shopping experiences for large retail brands, including Macy’s, Barneys New York, Office Depot, and others. He is now inventing the next BIG thing in home security – Deep Sentinel, an AI-based home protection. The company’s intelligent crime prevention transforms home security from false alarms and ineffective after-the-fact crime alerts to real-time crime prediction and prevention. With Deep Sentinel, Americans can gain a reliable, cost-effective way to protect their homes and stop a burglary, mail theft or driveway break-in before it happens – and feel dramatically safer at home, at work, and on vacation. So where do his ideas that are worth pursuing come from? And if he could leap past his biggest mistake would he, or has it simply been another dot on the road to where he is today? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only David Selinger

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too.  In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Christina Lenkowski  is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is a forward-thinking publicity strategist and educator for entrepreneurs, speakers and authors looking to expand their credibility and go from “best-kept secret” to “go-to expert” in their industries through being a guest on other people’s podcasts. During her 13 years of PR agency and consulting work, Christina has helped clients earn spots in print publications like Martha Stewart Living, Sunset, Reader’s Digest, and Big Life, and online coverage in MSN.com and TravelChannel.com, among others. Christina herself has been featured on websites like Medium.com and CEOHacks.com. How The Dots Joined Up For Christina She’s been a guest on many podcasts, including Her Empire Builder, Hustle Like a Mother, Health Coach Nation and Launch It Girl, and helped her clients get booked on many other top-rated shows. As she says "Even though I specialized in PR and publicity (my particular niche was tourism), I was really only promoting my course - or at least trying to - through paid ads and live webinars, because that's what all the "gurus" and "experts" said to do... And while those worked for me to a certain extent (kinda), I knew I wasn't bringing in enough people, and they certainly weren't coming in with any knowledge of what I was about and had to offer. To be honest, it was a bit of a bottomless money pit of my own creation. So I started to do for myself what I had been doing for my clients - I got publicity on podcasts. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only smartphone marketing expert Christina Lenkowski

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. I n fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Hi David, you said on a recent podcast to share your successes with you via email or voice message so here goes. I think i must have listened to every episode of Join Up Dots you have released over the years, and after every episode i thought "right im going to start my own thing and create my own life" Trouble was i never did, until lockdown last year when the world was ending and everything seemed to be right for changing direction. So i started a business with my Dad, getting old bikes from freecycle and craigs list, tarting them up and then selling them for a profit. It has been fun and the business now turns over £600 each per month. Now this wasnt life changing, so i used my half to start a small online business providing turnkey children's parties.  You order online and we send you games, balloons and stuff based around a theme. So your kid wants a Star Wars themed party and everything we send is based around that. We simply started with putting leaflets around the town, supermarket, libraries and got a few orders in, which we then bought the stuff and sent it out.  Now we are developing an app to do it online and have more of an idea of what the popular themes are, so we can bulk buy and keep the prices down. The idea is to outsource to India or China to ramp things up. The key thing that i realised is what you say all along. dont look for the passion, the passion is making money and changing my life. I have now gone down to three days per week in my job and the future is looking good.  I am so happy and now on the look out for other ideas that i can do. Find an idea, find who wants it and then give it to them, which is once again what you tell us time and time again. So i hope this email of success pleases you, and I would love to hear other listeners stories to inspire me again Thank so much Rocky BeltonMiddlesex

Brybe founder Igor Fedenkoff joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast today. He is the co-founder of Brybe, Inc. and a serial entrepreneur with a decade long history of creating successful startups in the healthcare and hospitality verticals, improving brand image and revenue 10x. He holds an MBA, is a business instructor/trainer, marketing specialist, public speaker, and an investor. Now he provides a platform for remote professionals and social media influencers looking for opportunities for brand collaborations and on-going work gigs. Individuals and businesses that are interested in utilizing freelance professionals for digital creative services or influencers for social media promotion can access this platform as well. He works with investors looking to be introduced to a profitable opportunity in the online marketplace sector, but for sure knows the nitty gritty, dirty details of running a start-up and raising capital. His mission is to share his mistakes and challenges to help other entrepreneurs to avoid some of the underwater rocks on their own journeys. So what would be the most frequent mistake that he sees people making time and time again? And if he could leap past his biggest mistake would he, or has it simply been another dot on the road to where he is today? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Igor Fedenkoff

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Ken Marshall is today guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast is Ken “Magma” Marshall is the Chief Growth Officer and Managing Partner at RevenueZen. They are a US based agency providing content marketing and lead generation for a whole host of different markets online and off. As they say "Whether you’re a Series C SaaS powerhouse blitzscaling to the moon, or a patent law consulting firm, we’ve got you covered. We know that each industry has its own challenges and throughout the last 7 years, we’ve just about seen it all. That’s why our strategists and campaign managers have developed unique strategic approaches for every industry that we work with. He’s been professionally interneting for the past seven years and has shifted his focus to all things SEO and inbound for the last five . How The Dots Joined Up For Ken Ken is an endlessly curious person with a cliche coffee addiction and a burning desire to encourage and empower others to pursue meaningful lives. He openly shares that "I’ve been sitting on a few ideas that I think will be useful to the world as well. These tools are much more ambitious and have no set official launch date.  Just know they’re coming.  Overall, I'm excited to see what my mad scientist brain comes up with and what we as a team are able to achieve this year.  I’m not going to give some long drawn out speech about why 2022 is the year of innovation, purpose, or goal setting.  In my opinion, we should always be doing all of that stuff. So where does he find his seemingly unlimited enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and well it seems life (other than the coffee addiction?  And where does he see his biggest achievement in earning his own income, starting or simply keeping going? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Ken Magma Marshall.

A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Introducing Steve Kahan Steven Mark Kahan is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Steve is a serial entrepreneur that has had great success moving from the corporate world early in his career to the startup world. He has successfully helped to grow six start-up companies from early-stage development to going public or being sold, resulting in more than $3 billion in shareholder value. He is currently CMO at Thycotic, which will become the seventh. Steve inspires teams and their organisations to take on the impossible and succeed. How The Dots Joined Up For Steve He has just written a book published by Wiley and Audible and available on Amazon.com called “Be a Startup Superstar." The book teaches those graduating college and young professionals how to earn a great living doing what they love by igniting their career at a tech startup. He will share lessons learned in over 30 years for how young professionals or those that feel stuck in the corporate world can earn a great living doing what they love by igniting their career in a technology startup. So is it harder than ever before to launch a successful startup due to the current conditions that we find ourselves in? And looking back at his ups and downs, were there things that he could have avoided or was this all part of the success? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Steve Kahan Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Steve Kahan such as: We discuss why people have to realise that even through the dark times in life, we see opportunities burst forth at the same rate as before Steve opens up about being a startup superstar, compared to what it takes to be merely successful. Why a startup operates like its the last outpost for outlaws, inspiring the mavericks and creatives of the world. And lastly........... Steve talks about why energy and protecting your time is so vitally important - basically be your own top priority in everything you do. Steve Kahan Books How To Connect With Steve Kahan Website Linkedin Facebook Instagram Return To The Top Of Steve Kahan If you enjoyed this episode of Steve Kahan why not listen to some of our favourite podcast episodes such as Spike Ball Founder, Nick Ruiz,  Sarah Caltieri or the amazing Mandy Barbee Or if you prefer just pop over to our podcast archive for thousands of amazing episodes to choose from. Full Transcription Of Steve Kahan Interview Intro 0:00 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK, David Ralph. David Ralph 0:25 Yes, good morning, welcome to Join Up. Dots. Thank you so much for being here. Wherever you are across the world. Some of you have been with us for over seven years now. Thank you so much for being here. Others have just joined in, but you've come at a good time you've come a good time because the things that are coming through Join Up Dots, a life changing for you. Well, today's guests on the show is a serial entrepreneur, but has had great success moving from the corporate world early in his career to the startup world. He has successfully helped to grow six startup companies from early stage development. going public or being sold, resulting in more than 3 billion in shareholder value. He is currently cmo at five Kotick which will become the seventh. Now he inspires teams and their organisations to take on the impossible and succeed. And he has just written a book published by wily and audible and available on Amazon called be a startup superstar. This book teaches those graduating college and young professionals how to earn a great living doing what they love by igniting their career at a tech startup, he will share lessons learned in over 30 years for how young professionals are those that feel stuck in the corporate world can earn a great living doing what they love by igniting their career in a technology startup. So is it harder than ever before to launch a successful startup due to the current conditions that we find ourselves in? And looking back at his ups and downs? Were there things that could have been avoided? Or was this all part of the success? Well, let's find out as we bring them to the show to start joining up dance with the one and only Mr. Steve Kahan. Steve Kahan 2:08 Hi. I'm doing great. David, how are you? David Ralph 2:11 I'm very well, thank you very much for being here on the show. I understand that you've got up at half past four in the morning, you're in Texas. What's happening outside your window? Is the weld getting going? Or is it still in lockdown? Steve Kahan 2:23 It is in partial lockdown, unfortunately. David Ralph 2:27 And what is the unfortunate part? Lots of people in the entrepreneurial world almost say it hasn't really made a difference to us. Steve Kahan 2:35 Well, it hasn't made a difference to a number of companies like ours or for me who's used to working remotely but there are a lot of people and businesses, particularly small businesses that are struggling. And you know, for that reason, when that occurs, and certainly there's impacts on people and on businesses as well. Well, that's, that is an impact that is negative and something that I wish that we all could could avoid. David Ralph 3:08 Now, of course, most people now are at least thinking to themselves, maybe maybe I should take some kind of control of my future with unemployment and redundancies soaring. Do you think that's a naive point of view? Or do you think that people really have got the opportunities nowadays to take control and start earning their own income? Steve Kahan 3:30 I think that you absolutely can take control and start earning your own income. And, and really, to me, I think there's never been a better time and in many respects, I mean, certainly I think I really think Winston Churchill said it perfectly. He said, a pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity and an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty and so, you know, are you going to focus On the upside or the downside, do you see the cup is half full or half empty? And I really think that that positive optimistic people are certainly the ones that I choose to surround myself with. And my and I certainly believe that there are still many, many great opportunities, particularly to start a business or to join an existing startup and and take on some bigger, perhaps better funded companies and work with a small team of crazies that are hell bent on changing the world. I David Ralph 4:37 always remember I had a guest on the show and unfortunately, I can't remember the guest but I remember what he said. And he said, no matter how bad the world seems financially, somebody is getting the money. He said, it's just like an ocean where the tide has left your side and it's going to the other side, and it's your job as an entrepreneur to roll that boat across the Ocean to where that money is flooding in. And it is true, isn't it? Even at the worst times we're seeing zoom go through the roof, we're seeing bicycle sales go up massively. We're seeing so many people finding it boom time. Steve Kahan 5:15 I think that's true. And I think the key is is to find the sector sectors, as you mentioned that that are really going and going well for you mentioned some of them, I happen to work within the cybersecurity world and, and the hackers are out there almost like never before and so many businesses are looking to to do a better job of reducing risk. And so, you know, without question, there is many opportunities. There are people that are changing the way that they're working, working remotely, and that creates significant opportunity. So I absolutely agree with that. And, and and I am beginning to see people begin to capitalise on on some of those and, and think about ways to, to change the world. To me a great example of that is there is a new startup company that actually I'm considering investing and that is trying to change the way college students interact with businesses, where typically was face to face via career fairs, and then changing that interaction building more engagement and then facilitating the hiring process. I think, to me, that's a great example of a couple of young entrepreneurs that see an amazing opportunity and, and very well may change the way the world operates in terms of the college career experience. David Ralph 6:55 So let's turn the conversation to be our top superstar. Hold tight title, what actually is a difference that makes you a superstar and not just successful or getting by Steve Kahan 7:10 I think it starts first and foremost with choosing the right organisation or building the right startup organisation. And many people sort of don't understand the criteria of how to put yourself within a startup organisation that has a great chance to be successful. And there are, for example, certain criteria that I look at when I have joined startup companies and now I'm, I've been with six all of whom successfully sold or have gone public, generating over $3 billion. And now I'm with my seven that's like a rocket ship. And so to me, it's making the right choices and it starts with that. I look for Things like quality people who share the same values that I do. So if you don't trust, respect and admire the people that you're working with move on. I look for a concept that fills a big market need. I do the research and the homework to make sure that the market is big enough. I certainly understand that. People particularly now more than ever don't spend money on nice to solve problems they spend money on must solve. And I don't get dissuaded if there's too much competition, I I get dissuaded if there's not enough, I look for things like that. There's a great product that you can believe in where you can go to work every day with a passion for what the company creates and your role in creating it. And if you can't get behind it with enthusiasm, move on. And then finally, that the startup is well funded, and so that you are making sure that you're properly capitalised, so you have the best chance for growth and stability. And I think if you use those criteria to select a startup company, you have positioned yourself to have that opportunity to have a great outcome and be the superstar that you were meant to be. David Ralph 9:17 Now one of the things you say you look for a startup and you can't go on Craigslist and find these. So how do you find a startup for somebody out there who's interested? How do they actually find something before it's even started? Steve Kahan 9:31 So typically, what I will do is, is I I have started one company. And then the other companies that I have been with I have joined very small companies. And there are two ways that people oftentimes overlooked to find great companies. So one of which in most cities throughout the globe, there's what's known as startup accelerators or seed access. Raiders. And again, they exist in every city. You could do a Google and the city that you live in, and you'll find them and they are funding companies. They're providing educational assistance, networking opportunities and the like. And those organisations, posts, the companies that are members are ones that they're funding. And oftentimes there are great jobs right from those sites, right, and they're not the type of jobs that you're going to find posted. Secondly, is I will oftentimes, Reese research and be looking for startup leaders online or what I might read, I might start to follow them and I will make connections with them oftentimes through LinkedIn messenger in a heartfelt sincere way, not a salesy way. And what I've learned is that that type of direct connection First of all, All get you right to the executive. If there's HR at all it bypasses that. And then you can start to talk about how that person is achieving what they are within their career, you can learn from them, and bridge the conversation over to you. And oftentimes, again, if it's approached in the right way, you start to make connections with that person, and there may be opportunities within their company or within their wider network. And so approaching people directly online is something that sounds fairly basic, but you'd be surprised how rare it is actually done. David Ralph 11:45 Now, I know a lot of our listeners would say, it's alright for us, Steve, you've got a track record. You've got something to offer, but I'm starting out what value can I provide these people if I do connect with them directly? Steve Kahan 11:59 Yeah, I think that, you know, that's that's always the question. But the I think the the real thing to focus in on is there are over 80,000 startups around the globe. And, and there was a recent survey of startup CEOs that asked them the number one issue keeping them up at night. And it was actually finding good people. Now think of that for a second. So finding good, talented people was rated ahead of growing revenue, acquiring customers or gaining access to more capital. And so startup executives are desperate for hiring a plus talent. And so, you know, no one has all the experience perhaps that they think that they ought to have when joining an organisation and so oftentimes You know, sort of starts out with that connection. But then also, once you're bridging that conversation to you, if you're able to show some core traits, like for example, a willingness to work hard, someone who's super accountable, an individual who is team oriented, not an eye person, but a weak person, and you start to build, for example, that connection of the type of person that you are some of the background that you have, you'd be surprised how that connection could help bridge you into an organisation and then it really, it comes down to being a sponge, and taking on your own education and learning and building deep expertise. Because that's what the world pays the most for is deep expertise in one particular area. And then from there, building out your your your knowledge base. Since so oftentimes I find within startup companies rather than being in a smaller pigeonhole role, you get the opportunity to actually build that deep expertise. Because if you don't do the work, there aren't a bunch of other resources or people who can. And so it's oftentimes the perfect environment to achieve just that. David Ralph 14:22 Now, in your book, in chapter five, there's a whole chapter is at like a leader, even if you don't have the title yet. And you list great things to fall through and follow through on and one of them is keep your goals in sight. And the baby steps Tell us about that. Steve Kahan 14:43 Well, for me, I think it's super important to first of all, have your goals written down, right and so a lot of people when they talk about their goals, they they they don't have Have them in front of them. And I like to think of goals in terms of quarterly, in in terms of monthly, weekly and even daily, right. So it's that level of sort of detail that I will get into. And a lot of times, when you're thinking about those particular objectives, you also have to realise that not everything can be a high priority. And so, oftentimes, when you are documenting those goals, you'll find that high performers certainly as I saw myself to be, often take on massive workloads, right and to some extent, hard working people, it's they have traits that I respect, but it could create significant stress and burnout lead to burnout over the long haul. So you can't be a high performer without being overwhelmed. And so oftentimes, if you break down those objectives and two, kind of baby steps to get started. If you do a good job of prioritising your goals, what you'll find is is that success isn't about how much you do. It's about performing the right actions towards the right goals that will create the biggest impact. And for me, breaking things down into baby steps, oftentimes enable me to get started to not feel that the mountain is too big to climb. And then once I get started, then it's sort of like a snowball going downhill picking up steam. David Ralph 16:42 Let's listen to Jim Carrey. And then we'll be back with Steve. Jim Carrey 16:45 My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had Do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don't want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love. David Ralph 17:11 So when you were back in corporate land, and you decided to go your own way, did you know what you loved? Or was it just a feeling inside? Steve Kahan 17:20 It absolutely was a feeling inside I had a view of of what I love. But I remember that going from college into the corporate world. I remember staring at my bank statement and the pile of claims that I was supposed to process that day. And wondering, how on earth will I ever get ahead and I was working long days, and for me, the student loans would eat my paycheck before they ever even got a chance to hit my bank account. And so I sort of felt pigeon holed I felt like I In a big bureaucracy where there was great acceptance of the status quo, it was burdened by incumbent mindsets. The barriers to advancement seemed high. And it was like working at a on a giant ship that was hard to manoeuvre slow to change course. And, and for me, I just asked myself an important question. And that was, how could I earn a great living and love the work? I do? And it was really with that question that I realised that moving into more of a startup type of organisation would be the right career move for me. David Ralph 18:43 Now, what are people around you that said, Steve, what you're doing Steve, you've only got a beer for another four years and you've got the corner office. Steve Kahan 18:51 Absolutely. And, and so and then and then they went a step farther. The step farther was look, you know, this is risky if you make a move, it's certainly got great risk and, and there's not going to be the training and career paths that you typically would would see. And so what I learned was really what a startup was right. And so when people think of startups, you know, they they, they have sort of pictures in their mind's eye. But the way that I think of a startup there is a mentor of mine is serial entrepreneur. He's chairman of venture capital company by the name of Doug Irwin. And he says a startup is a company that operates like it's the last frontier for outlaws, a place where non conformists can live, create and sell their ideas. And to me how cool I mean, who doesn't want to be involved in that? It's sort of a place where you get to be the rough riding rebel, running circles around those slower moving bureaucratic, larger organisations. So what I came to learn was really that a startup is a culture. It's a mindset. It's not necessarily defined by the number of people. It's again, that small team of crazies just believing it could change the course of the world. That to me was exciting. David Ralph 20:20 Now, I was always told that I was a maverick in corporate world, like it was a bad thing. And I look back on it now, and I think it was a bloody great thing, and it's allowed me to go off and do what I need to do. Now the Mavericks, the creative thinkers, the strategy Guys, can you get the wrong blend in a startup when you walk into a startup? Can you see quiet, obviously, but they haven't got the right outlaws in place. Steve Kahan 20:49 Absolutely. Right. And so there are many attributes where you could see that they don't have the right outlaws in place. So Typically at startups, if you walk into a startup and you are seeing, like, for example, I'll focus of the values of the company in the cafeteria on a poster on the wall. That's not who startups are, they are living the values associated with with being a startup. You know, what you are often if you walk into a startup and you see that there that it looks like it's a pretty political bureaucratic type of environment where there isn't necessarily and the focus on the the end goal or the focus on on the customer and on beating what will most assuredly be tough competitors, then it's not the right place. If you see that the focus is more on competing internally with with one another and not on the whoever that particular enemy is externally, then it's not the right place. Right. And so typically at startups, it's, it's the opposite of that. And that and that's part of the work environment that I like, where there's great work, even versatility in the role that people are willing to stand up, you know, be accountable, you'll, you'll find that, that people have great persistence and tenacity, they're not going to be sort of overwhelmed by the obstacles that get in their way because they're most assuredly will be there. And then you know, finally that you see a culture where that people are embracing accountability, they want to be accountable to get the job done. And so those are like some of the things not to look for, as well as blending with a few of the things that I actually Look for within a startup that might be indicative that it could have a chance to win. David Ralph 23:06 And when does it become boring to you and you back out Steve Kahan 23:09 for me it I wouldn't say that it's so much boring but I like I do like some aspect of, of change and growth, I think that if if there is in time that it becomes boring, it's a time where you feel that the organisation or or me personally is not growing the way that it used to. Right And so, you know, if it's, if you if you are in a particular role and you're not able to, you know, grow within that role or expand and maybe take on some other roles within the organisation, if that's something that you that you aspire to do, or to move up, move into the C suite, hopefully someday, that to me, that's when it becomes a little bit less exciting. But, you know, again, if you believe the definition, at least that I mentioned that Doug Irwin had were a startup is really a culture, it's a mentality. I don't think that is necessarily, for example, the company I'm with now we've gone from 5 million to 100 million a cybersecurity company called Kotick. We've done that in four and a half years. And so it is not boring at all, even in the great growth that we have had and continue to have. Because there's such an opportunity for all of us and an opportunity for all of us to expand our skill sets. David Ralph 24:37 Now, as she was talking, I was googling on the entrepreneur handbook. And I can see that in the United Kingdom, there's 181, business accelerators, and that's just listed on that one website. So you really have shown but you literally step out your door and you trip over them if you're willing to look Steve Kahan 24:58 absolutely right. And so like, you know, if you go back at that criteria that I mentioned of how to select a startup, let me share with some of your listeners some of the questions that they ought to ask that will help them to figure out whether they're choosing the right one if they called one of those companies, and actually tried to break in. So if I were interviewing, these are some of the questions I would ask. I would ask questions like, why is now the time for your company to exist? Or a question like, what do you love about your team? And why are you the ones to solve this problem? Or tell me about a paying customer? What was their journey to you? And what are the revenue expectations over the next year? Or how much as the company raised and what's its runway? Who are your investors? Why did you choose them? And most importantly, this one is is one that kind of helps me get there. values. If you weren't building your startup, what would you be doing? which not only gets at their values, but you often find if you have other things in common with that person that you typically wouldn't find during an interview. If you ask those questions, you will go very far down your path to figuring out whether this is the right place for you. And you will differentiate yourself significantly because I can assure you other candidates for those same roles will not be asking those questions. Unknown Speaker 26:35 We're talking to Steve Kahan, the author of being a startup superstar, and we'll be back with him after these words. Are you ready to make a full time living online? Check out the amazing Join Up Dots business coaching. Unknown Speaker 26:47 Hello, my name is Alan. And I've just completed the excellent eight week course with David Unknown Speaker 26:51 before I started working with David Unknown Speaker 26:54 Actually, I had no idea at all where to start. Unknown Speaker 26:57 I had a lot of ideas about While I probably thought was going to be good business, David was able to help me through that though, to find that Unknown Speaker 27:06 passion. Within literally minutes. Unknown Speaker 27:09 We had, we had a business idea. And for the last seven weeks, Unknown Speaker 27:12 we've been building on it and building on it and the position I'm in now, Unknown Speaker 27:16 but if you've got an ever got here Unknown Speaker 27:17 on my own, because of the amount of information that David gives the structure, he's got the full package here, and he explains it in a way that I can understand. His support is phenomenal. I feel like this is the way business is supposed to work. Unknown Speaker 27:32 David helped me understand, okay, what were the next logical steps that I should do? How can I get this up and running? So I would really recommend this as an excellent course helping you if you have an idea if you have no idea, really teasing that out and some of the practicalities and steps to take to really launch your business, whether as a full time job or a side hustle. So it was really excellent. I recommend it for anybody thinking about setting up their own business. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say To save you years Unknown Speaker 28:02 Thank you, David for all your amazing help and support which keeps on going. And we certainly couldn't be where we are today without you. So you're awesome. David Ralph 28:12 So if you would love to become my next success story and have your own life changing online business following my step by step system, being tuned over many years to take away the effort and expense that others struggle with, then come across to Join Up dots.com and book a free call with myself. Let's get you living the easy life as it's there waiting for you to get it that is Join Up dots.com business coaching. Now we're talking to a Steve, the author of be a startup superstar. And interestingly, Steve within the book, the first few chapters, I thought, yeah, okay, I can totally understand where you're going with this. Very interesting at the end, you've got things like embrace the power of kindness and take care of what matters Put your family first work out, eat right sleep more. Why did you feel that it was important to add back into the contents? Steve Kahan 29:08 I think those things are hugely important. And you typically don't hear those types of things from in particular technology startup executives. But let me give you a very specific example why it's so important. And so, for example, when you take a look at sort of, you know, having a healthy work life balance and actually heard a phrase of, I almost don't even like work life balance any more, because it suggests that there's a right answer. I heard a term called work life harmony, which I liked a lot better because it suggests that things have been flowed. And so, you know, time for example, is a it's a finite resource. As we all know, once you lose it, you can't get a back and that means you must really exercise a lot of care in managing Your time and, and highly driven people, particularly those in the startup world often struggle with this. And what I've learned in my career and I didn't start out this way is to be my top priority. And to and if you live very much through your calendar, as I do is the most important item on your calendar. You are you priority number one. And so I'd like to challenge your listeners right now. And I'd like to ask them to open up their calendar and see if their calendar reflects that they are their own top priority. And I'll bet if you're like most people, if you check and see how many appointments you've scheduled with yourself that you have too few. And so, you know, think about some of the time that that you're losing for personal priorities, you know whether that's going to happen game being home for dinner or for breakfast. Or taking time where you're going to build your own skills, learn something new or to think strategically. What I learned was that if you're able to make yourself your own top priority, block out time in your calendar for you, that actually you're able to build far better work life harmony, and it's never perfect. And sometimes things need to change. But if you actually go start blocking off time on your calendar, even if it's for working out at launch, whatever it might be, so that you can proactively manage and orchestrate to the type of work like power money that you want to have for your life, that it just makes things better on all fronts

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Introducing Jay Seeney Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots show is Jay Seeney. He is the founder of media company Blacklist Productions. A company started to create cinematic videos and beautiful imagery. In just two short years since inception, Jay Seeney has filmed with the best in the Australian Country Music business, directing clips for Lee Kernaghan, the Wolfe Brothers, Andrew Swift, Troy Kemp, Drew McAlister, Benn Gunn, Matt Cornell, Mike Carr and countless other artists. Jay’s video style revolves around highlighting Australia’s best artists in some of the most desirable locations around the country. Credits include: #1 Music Video on CMC Backroad Nation – Lee Kernaghan, #1 – Storm Rollin’ In – The Wolfe Brothers, over 30 music videos on the Country Music Channel Videos have received over one millions views online. Jay is a talented musician, passionate artist and photographer and a highly skilled film maker. So how did he take his passion music and build a business which has transformed his life to where it is today? And if he could give one big piece of advice to every listener of Join Up Dots what would it be? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Jay Seeney Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Jay Seeney such as: Jay shares how he got the idea for Blacklist Productions due to the cost of making his own videos. He found his own pain point and took action. We talk about the process of trawling through YouTube to find good the stuff that can push you on. It can work, but be very very selective.  Jay talks about the method of finding the right clients for his business that can push his business forward. Scale by using their profile to build your own. And lastly................. Why gaining time in your life is so important especially at the beginning of starting your business. A day per week can be such a huge win.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial and lifestyle freedom will find the answers within each power packed episode.

Joseph Wilkins joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast today. He is the Founder of Funny Sales Videos.com and Host of the podcast How to Make a Video Go Viral. Back in 2000,  Joseph founded ProCreative Studios, an agency that produced infomercials, TV commercials and web sales videos. Joseph directed thousands of videos for clients including Google, Linkedin, McDonalds, Goldman Sachs, Chevrolet & Home Depot. As viewing habits shifted away from TV, Joseph launched FunnySalesVideos.com where his team now creates attention-grabbing “viral style” sales videos that entertain viewers into action. With two decades experience, hundreds of millions of broadcast and online views and over $50 MILLION in tracked sales attributed to his content… Joseph clearly knows the secret to Funny Sales Videos .  

Introducing Sami Wunder Sami Wunder is an internationally-recognized dating and relationship expert who specializes in working with high-achieving women leaders and entrepreneurs to attract their dream man and create a deeply intimate and deeply connected relationship! In the last 4 years, over 150 of Sami’s clients have found their happily-ever- after using Sami's method of soulmate attraction, and countless marriages and relationships have been saved and reconnected. Sami's clients include a Hollywood celebrity, UK TV stars, CEOs, leading entrepreneurs and influencers. She’s been hailed as the “Get The Ring Coach” by the BBC Radio London and the Daily Mail, and her work has been picked up by the Time Magazine, Forbes Magazine and many other publications of global renown. As just one of her clients reveals "Sami literally has changed my life. Her work goes beyond surface level 'tactics' or 'strategies' to attract men - but to deep heart centred teachings where you build on your relationship with yourself and learn how to become an attraction magnet to not only men but to everyone. She connects you to your true self - where you learn the skills of feminine energy and how to break through the blocks that are stopping you from reaching your romantic love dreams." Sami's six-step process to find love, which has seen the dating coach be responsible for 145 engagements in the past three years, allows her clients to change their beliefs, by her belief that as she says 'I don´t believe in rules in dating. I believe that coming from the energy of confidence and clarity is way more powerful for love success for my clients than following any rules.  Sami is based in Europe and runs her heart-centered 7-figure company, where she is blissfully married to the love of her life. They have one son. So why is it that so many people have such a hard time to find the love that they want nowadays? And, was this business the first one she started, or did she stumble into it like so many people when previous incarnations didn't quite work?  Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Sami Wunder Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Sami Wunder such as: Why so many people struggle with finding the right person in their lives due to energy polarity The reasons behind why women look for the safety in a party as much as looks very unlike men. Sami reasons why it is so much easier to find the love of your life when you are young as you are more open minded and lastly.......... Sami shares her story into a life that wasnt right for her, and the transition that took her to become the global love coach.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Adriana Monique Alvarez is the CEO and Founder of AMA Publishing, where she teaches women how to start highly profitable publishing companies. Several years ago, she identified hundreds of her clients talking about writing their books and saw they needed someone to show them how to do it. The concept of helping women move into publishing as entrepreneurs triggered her to launch her own publishing house, Adriana Monique Alvarez (AMA). It has become an immensely successful publishing company that has established more than 120 bestselling authors within two years. She’s an international bestselling author and has been seen in Forbes, Huffington Post, International Living, Addicted2Success, Elephant Journal, FOX, ABC, and NBC. Now with her book “HOW TO START A SIX FIGURE PUBLISHING COMPANY,”  she mentors high level coaches, consultants, and service providers on how to start their own high-earning, global-impact publishing houses. Within its pages you will discover 7 big publishing secrets: The single fastest way to multiplying your impact and serving more people without burning out. How to shift from offering services to creating coveted opportunities. Why your lack of experience doesn’t matter. The one decision that can lead to making $8k a month right out the gate. How to build an international business without leaving your home office. The people you never want to market to. How you can succeed in publishing even if you don't think you are good at sales. She is currently living in the middle of nowhere Colorado where she is renovating her grandparents’ home and learning how to homestead with her husband, Derek, and two sons, Sam and Grant. So is this a business that someone can start from the kitchen table, or do they need a huge network to start with? And what would be the the number one of the big seven that she would advise everybody to focus in on first? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Adriana Monique Alvarez

Welcome to the Join Up Dots Podcast with Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard Subscribe to the podcast, please use the links below: Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes Click Here to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes feed) If you like the show, we would be so grateful if would consider leaving the show a review in iTunes as well as Stitcher Radio.   A couple minutes of your time can help the show immensely!  Thank YOU!   Introducing Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard joins us on the Join Up Dots podcast is the Managing Director/CEO of the Napier Group, a $7M PR and marketing agency for B2B technology companies. He is a self-confessed geek who loves talking about technology. He believes that combining the measurement, accountability, and innovation that he learned as an engineer with a passion for communicating internationally means Napier can help clients achieve their marketing goals sooner. Napier is an agency that brings knowledge, experience, and insight to increase the speed prospects travel through our clients’ funnels, generating opportunities more quickly. Napier’s unique approach to campaign strategy designs-in speed to campaigns from the outset, building integrated campaigns that focus on the important tactics, whether clients need to increase awareness, generate leads or engage contacts to create opportunities. So why is there such difficulty in today's world, to market their products and services correctly through a sales funnel? And why do people simply forget to build their marketing strategy into everything that they do throughout their business? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Mike Maynard. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard such as: Why a shop is such a perfect example of how a sales funnel works. Duplicate it and make your profits soar. Why you have to be aware that people rarely buy directly from a website. They need to be nurtured through to a sale. Why solving peoples problems is the key to everything in business. People buy to move themselves from pain. And lastly……… Mike shares the steps we need to take to make a sales funnel work effectively. Gold! How To Connect With Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard Website Instagram Linkedin Twitter Return To The Top Of Mike Maynard If you enjoyed this episode with Mike Maynard, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy Interview Transcription For Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time, there was a guy with a dream, a dream to quit his job support himself online and have a kick ass life. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt, until he found the magic ingredient and no struggles became a thing of the past. I of course, was that person. And now My dream is to make things happen for you. Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:27 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be but somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling in Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:52 Yes, hello man. Good morning, everybody. Good morning and welcome to Join Up Dots. Thank you so much for being here is an absolute delight because If he wasn't, then I'd be a very lonely individual. But fortunately I've got another guy on the other end of the line. He's from the United Kingdom should have asked him where he's actually based, but he's got quite a posh voice. He's got quite a posh boys. So I imagine he's probably based in somewhere like heart the chair or Hampshire or something I'm guessing but we will find out. He is a guest who is the Managing Director and CEO of the Napier group as $7 million PR and marketing agency both b2b technology companies. He's also a self confessed geek who loves talking about technology. Now he believes that combining the measurement accountability and innovation, but he learned as an engineer with a passion for communicating internationally means his company Napier can help clients achieve their marketing goals sooner. Now Napier is an agency that brings knowledge, experience and insight to increase the speed prospects travel through our clients panels, generating opportunities more quickly now Napier's unique approach to capture Paint strategy today designs in speed to campaigns from the outset, building integrated campaigns that focus on the important tactics where the clients need to increase awareness, generate leads or engage contacts to create opportunities. So why is there such a difficulty in today's world to market their products and services correctly when there's all this out there for them? And why do people simply forget to build their marketing strategy into everything that they do throughout their business? Well, let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Mike Maynard. Morning Mike. Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard  2:40 morning David, thank you very much for that intro. That was great. I really enjoyed it and you were you were very nice particular about my accent, David Ralph 2:48 where you are quite posh on yo yo. So I said well, I went with heart for cheer or hemisphere whereabouts are you? Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 2:54 So I'm actually based in Kitchener, Chichester which is on the south coast, but my early years I actually grew up in Essex not a million miles away from where you are so David Ralph 3:05 you're an Essex boy where whereabouts were you from? Sir? Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 3:09 I'm so originally from Buckers Hill. Okay, so that's more Essex into London, isn't it? More Essex into London but I spent some time in my early years you mentioned I was an engineer. I actually worked in Chelmsford, for Marconi, who was an employer. So I know the area very well. David Ralph 3:29 I used to live in Chelmsford, when I was a young scallywag, gallivanting but then my wife came along and she rained me back in my gallivanting days are no more. Now we're with you, Mike. What I want to get straight to is this kind of Mystique. And what I want to do is obviously tap into your expertise on business to business but also bring it more relevant to my audience. Because we hear all the time about sales funnels, you got to have sales funnels, and they're not that hard, are they? I think people are creating them. Have a mystique about it. Well, actually, it's all about understanding your client, understanding your clients need, and building a relationship with them so that they trust you. Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 4:12 I think you're absolutely right there, David. I mean, the interesting thing is, is people talk about sales funnels or, more recently, they start calling them customer journeys. The reality is, is they are actually really simple and really straightforward sort of models of how customers decide to either work with you if you're a consultant or buy your product. And I think you know, that the main thing is just to think about how people approach buying what you're selling, which funnily enough, actually a lot of companies don't do even large companies don't really sit down and think about that they think, you know, one morning someone wakes up, sees an email and that's it, they gonna go buy, you know, a million dollar product, it just doesn't work like that. David Ralph 4:54 Now, I base everything on offline. I always think about everything and older I've kind of developed a coaching side to the business, which wasn't there in the early days, but it is there now. And I always think about a shop because I think a shop is perfect for a sales funnel strategy. You're walking down the high street, you're walking down the mall, you look at a very attractive window and you think, Oh, that's interesting are popping there. And you mosey around for a while. It's it's that kind of logic that has to be brought into the online world as well, isn't it? We've got to look appealing, but we've got to be appealing in a way that makes total sense to our ideal customer. We've got to have that shop window relevant for the right person, and not necessarily every single person that walks past. Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 5:43 It. You're absolutely right. And I think you know, a shop is a is a great model. I mean, people talk about you know, a simple funnel is, you know, sort of a four step process is a really common way people model it so they talk about generating awareness, interest, desire, action and if you think about a sharp, you know, you're not even going to look in the window if you don't really know anything about the shop, you don't think it's relevant you just walk past because there's so many other things on the high street to look at. But, you know, either someone might tell you about the shop or you know, if there's a large chain, you might see adverts or promotions, you know, you don't become aware. So as you walk past you look in the window, you see something in the window that's relevant to you then interested you take a you know, a bit more of a look and maybe wander into the shop, find out a bit more and then you decide you want to buy it and then of course, you know, the shop needs to make sure you actually buy from them. And don't walk out and buy on Amazon. So that's the action stage. So that's a really simple model. It works really well with your example the shop, but it actually works really well with almost every situation. David Ralph 6:48 So as we've nailed this episode already in seven minutes, we're just gonna offer a beer and now it's only was late in the morning but wearing this week we grew up in Essex. That's what we do. So Why are there so many difficulties? Where my Why is so many difficulties where we we've explained it perfectly in seven minutes? Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 7:10 Well, I think the answer is is is, sales funnels are really what I as an engineer will call a model, it's not real life. And so that there's, you know, two potential problems. One is people actually look at and go, I so much more complicated than that I'm gonna really complicate it make it really difficult. And actually know my head's now exploding, I can't really create this funnel that is a good model, because I think, you know, this customer did this and this customer, this and in other customer takes a different approach. And it's absolutely true that people you know, massively over complicate or on the other end, they actually find it you know, really hard even to think about those stages and they just go know, someone who passed up to the window and bought something and that's it and then they try and oversimplify it. So it's finding a model that fits because The truth is, with all these things, particularly in marketing, you're creating something that's kind of your perfect situation or perfect process. And the reality is is no customer actually follows that perfect process. Exactly. They all do something slightly different. So it's very hard to relate that to any individual customer, or potential customer. I think that's why people struggle with sales funnels. David Ralph 8:22 Should I tell you my sales funnel, Mike Sure, I tell you mine and I will blow your business out of the water and everyone will go Why would we go to Napier when? When David has got this? Basically what I do I podcast, that's the awareness. And then people come across to my website. And more often than not, people will email me and I say, Would you like a chat? And thats it really you know, it's not more complicated than that. And I just say, look, I can help you with this. I've got the answers. I've got the solutions. Some people buy, some people don't but I keep it as simple as that. Now about three years ago, I paid for a guy to create a sales funnel because I didn't under band. And I had v things going off the click funnel and things going off here and going off there. And it was triggering this triggering that, and I hated it because I didn't understand actually what was happening. It was like, operating in front of me. So I systematically dismantled it, to sort of find out why this PDF was going here and why these follow up emails were going there. And I thought to myself, ultimately, somebody just wants to have their mind put at rest, but you're fair. And so that's why I got rid of everything. And I always say to people, look, I'm happy to have a chat with you. Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 9:35 And I think that's, that's a great example of of a situation where someone to come in as a consultant, they felt they they had to demonstrate that, you know, they had the knowledge and expertise to help you and they clearly massively overcomplicated the process. And I think it's a great example of where, where, you know, you have a situation where, frankly, the sales funnel was was not really thought through I mean, your sales funnel is, is pretty straightforward, and particularly The moment because, you know, even though the number of people podcasting is growing, you know, incredibly fast. It's still a relatively niche industry. There's not a huge number of consultants, certainly with any credibility offering podcast training like you do, for example. David Ralph 10:14 Now let's take it to Napier. Because Napier obviously does on a much older scale than this. Now, how do you actually create the panel into your business? Because I was looking at your website this morning. And I was actually thinking, Okay, this is an awareness strategy that you've got, but where was the actual funnel built into your website itself? I couldn't really see it. Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 10:39 So the answer is is and I think this this relates very much to what you said, People don't buy PR agencies have a website. It's completely the wrong thing to imagine that you can automate the selling of our services, which you know, can be a significant amount of money just through website, but the sales funnel doesn't exist purely online for us. And I think it's very much the same for you, you talk about having a chat with people. You know, the reality is, is when we're working with a, you know, a large business trying to convince them to, you know, come and work with us. It's not just one chat, it can be several meetings over a period of time. I mean, quite often, you know, we start talking to someone we'd like to work with, and we think we can really help. And it could be a year or two before they actually start doing any business with us. So I think the answer is, again, it comes down to understanding how people buy and what they want. And the reality is is is where we work in marketing. They're buying advice and expertise. And again, very much like you I mean, I think, you know, you say we're different. I think we were very similar. And people are buying expertise. If they're buying expertise, they want to talk to the people who are going to give them that expertise. It's as simple as that. David Ralph 11:52 Right. So so what we I think most people out there, understand the awareness and you've got to get people to know about you now I'm actually at the moment having a 100% social media detox. I've never really been onto social media a lot. But I've been very aware due to sort of personal issues I've gone through, but my happiness levels wasn't at the right level. And I realised a lot of that was comparing my business remember people's businesses and seeing people show highlights and all that kind of stuff. So, so with my awareness, it's very much I podcast, and it comes through to me with your awareness. How do you do that? How is your marketing strategy getting people through other than appearing on people's podcasts? Of course. Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 12:38 Well, this is this is a new thing, the podcast, so I'm really hoping it's going to work. I mean, like everybody in marketing, you know, the real truth is, is that you need to experiment to find out what works. And so we try lots of different things. And the primary way we actually get to work with people is we go meet them, talk to them. Sometimes the Welcome if we can't reach them, because obviously we're working with clients around the world, and then try and keep that conversation going, quite often until they feel there's a need to come and work with us. So quite often, they might be working with a competitor. And to be honest, you know, if that competitor keeps doing a good job, they're not going to switch. So we kind of needs to be the first choice if the competitor makes a mistake, but it is about going out and meeting people. And we do do some other things. We've got quite a lot of content, you know, being a marketing company, I can talk about content marketing. And actually, that drives a lot of our, our new opportunity. So, you know, to take another example, a lot of people in America who are quite hard for us to reach because they're geographically a long way away. They'll go and Google things like, you know, how do I do PR in Europe? And so we've created the answers for that and it's literally answering their questions. If we can answer the question, you know, really early on at that stage. It's quite likely there. Going to come to us and ask us all the questions. And if we keep giving them good answers, then they're going to keep talking to us and eventually become clients. So I think the answer is the answer is that there's lots of different things we do. And you know, the world is changing all the time. So actually, what we're doing is continually experimenting. You know, one interesting thing I can tell you is that Google AdWords absolutely don't work for us. It doesn't matter how much we spend on Google AdWords, we get zero inquiries and get a lot of clicks to the website. I get no business from it. And I don't know why. And we run AdWords campaigns for other clients and they work fabulously well. But for some reason, our business it doesn't work. And I think it's because of this real need to establish a personal connection fairly early on. And AdWords is a little too impersonal. I don't know. I mean, I'd be interested to hear your views. David Ralph 14:50 Well, I am very much against the majority of marketing really, because it doesn't as I say, it doesn't solve the question. People have got a question. Now, one of the things that I use a lot I don't know if you've heard of this Mike is a web site, a site called answer the public.com. and answer the public comm is a free resource to a point you can do about pipe searches. But you put in, say PR marketing, and it will bring all the questions that people are asking online, okay. And so you can really tap in to longtail keywords very accurate, which can then lead people through. Now, I always say to people that I'm working with, let's focus in on the problems. Let's focus in on the solutions. And let's do it when somebody is looking for us. Now I find with Google AdWords, you know, I'm a podcast, trainer. That's part of my being. I'm a business coach as well. Now, I used to say about page two or podcast cost, sorry, and two on page one for podcast. Cool. So if you google podcast course, I'd be pretty much at the top of Google Now there's so many ads appearing, I've dropped to the second page. But because of that, the page seems less relevant somehow. It's almost because we don't click on the ads. Any ads that come along, you've literally jumped down to about three or four down below, even if you google something. And your answer is number one, you rarely ever click on number one on Google is always like three or four. So I think with Google AdWords, I think we're just becoming blinkered, we're just seeing it as you know, perhaps not the right answer. And based on questions, questions, questions, is the way to actually solve that problem. People are searching you. Does that make sense? Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 16:40 I think it's absolutely true. And I actually go back to your comment about arms to the public. were slightly different because we tend to work with large companies and they, they actually probably wouldn't appear on that particular website, but they all have questions. I mean, everyone has questions about how to do the job better. And I think solving people's problems is the Way to win business. And if I look at how we do that, that might be by some of the information we put on the website for someone. And we talked about the sales funnels at the awareness stage and the interest stage, really early on what we call top of the funnel. You know, it's solving people's problems through information, but when we talk about the bottom of the funnel, so when people are actually deciding to buy, you know, I can tell you that pretty much I can predict whether we win a pitch or not. And these pitches though, you know, big presentation, several of us going we spent, you know, days and days trying to work through it. If we can tell the potential clients something they don't know, that helps them with their business. That is the biggest indicator of whether or not we're going to win the business. Yeah. And it's all about, you know, establishing credibility. Now. I get that's different when you're selling, you know, a pure product rather than selling a service. But, you know, I suspect a lot of your listeners are actually selling a service. They're working to help people and it's really all about showing you can help people before their customers is the way to get these, you know, the people you meet to become customers. David Ralph 18:08 Now, this is only like marketplaces. You know, I talked to so many people, one of my strap lines is Jesus didn't have a Facebook account. And everyone's so online, they forget that ultimately, it's about talking to people. And if we take it back to the shop analogy, you go into a shop and if somebody comes over to you straight away and goes, can I help you? When you go no more, I'm away. That's annoying. You don't want but but if a part of that conversation, it's right. It's perfect. And I think that is where a lot of the sales funnels fail as well by jump on you. As soon as you're on the website. They don't allow you breathing space to actually make a decision. You've got to be strategic where your actual doorway to your panel occurs. And I know you know, I haven't got mine, right. I still play around with it. I'm moving on. different pages I take things off. But there's a key to when you actually enter into somebody's thought process, isn't it? Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 19:08 Definitely. And I think it's really interesting. I mean, what you do to try and help people as you do the podcast, and a lot of people who are looking to build a business, whether they using podcasting or not going to listen to Join Up Dots, they're going to get a lot of information that's going to help them from both you and your guests. We have something that that's, you know, much, much simpler, much smaller in scale, but we do I mean, literally, a monthly email newsletter that talks about what's happening to journalists and publications in particular industries, is very focused, it's very niche. If you're not working the industry, it's the most boring thing in the world. But if you're doing marketing in that industry, it's absolutely vital. And you know, I've even had some of our competitors come to me say thank you for the newsletter is great. It really helps us like, we shouldn't really be sending it but it's great. You find it helpful, it's probably a good indication. So I think, I think it's providing that information so people can get a flavour of what it's like working with you is so important to, you know, encouraging people to then start thinking about actually becoming a customer or client. David Ralph 20:15 Now, isn't that interesting that you said that because you know, the fact that you shouldn't be getting that newsletter because you're a competitor. Because ultimately, I think, when we are too insular, and we hold back our business, and we don't prove our worth, even to our competition, ultimately, we hold ourselves back. I've got a guy at the moment in America, but I'm helping him and he's a business where he brings in about a million a year and he wants to take it to 5 million. And I said to him, the only way you're going to do that is actually become the king of your industry. And that is stepping out of side and becoming more and arranging conferences, but you have actually the founder and becoming the centre pointed to it. But he can't see that he still thinks that he's got to hold close to his chest or his secrets. And I say to him, you know, a chef only sells books because he shows you he can cook. So why are we holding back those secrets? And why are we not actually sharing them with our competitors? Because it shows the world but actually, we're bigger than them. We haven't got any issues we can grow because we are willing to give our secrets away. Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 21:29 I think you're absolutely right. And, you know, having having been a both a very geeky and also a bit of a hippie when it came to, you know, online back in the 80s and 90s. And, you know, I really believe in the comment that was made about, you know, in the early days, the Internet Information wants to be free. And I think what people have misunderstood is that comment was not about the price, but it was about information wants to be shared, and today with, you know, what's happening in the world. There. Very few real secrets in business. You know, I can give an example I was working in technical support for a semiconductor company. And we sold into pretty much every single Formula One team. And I put one of our chips, because it was really good for developing engine management systems if you didn't care how much they cost, and you just wanted the best performance you could possibly get. And so anyway, Ford entered, or Cosworth into the the, the Formula One market and they started building engines for Formula One. And a guy from Cosworth phoned me up and he said, Do I have to tell you what I'm calling about? And I said, No, I know exactly which product I'll send you all the information. It's all okay. It's a bit strange. And I've worked for the one supposed to be super secret, and we got this new company who's on the block who actually knows what everyone else is using. And then two years later, BMW came into Formula One, and I got almost exactly the same So, you know, it's really interesting that people imagine what they've got is some secret sauce. It's actually not really about secrets. It's about people who are prepared to put the work in and actually do. But the secret says, whether it's something you do or a product or you know anything else, it's about really, you know, executing what you're supposed to do, rather than just having this magical knowledge that no one else knows. Because, trust me a lot more people know what you think is secret than, than you'd ever imagined. David Ralph 23:28 Yeah, I agree with that. 100%. And if you take the sales funnel, we're going to get back into the sales funnel. One of the things I say to people is, generally, people are lazy. That's the first thing you've got to realise that people want to transformation. They want to go from A to B as easily as possible. Now, but in many ways is your secret sauce. Actual ingredient. That is actually what people want. They don't want all the technical stuff and they're bored Barber, all they want to do is go How can I go from here? So here in three weeks instead of trying to do it off of YouTube videos in three years, right, that's the key to it, isn't it? So on my business I at the throne, I always say, I can't even remember what it is. Now I've gone totally blank, but some of the longer we get you success without the stress, because I totally believe a lot of what we do is easy if we know what we're aiming for. We know where those people are, and we give them what they want. Simple as that. Would you agree? Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 24:30 I think you should be interviewing you about sales funnels, you clearly have an awful lot. And I'm going to be honest, I think one of the reasons people have stopped talking so much about sales funnels, and they start referring to it as a customer journey is, to me the funnel is a it's really the wrong way to think of things because it kind of envisages that you've got this, this person, this potential customer who kind of fall through all these levels and they're doing the falling and all you've got to do is provide the right things at the right time. will magically happen. And I think again, that's one of the mistakes people make with sales funnels, the reality is, is that actually the customers have steps they need to take before they're going to spend money with you. And you need to help them along the way. And I love the idea of a journey rather than a folder, but basically the same thing. But to me, it's all about helping and guiding the customer on the journey, rather than being a bit more passive sitting back and just waiting for them to fall through the funnel. David Ralph 25:26 Now, can you have too few steps? Okay. And can you I know you can have too many steps, but can you have too few? Sales Funnel Expert Mike Maynard 25:34 Absolutely. You know, so, the one thing to say is, although the structure of the funnel is very similar, and most pe

Stephen Warley is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a man who seems to have had three lives. One pre internet, and then two afterwards. When he was first booked on the show back in 2015, it was whilst he was high and flying with Unstuckable Then in 2016, he pivoted and went on a mission to help the world embrace the life of entrepreneurial ventures As he says “I’m on a mission to prepare people for the future of work. Work is fundamentally changing as we know it (and faster than most people think!) I’m sounding the alarm to warn people how to prepare for it. I’ve worked for myself for the past 17 years. I believe self-employment is the future of work. I believe it can be for everyone and not just a select few. You know what I’ve discovered is the most effective method for teaching people about business?   Teach them first about the Life Skills That Matter before teaching hard business skills.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

LOA Expert Andrew Kap holds one goal above all others through his various projects: Genuine and Sustainable Impact. He believes 100% in the law of attraction and keeps in front and centre of everything he does in his life. In fact he had to use its methods to reclaim his own life (in a very little time) after losing his business and his girlfriend all in the same week. The fast changes he experienced in his finances, his love life, and his health blew him away and made him understand why these simple methods weren’t working in the past. His latest offering, “The Last Law of Attraction Book You’ll Ever Need To Read” offers readers a never-before-seen understanding of the topic — that no other “LOA” book has ever been able to do — by going the extra mile of finally addressing WHY people who get excited about trying it still can’t manage to get in the habit of using these methods for just five minutes a day. The book has been featured in Forbes and USA Today, and has enjoyed continued success, including thousands of five-star rave reviews, #1 Best Seller status in multiple categories on Amazon, and a growing YouTube channel devoted to it. So why do so many of the millionaires and billionaires around the world 100% believe in this stuff, whilst the normal man in the street doesn't give it a single thought And what is the first step to bringing it all together and starting to see results that truly work Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Andrew Kap.

Nancy Giere is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. As she says "After a lifetime in the corporate training world, custom training consultant, I know how businesses operate and I'm not afraid to shake things up. My unique perspective combined with 25+ years of experience has empowered me with fresh insight and the industry’s best-kept secrets that I'm ready to share with you. On a lifelong campaign against boring training, I use the power of storytelling and light-hearted humor to create an engaging, fun, and interactive environment. Masterfully intertwining comedic humor with life lessons, my stories make learning stick! I have worked with some of the biggest names in corporate America like Johnson Controls, Harley Davidson, and Northwestern Mutual. Well as an ex-corporate trainer who would do everything he could to bring excitement and humour and hell fun into a training session this mission speaks to me. So why do so many people hide behind seriousness and professionalism, when actually the world loves to feel playful and engaged when learning? And when did this concept first come into her mind, or was it something that simply came naturally to her? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Nancy Giere.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Introducing The Finding Your Passion Podcast Finding your passion and purpose in life is something that for many people haunts us daily. Certainly through the podcast Join Up Dots we have more people either struggling with coming up with their dream business idea or the step before which is of course of finding their passion in life. So is there a quick fix to discovery what lights us up inside or do we simply just have to go through life struggling to find our personal truth? Well we think there is as you will hear on today's show. So let's start with an email that we received from  Finding Your Purpose In Life Question Hello David! Huge new fan of the show so first of all a thank you for creating such informative and entertaining content. I listen every day on my way to and from work. My own issue is that I am struggling to find my purpose in life. I am 34, have 2 degrees and a host of short (unrelated) courses under my belt. How do you find your purpose? If you have any tips/books or can point me to any specific podcasts I would be delighted. (I am trying to make my way through the back catalogue!) Many thanks and have a great weekend. Step One: Action Helps You To Start Finding Your Passion First of all, and this might seem strange coming from a podcaster but you really need to stop reading books and listening to podcasts. Sounds strange? Well to truly start finding your passion you need to stop researching and hoping that someone will give you the answers and start doing stuff. It doesn't have to be huge, or expensive, it just has to be real life. You see reading books and listening to podcasts all the time will keep you trapped in a world of analysis paralysis. You will go round and round in circles thinking that the next podcast or book will be the one that you are looking for in life.  Big mistake! Start trying things out, saying yes to things you might have otherwise refused and keep an eye on how they make you feel. Finding your passion has to be something that makes you feel good after all. Step Two:  Go Back In Time And Look For Answers It's a truth but when we are young we are full of passions and enthusiasms. You never have to think or Google "How do I start finding your passions" We just know what they are as we spend our time doing the things we love whenever we can. As soon as we get home from school and we've finished our homework we are on them. So what were they? Do you remember like it was yesterday, or has your passion been lost in the midst of time? Well, most people cant think so go back to your parents, siblings, uncles and aunties and ask them what you were like as a child. If you can go back to your childhood home, start snooping around in the attic or your old bedroom. The close to finding your passion are all around you if you only know where to look. Step Three: Start Listing Your Love, Likes And Hates In Life Get yourself a blank piece of paper and draw two lines down the centre so that you have three columns on it. Each of these columns should have a simple title of Love, Like or Hate on it. Then simply create a list of how things mate you feel, do you see themes in the things that you love? Are the majority of the list creative? Do they show that you would like to be outside more or free from bosses and hassles? This is probably the most powerful method of finding your passion that you can ever undertake. It takes time, but the path you are seeking will start to appear in front of you. Step Four - What Are The Things That You Do That Others Give You Praise For? Have you ever noticed the times that people say nice things about you, makes you want to do more of the same stuff? Its not rocket science but we love to be liked and praised in life by other as it feeds our ego. So what can you do that make people rave about you the most? Are you great at cooking amazing deserts and puddings that friends and family beg you to make time and time again? Do you have a creative eye that works well in gardens across the world? Dont ignore peoples kind words, as even though you might think "Oh i can just do that easily" you might just have found your passion. Step Five - Create A Life Purpose Statement What would life and the world be if you could make it perfect? If you could have every person living the life that they wanted, whilst doing the things that they loved? Would you have cars, or no commute? Would you have short working hours, or longer days? Start writing down how you would create your dream world, and then try to summarise that into a clear statement of intent. "Finding Your Passion Would Be Easy As I Would Help Others Live Their Greatest Lives With No Regrets" Can you find your purpose by thinking Big Picture imagery instead of looking within? It might just be the key to start things moving in the direction that you want in life.

Chris Randall is today’s guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast interview. He is a man who first appeared on the show in the first year of Join Up Dots, back in episode 256. During the show we discussed how he got his coaching business up and running, and the steps he took to find the niche that suited him best. He provides his life changing method “Flowcoaching” where he shows the world how to lead a highly successful and well rewarded life doing what matters most to them He believes as I do that it can also transform any business into a happy, creative and passionate place that inspirational people seek out. You enjoy yourself more, get more things done, and therefore have more free time for yourself. Yep cake and eat it time. But what is flowcoaching and why is it the thing that even if we don't get coached in it, we have all experienced it in our lives time and time again. How The Dots Joined Up For Chris Well its that amazing state that you can find yourself in when you literally lose hours at a time when performing a task. You get so engrossed in the activity that you look at the clock and think “God it feels that I just had breakfast and it’s lunchtime already!” Well, it might have been a while since you last felt that feeling whilst working in your current job or occupation. And that is where our guest comes in. In a nutshell, he is a business, leadership and talent coach who helps you to figure out what you do best and then work with you to do it better. So how do we get ourselves into this state if we spend the majority of our time thinking "ooh just got five minutes until the next thing i have to do!"? And what is the part of the business that took him by surprise as he built it to where it is today? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only "Mr Flowcoacher Chris Randall.

Join Up Dots LAUNCHES another new business through its platform. Yes, EVCHARGERS.PRO goes live today supplying electrical support to motorists throughout Essex in the UK. So join us as we show you behind the scenes of the latest enterprise through Join Up Dots business coaching.

Matt Phipps is todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business podcast. And this is one of those special shows for me and the show, as its a listener, who became an action taker and then got the dream. As he said when we invited him on the show " In 2018 I was in the RAF for 21 years and looking for my next move, as I was ready to change. I listened to the podcast on the way to work each day and so bumped into your travel website podcast where your Florida Keys adventures inspired me to set up something similar for Santiago, Chile, where my wife hails from. After about 6 months I realized that this wasn’t going to be more than a side hustle in terms of income and so I kept listening. That’s when I heard you interview Adam Hudson on the show, discovered the world of E-Commerce and Amazon. I pitched it to my wife and together we embarked on building a business around children’s gifts.

A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Work And Travel Dont Mix...Or Do They? R Michael Anderson Has Made A Success Doing The Work And Travel Thing. My guest today, on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview is with a man who has had a fascinating and arduous journey to where he is today. He is the founder of The Executive JOY Institute, and specializes in teaching organizations, leaders, and individuals how to become even more successful through psychology, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness. Which if you have listened to episodes of Join Up Dots you will have heard similiar guests speak of such work. Where today’s guest differs is by the age of thirty-five, he had founded three international software companies, played semi-professional basketball (yes, he’s really six-foot nine!), and partied at the Playboy Mansion which sounds pretty amazing life affirming stuff. But our guest didn’t agree and knew that he wasn’t happy. Hard drugs, alcohol, a divorce, and a nasty lawsuit brought him to a low point where he needed to ask himself the big questions in life. A quest for change included earning a master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology from the prestigious University of Santa Monica. And now he has taught leaders around the world, from Panama to the Philippines to Australia and Mexico, and has worked with a broad range of clients, including Microsoft and SAP So is he what he would consider to be happy now or still searching for something unattainable to him……simple contentment in life? And why does he think that we all set out on a path that appears to be wrong at the beginning even thouh the clues are all around us? Well let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr R Michael Anderson Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Michael Anderson such as: Why he now believes that coming to grips with our feelings is one of the quickest ways to achieve massive success in our lives……let the gut lead the way and its rarely wrong.. Why he had to make a decision to change his life for one of travel and freedom of location as he knew it would be the right one for him in the long term. We discuss why we fail so much through the education systems lack of inspiation and focus on failures…surely it should be strengths all the way? Michael shares the “Should or Fear” process of decision making in his life which he applies everyday. and lastly…. Why the Buddist prinicples of “It is” is such a powerful way to operating in a business. By accepting everything for what it is, we dont waste time trying to change things into what it should never be.

Luke Hyde is our guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a 20 year old entrepreneur who has a digital marketing agency whose clients are small businesses.  It wasn't an obvious route to where he was today, but it was one that wouldn't have occurred without taking action..perhaps imperfect action but he started. As he says "I was listening to podcasts while mopping floors in a church and decided to learn everything I could about digital marketing., and now today I am an agency owner.  The reason that he wanted to develop his online skills was when he realised that many small business are struggling right now. He goes on to say "If your business is struggling, you’re not alone. 2020 was hard for everyone, especially small businesses. My own business was affected last year, and it was during this year I realized a massive problem. How The Dots Joined Up For Luke The world is becoming more and more digital, so if small businesses want to survive and continue to get business, they need to shift their marketing efforts online. However, most of them don’t have the money, time, or knowledge on how to do so. So I have launched The Small Business Digital Roadmap is designed to give you exactly what you need to know to get started with online marketing, without having to waste time and effort scouring the Internet for the answers. All the information in this program is concise and user friendly, so even with no prior digital marketing experience, you can benefit. Finally, the strategies taught in this course have been tested and proven to work for small businesses, so you will be able to generate the same if not better results than hiring a marketing company. The best part: you only have to pay a one time fee and you get access to the program for life. So how did he speed through to where he is today, by finding out the right answers to marketing that he could then test out himself. And why as a young man did he have the desire to start his own business, and as many find out it might seem easy from the front, but the backend is very very difficult. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Luke Hyde.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

We all know how hard it is to get fit when we are living our busy lives. We think "Ok, ill get up earlier" and then we dont. We get a gym membership and then never go. So in todays Join Up Dots podcast we share a great tip to get you quickly up to 300 push-ups a day with minimum effort. Becoming super drop dead sexy in the process. If you are ready to live your best life then feeling your best is one of the keys to everything.

Law of Attraction Or Simply Massive Action...that is the question today. My guest today, on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview is a man who shows brilliantly that in life you are never too old to start building your dream. He is a airline pilot, sailor, adventurer, and an author and an avid listener of Join Up Dots. And that my friends is the golden ticket to getting on the show, to highlight your own story to the world. As he says "Following a life changing experience in my 20s, I discovered that our limiting inner beliefs often keep us tethered to mediocrity. Most people are unaware that our subconscious beliefs determine our outcomes in life, for better or for worse. When we begin to change our inner beliefs, we begin to change our outcomes. You can live the life of your dreams! It is easier than you imagine” I used the power of my subconscious mind to manifest a career as an airline pilot at age 49.  Since then, I have written three books and know I will become a successful author and ‘in demand’ speaker, using the techniques taught by Joseph Murphy, Napoleon Hill, Wayne Dyer, Tony Robbins, Louise Hay, Esther Hicks,  Jack Canfield, Richard Bach, and many others. So is this a man who is all woo woo and sits crossed legged and hums to himself for twelve hours a day? Not not of course, although the Law of Attraction for many has a bad reputation this is a man who made conscious decisions, changed his out look and got what he wanted in life by doing the right things everyday. And isn't that what we talk about on Join Up Dots? And so our guest went from miserable and broke, living paycheck to paycheck while working a variety of unfulfilling jobs to financially comfortable and happy. Living on a golf course in Southern California, with views to the Pacific Ocean, with his wife and two cats. So is this something that anyone can do, or does it need a team of mentors, support and years of training? And where do people go wrong, is it the personal belief, or trying something that others dont quite understand? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Robert Lawrence. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Robert Lawrence such as: How we have so many opportunities in life nowadays due to the internet that its untrue. Log on, look around and see what the world is doing - could you do the same? Why focus and visualization in our lives is so important - If we dont know where we are heading then how can we possibly arrive where we want? Robert shares how he has managed to create a life that is totally under his control. Time is so valuable if you can learn that you are the master of time. and lastly…. Why it is so important to get our of your own head, embrace looking stupid and shout out to the world "That ain't too bad really......what more can you throw at me". Once we embrace the feeling that life is what we make it, good feelings and bad then we are on our way.  

Hello to everyone who has either stumbled across us for the first time, or made this their daily port of call as they search for the magic ingredient in their lives Growing confidence and not just a little bit, but lots of it. Join Up Dots is now the number one confidence resource online today, and we can say that with all the confidence in the world 🙂 Did you see what we did there? Well you have to be confident don’t you, it’s what makes the world fun. It’s what makes your life fun, and fills you with more energy than you could possibly hope to have. It’s rocket power. It’s the worlds biggest springy shoes, bouncing you across the globe. And best of all……..every single one of you has more confidence in your little finger than the whole of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Oceans put together. I kid you not….you are literally over flowing with confidence, and you have been since the moment you were born. But of course you don’t believe us at all. You don’t think you have any of this god given rocket fuel, or you wouldn’t have been Googling for help on the subject. You think that everybody else can do stuff that fills you with fear and dread, leaving you pulling your neck in like the most scaredy pants Ninja Turtle. You think that they have super talents that you don’t….which quite frankly my sexy followers is a complete crock of ****!!” So let’s start with giving you an understanding of where confidence lives, and then we can start working with you, as you turn the tap and see the stuff gushing out all over the place.   Where Does Confidence Live? You might have guessed that we were going to say this, but confidence lives within you already. Confidence is nothing more than having the ability to tackle something head on without fearing the end result. I will say that again. It is about tackling something that you are not sure you can do head on, even if there is a chance that you won’t be successful. And you, me and everybody can do that. We can attempt things that we think we won’t be able to do, as long as we say “Oh well, that was a big screw up….let’s try it again.” Are you with me, my confidence seeking padawans? So let’s think of all the things that you have gone out and done, even though you won’t have got it right in the very beginning. You didn’t think as babies for example “There is no way I am going to be able to walk…..I know I need to Google “Confidence” and get help if I am ever going to get off this floor! Although if you did you would have been either supremely confident as a baby, or just very weird and scary. It’s going to be the Chucky Baby version I will plump for…..not good. When you were a baby you simply went for something and tried, fell over, tried, fell over, got wobbly and then stood, whilst everybody applauded you. Well done, you are a confidence master of the highest order…hurrah for you, and hurrah for all the babies in the world that are showing us adults what confidence truly means. Now move onto a young child and someone throws a ball in your direction. More often than not you would have threw your arms up, closed your eyes in case you got hit by the ball……and then got a whack right on the nose as the ball did exactly what you thought it would do. But wait….we have a cunning plan. what if the next time we keep our eyes open and watch the ball as it flies in the air. Perhaps, just perhaps, we might be able to catch it without suffering a nasal trauma?? We have found the confidence to minimise the risks and give it another go   How You Can Start Building Confidence In Your Life ]Confidence is all about building routines into your life and accepting that everything needs to start at the lowest level. You need to say “Right guys, I am here for a reason. I want to be more confident. I want to have the ability to step out of my comfort zone. I am willing to be my baby-self and fall over every once in awhile.” And if you are nodding in agreement and saying to yourself “Yeah, ok I can do that. I can have a few setbacks, as I know from every setback I have I will learn something to stop it happening again” then you have found the tiniest crumb of confidence leading you to the overflowing geyser of confidence waiting to explode across your living room. So good for you. Give yourself a pat on the back Or if you have very short arms, get someone else to pat you on the back (you can pretend that you are choking on something if it makes it easier to ask ?  ) Now if you are thinking to yourself…the last thing that i want is to look stupid. I am seeking answers to my confidence issues, so how the hell will this work?” Then sorry, you are not at the right point to start changing your life. You have a closed off mindset which is locking the doors to finding any confidence in yourself. GET OVER YOURSELF AND TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR SITUATION Sorry to shout, but you have to be told. Confidence leads from action taking. And every-bit of action that you make comes from you deciding to make a decision to do something. The more things you do the more times you will accept and learn from your failures, until those failures become less and less and you are confident with what you are doing. So which of you feel that you aren’t confident anymore?? Come on put your hands up so I can see you?? Nobody?? Ok. good I am confident that I can go and do something else now, and you will all be ok!!

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Performative Speaking expert Robbie Crabtree is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired podcast. Over the last 8 years, our guest has worked as a prosecutor, defence lawyer, and civil rights lawyer. He also taught Persuasive Speaking at Southern Methodist University Law School and coached SMU’s National Mock Trial team. He started his career handling 102 jury trials... including murder and child abuse cases. During his time as a trial lawyer, he began getting messages from founders and entrepreneurs looking for help with storytelling, persuasion, and public speaking. Which was the first dot that lead him to start working to where he is today. Then came the second dot and one case in particular that would change his life and his career forever. In what should have been an open-and-shut case, he used his logic and reason to appeal to “just the facts,” but he lost that case. He lost because he focused in on the facts...the cold hard facts. Whilst the opposing lawyer created images, and told stories to build up a feeling of support for the accused.

Hi David, i cant imagine how many emails you get from listeners so would be amazed if you get to see this one. But actually i guess it doesn't matter if you see it or not, in a way my writing it is a moment that could change my situation. I am struggling at the moment. I'm not sure how long I have been struggling as my life has always been ups and downs. But it certainly feels that the downs last longer, whilst the Ups are few. I dont know what I am doing with my life. Since i finished university the plans that I thought were mine in the making haven't come true. I have tried to make them happen to the best of my ability, but often looking back if an opportunity did come along I was in one of the dips and didnt make the most of it. Now i am temping in an office job that has nothing to do with me. Its a job. I earn money by doing meaningless tasks. Then come home to my little apartment to kill the hours before I go to bed and then start again. My friends are becoming less and less, which isnt a surprise as most of them think i will say no if they ask me to do anything. Which basically is true. I dont have the energy to be happy. There I think I said it...i dont think I have the energy to be happy, its too tiring and at the least seems fake to me. I see people walking around in couples, laughing and drinking in bars and it all seems so natural and effortless.  You my man have your shit together. I can tell that. The way you talk and deliver the content to us is always on point and focused. You are in the game, and I wish i could be more like you. In fact I wish i could be more like anyone except me as I dont have a fucking clue how to be me anymore. I am lost, floating out to sea and not sure of anything. Im the king of double guessing so dont actually do anything at all. Im not sure what I am expecting to get from this email, and I hoped that it would make me feel better in a cathartic way. I guess I have failed as I just seem more like a depressed loser. Stay the course David as we need you in the world. You dont know how your positivity makes a difference to people like me.

Faith and action is demonstrated big time in today's episode of Join Up Dots. We share a story that is the catalyst for everything that we do in Join Up Dots. One man shares how he has found the happiness in his life not by going after the money, but instead the meaning. He realised that there was no point trying to earn a great living for himself and his family if he was dead in side. David Ralph also shares his new business ventures which are spurning forth due to the understanding that online ventures work by sticking to simplicity. Also on the cards is sharing why a re-branding of a listeners business has been such an important part of the business puzzle Lets get on with the show Full Transcription Of The Faith And Action Podcast Episode Intro 0:00 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:25 Yes, hello there. Good morning to you. Good morning, one and all. And welcome to Join Up Dots. I hope you are well. I hope everybody is reaching out for the dream reaching out for those obstacles and smashing then to pieces. Because honestly, you move through the obstacles and I know obstacles are hard. That's what they are called obstacles. Well, I don't know why they called obstacles. But they they're bloody great big things that are hard to move. Sometimes they are physical. Sometimes they're mental. Sometimes they're a combination of both. But you How do you get mounted and Ben, it's sort of easier and the more obstacles you get past the the easier life becomes. And honestly, I mean, if you've listened to Join Up Dots over the last seven years or so, you know, I've been very transparent about hard times the difficult times that I've been proven. I actually went in to speak to my wife, my wife had a terrible hangover this morning. It's her own fault drinking on a school night, and I was in the shower. And I actually thought to myself, David you are looking healthy, you're looking pretty damn fine at the moment because it was a phase I went through but I spoken about where I had acute burnout. And I had big bags under my eyes, brass rings under my eyes, and I just looked kind of just drawn and grey. And it just dawned on me this morning that that the bags have kind of disappeared and that the hair is back and I'm just feeling damn good. And that is because because I have moved through the obstacles that difficulties and now I've got a life that for many people is a dream. And I suppose it's a dream for me. But you know what it's like when you when you live your life, you kind of don't think it's a dream because it's just your life. But I know, I know, looking at it from other people's points of view, but it's a dream. Now I just wanted to start off with saying a couple of words. I want to say hello again to Jackie Baker. Now, if you remember last week, I did a show about the south coast dinner society, a lovely lady who has launched her own business and I kind of dissected a few things and told her that she needed to focus in on site speed because everything's on mobile now. And she also has to focus in on making it look good and look a bit sexy, but people are landing on mobile and I spent about an hour an hour and 10 minutes or so with last night. We connected On the zoom, and I gave her some pointers. And we're going to change the name, we're going to change the name of our business, we're going to get it more focused on the branding, because once you get branding, right, once people understand instantly what you do, then all your content and all your videos and your podcasts or wherever you do kind of makes sense. You hang it on that thing. And as I always say to people, my business is online business made easy, because I totally believe that people out there doing things the wrong way, they're making it far too difficult for themselves, spending too much time twisting around on Facebook and Instagram, where you should be thinking about the audience that's already looking for, you know, their little mobile phones, they're sitting on their little tablets and keyboards, and they're typing and they're looking for your business. So instead of trying to go for people that don't really care, look for the people that are already typing away and when you will win. So Jackie Baker, thank you So much for spending time with me last night. And God she likes to talk I had to cut off numerous times, because I thought I'd be here for about four days, but she was a delight. And hopefully we will connect again. So yeah, go over to the south coast in a society and have a look at the work she's doing. Because she is a lady where the passion is following through to make things great for her. Now, actually, when I did that podcast, what was it a week ago, I realised that I'm actually a full time owner of a car spares business, so her car spares and auto parts business, and I've been a part member for about 20 years. And over the last sort of six months or so I took over it full time, because my family are too old. My mom's had a stroke and so I sort of I played around with it. And to be honest, my heart wasn't in it. I like doing Join Up Dots. I like doing this this. This is fun. You know I don't want to work in a shop. Anyway. I'm doing the I'm locked down. I had to close the shop down for eight weeks. And I started thinking about it in different way. And I thought to myself, there's an opportunity here, we've got parts, we've got service, we've got history, I need to put a bit of effort in, but I kind of didn't and, and when you're doing well, in certain regards, you'd kind of think to yourself, well, do I need to do more? Do it. But anyhow, I decided but I would challenge myself. After speaking to Jackie doing that podcast episode and saying that you've got to focus in on mobile, you got to focus in on local search and making things fast. So I started working on it and I have trebled the profits in about a month and a half. When all the other businesses around our area are struggling we are for a while. And it's all about once again, thinking about who's actually looking for me already, and how can I positioned myself in front of him. So we have now got a thriving business again, which is brilliant and it It's given me income to start a caravan rental Park. Well, you know, you've got caravans and Arby's, but you you don't know where to store over the winter or throughout the year? Well, I'm going to open one of those. So I've got a bit of land and I'm going to get that tarmacked over or at least, levelled out in a regard. And then we have maybe 100 caravans stored up on a yearly basis. And once you start to get the flow going, it's quite easy to do these things. Because once again, it's the same thing. You find a value point you look for where people are looking for you, and then you put your product in front of them. And things just become really, really easy. Once you understand online business. Now I speak to loads of people, and I say to them, that it's not about the business you want to do. Just learn about how to do online business, then you've got opportunities, and some people go Yeah, okay, that's fine that I will do it. Other people got no, I really want To do the dream business, I really want to do the thing. And I understand their point of view. But I also think to myself, just learn how it works. And then the opportunities that everywhere, okay? Don't just learn one thing, just learn how to get traffic onto a website to connect via e commerce products or your online or driving it to an offline business. And then you will be rocking and rolling. I promise you, right just before I do a story today Yes, it's gonna be a little story. I just want to say thank you to a couple of people who have dropped lines in I've got Valley Scentsy, from India, and this is from iTunes. And as I say, over the last few weeks, I'm trying to say thank you to people for doing this, because it's really beneficial to a podcast, it really makes a difference. And, and if you're spending a bit of effort, I should say thank you. So many cities from India amazing podcast hosts who brings out the essence what I love about David is his ability to bring out the essence from each person who on the podcast, joining up the dots is an art. It requires a sense of awareness and depth to be able to make this happen. So thank you very much for that. And it's from India and Kate five to 74390 this is I almost feel like I should know this person, but if I do, I can't can't place it. But the reviews is truly inspirational and motivational. David has incredible energy and a great sense of humour. He sees guests very full for questions and ask us all the sticky sort of awkward cheeky questions. But the listener is also thinking but does so in such a light hearted manner, but he never sounds offensive. I look forward to listening to David's podcast every day is a quality guy and offers real honest advice. I wish him all the happiness in the world. Thank you, Kate. And he's inspired so many people to have confidence and follow their dreams highly recommended. So thank you so much for that. Really, you know that. That's what it's all about. That's what Join Up Dots is all about. And it leads me on to a story now. Now, about six years ago, when Join Up Dots was a fledgling podcast, a guy from Alabama, United States connected with me. And I was sitting at my desk, I remember it, you know, really clearly, and a message came in. And it was from this guy who said, David, I've been listening to your podcast, I'd really like to do something I thought totally lost. And I sent a message back and I said, like, if you want to speak, you know, I connect with you. And we did. And it was on Skype, I think it was we connected. And he had a terrible sort of internet connection. So I couldn't see him. So we just did it like old school telephone. And he was sitting in his van, and he was going off to a job that he didn't want to do. And he said, I'm so lost. I'm so unhappy. I don't know. You know, where life's taking me. I seem to be following the money, but the money is not making me happy. And we had a chat and we we chatted a couple of times, maybe two or three times actually. And it turns out that he was sad. insurance for a company and he wasn't a salesman. He loved being out in the sunshine, working with his hands before that he'd worked for a medical company where he was sort of mending the beds and the equipment I seem to remember. So he was very hands driven. And then he decided he would get this job, just because it was paying the big bucks, commission wise, but he wasn't happy. So I spoke to him and I said, Look, Josh Park was his name, I said, Look, you've really got to do something with your hands. It's obvious to me just speaking to you here. You've got to get out. You've got to get out and about, you've got to build a freedom. You're not an office person. you're somebody who needs to get out you need to build out you're constructing something. And so he came up with this idea of, well, we kind of come up with it together. But he was the big push of actually creating a automobile, a car washing service, where he created a kind of filtering in the back of a band so the water would go around and then back And it would clean all the time. And he'd go to people's offices and say to the directors, I will wash all the cars out there every Tuesday if I can have a contract and he started doing best bit work, and it started going quite well, and it was called his name was just park and it was something like parking clean services. You see, it's quite good. you park your car, and he cleans it, you know. And he broke free. But he was finding that he was doing too many hours. It was all down to him all the time. And so he decided that he was going to move to Florida, leave Alabama and go to Florida. And get went down there and carried on his cleaning business. But then he franchised out the one that he left in Alabama to somebody else. So he was making a bit of profit, but he wasn't doing the work. And that was his idea he was going to do this. And anyhow, long story short, I received a message on messenger the other day, and I just want to read it out verbatim because it shows you how You can Join Up Dots and you can find the things that you like, even if it wasn't obvious at the beginning. So you got to remember, Joshua's totally lost. He was obviously wanting to work with his hands. He worked for a medical company, when he started chasing the money for insurance. He was very, very unhappy. Now, this is a message that came through and this isn't, you know, to big me up at all. This is just a nice story that I thought would be good on the show. Just say done, and this was totally out of the blue. I hadn't heard from him for about three or four years. Baby, do you want my heart tonight? I hope life is treating you well. I just wanted to thank you. I'm not a millionaire, and I don't own my own business anymore. But you helped me find what brings me joy. And because of you, I grew the CO owners and started my own business. I appreciate you for having confidence in me when I didn't have confidence in myself. You literally changed my trajectory on life. Life is good. Now. I appreciate you, David. How are you for some reason, I miss you. Even though we haven't met in person. You're still at the A friend. And so I went back to him. I said, Oh, buddy, it's really great to hear from your pal. Funnily enough, I was thinking about you just last night. And I was, I was sort of going through all the people that have come through Join Up Dots. And some of them still connect with me. And some of them were a big part of it, but moved on. And then I don't hear from him anymore. And I said to him, I was musing all the people that have come through the shows, since starting j u DS, as I call it, and how many of them didn't do anything with the help? They had that passion for a little bit, but then they just stopped. And then I thought of you and I actually meant to drop you a line and I thought maybe it's too far back in years now and he won't remember me. So how are you doing? How is Florida? We're hearing stories in the press about the virus surging again. I really hope you and your family are safe and happy. And he came back to me and this this is the real joining up the dots moment. And he came back and he said, David, life is good. Every day. I wake up is a good day. Right? Florida was fun, but after Hurricane Michael Michel, most of us were laid off. So we moved back home to Alabama. And I started working with a friend, repairing and installing hot tubs. Now you gotta remember he was somebody but, you know, had the motivation. He could do things with his hands, he'd already created a kind of water based business washing cars. So this is kind of the next step. He says, the business started booming, and we are in the season of plenty. And I can imagine my wife's always banging on about bloody hot tubs and I say to her, yeah, if you're in Florida, you'd probably use it. You wouldn't use it here, where you get three minutes of good weather a year and the thought of walking up the garden in a swim so it's never going to happen. Anyhow, she moans about it all the time. Now, our family is on the back end of the adoption process, he says and we hope to add another one to the family life is good David and I can't thank you enough for your heart. I've learned that people come and go and the seasons and reasons you held my hand through a difficult time of searching. I appreciate you when we connected I didn't know what I wanted to apply but why had Wasn't it you guided me into a different thinking about how I'm to provide for my families no money. If I'm dead inside my family has money but I work for that money is worthless. money or being rich was never my goal. It was the something more that I was after. I found that with your help and the help from others, the only way to benefit from others is learning action. And by again, I appreciate you, David, you're a friend of mine, but I'm grateful for Well, I'm grateful for him. Because he has found he's been and he's learned that he liked being in business, but he didn't like running a business himself. So he's found a friend. They're supporting each other. He's doing something that is outside, he's doing something that is manual that he enjoys. He's very, very good at it. business started booming and I can imagine hot tubs are really popular at the moment. And he joined up his dots he joined up his dots from working with his hands for a medical company to actually controlling his own Time and he's own business. And every one of you can do that, you know, I've had this car repair shop for years and years and years, never we sort of did much with it. I kind of par for our that somebody else's problem. But when I totally looked at it and thought, right, okay, let's really turn this room. I already had the skills, it was easy. I just looked at him for one, okay, we get these people to come, we get these people to come, we get it all to appear on their mobile phones, our target, mobile six and seven and Apple five, iPod five or whatever they're called, I don't know, iPhone five, iPhone six and seven. Make sure that it's all mobile responsive on their screens, give it a good online store to come through. And it was easy for me, but I couldn't have done it without the six or seven years of other stuff that didn't seem connected. And so if you're out there and you're doing stuff and you know this isn't a business. It is you're in the learning stage at the moment. Gold large Karma, whatever is giving you the skills. So when you make that decision that you really want to go for it, you'll be able to look around and go, I can do this, I can do this really well, then how do I give it to somebody who can't. Now, that's a bit of a journey you got to go on. But it's still very, very powerful to know about the journey that you're on at the moment when you're going to your crappy job or you're on the commute with a mask on, you're thinking, Oh, I don't really like this. It's actually teaching you what you need to get your dream life. You couldn't get it. Otherwise, it's really, really important to do that. So for everybody out there, hopefully you're taking inspiration from Joshua story, and also Jackie Baker from the south coast dinner society that's going to be rebranded soon. And from Kate on iTunes, and the gentleman from India, thank you so much for leaving ratings and reviews. But believe me, every single one of you, it's waiting for you. Just go Do it you just got to do it if you're willing to sit back and wait for somebody else to land it in your, in your lap, never going to happen. If you're waiting to actually make a plan, strategize and go for it, then it's waiting. You're looking after yourself. Have a great weekend. Whatever you're doing, take faith and action and I will be here waiting for you next week. If you've got any positive stories of life changing situations, drop us a line and we'll share them with the world to give them inspiration but I'm gonna be waiting for you because that's what I do. Until next time, see again, Cheers. Bye. Outro 18:34 See ya. Heard the conversation. Now it's time for you to start taking massive action. Create your life. Busy only live. We'll be back again real soon. Join Up Dots Join Up Dots. Join Up Dots. JOHN. The guy Joy, joy Unknown Speaker 19:04 odds

Live Life Before Work Isn't it a funny situation and I suppose a bit mad when we always knock back the fun things in life, to do the boring routine stuff. How many times have you said to your family "No we can't do that today as I have chores today" We all seem to prioritize work and responsibilities over the real life experiences that light up our lives and make us happy. So in todays podcast episode we talk about flipping things on their heads and instead of putting work today choose life instead.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Over the last ten years of Join Up Dots, we have answered many thousands of questions either via the podcast or directly by email response. We love to do this, as without a doubt the connection with the audience is the key to everything we do. So this week we received several questions highlighted below that our host David Ralph answers in his own style. So lets start with the first question that talks about the connection with burnout and an anti-hustle stance. As the listener asked isn't a contradiction when you leap from talking about dealing with burnout and then working harder than anyone else.  Listener Question One Dear David, i have been listening to your show for the last couple of years and have heard you talk often about burnout and overwhelm. I have also heard you talk a lot about not hustling and taking things easy. Isn't this a contradiction? Isn't success simply about working harder than anyone else until you dont have to? I would love to know your answer to this question. AR, South Africa Listener Question Two Hi David, what is the hardest part in your view to getting an online business going? JM, Iowa Listener Question Three Hi David and the team, when you are not running the show and doing your coaching what do you also do? I have a successful business myself and i find its all i have in my life. When im not doing it, im thinking about it and getting twitchy. Any suggestions to a different life CC, Sussex.

Do you have trouble seeing the way to creating a new life? A life that you are truly interested in that makes you wake up everything more with excitement instead of dread. Well in todays episode of Join Up Dots we look at how to change your reality to one that is full of opportunities and excitement and it starts with you. So get ready for a new you as its time to make that change.

In todays episode of Join Up Dots we focus on a question posed to us by a listener of the show. Good afternoon David and sexy team , Would you ever advise your children to start up a business ? My eldest daughter is unsure what to do with her working life / career obviously listening to your podcasts about online business etc would it be advisable to push my daughter and any other young /adult children to start up on there own ?

Neen James is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. She first joined us back on episode 258 of the show, and talked openly about her journey from corporate Australia to the United States and then entrepreneurial success. With a strong background in learning and development and managing large teams at various corporations, she was and is the perfect fit for organizations wanting to learn implementable strategies to save time, increase focus and help their people get more done. Not the kind of stuff that you might have seen time and time again, when the work management takes as long as doing the job in the first place. But practical stuff that can make a huge difference. How The Dots Joined Up For Neen Neen James is the author of eight business books including “Folding Time, Secrets of Super-Productivity, Strategic Networking and Network or Perish” to name just a few. And now it seems that she is bringing everything together and really tackling the crux of productivity issues - lack of focus. She challenge audiences and clients to prioritize focusing on what matters most in their work and lives. Which is the perfect place to start today's show….. So with more and more interruptions, beeps, notifications and other distractions entering our lives everyday is there a way to break the circle and focus on what matters most? And of course when she is talking to someone and sneaks a quick glance at her phone, does she “aahh you are as bad as the rest of us!!” Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Neen James.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Mitch Russo is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast Mitch started a software company in his garage, sold it for 8 figures and then went on to work directly with Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes to build a $25M+ business together. Nominated twice for Inc Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year, Mitch helps companies scale rapidly! Mitch’s 1st book is “The Invisible Organization and his 2nd called Power Tribes – How Certification Can Explode Your Business has helped thousands of companies scale rapidly. As he says "In 1985, I entered the software business as the founder of Timeslips Corp (sold to Sage Plc) after creating the largest network of Certified Consultants in the software industry. 

How do you build unstoppable momentum in your life? How do you get going on lifechanging habits when at the beginning they are so hard to start? Well the simple concept is showed on todays show and along with mindset lessons will show you the steps you need to build success.  

Tra Williams is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. As he says "I’m a former corporate executive and author with a passion for entrepreneurship, business strategy, and franchising.   I’ve been quoted or published in Forbes, Bloomberg, and Financial Markets Weekly along with more than fifty other online and print publications.  Now with most people that appear on the show they have to find a reason to ignites their passion and our guest has done that. He can see from the News and general world activity that things are moving away from the corporate world that we have lived with for generations. How The Dots Joined Up For Tra He goes onto say "The widening gap between entrepreneurship and employment in America is the largest in history. Each year, fewer and fewer people start their own business. Right now, 93% of Americans work for the other 7%. The US is one of the most entrepreneurial countries, yet self-employment in America ranks among the lowest in the world. Now i dont have the stats for the rest of the world, but certainly from the UK i would suggest it is similar So do people actually have the personal skills and strength to make a go of their own business, or has the world gone soft? And where should they start first, blindly ploughing into it all, or simply accepting that focused action with a plan is the key Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Tra Williams Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Tra Williams such as: Why so many people confuse the concept of being busy and being productive, which can often hold people back from personal achievement. Tra shares the phrase "you wont remember the times of mowing the lawn or working in an office, so start climbing that mountain". Powerful stuff. Tra tells us the fur most powerful pillars of entrepreneurship, they seem simple but can change lives.  And lastly….. Belief is reverse engineered....take tiny steps and see yourself change BEFORE your customers get to see you in the way you want them to see.

You Never Fail Unless You Give Up Let's get this straight....life is hard. Life can beat you so badly that you sometimes you want to roll up into a ball, close the curtains and keep the world outside. That is one of the problems that entrepreneurs experience everyday when they are trying to build their dream businesses. It is especially difficult for business coaches who are actually building their businesses, by helping others build theirs due to the multiple variables that can trip us up. They may get knockbacks due to lack of effort, They may get stumbles due to not following the processes. So what can you do when things dont go your way in life? How can we keep on moving on when things get tough? Well in todays episode of Join Up Dots we focus in on just that, by sharing what has been going on behind the scenes on Join Up Dots. You see this week, a client of Join Up Dots came to a crossroads in their business building and had to stop. You see the landscape has changed which made the business doubly difficult to continue. So as you will hear in the show and the transcript below, there is a time to reflect and a time to accept that you can do better. 

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode.   

Sanjay Hegde is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots. He is Founder and President of Blue Ring Investors LLC, a company formed to pool investors’ funds to purchase high-performing multifamily, senior and student housing properties in U.S. emerging markets. He finds the properties. He vets the deals and manages the assets. His clients make the investment and sit back and collect the income and appreciation that comes from investing in investment-grade commercial real estate.  Now this story started in quite a different place, and certainly with more than a few obstacles to overcome on the way to where he is today. Sanjay has an inspiring story, or his journey from India to North America to work as a trained pharmacist. But being unable to continue that career in the US, he had to find a way to make things happen for himself.  

Do you ever think that you dont have options in your life? Do you think that you are stuck and can only accept what is happening instead of breaking it down? Well in todays show we tackle an email that we recieved I live in a "what the f*** do I have to lose" vibe, but everytime i say to my work colleagues "I am so close to walking out of here" they smile as they know I wont. From reading things online about famous people and the struggles that they went through to get to where they are today, so many of them were living rough, in vans or with no food to eat. I'm in a much better position than them, but I know i will never result too much. What  am i doing wrong my podcasting guru. I would love to buy you a beer one today but at the moment you will have to pay :) JJ

Do you have moments in your life when you just feel a little bit blah? You cant be bothered to do anything. You would rather just sit under a duvet on your sofa and watch Netflix. Well you arent alone, and in this episode we let you into a few secrets that go behind the scenes of Join Up Dots.

Introducing Robert Brus Robert Brus is today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast and is a guest that i really wanted to come on the show. Quietly in the background I have been watching his business start from the very beginning. His business is called Go All In and as you will hear in today's show he is someone who is living this mantra big-time. As he says "I’ve been lucky in my life to experience many different professions. It all started in the Australian Defence Force when I was just 17-years old. I joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Combat Systems Operator and was responsible for the operation of the warships radars, sonar and electronic warfare sensors. It was a great job where I travelled the world with my mates and loved every second of it. But I longed for more and soon after my time was up I found myself in the Australian Army progressing through my basic infantry training and onto my Battalion 3RAR and the Parachute School. Beyond the ADF I have experienced many different jobs and ultimately I have found my feet outside the military as a digital marketer and entrepreneur. Life for me is super busy with 3 beautiful children (2 teenage boys and an 11 year old girl) a woman I love dearly and several businesses but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I created the “GO ALL IN” podcast to share the stories of all the amazing people I know and hopefully in the process add some value back to the world with these lessons learnt and the heartache and triumph that they have created. With all businesses that look like instant success, what has been the true story behind GO ALL IN? And where does he see people go wrong when they start, GOING ALL IN for the business, but GOING ALL OUT for their own health and mindset? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Robert Brus. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Robert Brus such as: Roberts shares how his wife really pushed him into signing the London Real course and why his ego got in the way of developing his future. We discuss how so many online entrepreneur struggle with imposter syndrome and keep themselves hidden. Robert shares Grant Cordone's belief that obsession leads to success. But honestly how many people truly get that feeling. and lastly...... Robert asks the big question "where does money come from" which more often than not people cannot answer.

Matt Edmundson is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. Matt started his business journey in 2006 when he launched an ecommerce brand with the desire to make sales of £10.000 in 4 months. He did a bit better than this and his store reached £10.000 sales within one week, and by the end of the year, their sales were £400K. Since then, they have achieved global sales of $75million, that’s over 7 million products shipped. Matt is now the CEO of the Jersey Company, a group of health, wellness and beauty companies that deliver products and services to over 120,000 loyal customers. How The Dots Joined Up For Matt As he says " I am an eCommerce entrepreneur and coach, a digital business guy who has had more failures than successes; it is just that my successes far out-weigh my failures. More importantly, I have a great team that makes magic happen.  I've got a bit of a loudmouth (in a good way!), and I'm always bouncing new ideas around. I am someone who likes to challenge the 'norm' (I call this idea undefault). If I could afford it I would buy Liverpool Football Club for no sensible reason: I'm just a fan. My kids would prefer me to buy an Aston Martin, and my wife would prefer me to spend the money on the house (or donate it). Being a family man I exercise the skills of negotiation and compromise: I buy gadgets. He is here to to share his journey and experience as a real-world eCommerce entrepreneur, and reveal how he turned the chaotic first month of his business into a successful brand. So how do you battle against companies like Amazon, who are getting bigger and bigger when starting our with a e-commerce business? And when the failures hit, what made him come back for more and give it another go instead of dropping into business despair? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Matt Edmundson

How do you turn a business that has been running for many years into one online? Well that is just one of the questions that we have been asked over the last few weeks on the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast. You see most things can be converted into an online income stream even if you think its not possible. It just needs your brain to get into gear and become creative.

Every single day someone tells us how to change a morning ritual to be successful, productive, calm and happy. Fast search on the internet gives the thousands of articles designed for the entrepreneurs, parents, writers or even bodybuilders. Yet, do you really know why formation of the morning routine is the best place to start improving your life? Let me explain it more thoroughly than 99% of the available articles do. (BTW, how often does someone offer you an invitation to the club of 1% of the most insightful people in the world? Read the rest of this article and amaze your friends with your wisdom 😉 The three main reasons why morning ritual is the best place to start changing your life are: · The significance and importance of starting the day right · The nature of the willpower’s circadian rhythm · Human’s natural predispositions to ritualize the morning activities

Jaryd Krause is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired podcast. He is the owner of the online business - Buying Online Businesses.com Like most people, or at least the ones that i meet everyday, he had a desire to start his own online business, walk around in his underpants at 4:00pm in the afternoon, and quite frankly reap ever easier rewards. But the story to where he is today is quite a bit different to that vision. As he says "my sheer desire to earn a decent and regular (passive) income from a minimal amount of personal input paved the path to this point of where I am at now. This desire was all necessary so that I could simply fulfil my aspiration to travel and explore the world without repeatedly needing to return home every so often to hustle my heart out to earn more money in order to take off overseas again, and again. However he wasn't moving towards that vision very easily. In fact although he was hustling, He just wasn’t hustling in the right direction. So how could he get past the slog phase of creating online income? How could he skip past the failure point of many start-up businesses that fail after the first twelve months? This was this very question that led him to the BIG Ah-Ha moment, to the point of realization that I was searching so hard for.

In todays to podcast episode we answer several questions from listeners across the world. And of course we have also gained lovely comments from listeners who have been inspired by our shows. Dear David, i listened to your show the other day and a light bulb went on in my head. I am getting what I have allowed to happen to me. I am in the job because i went for the job. I decide who I am going to share my life and body with. Its all down to me. Scary times ahead but thank you. I should have seen this myself as its bloody obvious. Hi David great show as always. Today I went in and said to my Boss, tell me what I need to do to get a promotion. She almost cried, you could see it in her face. She then told me that she has been desperate for me to become proactive and make things happen. The next thing is to move out and get my own place. Hi David, I want to better at being a better person. What can you suggest? David, if i wanted to earn more money should i ask for a payrise or simply get another job somewhere. I am excited about the future as It my future to make

Introducing Finding Meaning In Life  Finding meaning in life isn't easy for sure. We all think that life should be better, or more defined, or more profitable. We all think that we should be getting the kind of results that we see others getting online. However one of the things that we dont truly reflect on is what these wishes mean to us. Why do we want a million pound sitting in the bank? Why do we want a better more loving relationship that make our hearts explode everyday? We want these things for the meaning that they give us. And by finding meaning in life we can look at what is most important to us and focus in on those things making us ultimately happier, more fulfilled and centred, Finding Meaning In Life The Start T he first thing that we4 need to do when we start on the path of finding meaning in life is accept that what we are getting is down to us. We have to draw a line under our previous section of life, and say "Yeah, everything that i am experiencing is because of me" This is hard to do, and for most people they will throw up a serious of excuses as to why they are the victims of their lives. No, i am only getting this bad thing because of how that person is treating me! I am only living here, because of being thrown out of home by my wicked mother. We will say to you that is rubbish, and all those situations are created by millions of small things that you can and should have dealt with when they occurred.  Your Mother didn't just decide one day to kick you out, but this has been building up over a period of time whilst living with each other. Get my point? Its at this stage when you have to say "If i want to start fining meaning in life, i have to take control of my life" And that is accepting the bad decisions as much as the good ones that you have made.

In todays episode of Join Up Dots we share the process for building a business online as quickly as possible. This of course means finding something that people want and want really really badly. But how do you find those kind of ideas? You start by digging around what is already working and then putting your own spin as you will hear on todays show.

In todays episode of Join Up Dots we answer four questions from listeners of the show. The first one is a problem that many business owners have, especially online businesses. How can we free ourselves up from simply being in the business all the time instead of enjoying the rewards that the business delivers? But of course this is just one of the things that we deal with on todays show, and if you want your question answered drop us a line at  

A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Hugely Popular, top rated entrepreneur business podcast the Join Up Dots show inspired by Steve Jobs, is full of amazing, inspiring online and off success stories and career content. A motivation packed show created for the entrepreneurs, wanting to become the best and grab business success, adventure, money, freedom and dreams too. In fact anyone with mindfulness searching for financial freedom, but unsure of the career path to take will love this show, as David Ralph delivers entrepreneurial business advice direct to your eardrums on every episode. Each guest enters into a free flowing conversation filled with humor, motivation, inspiration and powerful stories of success as they look back over their life, and in the words of the master entrepreneur Steve Jobs...join the dots that has led them to their own area of business or lifestyle success.

Sarah Dawn is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Lets get one thing straight, she is no stranger to success, 7 figures, overwhelm, burn out, or forging a path to a blissful blend of record-breaking business growth and personal fulfilment.    Growing up in a home where there was not always enough food to eat and utilities being shut off was not an uncommon occurrence, she was hell-bent on being a success.  After working her way through school to earn her B.S. in Psychology, Sarah Dawn went on to attain her Juris Doctorate from Texas A&M.   She checked all the boxes professionally, at the expense of her own health, and at an early age, her body began to let her down.  As a result of extreme burnout, Sarah Dawn endured life-altering pain, had surgeries, was prescribed pain meds as the only means of long term comfort, and ultimately woke up with Bell's Palsy.

Get ready to crush your competitors online and offline like never before. In todays episode of Join Up Dots we share the work that David Ralph as been doing over the last five years to learn what works in business. And most importantly what works in the easiest way possible. If you are ready to start making a proper living then drop us a line at joinupdots@gmail.com

Introducing Kat McLead Todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast, is Kat McLead who first connected with the show by email several months ago. The email said "Hi, I’m Kat. I built a business that allowed me to pay the $450,000 down payment for our house. (It involves me escaping severe abuse, starting a men’s fetish business at age 22, generating multiple 6 figures in this business, HATING it, shutting it down, getting my M.A. in Psychology, coaching sex workers out of the adult industry into entrepreneurs, becoming a millionaire Stay at Home Mom, feeling unfulfilled, and now helping fellow mom's start businesses for fulfilment and meaningful work while staying Mom first.) Well if that doesn't grab my attention from all the guest pitches that I get at Join Up Dots then I don't know what will. So now she is a busy mom and business owner who exclusively helps other mom's start businesses for fulfilment and income - while staying mom first. Which is a key part of what I preach at Join Up Dots. How The Dots Joined Up For Kat We all think that money is the goal, but things feel very flat when that money doesn't spark excitement in you day after day. As he says "The truth is, when I started my first Real Life Business years ago, I didn’t know what the 4 Key Steps to Launching an Ideal High Profit business. I didn’t even know how to complete Step 1. But, I started, I learned, and I persevered through lots of mistakes. Eventually I fine tuned my approach across 3 successful Real Life Business and over 7 figures in revenue.   Her experience leads into her "Nail Your Right Idea Framework" that anyone can use to find the RIGHT Business for them that is pleasurable and brings in high profit for the time spent (Marrying the skills/gifts/talents they currently possess and finding the most profitable subset of this for their winning idea) to.... How she uses her Hyperfocus Model to maintain and grow my business as a busy mom while working 30 minutes/day, and how I help all my clients do the same So is it the idea first and foremost that make a business fly, or actually understanding yourself and your passions? And where does she see most people go wrong as they build their own online success story? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the only Kat McLead Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Kat McLead such as: We discuss how Kat developed her ex-porn star business through hustle and cold calling, even though some people weren't overly happy. Why it is so important to do your market research before you ever start building a product. Find out what needs to be solved and go ahead and find the solution. Kat shares how she has developed her super talent of spotting opportunities for others, which she believes comes from her hard childhood.. and lastly........ Why you don't get success by sitting in your comfort zone you have to go out there and make things happen for yourself.

Ann Bennett is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. I am the founder of RenegadeBranding.com, an International Speaker, Best Selling Author, Coach and Brand Profit Builder. I use my marketing and branding genius to help women entrepreneurs (and a few good men) build their STAND OUT personal brands and boost their profits. As she says "As early as i can remember I just didn't fit in...... Incessantly picked on as the odd ball. There’s always as a slight twist to my point of view and edge to my  emotions so because of that I spent many solitary hours painting, writing and playing music. As an artist it felt right be rebellious and break the rules. Leaving my California roots and taking up residence in New York City fuelled my creative passion, where just another mis-fit could fit in. Arriving in 1980 the gritty city was still dangerous, raw and full of possibilities. The art scene was exploding and I found myself right in the middle of it.

Do you have a business that is struggling to turn a profit? Well this is the start of a series of episodes that will take you behind the scenes of how we have changed the fortunes of a local business, and of course you can do the same too.. So get ready to start taking notes and for additional help just come across to joinupdots@gmail.com and we will do the same for you.

Introducing Bill Bice Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast is a man who has always been an entrepreneur. Starting his first company at age 14, putting on road races with corporate sponsors. At 18, he started ProLaw Software, the first integrated ERP for law firms. After selling the company to Thomson Reuters, Bill became a VC as a founding partner in the Verge Fund, investing in high tech, high growth companies in the Southwest. One of the core things that Bill has learned in building and investing in companies is that the go-to-market is always the hardest part of growing a business. He got so frustrated in trying to get great marketing for his companies that he decided to tackle the problem. A programmer at heart, Bill founded boom-time, tackling marketing as a technology problem. It turns out that when you follow the data, really good things happen. That’s why boom-time built the world’s first marketing-as-a-service platform: fuse. boom-time's marketing strategists follow the data: they already know what will work. Instead of reinventing the wheel, boom-time applies proven marketing techniques at scale. How The Dots Joined Up For Bill As he says "I am a a programmer at heart. So why am I running a marketing company? Because these days, great marketing is all about the data. We built fuse, the world’s first marketing-as-a-service platform, and used it to recruit our world-class team of Word of Mouth marketing experts along with our network of 300+ subject matter experts. I have created boomtime by teaming up with Mark Canon, previously the CEO of Hibu, the Yellow Pages company in the UK. This seems a partnership made in heaven as Bill has spent his career helping entrepreneurs and business owners figure out how to reach their potential. Mark built a £200M digital marketing business in the U.K. in three years. Together, they’ve created a new approach to marketing, one that fuses technology and expertise together to deliver marketing-as-a-service for B2B and law firms at scale. So was this one of those ideas that grabbed him in the middle of the night, and wouldn't let go? And where were the struggles that he had to overcome to make this success a real life example of entrepreneurial excellence? Well let's find out by bringing him on the show to start joining up those dots, with the one and only Bill Bice Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Bill Bice such as: Why its great to start something new when you are young when you have nothing much to risk in your life. The reasons why finding a mentor in your life is a must. Dont be frightened to reach out and get help, especially at the beginning.  Why they best things that humans have is the ability to project ourselves into the future (but also this could lead to huge problems too) No matter what you think, it will always take longer and cost more than you expect it to take in a business. And lastly...... We discuss the principle of "how do we amplify the power of word of mouth" to get the real value of marketing.

Daniel is the founder of Lumen, a pocket-size device that measures metabolism in a single breath and provides personalized food, lifestyle, and health recommendations. The company got its start after raising over $1m on Indiegogo and then later another $7m from investors. So what is it exactly and what are the benefits to the Lumen product? What once took hours to measure, and a team of nutritionists and scientists to analyze, can now be done in less than three minutes.  Imagine hacking your metabolism in real time and finding out whether you are burning fats or carbs and what you can do do about it. He is well-known for being an experienced entrepreneur and angel investor, as prior to founding Lumen, Daniel was CEO and co-founder of Wibiya, and after Conduit purchased the company in 2011, he served as Vice President of Product. Prior to founding Wibiya, Tal co-founded Joongel Group, a company that provides simple search solutions in relevant categories based on a user's geographic location. Daniel is also a member of the Zell Alumni Board of Directors and mentors current students in the program. So where do the ideas come from to launch so many start-ups, and how does he remain focused against simply jumping on the next thing. And what was the hardest part of getting Lumen off the ground? Finding the idea or convincing others that it was a winner. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Daniel Tal.

When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:25 Yes. Good morning. Good morning to everybody. Everyone across the world. Thank you so much for being here with me. Can we have a group hug, which is WeChat a little arms round and squeezing, squeezing, squeezing? You know, I I've gotten apologies to me, I have gotten an apology to make I recorded a show the other day, called opportunities are everywhere. When we reference Lucas Gordon photography, and I listened back to it this morning, I just dipped into one of my episodes. And that was the one I chose was so fast, I was a little a little little over enthusiastic. I don't know what was the matter with me. So if you listen to that, and thought, My God, you must be on drugs or something. I agree with you. I agree with you. I don't know why I was going at it so fast. It didn't feel like it at a time maybe. Maybe I was just excited. Maybe I was just an excitable man. And, and it came out in my voice. So I do apologise, I do apologise, I'll try to get back on to normal track because I do know, I get a lot of people across the board across the board across the world from abroad, listening to Join Up Dots. And some of them say, I don't catch all what you talk about. But I enjoy the passion. Well, I don't think that one you would have called or enjoyed the passion at all. So I do apologise, I do apologise. I'm going to take it slow. I'm going to take it slow. Why Today's episode is from a listener. And I hope you like these little little listens as well. It's not just interviews, we're trying to, we're trying to change it around, we're trying to put a little bit of element of what you want into it. So some people might only have a little bit of time. Going for a little 14 minute Join Up Dots. Others I've got hours and hours when go for that one, trying to blend it. It's all about you guys. Anyway, this is an email that came through from Marcus archers from New Zealand. And Marcus says dear David, David, I listened to your show sporadically. And I've always been partial to listen to it more. I think this is brilliant. This sounds like a native, doesn't it? Yeah. Can't be balanced. I don't know why I go off elsewhere. But I guess I'm easily distracted. One of the things that you can talk about is making time to be disconnected from your business and the world. And I struggle with this majorly. And I would like to become better. Over best. Right? I think I tell you what I tell you. I was there. I was wondering the field batting of sheep left right in the centre there. I was going to be in the new new Lord of the Rings field. That's how good at my accent was where? Why did David? Because I think Australians do that sort of everything's a question at the end of the day, David, I listened to your show, sporadically. And always think I should listen to it more. You having sounding good. It's all that I know what it means something that when your voice goes up at the end, like a question, but it's not a question. But it's a question. That's what the LC is a monster. Okay, yeah. being distracted and disconnected from the world. And it is a big, big problem. And I think it's it's the major problem. I know, my kids struggle with it. My I think everyone struggles with it. And I, I'm very good at disconnecting. But I also having an online business, I feel that poor, I feel that poor like, everyone really, you know, the world has never been more connected. And no matter where in the world you are, you can send a message to anyone in another part of the world, as long as you both have internet connexion. I'm a member in the sort of 80s in the 70s. Anyone from the United Kingdom will remember this, you'd go on holiday to Spain, and you'd have to wait a week for the newspapers to turn up. And so he was always a week behind the football results. He was always a week and one person would get the paper and you share it around with anybody else. It was like it was it was like a drug deal. But you go How can I have 10 minutes? In an hour? Can I have 10 minutes I newspaper done? I want I've gone back into that accident. I just like doing it. I really do. And yeah, but now you just got being and you just never never away from stuff is it's annoying, but it's the way it is. It's the way it is. Right. Also, I think one of the issues is that all these devices out there are designed to make you actually want to get hooked up to them, you can't fight it. They are like psychological experiments being paid on us. So that we will feel that desire. That's what it designed for. And as soon as you realise that Facebook and LinkedIn and Twitter and all the social media platforms are designed by people, I'm getting a lot slower today. And I I feel I feel more in control of everything. And they're in designed by people who are actively trading on our emotions, our stress levels, our need to not miss out on those kind of things. And once you realise that, and you realise that they're playing on a kind of internal algorithm, it's easier to stop. Okay, so some of the things that I actually do, right, I don't look at any games, well, I don't have any gadgets, I have my PC in Join Up Dots, HQ. And I have this morning laptop, which I'm going to get rid of because it started not logging on. And so I spend 1015 minutes trying to get it to work. So I'm actually going to get rid of it. So I'm now down to just my PC. So when I turn that off, I've gone. Absolutely no one on earth will be able to get me. But I've started to limit my amount of time I come to my office. And if I do come to my office, what I used to do is leave my computer on all the time, and I could just come along and boom hours easy to turn on. Now I'm turning it off. So I might come up here to read a book, I might come here to plan something. But actually getting into the online world, I don't unless I actually have to turn my computer on which once again is a little barrier for me to do. But you can certainly eliminate gadgets for one hour before sleep and after wake up. So my daughter will reach out and before our eyes even open in the morning, she's got her phone, and she's reaching and dragging it under the covers. So she's hi asleep, but she knows that she needs a phone. My wife needs a phone by the side of a bed. In case of emergencies. I go, what emergencies Are we going to have? Everybody that you love is basically in our house, or vape got people to support them, you know, you know, Batman woman, you know, getting a suddenly ever dot appear on the ceiling and you've got to go out and solve crime during the night. You don't need to have your phone on all the time. I just turned the notifications up. She doesn't talk about that. And I say no. Is that gonna be all the notifications because my wife's not good. We got a new radio, we got a new alarm by the side of the bed because she decided that the light of the previous one that we've had for a million years was too bright. It was too bright. It is keeping me awake. Well, if you hear the snoring, I don't think it is. But anyway, so we've gone to this other one that you can dim down. And she doesn't like the buzzer, because it sounds like a lowly reversing. You know they do that noise. And it actually gets louder. So you actually feel like you're gonna back to be run over and you sleep. And so you suddenly panic, but a law is just going to crash your head. But when you go, Oh no, it's always the alarm. So she doesn't like that. Now she's going for the radio. And now, the other night, she set the radio to come on at half past 12 in the morning, panicked. And they went out for God's sake, why is it doing this? Probably because you programmed it to do that. And then reset it again for half past two in the morning. So we had the radio burst into our life all the way through the night. But it wasn't, it wasn't the devices fault. It was the wives. I'm telling you that don't say anything, but it was the white spot. So what you need to do is reach out and turn off all your devices before and after wake up and have that set into your your routine. And turn off all your notifications. It doesn't only save battery life, it also saves you from a lot of distractions turn up all your push notifications from email, chat, social media, your application. If it's really really urgent, somebody will knock on your door for example, you know, people won't be drowning. I'm drowning, I'm drowning, I'm drowning. Send a text message to your best mate. That wouldn't happen. You would shout out Help me Help me, you know, urgent doesn't happen. And as we're talking about emergencies, do this as well. Because I get this a lot when people say to me, you really haven't got a phone, you haven't got a phone? Oh, no, I haven't got a phone. What do you do in emergencies? And I always say to him, when was the last time you had an emergency? And I go Oh, no, no, it does happen. I got When was the last time. And I would say to all of you if you're in that light? Yes, there's emergencies all the time. just jot it down and jot it down on a scale of one to 10. When you get something through, was that an emergency did that need it now. And you'll see you rarely ever. If anything I once broke down on the Alps, I was 12,000 feet up in a car with broke down, couldn't get it going. And my dad had an emergency phone, thank God because otherwise I don't know what we would have done that I think in my life is the only emergency I've ever had. Okay, doesn't really happen. Now, if you do need to have all these phones around you keep your phone in the drawer while you're working. Just just lock it away. And just try to think to yourself, now keep it there. And when you get that urge in your stomach, because you do you get a bit tense Do you get a bit twitchy just being said, Well, I'm feeling twitchy. I'm feeling twitchy, I'm going to go for another 10 minutes, don't beat yourself, I'm leaving it in there forever. Because you won't do that. That's like trying to lose 30 stone in a month. Just leave it in there go right now I can do another 10 minutes, I'll do another 10 minutes is now 1106, I'm going to wait to 1116 before I get back and start increasing it little by little 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, because you are trying to break free from an addiction. These devices are created. So you're addicted, it's the way they work. But you can't go cold turkey because it just won't work. Now, one of the things that I don't understand, but one of my mates says he does is he has only one device for checking social media. He can he can get Facebook, on your desktop, on your laptop on your smart phone, even on your Apple Watch. So you're checking everywhere, he now is it all through into one device. Now I've got one and it's called a man's name. I can't think what it is. But I put it in the links. And I haven't used it for a while. That's why I can't remember. But it has LinkedIn it has Facebook on it has all the notifications and I can go on to it. Within one second, I can see and turn it all off. So instead of going into Facebook and going into here and going into a or whatever, or having all the notifications, I don't have any notifications at all, I just have this one device, whatever it's called now coming was called is something to do with Roman is come to me. And I just log on once every three days or something and I have a quick look. And bang, it's done. Okay. Now, then the next thing that I would do, and these are the kinds of things I do, I have a thing called stay focused on Chrome, which I can programme my favourite websites. And we all have websites that were desperate to get into and we're going to check mines BBC Sport, are can go on to BBC Sport and find out where this football players being transferred. And that is not necessary. But I do. So I limited and I give myself 15 minutes a day on this website. And when it closes down, and it won't activate again till the next day. And you can set it up stay focused on Chrome. It's a free app. And it's brilliant. And as I say I look at it and I think to myself running out and running out I've got to do it bang is gone. And that's it. I just have to walk away from it. And so I prepare. And I think to myself, I have I got 15 minutes, yes, I have because what I don't want to do is it sort of waste of time, I want to make the most of it. Once again, your chance to do now somebody else told me what what they do, I have over sort of like the summaries of the websites, come to them in an email. So I can just scan down. I don't know how that's done, if anybody knows how that's done. But that's what he does. email comes through, it gives over sort of highlights of the website changes, and you can scan down and you can just keep up with it. Okay. And the last thing that I would say is go to emails once a day, okay, just just once a day that there's nothing, the problem is in business, people use it to talk, they don't use it to actually confirm, they just use it to communicate. So you're in there all the time sending two line emails back and forth, because you're too lazy to walk across the desk. If that is you then say to your colleagues, no, I'm not going to do this until 12 o'clock lunchtime, and bed, I'm going to open it up anything he wants saved about time, and I will respect or we can talk face to face. Because in the online world, email still remains the most personal way of online communication is it this is where the most important engagements happen, tweets and all those kinds of stuff it is. So bullet points, this is the big stuff. And so social media, like Friendster and multiply, have come and gone, all these kind of things, but email still remains and it always will. So limit yourself. Don't think that it's important. It's not if it is important in your company, your boss will come across. And if he's just sending an email expecting you to respond straight away, then it's not, it's not okay. So that there are kind of things Marcus, but I do. But the main thing that I do is I don't have a phone. I push everything now into messenger, and email. That's the only two ways that you can communicate with me away from that I don't look at anything. And I'm just aware of it. And I'm not a month, I still feel that that pole, that desire to check into these things. But by doing that, and just being aware and try to do 10 minutes and then make it 20 minutes and try to do an hour you will start breaking that addiction. And then you can do a day two weeks, you know, I can do a month at a time not look at anything. I probably could do longer than that now to just the way that I've organised it. So let me know Marcus, if you've managed to do anything and you try to stay disconnected and focus because it's a real game changer. And I will promise to practice my New Zealand accent. I really will. I'm gonna really Tommy best to do that. Until next time. Look out yourselves everybody. Thank you so much for being here and I will see you again soon. Bye bye. Unknown Speaker 15:48 That's the end of China. Unknown Speaker 15:51 You heard the conversation. Now it's time for you to start taking massive action. Unknown Speaker 16:01 QB create your life easy only life. Unknown Speaker 16:07 Will be back again real soon. Join Up Dots Join Up Dots Join Up Dots Unknown Speaker 16:15 Jolly Jolly.

Mark Egan is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast So how do you go from being a jobbing journalist for the BBC to creating a thriving business facilitating conferences over Zoom. Whilst also running a professional video enterprise teaching the world how to make top notch videos on their smartphones. Well that is the story you will hear today, as Mr Egan joins the dots to where he is today. As he says "I teach businesses and media professionals to create professional video, even if it’s using a smartphone or broadcasting from a home studio. I have trained thousands of journalists, marketers, charity workers and entrepreneurs to shoot professional videos with smartphones. How The Dots Joined Up For Mark Previous clients include the European Broadcasting Union, Oxfam, SKY, Help for Heroes, SVT Sweden, Sanoma Newspaper Group Finland, Asia Media Summit China, Wan-IFRA Delhi. But before that I worked for the BBC for 12 years, and then started Purple Bridge Media which offers training and video production. I have been involved in training and implementing new ways of working in major broadcasters such as SKY and BBC as well as academic institutions and companies. And now he he recently launched his latest video podcast looking at the Knowledge industry and sharing the tips and advice of online marketers, podcasters and anyone who has created income and wealth by sharing the stuff they know - the knowledge. So when he started his own business where did he know where to head on his new career first? How did he know what was the first right thing to do? And what would be the biggest learning he has discovered through interviewing so many online success stories that he wished he had in his armoury? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Mark Egan.

Introducing Joshua Dick Over fifteen years, Josh Dick transformed a small family business into a global market leader in the coffee industry with customers in over 70 countries and distribution facilities on three continents. In the process, sales grew more than 25 times while earnings multiplied over 275 times. After the sale of the business, Josh moved to Florence, Italy where he now lives with his wife and three daughters. Now that's not a bad starting to a show, but of course we need more about today's guest. And of course you are going to get it. Joshua’s approach to business has always been about creating an organization that is strong, secure, and able to avoid distraction. How The Dots Joined Up For Joshua Throughout his career in the coffee industry, he relied on the unusual metaphor of the lobster to unite the team and prepare the organization. Awareness that lobsters never stop growing and of the trauma they experience during molt can remind any business to enjoy the ups while preparing for the downs that always come. Growing Like a Lobster was motivated by Joshua’s sincere desire to help others who seek to build extraordinary businesses. Through sharing his personal experiences and insights, Joshua offers a new way to confront challenges and simple approaches to building special and lasting organizations. Joshua has a B.A. in Political Science from Yale College and an M.B.A in Marketing and Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.  Along the way to building brands within the world of coffee machine cleaning products, Josh worked in investment banking for Salomon Brothers and in marketing for Unilever Home and Personal Care. And now with his book Grow Like A Lobster: How to Plan and Prepare for Extraordinary Business Results he is quite simply it seems where he wants to be in life and in business. So do businesses need the ups and downs that come, to truly strengthen their foundations, and grow like a lobster? And now with the issues across the world, due to Covid-19 has the years given him a business that can fight it's corner and survive? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Joshua Dick. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Joshua such as: Joshua shares why he feels so many businesses have to have the dips to become what they want to be. Why so many people fail to grasp the ability to have control in their lives by handing it all over to an employer. Joshua talks about the process that he went through to grow his coffee business, starting with submerging himself into coffee culture And lastly.... With limited resources, based around time and energy Joshua decided on what would make his business special. And it wasn't what he first thought it would be.

Ryan Kugler is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast As he says "I am a small business owner, in fact I own three separate businesses and juggle them all at a “layered” company (all of my employees work all three companies at the same time). My first business (A5 Events) is a an event producer focused on helping non-profit organizations with their fundraisers (charity runs and walks). My second business is marketing company (Ideal Content), where we focus on making high end marketing material for our clients (video brochures…a physical brochures that plays a video upon opening-cool) and lastly, my third company is a secondary wholesaler, called Plan B. We help manufacturers and retailers move their inventory when their sales drop! But thats just one side of him as without doubt he is someone with hustle, and the balls to make things happen. Ryan was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Los Angeles shortly thereafter.

Of course Join Up Dots is a top ranked entrepreneur podcast, but that’s just a little part of what we do. We make dreams come true and the wonderful thing about building an online business is it’s very, very simple. You have something to offer or sell, and you then go and find the people that want it. Find enough of those people and hey presto….you have a very nice living indeed. However, people across the world make it so complicated. At Join Up Dots we go a different way. We make things happen in the most relaxed and stress free method possible.

Acadium Founder Moe Abbas is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots. He is the  am CEO and co-founder of Acadium, where anyone can launch a career in digital marketing for free. These include roles in social media, content writing, graphic design and more. There mission is to accelerate economic mobility by making access to a new career accessible to anyone with an internet connection. The reason he is doing this, well he has been on a bit of a journey. As he says "My family came to Canada as refugees when I was 3 where we were graciously accepted and supported. We grew up impoverished financially but rich with morals and love. I remember going door to door at 10 years old selling services and products to help my parents. I've only ever been an entrepreneur, building and learning. At nineteen years old, I founded my first two companies which I later sold.   How The Dots Joined Up For Moe At 21 I founded Ottawa General Contractors with a few childhood friends. In 5 years, I led the group from a basement office into Canada’s leading residential design build company with 20+ million in sales and design centers across the country. At 26 years I won the NKBA 30 under 30 award and I was the youngest recipient ever of the OBJ 40 Under 40 Award. I have also won the Immigrant Entrepreneur award from the City of Ottawa and many others. In my late 20's I decided to become an entrepreneur in tech because I believed technology could provide the most leverage in creating a positive impact. After a few failed starts, I co-founded Acadium, the number 1 place in the world to launch a career in digital marketing. So what is it that truly lights him up in the entrepreneurial world, as for many the constant movement and grind wears them out? And of course once the "Big Idea" hit, and he could see the birth of investing, how hard was it to get it off the ground? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to Join Up Dots with the one and only Moe Abbas  

Introducing Rene Lacad Today's guest first joining us on the Join Up Dots show is Rene Lacad is a 24-year-old college dropout turned entrepreneur.  Utilizing the power of social media he was able to generate over $10,000,000+ in revenue for over a dozen businesses.  He currently travels the world teaching aspiring entrepreneurs how to break free from the 9 to 5 and live life on their terms, all while running his businesses from a laptop.   You might be wondering, how does a college dropout build multiple six figure companies at age 24?  It all started in 2013 when he was attending a local community college and had just barely graduated high school with a 2.1 GPA. He knew instantly that when he got to college something was wrong. The classroom wasn’t a place where he was able to flourish, he decided to dropout and join the workforce to get real world experience.  The first big step came after bouncing around from one oddball job to another. How The Dots Joined Up For Rene He eventually found himself at a sales position at a Fortune 500 company where he was able to find his first taste of success. He stayed there for a year before something strange happened, he realized that he was beginning to outgrow this position as well, and decided to look for something more fulfilling. The life changing breakthrough he was looking for came shortly after left his last job. Rene landed a position working at a company owned by a well known entrepreneur, where he was able to gain valuable information everyday for over a year straight. He used this opportunity to make his brain a sponge and absorb information unavailable anywhere else.  He learned the secrets to sales, marketing, human psychology, business and entrepreneurship and the rest is history. So why do so many people struggle to make a go of it online when the blueprint is out there to follow? And what are the challenges of being a digital nomad and travelling the world with his laptop Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Rene Lacad Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with Rene Lacad such as: Rene reveals the words of his mother, where she was convinced that he would go out and get a job like everyone else. Why if you keep on looking for the one opportunity you will ultimately find the one that brings the gold. We discuss how Rene organises his day to make sure that his business gives him the lifestyle that he wants. And lastly................. The power of re-engineering a process to work backwards to get product market fit. Easiest way to success.

Welcome to the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast where in todays show we answer three quick questions from listeners across the world. As you will hear these range from people who have already started to build their businesses online, and others who are simply wanting to get going. You see starting an online business will lead you into a world of obstacles, hassles and difficulties at the beginning. This is perfectly normal as you don't know what you dont know and is all part of the learning process. Which is why hiring a business coach is such a valuable tool to bring into your armoury of business tools. So lets start with the first question.......

Patricia Dominguez is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots. In 2012, burnt out with her cushy corporate job, she made the decision to jump into entrepreneurship. As she says "While in Corporate America I learned quite a bit and had the good fortune to work with some really brilliant minds. I saw a need in the small business space, specific to positioning and that’s where I’ve been able to create the most impact.  Positioning Marketing:  without it… you will likely approach marketing with a “spray & pray” approach with tepid results. How The Dots Joined Up For Patricia Now of course you will be saying what the hell is position marketing ? Well this is the place that most business owners should aim for, and very few get to. Becoming a "Category of One" status in their specific market, where people understand what you are about and flock to you. It makes it doubly easy to send the right message to the right people time and time again.

Victoria Kennedy is the CEO of Victorious PR, a media agency that helps Entrepreneurs, Real Estate Brokerages, Mortgage Companies, and Solar Businesses get featured in industry-specific publications, local press, podcasts, and top publications to be seen as Industry Leaders in their fields. Getting yourself noticed is harder and harder nowadays, as there is so much noise out there. So much content being created by eager and hardworking entrepreneurs. So what makes someone stop and think that they can bring something different to the industry? How The Dots Joined Up For Victoria Now this is a story that is pure hustle and drive, as our guest didn't start her business with a successful or rich parent as a support. Our guest started her life as she was extremely poor, and was surrounded by all the doubts and imposter syndrome conditioning that could have knocked her off track. It didn't stop her however and now she is becoming the go to person to help companies and individuals leverage digital PR to not only increase their visibility but also directly grow their revenue. Victoria has been featured in over 200 publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Yahoo Finance, TV & radio stations, and the TEDx stage. So why PR and what made her think that she could bring something new to the game? And where do people go wrong with trying to get themselves onto podcasts and into publication? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Victoria Kennedy. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Victoria Kennedy such as:  Victoria shares how the number one priority for any entrepreneur is to be the key authority in the niche. If you cant be then create a new niche. Why people truly need to get down into the nitty gritty of their hero story to start gaining the exposure that they want.. Victoria talks about the adjacent possible that makes all things possible if you only look closely enough. and lastly......... She shares a fascinating story of cancel culture and what she believes will be the change heading our way shortly.

Becoming financially free is the dream for everybody i would guess. You know how it would be if you won the lottery and didn't have to go to work everyday at a time that you didn't want to. Life would be brilliant and you would spend your time floating around, having naps in the middle of the afternoon. However, most of us will never win the lottery, so it's down to us to win our own lottery and start becoming financially free. Ready for the steps that you can take you to where you want to be in double fast time? Stop Spending The Money You Have To become rich you really need to stop spending money on things that you have don't truly need. All those little expenses that dont really seem to be much, really add up to a heft sum. Yeah its only a £5 here and there. It's only the gym membership. But take a look at what is occurring each week and each month and that's just one thing. Your money leaving you quicker than you could ever want to happen. So as my Mum always used to say "If you take care of the pennies the pounds take care of themselves" Start monitoring the small stuff today and never look back. Manage Your Money To Be Financially Free One thing is sure, you can always find the money to do the things that you want to do. Which means at the end of the month you are scrapping around to save anything. This shouldn't be the case, and to become financially free you need to pay yourself first. You simply must get into good money management habits. Allocate the cash into several different bank accounts that cant be touched for anything other than its designated reasons. This will be tough, but becoming financially free is tough...but you can do it. Financially Free Starts In The Home Did you know that its possible to earn great money simply from the house you are living in? Airbnb has built its whole business model around people renting out rooms in their house. Could you do the same? Or perhaps you could take one step closer to being financially free by loaning your home to a film company. There is big money for people renting out unusual locations to film companies to utilise. Even simple things like renting out your driveway can add up to many hundreds of pounds per month. That is the way to become financially free by looking closely at the opportunities around you. Start Building Passive Income Having money coming into your life every month without lifting a finger is great. But of course most passive income takes a bit of work to get going of course. Building a niche site which targets affiliate links is quite easy, although not as profitable as it once was. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't give it a go, as you will make some cash for sure. And you will learn so much in the process about the worldwide web and how to grab hold of it all for your family.

Company of one and other wisdom is on the cards today in the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast. Lets start with some major words to get into your head. When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK David Ralph Yes. Hello. Good morning. Good morning everyone across the world. How are you welcome to Join Up Dots. Yes, the global hit show, the business motivation conversation, inspirational show, that is literally driving you guys to success. Its driving you guys forward. And for a long while it was driving me into an early grave. But I'm things things are a lot more on an even keel.   This Week In Join UP Dots This week's been a bit of a bit of an unusual week, because I've been away. I often say that I'm very good at disconnecting. But it's very hard to 100% disconnect. It's very hard not to just go "Oh, I'll go on the internet, I just do this. And I just do that." This week, I've been trying my hardest to really be free from everything, not knowing what's going on in the news, not knowing what the football result are. And Im about 80% achieving my aim. I needed to do that because I started to feel myself getting a little bit frazzled by the amount of work I was taking on. That's kind of what I'm going to be talking about today. Because when you start your online business, when you start any business, more often than not, you go for the dream. I suppose the dream isn't what the dream ends up being. Because first of all, you start with a tiny little dream thinking "Oh, as long as I can get x y Z, then ill be alright". It's a kind of scraping through kind of dream. Which is perfectly acceptable, because you haven't moved through to the next stage where you you've had the proof. As my wife always says, "When I see it, I'll believe it. "   When I See It I'll Believe It And so that's what happens in Join Up Dots and everyone that I coach  have to have that moment of realisation that this can work. Now, when they're starting to build it, you set a ceiling on what you need. More often than not, I call it my keeping the lights on figure. That point when you can get to a certain point where you go, "Yeah, we're okay now. I'm actually earning the income. That means that the bills are paid, but I've got free time and everything is good." But of course, of course, things get a little bit greedy. It's very hard not to go out and just squeeze in another client, or just do another little bit of this and a little bit of that. I found myself falling into that trap where I was actually starting to think, "Oh my god, I need to do this and then I need to do that. " In many ways, it wasn't becoming fun. It wasn't when I was connecting with people and thinking, "I'm really looking forward to this" It was like what I need to get this done because I got another person straight afterwards. So I've tried to clear the decks, I've gone back to basics with Join Up Dots where I'm doing the bare minimum. But what I need to do to actually sort of make a living. And if you can make a living, that's great. If you make a greedy living then more often than not, it comes with certain sort of restraints.   Matt Devella And Minimalism  You know, along that line, when I did dip into the internet, I saw this video now there's a guy that I've mentioned on the show called He's on YouTube, and he does a lot of lifestyle design videos, and they're very good. They're very professional. But as with most things, once you've seen a few of them, you start to think, "okay, you're kind of repeating yourself." It must be very hard as it is with Join Up Dots . I'm sure after 1500 shows, you guys are going "God, he's talking about the same thing. He's constantly telling us Yes, you can go out and do it." And I'm gonna keep on doing that. I will keep on doing that until the last breath is in my body. And I'm laying there. And I say," Did it work? Did it work? " And we open the window.and if I hear crying and mourning across the globe, and I'm hoping Yes, it's worked and join up dots delivered what I was hoping for. Anyway back to Matt Devella, as these are really good videos. And one of the ones I watched this week was a minimalist approach to business. Now I like minimalism, although I am more into , which I will actually talk about later. But is how you reduce everything in your life to that which you need. You don't need to be out having to work to support them. Now, it's a long standing principle, really, so many people are going to work just to pay for that car loan, which they don't actually get a chance to use because they're going to work to pay for it. They have a big mortgage too, and they're supporting a lifestyle that isn't conducive to having life experiences.   Life Is About Having Your Breath Taking Away I saw a sign in the pub the other day. It said something like, "Life isn't about the amount of breaths you take. It's about the amount of moments that your breath is taken away." That's brilliant, isn't it, where it's all about having those experiences and those moments when you say "Oh, my God, that is wonderful." I think most of us don't get many of those because we're so busy just living a life and sort of moving on. Now, Matt, the minimalist guy. He done that. H has stripped his life down. He's made it very basic. He was talking to a guy called , who's got a book out which I jumped onto Amazon and bough.  I bought his book "Company of One", which is saying, staying small is the next big thing for business. The principle which is building minimalism into your business. So not to think to yourself "Right? I want to have a million pound a month." Instead saying "If I can get to my keep the lights on figure, and then double it. That's good enough. That's, that's fine." So if I could get like two clients a month, and that gives me what I need, and then double, why go for five clients and 10 clients? Why get staff and employees? You keep it all stripped back. Now one of the things he was talking about is how so many people people start paying for employees. When you're better off is having people on contract that only get paid when you need them. So they're kind of non paid employees. So if you're sort of struggling with your website design and your email marketing list, have somebody that is ready, and you've signed them off, and you know them and you trust them. You can say, "Jane, Jane, I need you to do that today." And she does it. When you pay her, it's not an employee, but it's a contracted worker to keep your business small, meaning that you can just focus in on what you're doing. Well when I was watching that video i was thinking "Yeah, I think that's what I need to do." Because I've taken on so many client, which is brilliant, me, my 30 day business coaching course, has been flying, and which is great. But as I say you get a bit frazzled. And you think to yourself, "Actually, I can't do this. And I can't do that, because I've got this person to speak to"   Building Your Own Company Of One So that's what I've been doing. If you jump onto YouTube and look for that Company of One, why staying small, it's the next big thing in business by Paul Jarvis and Matt, they develop a very interesting conversation. The other thing that I'm going to say is I want to read an email. Now I won't give this guy's name, but I'm going to be speaking to him live tomorrow. I just wanted you guys to hear somebody out there who's listening to the show. I will tell you that his name's Scott, nothing else, nothing else. But I will tell you, he's named Scott. And I'm going to be speaking to him live tomorrow. He's connected with me. And I'm gonna, I'm going to try to help him on his way. He said me? I'm Scott. Good morning David massive fan of the show. Thank you for the effort you put in, I know you're a busy guy. So out of 12 months anyway, so I'll be brief. I'm totally into your way of thinking. My goal is to create an online business, that I can operate from anywhere and spend more time doing what I want, when I want, who I want with, just don't tell the wife. The issue is I'm totally lost as to what the business will be. The more podcasts and videos I watch, the more lost I get. I totally understand that. You can go into sort of analysis paralysis, as they say where every single person's got a point of view. I always say to people find two or three people that you really believe in and ignore everybody else. Now, I still got the same two. But I look at all the time. One of the guys is Pat Flynn from Smart Passive income. And the other is a guy called . He's taken his podcast into seven figures. It would be stupid for me not to at least go over every now and again and have a look at what he's doing and how he's structuring it. Everybody else I ignore, got no interest in them. I just go for the two guys I believe in and I trust and you should do as well. Now, Scott says, "The issue is I'm totally lost as to what that business will be. And the more podcasts and videos I watched the more Lost I get. Digital marketing, affiliate marketing, FBA, God knows, I'm just getting stressed trying to figure out what way to go. I'm open to anything, I just need to be shown the path and not told I'm going to be worth a million quid in a week's time. Now that is one of the thing I loved about this email. And that's why I decided to connect with him. Because I hate these things where you see somebody next to their infinity pool. It's not their bloody infinity pool. They've just gone on holiday and said to somebody else "Can I make a video and jump into the infinity pool?" Or they walked past a jet while they're trying to get into EasyJet, and they taken a quick photograph of themselves. So it looks like their lifestyle. I don't believe any of it. I really don't. I think most of it is total rubbish out there. I'd much rather see somebody wearing, you know, a pair of jeans and a T shirt and saying, you know, I live my life. I go and pick the kids up from school, I come home, I do three hours work. And I make a full time income. To me that is far more doable, and far more believable than what these people are saying "Yes, if you follow me, you can be a millionaire in a week's time, total total rubbish. " Scott also says "I don't need a Lamborghini, Chelsea and New York homes, I'd be happy knowing every month the bills are paid no matter where I am in the world". And that is totally doable. It really is. And there's three ways you've got to think about how to do this.   The Three Ways To Build A Company Of One You've really got to stop thinking about affiliate marketing. It's great, but it's small potatoes. You've got to step more into the bigger part of the business. If you've got something that you can do, and believe me, you will have something that you can do that somebody else wants, you can become that product and that service . You then making more money. Now what you then need to do is obviously separate yourself from the business by training somebody up to be able to do what you do so that you can then service two people. You can scale it and it doesn't mean that you're trapped in the business. It's just you have to get the ball rolling. Now there was a guy on the show the other day called Geoff Cook, who is the founder or Growlr, the Gay Bear app. Yeah I bet Yogi's having a great old time in the woods. The was saying that at the beginning, he started a CV resume business in college. He was doing all the work himself.  He had to until he could find people that would help him. And then his issue was about how to make sure those people remain good. Keeping the quality up. So there's certain issues at the beginning. But the strategy really is if you can put yourself into the service, first of all, you're going to start making more money.   Why My Company Of One Was An Early Failure  I think with Join Up Dots I screwed up on that. I kind of thought that you could just make a podcast, be like a radio host and make a million pounds. But of course that's not the case. You've got to be more in your business than out of your business. Now Scott also says "I'm a builder of 25 years working self employed and although massive potential in the industry, I fell out of love with it and the desire for the online business lifestyle you dangle" Yes, my dangling out, I dangle in front of him every week. "I know that there's a shitload of work ahead of me. And that's something I don't have a problem with at all. Please help or show me where to start maybe. So I love that email. There's realism, there's understanding that it takes work. There's understanding, that you aim to pay your bills. There's understanding that yes you could be a millionaire but who wants to you know? I used to want to be a millionaire. And now when somebody says to me, "David I'm going to Be a Millionaire Next year, I just go Yeah, go and go for it." # Because making a million pounds online, does happen. But it's difficult, more difficult than making a replacement income from what you've got at the moment to where you want to be. But you've got the free time, you've got the choices, you've got all that kind of stuff. That is totally doable. That is a company of one. So I suppose in a summary of blending this podcast in with the company of one, why staying small is the next big thing for business, and Scott's honest realization of what it takes. I think that I was on the wrong track recently, I think I've started to go for certain points of business. Well, as I said, I'm aiming for a million listeners. Now I am I'm still aiming for a million listeners, because that's part of my overall strategy. That doesn't mean that I've got to do any more work, I've just got to do the right things behind the show. Totally doable, and will bring me a lot of rewards. Lovely, lovely, lovely. But on the other side, I can have too many clients, which means that I am restricted from having a life and feeling frazzled. Wanting to disconnect and hide out online. Can't do that, because that's not going to be good for me. You got to think about that right at the very beginning. You got to think about how much you're willing to put in. But always having that ability to separate yourself, you know, don't trap yourself, paint yourself closer to the door, but then leave yourself on the other side of the door that you can close it up behind you and disappear. I can literally turn off for months at a time my business will still operate I close it up. I'd say I'm not going to take any more coaching clients any more mentoring clients and then I'll come back in August or September or whatever and then I will go again totally controllable. That is the company of one, I am heading for.

Fred Stuvek, JR  is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast. He is a former athlete who served in the military and successfully started his own business, and now has advice for those looking to thrive in this battered economy. He has achieved extraordinary success in diverse realms. He has been inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for achievements in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy, after lettering three years as quarterback for the Midshipmen. After service as a Naval Officer, he transitioned to the business world where he has held senior leadership positions in private and public companies, both domestically and internationally. Key successes include an international medical imaging start-up that led to a successful IPO, and forming a private medical services company, which he subsequently sold. From the playing field, to the war room, to the board room, his leadership and accomplishments have given him a distinct perspective and a results-oriented mindset.

Start Ups is the name of the game with Mark Grimes, todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast. He is a man who over the last few months has taken more action than most people, not least himself have done over the last 18 years. You see over nearly two decades our guest today created a list of  businesses that he thought would be proven winners. Or at least those that were worth reviewing and developing to see if they bore fruit. Now since August 1, 2020, he is a man on fire. As he says "Since August 2020 I launched one new startup every day for 31 days in a row. Yep, 31 brand spanking new companies. No business plans drawn up. No money raised. No teams assembled. No website created—nothing done ahead of time. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Lean and mean. 100% transparent. 100% open. How The Start Ups Dots Joined Up For Mark Grimes One new idea was selected each day from 350+ business ideas scribbled down over the last 18 years, aka the Dunning Kruger Project. Is this for real? Yes. Am I joking? No. Am I nuts? We’ll see. Why am I doing this? Well, there are 55 million newly unemployed people in the US alone. There is continuing economic upheaval. There are tense racial, political, and personal divisions among us. There is a global pandemic. Is this the worst possible time to launch and grow a startup? Yes Could it be the best possible time? Yes. Which of course makes him a perfect guest for a show like Join Up Dots So where can people start first with so many ideas flooding around us all everyday? And of course how does he remain organised and focused on developing every single one. Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mark Grimes

ONLINE BUSINESS SUCCESS THE EASY WAY Don’t build a business that is a slog everyday ! We teach you how to create your DREAM BUSINESS in just a few hours per week! In this episode of Join Up Dots we answer a listeners email question who is struggling to get the success that they want. What truly make success starts within as you will find out.......

Is there ever a good time to start a business? Well the world is full of stories of businesses being started in economic downturns, and recessions and becoming billion dollar empires. So what about lockdown? When we are stuck indoors, unable to visit friends and trapped in an endless cycles of zoom quizzes can you make a success of a new business idea? Well as you will see on todays show....the answer is YES for sure. We are going to bringing you ideas born in lockdown over the next few months to inspire you to go and create your own business success, without any excuses.

Introducing Time Control Time control or as most people call it time management is a problem that so many people struggle with. You wake up each morning with all the best intentions to make a difference, and then get sucked into a never ending world of interruptions. You know the kind of things that send you off track. Just a couple of minutes on Facebook and you've lost an hour or so looking at peoples kid and cats pictures. So you do a few emails, and then find that you've lost another hour. So how can you make sure that you stay on track and get everything firing on all cylinders day after day? Well on todays podcast episode we discuss time control and bring our top six tips to make every day wildly productive. Listener Question One Dear David, long term listener to the show. Back in 2018 I began the creation of my children's nursery for 2 to 5 year olds. I saw the need, made it happen and have been happily profitable since. However, upon the pandemic hitting and forcing us to close down, i realised that i had allowed time suckers to take over my life without me knowing. Just little things really, but when I wasn't working in the business, i still had loads of things to do everyday, such as emails, parent support, dealing with the local council and such things. I didn't start the business simply to be ploughing through an endless list of tasks everyday, but it seems that i have walked bang into just that. Any suggestions? Melanie PUK Listener Question Two Dear David, you seem to have things happily ticking along in your life, and ill be honest sound like you barely work at all. I'm sure that this isn't the case...so how do you do it? What super power do you possess that the rest of us dont, as i'm feeling less and less sexy everyday no matter how many times you tell us to "stay sexy" Great show Eric, Buckinghamshire. Of course to hear the amazing time control advice you need to listen to todays show, and then all the others waiting for you. It might take awhile, but by then you will have become a master of time control....how good is that?

Mike Koenigs is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots. He is a man on a double mission, or at least one that entwines butifully around each other. One on side he helps experts build empires both online and offline, ok that is the first part ticked off, He does by showing his clients that you can get paid for BEING, instead of doing, by building influence, authority and loving life too. Now this isn't someone who simply says that they are an expert and then starts building from that point onwards but someone who has lived it. As he says "Ironically, surviving cancer didn’t save me. Six years later, as I’m waking up, I hear something in me say, “My soul hurts”. I moved out to California in 2001, one month after 9/11, followed my passions, took giant risks, worked hard and created a lot of wealth. I far exceeded the expectations most had for a boy growing up in a 763 person town in Minnesota from a fairly chaotic, lower middle-class family. Beyond my business success, I was blessed with a wonderful wife and an amazing son, and we had luxuries including a second home on the beach in La Jolla. Yet, something was deeply wrong. Prior to recognizing that my soul hurt, I knew I was increasingly depressed and full of anxiety, but after hearing myself declare it, I knew I needed a transformation. I just didn’t know what was broken. And that is the perfect place to start todays episode of Join Up Dots. So its ok saying i need to change, but a totally different thing to actually know where you need to change from and to that is the problem, so where did he start? And for someone sitting listening with no followers, influence or or a tweet or a video to their name, where can they start to build their empire? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to Join Up Dots with the one and only Mr Mike Koenigs.

Stephan Aarstol is today guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a Shark Tank Winner and CEO of Tower (where Mark Cuban is an investor), Stephan Aarstol is also the inventor of the 5-hour workday, an initiative he started in 2015 to challenge long held delusions about unhealthy start-up work culture.  Stephan moved his whole company to a 5-hour workday, and yes we mean his whole company not just the directors and would later write a book, The Five Hour Workday about the experience. Now you might be thinking "wow this is amazing my company would never do this" Well there was a time when our guest might have been thinking that he wished he hadn't.

British Snack Co founder Thomas Lock is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. As they say "Since our humble beginnings in 2013, our mission has been to create the tastiest snacks money can buy. Lovingly crafted, outrageously delicious and quintessentially quirky, our products can be found in supermarkets, pubs and independent shops across the world. Handcooked in the UK using exclusively British potatoes, our crisps combine no-nonsense flavours with classic crunch. Their first product, Awfully Posh Pork Crackling, was developed by founder Tom Lock in his mum’s kitchen. And then the company was founded to scale up production and launch the pork crackling to the UK market. Now this isn't just a profit making exercise, as  they are made on a farm that not only grows its own potatoes, but is powered by renewable energy. So, these crisps don't just taste good - they do good, too.  So we hear time and time again about people starting online businesses and selling online courses, but how do you actually develop tasty snacks? And when did he sit back and think "Ok, this is something, this is really something that we need to get out to the world. Its time to get serious?" Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Thomas Lock

Starting A Business On Passion And Other Questions Starting a business on passion is what everybody wants of course. Why wouldn't you want to wake up with a Yay......and an excitement in your stomach? Well quite frankly, that is the dream but more often or not along the way you can find that things become a little bit different. So in this episode of Join Up Dots we answer three questions from listeners of the show that all come to us looking for answers on passion.   Question One David, you seem a man who is always very honest on the podcast. SO i would like to ask you a question re starting a business with a friend. My best friend from school (so 30 years and counting) wants to start a vaping business with me, delivering vaping equipment to social clubs and colleges. They have planned things out and it all looks very good, but i have two issues. 1: I dont think i really would ever start this myself, so i wonder about my passion long term. 2. I am worried that our friendship might suffer long term if i do it, and also if i dont do it. Any help will put this troubled mind at a rest. Georgey, UK Question Two Dear David, i have started several businesses over the last few years and never get past the slog part of everything before I lose the will to live and give up. Any advice from a sex bomb of a man who seems to have this part of things sewn up bigtime. John, Newton Le Willows, UK Question Three Hi David, do you really enjoy what you do? It sounds like you do, but it could also be an act. The reason i ask is I'm reading a book on the subject of finding what you love and it is quote clear that nobody truly finds what they love.  Am i aming too high? Kitty Ketinbanban

Bob Wheeler is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Bob Wheeler, a financial expert and motivator, book author, and founder of The Money Nerve? As a man of true integrity with infectious energy, Bob Wheeler’s crusade for personal growth has cross-pollinated with his accounting practice to create a new approach to personal finances. His passion is to help others gain insights about how their emotions trigger financial decisions. Combining finances with behaviors, Bob explores his personal concept of creating a healthy relationship with money in his recent book, The Money Nerve. While strengthening his accounting practice, Bob has simultaneously pursued his love of satire and ventured into the realm of standup comedy.

My Business Is Earning Money But A Mess & Other Questions Through the many years of Join Up Dots, we have inspired people from across the world to take control of their lives, start building their own income and have a kickass life. But of course, its not as easy as simply saying that you want to do it and it just happens. You need to of course start, but you also (and this is the hardest part of it all) need to truly believe that you can make things happen. That is where the difficulties start and the voices in your head start to take control of the situation and things go off the rails. Well in todays podcast episode we answer just three of the many questions that come into the show on a daily basis asking for help. These ones however are a bit different, as they aren't just people struggling to make a difference in their lives. Two of the questions are from people who have got things in a good position and now need a little bit of assistance to take it to the next level. Lets start with question one, and of course you need to listen to the show to hear the full, expansive answers.

Rusty Gaillard is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. As a transformational coach & motivational speaker of Silicon Valley Dream builders todays guest helps men and women experience more freedom in their lives. He left a 13+ year career at Apple in 2019 to focus full-time on helping others transform their life to one they love. His passion for this work comes from his personal experience of transformation, including life changes he chose, and those he didn't. Starting with a voluntary demotion in 2010 to spend more time with his young son, a multi-year divorce, and launching a new career in 2018, he learned that how we react to life’s events matters more than the event itself.

Have you ever had the pain from experiencing gout, or i guess any terrible pain in your life. You know the kind of pain that keeps you awake at night, and wont allow you to relax or breath without grabbing at you with its red hot claws. Well over the last few weeks, I have had the worse experience  of pain that i think i might be able to deal with. But yet it didn't bring me to my knees because of it. So why is it that some people can tackle terrible obstacles head on, whilst others allow themselves to be victimised because of it? Why do some people manage to find the strength to say to the world "This is my life and I'm in control"? Well this is the podcast for you as within the next fifteen minutes we try to break down the two or three elements that can take your life to higher and higher adventures.

Misha Rubin is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Misha Rubin provides transformational career programs which are designed for people to discover careers that bring a sense of  meaning, fulfilment, and abundance. Until recently, he was a partner at a "Big Four" management consulting firm, where he spent 15 glorious years. He managed $100M+ worth of projects; navigated dozens of corporate cultures; advised hundreds of clients; guided hundreds of careers. His corporate experience combined with his experience studying with many profound teachers and his personal quest for meaning and fulfilment; birthed The Career Leap method, a guided inquiry that brings awareness to the deep parts of oneself, creates new career possibilities and moves individuals into action.

Eric Dunavant joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast Growing up, Eric’s own family faced an unexpected tragedy that transpired in the loss of the family business and wealth. This loss fuelled Eric’s passion for empowering families and businesses live a better story by being more intentional. It was during this time that Eric discovered that money doesn’t cause problems; it simply magnifies and exposes the smallest issues we ignore today. Since 2007, Mr. Dunavant’s leadership of Paradiem has guided multiple families and businesses to create Intentional Transformation by discovering the Greatness, Growth, Governance and Generosity in their story that can impact today, tomorrow and eternity. Paradiem’s experience is that most families do not realize that the pursuit of ROI (Return on Investment) is not in alignment with their true ROI (Return on Intention) and often creates unintended consequences. Most good tax and estate plans fuel poor family outcomes. As he says "“You're living a good story.  What if living a better story allowed you to pay less taxes and be more generous without changing your lifestyle?” Well there is a lot to uncover in todays episode, so what actually is "living a good story" and being more intentional? And where does the business find its biggest growth with so many people now living in a state of stasis against good story creating? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Eric Dunavant.

In today's episode we start discussing the big failing that most companies and business fail with. That is the Value Ladder, that takes a customer on a journey to more and more expensive products. You see so many businesses hope the best by allowing for a huge drop off in their business through visitors disappearing from their services. They land they look around and they depart forever. So what can you do to make sure they hang around and become a potential customer somewhere down the line. You build a funnel and value ladder as you will see in today's show.   The Email That We Received Hi David, i have waited for years to drop you a line. Many times I have hovered over the keyboard with fingers twitching and yet, something held me back from typing. Isn't it funny how something so easy and simple can be so difficult. Just like you mentioned the other day when you spoke about walking up to a girl or boy and asking them on a date. Your throat closes up, Your mind goes blank, and you just turn red, and turn on your toes. Anyway, today I am feeling brave and so want to ask you about something you said the other day (i apologise I forget what show it was as I listen to several a day) You mentioned something about creating a business which is very black and white. You lose potential customers without being able to do anything about it. Is this because of the business, the products, or simply the wrong customers. I guess you can see that this comment lead to a major epiphany with me. In fact i sat back in my chair at work (yes, I do listen in the cubicle longing for a escape everyday) and thought long and hard about it. I have a business that operates at the weekend. I offer nail services for ladies, and although I post my prices and what I offer (and I know that I am cheaper than most of the other companies in my town) it is limping along. Some Saturdays are good, whilst others leave me sitting on my own in the office for eight hours waiting for any drop ins. Do you think that I have done something fundamentally wrong with the business to make this occur? Thanks so much for what you do everyday to keep us mind zombies from despair. Keep em coming and ill keep on listening Jen Felder, Kenya

Smartphone Video Marketing founder Daryl Cygler joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the founder and creator of Smartphone Video Marketing, a video marketing company with a difference. As he says "Smartphone Video Marketing helps empower SME businesses to create their own video marketing content without the need for video production companies, without the need for expensive film equipment and without filmmaking experience - all through the power of their smartphone. These are the same principles that I learnt from mobile journalists that produce prime time news stories for global news brands. And if smartphone video content is good enough for prime-time TV it sure as hell is good enough for a business owner to use in their marketing channels.

Ian Pribyl is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He has appeared on the show twice before and falls into a rare band of people who have now appeared three times. Although unlike the others who have spread their knowledge through Join Up Dots over around eight years, he has done it all in about eight months. The reason why, is he gets it. He understands the struggles that you guys have with getting started online and building a lifechanging income by yourselves. He understand that the failures that knock us off track actually are the learning points which can take us forward to more and more success. So although I have never personally met him, i know that he is a great mate to me and the show. And its a delight to have the author of From Nothing once more joining up some dots with us. So what is the thing that when he looks back at what he has achieved is the thing that he wishes he could tell the world "Oh, watch out for this" And why does the world only show the new guys the sexy stuff above the surface and not what they really need to get going? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Ian Pribyl it rhymes with dribble.

Introducing Rick Kantor Rick Kantor is today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is a huge delight for me, as he is a second time guest on the show and quite simply has flourished since last appearing. Rick Kantor does things his way, even to at the age of 61 going back to graduate school and getting a Masters in Creativity and Innovation, when to be honest the majority of us are glad that education finished in our teens. What makes this even more unusual is that this is a guy who has started and run several successful companies, ranging from a novelty manufacturing company, to Terrasanti a natural wall product made from American Clay, which has won many awards over the last few years He classes himself as a life term entrepreneur, but its the fascination for continued education that is so inspiring, as 10 years ago when he sold his novelty manufacturing company moved to a new town in California and spent the next 3 years getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and mixed media from Sonoma State. But now since our first recording he really seems to have stepped into the person that he wanted to be all along. The person that walked boldly into every situation and makes a difference to who he meets. How The Dots Joined Up For Rick As he says "I'm all about every person in the workplace profoundly recognizing that their next creative thought-- whoever they are and wherever they work in whatever job position--might be the 'Jenga' moment that topples the wall of ordinary to provoke an extraordinary disruptive innovation. I ignite this capacity in others through teaching the skills of creativity (yes, teachable!), individual and team coaching, dynamic highly energized and humorous presentations, speaking and keynotes. I draw on a lifetime of creative success, companies and products. As a serial entrepreneur, my businesses have been at the intersection of novelty, art, satire and consumer products that balance on the societal edge. We all need catalysts to make new creative connections that are tomorrow's disruptive ideas, services and products. That's what I bring to my audiences to provoke their capacity for finding the best unexpected ideas. Teaching the skills of creative thinking to organizations builds creative leadership and culture that is systematic and systemic. So would he say that since our last recording the person that he is, is night and day different to what he was? And where is his sweet-spot now in business and life? What is igniting him to greater and greater achievements. Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Rick Kantor. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Rick Kantor such as: Why it is so important to find the enjoyment in any task  no matter how boring. Look deep and you can find the fun believe me. Rick shares the battle that he has with getting his name out there, by tooting his own horn to create clients. A battle that most entrepreneurs have daily Rick talks openly about his belief that there is no such thing as originality anymore, all the clues to our own success are already waiting for us to pick up. and lastly...... We talk about the creation of the Join UP Dots branding and why looking at the big picture isnt always the best way to success.

I'm in a funk is one of those things that most of us feel every now and again. You know that feeling of just being out of sorts and losing perspective of what is good in life? Well we received an email from a listener of Join Up Dots, who isn't just feeling the "I'm in a funk" vibe for a few days. This listener has been in this state of mind for a few years now. So lets start with the question and then of course you can listen to the show to hear the answer. Listener Question Dear David, i am reaching out to you to see if you can share some insight as to the steps I can take to change my current situation. I'm in a funk. Mentally and physically I am feel more and more lethargic everyday, and ill be honest I stopped listening to your show for about a year as your chirpiness and positivity started to make my skin crawl. I would think "Oh, just fuck off" and switch off the podcast, even though I admit i was in the wrong and knew that you were right. Now a year later, and through all the changes that have been forced upon us from powers outside of our control I want to take back the control in my life. I am sick of being the person who lets life happen to them, and want a piece of what you have. So two questions, if you have time to respond. Firstly, do you ever get into a head fuck place when you just cant shake yourself out of a slump? Do you ever think "Im in a funk" at all? And secondly what can I do to start making a difference in my life? Thank you, and sorry for switching off my your podcast as I know its the best one out there, I was just in a wrong place (and still in a wrong place) for your wisdom. J, Canada

Virtual Assistant Expert Joe Rare is a serial entrepreneur, marketing strategist, business coach, and venue owner/partner. To this date, he owns four digital companies, a wedding venue, an association for event venues and invests in real estate. His first business was a door-to-door product sales company that grew from 2 to 40 employees in 19 months, then he sold it after 27 months. His passion for sales never dimmed, but he discovered what his life’s work would be - building digital businesses. The road was never easy for him. The first digital agency he built and the succeeding ones didn’t make it, but he was then able to successfully win the race of having multiple 7-figure a year businesses. How The Dots Joined Up For Joe Since then, his businesses have been generating a continuous and substantial flow of income and he focuses on helping small- to medium-sized businesses around the world, while working from the comfort of his home in Montana and enjoying the presence of his wife and two girls. All of his companies are fully being run by his virtual assistants: Now that is the key element to the story which is so fascinating. He has managed to separate himself from the day to day running of the business by hiring virtual assistants? So how did he manage to find the right ones that he could trust and didn't have to micro manage? And where do the ideas come from that gets him excited and ready to build? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Joe Rare

Chester Santos is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is better known as the International Man Of Memory, but you we know him as a memory expert and motivational speaker best known for winning the USA Memory Championship. With his unparalleled ability to not only demonstrate extraordinary feats of the mind, but also educate others to do the same, this U.S. Memory Champion is widely regarded to be the world’s leading memory skills expert. Through his entertaining and educational television appearances, professional seminars, and renowned presentations, Chester has helped millions of people around the world to realize the benefits of improved memory and a sharper mind. He is also highly sought-after by the media for his exceptional skills and expertise. CNN, ABC, PBS, NBC, CBS, and the Science Channel have all featured Chester and his memory building tips for viewers.

Throughout the last 2000 episodes of Join Up Dots, it has become clear to me that certain traits are demonstrated time and time again. It doesn’t matter if it is from an Online Marketer, an astronaut, athlete, or entrepreneur you can find that within the person being interviewed, they all display the same attributes that build success. Over the next few months we are going to bring you The Join Up Dots: Definitive Guide To Success series, highlighting those developed strengths which your can duplicate in your own life. Take the learnings and struggles of the super achievers and work on each and everyone as you bring them into your own life. Use their skills to shine the light on your own success, and take you to wherever you dream to be. In todays episode we are going to discuss the most important of them all. You have to realise that if you dont start to take the actions needed to create your own life nobody else will. Its down to you. Ready?

In todays episode of Join Up Dots we reflect back on the last seven years of struggle, success and achievement. The reason for this reflection is quite simply 30th April 2021 is the seventh birthday of the launch of Join Up Dots. Throughout those years many things have occurred, some amazing, some terrible and some truly terrible. But did we learn anything from this period of online meandering? Did we discover anything that we can bring onto the show to help others in their own journeys? Well of course we did as that is what we are all about on Join Up Dots.

Noa Shaw is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots Podcast Now 14 years sober, Noa Shaw has truly turned his life around. One things for sure his life hasn't been easy, with a drugs and alcohol dependency taking grip at an early age. Throughout his teens and the majority of his adult life his daily routine revolved around selling or taking drugs. But eight years ago his life took a turn for the better when he wandered into a SoulCycle studio that was just opening up in Los Angeles. SoulCycle is a fitness company that is the gold standard in cycling workouts. After his first workout, he was hooked. How The Dots Joined Up For Noa For three months, he attended every day – sometimes two workouts per day. He lost 100 pounds and got himself into shape both physically and mentally. The team at SoulCycle saw something in Noa and they invited him to audition as a fitness instructor. Now at 57 years old, he is the oldest SoulCycle instructor on the planet. And here in New York City, Noa has built a dedicated following of riders that are inspired by him on a regular basis. Today, he’s one of Soul Cycle’s most popular instructors and teaches sold-out classes in NYC multiple times a week. As a certified life coach, he guides his clients to become better versions of themselves by helping them identify and understand their purpose in order to achieve what they want in life. But it took many twists, turns, and trips to rehab for Noa to discover his calling: to help and be of service to others. In caring for others, Noa found healing for himself. So does everyone have the opportunity to find something that works for them, or does life need to say "Ok now its your turn to make it work" And where does he see the biggest issues with making a difference to other people. Their mindset or who they surround themselves with? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Noa Shaw.

Throughout the last 2000 episodes of Join Up Dots, it has become clear to me that certain traits are demonstrated time and time again. It doesn’t matter if it is from an Online Marketer, an astronaut, athlete, or entrepreneur you can find that within the person being interviewed, they all display the same attributes that build success. Over the next few months we are going to bring you The Join Up Dots: Definitive Guide To Success series, highlighting those developed strengths which your can duplicate in your own life. Take the learnings and struggles of the super achievers and work on each and everyone as you bring them into your own life. Use their skills to shine the light on your own success, and take you to wherever you dream to be.

Alex Caragiannides is our guest today, on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview. This is a man whose has overcome many obstacles on the way to where he is today. He first came to America as an immigrant and grew up in a North Side Greek community in Chicago. Alex learned early on that if you work hard and make yourself invaluable to others, you’ll never go hungry. This spirit continues to drive Alex’s work ethic to this day! However as the majority of people realise, it is great to understand you need to make yourself invaluable but where do you position yourself?

Success is something that most people are craving in their lives, but few realise that they have it already. Why is it that we can sit at our pc's starting at our tablets, and grabbing a Starbucks and not consider that for most people across the world we have won the lottery? In todays episode of Join Up Dots we break down one mans email, who clearly feels a failure but actually has success all around him. Now its time for us all to feel the same way.

Susan Fennema is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Susan is the Chaos Eradicating Officer (CEO) of Beyond the Chaos, a consultancy helping small business owners to simplify their operations and manage their projects so they can grow their businesses and get their lives back. With 30+ years of operations/project management experience in professional service industries, Susan is on a mission to improve American society exponentially. When not making multi-course dinners, she enjoys Texas A&M football games and Blackhawks hockey. She lives and works from her home in McKinney, Texas, with her husband, dog, and cat. But how did she create a life that seems like everything is in place and functioning like a well oiled machine?   

What Are The Benefits Of Drinking Water? Look we get it. We all know the benefits of drinking water, at least we should do.  From grass, to plants, to our beloved pets to, well everything - it all needs water to flourish, grow and become healthy. So why as humans do we struggle with bringing potentially the easiest health hack into our lives everyday? The answer is simple, water is a bit boring and lacks taste. Coco-Cola, coffee, wine, tea, juices will always win the day against a cool glass of water straight from the tap Benefits Of Drinking Water In The Morning Your body has been starved off liquid throughout the night, as you slept with your mouth wide open. Your mouth will feel dry when you awake, but actually your whole body is crying out for a glass of refreshing water. So lets kick start your day with reaching out to the pint of water that you took to bed the night before and glugging it down before you switch on the kettle. Leaving a glass of water by the side of your bed overnight is a brilliant way of  getting a glass of watery oxygen into your body straight away. Your water will be full of little bubbles that it has collected during the night - oxygen! So dont miss out on this quick win to your health as its the easiest thing to do, and will get you focused on benefits of drinking water straight away.   What Does Drinking Water Do To Your Body? I guess its more to say what doesn't drinking water do to you body? From alleviating constipation by making your poo softer, to making your skin youthful and glowing the wins come quick and fast. If you want better digestion, movement, and look and feel sexier then the following list will surely get you to see the benefits of drinking water. The benefits of drinking water for skin can not be underestimated. Honestly, if you dont see that your skin becomes clearer and blemish free by comprehensively increasing your water intake i will eat my hat. And believe me a hat is not my favourite food substance for sure. carrying nutrients and oxygen to your cells flushing bacteria from your bladder cushioning joints Helping digestion preventing constipation normalizing blood pressure stabilizing the heartbeat maintaining electrolyte (sodium) balance. protecting organs and tissues  regulating body temperature   So What Does Drinking Water Do That Is Bad Nothing....i cant think of anything that is bad for your body . Yes for a short time you will be popping to the loo a bit more, but this then will pass and you will be back to normal. Except you will feel better, not eat as much, have more focus and energy and look sexier too. Brilliant!

Tristan Bond is todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business podcast. He is an entrepreneur, business owner, consultant and marketing specialist, who began his career as a physiotherapist. From the outside looking in, he had a really profitable physiotherapy business. As he says "On paper things looked great and i was making more money than ever. I was getting really strong growth in my business....but I was doing it all the wrong way. That's when my life came crashing down around me. I had lost myself in the process of building my business. I was miserable, i was burnout. I worked insane hours and i couldn't sleep. I was fuelled by caffeine and my business was always on my mind. How The Dots Joined Up For Tristan When he realised he had an issue, he started to see that business owners everywhere were struggling to keep up with their workload, chaos and poor cash flow too. And through that process of redefining his business and building The Practice Acceleration Method, various business owners started asking for his advice on how to be successful. What he found was many companies were missing the following: 1) Lead generation – bringing in new customers 2) Conversion and retention – convert a lead to a sale 3) Management and leadership And that is the perfect place to start todays episode of Join Up Dots. So its easy enough to realise that you have an issue and totally different to do something about it. So what was the first step that he took to tackle those three headline grabbing business issues? And how did he feel when his overworked dad feel ill whilst he was talking to him, knowing that he was on the same track? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Tristan Bond. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with Tristan Bond such as:......... We talk openly about the emotional rollercoaster that starting a business Why thinking that the process of building our own business often has unreasonable expectations right from the very first start. Why the marketing message should be polarising to keep someone thinking about you, even if they dont always agree with you. and lastly....... Tristan shares his belief that working from home needs a fixed structure in place right from the start to prevent the feeling of isolatio

Design Hill Founder Rahul Aggarwal is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He was recognised and awarded as the Rising Entrepreneur of the year 2019 and Entrepreneur 35 under 35 in 2020 Since 2013. he founded Designhill.com, which is an online custom design marketplace that allows businesses to source high quality graphic designs at affordable prices. Currently the website has 23500 registered designers from around the globe. What it means in a nutshell is instead of going to freelance sites, or low quality outputs like Fiverr you can go where the designers are. Need a new logo for your business? How about full rebranding and design of your business?

Todays episode of Join Up Dots is a coaching session brought to you by the lovely listeners of Join Up Dots. Every week we receive many many emails into the show from people who are struggling with turning their lives around and making a difference to their families and their futures. In todays show we have grouped a few together based around the theme of overwhelm, stress and lack of motivation. Lets start with the first question of the day. Question One Hi David, thanks for everything you do and speaking to me a few months ago. Well i took your advice and undertook the Freedom Starter course and have started working on a small business in my town, providing small jobs to wives around my town. I am making half my current jobs income from this side hustle, but i am struggling to fit everything into my life, what with family commitments being added into the mix too. I know you spin many different plates so do you have any advice as to how to keep them all spinning? Your friend and padawan Buck Mitchell Question Two Hi David, long time listener of the show and have a quick question.  I have been following your advice and now I am about to launch my first business.  I wont say what it is at the moment, but i am pleased and excited with how its going.  My issue is, what should i do next. There seems to be so much that is needed as i can see where its headed. Any suggestions? Question Three Hi Join Up Dots, i would love to start my own business, but i already know that i am stressed with everything going on in my life. I also know that not everybody that takes control of their own life is in the perfect place so why am i different? I would love to hear any advice that you can give on the show, keep up the great work. Janinne, Arkansas Question Four Hi David, i lack motivation and find it very hard to get things going in my life and at work. How do you get pumped up ready to go when you dont feel like it? Would love to know. Maz Vinoya, Bucaramanga, Peru

Jyotsna Ramachandran is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is a lady who contacted me several years ago and appeared on the show after saying “I think that I should be on your show, because I am flexing the old hustle muscle everyday and doing it on my own terms too” Well, she didn’t quite say that, but it doesn’t take much more for me to think, this is the kind of guest I want to talk to, so she came on the show. This is a lady that like most of us got to a point in her life, when she looked at her job, and her personal situation and thought “I never want to be an employee again” Which can be one of the greatest realisations for self development, and the worst. You have the focus to take your life to where you want to be, but more often than not, you don’t have any idea how to do it. And that is the case with todays guest who then tried out various businesses to find her thing. She started a staff recruitment agency, became a franchisee of a chocolate brand, did freelance web designing, and none really hit the spot. How The Dots Joined Up For Jyotsna And interestingly from that point she is has transitioned again and is a now a bestselling author, book publisher, TEDx speaker, and is an international Author Success Coach who helps coaches, trainers, speakers, and experts to build a super-profitable author funnel with the help of their book. She has since the first appearance on the show founded Happy Self Publishing to help overwhelmed, yet purpose-driven authors experience a transformative journey of self-discovery through the process of publishing their book and amplifying their message. So far, Jyotsna has helped over 400 authors from 35 different countries through her global publishing agency, Happy Self Publishing. So is this now the thing that she has been looking for since first starting her entrepreneurial journey? And secondly why is a book such a powerful statement for building authority of  your personal brand? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Jyotsna Ramachandran

Taoism is the focus of todays episode of  the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast. Now if you haven't heard of Taoism before then this show will be an eye opener for you for sure. This is a principle that has been taking the world to storm, since first being created in China back around 2000 BC In fact other than the Bible, the Dao De Ching (the basis of the Taoist principles) is the most widely translated book the world has ever seen. 83 short poems that once deciphered can bring about huge changes in your life and your business. These were all brought to us by the founder of Taoism, a gentleman called Lao Tzu who although nobody is really sure if he existed or not has taken credited for this words. So lets start breaking things down to tie them into a business masterclass that all of us can learn from.

Isha Uppalapati is todays guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is an inspirational go getting young lady who not only has the passion to become a top entrepreneur, but also has the desire to drag others along for the ride too. She is the founder of A Girls Frontier, an organisation founded in 2018, whilst a senior at Walton High School in Atlanta, GA. She started A Girl’s Frontier to provide opportunities for young girls all over Metro Atlanta and the whole world As she says proudly "No matter where they may be, our organization makes sure that we can provide them with the necessary support for them to achieve their goals in life. Our programs focus on education, mentorship, and outreach. The goal of our non-profit organization in Atlanta, Georgia, is to empower young girls by helping them financially through their education, as well as teaching them important entrepreneurial skills. We want girls to know that they can be leaders in the business world, regardless of the challenges in their way."   How The Dots Joined Up For Isha Now this isn't something that just occurred over night as her entrepreneurial story started almost at the start of her life due to the loving support of her dad. She says "Ever since I was young, my dad and I would brainstorm different tools that we could produce. We tried to create little trinkets that would make life easier. We also wrote small children’s books. Over time, my desire to create new things has not faded. I want to create something that can create a change. This is why I want to create opportunities for girls who have similar dreams that I do, but don’t have the support to do it on their own." So does this dream make it doubly difficult to achieve the success that she quite obviously is going to get? Or in fact does it become easier by surrounding herself with so many similar ladies driven and focused on a bright future? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to join up dots with the one and only Isha Uppalapati Show Highlights During todays show we discussed such weighty subjects with Isha Uppalapati Isha shares how her father has started several companies in his life, which was so inspirational to her by his desire to never give up. We talk openly about the slow progress that all businesses go through right at the very beginning and how to build momentum. and lastly....... Isha shares her view that the girls of the world are often the diamonds that are ready to be polished.

The Steps To Success Episode 7 Throughout the last 2000 episodes of Join Up Dots, it has become clear to me that certain traits are demonstrated time and time again. It doesn’t matter if it is from an Online Marketer, an astronaut, athlete, or entrepreneur you can find that within the person being interviewed, they all display the same attributes that build success. Over the next few months we are going to bring you The Join Up Dots: Definitive Guide To Success series, highlighting those developed strengths which your can duplicate in your own life. Take the learnings and struggles of the super achievers and work on each and everyone as you bring them into your own life. Use their skills to shine the light on your own success, and take you to wherever you dream to be. In todays episode we are going to discuss the most important of them all. You have to realise that if you dont start to take the actions needed to create your own life nobody else will. Its down to you. Ready?

Shaa Wasmund is todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast. She is a lady who has built her life around taking action and making things happen. As she says "I’m an entrepreneur, public speaker and the author of #1 bestselling books ‘Stop Talking, Start Doing’ and ‘Do Less, Get More’. In 2015 I was awarded an MBE for ‘Services to Business and Entrepreneurship’ and was recently named one of the UK’s Top 20 Influential Entrepreneurs by The Sunday Times. Born in California to an English mother and Italian father, Ms Wasmund and her mother settled permanently in the UK when she was 10. After winning a scholarship to the prestigious City of London School for Girls, she studied international relations at the London School of Economics. How The Dots Joined Up For Shaa It was while at the LSE that Ms Wasmund, then 21, won a competition to interview Chris Eubank, then a middleweight world champion boxer. Eubank was so impressed with her confidence or "front" that he offered her the job of becoming his assistant. Ms Wasmund said yes, and so she started her business career in the competitive world of boxing. She  became the only female boxing promoter in the UK, representing World Champion Chris Eubank and working with the infamous Don King before starting my own PR company helping grow the Dyson brand from around Sir James Dyson’s kitchen table. From that point more and more hustle and success came her way, which isn't a surprise as he also says "I believe that we all have the ability to live the lives we dream of. We just don’t always know how. The greatest courage is to follow your own path even through the roughest terrain, rather than the path of least resistance. Nothing great is ever created in your comfort zone. I believe it’s OK to not know the answers, to feel stuck and frustrated; it happens to all of us. What’s not OK is to stay stuck." So when the big punches in the mouth occurred in her business, how did she dust herself down and get back up? And why is her number one piece of business advice "Hire A Cleaner" Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the only and only Shaa Wasmund MBE. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Shaa Wasmund MBE such as We talk about the difficulties that youngsters now deal with from coming from entitlement.  Shaa shares the lucky breaks that she has had in her life, especially in regards to working with the Genius James Dyson. Why a business becomes more and more successful the more you focus on the value you offer others. Its all about giving. and lastly........ Shaa tells us all why we have to visualise what we want in life and why it so important to get those images in my mind to make them happen.

Squircle author Francis Cholle, is todays guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the best-selling author of The Intuitive Compass and challenger of the status quo, he has also launched his new best seller SQUIRCLE to emphasise this thinking. SQUIRCLE offers a revolutionary way of thinking that’s especially relevant to anyone looking for ways to thrive in a climate of crisis. Cholle delivers a very simple approach to problem-solving, decision-making, and relationships that defies how culture has taught us to think. And SQUIRCLE is now a Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Amazon best seller. How The Dots Joined Up For SQUIRCLE As he says "Our culture has taught us that linear, rational thinking is the norm...and look where this got us. We’re in a pandemic with global warming, a recession, and threatening divisions in global politics and economies. We need a better way to think. SQUIRCLE recognizes the importance of our rational minds (SQUARE) while honouring the natural insights from our intuition (CIRCLE) — unlocking our capacity to find creative solutions and adapt to change. He has has taught and tested the SQUIRCLE model with his international consultant clients for over 15 years. This thinking has brought innovation and improved decision-making globally to over 250,000 people including graduate students from USC, Wharton and HEC, Paris, and corporate leaders at L’Oreal, J. P. Morgan Chase and Johnson & Johnson. So how can we all start today looking at our own squircles to make progress when times are tough? And how did this concept come to him. laying in the bath "eureka time" or simply through trial and error over many years. Well let's find out as we bring her onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Francis Cholle Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Francis Cholle such as: Why Francis decided to make his home base Los Angeles and the reasons why he never wanted to live on the beach and the ocean. Francis talks openly about his youth and how he always chose things that he enjoyed and would fill him up with passion. We share the principles of Chinese philosophies of tai chi and Taoism and how to bring it into your life and business. and lastly...... Why the words of Steve Jobs spoken at Stamford University plays perfectly into the methodology of squircle.

Todays episode of Join Up Dots will be a solo show answering several business questions that listeners of the show have been sending to us over the last few weeks. Most of them, that we receive into the Join Up Dots office are in connection with those first fledging moments of building an online business. It could be that they are unsure of the direction, concept or simply whether they should start.   So with no more further ado The Questions Hi David, this might be a stupid question but what is the true difference in your view of having and offline and online business. I know one will be cheaper but is there anything else?    Marcel Hadden. Israel David i have been hearing more and more that blogs are dead. If that is the case how can i start my own online business. I'm not comfortable with showing myself on video or on a podcast. Kind regards and keep rocking Marjorie Triffin, Yorkshire Hi David and the Join Up Dots team, what makes you keep on doing what you do? Its a simple question but one that I ponder, as so many other podcasters stop it seems. Barnaby Jacks  Yo David my man, loving the content fella (as you UK dudes say). I'm going to launch my first billion dollar business and want the world to know. You say it on air, and ill make it happen....no retreating its failure beating time. JJ M. Crompton, Los Angeles.

Introducing JT Mccormick Today's guest is JT Mccormick, who serves as the President and CEO of Scribe Media, a publishing company that helps you write, publish and market your book. The company has worked with more than 1,500 authors and Entrepreneur Magazine recently ranked Scribe as having the #1 Top Company Culture in America. Previously, JT served as the President of Headspring Software, which he helped grow to a multi-million dollar, 100-plus person company that was repeatedly ranked as one of the best places to work in all of Texas.  JT is also the author of I Got There: How a Mixed-Race Kid Overcame Racism, Poverty, and Abuse to Achieve the American Dream. His book tells the story of how he worked his way out of poverty, starting with his career cleaning toilets and eventually becoming the President of multiple companies. In addition to his role at Scribe Media, JT has mentored at-risk youth in the juvenile justice system, as well as youth in low economic communities. JT’s work has been featured on CNBC, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Inc, and many others. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Megan, and their four children Ava, Jaxon, Elle and Jace. So was it purely down to mindset and commitment that got him to where he is today? And where can we start today, if we have just one chance to move to the next level and change our mindset forever? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only JT Mccormick Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with JT Mccormick such as: Why you have to define happiness and success for yourself, and when you dont have much you can then define your own success. JT shares how he doesn't believe in work life balance but he does believe in five key pillars that he bases his life around. JT openly discusses how he has created a company culture that is life changing and that is by recognising the true workers before anyone else. And lastly........... We talk about how his father, although in an unusal job became the best at what he did, and was proud to see his son go the same way.

Lisa Cummings is the Clifton Strengths Finder Strength Coach, who 100% believes that it's a lot better to become great at what you are good at and leave behind the poor stuff. She has built an amazing coaching business all around the work done by Gallup as we discovered the last time she appeared on the show back on episode 510 . As she says "I sometimes call myself the Chief Strengths Sleuth because I spend my days uncovering hidden talents on your teams. Remember that song "It's Your Thing" by the Isley Brothers? I use those lyrics like a spotlight glass to amplify people's differentiators. It's how I help you and your team figure out "your thang" so you can be more productive at work. Starting her career as a Sales Executive for Business To Business back in 1998, it appears that the path best trodden for her actually started when moving into staff development. Like myself she has spent most of her working life, building the strengths of individuals in corporations to make better, higher functioning teams. Getting people to feel inspired by the working day instead of dreading that ringing sound by the side of the bed. How The Dots Joined Up For Lisa But what interests me is what personally was driving her back in the day. As with a career strewn with employment lasting a couple of years at each time, it is clear to me that her ambition, was equally matched with a desire to find her thing too. And now as a podcaster herself, or as she calls herself the Chief Strengths Sleuth: Host of the “Lead Through Strengths”​ Podcast: she helps people find and leverage their strengths at work. Complimenting her workshops, keynote speaking and by performing a role of StrengthsFinder Performance Coach, which as you know is a publication that I have recommended many times on the show she is busier than ever.. So what is it about keynote strengths that lit her up inside and made her want to build a business around it? And with all the issues that the world has seen in the last year, has she found more personal strengths that she didn't have. So lets bring her onto the show to start joining up even more dots with the one and only Lisa Cummings Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Lisa Cummings such as: How Lisa and I both share how we both went through the dark times of entrepreneurship and the steps we took to climb back into the light. Why you should only do the things that fill you up with energy and not depletes you. and lastly...... Why your strengths can be so powerful in every area, but can also be used for evil and work against you if you are not careful.

Happiness Expert Becky Morrison is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is a UC Berkeley Certified Executive Coach with a passion for helping people live happy, priority-aligned lives. After a successful career in financial services, as a litigator and then in law firm administration, managing several hundred attorneys and staff at one of the country’s premier litigation firms, she was looking for a new challenge and transitioned to a small investment firm where she was COO. This transition helped her recognize that her true passion was people, she started her own coaching practice. Now through this process as she says "Many entrepreneurs and business leaders struggle to find happiness whilst balancing work and life. My advice is simple, “Do more of what matters and let go of the rest”, but of course it isn’t that easy to implement. I love to share my formula that has helped many high potential leaders overcome their happiness gaps. The formula consists of understanding what truly matters, believing that you deserve to be happy, introducing new and healthy habits and being diligent when saying no to those distractions, pulling you away from true happiness.  So is it possible to find true happiness and of course maintain it, or is contentment a better aim to have? And when she started her own business was it instant happiness or like most of us, it took a while to find the smile? So lets bring him onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Becky Morrison Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Becky Morrison such as: Why happiness is not being up all the time, but it is being aware of the emotions that you are feeling at that time. Why everybody should focus more on their to dont list, instead of going for the to do list every single time.  How to reframe things to find the positives in your life even if its something like paying bills and taxes. and lastly...... Why knowing and understanding the seasons of life and business and being aware of the changes will happen.

The Steps To Success Episode 6 Throughout the last 2000 episodes of Join Up Dots, it has become clear to me that certain traits are demonstrated time and time again. It doesn’t matter if it is from an Online Marketer, an astronaut, athlete, or entrepreneur you can find that within the person being interviewed, they all display the same attributes that build success. Over the next few months we are going to bring you The Join Up Dots: Definitive Guide To Success series, highlighting those developed strengths which your can duplicate in your own life. Take the learnings and struggles of the super achievers and work on each and everyone as you bring them into your own life. Use their skills to shine the light on your own success, and take you to wherever you dream to be. In todays episode we are going to discuss the most important of them all. You have to realise that if you dont start to take the actions needed to create your own life nobody else will. Its down to you. Ready?

Sales Coaching Expert Diane Helbig is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Last joining us in the first year of Join Up Dots on episode 304, 1700 shows ago. She could have been taken straight from that classic movie “Dead Poets Society” as her mantra in life and her company name is “Seize This Day” “Carpe Diem” is the way forward if you want to have a kick ass life, both personally and professionally. And our guest has demonstrated that everyday as after a successful 20 years in sales and business development she took the experience that she has gained and took the leap of faith. In early 2006, she launched her coaching practice where she helps individuals and small business to see the opportunities all around them, and bound over the obstacles that they may see as game stoppers. In her book, Lemonade Stand Selling, she offers a straightforward, common sense and clear guide to the sales process. She reminds her readers that selling is as easy as when you had that lemonade stand as a child. So if selling is so easy who do people struggle so badly, especially when building an online business. And is there one thing that people can do straight away to simplify the process and start seeing rewards? So lets bring him onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Diane Helbig Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Diane Helbig such as: We link the dating process to the sales process and learn how to get past the big no's How Donald Trump managed to get himself to the top by knowing his followers and market first and foremost. Diane shares why she feels that most business owners have to go through different versions of themselves to find success. and lastly...... Why Matthew McConaughey is the perfect example to study for real sales coaching success.

Mindset Expert Christopher Dedeyan joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast today. He is a public speaker, entrepreneur and energy boosting productivity guy which wasn't the case just a few years ago. Diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of eight, he was faced with many failures along the way. Because of his relentless attitude of never giving up, the failures taught him how to succeed. He attributes a huge part of his success as an entrepreneur to the lessons he learned growing up in the schooling system as a dyslexic. Stepping away from school he then developed his entrepreneurial skills and communication skills during the five years he built and ran his real estate brokerage company. During that time, Christopher noticed that he could help his colleagues with self-development by incorporating new rituals and habits in their lives that help them not only in their business but in their personal lives as well. How The Dots Joined Up For Christopher As he says "If you’re living the feast or famine lifestyle and you’re always stressed about money, you need to get off that rollercoaster fast. The lack of structure in your business and unorganized agenda is not only the culprit, but also a symptom of an even greater problem that you must first address, before the rest of these puzzle pieces can fall into place. But what can you do about this? The answer lies in mindfulness about everything you do. The way you do anything is the way you do EVERYTHING. So, starting with the details of how you wake up, how you fuel yourself, and the intentional actions you bring to your daily routine, you can begin to perform at peak levels. While most driven entrepreneurs want to skip all the work involved with the details, if you look closely you’ll see that the most successful sales professionals are diligent about consistently following systems that drive results. So as the old song says "its not what you do, its the way that you do it and that's what gets results" SO what is the main mistake that people have when building their businesses, focusing in on everything except the money making activities? And what would he do differently if he could back and change one or two of the dots that have lead him to where he is today. So lets bring him onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mindset Expert Mr Christopher Dedeyan

Throughout the last 2000 episodes of Join Up Dots, it has become clear to me that certain traits are demonstrated time and time again. It doesn’t matter if it is from an Online Marketer, an astronaut, athlete, or entrepreneur you can find that within the person being interviewed, they all display the same attributes that build success. Over the next few months we are going to bring you The Join Up Dots: Definitive Guide To Success series, highlighting those developed strengths which your can duplicate in your own life. Take the learnings and struggles of the super achievers and work on each and everyone as you bring them into your own life. Use their skills to shine the light on your own success, and take you to wherever you dream to be. In todays episode we are going to discuss the most important of them all. You have to realise that if you dont start to take the actions needed to create your own life nobody else will. Its down to you. Ready?  

Finding meaning in life is the undercurrent for todays episode of Join Up Dots business podcast. We will be answering some questions from listeners across the world who have dropped us a line asking for help in their businesses and life. One thing for sure is nobody can get success in their lives if they do not focus in on personal and business balance. Now we aren't talking about the classic work life balance myth, whereby everything sits in a neat little area and doesn't over power anything else. No, believe me when I say that work life balance is a complete myth as at its core it doesn't make sense. We have one life and have to lead it in a way that by the end of the day everything that we wanted to achieve gets done. Business is just part of our life, so how can we separate it and make it seem like its something separate - it's own entity. We cant and its madness. But what we can do is say that we are going to look after ourselves, physically, spiritually and mentally before we ever start tackling the income production side of things. But before that lets start looking at some of the questions that we have received this week from listeners and do our best to give them the depth that they need. And of course you can listen to the show for all the reasons.  

Perry Marshall is my guest today for the second time, on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview. He is an a man who Entrepreneur Magazine states, “This guy is the #1 author and world’s most-quoted consultant on Google Advertising. But that was years ago, one thing for sure is Perry loves nothing more than to tackle new projects and author new books. In fact the last time he was on the show he was discussing the works of Charles Darwin and how they also applied to business. His newest book, Detox, Declutter, Dominate: How to Excel by Elimination (co-authored with Robert Skrob) reveals how readers can grow their business 4X faster by eliminating 80% of wasted effort.  Step 1: Use renaissance time to gain discernment and clarity. Perry shares how to establish mindfulness habits to maximize your creative and productive space Step 2: Make your business 2x more profitable with 80/20 focus. How to stop “jumping over dollars to get the quarters” and optimize your efficiency! Step 3: Managing your time is all about subtraction, not doing more! Step 3 teaches you how to Earn $1,000 per hour at least one hour per day with 80/20 time. Step 4: Create an irresistible product that’s easy to use by simplifying. Learn how to keep it simple for the customer in order to create a product that is valuable and not easily replicable. Step 5: You’re not doing yourself any favors by trying to be cheaper and better in a saturated market. The Star Principle reveals why 80% of the profit comes from 20% of companies in the stock market. Use the Star Principle to carve out a niche where you’re number one! Step 6: Build an impenetrable moat around your business. Perry shares sure-fire ways to insulate your business from competition. Step 7: There are two kinds of entrepreneurs: business builders and artistic entrepreneurs. If you’re an artist but work like a business builder, you will burn out your inner artist. Freedom is a lifestyle choice, and step 7 will show you how to enjoy the freedom to create and reinvent every single day. So how can someone starting in business today bring such clarity into their business and life, when most people simply makes things up as they go a long. And out of the Seven steps, which was the one that he actually thought "you know I could actually be a little bit better at this one myself" Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Perry Marshall.

Why have we all stopped laughing nowadays? You may say we haven't, but i look around the world and I dont see an awful lot of people throwing their heads back and screaming with laughter. Do you know when a baby comes into the world, very quickly it will start giggling. They estimate that will be somewhere around 300 times a day. By the time that baby has grown to 13 it will laugh around 50 times a day, and then the shocking fact. A thirty year old will only laugh around 3 times per day if that. In todays episode we try to discover why that is, and most importantly what we can do about it.

Brian Gregory is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast interview. He is the Founder and CEO of ADMANITY.com and creator of the breakthrough algorithm behind The ADMANITY Protocol. ADMANITY® is the first company to create an online test and predictive emotional algorithm to determine the best emotional advertising strategy for any business - in any niche. The 5-minute, simple ADMANITY® Test isolates one of 15 emotional archetypes best suited for the business. The ADMANITY® Protocol is the only algorithm that can identify a company’s emotional archetype and then identify the advertising strategies, tactics, formulas - even copywriting tactics. It gives agency-level recommendations that the brand can use for years to come. How The Dots Joined Up For Brian As they say "ADMANITY's mission is to support and grow small businesses by helping them better understand how and why advertising works for their particular brand. The knowledge they will gain from our product will result in the business gaining greater success. Most business owners, managers, and even those responsible for communication outreach do not understand advertising other than on a basic level. They are simply too busy to learn it, go to school, or become experts. Most fail miserably at creating messaging and advertising. Only the largest or more successful companies or those with the financial ability to invest can afford professional agency help. The other 98% simply do without proper guidance or the knowledge to implement their outreach effort, and they struggle. This equates to a market of approximately 30 million small businesses in the U.S." Brian is a former 20-year owner/publisher of large, citywide magazines in the Phoenix market as well as an expert in direct selling. In addition to creating ADMANITY’s algorithm for The ADMANITY® Protocol and its testing platform, he has written over 2,000 pages of ADMANITY® curriculum and training materials as well as being the author of the book Sheep Don’t Eat Complicated Grass! Brian is considered an expert on the topic of emotional marketing and advertising tactics and is a skilled, entertaining public speaker. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Brian Gregory. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Brian Gregory such as: Why Brian loves the statements that prove all branding is showing the true strength of storytelling. Why Brian finds the minutia of what we think our brand is to be truly fascinating and more often wrong. and lastly…. Brian shares the principles of sales and explains why everything works faster when you bring emotional aspects into things.

Todays show is a coaching based episode whereby David Ralph, the host of Join Up Dots, and founder of Dream Starters Academy Coaching answers listeners questions directly. He will also spend time reflecting on what occured in his show in 2016, and his plans going forward, This is a no holds bared version of the show, that will cover the following subjects sent in by listeners of Join Up Dots I am hearing a lot of people talking about sales funnels. Do you think that this is ethical or not David, and also what do you prefer for creating Sales Funnels? - Isabel Grazzi New York Hi David, i a have a huge problem that i struggle with all the time. I am a constant worrier and its making me ill. You dont seem to have a worry or care in the world. Any tips that you can share with me as I would like to be more like you - Jamelia Branch, Liverpool I am thinking of doing a podcast do you think I should do an interview show or solo, as i have deliberated over this for a year now. I see that you do mostly interviews but have started this coaching shows (which are super useful thank you) - Lin Pai, Phillipines My colleague started a business that failed after six months. He now wants to do another one with me helping him this time. Do you think that this is wise after his initial failure? - Ray Coulter.....Australia I have heard you talk about providing value first and foremost, but how do I do this? I dont have anything to offer anyone who might be able to help me - Claire Edmonds What music do you like most David? - Leah Bowls, Jackson Country Florida If you want to get your question answered on the show then simply drop us a line to: Email: joinupdots@gmail.com Facebook 

Throughout the last 2000 episodes of Join Up Dots, it has become clear to me that certain traits are demonstrated time and time again. It doesn’t matter if it is from an Online Marketer, an astronaut, athlete, or entrepreneur you can find that within the person being interviewed, they all display the same attributes that build success. Over the next few months we are going to bring you The Join Up Dots: Definitive Guide To Success series, highlighting those developed strengths which your can duplicate in your own life. Take the learnings and struggles of the super achievers and work on each and everyone as you bring them into your own life. Use their skills to shine the light on your own success, and take you to wherever you dream to be. In todays episode we are going to discuss the most important of them all. You have to realise that if you dont start to take the actions needed to create your own life nobody else will. Its down to you. Ready? Excuses Situations Perfect Conditions.

Fabienne Raphael is our guest today, on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview. And that isn't the first time that I have muttered these words over the last eight years as last appeared back in 2017. What can we tell you about her, well this a lady who has been creating her success from the ground up in amazing effect. Starting her journey around the same time that Join Up Dots launched, she has been out there every day, hustling, upskilling and sharing her talents with the world She was the last time we spoke to hers the President & CEO of Marketing to Crush Your Competitors, also an Online Business Strategist, Professional Speaker, Author and Podcaster. She works with entrepreneurs, coaches and start-up's to build their online platform so they can be seen as an authority, connect with influencers and cash in on their knowledge. She has published 3 books (one a best seller!), been featured on Forbes and The Huffington Post. How The Dots Joined Up For Fabienne As a former elite athlete, including playing in the PanAm games, and a former physiotherapist helping her clients get to their optimum health, she is a genius at mapping out a strategic path to victory. But to be honest, you can throw all the big words in the world in her direction and it will never show the simple fact, that she cares. She cares about her business. She cares massively about her clients. She cares about making the most of each day. And that is part of what we will talk about today....loving something so much that your bring into the world something that you couldn't imagine at the beginning So is her business where it is because of the struggles she has overcome or the successes that came easily? And what is the biggest issue that her clients bring to her, stopping them from achieving the same success? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Fabienne Raphael

Rana Vig is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast interview. Rana is a seasoned entrepreneurial professional with five successful start-ups in different verticals and a diverse 35-year business career under his belt. Having transitioned to the capital markets in 2010, Rana took two companies public, and these were the biggest Canadian venture deals of 2018. Curaleaf raised $520 million and was a near billion reverse takeover (RTO). While Harvest Health and Recreation was yet another impressive billion RTO. But our guest wasnt just going to sit back and rest on his laurels. How The Dots Joined Up For Rana Instead he started digging into the trends and started searching for a new market, which for many was seemed as old hat. Gold and mining came to the fore and Rana also took Blue Lagoon Resources, the gold-focused company of which he is the current CEO and which had one of the top-performing stocks for 2019, public in the following year. Outside of business, Rana is a well-known philanthropist and in November 2017, the Canadian Senate invited him to receive the Senate 150th Anniversary Medal for those who make their communities a better place to live through generosity and dedication. So why do so many businesses fail in the first five years of creation in his view? And looking back over his years is it obvious why he has built success, or is it simply being in the right place at the right time? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Rana Vig. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Rana Vig such as: Why the biggest mistake all businesses make is being focused on creating income instead of looking for the biggest problem that they can solve. We reveal the truth behind the statement "Amateurs invent, whilst professionals steal" which can save you years of effort and expense. Rana shares his belief that most people spend more time trying to improve their weaknesses than simply focusing in on their strengths. and lastly…. How the most powerful computer the world has ever seen was built by something more powerful and underused.

Sometimes Pain Occurs In Life There is no doubt in life that sometimes things wont go your way no matter how hard you have worked. You might have decided you wanted something, or i guess been promised something and at the last minute it gets taken away from you. Guess what? That's life, and within the circle of life there are only two certainty's for sure.: Death and Taxes Away from those no one can control how life is going to be and what will happen to us. What an adventure eh? Just imagine climbing out of bed and knowing like Indiana Jones setting out on a mission, you are up against it from the very start. Punches will be thrown in your direction without notice, and its your job to take a few on the chin and then fight back to keep on going. Traps will be set, that like exploding death traps will force you to leap out of their way with a smile as you once again keep moving forward. You are the hero of your own life, and everyday gives you the opportunity to write your own story of excitement and daring do. Why Do We Think We Can Control Things? This is a very good question and one that humans have struggled with since the beginning of time. How can we make our environments as controlled as possible, so we dont feel any discomfort? Yes we can add central heating to a stony and cold house to make the winter nights more bearable. Yes, we can buy air conditioning units to chill the hottest of summer days. But these are all ways that we control environment and not life. Time cant be controlled and will forever be lost and never gained again. Family and loved ones will come and go, leaving us with broken hearts and fond memories of happy times. But in the great scheme of things we cant do anything other than go for the ride Sometimes You Have To Take It Up The Bum In todays podcast episode your hose David Ralph, shares a painful experience that he had and looks for the positives to change it in his heart and head. He wants to take the phrase of Sometimes You Have To Take It Up The Bum, and convert it into "ok, you might have to, but it doesnt have to be too painful. If you have had similar experiences and struggled with things that are occurring in your life then drop us a line at joinupdots@gmail.com We are here to help.

In todays episode of Join Up Dots we reveal two brand new businesses that have launched this week. Why are we doing this? Well quite simply nowdays you can almost have too many opportunities which can paralyse you before you ever get anything done and out to the world. In todays show we share a new business from a guy called Brian, and then another one by a buy called David who you might have heard off?

Jeffrey Madoff is todays guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the founder of Madoff Productions, based in New York City and is considered a storyteller and incisive interviewer. Now you may think that is a strange couple of facts to just throw into the introduction, but there is a reason for mentioning them. He has used those talents to help position major brands such as Ralph Lauren, Victoria’s Secret, Radio City Music Hall, and the Harvard School for Public Health. But this is just a fraction of the dots that have joined up to where he is today. Jeff began his career as a fashion designer. He was chosen one of the top 10 designers in the U.S. then switched careers to film and video production. He has since expanded his reach to include teaching, book and playwriting, and theatrical producing. How The Dots Joined Up For Jeffrey  Now the reason we wanted to have him on the show was to share his passion for teaching people how to make a living with their ideas. He believes that most of us have it in us to really change our futures and shine a light on ourselves simply by having more faith in our ideas. As he says “Most of us have had the feeling of ‘I could’ve done that,’ whether at an art gallery, watching a performance, or finding a new product or even a new business idea. What’s the difference between you and them? They actually did it. You didn’t.” With his new book "Creative Careers, you will learn how to do it, too: use your creativity; have a sustainable, profitable career; and do what you love. Creative Careers pulls from interviews with more than forty experts–notable entrepreneurs, artists, and business leaders–as well as from Madoff’s own decades of experience to supercharge your career. Creativity can often feel sporadic and unfocused, coming in bursts and peaks. That’s why Madoff focuses your professional path by asking vital questions that will ultimately help you: Determine your value Be smart about your hustle Ruthlessly edit down your creative projects Overcome fear and doubt Create a successful, long-lasting career on your own terms Well there is a hell of a lot that we can talk about today, so can an idea quite simply be mad, or is everyone worth looking at and digesting? And where does he see the biggest issue with todays entrepreneurs, who seem to have 100% attention deficit when getting the creativity to start flowing? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to join up dots with the one and only Jeffrey Madoff

Today’s guest, joining us today on the Join Up Dots entrepreneur podcast interview is Alfie Best, a man who has made a huge success of finding the potential in areas he has knowledge in and then working really hard to make it all come together. He is a successful entrepreneur driven by tenacity. With humble origins, born and raised in a Romany Gypsy family, this self-made man studied at “University of Life” and started his professional path totally from scratch. However, coming from a poor background and a minority group only gave him even more desire to succeed. As a gypsy, he had to face many obstacles and prejudices but he has never allowed those to ruin his dreams and ambitions or to disrupt his investments into the businesses he operates. Instead, he has taken those negative prejudices and turned them into positives by surrounding himself with a diverse and multicultural team. As he says "My philosophy for good business is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration; my sole focus is to drive the businesses forward without losing sight of the goal. Park homes were my upbringing so it was a natural progression to purchase a mobile home park; from 1 park to more than 40, Wyldecrest Parks has now become the No.1 Park Home Operator in the UK for the retired and semi-retired wishing to enjoy the quiet life and community spirit.  And when it  comes to seeing the potential in an idea, Alfie Best has a very up and positive outlook for sure.  "In my view" he says "there is no such thing as a bad idea, just the ability to drive it forward with a realistic approach." So if there is no such thing as a bad idea, why do so many people fail when it comes to starting a business? And if he looks back at his life has he learnt more from the knocks he has endured or from the  Well let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Alfie Best Show Highlights During the entrepreneur podcast show we had deep hitting conversations with Alfie Best around subjects such as: Alfie shares how the competition inspires him everyday to raise his own standards and that of his team. It truly is what lights his fire to find more and more value. We discuss how Jeff Bezos has created Amazon, and why it was nothing spectacular in the beginning but how he of course has hit it out of the park. Alfie Best talks openly regarding why he considers himself to be 99% stupid, and what it has done for his decision making. And lastly We discuss his plans for his business moving forward, and why Alfie Best cant wait to see what is possible in Europe And America.

John Paragon is todays guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He joins us with a fascinating story of struggle, achievement and ultimately clarity as to where his life is heading. As he says "As an aspiring business owner and Entrepreneur, even as a young child, I have always been a believer that EVERYONE should have their own “Side-Hustle” either as a hobby or with the intention of eventually replacing your Primary Income (usually a Day Job) In this day and age, it’s easier than ever to replace your Primary Income within a short period of time by creating a business opportunity closely related to what you already love. We ALL have the ability to change lives and create our own freedom. Sometimes we just need a little direction… How The Dots Joined Up For John Paragon And he certainly needed help to find his direction as barely scraping by, he eventually got his income slightly improved to a comfortable level. But still felt like I hadn’t made as much progress as he should have done by that point. As he says "Things really changed when I started building what is now my new “Primary Income” and I learned how to SERVE others and the money came gradually. I turned less than £10k into a 7 figure company in less than 3 years! And of course as I am a HUGE advocate of multiple streams of income and for everyone to have a “Side-Hustle”, here I am building my next empire from the ground, UP! I have managed to reach a place where I can manage my time and priorities so I only work an average of 15 hours per week. Yes, sometimes that’s slightly more but everything I do I enjoy so it’s easy to find the energy! And I want this for you too… Not only is it very possible, it’s almost a CERTAINTY if you follow what I show you. So how do we all get to this point if for so many people they fail to even get started. And where do people go wrong when they are focusing their efforts onto the new future they deserve. Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to join up dots with the one and only John Paragon Show Highlights During todays show we discussed such weighty subjects with John Paragon How John now loves being able to come to an external business and see things that his clients just cant, due to his expanding experience. Why its so important to find people in your environment that are ahead of your and start learning from their mindsets. John shares his process of how he got his successful business off the group. and lastly....... Why it is so important for people to outsource to preserve your energy as soon as you can

Throughout the last 2000 episodes of Join Up Dots, it has become clear to me that certain traits are demonstrated time and time again. It doesn’t matter if it is from an Online Marketer, an astronaut, athlete, or entrepreneur you can find that within the person being interviewed, they all display the same attributes that build success. Over the next few months we are going to bring you The Join Up Dots: Definitive Guide To Success series, highlighting those developed strengths which your can duplicate in your own life. Take the learnings and struggles of the super achievers and work on each and everyone as you bring them into your own life. Use their skills to shine the light on your own success, and take you to wherever you dream to be. In todays episode we are going to discuss the most important of them all. You have to realise that if you dont start to take the actions needed to create your own life nobody else will.

Throughout the last 2000 episodes of Join Up Dots, it has become clear to me that certain traits are demonstrated time and time again. It doesn’t matter if it is from an Online Marketer, an astronaut, athlete, or entrepreneur you can find that within the person being interviewed, they all display the same attributes that build success. Over the next few months we are going to bring you The Join Up Dots: Definitive Guide To Success series, highlighting those developed strengths which your can duplicate in your own life. Take the learnings and struggles of the super achievers and work on each and everyone as you bring them into your own life. Use their skills to shine the light on your own success, and take you to wherever you dream to be. In todays episode we are going to discuss the most important of them all. You have to realise that if you dont start to take the actions needed to create your own life nobody else will. In todays episode we look at one of the hardest things in life and that is believing in yourself. Creating that amazing mindset that starts things working on your behalf. So are you ready to start truly believing in yourself?

Michael F Schein is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He has a story that will resonate with so many of our listeners and also inspire a new way of thinking. He is the author behind "The Hype Handbook: 12 Indispensable Success Secrets From the World’s Greatest Propagandists" As he says "Your success depends on getting people to think of you first. But with so much competition in the marketplace, it has become increasingly difficult to attract anyone’s attention. In a perfect world, ideas would rise and fall on their own merits. But it’s not a perfect world. If you want your message to reach a big audience, you need a presence and a platform that shines. It’s hard to do, but some people (and companies) always seem to be able to make it happen. They’re the ones who are always in demand as speakers, sources for articles, and interview subjects. They’re the ones who can always find new business opportunities without effort.

Throughout the last 2000 episodes of Join Up Dots, it has become clear to me that certain traits are demonstrated time and time again. It doesn't matter if it is from an Online Marketer, an astronaut, athlete, or entrepreneur you can find that within the person being interviewed, they all display the same attributes that build success. Over the next few months we are going to bring you The Join Up Dots: Definitive Guide To Success series, highlighting those developed strengths which your can duplicate in your own life. Take the learnings and struggles of the super achievers and work on each and everyone as you bring them into your own life. Use their skills to shine the light on your own success, and take you to wherever you dream to be. In todays episode we are going to discuss the most important of them all. You have to realise that if you dont start to take the actions needed to create your own life nobody else will.

Nate Turner is todays guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Nate is the co-founder of Ten Speed, a tech-enabled content optimization company focused on helping companies get more results from the content they already have on their site. He is a marketing expert with over 12+ years in the trenches, with his sole purpose helping companies acquire more customers the easiest way possible. Along with his business partner Kevin, he started in SEO in 2008 when he joined Sprout Social as the first marketer in 2011 and brought Kevin on to lead SEO in 2013. For over 5 years, they worked together building the inbound engine and evolving the organic growth and content strategies to accelerate traffic and revenue growth. In 2018, Kevin left Sprout Social to become head of marketing for Review Trackers where he helped double organic traffic and build out the marketing team. In 2019, Nate left Sprout Social to focus on growth marketing consulting for companies like Help Scout, Zylo, and Hologram. How The Dots Joined Up For Nate As Nate and Kevin kept in touch and frequently discussed the latest in marketing, they kept coming back to how well content optimization works, how many companies don't do it well, and their overall passion for content & SEO. After defining a tech-enabled process that they felt would add tremendous value to companies without all of the headaches of trying to hire for these skill sets or evaluate big, bloated agencies, Ten Speed was born. There is a specific feeling of excitement and optimism when you see organic performance go up and to the right and seeing their customers experience this feeling is what fuels the Ten Speed team. So why do most business fail miserably at content marketing when there are so many avenues to get your brand out there? And how can we start the right way if we are entering into the online world today? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to join up dots with the one and only Nate Turner Show Highlights During todays show we discussed such weighty subjects with Nate Turner: How to decide the best route to working on the right opportunities within a business so you aren't spinning too many plates. Why it is such a powerful strategy to go over your old content and renew to please Google as much as possible. Nate shares the issues that it takes to create a new company and why he is focused on not making the mistakes that he has seen elsewhere. and lastly....... Why its such a powerful statement of intent to reengineer your online business inline with the growth.

Joseph Fung is the CEO of Uvaro, a tech sales career accelerator, and of Kiite, a sales enablement platform purpose-built to provide sales teams with the information they need when they need it. As he says "We started Uvaro because the old approach to tech hiring is broken. The fastest-growing segment of our economy needs 250,000 new sales professionals. Our colleges and universities aren’t training them. Worse yet, when tech companies want to hire diverse talent, established interview practices and company cultures put up barriers. Marginalized people who do accept job offers are often left to flounder by businesses that don’t have effective sales training programs. At Uvaro, we’ve created a better way to grow careers. How The Dots Joined Up For Joseph Instead of preventing access to fulfilling work, we provide accessible training, on-demand support resources, and best-in-class tools that teach participants how to build on their successes. Uvaro is not just a lecture: A graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Computer Engineering program, Joseph’s a repeat Founder & CEO, and with multiple successful exits, and speaks frequently on the topics of sales leadership, diversity, and corporate social responsibility. He is an active early-stage investor who ensures that the majority of his investments are into women-led companies. Joseph also sits on the boards of Communitech, the Golden Triangle Angel Network, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. So was this idea born out of a personal frustration with the tech industry or a clever insight to what was happening elsewhere? And and even better questions, why Uvaro? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Joseph Fung Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Joseph Fung such as: Joseph shares how they picked the name of his business and why they want away from basic domain picking rules. We discuss how feedback is a gift and the reasons why you should listen to everyone's opinion no matter what they say, or who is saying it. Why creating a job that you love is not always the case no matter how much you try. You have to accept that sometimes the love leaves you for awhile. And lastly….. Joseph shares vocally the awe he feels every time that his students reveal to the world just how special his training centre is to them.

Introducing Matthew Ralph Matthew Ralph is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a children’s book author from the UK  and not just that but an an award winning and number one best selling children’s book author. He knows how to write a children's picture book and now helps the world to do the same. He actually wrote his first book on a plane, and turned it into a bestseller, with little to no money. As he says "I've always wanted to be a writer, even as a child I loved writing little stories and dreamt of having my own book published- a dream I'm still pursuing now at 25! I recently started writing a Young Adult (YA) fiction novel, which I am currently trying to finish and then (hopefully) get published! My ultimate dream is to be the next J K Rowling! Well with many books available in all good bookstores, and perhaps not very good ones too, he has achieved his aim and looks like the dream is coming true. So with so many unread manuscripts laying on publishers desks across the world, how did he bring his words to life? And was the hardest thing the doubts that parade in all our heads, or simply understanding the publishing progress> Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Matthew Ralph. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Matthew Ralph such as: How he had managed to get his first book up and running purely as an activity to see how it all works. Why so many families are quite willing to critique "dreams" and be less supportive of the people closest to them. Matt shares how he muddled through and learnt the steps to publishing his own book. And lastly...... We talk about the process of developing yourself and positioning yourself to expert level where your value and prices grow exponentially.

Lacking motivation is something that everybody suffers from. I dont care who they are, Branson, Musk, Bill Gates...whatever high achiever you can think off will have days when they feel Blah! Its normal and in most cases is simply an indication of something be wrong in your life or business. In todays episode of Join Up Dots we look at the five ways that you can over come days when lacking motivation is a problem. Most importantly keeping it at a few days instead of it dragging on and on becoming a problem that stops all progress. Why Do You Start Lacking Motivation? My wife always says to  me "Listen to your body as it knows the answer" and most often this is the perfect solution to your issues. We all know when we are excited and bouncy and full of beans, and generally its because something is fun and new and invigorating to us. Ever been to Disneyworld or any of the theme parks, and been aware of that feeling of dread, excitement and anticipation as you are walking towards the entrance gate. Our body is never lacking motivation on these days, as our whole day is full of new challenges that we are not sure we will like or not. Our body gets ready for the battle and subsequently we feel more alive than we do on a normal work or school day. Whilst we are on the subject of work, and school, think about your first days in the office and how you would wake up a little earlier and feel nervousness and anticipation that quickly disappears once the job becomes your job. How do you bring new challenges into your life that can be the spark to build more and more motivation ? Finding Fun New Challenges To Build Motivation Now most people struggle with this concept as they think that they have to find huge challenges that are an amazing undertaking. This is so wrong, and actually nobody achieves the big stuff without tackling the small things first. I remember back in the day, going into board meetings and trying to speak the lyrics of Beatles songs without nobody realising i was doing it? Stupid? Yeah a bit, but it gave me something to focus on in an environment that was a bit huumdrum. It could be simple things like "How quickly can I have a shower in the morning?", "How can I read a book a week?" "How can i cut back on sugar in the food that i am eating" Not one of them on their own will be lifechanging except perhaps the cutting out sugar, but they are little games to play with yourself. And games as we all know are fun, and fun is...well fun, and never leads to lacking motivation. So our first tip to start beating the issue of lacking motivation is try to find fun where fun might not be visible. Get Rid Of Overwhelm This is a problem that i have a lot and one that i have had to learn the skills to beat...and beat it i do. When things are moving along nicely in a business then you never struggle to find the motivation to make things happen. You get to your desk, start working and before you know it a day has passed and success is yours. How about those times however when you have too much on your plate, and everywhere you look there is something to be done. You plough on throughout the day until you get to bed with the feeling off "I haven't really achieved anything at all"? You wake up the next morning and the first signs of lacking motivation are appearing. "I cant bear the thought of another day like yesterday....i think ill watch Netflix for a bit" When this occurs you have to stop thinking of everything you need to do and just choose something. Think of something you fancy doing and brings about some kind of reward. It could be another customer, some income, another part of your business....but do something. The key to not lacking motivation is to find ways of feeling good about your efforts. So find something that brings the rewards and make things happen. The People Pleasing Trap That Kills Us All Do you feel that you spend most of your time doing stuff for other people. Certainly any parent will feel that they spend the bulk of their days taking the kids around to multiple activities. Which has been one of the good things about the pandemic in my view. A lot of the extra stuff that we do for people has been taken away from us for a bit. So this is your chance to reset and stop offering up your time and energies on being their for people that dont really deserve it. Stop trying to please others all the time, and block out some ME TIME, which is non negotiable. Through Join Up Dots I wont allow anyone to break into most of my week, and I'm always looking for ways that I can focus in on myself first. Is this selfish and a bad things? No not at all, it just means that i have more energy for the people that do need my help and that is where my efforts are better placed. As they say on the planes "Make sure you put your mask on first" and that has never been more important when trying to stop lacking motivation. Simply say NO. Happiness And Achievement Killers Of Motivation Yeah it seems a strange thing to admit as Join Up Dots is all about working on achieving your goals. But there are times when you achieve everything you wanted to achieve and then laziness and contentment creeps in. I think at our hearts everybody is lazy to some degree. We would all rather just sit around doing a few things here and there than driving forward everyday. So what do you do when lacking motivation is linked to huge success and achievement? Well i think that you should set a timescale to rest and bask in your glory before getting going again. Say to yourself "Man you have done well, give yourself three months off to rest, enjoy yourself but think of something new to do" As humans are creative, inspirational, higher functioning beings when we have something to challenge us. And coming full circle those challenges, no matter how small will lead to you never lacking motivation again.

Bob Wheeler is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Bob Wheeler, a financial expert and motivator, book author, and founder of The Money Nerve? As a man of true integrity with infectious energy, Bob Wheeler’s crusade for personal growth has cross-pollinated with his accounting practice to create a new approach to personal finances. His passion is to help others gain insights about how their emotions trigger financial decisions. Combining finances with behaviors, Bob explores his personal concept of creating a healthy relationship with money in his recent book, The Money Nerve. While strengthening his accounting practice, Bob has simultaneously pursued his love of satire and ventured into the realm of standup comedy. How The Dots Joined Up For Bob From his thirty years of helping clients, Bob has distilled a concoction of warmth, humour, information, motivation and budgeting directives that he offers to anyone with financial concerns. He is also currently the CFO for The World Famous Comedy Store. Now if that's not enough for you, then he has also an adventurous spirit in abundance too, with world travels that have led him to high altitudes. He has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, ascended to the Mount Everest Base Camp, and hiked several smaller mountains in between. With charm and humor, his experiences on the road, in the office, or running a Greek marathon, feed his wit as a stand-up comic and financial motivator. Bob Wheeler helps listeners conquer their money shame and avoid making poor financial decisions by teaching how emotions can dictate our choices. So is it all about our attitude to money that directs the riches that we bring into our lives? And what happened in Africa that changed his beliefs around money? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Bob Wheeler

What does your business need to start moving forward into 2021 with all the confidence in the world? Well just like you would set personal resolutions of losing weight, getting fitter, self development. Running a successful business more often not requires you to do as much clearing up, getting rid, and pruning the dead parts as always going for the new. In this podcast we look at the four things that you can start doing today to make your tomorrow so much brighter. Clear Friends and Acquaintances   We all know how it is nowadays. You are working on your pc, or phone a friend request comes through from somebody you dont know, you do a quick check and boom, they are connected to you. But why do we do this online, operating in a totally different way to how we would live our lives in real life? You wouldn't be at a bus stop and a random stranger asks to see your family photos, but in an instant you can give your life way online. Its madness. On the other side, you can easily find your focus lost with so many other people lives being part of your daily routine even if you dont know them? So our number one, resolution each year is take a good look at each of them and if they aren't relevant or useful, or actually been in contact get rid of them. You will find it so much easier to build a powerful network that works for you, instead of one that works against you. Clear Outstanding and Half Finished Entries When you are building a business you will start work with all the passion in the world. This is going to be the big thing, that kick starts everything for me. This will be my golden ticket. But in all honesty 80% of it really doesn't go anywhere and just fills up your Google Drives and desktop with clutter. Now this is a hard one to do, as like most of us you will think "Yeah, that is important...must keep that" So our little tip is change the search criteria to see when it was last modified on your computer, and if it was more than 3 months then bin it. You dont really need it, or you would have gone back and finished it off. A clean workspace free of distractions and clutter is the way towards a successful online business. Make Small Monthly Targets In our view a yearly or quarterly targets is not achievable, as you never know what is going to come out of the woodwork and send you off track. Being an entrepreneur is about being flexible and agile and finding your way around obstacles. Which is why in our view targets too far in the future aren't feasible and wont lead to success. Think about it, if life is about joining up the dots to get the success you want then just four big bulky dots per year wont get you far. 365 small, bouncy and perky dots....well that could get you round the world and back. UNDERSTAND YOUR PROFIT AND LOSS OF YOUR BUSINESS When you create a business from scratch you feel that the initial expenses are going to remain the same. Its an easy equation to work out, what i earn from the business against what i spend is what i need to do. However this is a simple mistake that will keep in you in the same position financially for much longer than you need to be in. To create a business that grows you must bring in another 20% to the equation that can then be reinvested back into the business. This could be for outside support and help. This could be for automated systems  that help drive more traffic through your business. It helps you to grow, and without surplus funds that are specifically allocated for growth you journey will be so much harder. So lets look at the equation again as it should look something like PROFIT IN - MINUS EXPENSES - MINUS 20% = EARNINGS. Every year its a good idea to start reviewing your financials and building upon the success of your business. You cant be boot strapping it forever.

Happy New Year 2021, we all cry in unison across the world. Is it as much to say goodbye to 2020, which started off as normal and ended up in such a weird way nobody was untouched? Who knows, but one things we do know is a Happy New Year 2021, means a lot more than most years to a lot more people. In todays podcast we give a brief overview of the changes that have occurred in our business over the last six months or so. Also we talk about how to start building online success, by breaking down financial goals into small easy to achieve targets. You want £200 per month of additional income, then how do you want to get it? Do you want £200 from one customer or do you want £200 from 200 customers paying you a £1 each. Its all up to you to decide and make it happen. Our Goals For 2021 We love shouting out Happy New Year 2021 with gusto, as quite frankly we like drawing a line under previous challenges and starting all over again. Through Join Up Dots journey over the last seven years we have never had a year where we haven't set firm and achievable goals right from the start. In 2021 we have decided that we want to increase the value and profitability of the business, whilst freeing ourselves more and more from the the day to day running of the operation. Its quite easy to get caught up in the weeds and find yourself restricted by the challenges and workload that it takes to run a business. So its time to reassess and start delegating more and more to the over day to day operations by building teams . Whats the point in having a business when quite frankly it doesn't give you what you wanted in the first place. More Goals For 2021 Over the last ten years or so, we feel that the major thing that we have done, that let's our work down, is getting you guy to believe. We need you to believe in the system of online business more than ever, by tipping the iceberg upside down. We are going to make things clearer and clearer to you all, so by listening to Join Up Dots you will gain total clarity of the steps that you need to take. Through the three times a week podcast episode, and videos sent directly to your email inbox we are going to let you peer behind the curtain. Is there anywhere else that does this for you in such consistent ways? We dont think so, so lets set the bar as high as possible to make the biggest difference that we can. Big goals, big focus and a big delivery from us to you, but we will make it happen. So from everyone at Join Up Dots, there is nothing left for us to say than scream "Happy new Year 2021" its going to be the best one ever.

What does it take to start a new business that brings you the lifestyle that you want? Well it all starts with setting a firm and consistent goal that brings us closer everyday to the life we want. On todays show we reveal an email that one listener sent to us that really shows that they have got the mindset fix that they need. Sell Yourself To Us: Hi David. I would like to invite myself to be a guest on your show in 809 days. I have no business, no idea what that could be and I had been failing at online money making since about 2008. Not that I actually really truly tried! I thought I did. Yes, cliche, that 809 days is my 40th birthday, but I had to pick a goal and a date so here it is. I am not quitting my job, I do not even have a lot of time. I had never been very creative and I am super shy. I have zero hobbies and passions, and never had, and I do not even have a decent career to share knowledge online. I have no reasons to believe that this time will be any different than any other of the past times I bought online course and was motivated and inspired and achieved nothing other than feeling I am really stupid. But they say you gotta do sth different to have different results. Well, publicly committing to a goal and inviting myself to talk to someone is like the most insane thing I had done in a decade. Yes, I am a bit ashamed on how boring my life is. Smart people seem to be saying that failure is how you learn so either way this has to be a win. Either I make good progress and some $$$ or I am going to learn some stuff. I did step one of your free course and figure out what is my roof-over-my-head-$-number and was shocked on how small it is. It has to be possible! You seem like a nice guy who likes to help people. I mean, I might be wrong, you could be an asshole, I only listened to 3 episodes so far, but I was told I am a good judge of character so I am going to stick to the helpful guy for now.... Sooooo how about this: I am going to make half of my current roof-$-amount between 03/2022 and 03/2023 and make notes on the way and we can talk about it. Seems like a good episode to me. OK, I will be honest I wrote the whole amount and than thought that it is stupid to focus on money because I cannot control it. I can only control the process and do not want to feel like a failure if I make less. BUt than I feel like I am not aiming high enough and setting low goals afraid of failing. So clearly, I have not figure that part out yet. But I am a super honest person. And super self-critical. I do not lie to myself. I think that doing is the whole goal here. I will tell you if I did not give it my best even if I made x2 the roof dollars. Social Media Links: nothing here either

Todd Miller is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He Experienced Money Coach with a demonstrated history of working in the professional training & coaching industry.  Skilled in budgeting, cash flow management, and goal setting. Strong finance professional, graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Finance from the University of Florida.  And now since April 2020 - he is the owner of TightwadTodd As he says "I became Financially Independent at 35. Now, I want to help YOU achieve YOUR financial goals! Throughout my journey, I've made mistakes and had setbacks. But have had even more wins and achievements.  Learn from my mistakes, save yourself the time and money! My goal is to help YOU achieve yours! Here YOU will learn about YOUR money and where it goes. YOU will build good financial habits and save more each month! I have helped countless others, now it’s YOUR turn! The sooner YOU start the quicker YOU can live the life of YOUR dreams! How The Dots Joined Up For Todd However if this seems like an easy step to living the life that he wanted, think again. As after graduating with a degree in finance from the University of Florida, Todd started working for a Fortune Global 500 company. Less than a year later, he got laid off due to the Great Recession. During this difficult period, he committed to living on his terms and becoming financially independent. Todd dreamed of working less, experiencing more, and spending time with the most important people in his life. For the next 11 years, he worked in financial services, guiding thousands of people through the mortgage approval process. All the while, he saved, invested, and built passive income for the future. Then, at 35, Todd accomplished his goal and became F.I.! He went on bucket list adventures around the world and eventually started Tightwad Todd.com. This coaching business is a way for him to follow another passion, helping others. Its mission is financial education, so everyone can achieve their goals faster, live free, and have more fulfilled lives.  So what can people do starting today if they wish to be financially independent but dont have much cash to spare? And where do people go wrong, not paying themselves first, or simply losing track of expenditure? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Todd Miller Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Todd Miller such as: Todd shares his journey through the four quadrants of financial advice from Rich Dad Poor Dad. Todd reveals why he feels operating in stocks and shares is the reliable method of operating your finances. And lastly.... Why so many of us fail to make the most of our money options due to fear or risk concerns.

Well thats another year over, and new one just begun, as John Lennon sang. But what has the year been like for all of us, and does this make it more xmasy or less in 2020 Well Join Up Dots is moving from strength to strength and its a delight to say "Happy Xmas To You All" once more.

Dear David, thank you for all your amazing podcasts that you release constantly. It is without a doubt the show that i tell people to listen to, Its not preachy and i really get the feeling that you have shared the insides, outsides and downsides of what you have created. I would like to ask a question around the burnout you mention often on the show, I can totally understand why you keep on referencing it, as I have seen many people fall apart over the last few years and most of it was simply down to taking on too much all the time. Is there anything that you do now, which you didn't do then which has made all the difference? And secondly, if you would be kind enough to talk about what you do on a daily basis in regards to your health. The reason that I am asking this is I would to start my own business, but im quite fragile healthwise at the best of times so I am reluctant to cause more issues to myself. Extremely kind regards Joan SMith (Not my real name), Australia (Not My Real Country)

When it comes to going for success its true that most people only have a glimpse of what it is by viewing other peoples lives. So why do we compare, review and envy others, when quite frankly they might not be happy with it anyway? This podcast was inspired by the following email from a listener who asked... Dear David, i listened to your podcast episode about creating success. In fact most of them touch on this. But what can you do if you dont know what success should be like? I cant think of anything worse than working in a powerful finance position. I wouldnt want to be flying across the world for meetings like some of my friends do. I just like the simple things in life, which makes pub chat very difficult as it seems to others i dont have ambition. Just musing, and thought my favourite podcaster might have some ideas Senita Latral, Vienna, Austria

Financial Consciousness Expert Leisa Peterson is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast for the second time. When we last met our guest on today's episode of the Join Up Dots free podcast interview, she was in the middle of experiencing some massive growth, Yes, in both her business life and her personal life she was smashing through the barriers. Kicking over her self limiting doubts And creating an amazing future for herself. She has done this by asking great questions to her clients that flock to her like moths to a flame. She asks “Are you someone who is burned out from working hard for many years yet afraid to step back out of fear of losing all you’ve gained? Are your work obligations keeping you from having deeply meaningful relationships with your family and friends? Do you feel stuck in a situation that takes everything you've got yet know there has to be more to life…an ultimate state of joy, satisfaction, and fulfilment." How The Dots Joined Up For Leisa Now the interesting thing about her and what I want to discuss in this show, is whether she truly believed it when she first said it? Did she fully embrace the power that an individual possesses in their day to day lives to create one that is remarkable. Was it by doing the work, and seeing the results in her clients that she fully embraced the possibilities that she could create? You see she has had three stages of success from working  22+ years n the world of finance, pouring herself into earning a high salary, collecting great bonuses and moving up the ladder. Then after facing a major life crisis followed by several tragedies, she moved towards answering the question of could She ever have both inner fulfilment and outer wealth.” And now after creating a successful coaching business, she has sold her long time home, moved to Hawaii, and now come back to Arizona and started something new. So is financial consciousness as much about financial confidence as anything else? And where do her clients struggle most in their journey towards a mindful millionaire? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Leisa Peterson

Dr. James F Richardson is todays guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the founder of Premium Growth Solutions, a strategic planning consultancy for early-stage consumer-packaged goods brands. As a professionally trained cultural anthropologist turned business strategist, he has helped more than 75 CPG brands (which stands for Consumer Packaged Goods) with their strategic planning, including brands owned by Coca-Cola Venturing and Emerging Brands, The Hershey Company, General Mills, Kraft Foods, ConAgra Brands, and Frito-Lay as well as emerging brands such as Once Upon a Farm, Peatos, Ithaca Hummus, Mother Kombucha, Rebel Creamery, zaca recovery, and others. James is the author of Ramping Your Brand: How to Ride the Killer CPG Growth Curve, the #1 Best-seller in Business Consulting on Amazon. He also hosts his own podcast—Startup Confidential, and his thoughts appear regularly in industry publications such as Foodnavigator. Now if that all sounds very impressive it is, but not what a show like Join Up Dots normally delivers, then listen to this You can plan exponential growth.

Siddharth Rajsekar is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He has a fascinating story that has taken him across the world and back to where he is now. On a mission to create 1,000,000 digital leaders. He is the founder of The Freedom Business Model For the last seven years, Sidz has been running a digital agency that has represented clients like Robert Kiyosaki, Jack Canfield, Tony Robbins and many more. He currently nurtures one of India’s largest tribe of coaches and experts who are building their own digital ecosystems too. But like most of the stories in Join Up Dots, where the guest has ended up is often nowhere near where they started. How The Dots Joined Up For Sidz The same is true with today's guest, and as he says "I was an outstanding student in school. Always standing outside class.  I was truly passionate about music and cricket and played right thru my schooling years. I could never remember a time I would sit in one place. I could not sit in boring classrooms. And that’s why I ended up dropping out of college. I flunked my 12th grade. Scored just 28% in mathematics." However this didn't stop him,  so he started to re-educate himself, he pawned his wife’s gold jewellery and started to invest in many internet marketing courses. He spent around $10,000 on courses and by the end of that year, he was able to set up my small little digital agency along with his cousin and business partner. Which is where we should start today's episode of Join Up Dots. So where do people get hung up in starting their business? Investing in themselves or simply coming up with the right idea. And with the world in turmoil at the moment, is this the right time to start a business or hold off? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Siddharth Rajsekar Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Siddharth Rajsekar such as: Be fixed on the goal, but not how you are going to get there. Be flexible with your approach and enjoy the journey. Be very clear on what you want to be known, mission statement, community around it, elevator pitch Why you should always look for the best mentorship you can on the way to greatness. and lastly........ There are six areas of need that a business can be created: Business Growth, Career Growth, Health & Wellness, Make Money, Relationships, Arts and Crafts.  Passion, Problem (The passion has to be able to solve a problem that someone will pay for), the Persona, Potential in the market, people need to pay you for it.

Comedy Central founder Art Bell, is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a former media executive known for creating, building, and managing successful cable television channels. In 1988, When a young, mid-level employee he pitched a novel concept—a television channel focused 100% on just one thing: comedy—to the chairman of HBO. The pitch went well and he not only got the greenlight for his project, he also went on to hold senior executive positions in both programming and marketing at Comedy Central. During that time, he also co-authored a humor book entitled Web Sightings: A Collection of Websites We’d Like to See. After leaving Comedy Central, Art became president of Court TV, where he was a guiding force behind one of the most successful brand evolutions in cable television. How The Comedy Dots Joined Up For Art As he says “Ever since the idea had first occurred to me while writing and performing with the Wharton Follies, I kept thinking about how great an all-comedy television channel would be. New cable channels were launching all the time and I expected someone would announce an all-comedy channel any minute, but nobody did.” He know has brought all his lessons and experience together in one best selling memoir Constant Comedy: How I Started Comedy Central and Lost My Sense of Humor From disastrous pitch meetings with comedians to the discovery of talents like Bill Maher and Jon Stewart, this intimate and laugh-out-loud funny memoir peers behind the curtain and reveals what it’s really like to work, struggle, and ultimately succeed at the cutting edge of show business. So when comedy is so subjective what made him think that he could bring this into the mainstream and out of the clubs? And how did he get the momentum building until it became a household name across the world. Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Art Bell Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Art Bell such as: Art shares the first few weeks of the launch of Comedy Central, when he got many phone calls from people telling him "It just isn't funny". We think about the concepts across the generations that parents everywhere hated, which was a turning point to careers and industries across the world Art discusses the failure rate of new business across America, and why it is such a shocking statistic to him. And lastly….. How he got fired from the very business that he set up, which then lead him onto a new path which he feels is so exciting.

Zuzana Dobro is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is a lady who really has travelled the world, experiencing not just culture but I imagine terrible weather, and returned with a plan As she says "I am Slovakian, born in the former Czechoslovakia. As a kid, I was told I’d never be able to leave my country and see the world or have the freedom to be whoever I wanted to be. After the Iron Curtain came down, I moved to England, speaking very little English with only £200 in my pocket. I gradually made my way through working in the creative industry and got an offer to join a big corporation. I had my “dream job” as an interaction and UX designer, but still, something felt odd... I had this unstoppable desire to fulfil my childhood dream to travel around the world, so I quit the “security”, travelled solo for 2 years, and even backpacked to Antarctica. How The Dots Joined Up For Zuzana After my trip, I merged my passion for adventure travel and human evolution with my design and creative problem-solving Expertise, and I embarked on the journey of entrepreneurship. I've created The WHO Method to help entrepreneurs, coaches, authors, experts and agencies to get to know their customers deeply and to avoid the pitfalls of attracting the wrong people. As she goes on to say "Many Entrepreneurs struggle in their business until they discover how crucial it is to have crystal-clear audience targeting, which means to run a company that is aligned with a dream customer. Another missing part is understanding that the wants and desires of your customers will change because people's values shift. So how do people use THE WHO method to maximise marketing and customer attraction? And does she still find that no matter how well she gets to know her own customer she is still surprised  Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Zuzana Dobro Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Zuzana Dobro such as: How the ability to learn different languages has really helped her to understand peoples mentality and desires across the world. When you launch a product to market to your customer, you have to start with your "Who" first and foremost. Why you have to be careful about trying to create perfection in your business at the beginning...just get something out there. And lastly….. Zuzana shares the internal truth of her life and the simplicity of it is so astonishing to everyone....or it should be!

Todays show is a harrowing story, that shows how through one terrible incident a persons life can spiral out of control, until hitting rock bottom and fighting their way back. When our guest today was just fourteen, she was raped, she lost her virginity and her life changed forever. Unable to make sense of what had happened to her, still a very young girl, she turned to drugs, quit school four times, and became very promiscuous. At age 16, she fell pregnant with a child that she was unable to keep, and feel deeper from the path that could have show itself at anytime. After the abortion, she got involved with prostitution and at the age of 18 gave birth to her son. Now at that time, she made a decision to start fighting back and to make a difference in her and her own sons life. She went back to school, graduated via a program for single moms, received scholarships and awards, until after attending university for 5 years, and became a high school math and English teacher. Where she worked for 3.5 years, teaching in a small town, until and we will discuss this on the show, she made what seems a bizarre decision and quit to move back to her hometown, where she returned to prostitution and drugs because the money was better. Her self-esteem was in tatters. Sucidical thoughts running through her days, and an accident where she nearly lost her right leg. If that sounds to depressing to consider, she was just about to enter into the worst time of her life was during this period. Her son moved out when he turned 19 and didn't speak to her for three years. She ended up smoking crack for ten months during this time and then it happened. She nearly died when her appendix burst, and realized she didn't want to die without saying "good-bye" to her son. As she says "I had already started to turn my life around about two years before this event occurred, and so when I finally re-connected with my son, my life always back on track. Re-uniting with Julian changed my life in a very positive way. I decided to pursue a writing career. I now own a business, Wording Well, and am an author. I live a clean life, and spend a lot of it helping others. My books are in my local library, and my business is thriving. I'm living proof that a person can hit rock bottom and rise to the top despite all odds against them. My son is proud of me again, too. :)" So lets take her on the journey of her life again, as we show everyone of you, that life is a series of choices good and bad, and we can all improve our lives by simply deciding to do so. It's with great delight that I get to bring onto Join Up Dots, the one and only Lorraine Reguly

Beating Your Competitors in business is actually one of the easiest things you can do. Most people get fearful of who they are up against when starting a new business, and quite often will pivot and dilute their offering. This is a huge mistake as competition is actually a great thing, especially when operating online. You see most of these people who are out there doing what you want to do have solved a lot of the issues already. They have gone through the daily grind and trial and error phase to find out what works. So in this episode we take a look at hacking the competition and beating your competitors by putting your own spin onto what is already working. Ready? Well lets start. Step One: Start Looking At What Your Competitors Are Doing There are a million questions that you should be asking when building your business and most of them have been answered already. Start Googling your business idea, and start jotting down the url of your competitors that keep on appearing whenever you search. Take a look at the colour schemes, their images, their menu bar, their offerings, and make detailed notes on everything. Do they deal with customers directly? Are their systems automated with chatbots and autoresponders? What are their downloads that they offer? Do they get you onto an email marketing system? How are they going out of their way to make their offer clear and precise and easy to find on their site. Beating Your Competitors is about doing what they do better than they do it themselves so take detailed notes and then try to improve on them all. Step Two: Make A List Of How Long They Have Been In Business By Domain Checking One of the things that we like to do when working out a way of beating your competitors is find out the long players. What we mean by this is do some digging around to see which of the businesses that you are up against have been around for the longest You can zip over to https://websiteseochecker.com/and place in the URL of the company that you are checking and find instantly a ton of very useful information. For example if you placed Join Up Dots into the URL checker, you will see the age listed, the domain authority, the backlinks...everything you need in one simple search. So why do we do this when working on finding ways to start beating your competitors? Quite simply, if someone has been in business for a long time, they should be making money, in profit and being efficient with customer acquisition. Otherwise why go to the expense to keep things up online. We always want to get a list of companies five years and older to really start digging around for the gold. Step Three: Beating Your Competitors Means Understanding Your Customers It is always amazing to us when we ask our clients "Who are your ideal customers"? and we get a loose answer of "Men, over 40, with a steady job" How can this really tell us anything that can be useful for our business? Remember, your business is going all out to start beating your customers so the more intelligence that we can have in regard to who is buying the better. Remember the list of well established businesses that we have written the URL of on our list? Well if you haven't then its time to go back and do the work again, but if you have we now want to take those URLS and start mining Google for the good stuff it will tell us. We need to go over to Google Trends and start clicking around to see what type of traffic our competitors are getting. We can find out what sex, where they live, what age they are, what are their interests, almost everything we need to start building a detailed profile. The same can be said for joining FaceBook Groups, and seeing what questions are being asked by people and clicking through onto their profiles to see details about them. Are there consistent questions and similar profiles asking those questions? Yeah, we are sure there will be and you will want to make as many notes about these people as you can. That is how you start beating your competitors quicker than ever. Step Four: Compare Your Competitors Offers With Your Real Life Intelligence Now you have a detailed pack of information, of real life data, how does this compare to what your competitors are doing. When you look at their offerings, does there seem to be a synergy as to what you now know and what they are selling? Quite often a business will get itself into a position of power and then rest on it's laurels forgetting what got it there in the first place. That is a bad idea and one of the key rules to beating your competitors is knowing what they are doing and staying in front of them. So now is the time to up the anti, and really add another one or two elements to everything that they offer. If they are taking 48 hours to deliver, can you half that time? If they are offering a package of items to groom your beloved pooch, can you add additional items and still get it to the customer faster. When you think of the power of Amazon, it is mainly down to the ease of buying and the quickness of getting those items. There isn't much more to their business model, but they know that they have this part nailed down and can beat most other businesses easily. Step Five: Beating Your Competitors Means Ease As we just discussed, Amazon has dominated the world by the customer ease factor. We all know it will only take minutes to find something we want, buy it, and then sit back and wait for it to be delivered. Never has that been more important than nowadays, so how do you make things easy for your customer to find understand and buy. If you are selling a product how do you make the customer journey through your website as easy as possible to navigate. This is one thing that online businesses are really bad at. Signposting their offers to increase conversions. Get your friends to try to buy from you, and if they cant do it quickly then make the changes. Ask them to tell you within 3 seconds what your underlining offering is, that brings everything together...for example Join Up Dots is Business Made Easy. So if we haven't brought that element into everything we do then we are failing in our overall branding. Ease is king to the success of your business and beating your competitors will come down to this as much as anything else.

Introducing Getting Bored With Your Business Getting bored with your business is something that everyone has to deal with over time. You start a business full of passion to achieve, change your life or simply make oodles of cash. It's exciting times for sure. You come home from work and can't wait to turn on the laptop, check your emails, and discover todays progress. But what do you do when you have been doing the same thing for years, and that excitement is gone? Well that is what we are going to discuss in todays podcast focusing in on "Getting Bored With Your Business". Step One Be Aware Of Your Feelings And Ask Why? Most things in life and business can be nipped in the bud in the early stages of development. That is most certainly the case with boredom, and the feeling of getting stale within your business. Our first tip is to start noticing how you are feeling, and really focus in on trying to find the meaning behind those feelings. Could it be that you have a nagging doubt that this isn't the business for you, and your inner spirit is trying to tell you? Could it be that you have actually achieved what you set out to do, and now it's maintenance time? This is a common stage that many entrepreneurs go through when they finally get to where they hoped to get to. They are start-up people, visionaries, activators, call them what you want, but they like to make new things happen, and not to be doing the same day in day out. So why are you getting bored with your business? Those feelings are a great clue as to potential pivoting times. Step Two Be Realistic That The Grind Is Part Of The Game Nowadays you can see people everywhere showing you how wonderful their lives are, and what fun they are getting up to. But there is a backstory that you have to delve into, to truly understand how they got there, and that's the grind. The day in day out, turning up, doing their best when they didn't want to do it type of grind. Think about professional sportsmen and women at the highest levels of their games. We all see them winning Wimbledon, or the FA Cup in soccer and think "Wow, i would love to be doing what they are doing!" But we don't ever really consider the years and years of sacrifice that has gone into those highest moments of sporting achievement. We don't think of the tennis player travelling on their own to another tournament in another town. Spending nights on their own in hotel rooms, whilst they struggle with jet lag. We don't think of the terrible bars and pubs whenever nobody was listening, or actually turning up to listen, for famous bands and artists. We just consider their headline performance at Glastonbury and feel envious to their achievements. Get real people. If you are getting bored with your business, you have to accept and relish the drudgery and commitment that it takes. You have to say to yourself "I'm not getting bored with my business, this is where success is truly made" Behind the scenes, when nobody is looking at you, or actually cares what you are doing. Step Three Stop Getting Bored With Your Business By Delegating Once again, everybody will be dealing with things in their business that are boring to deal with. It could be sending out invoices to new and existing clients. It could be dealing with your tax returns, and accounting for your business. All businesses will have parts to them that are really boring, and aren't in your skill set, so think about delegating. Can you hire someone to do these for you whilst you focus on the things that bring value into your business? The fun things that play to your strengths and make the biggest impact on your bottom line? There are companies around the world offering freelancers who are looking to work for people like you. As someone said to me once "It might be a boring job to you, but it could change someone else's life." Getting bored with your business is as much losing track of where you sit within the business as everything else. Step Four Understand What Really Makes A Difference To Your Customer All businesses need customers, whether they are online automated sales, or one to one clients. It doesn't matter, without customers buying your products and services your business will be dead in the water. So it's our jobs as entrepreneurs to think long and hard about what our customers want and then continue to improve upon it. And that is where most people start getting bored with your business, they forget the creative side of things that was so prevalent at the start of their business. When it was fledging enterprise focused on getting the foundations correct and making that first sale, its all we do everyday. Does the customers want this? How can i position it so they can find it easier? Creative, blue-sky thinking that makes things happen until we start making money and then give up on the improvements. So if you are getting bored with your business, imagine its a new business again and review, tweak and make more cash than ever. I promise you the excitement will start to come back into your very quickly.

Lee LeFever is todays guest joining us on the inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He has a belief similar to us at Join Up Dots, whereby he believes that more often than not big enough is good enough when it comes to online business. He’s inspiring entrepreneurs to rethink business success and design businesses to be intentionally small, scalable, and focused on a healthy quality of life. As he says "I’m fortunate that doing something I love has become my career. In 2003, I founded Common Craft, which is recognized worldwide as starting the “explainer movie” movement, and it has employed me as a media maker ever since. More than anything, I am a writer. Sometimes my words become scripts for Common Craft videos, chapters in a book or issues of a newsletter. Other times, they’re used for mediocre attempts at humor in text messages. I wield my words with great care and benefit from having my wife, Sachi, as my editor.   How The Dots Joined Up For Lee Most people consider me personable and easy-going. I smile a lot, maybe too much. My natural setting is optimistic and generally happy, with a side of anxiety. If we met in person, I would ask you a lot of questions. I try to live my life with great intention and a focus on quality. To me, this means remaining in control of my time and being willing to take risks and accept trade-offs in order to craft the life I want. Isnt that what everyone wants in life and in business. Get away from the ego driven, how big is it all movement, and focus on building a business that supports the life that you love. So did he start with this mantra to life, or was it the same as most of us, when the monster we create starts squeezing the life out of the reasons we wanted to build it in the first place? And what would be the simplest way of creating this in our lives? Focus on the business or the life that we want to lead? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Lee LeFever

Introducing Nola Crystals Nola Crystals is the main focus for todays Join Up Dots business coaching podcast episode. This is a brand new business recently started by a listener of Join Up Dots, which is going to do very well for itself. The reason as you will hear on the show is mainly it has started, and also it is providing something that people already want and buy in numbers. This is always a great business to get into, where you can already see others having success in your field. So without further ado, lets begin with Nola Crystals and also answering a few other questions too. Question One - Nola Crystals Review Hey David! Let’s start with how quickly “Join Up Dots” can work. One very small example in my life: Last Friday I watched a film about Steve Jobs (I love him) Saturday: I simply typed in “Steve jobs” into Apple podcasts. All I wanted to listen to was inspirational information from the genius himself Saturday: I found your podcast Saturday - Monday (today): I’m eight episodes deep into your show and I’ve learned so much VALUABLE information that I didn’t know in relation to tips I could apply to my own business that I’ve started last month I typed “VALUABLE” in all caps because the common denominator I have heard from you and Steve Jobs (amongst other sources) is that value is key in relation to your customers So, over the course of a few days I’ve joined up the dots and I’m already richer in knowledge so thank you! It would mean the world to me if you would head over to my website and tell me what you think. I won’t tell you anything about the business because I’d like to see from an average consumers point of view what their first impression is and if they can navigate the website with ease and get to a “money page” in “one click.” I started the business the first week of October this year. I’ve had two sales and started SEO the beginning of October. I understand SEO is a longer process. Thanks David! Ps: I’m typing this whilst on a treadmill so if there are any spelling mistakes let’s just blame the treadmill and not me! :) Question Two - Does Confidence Make A Difference David, loving the show. I have a question for you, which i think I am picking up through your content. It seems to me that online success comes as much from your own confidence and belief than the business itself? Would this be true, as I think if it is, i have discovered potentially what might be going wrong with my ventures. I dont think that i truly believe in myself enough, so keep on pivoting to start something new? Thanks for your answer if you have the time and all the best for your future plans Paul Samuels, St George Utah Question Three - Passion or Boring Business? Hi David, i would love you to do a show on finding ideas for businesses as this is something that i struggle with. Do you think that a boring business, functional but needed is better than one that fills the passion zone that people talk about. Jim Rhapsody Question Four - Should I Start A Podcast Hi Join Up Dots...What would be your advice for starting a podcast nowadays. It seems that everyone has a podcast. Celebrities have podcasts. Celebrities have audiences. Do you think that you can start one in 2021 and still get an audience that I can monetize as successfully as you have? Melanie Ferrell, Ashton-in-Makerfield

Introducing Internet Mastery With Ian Pribyl Ian Pribyl is the internet master is the discussion of the day with , who is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He is a man who quite simply has mastered and can fully explain how to start cracking it online. The reason I know this? Well he was recently on the show and so good was he that i thought "Lets go again" and get him on the show once more. As we heard on the last show he recently published a book called From Nothing which breaks down the mystery of making a living online. It was born out of being in an industry full of scammers who were cleaning out consumers’ life savings under the promise of “getting rich quick” I created FIMP to empower online business seekers and save them from having to purchase any more “make money online” products. FIMP teaches everything a person needs to know — from absolutely zero knowledge to building a successful, profitable internet business. Now with a history that started a a bartender, and meandered through a series of sales and customer service roles he has taken what works offline and detailed it brilliantly as an online resource. Get your idea, do your market research, define the product the list goes on and on. So is it possible to start a business and get it up and running without any of the problems that people struggle with? Well let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Ian Pribyl Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Ian Pribyl such as: Why so many people struggle with the negative dialogue that runs in peoples mind keeping them stuck in their position. Ian talks about why we should be able to find data to discover the profitability of a new business idea before launching. Why it is so much easier to earn a lot of money online instead of a small amount...as long as you have the value and the belief. And lastly….. Why Sausage dogs and their welfare could be an amazing little business to enter into for any listener across the world.

Introducing Priyanka Gupta Priyanka Gupta is todays guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is a lady from a small town in Uttar Pradesh, North India, who was once a software engineer by education, and also once an investment banker. But now she is a writer, solo traveller, and art lover and also the founder and editor-in-chief of On My Canvas — a personal growth and travel blog. Now the key to this lady is her story is about breaking boundaries in conventional India to follow her passion. As she says "I was neither a writer(blogger) nor an avid traveller until 2016. In my small hometown, education and work opportunities are limited. To make a good career, I left my home to study in Rajasthan, a desert state of India. The year was 2003, and I was just 15. How The Dots Joined Up For Priyanka In Rajasthan, I prepared to compete in a national-level exam which guarantees a merit-based course in the best engineering institute of India - The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). I studied hard for three years and scored an all-India rank of 78, out of half a million students who competed in the exam. In 2006, I joined the Computer Science and Engineering B.Tech course in IIT Delhi. I graduated in 2010. Then I worked in software and investment banking jobs and lived around India in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, and Bangalore. Throughout my corporate career, I never enjoyed my work. Mostly I was fixing the nuts and bolts of old software or was making the rich richer. Now I could have worked harder to develop the skills to get more innovation-centered jobs, but I didn’t like the work related to computer science. Why did I study it then? Because for a girl from a small patriarchal town, IIT and CS were the only way to opportunities. (A lot of Indians first become engineers and then figure out what they want to do.) The disappointment from my professional life bled into my personal life, too. I was mostly morose. And that is the perfect place to start todays episode. So why do few people really give their passions ago, when the story of others following their dreams are all around them? And would todays guest have moments still when she thinks "ok, this is a sticky time. Should i go back and get a job? It would be easier" Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to join up dots with the one and only Priyanka Gupta Show Highlights During todays show we discussed such weighty subjects with Priyanka Gupta: Priyanka talks openly about her belief that there was no going back once she decided that she was going to be a writer and traveller. Why you don't have to lose the skills that you have developed throughout jobs that you perhaps were eager to escape from. We discuss the path to finding the dream business, and why more often than not the dream doesn't come to you until much later. and lastly....... Priyanka reveals the steps that she took to get her first teaching position in Chile, after first taking the leap.

What Are Backlinks? What are backlinks and why they are so important for an online business is one of the main questions that we get asked. Followed on by "How do i get backlinks to my business?" i suppose. So in this podcast episode we will focus on the key elements that make a great backlink, and why for most online businesses they should form part of your monthly strategy. Lets start with explaining in the simplest terms what a backlink is as the success of your business could depend on them. The Simplest Concept For Understanding Backlinks Imagine that you have been given a balloon by a friend to blow up for a birthday party. You take the balloon with all the enthusiasm you can muster and start to blow with all your might. No matter what you do the balloon won't inflate more than a fraction. It stays lifeless and limp in your hand, whilst you are red faced and defeated by the effort. Well when we start building an online business our fledgling enterprise is just like that balloon. It wont be getting much traffic, sales, customers, eyes whatever, as it will be bouncing along the Google ranks two inches off the floor. Now imagine you got a hundred other businesses to blow into your balloon. Suddenly you have momentum and your business will gain from the SEO boost that they have given you. You take off because those other sites have linked to you, and through that link Google says "Ok. these other sites think this business is worth talking about...lets push it up the rankings" Its the backlinks or inlinks that have made all the difference. Or said in another way, every time someone links your URL to theirs, your balloon will start to rise and reap the rewards. What Types of Backlinks are Valuable? Now back in the day this question would never have been worth answering as it was a numbers game. Get as many people linking to your business and it's game on. So business owners would ignore building quality backlinks into their strategies, and instead went to as many spammy sites as they can. Whenever you could leave a comment or review where there was a chance to add their URL, people would bash out as many as they could and do very well. However, Google started thinking about their definition of "what are backlinks" and decided that it should be all about relevance and authority. Now we are getting into the nuts and bolts building a backlink strategy and there is no getting away from the fact that Google are right. By looking at how established a website is, by scoring it from 1 - 100 you are well on your way to only having to get a few top quality backlinks to make a big difference to your success. Lets give you an example to make things easier. Trait #1: Authority Sites Are The One To Go For At the time of writing this article Join Up Dots has a domain authority of around 49 from a possible 100, which for a podcast is pretty good. The BBC has a domain authority of 95, almost a perfect score. So it would make sense that we should try to get a programme, article or radio show to do a piece on podcasting whilst mentioning us as a reputable source of information. They are saying to the world "Join Up Dots are highly recommended" and Google takes notice of the powerful backlink they have given us. So when you are sitting thinking What are backlinks, then you have to think reputable, high ranking businesses, that add to my authority. Don't go spammy and aim for quantity, instead be strategic and work on approaching other top sites for potential linking opportunities Why Are Backlinks Important? Now by this time you should have understood why understanding in links or incoming links as they are also called is very important for your success. They are a big tick in the box from other peoples businesses that they want to tell the world about your own through their businesses. But we can go deeper than this and tell you why some backlinks can actually harm your business, whilst others are amazingly important. So we already mentioned the authority sites, and why they should be aimed for whenever possible. But what if that site keeps on linking to you? Trait #2: New Links Are Better Than From The Same Site Time And Time Again Imagine when you are working on your what are backlinks to my business strategy, you try to get the BBC to keep on linking to you? That would be amazing as they are high in the rankings and have super powerful linking potential. Well you will see that this can cause the initial boost of SEO power that you gained to get less and less important for you. In fact the more you get from the same website the worse it is for you. It is better to aim for a few, more than loads of backlinks, no matter what the site is. Even if your mate works for the perfect business and is part of the editorial team....don't abuse that connection. Think what one of my pages would be great to gain a boost for and stick to that only. Trait #3: Your Target Keyword Should Be In The Anchor Text Once again, lets picture the fact that you are building content on Indoor Fireworks and you approach a company for a linking opportunity. They say yes to you, and then on their page link to your website with the words "Fireworks" instead. You are still getting the link back to your business so what would be the issue with them omitting this one word? Dependant on the amount of traffic and the winnable aspect of that traffic that mistake could well be fine. However more often than not, you will have done your keyword research and found the keyword "Fireworks" is highly competitive and needs a huge push to get to the top of the ranks. Whilst indoor fireworks, with less traffic and competition could be the winner you should be aiming for. Try to get the right keywords in your backlinks from other people as the more you get the more you will rise to the top of the Google rankings for those hard to win words. Sit down, work out where the buying customer is heading to find people like you, and analyse the search times. Grasping the power of anchor text, when you are working on your business can really take the effort away from everything I promise you. Trait #4: If The Backlink Isn't Relevant To Your Business Then What's The point? We could go on about this all day for sure, but you have to get into the head of Google and understand what Googles prime business model is to understand "What are backlinks?" Googles business model is nothing much more than bringing the greatest, most accurate information to us when we want it. They dont want us to be spending hours searching for "Dog Training" when everything we type in brings back results about Cats and Mice. They want reputable, accurate, honest, trustworthy information to appear to make us stay longer on Google (which means more money for them). Therefore, by getting you business linked to by a site that has nothing to do with your own you would be better off to have a clean up. Spend sometime going through your links and pruning them by contacting the relevant owner or webmaster and asking for changes and removals to be made to the content. Once again this is an ongoing business and should be looked at every few months to maintain the authority and relevance of your own site. Dont be let down by what other people are doing. Keep it clean, mean and make sure backlinks are doing what they should be doing for your business. Giving you a huge boost in ranking, traffic and of course sales, and isnt that you want after all?

Introducing Scaling A Business Scaling a business is what everybody talk about across the world. You can dip into any podcast, blog, or business radio show and someone will be talking about scaling a business But in this podcast episode we start with discussing whether this is actually a requirement of every business. Is it better to sometimes stay small, and not scale your business at all? Well, we will find out as we go, and like all things we do in Join Up Dots we will leave it up to you to decide what route is best for you. Ready, then lets proceed in with the first steps you need to take when deciding if scaling a business is right for you. What Is Scaling A Business Actually? In its simplest form, scaling a business is having the right processes in place to cope with an increased level of sales, whilst maintaining the equilibrium of your business. Ok, lets make it even simpler for you to get your head around. Imagine that you are a one person business owner who has started a side hustle business that is now at the tipping point. You have built the foundations to your new business, done the work, and now you are getting a trickle of customers into your life. Do you increase that trickle of customers into a torrent of customers? A tsunami of eager to buy customers would be great for your bottom line, and that is how do you cope with that increase? Well certainly you can hire more staff, but that will of course take away some of your profits and bring a level of hassle that having staff will always bring to your business. Perhaps you dont want to be dealing with training, sickness, unexplained absentees when you actually started your business to give you a freedom type liftsyle. Well then if that is the case, you will need to build in systems and processes that can help you deal with the sales influx without it taking a toll on your personal health. That is scaling a business in a nutshell. It's allowing for more sales, more customers, more profit whilst operating lean, smart and the way that you want your business to run. Sound good, or a monster? Why Perhaps You Dont Want To Scale A Business Many business decide that they dont want to get into a scaling a business and quite happy the way things are. You might have a Personal Brand type business, whereby you are expected to be part of the process. Take the host of Join Up Dots for example, who is front and centre of everything he does throughout his business. Does he want to have hundreds of one to one clients leaving him with no time to live the life that he wants? Or does he decide that instead of personal interaction he is more than happy to create courses and content that can be sold time and time again. Well we can tell you that a blended approach works well for sure, and if the sales of the pre-recorded content exceed the one to one then its decision time. But we can also tell you that he knows that the true value is by working with people hand in hand to get them the results that they want. So once again, what are your personal values as to how your business operates and its important to keep to theses. Step One To Business Scaling - Identify Your Personal And Business Values Throughout your business you will have core values that you should without a doubt stick firm too. Some people call this a mission statement, but you have to go deeper than that to create a blueprint of what a business needs to give you, For example, do you want to have the ability of switching off the business and going on long vacations when you want them? Free from distraction and beeps and notifications every five minutes? Well if you do, then you definitely need to bring in processes or staff to help you do this without letting down potential or long standing customers. What if your business supply is selling more to existing customers than new ones? How would you operate in that regard, added to the fact that you would like to take long no interrupted vacations? Get detailed and start looking at all the possible situations that could be keeping you in your current position financially and freedom wise. Get uber detailed, and dont expect this to just come flowing out of you like magic, as more often than not this will take time. Every time you come up with an idea that hadn't occurred to you when thinking about scaling a business jot it down quickly before it disappears again. Step Two To Scaling A Business - Automate What You Can As Much As Possible Now that you have your list of situations that might derail you getting your business into six figures and beyond its re-engineering time. You need to go through your list and look at what you have written, and start working backwards to find solutions to your problems. For example, you might have thought about customers contacting you when you are in the bath, bed, or away on vacation. What do you need to do to make this no longer a problem that you need to deal with? Should you simply place a sequence of automated responses in place that will direct your customer to the right sales page or product? Perhaps your business is a high-end concierge type of operation, when scaling a business definitely needs personal help and assistance twenty four hours a day. Then the auto response may not be for you, and a team of virtual assistants scatted around with the world working at different times is the key. You need to know your business and your customers requirements inside out and start making plans to automate or delegate whenever possible, whilst maintaining the quality of your connection. Step Three - Commit To Growth Everything that we are talking about here is long term, professional business thinking and not to be done on a whim. You know the kind of things, when you hear them on a podcast and then think "Ooh i better be doing this is guess" Bad idea on all levels. You have to truly want to be focused on scaling a business as if you haven't planned to do this from the start then you will encounter pain in the transition. You will need to break a lot of things, and then rebuild stronger and that isn't easy for sure. So ask yourself and keep on asking yourself "Why do i want to grow and scale my business?" Is this an ego metric whereby you feel that you aren't a success as you only need ten clients per year, and spend most of your time walking the dog, or sitting in pubs. We refer you back to earlier in the content whereby you have to define your personal values as to what you want to get out of your business. If you are perfectly happy with where you are financially and lifestyle wise then keep thing as they are and ignore the scaling a business urge. However if that isn't you set it as your major goal and focus of the next few months and i promise you you will never look back. Step Four - Never Stop Asking Are You Doing Enough For The Customer? Many business make the mistake of getting to a certain point and then resting on their laurels. Remember Blockbusters and its massive decline when streaming came into force. Most kids nowadays cant imagine why anyone would have driven to the video stores, spent ages choosing a film, only to then watch it, rewind it and then drive it back to the store. Yeah, even for me who was well versed in the back and forth of video consumption wonders why we put up with it. But put up with it we did, until we didn't have to. The same is with your business, are you operating like you always have done and aren't interested in changing as it has always worked well for you. Well i can promise you that when it comes to businesses and organisations who are amazing at scaling a business the key element to them is their willingness to change. You need to be keeping one eye on the consumer, one eye on the market place and one eye on the changing tides of technology otherwise scaling a business wont be required anymore. You simply wont have a business to scale as that ship has sailed, and it has taken all your customers with it too. Thanks for reading or listening to the Join Up Dots podcast giving you the first four steps to scaling a business. Remember everything takes time, but having a plan in front of you is so much easier than simply trying to make things up as you go along.

Introducing Carson Tate Carson Tate is todays guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply, Inc., a business consulting firm that partners with organizations, business leaders and employees to enhance workplace productivity, foster employee engagement, and build personal and professional legacies. Working Simply has served leading global brands, including AbbVie, Delta Airlines, Deloitte, FedEx, Wells Fargo, Chick-fil-A, and Lowe’s.  The author of the best-selling,, Carson Tate Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style [Penguin Portfolio, 2015], her newest title, Own It. Love It. Make It Work. [McGraw-Hill] and its companion workbook of the same name, was released in October 2020.  Carson’s views have been included in top-tier media including Bloomberg Businessweek, Business Insider, CBS Money Watch, Fast Company, Forbes, Harvard Business Review blog, The New York Times, USA Today, Working Mother and more. How The Dots Joined Up For Carson As she says "For the past 15 years, I have worked with organizations of all sizes around the world to help them improve the engagement of their employees, the productivity of their workforces, and the efficacy of their leadership. Based on everything I’ve learned from the thousands of people I’ve taught and trained, mentored and coached, I know in my heart that one thing is true: Our work is meant to be a full expression of who we are. It is meant to make us happy. Make our hearts sing. Challenge and empower us, and expand our intellectual, emotional and spiritual lives. So why is it that when jobs in essence should be who we are and what we do best, do so many people struggle to see what's right in front of them? And where does she see the office environment heading as move forward and out of the pandemic issues of 2020? Back to how they were or simply a connection of remote workers sitting behind technology? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to join up dots with the one and only Carson Tate Show Highlights During todays show we discussed such weighty subjects with Carson Tate: Why so many people are unwilling to allow the world to take over the boring though meaningful tasks every business has.  Carson talks openly about the "bumpy " ground that business endure unless you have solid processes in place. Carson shares how the quickest way to change a business is simply to master the whole inbox terror we all deal with. and lastly....... Why it is so good to work for a free at the beginning to get proof of concept but dont make it last too long.

Introducing Setting Boundaries At Work Setting boundaries at work when you are in corporate land is hard. When you are an entrepreneur building your own business from scratch it is almost impossible. The reason being is mainly everything that comes your way could be the big opportunity that can take your ventures to the next level. The simple request to connect on Zoom from a complete stranger,  might be the golden ticket to all your dreams coming true. But as you will hear in todays podcast setting boundaries at work is one of the most, if not the most important things that you can do to get success. Don't ever think that you are missing out if you say "No" to something. This is simply your mind being 100% set on a scarcity mode. Setting boundaries at work as an entrepreneur will give you the time you need to be proactive, instead of being reactive which makes all the difference. So if you are ready let's start breaking down the Join Up Dots Top Five Tips to Setting Boundaries At Work Tip One - Understand What The Business Needs To Give You We all want a business that delivers so much money that we don't ever have to worry again. However, most businesses take time to get to this stage of amazing freedom and financial success. That is why it is so important to understand what the business needs to give you at all stages of its growth. At the very beginning if its simply a side hustle, then it may not have to give you much income support so things are easy. Moving onwards, you may need staff, property, office space as other expenses start creeping into you. This is where setting boundaries at work starts to become an issue and people say "Yes" to everything to pay for these increasing expenses. Dont say "Yes" to everything, instead give yourself breathing space to really think and understand your own business and it's current requirements. Set free time to look at your path to this point, and of course your future trajectory. You will have started making the right decisions that leads to the business that you want, instead of creating a monster. Tip Two - Setting Boundaries At Work Means Delay Are you constantly chasing to respond to all those messages and emails that come into your inboxes everyday. Communication with customers and potential customers is one of the pains (but necessary pains) of most businesses. Set boundaries and start telling your customers not to expect a response back instantly. Can you respond within 3 days instead of as soon as the message comes to you? At Join Up Dots we spend a day responding to all emails and messages every two weeks, and it has never caused us any issue at all. Can you do the same, and advise your customers that they will get a response "On Friday this week"? You will be surprised at how easily customers will buy into the way that you are setting boundaries at work, and actually respect you for it too. Delay is the key to being in control, and you advise the other party of how you are going to respond and you will never look back. Tip Three Focus In On Parkinsons Law There is an amazing law that has been a big part of the Join Up Dots success story over the last few years. This is the discovery of Parkinsons Law, which simply states "The work you do will always expand to the amount of time you allow it" A perfect example of this would be looking back at school days and the homework that you were set. It didn't matter if you had six weeks to do the homework, you would leave it till the very last minute and have it hanging over you for the full time. Everyday you would be thinking "I must get that piece of homework done or I am in big trouble" The same applies in your own work life, and especially as an entrepreneur due to the amount of tasks you need to juggle each day. Setting boundaries at work means that you have to decide to only take a fixed amount of time to get that bit of work done, and no matter what get the work done in that time. You will of course say "But what if i dont deliver the quality that I want?" You will, that focus on the task and the time focus too gets you into the zone like nothing else you will experience. Parkinsons Law is the key to having a business that you love and one that is never ending. Don't make the mistake of being in the job all the time. Tip Four - Just Say No And Stick To It It doesn't make you a bad person to say No, to people when they are asking for something. Yes, i know we are all programmed basically to try not to upset people or let them down, but you are now a business owner. No matter what you do you will let people down if you don't make one of your key elements to setting boundaries at work saying No. And worst of all, the people you let down the most will be your family and loved ones. So when someone connects with you out of the blue, think to yourself "Would I have made this happen myself ?" If the answer is No, then guess what you do, come on it's really really easy, you just say No. It's up to you direct your ship where it's heading or you wont get anywhere, if you never leave the shore because you are just reacting to things you are stuck. Say No as much as possible, unless its something that you would have sought out, and then jump all over it. Tip Five - Pushing Back Is The Easiest Way Of Setting Boundaries At Work Everyday you will be asked to do things by people across the world, and more often than not its because its part of their plan not yours. We learnt this early in the game at Join Up Dots, where just because someone asks you to meet up, connect virtually or anything else you should always ask for a Why? Why do you think that this will benefit me like you are suggesting in your message? Could you provide more information about your request? Fine, we can meet up but it has to be at the time that is convenient for me? Once again, as you will have heard throughout this episode of Join Up Dots, its not being rude, or stand offish. Its simply making sure that you are in control of your time, your energies and the direction of your business in the time you have available each day. If you lose track of the control element, you will find that the work grows and grows until you are in the job 24 7. Make sure you start setting boundaries at work as the most important thing that you can do, and we promise you you will never look back.

What Is The Quickest Way To Make Money? "What is the quickest way to make money" is one of the questions that we get time and time again at Join Up Dots. Back in the day, we might have said "There isn't anyway that you can or should make money fast online". We were all about building things with proper foundations that build and build and build. A proper online business that provides for you and your family for years. Nowadays however we have a very different view on what is the quickest way to make money as you will hear in todays show.

Is It The Right Time To Start A Business is part of the discussion throughout todays podcast episode. During every week we get countless emails all asking about business ideas, content and business worries. As you will hear on todays show one of the major ones that we see time and time again is the "Is It The Right Time To Start A Business" one. But actually does this question ever need to be really asked if you do the work before you launch a business? If you sit and plan the business, find the traffic sources, develop your offer and then make it easy for the customer you are ahead of everyone long before you start a business. So as you will hear on the show, in our honest opinion there is no such thing as a bad time to start your own business with the right plan.   Question One Dear David and everyone at Join Up Dots, Loving the podcast and all the different conversations you have everyday. What with everything going on at the moment with the pandemic, are you concerned about the future at all. Do you worry about what you have constructed failing? I keep on listening to shows like yours and would love to start my own venture, but i keep on thinking "Is this the right time what with everything going on?" Im not sure that you will put your mind at ease, but would at the minimum be excited to hear my name mentioned on your podcast. Gillian Salazar, Mykonos, Greece Question Two Good morning David, i have been going though your archives listening to your backdated content, and keep on hearing a theme appearing time and time again. Overwork, burnout and exhaustion. I work in corporate for a major pharmaceutical company and have never experienced anything like this, which makes me wonder wether you regret creating Join Up Dots and all it spin off? Wouldn't it be more sensible to leave it all at work each night and switch off, and from what I am hearing you struggled to do this. Best regards Conejito Sibilia, Mexico City Question Three Hello David, it would be wonderful if you got to see this email and respond, but i know how busy you are. I heard on a recent podcast episode that you have bought a shop. Why? Surely, what you wanted to create was enough for you...simply intrigued as to why you added more work when most people talk about walking on beaches, meditation and being free from life hassles. I used to own a brick and mortar business and it was nothing but trouble. John Baker, Perth Western Australia

Introducing Dalton Skach Dalton Skach is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a 26-year-old real estate globetrotter who is on a mission to disrupt the commercial real estate investing industry by providing investors the chance to invest in commercial real estate through digital security offerings. In 2017, Dalton started Gold Gate, a Commercial Real Estate Consulting Firm that sourced over $300M in off-market transactions and had an average deal size of $25M. To make Dalton’s story even more unique, he brokered these deals while travelling to over 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Central America, and South America. How The Dots Joined Up For Dalton Now this is the part of the story that intrigued us at Join Up Dots, how do you broker deals if your are nowhere near the properties? How do you know that the real estate you are interested in is reputable and ok to invest your cash into? Now, Dalton is on to his next big project. He has developed an investment portal where accredited investors can invest in commercial real estate just like they would a stock or a bond! You can start living a life on your own terms just like our guest today has. So when did the idea come to him, and what steps were required to get it off the ground? And where have been the obstacles that could well have derailed him without the right mindset and persistence? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Dalton Skach Show Highlights During the show we touched on such weighty subjects with Dalton Skach such as: Dalton opens up about his time at Colorado University and why it gave him so much confidence to move forward into ventures unknown We share how Dalton took his idea, and then canvassed opinion to make sure it was an idea with legs. Great idea! And lastly.... Finding good people to work with you is so important to scale, and using Upwork is the gold resource for all of us. If you can find the gold.

Blake D Bauer is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the author of the international bestselling book You Were Not Born To Suffer. Each year he helps thousands of people who cannot find effective support from conventional psychology, medicine, or religion. As we see time and time again in Join Up Dots, the life that you are leading will always head you to the life that you will lead. For the dots become experiences and those can either shape you and drive you to huge success, or for many be weights around their necks. Today's guest is someone quite different. How The Dots Joined Up For Blake As he says "I was not aware of it at the time built as a young man I suffered very deeply in myself, mostly mentally and emotionally, but also physically at times. In my attempts to run from both my internal struggles and the challenging situations around me, I unintentionally created a great deal of suffering for myself. By the time i was 18 years old I had set in motion a domino effect that caused my already unstable world to crumble. I had been suspended from high school on three different occasions.  I was selling drugs and had been arrested for drug possession multiple times. Things were not in a good place for sure, but now Blake is a world-renowned teacher and speaker with an extensive background in psychology, alternative medicine, nutrition, traditional healing, and mindfulness meditation. Based on both his personal experience overcoming deep suffering, addiction, and adversity, as well as his professional success with over 100,000 people worldwide. His pioneering work integrates what he’s found to be the most effective approaches to optimal mental, emotional, and physical health. So how does someone find themselves in such a sticky point in life, but still have the courage and focus to change track so dramatically? And with all the thousands of people that he has worked with. is there a common theme that we can nip in the bud on today's show? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Blake D Bauer

How to respond when someone asks you how things are going is a problem that most entrepreneur have everyday. You see we all want to be in a position where we respond with "Yeah amazing, earning a squillion pound a second and only working an hour a day" But of course that isn't going to be the case for the majority of us. Most entrepreneurs will either be somewhere within "Things are going great, but I haven't got a clue what to do next" or "Ok, things arent going so great so how do i solve them" Our lives are one of pushing, developing and aiming for targets and goals that we have never achieved before. We have to exist in a world of confusion punctuated with moments and periods of success and fulfilment. These are the moments that put wind in our sails and allow us to recharge our batteries before the urge to go again hits us. But that of course isn't what someone wants to know when they ask "How things are going" They dont want the answer of "well actually i'm in a bit of confused state at the moment. The first quarters targets were going fine but we have now seen a 50% deduction on expected profits due to the increase in steel manufacturing costs in Iceland" Expect the blank stare and a touch of dribble to come out the side of their mouths When someone asks you anything about your business, the truth is except for one or two very special individuals they dont really care how things are going for you. They are just being polite and showing an interest in your progress as they feel that they should ask you, so it doesn't really matter what you answer. This leads onto the ego state of business, and the core message behind why we struggle to know how to respond when someone asks you how things are going. We dont want to be seen as someone who is making things up as they go along. We dont want to be seen as someone who hasn't got all the answers, so we respond with "Yeah couldn't be better, things are going amazingly well" Get over yourself. There is nothing wrong with saying to anyone "To be honest im in a bit of a funk at the moment with what i am trying to create" Or perhaps you simply say "Well, if i knew what i know now before i started then im sure i would be further ahead of the game. But hey it is what it is and i keep on moving forward" Being an entrepreneur is about being truthful with yourself, your situation, your time restraints, family commitments. It's about knowing what things you can do well and those things that you will always struggle with. Its about knowing when superman needs a break, and an afternoon watching Netflix with a pack of chocloate digestives is more important. The bottom line, is if you always come out with the stock response of "Brilliant times are being had by all. I should have done this years ago" then you will be walking a difficult path. You will be working in an environment where your expectations of progress are higher than your actual situation and attainment. You will find your mind tripping you up as the fake "present" shows it to yourself in its honest glory. Unshaven, smelly and not the groomed presentation of success you want for yourself. Now how do i know this? Well this is the life I lead everyday, through every business venture I operate. After they successful financially? Yes, no problem there. Do i have totally clarity of the next steps to be taken....no not at all. Do i wake every morning with passion flooding out of every pore of my body...definitely not. Do i sometimes feel like i should just quit and go and do something else......every now and again I do. That is the beauty of running a podcast and online business coaching platform for so many years, you learn what works and what doesnt. You understand the confusion that business owners are in everyday. And you know how to respond when someone asks you how things are going with a "Yeah great, but a ton of work still to do. But getting there little by little everyday" Go out and enjoy the process of building success and safety for you and your family, and just accept that your efforts will get you there. You just need to be honest with yourself.

Introducing Profit first Expert Rocky Lalvani Profit first expert Rocky Lalvani is todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast. He is a man who believes that the money issues that cause most businesses and people to struggle can be resolved with minimum fuss As he says "If you're wondering how any small business owner could possibly say they have leftover cash, you're not alone. Many small business owners see profit as an afterthought - it’s whatever you see on your tax return after your accountant works their magic. But what if there was a way to turn a profit without completely changing how you run your business? How The Dots Joined Up For Rocky Lalvani As a Profit First Professional, I empower business owners like you to understand and systematize your numbers so that you can spend more time doing what you love. Rather than spending loads of money to hire someone to handle the financials, I help YOU to take control of your profit and your business in a way that makes sense. No financial jargon or advanced excel functions here! Together, we’ll create processes that are simple. I’m not going to ask you to change your mission as a business or fire half of your employees – we’re going to leverage the good habits you already have and put systems in place so it’s easier for you to focus on the work that matters. So where can people start first, if they are in the pulling their hair out and screaming at the numbers phase? And of course, has he ever been in the situation that his clients are and now has seen the light? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Rocky Lalvani Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Rocky Lalvani such as: Why it is so important to look at both the pounds and the penny's when building your businesses. Dont miss the small stuff. Rocky shares why it is so important to build your financial runway before you start to launch a new business. Be careful how the world perceive you, as if you are thinking too small, you will never gain the income that your talents deserve. And lastly........... If you make a hundred dollars, then you need to look at what you are left with after your costs are taken. How To Connect With Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani Website Facebook Twitter Linkedin Return To The Top Of Rocky Lalvani If you enjoyed this episode of  Rocky Lalvani why not listen to some of our favourite podcast episodes such as Nick Ruiz,  Sarah Caltieri or the amazing Living The Dream Or if you prefer just pop over to our podcast archive for thousands of amazing episodes to choose from. Full Transcription Of Rocky Lalvani / Profit First Interview Intro 0:00 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host, live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:25 Yes, have a good morning to you. Good morning to you. Good morning to you and welcome to Join Up Dots. Thank you so much for being here. We're gonna have a good show today. And we're gonna get straight into it. Because this is something that is fundamental to business success. And it's not just fundamental to business success, it's fundamental to life success, money and money issues and how to make sure that you've got enough of it at the end of the month, so that you're not sort of screaming around saying I can't save, I can't save, I've got never got anything left. Well, today's guest is a man who believes that the money issues that cause most businesses and people to struggle can be resolved with minimum fuss. As he says, if you're wondering how any small business owner could possibly say they had leftover cash, you're not alone. Many small business owners see profit as an afterthought. It's whatever you see on your tax return RP, your accountant works their magic. But what if there was a way to turn a profit without completely changing how you run your business. Now, as a profit first professional, he empowers business owners, like you and me to understand and systematise their numbers so that you can spend more time doing what you love. Now, rather than spending loads of money to hire someone to handle the financials, he actually helps you take control of your profit and your business in a way that makes sense. No financial jargon or advanced Excel functions here. I love that advanced Excel function. Now together, we're create processes that are simple. And I'm not going to ask you to change your mission, he says, as a business or fire half of your employees, we're going to leverage the good habits you already have, and put systems in place. So it's easier for you to focus on the work that matters. So where can people start first if they pulling their hair out and screaming at the numbers phase? And of course, has he ever been in the situation that his clients are, and now has seen the light? Well, let's find out as we bring onto the show, to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Rocky Lalvani. Good morning, Rocky, how are you? Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 2:28 I am awesome. David, thank you so much for having me join you on the show today. David Ralph 2:33 I've got to get it out. It's a brain blister. How many people show Adrian Adrian at you have it must be three times a day is it? Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 2:41 It does, it happens a lot. Not as much these days as in the past, but it still does happen. David Ralph 2:47 I'll tell you why. I'm glad you don't work with me. I'd be doing it all the time, I just would not be able to stop myself. Now I'm gonna get straight into it. Because I was blown away when I was doing the research. And I put it in the intro. And I've highlighted it. So it can be my first question. But many small businesses and owners see profit as an art default. Why need Yeah. And they you know an idiot? I don't I don't get that. Tell me what's your thinking there because I run multiple businesses, some online, some brick and mortar and profits key to me, I just don't understand that thinking, tell me about it. Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 3:26 most business owners don't go into business to do the business of business. They're not accountants, and they don't want to be they have whatever it is that they love, that they want to bring into the world. And more often than not what they love to do, has nothing to do with accounting and the profit side. And so they struggle with it. On top of that. We're not taught money. I have a Bachelor of Science in economics and an MBA. We weren't taught how to build wealth. They don't, you know, you go to school for all these years for what to get a job. But do they teach you money in those years of school? I don't know what it's like in England, but in the United States, we don't teach money in school very often. And so I think that is the underlying problem. It's a taboo subject. David Ralph 4:16 But profit. It's key, isn't it? You look at your overheads you look at your expenses. You know, for example, I run a brick and mortar business, I bought it. It's been going about 40 years, and I bought it about a year and a half ago. And literally every day I look at it, and I'm paying business first. I'm taking profits out so that I can build up a nest egg. So when the taxman comes or the accountants or whatever, I know that I've got the tax return and stuff. And I look at it as a kind of a game where I think to myself like okay, I need to buy X amount of stock, can we get a different supplier so like, I can reduce the amount that I'm paying on there? can I increase that The profit margin of that 150% per item more you know it to me, it's like an amazing game of Monopoly, where you're looking at it. I've never been taught that the only business success or Money Advice I've been taught was what my mom said to me take care of the pennies and the pounds take care of themselves. And I think that's just isn't it. Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 5:24 It's true, you do have to take care of the pennies. And a lot of people don't have that attitude of being careful with the small stuff. At the same time, some people will be very good with the pennies, and they'll mess up the pounds. So you have to watch both ways that you're not making big mistakes. Because business big mistakes are what blow you up. You're a rarity. If I look at business owners, and I was shocked to learn this, when I learned this, I literally almost fell over 80% of business owners are not looking at their financials. 15% of business owners are looking at their financials, but they don't understand exactly what they're seeing. They've got some idea, but not a perfect idea. You're part of the 5% that know your numbers, look at your numbers, understand your numbers and make decisions on your numbers. And that's probably why you've had so much success. David Ralph 6:21 You know, I don't do the accountancy, I've got an accountant. And he's very good. I've had three accountants, the first one was more interested in showing me his new iPhone, that I was probably buying him. And then the second second one I just didn't trust. And then the last one is He's really good. So the accountancy side I don't get involved in he just tells me what the tax is. But the basic day to day is key. Now for somebody who's starting a business, let's take it right back to sort of basics. Somebody is thinking of starting a business and up to this point, they've been an employee, where at the end of each month, they get a wage, and it comes in, and they never query about their human resources have paid the right tax or whatever. It's just what they've got, before they even start. Is there something that I can do Aki, in your view, that can actually set out the foundations for both their personal life and their business life? But when they're sort of moving forward? What What can I actually do, which is a really good first step. Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 7:21 So a first step, I think, is to make sure you're on a strong financial foundation. So if you're looking to walk out of a job and start a business, I think the first thing you need to realise is that this is a long journey. And more often than not, it's probably going to take you three years. So my question to you is, how are you going to survive for three years? How are you going to get through that period of time. And if you can't, and you don't have a plan? Well, before you leap, make sure you have a plan. I mean, you can jump out of an aeroplane anytime you want without a parachute. But you can only do it once, right? If you have a parachute, you can do it many times. So before you leap and start, make sure you've got a parachute that's going to carry you for three years. As you build your business. The second thing is put pen to paper and figure out all of the numbers, right? Nobody creates a business plan that that creates a business that's destined for bankruptcy, everyone puts together a business plan that shows success. So put together your business plan. And then really pressure test all your numbers and your costs, and go to some other business owners and show it to them that are in the same industry and say, I'm looking to start a business. Here are what my numbers look like, what am I missing? Is this realistic? And how long do you think it's going to take me to achieve that? At the bottom is the financial foundation, you go into business to make a profit? And you should be up front with that. Is this doable? And is it realistic? Too often we go in with these big wide eyes, you know, Oh, look at that guy. He's got a seven figure business. He's blowing it out. He said he only works four hours a day. Most of those people are lying. Be honest with you, right? Yeah, they're they've got a seven figure business and they're spending seven figures on it, which means at the end of the day, they're barely making any money and who wants to work hard for nothing. David Ralph 9:25 One of the things that we do in our business coaching or where we create online businesses and one of the things that probably drags my clients down a bit because I they all seem to build I get the feeling that they want to steam into building websites and the sexy stuff. And I always say to them, what should keep the lights on bigger if you take away all the luxuries of Netflix and Amazon Prime and all the things that we think that we should add in a Starbucks coffee, just pay your bills. What is that bigger and then how many clients do we need to get to pay for that? Bigger. And it's one of those things that I think is kind of common sense starting a business by thinking, what do I need to survive? And I speak to some people and they go, yeah, 12 million a month, 12 million a month. And I go, No, you don't? You don't need 12 million a month. Yeah, that's what I'm aiming for. I said, great. I am Papa, I am for 12 million a month. But what do you need to keep the lights on? And that is something that people can start working on, isn't it, where they do their personal budget, and reduce memberships and gym things and stuff that we just waste on a monthly basis to bring that bigger down, so that they got that cut and dried? I need three clients a month to pay for this? Where are those clients and start working towards them? Do you agree Rocky? Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 10:47 I do agree. But I'm going to caution people. David Ralph 10:51 You say you agree, but there was I knew you weren't agree. I could see that. I've been married for 50 years. And there was that woman's vibe in your voice? Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 11:03 Here is my caution. Okay, most business owners look at top line revenue, and think that's what they're going to take home. So when you say how many clients? Do I need to cover my basics? It's not, it's not okay, I have three clients that pay $1,000 a month, I have $3,000 coming in. Yeah. And my monthly costs that I need to cover 3000 your revenue in is not your revenue that you can actually spend, you're going to have to spend money to get those $3,000. So what is your net number that's coming out of those clients? And how many do you need to where does that net come out so that you can cover your monthly not? It's not I tell business owners if you have a 5% profit margin, for every additional dollar you spend, you need $20 in revenue. And I don't think that sinks in that top line revenue is not equal to spendable dollars. So that's my only caution on that is how much revenue? How much is your top line going to generate bottom line that's going to allow you to survive at home. And that's my my only caveat to that. Well, I agree David Ralph 12:17 with your caveat, I hate to say that Rocky, because I like to argue with every every guest I have on. But I do totally agree. So this is going to be like a tennis match, I'm now going to bounce it back like Phaedra to net Tao is coming back across to you. Now when somebody starts, you don't know the expenses. You know, I'm still blown away by what came out of the woodwork. But I just didn't know I needed to do and pay for on a monthly basis because I've never done it. So how does somebody out there come up with that bigger of yes, I do need this to pay the bills at home. But I also need this to pay the bills for the business. Because I don't know what bills I'm going to have because I've never done this business before. Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 13:01 And that's why I said number one, come up with a business plan. And number two, go show your business plan to people who are doing the business you're doing. And ask them if it's realistic. And it's real, you know, in b2c, so business to consumer sales, prices are generally low. But if you go b2b, everything costs 10 times more. So be aware of that if you want somebody to build you a business website, they're probably going to charge you a lot of money. And go go shop around say how much does it cost to build a website, go look at all the software. These days, everyone is buying so much software, oh, I need an email programme, I need a CRM, I need all these different things that you can buy, all those things add up very, very quickly. And then credit card fees, you know, the credit card companies taking a cut off the top. If you've got an account on one of these selling platforms, what are their fees? So do the research in and then go ask people and you know, in today's world, we're so much more connected than ever before. There's online forums for business people, there's business coaches, sometimes it may just be worth it to go to a business coach upfront. And just pay them to review your plan to say is this realistic, but there's tonnes of information out there, you've got to you've got to put down your numbers. So don't just go to somebody and ask questions. Do your homework first. Create your plan and then go ask five people is my plan realistic and don't go ask your mother go as somebody doing the business that you want to do? Is this realistic? Now David Ralph 14:44 in classic Join Up Dots territory, we're gonna bounce back and move away from the content more tsl. So I was reading your about page. And one of the things that you mentioned on your about page and I do like about pages is the fact that The world changed and you didn't keep up with the changes of the world lesson learned you say, keep up with the world. Now. Tell us about the rocky before you started what you always you know, putting your hands in your pocket and bringing out mops and and shackles and trying to sort of barter your wife for services, you know, how did you actually operate? When did you actually get your money acumen. Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 15:28 So, I grew up in a in a slightly different situation. We're immigrants to the United States. And my parents came here a long time ago when I was a little kid. And they were starting over for their second time. And so they had $25, in a lot of their friends came over from India around the same time. And as I was growing up, I watched them quickly move up the financial ladder. But the parents would get together and they would talk about money, they would talk about how much they were making, how much they were spending. And so I had financial conversations as a kid, and I just whatever reason, I wanted to be a millionaire as a kid. And that was my goal. And I would read the Wall Street Journal, I would go get jobs as a kid, I was very entrepreneurial, in that I would go into New York City buy stuff, bring it back, mark it up 100% and sell it to my schoolmates. So I was always flush with cash, went to college, and then and then I fell into the trap of the enemy of greatest good. And so I kind of wanted to start a business, but I didn't know how. And so I got a job. And the job went pretty well. And so I followed that for quite a few years. And then I In the meantime, I started building my site businesses, and they It took years of side businesses before I went full time. So it was a process and I'm a slow learner, unfortunately. David Ralph 17:01 And did you do the thing? Did you reach out to other people and say to them, you know, this is what I'm thinking of doing? Is my plan, right? Or is this something you've learned from experience? Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 17:12 So it is, yeah, I The problem was, I was slow doing all of that, you know, looking backwards, had I done it faster, I would have had much faster success. But yeah, I did go and I would constantly read like I would get on the forums and read how other people were doing things. And when we started in our real estate business, a big part of what we did was to run the numbers down to the thing and actually do the math. But on top of doing the math, we built in risk tolerance. So we would add up and say, okay, we think it's gonna cost us $20,000. To do all of this, add another 10% to the budget, because we forgot something. So we're gonna budget for 22,000. when we'd go selling costs, we go, well, the realtor is going to take six, and it's going to be another percent. But something's going to come up. So let's make that number 10%. You know, I don't think we need to replace the roof. But let's go ahead and budget for the roof anyway, just in case we have to so we would kind of we would calculate for overspending. And then we would come in below budget. So we did do a lot of that stuff. And I did go. And that's the other problem, though. Because as you as you watch some of these things, as you listen to some people, they don't know their numbers. So when they're giving you numbers, they think they're giving you the right numbers, they don't even know they're around. So be careful who you listen to always look at who that person is, are they financially successful? Or do they look financially successful? Because that's two separate things. And and I think that's where sometimes we get caught off guard. So yeah, go pressure, test your numbers. It's a big part of it, I think. And then the other problem I had, especially in the beginning was underpricing, my services. I didn't realise how much people were willing to pay for good service. So I undervalued myself, and that is something else that I think we tend to do. David Ralph 19:16 I think everyone goes through that, you know, I know I certainly went through that. And what I offer now to people, they generally will come back later and say, gee, you know, somebody else is charging x y Zed. But, you know, it's it's one of those things that you have to grow into your own personal belief that the value that you are providing is worth the money. And I just don't think that we have that at the start. I certainly didn't. You know, I look back at some of the things that I did in the early days. I was basically bending over for $50. You know, it was it was like nothing really and the amount of value that I was providing for that. And what I found Rocky and I talk about this a lot is you get the sky customers, you get the terrible ones, the ones that just argue with you all the time, and they want more of a more of a more, when somebody actually pays you value, your life becomes easier, because they do the work, they listen to you. And they turn up on time. They just become better customers don't know. Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 20:20 They do. And you know, that's one of the surprising things. And I've heard speakers talk about this a lot. If you undercharge, people don't think you're good. So the price you pay signals, how good you are at something. And I've heard many times people say, you know, especially for like corporate speakers, they wouldn't get hired because they were charging too little. And the company thought, well, we want a $20,000 speaker, you're not a $20,000 speaker, because you're only charging 5000, you're not worth it. So be careful how you how the world perceives your value. And the people who are willing to pay you more are exactly what you talk about. They are better customers. And so the harder you work, the less you make, because you're in that grind, customer, you know, the less you work, the more value it's perceived, the easier life becomes. And I think that's a lesson learned. And we don't always believe that up front. But but it's very, very true, David Ralph 21:23 is true. But they don't know the answer of how to give people that personal belief. You know, I've grown into it. I've been through the journey. I've been doing this for nearly 20 years now on and off with different things. And so I understand the mechanism, I can provide the value somebody can come along, I will give them what they deserve. But I don't think I could have just done that. Unless I'd been through the struggle and learn how it all works. I don't think that you can just have that belief. right at the beginning. Do Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 21:58 you know what, again, there are certain people who do and they just go for it. And there are others who kind of have to work through the ladder. The question is, and again, I told you that I struggled with this was moving through that ladder faster. And until you break through those barriers, it's difficult. And that's why sometimes having coaches or trainers or mentors or reading books to help you break through your barriers, is the biggest thing I tell most people, the biggest obstacle you will face is the mirror. Because it's you that's holding you back. It's not no one else in the world is holding you back except yourself. You've got to overcome yourself. And when you do that, that's when greatness happens. David Ralph 22:48 That says some words that really helped me every day. We're here again, Jim Carrey, Jim Carrey 22:52 my father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don't want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love. David Ralph 23:19 Now, what interests me with view Rocky, and it interests me with so many people, but a business only has to be a simple transaction of value to somebody else. You know, I always reference there's that lady on Netflix, Marie Kondo, I think her name is my wife was obsessed with her. And all she did was teach out of throw stuff away and tidy your drawers up. And she's made millions. And I used to think it's a business, you know, do people pay for that? And then there's this other group on Netflix that my wife's interested in, but just teach you how to put your clothes in varying colour schemes. And I think myself doing all right as well, with yourself when you started your business, did you feel that you had to throw the kitchen sink at it? Did you try to provide more value and actually the customer actually requires and in many ways, confusing the customer because they didn't really totally understand what you was offering. Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 24:21 That does happen, right? Because I think in the beginning, in the beginning, they'll partially you need to build raving fans. So in that sense, I think you need to deliver more value, especially up front so that you can get yourself established because your best advertising is a customer well served. They're going to go tell everyone how great their decision was to work with you or to buy from you. at the same point. The other struggle is being crystal clear on what you do in how you do it. I think too often we make our messages You too complex, you need to make your messages such that a five year old can understand what you do that grandma can understand what you do. So there's there's two nuances to that I feel between the two, by the way that Jim Carrey story, that was the driving factor behind me, from the time I was a kid, I used to read the Wall Street Journal. And I would every time we had a recession, you would see people in their 50s lose their job. They were at the height of their career. And they didn't know how to pivot, because they thought they had safety. And then they would struggle and things would go wrong for them. And I was always like, I want to be at that point, when I'm 50 years old, that I have enough financial wealth that I can tell the world go screw yourself, if you fire me, I can go do whatever I choose. And so that was actually kind of a motivating factor for me to build wealth over time, was knowing that I could get fired at the top and that I needed to make sure that I had a strong foundation under David Ralph 26:08 its I used to work with Phil Collins, the drummer from Genesis, he sister in law, Lynn, I used to work with her and I used to know his brother, remember Phil Collins in in the old days on you with me with this Rocky? Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 26:24 I am so I grew up my high school years were Phil Collins, I have all his albums, I listened to all his music. I have one of his concert CDs where it's he and Chester doing a drum duet. If David Ralph 26:40 you notice that, well, Lynne was working with me. And she was a lovely lady. She really was. And the owner of the company was really bad to a really bad. And then one day she came in and she said, Phil has given me my f off money as she called it. And she said from that moment, and she never told me how much Phil Collins gave them. But he must have given them a fair whack. Because she said from that moment, it was just liberation, I knew that no matter what happened, I could just say, screw you basically and be gone. And I always used to think about, oh, yeah, why do people not build to that, because I could never go back. If somebody offered me a job. Now I'm never going to take it Not in a million years. Because there's too much about being in control of your own destiny, which is, which is absorbing to me. It's powerful. It's It's intense, every single day. But the majority of people who are finding it out now because of the situation or we're going through, just haven't got that fpu money ever, not even a small is not even an F money. They haven't got either of it. Profit First Expert Rocky Lalvani 27:49 And and that's very true. People are not taught to build wealth. Even business owners are not taught to build wealth, they put all their eggs in that one basket. They don't they really struggle with the concept of remove money from your business, and use it to build wealth ou

When it comes to living the dream, do you ever stop and consider whether the life you are living is actually the life that you really want to be living? Do you consider that you can get bigger and bigger achievements in your life (and actually beat yourself up because your not) Well that is what's today's episode of Join Up Dots is all about as you will hear. This all came about, after I got told by a businessman that when asked "How are you doing?" and getting the reply from myself of "Yeah great living the dream" he stated. "David if you think you are living the dream it's only because you aren't dreaming big enough!" So how do you start living the dream if you are already 100% believing that you already have the dream? Is being content and happy enough or are we letting ourselves down? Well, I think that being content and happy is one of the most amazing states that you can achieve in your life. It may not seem sexy and inspirational but it is amazing. Waking up without any stresses and pressures. Knowing that you can pay all your bills with no issue at all. Feeling healthy and fit. Is that not the best way of being, or is living the dream our right to work harder and harder to gain more and more. I really don't have the right answer to this, as I suppose living the dream is so personal to each and everyone of us, we should never be told by others whether it is right or wrong. We should look deep into our hearts and know if we are being true to ourselves or not. We should look at what we have around us, and think "Is this making me happy or is it just more stuff to maintain and nurture?" Let us know by dropping us  a line, so we can see how many of our listeners are living the dream and how many of them or simply helping others to live the dream as they struggle through on their own. Thanks for reading David Ralph

Internet mastery is the discussion of the day with Ian Pribyl, who is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He is a man who quite simply has mastered and can fully explain how to start cracking it online. The reason I know this? I have been reading his new book "From Nothing" how to start your online business for less than $100. This book is full of quick and useful tips and advice that take you all the way through finding your idea, to making your sales flow effortlessly. As he says "FIMP  (which stands for the Free Internet Marketing Project) is a passion project of mine. How The Dots Joined Up For Ian It was born out of an industry full of scammers who were cleaning out consumers' life savings under the promise of "getting rich quick" I created FIMP to empower online business seekers and save them from having to purchase any more "make money online" products. FIMP teaches everything a person needs to know — from absolutely zero knowledge to building a successful, profitable internet business. Now with a history that started a a bartender, and meandered through a series of sales and customer service roles he has taken what works offline and detailed it brilliantly as an online resource. Get your idea, do your market research, define the product the list goes on and on. So does he have a history of online failures and successes throughout his life, or did he hit a home run straight away. And where does he see most people go wrong? Aiming for a bar that's too high, or one too narrow with no room to expand. Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Ian Pribyl Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Ian Pribyl such as: Why it is so important to understand the core essence of what makes any business such by value. Forget about metrics and financial goals and focus on goals that you can monitor and master.  Why Ian feels the level of connection has increased online. People aren't sitting behind an automation. And lastly..... Why so many people miss the opportunities that their lives have given them which can be turned into a business opportunity. 

How to make money online without paying anything was posed to us today via a question received by email. It said "Dear David and Join Up Dots, I have been listening to your show on my commute to work everyday and have a question. Is it possible to advise how to make money online without paying anything as I would love to start my own business but i dont have anything that i can invest into it. Do you think this is possible nowadays? Should I think of something else before I think of doing this? Kind Regards James, South Africa Well in todays podcast episode we start breaking down some of the things that you can do to start making online today, whilst not using much of your own. There are literally hundreds of ideas that you can utilise online to get the cash, but most of them do take a long time to make a fulltime living. You are much better to take things seriously and start building your own online business that can change your life forever. So lets start with the top five. How To Make Money Online Without Paying Anything Idea One Get offline and start working on the oldest form of business creation BEFORE you bring it online. Relationship building and word of mouth connection have been used for thousands of years to create commerce. Whilst there isnt anyway that you can really scale a business in the long term without investing into it, you can certainly start for nothing. Think about what you have in your current armoury which can be used to provide value to someone else. Or perhaps you could borrow something from somebody and share the profits with them. Lawn mowing, painting, cleaning are all service based industries that are almost free to start. Think of all the Uber drivers in the world at the momentum being paid to use their own cars to ferry customers around. It may not be what you want to do when you ask the question how to make money online without paying anything it gets you earning cash to invest back. Make Money Online Without Your Own Cash Idea Two Google has a great tool which we have used ourselves in the past, and that is BLOGGER Using this free tool you can create a website basically for nothing, to start gaining traffic into your business for free. Once you have done this, then literally the world is your oyster when it comes to building online wealth. We started an online business this way and made around $30,000 per month, linking to Ebay to gain our traffic. The key to everything online (and I guess offline) is how can you provide value to someone who would recognise that value and pay for it. If you start simply trying to make cash then you will struggle for sure...its Value all the way that really works. Do your market research to find your ideas and then build upon them to get the traffic flowing. You can use this method to add affiliate links, whereby other companies pay you for the traffic they get from you. Adsense used to amazing for this, but this method has fallen down the pecking order over the years for many different reasons. Be Careful With This One But It Works Idea Three This is one of these ideas that have been used for ages by people around the world to make free cash online. Its not something that we recommend, without a strong caveat: You have to be sure of who you are and how you operate. The idea is based around being offered free bets by gambling companies. Within the UK, you have the ability to play around with matched bets, whereby you are betting on both outcomes win or lose. The idea is you dont care what the result is, you just want to get your hands on the free cash that is on the table afterwards. As we say when you ask the question how to make money online without paying anything this maybe not what you should be doing if you cant trust yourself to stay in control. But it would have been wrong for us not to mention it at least. There is a very good guide that walks you through this step by step here Earning Free Money Online Idea Four It might sound amazing, but it is true. Nowadays companies are willing to pay you for searching on the internet. Yes, simply go over to Google (you wont be paid for this search and type in "paid for searching the web") and see the opportunities that appear for you. The idea is the companies are splitting the profits from the products that you buy, or using the data that you leave to market to other people. You are giving them access to your history and internet traces. Now this might not be everyone's cup of tea for sure, but it made us sit up and take notice as basically it is "freecash" in the simplest terms. Similar to this is the cashback sites for using when shopping online which are very popular in the UK Making Free Money Online Idea Five Ebay arbitrage is a great little thing to get into. Basically when you think about How To Make Money Online Without Paying Anything you dont really think of Ebay, but you can do it for sure. All around the world Ebay has different market places selling the same products at different prices based on the exchange rate of currency in that country. So you can do this two ways, either find some old stuff you have hanging around and then search for the sites for where your profit will be higher. Now you maybe thinking "ooh that sounds like a lot of hard work, but there are tools around that you can use to make this simpler You can try out this one here from Aribtrageinfo.com that will also help you out with the same idea on Amazon. 

Consumer behaviour theory is one of those things that puzzle so many people working online today. What makes a customer buy from you, or order your services with the minimum of effort ? Well in todays podcast we break down consumer behaviour theory into it's simplest form. Best of all, you already are an expert on this, as we all do exactly the same things. We are all consumers and spend our days searching, buying, checking reviews and making a decision before clicking the buy button. But i guess like all things, when it's stuff that we naturally do then consumer behaviour theory is a hidden secret to us. It's too close for us to see. No more, my friends. This is a very deep subject, too deep for this first dive into the subject, so let's keep to the key elements. Just understand these will maximise your chance of making a great living online.

Tosca Reno is todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast. She is a lady who quite simply has powered her way to a level of success most people dream about. All the while, life was throwing at her personal and business tragedies that would have stopped most people in their tracks. She is the New York Times best-selling author of Your Best Body Now and the Eat-Clean Diet®series, and The Start Here Diet, selling more than two million copies globally. She is also the pioneer of the Eat-Clean Movement and one of North America’s most renowned health and wellness experts leading the pack in the battle against obesity. But what fascinated me and is perfect for a show like Join Up Dots was this wasn't an obvious journey. Until almost touching her 40's, our guest life was as far away from where she is today How The Dots Joined Up For Tosca Tosca’s passion for championing the Eat-Clean Lifestyle began when she took control of her life and transformed her body from overweight to strong and fit at age 40. Unfulfilled and down on herself, Tosca began a lifelong commitment to embracing a healthier, well-balanced life of Eating Clean and fitness. Driven by tenacity and fuelled by positive energy, Tosca gave herself permission to enjoy life and experience and accept a new version of herself. Since her spectacular transformation, Tosca has spent over a decade sharing her journey with others and helping them lose weight and get healthy. So throughout her journey, there was a strong lack of personal belief and understanding of what she could bring to the world. As she says "In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined this happening to me.   I was just an ordinary housewife living an ordinary life." So what made her late husband see something in her, that she couldn't see herself at the time? And where do people start feeling great about themselves if they think that its going to be hard and expensive to get going? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Tosca Reno Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Tosca Reno such as: Tosca shares how she had to find her "why" by tackling small challenges and overcoming the mindset issues that often stop progress. We discuss how the branding of "Eat-Clean" came about, and share the brilliance and clarity of the message she shares. Why it is so important to rest in between bouts of exercise to give yourself the greatest chance of peak fitness. And lastly........... The three easy steps that we can all take to make a difference in our fitness and mental health.

Things That Stop You From Achieving Your Goals? Things That Stop You From Achieving Your Goals is something that not many people talk about on a podcast. Most of the time its all about "Action taking, money making and success, success, success". But why is it that even when you want to change direction and make a difference in your life something inside stops you from getting there. Well in todays episode we try to break things down, so you can make a mental checklist of the ones that you might be struggling with. So that is the subject of todays episode of Join Up Dots and of course you can hear the full answer on todays episode. Things That Stop You From Achieving Your Goals Breakdown Goal Stopper 1: Seeing The Big Picture And Not The Dots Through Join Up Dots we speak to so many people who want to start their own businesses. You can see the fear in their eyes when they tell us about their dreams of what they want to achieve. The issue of course is we dont start at the dream. We start at the furthest part away from the dream, when everything is possible and nothing is achieved. If you find yourself frightened by what needs to be achieved, then write a list of the first five things that you need to do to get started. Dont even consider the end goal, just a few things to tick off to start building belief. Goal Stopper 2: Fear Of Failure One of the major things that stop you from achieving your goals is the fear of failure. It is so much easier to say "Things aren't possible" before you ever start, as of course you wont ever fail. The world is littered with the dreams of men who never ever started. What a shame, as nobody knows if they can make their dreams come true when they start. But they do start, and then keep on working towards their end goal. Dont be put off by the fear of failure as you will never ever know if you are right or not. Goal Stopper 3: Trying To Be Perfect Perfection never really occurs in life or in business. Even great works of art, revered by experts across the world are probably frowned upon by their makers. The Mona Lisa is probably not bang on what the painter wanted to achieve. I can promise you this, but no matter what you create it wont be finished. You will always look at it with longing eyes of "I need to do that, I wish I had done that" Dont get hung up on perfection. Do what you need to to get things out into the world and then polish as you go. Goal Stopper 4: Excuses Things That Stop You From Achieving Your Goals dont really exist. Or at least you dont know they exist until you come across them by doing the work. As you will hear on the episode, a lady friend threw up excuses before anything. She didnt even think, do, work, take action anything. The excuses kept on coming, to which David Ralph just smiled and walked away from them. Excuses are things that stop you from achieving your goals more than anything else. Goal Stopper 5: Expectations On of the truths in starting your own business, is it will always take twice as long as you expected. You also will spend more money than you expected too, before ever getting the results you expected. The key to success is simply "It is what it is" You will be exactly where your efforts have placed you, no matter what you are hoping and expecting. Get your head down, do the work, enjoy the celebrations that your achievements bring to you, but dont expect.

What is success is one of those questions that we ask ourselves more and more nowadays. Its not surprising, as from the moment we go to school we are being pushed towards success. Teachers say to us "If you don't work hard you wont get the results you need to get that great job" Parents says to us "How are you going to afford to own your house if you dont become successful" The issue is of course, most of these visions of success aren't our own. These are what others people have in their mind is success and they dont have any right to try to push it on to us. It's just wrong. So in todays episode of Join Up Dots we answer the following listener question, and of course you can hear the full answer on todays episode. The What Is Success Listener Question Dear David, I am long time listener of Join Up Dots even though I am only seventeen years old. I started listening as I was hoping for help in finding success. My parents are very driven people, and want me to get success in my life. They worked hard for what they have in life, and want to see me do the same. But what is success? This is my problem as I am willing to work hard at something, but not if its not what I want to do or achieve. Do you think that being happy and poor is as good as rich and unhappy, as i feel my life is going in that direction. So what is success to you David? I know what is success to my parents and family, but I dont think it is the same for me. Thank you Putri, Kula Lumpa, Malaysia So Have You Defined Your Own Success? If you are inspired by todays episode of Join Up Dots and are now pondering your own definition of success then we can help you. Simply head over to the Freedom Starter course on our Free Training Resource and start doing the Love Like and Hate exercise. This can really set your direction in amazing ways and give you the clarity that you need. The second thing you can do, is head over to episode 207 of Join Up Dots and listen to the amazing AJ Leon. This is an amazing episode that reveals the step that one man took to create his own rules and find his own thing in life.

Dr Eric Cole is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. World Renowned Cybersecurity Expert with more than 30 years of network security experience, Dr. Eric Cole is a distinguished cybersecurity expert and keynote speaker who helps organizations curtail the risk of cyber threats. Many of the foundational principles of cybersecurity were developed by Dr. Cole. He has worked with a variety of clients ranging from Fortune 50 companies, to top international banks, to the CIA, for which he was a professional hacker. Yes interestingly enough this is the classic case of poacher turned gamekeeper who by breaking into systems actually became the go to person to stop others from doing the same. How The Dots Joined Up For Dr Eric Cole While he started his career on the offense, he is now fully dedicated to understanding the adversary so he can provide cost effective solutions that actually work. As a pioneer in the area of cybersecurity he has been inducted into the Infosec hall of Fame, awarded the Cyber Wingman Award from the US Air Force, received multiple accommodations from the CIA and was part of the commission on cybersecurity for President Obama. He has been the featured speaker at many security events and also has been interviewed by several chief media outlets such as CNN, CBS News, FOX New and 60 Minutes. So although he was a professional hacker, how did he actually convince people that he wasn't a bank robber or terrorist and could be trusted. And is this something that only big companies need to be concerned with, or does the wannabe entrepreneur also need to pay attention. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Dr Eric Cole

Amy O'Brien is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is a lady who has recently taken the plunge and left her secure and reliable wage check to start her own business A Life By Design Financial Services. As she says to her clients everyday "You deserve to live a life that reflects the values you cherish. We can help you develop a financial plan that allows you to pursue the quality of life you desire. Financial planning is a journey we take together. Establishing and pursuing goals is a dynamic, vibrant process that takes time to develop. As your advocate, our role is to advise, support, encourage and guide. When you succeed, we succeed. A true win - win situation But there was a time that this mission wasn't one that she was living herself. She most certainly didn't live a life that reflected her own personal values and like millions of people around the world found herself directed by the wishes of others. Early mornings, long commutes and late nights were the norm. How The Dots Joined Up For Amy  However unlike millions of others she didn't just accept that her life was always going to be this way and took big action.  Believe me, taking this kind of action is never easy, and this wasn't an easy plunge to take. Even though for many years the doubts surrounded her whether it was the right thing to do to stay where she was. Was this life that she had seen herself living as a younger woman? Was she providing the kind of advice and support to her clients that she knew she could if she hadn't had her hands tied behind her back? Well she took the plunge and launched her fledgling business and now is in the process of growing her client base, getting her name out there and building stability in hers, her families and her clients lives. So what finally pushed her over the edge and made her fix her mind on taking control of her life? And where has been the hardest parts of starting a business in such a regulatory industry? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Amy O'Brien Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Amy O'Brien such as: We discuss the energy levels that are we required to use when we play a role in our career and do things that aren't suitable for us. Why internally Amy struggled with finding her passions even though it was right under her nose her all the time. Amy shares her steps to attracting her first customer and how simplicity is always the way forward when starting a business. And lastly.... We share the biggest shift that we have to go through when starting our own businesses and that is truly believing in ourselves.

What Is Branding In Business The subject of What Is Branding In Business is discussed on todays podcast. This is a problem that so many people struggle with when designing an online business and spend a fortune on an expert to help them with. But they dont really need to with a little bit of thought and planning. So lets start with the question and then start breaking things down  Listener Question Dear David and everybody at Join Up Dots. Very quick question which i thought might be a good episode to do. What is branding in business? I keep on hearing it from yourself and other podcasts that i listen to, but nobody really explains it in terms that i understand. Would you be able to shed some light on this? Thank you so much Jennifer Anymore, Connecticut What Is Branding In Business Step One Branding is not an image, a logo a colour scheme or anything to do with a visual. Although it is all of those things too. Branding in business is what you do, say, react and demonstrate time and time again to your customers that makes them love and understand what you are about. From the URL of your business, through to buying a product there has to be a key simple message. What do you do that makes your customer trust you, understand you, and want to come back time and time again. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon  says this brilliantly when he says "Branding Is How Your Customer Talks About You When You Are Not In The Room" Could this be classed as integrity? Could this be classed as pure customer service? Once again it is all of these things and a lot more. What Branding Is Not Branding is not simply a logo or a colour scheme, but actually starts right from the URL of the business. Does your company name state clearly what you business is going to offer BEFORE the customer even lands on your website. For example, our business is called Join Up Dots which actually doesn't make too much sense when you first find us. How about if we called it "Online Business Made Easy"...would this make it more obvious? Yes of course it would, which is why URL's like these cost a fortune and so desired by so many businesses. Now, most of us can't afford one of these but we can get around the problem by adding an obvious slogan, and really focused images and content. Every interaction and content has to reconfirm the thing that you do that other people dont do. What Is Branding In Business - The Amazon Way When we think of Amazon do we simply think of all the goods that they sell, or do we think of the ease of buying those goods? Well for me, it is "ok, lets go to Amazon as I can have it tomorrow" Its their efficiency and ease of purchase that is the key to me using them. I dont even look at the prices as I dont care about that...i just care about getting the item quick and easily. And that is a massive part of their business and is the question that they answered with their branding. What is the customer really wanting and how can we be known for that thing more than anyone else out there. Once you get that running through your business then things become very easy indeed.

Sarah Caltieri is today's guest joining on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast show. She is a lady who I'll be honest I am a huge fan of her work, in fact such a fan that I had to invite her to appear on the show for a second time. The first time she appeared we discovered that she is a singer, musician, songwriter, actress and has one the bubbliest characters it has been delight to come into contact with. Now if you think that this is a story of a lady with talent and the world supporting her to achieve her aims then think again. This is a story of a talent shining brighter due to the knocks and obstacles she has been required to overcome. Whilst pursuing her recording and acting career, Sarah Caltieri lost most of her vision at age 23, through type 1 Diabetes, as a result of a common diabetic eating disorder (EDMT1) from her late teens. How The Dots Joined Up For Sarah After going through laser treatment and many operations and rehabilitating herself after having lost everything (job, driving licence, independence), unstoppable and unperturbed by obstacles and negative attitudes, she continued pursuing her career. The experience simply made her more determined to follow her own path and become a success, and i have no doubt that her future is a very bright one indeed. And then when everything was going great an accident with a supermarket trolley, knocked her whole business off track, and left her with a career with one wobbly wheel that wouldn't go where she pushed it. So being a creative person, does she find the business side of everything a complete drag, or something she enjoys? And what does she do to stay positive when the world is saying "Ok, heres another little smack in the mouth for you to enjoy" Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Sarah Caltieri Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Sarah Caltieri such as: We disucss how the world has had to change due to Covid-19, and the steps that she has taken to strengthen her business. Sarah talks openly about the moment when she decided that she needed help in her business and how she found the perfect employee. and lastly…. Why Sarah always looks to push the boundaries of her comfort zone to ensure that she is growing everyday.

David Tao from Bar Bend is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a man who is an entrepreneur and editor and voice actor based in New York City. He's also the co founder and editor of Bar Bend.com, a media brand that provides multi platform coverage of news analysis, training and opinion in strength training and sports. Now that doesn't really make sense to you, then consider this if you want to know anything about weightlifting, training routines, big sweaty meeting gyms, and the best products to buy and just all that really interesting stuff around the sport, then Bar Bend has it all. The company has become one of the largest and fastest growing fitness size on the web. And not only that, but Bar Bend is the official media partner of USA weightlifting and he's also a broadcaster for the 2019 Reebok CrossFit Games. I assume that's already occurred. Now in 2019, our guest was honoured as a Forbes 30 under 30 list make up a media approved Bar Bend's numerous media partnerships, numerous media partnerships. He was asked to serve as a colour commentator for both national and international weightlifting competitions along with the Reebok CrossFit Games. Now originally from Kentucky, he's now a New York City and seems to be loving life. So what has made this platform so successful when the web is full of I would have said similar ideas that really never got off the ground. And is this his lifetime legacy? Or is he just stepping stone to what's in his heart and his mind? Well, let's find out as we bring on to the show to start joining up dots with the one and only David Tao from Bar Bend. 

Ben Ivey is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a man who from the outside view has it made. He is known as the Lifestyle Entrepreneur and spends his time bouncing across the globe to present in the USA, China for companies such as Maersk, HSBC, Coca Cola. But the truth is sometimes quite different from the obvious route to success. The view that the world sees can often be a collection of highlights that truly mask the journey that the guest has been on. How The Dots Joined Up For Ben When Ben Ivey started on this journey, he was perhaps in a similar position that many business owners face. Despite owning his own business and working with his international team, he was feeling overwhelmed, lost and unfulfilled. Feeling like his life was lacking meaning, Ben began on a destructive path of self-sabotage, burn out and damaging relationships. After this downward spiral, Ben became obsessed with the question: Is it possible to build a successful business whilst living a great lifestyle simultaneously? And it certainly appears that even after suffering personal heartache with the suicide of his father, he is out there, presenting, building connections and creating wealth and support for others. All the while showing one of the happiest grins that you could ever hope to see on someone day in day out. So has he got the lifestyle entrepreneur dream that so many people think is what its all about? Is he on a laptop in his underpants doing three minutes work a day, or hustling, driving forward and working hard to achieve? So why do so many people create success for themselves and then spiral downwards on a self sabotage route. And where does he want to go from here? What is his dream for the development of his company?  Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Ben Ivey

How To Start Overcoming Obstacles The subject of overcoming obstacles is something that has bothered people since time began. And still today people struggle with this subject, in their own personal life, business life or simply anywhere that they need to achieve something. You start creating your new business idea, everything goes as you plan and then bang, you hit trouble. No matter what you do the issue wont move out of the way and you give up. Their is no way I am overcoming obstacles life this" you think and so turn your direction onto something new. However, you should never think that way as the obstacle is the improvement that you business is looking for. I kid you not.... By having to work at overcoming obstacles in your business and life you make the successes stronger, and build foundations that you would never have made possible

In today's episode we share a few learnings from some conversations we have had with listeners across the world this week. Over the last week or so we have had conversations with 35 people talking about their dreams and inspirations. So many of them seemed to fail to grasp that it takes a bit of work to get the dream life. In fact you have to do the dirty stuff that makes the dream come true. But are you willing to do the dirty stuff? I bet you arent, no matter how much you want your life to change.

What Makes A Great Business Idea? On today's show we discuss something that bothers so many people across the world. What makes a great business idea, that is something that people will love to work and build. You see its ok to get a list of things that seem great from the outside, but what happens after five years when you are sick of it? Not good! So we answer than one, and also we touch on a couple of others from people who also want some amazing business advice from Join Up Dots. Lets start with question one and of course you will have to listen to the show to hear the answers Question One Hi David, i have just finished your Freedom Starter Course and have to say it has really created an amazing list of potential businesses. How do i narrow down to what the best ones are?  Ramesh Gillies, USA Question Two Dear David, do you think you could have done what you have done with Join Up Dots on your own? I am looking to start my own show and I cant afford to hire people like you did. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Donna Kilbride, Ontario, Canada Question Three David, if listen to your show the other day about all the things you do to earn income (which was very impressive and inspiring) and wondered. When do you decide not to do these things anymore. I imagine that you have an exit strategy for each and everyone Clive Williams, Dorset England.

Trish Marks is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast. She is a business coach who specializes in Stopping Self Sabotage, she helps leaders identify the skills around improving performances by changing the way they approach challenges and problems. Trish founded Marks Consultancy in 2012 after leaving her job as a successful sales consultant with the vision to spread the knowledge on how mastering your emotions can positively impact your decisions, behaviour and performance, and how it play’s such an integral role in effective leadership, as well as in life. We all have emotions all the time, but how many of us actually go behind the scenes of what are actually triggering them? And of course ever think about the way that these emotions stop us making the right decisions to get past these emotions.   How The Dots Joined Up For Trish As she says "I’ve helped 100's of clients move past “stages of being stuck” in their lives. This experience has led me to discover the patterns that create resistance to positive changes in life and business. And I show people like you how to: Experience less rejection Stop making more mistakes Stop getting left behind Get out of your own way Have less conflict in your relationships Working together we will go through a step by step process that will take you on the journey to reach your true potential resulting in you leading a more impactful level of success in your life. So what made her choose this line of work, and was it as surprise when she realised that was going to start paying off? And was this the idea straight from beginning or did she needs others to give her the clarity to see the path? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Trish Marks

In todays episode of Join Up Dots we go behind the scenes and discuss the different ways that we monetize the show. This was due to a question that we recieved from a guy in India Dear David, I am an avid listener from Mumbai India. I would very much prefer to know how you create wealth for yourself through the Join Up Dots podcast. I listen to many such podcasts and many stop without notice. This is leading me to observe that podcasts are a difficult way to make money.... kripaya, Adarsh.

Joe DiSanto spent his childhood riding BMX bikes, break-dancing, and memorizing 80’s movies, but the carefree days of youth wouldn’t last long. By 13 he was working as a busboy, helping his recently-divorced mom, and picking up some of his own tab. A valuable lesson was learned: If you don’t deal with your money, your money will deal with you. From that point on, he made it his mission to learn everything he could about making smart money moves. It paid off. By age 30, Joe had wiped out $70k in student loans, bought his first house, and started a post-production company in Los Angeles. How The Dots Joined Up For Joe Over the next decade, the company grew to 30+ employees with over 5 million in annual revenue, while producing two critically-acclaimed documentaries and an Emmy-winning HBO series. During this time, he and his wife also transacted on 15 residential and commercial real estate properties. But nothing had more life-changing impact than the birth of their son. After a successful 19-year run in L.A., the couple decided to slow down and invest in their new family. They cashed out of the business and bought into small-town life on the Florida coast. Having semi-retired at age 43, Joe’s efforts are now focused on his educational blog Play Louder, where he shares a lifetime of fiscal know-how to help individuals and business owners navigate their finances, increase their net worth, and plan better for their future. So why does he think the money lessons came to him at such an early age in life? And where does he want to go, now he has achieved what most people want in life, and has a foot off the gas? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Joe DiSanto Show Highlights During the show we discussed with Joe DiSanto such weighty subjects such as: Joe shares the secret message that he lives on everyday which is contra to the idea of success. Why you have to forget the ego that can take you over when building a business online. How refreshing it is step away from your life defining job and have conversations that dont involve what you do. and lastly........ Why it is so powerful to look at what you shouldn't be doing instead of what you are doing.

Cody Butler is the #1 Best Selling Author of “Got Attitude” and “The 90 Day marketing Plan”. Cody is widely accepted as one of the world's leading experts on Small Business marketing and Business Growth He’s been featured on Fox, ABC and NBC and has consulted for multinational corporations, sporting stars and marketing celebrities. Cody’s worked with over 5000 businesses to date, and his latest project, “The 90 Day Marketing Plan” is designed to help Small Business Owners create an effective marketing plan...even in these difficult times. But the reason I wanted to have him on the show was these simple statements that appeared on his website regarding his mentality to online and offline business. We’re building a business, not a fantasy, so if you currently make nothing and your question is “Can I get to $100K per month in 6 months?”. The answer is “NO”! How The Dots Joined Up For Cody If those are your type of questions, this is not for you. If your question is “If I implement like a MoFo can you get me to the next level?”. The answer is “YES” We’re going to get along just fine ???? There are no shortcuts to success, only wise paths, and there’s no such thing as “Get Rich Quick”only “Get Poor Quick”. Seriously hard work, dedication and expert guidance is the formula for success. If you can bring the first two qualities, I don’t care if you’re a complete beginner or a guru, I can work with you and it’s going to be a beautiful thing! So did he ever get seduced by shiny gadgets and GRQ schemes before realising that a plan, focus and commitment were the key. Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Cody Butler. Show Highlights Cody tells the story of when things clicked for him as a young man wanted a bicycle. Why you get paid based on the results that you provide to the market place not what you think you are worth. Why Cody writes down two hugely powerful statements every morning that he wants to achieve and sets out to do them both. Why the only way to being any good at making money is to get in-front of clients and prospects. Unless you turn up to the chat you wont close the deals. and lastly........ Why it's important to stop saying yes to everyone and just become an expert on one thing.

Copywriting expert Francis Nayan is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a copywriter, and travelling entrepreneur, who has built his business without even first having an online presence. As he says "I create evergreen, automated, behaviour-driven emails, funnels, and campaigns for coaches, mentors, and e-commerce businesses who want to make more money with email. My goal is to create an email strategy that provides you a steady stream of cash flow and at least 30%+ of your total revenue by email alone. I use a blend of gold-standard copy-writing tactics, expert marketing insight, wolf-like sales psychology, and tailor-made copy written to the desires of your customers." That is of course what he does, so let's hear some more about who he is.   How The Email Writing Dots Joined Up For Francis As he says "I'm a copywriter from Memphis, Tennessee currently living in Budapest, Hungary. I started my freelance writing career as a kindergarten teacher in Budapest. I landed my first big client with a professional sports league and transitioned into full-time writer, specialising in email copy and sales pages. I've steadily risen from a struggling freelancer scrapping for 'egg and bread money' in a dirty Budapest apartment to earning well over 6-figures - all while travelling the world and writing just a few emails a day for my clients. Granted, travelling to 20+ countries may not be on people’s agendas right now during the pandemic — however he believes that all our listeners can use their own businesses to quickly adapt to the environment around you, whilst of course continually thriving in your business. So what made him choose this line of work, and was it as surprise for him that it started to pay off? And has the pandemic of 2020 made any difference to his profitability or is it just business as usual? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Francis Nayan Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Francis Nayan such as: Why so many people start an online business that are based around "new skills" instead of working within their true life experience. Why most people are unhappy due to the situation they find themselves in, NOT because of what they are actually doing in life. Francis shares how he built his business by working hard on relationships not by selling hard. And lastly….. Why the world has such an issue in putting their faces and voices out there and the reasons why it is so important to do so to build connection.

Building A Dream Job Building A Dream Job Isn't Really Possible is the discussion on today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. This has been inspired by a message that we recieved into the Join Up Dots email inbox from a great guy from Denver Colorado. Lukas has been in contact with us over the last few years, as he looks to keep building a dream job around photography - his huge passion. His question is based around the concept of do you keep building a dream job and struggle in the beginning, or do something else to make it easier to get there later? The Building A Dream Job Question Hi David, I hope life is treating you well. I’ve started an electrical business and I’ve been focusing more on that lately then my passion of being a photographer. I still do photography, but the electrical business is way more lucrative. I don’t hate electrical work, but I also don’t love it. My question is, should I build the electrical company so I can do amazing things in the future or should I struggle in the beginning and do what I love? Our Building A Dream Job Answer  I can answer this one hundred percent.......bring in the money mate. Be pragmatic about it. You see nobody ends up having a business that they truly love. I used to think that was the case, but now I see it otherwise otherwise it would be called a hobby. With Join Up Dots i would say there is seventy percent that I love and thirty percent that is a hassle. But it is as it is. What it does give me is 1: no boss, 2: no fixed timescales 3: the ability to travel when and where i want. I actually found a vision board that I created six years ago, and i forgot about it, and I had achieved everything i wanted and they were all based around being free, not being told what to do etc So i would say think this...... can YOU build the electrical company until you become the OWNER and not working in the business? If you can ( and i know you can) then you have income coming in passively which means then you can do what you want to do. For example, I now own a car parts shop and Im having to work in it three days per week UNTIL i get the issues sorted and we start making good money and then I am out of here....but the money will be coming with me Does that make sense pal??? Summary So what do you think? Is this the right way to go? Should we spend our time doing anything that we dont like in life, if it makes the majority of our time amazing? Let us know by connecting with us below and you can help others move forward to building a dream job, and of course a life. How To Connect With Join Up Dots Website LinkedIn Facebook Return To The Top Of Building A Dream Job If you enjoyed this episode with Building A Dream Job, why not check out other inspirational chat with Caroline Casey, Festival Pass, Shane Foss and the amazing Jack Canfield You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy

I have been looking forward to todays show for awhile now, as I am fascinated by what makes people push out of their comfort zones and literally go to the extreme of that point. Why do people feel driven to drag themselves across climates that not only are very uncomfortable, but can actually kill you. And thrive whilst doing it. And todays guest is someone who is driven to do that kind of thing time and time again. She is a writer, speaker and adventurer and inspiration to everyone that she meets in the world, who love to live her life through the stories she tells. But what is also amazing to me time and time again, is to see how some of the smallest things in life can have the biggest influences on us. Her first 'expedition' involved being bribed up an English Mountain at the age of nine by her parents with a packet of Opal Fruits. The key words were to that statement was it all started with a bribe of sweets, but the sense of achievement on reaching the top, and standing there in the pouring rain was the first step towards where she is today. And where she is today is being recognised as the first woman in the world to ski across Antarctica alone, awarded the MBE by British Royalty, and someone who seeks out irresistible challenges and captivating stories in the planet's wildest and most extraordinary places. And now from her base in Iceland she is scheming for more and more experiences that she can tackle head on, much to the delight of the rest of us. So how did she go from thinking "That was exciting" to "I can make a living out of this"? And does she see that deep inside all of us is a desire for adventure and challenge, but for whatever reasons we hold back on it as we can quite believe that she should do it? Well lets find out, as we bring onto the show to start joining up the dots with Felicity Aston MBE.

Georgia Bamber is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is a certified Life Coach and has a Masters in Psychology, and in the past, she worked as a therapist counselings refugees and asylum seekers and running women’s support groups. Her main focus now is in the area of positive psychology and helping people to find their spark. As she says "I decided long ago that the only way to make the most of this crazy, wonderful world we live in was to put myself out there and really live it. To experience, to love and to learn - every single day. I have put this mantra into practice. How The Dots Joined Up For Georgia I have lived in seven different countries on four different continents.   I have had a wide range of jobs from a financial analyst to running my own farm and now coaching others to embrace the good life. It’s all been fun. Of course, life hasn’t always been a bed of roses and I have made mistakes, plenty of them, but I have never let that stop me from showing up, putting myself out there and chasing my dreams. I have come to understand that happiness is a CHOICE. You just need to know this to be true. She is a graduate of Cornell University and, as well as the Psychology Masters, she also have an MBA from the City University Business School, London. She is certified in Plant Based Nutrition and competes in endurance running and triathlon events. She is a yogi and insight meditation practitioner So why do people think that they can find happiness by working on external things, when it all starts within? And even though she has created her dream job, does she still have days when she thinks...."blah......i am not feeling it today"? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Georgia Bamber

Shane Foss is today's guest joining us on the inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. With over 20 years of tenure as an executive in the medical industry, Shane Foss became frustrated with how under-served Americans were with the current healthcare options. He set out to make a change and in 2018 achieved this goal through launching Hooray Health, an unconventional health insurance company dedicated to providing affordable basic and urgent health care alternatives to high-deductible health plans. Through Hooray Health, Foss and his team focus on offering peace of mind to lower-income individuals and families who face medical challenges, while also providing business owners with an affordable way to reward and retain employees.   How The Dots Joined Up For Shane Partnering with companies like Sedera, Ameritas, and Aflac, they have be able to add critical services and supplemental plans giving immense value to employers and individuals. Throughout his professional experience, Foss has negotiated complex, multi-million-dollar contracts, worked in device sales management, created business strategies, and optimized P&L. He holds an MBA from Rice University’s, Jone’s School of Business, a BS from the University of the Incarnate Word, and a Surgical Technologist Certificate from the United States Air Force. So why did Obama Care never get off the ground, when it seemed certainly from this side of the pond such a good idea. And what should people do if they cant afford the payments each month, especially when times like Covid-19 Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Shane Foss.   Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Shane Foss such as: Shane shares the complexities of starting a business in the medical field and the steps he took to ensure success. We discuss the haunting period which takes a business from idea to the real world. Shane talks about the moment that he sat with friends and family, and the surprising support he received. And lastly….. Why its such an amazing idea to think about solving a problem for yourself and then see if you can scale it.

Getting Serious About Business Today show is a Free coaching session, where your host David Ralph talks about what has been going on in the world of Join Up Dots this week, and also gets to answer some of the questions that have come in from listeners across the globe Question One: Hi David, loving the show, your passion and the madness. How the hell did you come up with the Gargle Game, but I belly laugh when you are doing it. Which is what my question is all about. Although I have just found your show, it isn't like any other business type show I have heard. Could you advise why you are doing these things that go against the norm. All the best Simon Mantle, Perth, Western Australia. Question Two: Hi David, I was listening to one of your archive shows recently and you spoke about suffering with stress and the fact that your hair fell out. I am having a similar experience and would love to know what you have done to resolve these issues, as they are really bringing me down and making me unhappy - Claire Copod, Belgium Question Three: Mr Ralph, thank you for everything you are doing with Join Up Dots. Its the best podcast by far and I tell all my buddies that they have to listen to you. Can I ask this question. What is your day like? You talk about working hour after hour and then you also talk about walking around looking at things, like you are free. Whats the real story? - Hanna Maskel, Seattle Question Four: I have started a business recently selling fish tank equipment and although I have done better than expected, I'm not increasing my sales. Can you advise what I should be doing to get more sales as the more money I can earn the more I can support my family - Matheus Henrique Lopez, Paraty, Brazil

When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David, Ralph. David Ralph 0:26 Good morning, Good morning to you and welcome to Join Up Dots. Yes, thank you so much for being here. Now. Now my young padawans. How are we doing? How we doing out there? Are we getting the juices flowing? Are we getting the inspiration to go out and create our own dream life? Well, I've been talking about this for about seven years now. And I spend I spend a lot of time Yes, I do. Because that what I do, talking to people who connect with me through the show with an interest in starting their own businesses, and creating their own incomes, and having a jolly lovely life. And I've started well, I've been thinking this all the time, but I'm not really mentioned it that much on the show, but it's an important thing. So I'm going to mention it in today's episode. But most people come through to me and they say, oh, David, I really want to start my own business. Yeah, I've been really thinking about it for years. And I'm really focused on it. And I go, Okay, that's no problem. I said, you know, it's very easy to start your own business, it's very easy to get traffic. It's a lot harder to sell things if you're selling something that people don't want. So let's focus in on the want and let's not focus in on the need, and we can get something going. And they go oh, yeah, no, that sounds brilliant. That sounds brilliant. Yeah, that's really what I want. And but I never hear from them again. And then I send a message through and I say to them, you know, how are you getting on? Are you are you you know, You're moving forward, whatever you're doing. And more often than not, you get some kind of response back going, Oh, it's not a good time at the moment. It's not. It's not that which I totally understand, I totally understand. But what I've been realising and this is what this show is about is that a lot of people are looking at creating their own income and their own businesses as an escape from what they're doing. But actually, what they should be doing before that step is creating their own happiness plan inside them, creating that that motivation and inspiration to be able to go on and tackle things which are big, sometimes stretching, certainly fulfilling and can be life changing. And I think people are thinking that creating their own income is going to be the answer to all their problems, but it's not because the problems are somewhere within you that is making you want to transition from where you are. Now, I always say I was in corporate land and for about, I would say, first 25 years, or was it 25 years, maybe 20 years. I really didn't know what to do. But I was in that kind of place before the internet. Yes, there was a time there was a time before internet. So you didn't really see what other people were doing. Other than sort of pop stars and famous people on Top of the Pops in the BBC where you go, that sounds brilliant. That looks brilliant. But how the hell am I going to do that? Now, as I moved through the internet crept into our life and Google took control and then you could start seeing kind of normal people, normal people doing stuff. And I think a lot the unhappiness that people have got nowadays is about seeing what other people are doing and thinking, well, I could do that. It's not that bad. Hard is not a stretch. It's you know, it's only creating a few YouTube videos and putting it out. Now I was listening to a podcast and this emphasises this point. And there's a guy in the United Kingdom called Joe wicks. Now, I didn't really know much about Joe wicks, and I listened to a podcast episode The other day, and he was talking about his story. And he was a guy who was basically in a corporate gig company, what he was doing, he was in some kind of retail shop, and he wasn't happy with himself and he's physical look, and he's mental aspect. So he started signing up for the gym. So he'd go to the gym, and it wasn't earning that much in his salary. And so half the salary each month was going to his gym membership. And when he was at the gym, he started thinking to himself, what I'm going to do, I'm going to create my own business. Yes, that's what I'm going to do. And so he started doing boot camps, which are, you get a park, you get a field Nearby, and you get people there early morning before they go to work. And then you walk them around a bit and you get them to do but downward dog and all these other sort of episodes, episodes, what am I talking about these these positions, and then you build a business and it's easy, isn't it, you get a field and you just get a load of people turn up and you make some money. So this is what he wanted to do. And he was saying on his podcast episode, literally every time that he would get up at six o'clock in the morning or five o'clock in the morning and get to this build, nobody turned up, not one person and he used to think to himself, what should I do just go home. But if I don't know what I'm going to do while I'm up, I'm going to take some leaflets around to the railway station and hand them out. And hopefully I can sort of pull this business up by his bootstraps, and get it going. Well, now he's got his own podcast. He's had something like 100 million billion views over On his exercise lessons on YouTube, but it all started with him wanting to better himself and wanting to actually personally transition his inner spirit, his inner self. He wanted to get fit, he wanted to build better. And he wasn't actually running away from anything. He was running towards himself. And that's what I thought was so important when I was listening to him talk. And I think so many people that I speak to, they're kind of running away from a situation and running away from a job. They're running away from a business, just like I did, as I was saying, I was in corporate land and for the first 25 years, he was fine. I used to go to work, have a few beers in the evening, come home, have a holiday, there wasn't anything to sort of really reflect on where I should be doing something else. And then the internet came along and I started seeing others another way of operating, and then I got very, very unhappy and so I thought to myself, what I want to do Want to get happy, and I transitioned to into Join Up Dots Join Up Dots wasn't the business at the beginning, it was just a way of me finding the happiness and challenging myself and finding something that could spark me up. And so when people come through to me, it's all about creating something that will take them from this crappy job or this situation that they don't like, into a world of wonder and infinity pools and glory and and everything else. And then they struggled, I struggled to take that first step because they're focusing in on the task, but actually what they should be thinking about is themselves, how can they change themselves to start having that, I suppose that motivation inside them and it doesn't start with building a business. It starts with building you and transitioning, you know, at the moment I am cycling Yes, I've been talking about this improved locked down, I decided to get my old bike out and start riding and I do about eight miles a day, three times a week, so I don't do it every single day. And the first week, it absolutely killed me. It really did. And I can't do this. I can't do this and walking upstairs was absolutely a nightmare sitting down on the toilet, anything that meant that my legs had to push me up or push me down. It was just horrendous. But I knew that it was going to be a good thing. For me. It wasn't something that I was doing to just transition from something else it was it was an inward look. So I carried on and carried on. And now these hills that were like insurmountable mountains and falling up them well not flying up. I'm I'm kind of going up quicker than I used to. But certainly it's it's changing me and I'm feeling more motivation inside because I'm changing myself and not my outside. situation? Yeah, can you can you see this? Can you understand this? So it's not about finding another situation that will make you happy is about finding the happy in you is about finding the motivation of starting something. And it's not about building businesses, it's about changing your mindset. First of all, changing your physical outlook. If you're a bit of a couch potato, then it's very difficult to be that slumpy person sitting there with a bag of potato chips every single night and loads of beers to Ben being, ah, I'm going to create a online income stream. I'm going to do this during that time. So it's dawned on me time and time again, that it's not about anything other than winning it in a game, finding that happiness inside you. And it doesn't necessarily mean the big goal is just something it could just be you know, a little thing like challenging yourself, start doing something that you haven't done before, aim to read a couple of books a month but you've never read before. Go for a walk twice a week, get your bike out. Anything that will take you from your situation to actually thinking Yes, I'm improving myself. Okay. So named VA happy isn't about your outward situation is you're in good situation. And this is a big part of what Join Up Dots is all about making you more rounded. So that the success naturally comes to you. And it does, it naturally comes to you. Once you sort of rule you pull yourself out of the mud and start getting going. So what challenges are you going to aim for this week drop us a line not many people do but I'm going to say to you, this is your first challenge. Just drop me a line at the Join Up dots@gmail.com I will respond back to you and just Tell me, David, I'm going to be doing whatever, okay? And it could be I'm gonna stop taking the lift or the elevator, and I'm going to walk up the three flights of stairs every day. Or I'm going to not have that bag of crisps with my lunch. But instead I'm going to have a healthy Apple, tiny little things, but they build up drop me a line and I will share them on the show. And of course, if you have I don't share any on the show, Ben, what's the point? What am I doing people? What am I doing? You Look after yourselves be challenge, find the happy. Don't think of it as the outside situation that you've got to change is the inner situation. And believe me, magic can occur. Once you start focusing in on yourself, then the outer situation will improve as well. It's a given. It's a given. Look after yourselves. And until next time, I will see you again. See ya bye.

Creating An Avatar Creating an avatar is the subject that we are going to discuss in today's Join Up Dots episode. This is something that is vitally important when we start a business as it saves us so much time trying to discover where our marketing budget has gone wrong. Now, the how to create an avatar information has been requested by a lovely lady who  dropped us a line after starting to get an idea for a business forming in her mind.   Please Tell Me How To Create An Avatar Customer Dear David, as a long term listener who has listened to most of your shows, this is the first time i have ever dared drop you a line. I think i am starting to get an idea for a business that I could start, but I can't create the customer avatar. You and other business coaches advise that we need to create this to start knowing their problems and begin marketing. Could you advise as to how you do this, as Im not sure you have ever gone into detail on this before. Thanks for your help and your passion and enthusiasm Meeta Picante. Costa Rica

David Wood is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. Now this isn't his first appearance on the show as he recently appeared on the show back in June 2019 We discussed many things on that show as his entrepreneurial journey has led him through many different dots, and its the joining of his dots that are so remarkable. As he said on the show: “When you’re 10,000 feet ABOVE the Himalayas hanging from a piece of cloth, you see life differently”. He holds the viewpoint that life is the best game there is and asks: Are you playing for REAL? He coaches high performing entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders to play the best game they possibly can, deepening connection and living a regret-free life. How? By setting life-changing goals, laser-focused action, and increasing their levels of Truth, Daring, and Caring – in both life and work. He loves sharing his message of Playing for Real on live stages, podcast interviews, and radio shows, and has been best described as “playful and deep”. How The Dots Joined For David A former Consulting Actuary to Fortune 100 companies – including Sony Music, Proctor & Gamble, and Exxon – David left his cushy Park Avenue job 20 years ago to explore both the outer world and his own inner world. Along the way, he’s coached thousands of hours in a dozen countries around the globe and is the author of “Get Paid For Who You Are,” with foreword by Jack Canfield. He is a member of the Transformational Leadership Council, alongside such thought leaders as Don Miguel Ruiz, John Gray, Marci Shimoff, and Vishen Lakhiani. So is it simple enough to say that the children of the world who spend their time playing actually are the keys to our adult life? And after listening to his new podcast, why does he struggle with failure as much as the rest of us? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. David Wood.

In today's episode of Join Up Dots we look at a problem that faces so many people in life and in business. This ability, or i guess the lack of ability, to control our future like we hope for. All our successes and future dream lives that we hope with our hearts that we will get, can often bring us to our knees. You see, and as you will hear on the show we cant really do anything about the future, as it doesn't exist. Our future lives may be what we hope they will be, or perhaps they wont, but really we cant do anything about making them happen. You will say of course "David, that's rubbish. We can work on making things happen in our lives by taking big sexy action" And I will say "Yes of course you can, and you should. That is exactly what life is about. Being in the present and taking action in the present" That, however doesn't mean that the future you want will ever actually become real. All these desires and action that we take will ultimately lead us somewhere, but perhaps it wont be where we thought it would be. So relax into the day, enjoy what life is giving you in the moment, and see where it all heads. That is where our future lives can really be controlled.

Jason Cutter is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He is the founder and CEO of CCG, grew up in Fremont, California, and has a bachelor’s degree in marine biology (with a lot of time spent with sharks). From UC Santa Cruz, an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University, and a wide variety of experiences in business, from technical support at Microsoft to deploying overseas as a civilian contractor, his analytical mind is always looking for ways to solve problems or make situations better. He is all about taking action, not just talking about theoretical plans. Those who have worked with him describe him as passionate, intense, and driven. His philosophy can best be summed up in this quote from Zig Ziglar, “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” Which is where his consulting business came into play and founds its legs As he says"You know how most salespeople struggle to crush their sales goals consistently? Well, that’s where I come in! How The Dots Joined Up For Jason I’ve helped my clients create sales success in just about any type of environment you can think of, and I’ve heard every excuse known to man. Here’s how I do it… I teach people how to sell without it feeling like selling. I help them sell on value so that price never comes up. I build systems and processes to produce expected results. I create a sales machine that can scale" So is selling simply having what people want, and then finding the people that want it? And where do people go wrong, spending their time marketing in the wrong places, or just having no strategy at all? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Jason Cutter Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty sale subjects with Jason Cutter such as: Why children are amazing salesmen and negotiators and know the skills that make things happen right from the start. Jason shares the steps he took to build his business from the strengths, by realising his strengths and asking for help for his weaknesses Why it is such a great idea to find a business partner to get you going as its hard to build a business. and lastly........ The reasons why people have a desire to get into cages with great white sharks.

In today's episode of Join Up Dots we look at a problem that faces so many people in life and in business. We look at why we are so tough on ourselves when living our day to day lives. Why we run ourselves ragged to try to make a difference to the wrong people who don't deserve or times and energy. We get into bed at the end of the day with a feeling of disappointment that we have let so many people down. However the truth is actually very very different in so many ways. The truth is every person on earth has this feeling of inadequacies and also has the feeling of letting people down. Dont feel that please!!

In today's show, we look at what has been going on behind the scenes in the world of Join Up Dots And you might be surprised to know that its not about what you think it might be. Yes, we know that we are a top podcast with thousands of listeners everyday, but also we have many strings to our bow. Not least we also have offline businesses scattered around the country that are flourishing due to what we go through in today's show. Yes, todays show is all about Getting A Ton Of Traffic To A Brick And Mortar Business the easy way, and believe me it really is easy. It all comes down to being extremely granular with the content that you are producing, and the focus you have on the laziness of customers. Once you understand this then you are ahead of the game and can really  focus of bringing profits into your lives, Lets get on with the show as its a good one  

In todays show, we hand over the hosting duties to Ginni Saraswati from The Ginni Show, who interviewed me live in New York City back in August. Most of the times when you record a podcast you will do it in isolation, with the guest connecting through skype or telephone connections. This one was done on both camera and audio, which was a bit of a different experience for me to say the least. I hope you all check out the Ginni Show on iTunes and give her some ranking and review love. It only takes you a few minutes but makes such a big difference to the growth of shows everywhere.

Introducing Greg Shepard Greg Shepard is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the CEO and founder of BOSS Capital Partners. He is a Serial Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker and Angel Venture Capital Investor with a legacy of building and running sustainable growth businesses. Driven by a transformational leadership style, Greg has spearheaded multiple company exits in the BioTech, TransitTech, AdTech and MarTech space. Two of his former companies were acquired by eBay Enterprise Marketing Solutions in January 2016 as a part of a cross-brand deal totalling largely over $900M. The transaction comprised the purchase and sale of numerous companies, two of which were Greg’s. He has won: Tech Deal of the Year Over $250 million, Private Equity Deal of the Year Over $500 million to $1 billion and Cross Border Deal of the Year Over $500 million to $1 billion to name a few. Most recently, he has been authoring a book titled: ‘Meet the BOSS - The Agile Playbook for Startups’ slated to publish soon. Alongside the book will be a TEDx talk. How The Dots Joined Up For Greg But this isn't a story of a man who started with everything and just added a few awards and successes on the way. Today's guest had to overcome many obstacles as he clawed his way to the top Greg’s success story of overcoming obstacles is what drives him to support entrepreneurs around the world. From growing up with very little along with foster and adopted siblings, to a visional processing disorder and dyslexia, Greg continues to be one of the most recognizable examples of how fearless optimism and steadfast determination can guide any intelligent and determined young professional toward success. So what does he have that so many people dont have who are struggling towards paying the bills and supporting their families. And where is he heading in the future as he creates more and more dots? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Greg Shepard Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Greg such as: How his family first decided to travel across to America to start a new life  Greg shared the realisation that life was about overcoming obstacles and he could be more than what people Why setting a north pole direction when you start setting out to achieve a goal is such an amazing way to build success. And lastly.......... Why Greg lives and reaches the following beliefs that make all the difference "focus, drive, enthusiasm, discipline, optimism" How To Connect With Greg Shepard Website Linkedin Facebook Twitter Return To The Top Of  Greg Shepard If you enjoyed this episode of Greg Shepard why not listen to some of our favourite podcast episodes such as Spike Ball Founder, Nick Ruiz,  Dane Maxwell or the amazing Mybodytutor Or if you prefer just pop over to our podcast archive for thousands of amazing episodes to choose from.

Introducing Mike Young Mike Young is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He is the founder of the Makeovermaster and the author of Made Over: How To Create A Powerful Brand That Will Transform Your Business & Save Your Life", And also a man with a similar story to your beloved host of Join Up Dots, and most people who appear on the show. As he says "My life looked amazing from the outside. I had all the things... Recently married to a beautiful, funny and cool girl. A successful mortgage business, 250 employees and 10 offices. I lived in a $750,000 house. I owned another $150,000 in sports cars. Hell, on the outside I was living the dream life. But behind the curtains, my financial world was crumbling. How It All Went Wrong For Mike The market crash in 2007-2008 was destroying my business and I didn’t know how to fix it. I felt out of alignment, like a fraud, a fake. I didn't feel in alignment with who I truly was as a person. I didn't want to be doing what I was doing. I didn’t even want to get out of bed in the morning. But I did what I’ve always done. I worked harder I must have read more than 500 books. I went to all sorts of seminars and conferences. I did anything and everything to turn the ship around. But it was too late, the damage was done. I remember hiding in my basement crying, trying to make sure my family didn’t see or hear me. I had a kid to feed. a wife to make proud of me, bills to pay, and a reputation to uphold. And I was about to lose it all. Then The Dots Joined Up For Mike Young It was March 2008, and I was in my business partners’ office when it happened… I left the office early and went home… Our mortgage business was failing, I went from liquid millionaire to over $200,000 in debt in less than 6 months. And that is the perfect place to start today's episode of Join Up Dots. So why do we all think that working harder is the solution, when we look at the likes of Branson, Buffett and Musk and they barely look like they are doing anything? And what is the first thing someone in the weeds and drowning can do to free themselves and start living the dream life? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Mike Young. Show Highlight During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Mike Young such as: Mike Young openlys talk about his path to business minimalism, which is always the best way to build a business....simplicity wins everyday. We discuss the process of self development, which lead to a self addiction for improvement that could have held them back from moving forward. We share the brilliance of getting a personal brand, but also find out the failings that sometimes can destroy your chance of success.  and lastly...... Why it so important to feel big emotions, and to truly allow yourself to reveal yourself warts and all to the world and your business. Return To The Top Of Mike Young If you enjoyed this episode of Mike Young, why not listen to some of our favourite podcast episodes such as Victoria Lioznyansky, Ryan Avery, Brad Yates or the amazing Jack Canfield Or if you prefer just pop over to our podcast archive for thousands of amazing episodes to choose from.

A New Business Idea Is Born In today's episode we take a look at a new business idea created by a listener of Join Up Dots. She sent an email through to the show asking for help around her new business idea South Coast Dinner Society. The idea of this business is quite simply to take away the uncomfortable side of meeting someone new nowadays. Especially as we get older, and perhaps have seen other relationships fall to the wayside. Our listener thinks that she can fulfil this gap in the market in a way that hasn't been seen before. We agree with her 100%, This is a new business idea that will work, as long as she does the right thing. The Original Email We Received Hi, I came across your podcast when out walking my dogs the other day and I have been listening to quite a few of them and really impressed...... About me! I am a single 55 year old single lady and I work full time as a Business Development Manager for Solent University. I am originally from Northern Ireland and have mainly been in a hospitality, venue, arena hospitality management for many years. After being single for 2 years and missing the event side of hospitality I decided that there are so many people like me who do not want to internet date and meeting in bars like we used to when we were in our 20s is not an option any more and I found out also that so many, like me have become quite set in our ways and not so easy to start the whole relationship. There are many 'anorak's who have groups for walking, book clubs etc but I wanted to create something that was comfortable and liked minded, which is hard to get across over email. Please take a look at my self created web site and this is the point where I need to tell you that I have literally nothing for marketing etc, due to owning my last house literally outright, selling it when I met my partner and then him going bankrupt with my money......so I need to grow organically. I know I have a good NEW business idea...but I did hear the Australian SEO guy say if you dont have any money to start your business then start knocking doors, which is not possible in what I want to do but made me think that I haven't got a hope, so maybe cut my losses!! The Quick Fixes For All New Business Idea Quick Fix One Lets start with a quick overview of the episode. First of all, marketing is not hard with a little bit of planning. We need to know what we are offering, what is our USP, and then start finding out where the people are that want that stuff. Quick Fix Two We need to make sure that our business website is running as fast as possible to ensure that traffic gets through to us. There is no point in building a business that doesn't load on a phone or handheld device. We need to make sure that we know our site speed and assess any improvements that we can make by using the following link. https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/ Quick Fix Three Once we get our new business idea operating really fast, we then need to make sure that it looks good for all devices. Most of us build our new business idea on desktop, or laptop as its easier to see. We can overcome this by using the link below that shows how our site looks on a myriad of devices. https://www.responsivedesignchecker.com/ Quick Fix Four Before we start marketing our business, we need to build up our keywords list and find the low hanging fruit. We can start this process quite simply by getting a range of words that people might use to find us. In this case we will take the word DATING and start writing other words that people might use. https://www.thesaurus.com/

When Remi Clermont was a teenager, he was embarrassed that his father liked going road cycling. By road cycling, he means riding around on the type of bike you see in the Tour de France - "drop handlebars" that sweep downwards, and thin tyres. Despite Remi being born and raised in the Alsace region of eastern France, and road biking being one of the country's most popular sports, his young self just didn't like it. "My friends and I, all the kids, were into mountain biking at the time (the early 1990s)," says the 44-year-old. "Road biking was seen as very boring. I was almost ashamed when I told friends that my dad was into it." Remi loved cycling as a child, just not on road bikes Little did teenage Remi know, he would go on to catch the Lycra and tarmac cycling bug himself in his 20s. And then, at the age of 33, launch what is today one of the fastest-growing road cycling clothing companies - Cafe du Cycliste. Founded in 2009, in Nice on the French Riviera, the firm says it now sells €4m (£3.6m; $4.5m) worth of jerseys, shorts and other clothing items per year, with 50% year-on-year growth. "You can certainly say I changed my mind," jokes Remi. Bike firms struggle to meet surge in demand during lockdown However, before we return to cycling, we need to go to the world of competitive kayaking. Remi took up kayaking when he was nine, and went on to be a member of the French national team for six years in his 20s. "My speciality was white water kayaking," he says. "Sadly the discipline is not an Olympic sport, so I never got to go to one of them, but it was great to represent France in international competitions. "And it was the reason I got into road biking. Because you couldn't kayak in the winter when it was too cold, I'd cycle to keep my fitness up." Then when he retired from the water sport at the age of 28, he kept up the cycling. Remil, left, was a member of the French team for six years As he was not paid for his kayaking, Remi had also needed to hold down a full-time job in his 20s. After getting a business degree from the École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris, he worked in the sporting corporate hospitality sector. This included working at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. A year later he got a job in the marketing department of the European arm of a US IT firm. "I wasn't a great fit for the role as I knew nothing about IT," says Remi. "But it had one massive thing going for it - it was based in Nice, which really is cycling paradise. The hills behind Nice [which lead up to the Alps] are just wonderful." Remi was soon spending weekends cycling with a workmate called Andre Stewart. Then Andre quit to buy and run a cafe in a small village to the north west of Nice, naming it Cafe du Cycliste. Two year later, in 2009, Remi also left the IT firm to join his friend at the cafe business. His plan was to design and launch a range of upmarket road cycling clothes that they could sell to all the riders who stopped for a drink and a bite to eat. Specifically, Remi wanted to produce the cycling jerseys that he says you couldn't buy in France at the time - plain and understated ones that wouldn't look out of place in a posh menswear store. Remi describes Nice and the surrounding area as "cycling paradise" "The only cycling jerseys you could buy at the time in France were racing ones with big logos and sponsors, that made you look as if you were competing in the Tour de France," he says. "I wanted to produce something completely different." There was a catch, however, in that Remi had no knowledge of or experience in the clothing sector. But undeterred, he says he set to work. "I started to learn everything I could," he says. "I had some friends in Paris who were working in clothing and fashion, so I got some tips and helpful mentoring from them. "And I started going to all the trade shows, and asking millions of questions, and contacting plenty of factories in Italy." A few months later, a manufacturer in Italy agreed to make Remi's first design for a cycling jersey, and the fashion side of Cafe du Cycliste was up and running. Remi still designs all the products himself Sales from the shop were stubbornly slow, however, so Remi launched a website to target online customers, especially from overseas. With little to no money for advertising, he would send free samples to cycling journalists in various countries. They would then write enthusiastic reviews, and sales quickly took off, particular in the UK and Japan. "Cyclists in the UK and Japan were really open to what we are doing," says Remi. "And that remains the case, still only 10 to 15% of our sales are in France. Many cyclists here still want to look as if they are taking part in a race all the time." British cycling journalist and commentator Rebecca Charlton says that brands like Cafe du Cycliste and the UK's Rapha, Le Col and Assos have led the way over the past decade in offering upmarket, stylish cycling clothing. This has coincided with a big increase in the number of people taking up the sport, leading to booming sales at the firms. "The trends, cuts and designs of modern cycling kit are a far cry from the extremely limited options I had as a young girl," she says. "And the psychology isn't to be underestimated either - when you've got a new cycling outfit you feel that bit more motivated to get out of the door, and you feel good. When it flatters, and fits perfectly, the ride feels more comfortable, and it definitely adds morale." Remi, says his dad is now a fan of the clothing Back at Cafe du Cycliste's head office in Nice, Remi says that recent sales have mirrored the industry-wide increase as a result of coronavirus, with more people taking up cycling either to get some exercise or avoid public transport. His dad is also a fan of the clothing, which Remi continues to design himself, and is manufactured in a number of European factories. However, his father initially wasn't impressed back in 2009. "When I first started out, he wouldn't wear it, because it was too different to the race jerseys he was used to," says Remi.

Victoria Lioznyansky is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. She is a lady with a fascinating story of pushing herself out of her comfort zone and creating success becuase of it. Her expertise is training introverted (sometimes terrified) entrepreneurs and business professionals to be confident and dynamic public speakers. As he says "As someone who is shy, introverted, and a non-native English speaker, I know first-hand how it feels to be terrified of public speaking. Over the years I’ve transformed myself from a nervous wreck to a confident, engaging speaker, and your audience will find my story inspiring. I’ve built several successful businesses, spoken in front of large audiences, appeared on television, and founded the Brilliant Speakers Academy®. How The Dots Joined Up For Victoria The innovative program that I’ve developed makes it possible for ANYONE to easily overcome their public speaking anxiety and learn to love the spotlight. Your audience might also find it interesting that my other business is a brick-and-mortar franchise, Nutty Scientists of Houston, where we inspire kids to fall in love with science. I opened it 5 years ago, and I’m so proud that it’s become the #1 Nutty Scientists franchise in the U.S. So how does someone go from being terrified and introverted to really making a difference to other peoples lives? And what are the first steps that we can all take to really shake our roots, and start marching to success? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Victoria Lioznyansky Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Victoria Lioznyansky such as: Victoria shared a terrible story of her first public speaking appearance and how it almost stopped her every speaking again. Victoria talks through the process of how she started her business by looking at the market and learning what the world needed. and lastly........ We discuss how you can create a course and a business without even completing the course before selling it

Scaling A Coaching Business Scaling a a coaching business or any business come to that can be hard. So in today's episode of Join Up Dots we talk about the issues that a lady has with starting her business and making it a money machine. You will hear on the show, several key points that we have summarised at the bottom of the page. Some of them might be obvious, whilst some of them might be a complete surprise. Dear David, I have been following your teachings for a year or so, and awhile back took your Freedom Starter Course which really allowed me to ask the questions that I was unable to ask about myself. It was a long process of going through the videos, and then working like a mad woman for a week or so, and then allowing it to slip away and let life take over. I am now proud to say I have started my own coaching business based around the ancient energy Chi, after becoming interested in the subject and then passionate and I guess now you can say obsessed. I dont think it would have got to that point without your course and of course your amazing podcast, so thank you from the bottom of my heart/ If you dont know what this means here is an example Depending on the method, energy healing focuses on the life force that flows through all of us; that force that dictates our mood, health, energy, and ability to connect with other beings. In Chinese and Japanese culture that force is referred to as ki or qi (pronounced: chi). In India, it is known as prana the energy that spins and flows through the chakras, an intangible force that cannot be comprehended in the materialist sense. I came to this conclusion after working in a legal sweat factory for several years and hitting issues with both mental health and physical issues. I was doing poorly in every stage of my life and subsequently my relationship off fifteen years unfortunately came off the rails too. I looked for a solution, and after using every medicine and pill known to man (and a few less than legal substances I have to say) I discovered this process and a door opened in my mind. It made sense to me. And then one day i was listening to your show (im ashamed to say I can't remember what episode) and you were talking about how energy is so important, and we should remember to recharge ourselves like we do our phones and then BOOM. The idea of really deep diving into this subject and then helping others was so clear to me. To confirm this I went through your Freedom Course once more, with this idea leading the way and it was like a tick sheet,where the ticks just kept on coming. The more i realised that this was what I was waiting for, the happier i felt, and the lighter i felt too. I realised that i had found what you mention on the show. The door that was already open and not to try to make a new door. So many things that you speak about now makes total sense to me, and perhaps I should go back over the episodes and listen again. with new knowledge and understanding. Although I am doing ok financially i am finding that most of my business comes my way through referrals and word or mouth and I am looking to scale. I dont have a website yet, but do hammer away on Facebook which seems to be working. Do you have any suggestions as to what I need to do to make this happen as your advice is so important to me. Thank you for all you do, and if we ever meet the beers are on me. Jessica H New Zealand Summary Of The Show Referrals are great. In fact they are the life blood of any business You must have a website to own the traffic. Owning traffic is key to scaling a coaching business. You must realise that you need to take customers on a journey before they ever consider buying. You must have a funnel or multiple funnels You must test and tweak your website to maximise the traffic you are getting to your business. 

Michael Arterberry is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the founder of Youth Voices Center, established in 2008, which is dedicated to promoting positive youth development among adolescents through its “Power of Peace” program offered in schools, community centers, and youth groups across Westchester, Schenectady, and Columbia counties, and soon to be Connecticut and New York City.  As a teenager, Michael was fortunate to receive guidance from positive adult role models who helped him overcome adversities and set high expectations for his future. Grateful for the role these mentors played in his own development, Michael decided to dedicate his professional life to helping people navigate the difficulties of life and launch their future into motion. How The Dots Joined Up For Michael Arterberry As he says "In founding Youth Voices Center (YVC) in 2008, I drew heavily on my understanding and empathy for the pressures and difficulties of the teenage years. In addition to my own experiences growing up in poverty, I have worked with thousands of teens in a range of settings over the past 22 years as a social worker and counsellor. As a teenager, I was fortunate to receive guidance from positive adult role models who helped me overcome adversities and set high expectations for my future. Grateful for the role these mentors played in my own development, I decided to dedicate my professional life to helping teenagers navigate the difficult adolescent years. So what are the things that make such a difference to the youth of America in his opinion? And what are his dreams for the future of the Youth Voices Center spreading across America, or global domination. Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Michael Arterberry Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Michael Arterberry such as: Michael shares the story of his difficult father, and the upbringing that he had which formed the person he is today We discuss the moments in our life that shape us, the failures that become the stepping stones to success. Michael talks about how difficult it is to find funding for a non profit, although that wont stop him persisting.

Delores Hirschmann is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. She is certainly a lady when many many dots to join up throughout her life. As she says "I’m an entrepreneur, hispanic immigrant, mother of four, and business owner. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, I endured a difficult childhood. When I was 20, I was diagnosed with a pancreatic tumour and was told I might not make it. Well guess what? I made it! I went on to graduate from business school and meet my husband who was travelling in Buenos Aires. Within a year, we got married and moved to the US. How The Dots Joined For Delores Here, I became a mother of 4 and while they were young, I started 3 businesses: a women’s clothing company that supported a coop of low income women in Argentina, a language school where we taught Spanish, French, and Chinese as an after school program, and a consulting business. I later became a TEDx organizer as I am very passionate about IDEAS that can impact the world. And then in 2014, I launched my current adventure, Masters in Clarity, a coaching practice that helps clients clarify their idea worth sharing and implement business growth systems. I stand behind entrepreneurs who are committed to changing the world with their work. And how do you know that you have a great product on your hands before you ever invest your own money into the business? And looking back did she need the bad times, to truly make her focus on the life she wanted? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Delores Hirschmann  Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Delores Hirschmann such as: Delores shares her love of a world that is imperfect and really enjoys when things arent as polished as they should be. Why there is a time span between having an idea and really making a go of it - as Delores calls it "The Haunting Period" How there are times when we dont have all the answers in our life, and these are the times we should just sit back and trust. And lastly........... Why she shares the business book "What Do You Do With An Idea?" even though its actually a children's book with all her clients.

In todays episode of Join Up Dots we answer some questions from across the world. All of them received in the Join Up Dots office, due to our listeners desire to take control of their lives, earn their own income and create a dream business. So if you are looking for a quick burst of motivation and inspiration, and of course to gain some online business insights then this is the show for you.

In todays episode of Join Up Dots we answer some questions from across the world. All of them received in the Join Up Dots office, due to our listeners desire to take control of their lives, earn their own income and create a dream business. So if you are looking for a quick burst of motivation and inspiration, and of course to gain some online business insights then this is the show for you.

Introducing Erik Salzenstein Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast has a similar story to one or two of the guests who have appeared on the show over the years. One of a series of bad life choices that led to a determined approach to change his life forever, by changing the lives of others. He had a difficult childhood and an even more difficult start to adulthood. Moving around the country, he was borne in Maine grew up in Orlando and was naturally gifted at sports. That of course all sounds great, sporty and living near the home of the mouse. What could go wrong? Well through displaying natural athleticism, the young Erik Salzenstein was the kind of player that people wanted on their teams, and played for a number of different ones across a range of different sports. How The Dots Joined Up For Erik  Many of the other members of the travelling team were from public schools, and were almost all older. His newfound teammates introduced him to alcohol and marijuana when he was in sixth grade and the slope was very much getting slippery. Move on a few years and when Erik Salzenstein was just 23 years old, he was facing life in prison for armed robbery charges following a drug deal gone bad. Today, he’s sharing his powerful story of overcoming life in prison and how spending time behind bars was the key to changing his mindset for the better. While each of us is not necessarily living behind bars, we might still be living inside the prison of our own mind. Erik is a now a sought-after transformational coach and speaker who’s passionate about helping others break free of their own walls, and his story will inspire you to turn adversity into impact and lasting success. So where does he see the majority of his efforts truly making lasting change nowadays? And is he now a 100% different person or someone simply working day on day to stay on the path? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Erik Salzenstein Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Erik Salzenstein such as: Why we often don't get the chance to realise that we are going to deep into a situation to change that process. Erik talks about the moment when he took a phone call from his Dad in jail, and how he started his transformation to the person he wanted to be. Erik shares his belief that you have to have a blueprint and path to follow if you ever want a share of success.

Paul Maskill is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He loves nothing more than building, scaling and then selling local businesses. He is now on a mission to help other local businesses thrive in their own industries, without losing control of their hours, health and minds. As he says "In 2011, after less than 4 years in Corporate America, I knew there was more to life than just do a job that's "okay" for 40 years and then retire & enjoy life. I ventured out and started my first business in 2011. I was soon working 60-80 hours a week with a business that couldn’t survive without me. So I started systematising everything while empowering a team to run the business better than I could. How The Dots Joined Up For Paul Before I knew it my revenue doubled to almost $500k while the number of hours I worked dropped below 40. I then sold my business for 3x net profit. I have since done this same process again with another local business while also helping other business owners automate & scale their business so they can leverage their business to build a life that they love. Having been the one connected to my business 24/7 and working 80 hour weeks, I realized there were 4 issues we all face: 1. We struggle to get everything done and instead our #1 goal is to just survive the day. 2. We need systems & processes to scale but we don’t have time to implement them. 3. We can’t find good help to scale (and we don’t have time to train them)! 4. And we have no time to work ON our business So is a system purely automated or does it blend with personnel too? And where do most people go wrong in the beginning, as its hard to see what you should be doing when you dont know what you should be doing? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Paul Maskill. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Paul such as: Paul shared why he quite simply had to get clear on his personal vision to then build the business that he wanted. Why the local business market is such a big win, and should be our first port of call when we are starting out. How so many people should be looking to build a business that supports your life, instead of working in the business. And lastly.......... Why the ability to re-engineering the hell out of of the process should be our starting point. Go from what you want to earn to who will give it to you.

Introducing Dane Maxwell Dane Maxwell is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the Co-Founder of The Foundation along with Andy Drish, owner of a multi-million dollar SaaS business, and has started 16 businesses in his career. As he says "I’ve been an entrepreneur for over 10 years. I’m the Founder of The Foundation, a six month program designed to teach entrepreneurs how to build a profitable SaaS business, and currently own a multi-million dollar SaaS business as well as two smaller SaaS products where I do what I teach. If you dont know what that type of business is it means "Software as a service (SaaS)" Its a software distribution model in which a third-party provider hosts applications and makes them available to customers over the Internet. ... For example, a business can write its own software tools and use the SaaS provider's APIs to integrate those tools with the SaaS offering. Our guest goes onto say "I found building a business around a painful problem to be extremely lucrative and encouraged anyone who wants financial freedom to learn the process. I taught not to follow your passion, but to follow the pain, and become passionate about the process of problem solving.  His new book Start from Zero encourages the reader to embark on the 7 learning adventures to create a business from scratch. How The Dots Joined Up For Dane This book includes research on “who” is most likely to be successful in entrepreneurship across 26 different personality factors. Would you like to join the special few who don’t exchange time for money? The special few who have products and businesses paying for their dream life? No hype. No BS. No fluff. This is a comprehensive book full of examples to draw from.  Start From Zero gives you the repeatable path to create a meaningful and profitable business without being dependent on any person, any platform, or anything. So is the idea more important than the actual implementation of that idea? And why are so many people focused on finding the passion, when pain works time and time again. Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Dane Maxwell Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Dane Maxwell such as: Dane shares the importance of setting his values and then living his life based around these values. Dane shares how building up the expertise and authority first is not necessarily the right way of doing things.  Why its so important to not sell your product but to sell the solution to their problem time and time again. And lastly........... Mr Maxwell shares his goals based book reading, whereby he looks for the answers on something that he needs to know, even if he doesn't read the whole book. 

Mybodytutor founder Adam Gilbert is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. Back in 2014 when Join Up Dots was quite simply a baby, he was one of the first guests to appear on the show. At that time we spoke openly about his transition from corporate land to starting his own fitness business. As we see time and time again, the quickest way to starting a business is defining a problem for a specific customer and then solving it in scale. Our guest did that amazingly well, and as we also see time and time again was a text book version of his ideal customer himself. Working for Ernst and Young, back in 2007, he realised that he wasn't happy with his body, but lacked the time and energy to do something about it. And he was not alone. It seemed that Adam's work colleagues all wanted to have a fitness timetable, that fitted around their lifestyles and would ask our guest for tips. How The Dots Joined Up For Adam and MyBodyTutor And after hearing the same request for the millionth time, he realized something.  Something had to be done. He had to set out to create a program that would solve this problem in a big way. He had to follow his passions. As he says" Everyone wants to be healthy and fit, but it’s just too easy to make promises to ourselves and break them. It’s even easier to rationalize indulgent eating, especially after a long day. I realized the missing link was accountability. But weekly accountability wasn’t enough. It had to be daily. After all, a week is a long time! The same people who were motivated on Monday had given up by Wednesday, only to promise themselves they’d “start fresh on Monday!” yet again. I set out to create a program that would solve this problem. Daily and personal accountability would be the cornerstone. This way, I could help people implement the game plan we had come up with." Bang. He slammed them all together and created the online company mybodytutor So how is his life different from the first time that we spoke on the show, easier and easier or just dealing with bigger problems? And looking back to the fledgling business, was it a sprint with total clarity or a constant start and stop with a few worries in between? Well let’s bring onto the show to start joining up dots, as we discuss the words of Steve Jobs with the one and only Adam Gilbert! Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Adam Gilbert such as: Adam shares how he managed to get the accountability aspect of the business, and the break down of building customer value. We discuss the steps that he took to find the right people to support him and how they have pushed his business to greater levels. How we all have to think "All fires start small" when building a business. It ain't gonna be a blaze overnight! How he used to walk to work with a stomach ache for over two years, knowing that the job wasn't right for him, but still doing it! How he quit his job with no income coming in but just one goal: I will pay my next months rent....and he achieved it! And lastly….. How his big dot that showed him his path was way back in college, but he still went into corporate America first!

Kris Reid, is an expert on SEO tips, lessons and marketing for everyone from beginners  to multinational businesses. He joins as our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast interview.  He is a man who calls himself the coolest guy in SEO. Which isn't a surprise that he is cool as this is also the second time that he has appeared on Join Up Dots..so how cool must he be? As his team says "It isn’t a gimmick, but our own Kris Reid has become the coolest guy in SEO which is by no means a joke. SEO’s coolest guy is on a mission to get ranked to the first page of Google, to be on front page news, to get trending and to get his name boosted to the world. Being the coolest guy and being on the first page of Google is what every website wants but with obscure terms it’s easier now than ever to rank for them. The way this is done is through a series of steps that allow you naturally to be at the top of Google‘s searches which can vary from ensuring your meta data is perfect to getting someone to do it all for you. How The SEO Tips Formed The Big Business For Kris As he says " because of my love for software development, back in the day I built an online game.  As the completion day came near for the game I made, I thought that I should learn how to market if anyone else is ever going to play with it. So, I started studying how Google works and learned about Search Engine Optimisation. I quickly discovered how important back-links are – not just any back-links, but only quality back-links with relevant and compelling content on powerful industry-specific websites." And the rest is history. Not easy history, in any shape or form, but one that has seen steady growth, a move from his home country of Australia to set up in Davao city in Philippines in January 2013, and now clients flocking to his company from across the globe. Life seems good and should be good, as he has taken control of his own destiny, and worked his socks off to make things happen. So does this kind of success simply come from putting one foot in-front of the other until you start too see things happening? Or is there a blueprint for all of us to follow, as we look to leave the corporate grind, and crank out Google loving content time and time again. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only, Mr. Cool SEO Guy Mr Kris Reid.

Todays show is a coaching based episode whereby David Ralph, the host of Join Up Dots, and founder of Dream Starters Academy Coaching answers listeners questions directly. This is a no holds bared version of the show, that will cover the following subjects sent in by listeners of Join Up Dots 1: David, I listen to a lot of shows and I find that they are always telling me their favourite business books. You don't. So my question is what books would you recommend everyone reading if they get the chance ? - Jo Barnes, London   2: What has been the biggest difficulty to you as you have grown your business. I am thinking of starting my own business and any advice you can give will be greatly accepted. - Daniel Barkinside, South Africa   3. Hi David, thanks for a simply brilliant podcast. Its amazing how you can make me laugh, cry and scribble notes all at the same time. I was listening to a few of your shows, whilst on a long journey through Europe, and I wondered. What do you do when you are not involved in your business - Katarina Eastas - Poland   4: Good afternoon David and the Join Up Dots team, thank you for an inspiring and educational show. I am thinking of starting my own show and would like to know, how you decide on which questions you are going to ask your guests. I find this very hard indeed, and struggle to write more than five. Do you have any suggestions...thank you for your time. - John Milnard, Texas   5: I think I have a problem, which might need your help. I keep on repeating the same mistakes every-time when I start what I hope will be a life changing business. I put all my efforts into website design, content production, email list building for about six months and then let it fade away. I cant keep the motivation up to build anything worthwhile. Do you have any tips on how to remain focused. I know things do not occur overnight, but I also know that I am not ever going to get anywhere if I follow the same trend. Thank you for your time, I hope this question gets answered - Connor Sparrow Cardiff Wales If you want to get your question answered on the show then simply drop us a line to: Email: joinupdots.com@gmail.com

Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast, is Miha Matlievski, an entrepreneur who has had their fair share of knocks and set backs. In 2009, Miha had four companies go bankrupt overnight: landing him $5 million in debt. Contemplating suicide to escape the pain as he looked over the balcony, he had a life-saving AH-HA moment. He realized that failure was a normal part of life: admitting to himself that he failed and to recognize he needed to stop blaming others and circumstances. It wasn't just thinking "Why am i such a failure ?" it was one of his big dots This was the turning point when he made a choice to learn from his failures so he could do things differently in the future and to help others. Since then, he has climbed back to create a business and scaling it to 8 figures in less than a year. His life mission is to help people develop a healthy relationship with failure. Especially entrepreneurs. How The Dots Joined For Miha   But to really get a flavour of the man you have to go back to when he was just 18 years old. At just 18 years old, Miha Matlievski, a Slovenian high school dropout, dreaming of becoming a successful entrepreneur. And he pursued it with a passion, putting in 12 years of hard work the result - those four successful businesses and a personal net worth of $15M. Are you willing to put in the hard work to make things happen for you in the same way? Are you willing to persevere when things don't go the way you want them to go? Well let's start joining up dots with the only and only Miha Matlievski Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Miha Matlievski such as: Miha shared how he was always the positive true entrepreneur and lost the light in his life during . Miha shares his belief that we can all create an amazing life for themselves by truly finding the most powerful "Why" they can have. Why there will never be a position when you have all pluses you want in life no matter how hard you try. and lastly........ Miha shares how the online opportunities are abundant compared to the issues of having a brick and mortar business.

Elephant Learning founder Dr Aditya Nagrath is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. Dr. Aditya Nagrath is a visionary leader on a mission to change the way that the world teaches mathematics. Dr. Nagrath is the co-founder of Elephant Learning Math Academy which is a gamification of a proven curriculum. On average, children in Elephant Learning, learn 1.5 years of mathematics in 10 weeks using the system just 30 minutes per week. Dr. Nagrath, at age 14, taught himself C++ and continued on to read books on game development and neural networks which are the basis for modern day artificial intelligence. He graduated from the University of Denver with a dual major of Mathematics and Computer Science, continuing on to graduate school while working full time as a software developer to graduate with a PhD in Mathematics & Computer Science 7 years later. How The Dots Joined Up For Elephant Learning After at decade in University, Dr. Nagrath graduated to found Elephant Head Software where he lead a team of no more than 10 engineers to bring over 35 different product lines with over 50 different applications to market between 2009 and 2016. In 2016, Dr. Nagrath co-founded Elephant Learning with Professor Alvaro Arias from the University of Denver in order to bring transformational change to America's education system. As he says "3 out of 4 students are not proficient at High School Mathematics, leading to 69% of STEM majors switching majors to a major with less mathematics. Math deficiencies happen completely amongst income lines leading to a preservation of the cycle of poverty as mathematic scores often predict high school drop out and over all scores." So how do you get a business like this up and running to such great success? And where do people go wrong when tackling an issue like this? Focusing in on the kids, more than the pain of the parents? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Dr. Aditya Nagrath Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Elephant learning founder Aditya Nagrath such as: Dr Aditya shares the reasons why the first thing you must do is to simplify the product to take away any of the confusion that could keep it from succeeding. Why its so important to get your branding right at the very beginning...you have to get one word in the customers mind. We discuss the personal loan that he made to the business, proving that he truly believed in his vision. And lastly........... Why he has built a product that appeals to the global market, instead of going tight and niche like most common advice would have encouraged. Connect With Aditya Nagrath From Elephant Learning Website Linkedin Facebook

IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast To subscribe to the podcast, please use the links below: Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes Click Here to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes feed) If you like the show, we would be so grateful if would consider leaving the show a review in iTunes as well as Stitcher Radio.  A couple minutes of your time can help the show immensely!  Thank YOU! Introducing IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov Kirill Noskov is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. IAMRUNBOX was established in 2015 in Lund, Sweden, out of a love for travel and a passion for running. When our guest today Kirill Noskov started running to work in order to fit daily training into his busy schedule, he found it nearly impossible to pack his office attire without it getting wrinkled and creased on the way. Kirill set out to develop products that would promote being active every day in any weather, hold a laptop securely in place, and at the same time keep clothes wrinkle free. IAMRUNBOX was born. How The Dots Joined Up For Kirill  As he says "There are few things I am really passionate about - optimisation (we CAN always DO better), endurance sports and travelling. I like thinking positive, always looking for improvement opportunities and have been spending the last 8 years working with business development and optimisation in various shapes and forms. That is what drives me and can keeps me awake during the night. I am an endurance athlete and sport enthusiast, passionate about running and travelling. Running is my lifestyle: I run-commute to the office, take my running shoes whenever I travel, participate in occasional marathon competition or just enjoy a long run during the weekend. Travelling is my hobby what helps me to re-energise and gives a source of inspiration. My passion in running and travelling resulted in iamrunbox.com product to make travelling, training and work commuting experience just that little bit better. So it's ok ending up work without wrinkled clothes, but what about dripping with sweat and general stuff not suited for an office? And looking back was this a business that was always waiting for him to create, or was it just as hard to get it off the ground as most people find? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Kirill Noskov Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Kirill Noskov such as: Kirill shares how he came to the realisation that by creating Kirill actually became a better person. How social distancing is a natural part of the lifestyle in Sweden, unlike many parts of the world who are finding this a difficult change. We talk about the change that Kirill made in his life to both shift mentally and time-wise to create IAMRUNBOX And lastly........... Why it's not enough to build a good product, you have to get people to know about it on scale to truly grow the success you want. How To Connect With Kirill Noskov Website Linkedin Facebook Twitter Return To The Top Of IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov If you enjoyed this episode with Kirill why not listen to some of our favourite podcast episodes such as Spike Ball Founder, Nick Ruiz,  Sarah Caltieri or the amazing Mandy Barbee Or if you prefer just pop over to our podcast archive for thousands of amazing episodes to choose from. Full Transcription Of IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov Interview David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time, there was a guy with a dream, a dream to quit his job support himself online and have a kick house live. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt until he found the magic ingredient and no struggles became a thing of the past. All right, of course I was that person. And now My dream is to make things happen for you. Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:27 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be but somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling and Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:52 Yes, hello there. Good morning, everybody. Good morning and welcome to Join Up Dots. Thank you so much for being here with us. Now if you're listening to this show sort of live lockdown has made me look out my window and see nothing more than people running, running everywhere or jumping onto bikes and getting their fitness in some way they can, but what happens when you go back to work and suddenly you haven't got as much time to get fit? Well, today's guest joining us on the show is the founder of I am run box which was established in 2015. In Lund, Sweden, out of a love for travel and a passion for running you say there's a connection to it. When our guest today started running to work in order to fit daily training into his busy schedule, he found it nearly impossible to pack his office attire without getting wrinkled and crease on the way. So we set out to develop products that would promote being active every day in any weather, hold a laptop securely in place, and at the same time, keep clothes a wrinkle free and I am one box was born. As he says there are a few things I'm really passionate about optimism as optimal ization we can always do better. It's probably optimistic as well enjoyment, sports and travelling. I like thinking positive always looking for improvement opportunities, and have been spending the last eight years working with business development and optimization in various shapes and forms. That is what drives me and can keep me awake during the night. I'm also an endurance athlete and sports enthusiast passionate about running and travelling. Running is my lifestyle. I run the commute to the office, take my running shoes where ever I travel, participate in occasional marathon competition, or just enjoy a long run during the weak hand Travelling is my hobby, what helps me to re energise and gives a source of inspiration. Now my passion in running and travelling resulted in I am run box and to make travelling and training and work commuting experience just that little bit better. So these are the questions it's okay ending up to work without wrinkled clothes but what about dripping with sweat and Jen will start not suited for an office and looking back. Was this a business that was always waiting for him to create or was it just as hard to get it off the ground as most people find? Well, let's find out as we bring them to the show to start joining up dots with the one and only IAMRUNBOX founder Kirril Noskov IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 3:20 Morning David, thank you so much for having me here. weather is beautiful in Sweden today. I have my morning jog and swim so nothing really to complain. David Ralph 3:30 Now I always think of this right because I live in a nice town. But I have people that come on the show and they say yes, I've just been running down the beach and I've been now my run would be quite rubbish. I just be running with buses going past me and cars going past me. Are you out in the country? Have you got trees or I used to live on quite city fied as well. IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 3:53 I think it's a mixture of everything. You get both city you got a lot of nature and you Got a lot of See, then I wouldn't probably call it beach as we normally think of beach because the weather, I would say average during the year is 15 degrees. And that goes both to air and the water. But yeah, it's a lot of water. It's a lot of nature. And it's a lot of good opportunities to have a good job. David Ralph 4:22 Well, of course we're going to talk about your product, but I've got that big question. Okay. I would think to myself, it's okay running to work. I don't want to sit there all sweaty and overboard for the rest of the day. Is that something that isn't an issue? Do you have shadows and everything in your office? IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 4:39 And well I first started when they worked in Netherlands, and we didn't have a shower in the office. But then I just took a membership in a gym close by so I could the dark and unlit later half of stretching. Take a shower and kick off my day. Now when you look at I am run box okay? David Ralph 5:00 Let's start with a question I normally finish with but um, what is your proudest thought about the whole process? Is it what you've created? Or was it getting it off the ground? Or is it where you can see it going? IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 5:15 I think it's all started with a passion and a change because I first design product for myself to start running to work and carry my clauses. And and then I thought, yeah, it's it's it's a nice transformation what I got through consistent running and I became a better person I became more energised or happier. So I thought why not to do this product so other people can use it. And I just did it just for fun sake, as a hobby. So I created the product. I launched it. But then we sold over 1000 products within the first year with their marketing budget. And what's interesting happened I got a lot of people like me who didn't know how to start running to work, they bought a product. And they actually did started running to work. And they had the same personal transformation. And then they just dropped me back in line saying, Wow, thanks. It's really helped me and as that's, I think something would trigger and inspired me to start the company. David Ralph 6:23 Now I'm interested in that, that you knew that you became a better person. So were you were you somebody that would go up to old ladies and punch him in the face and you don't do that anymore? So how are you a better person? IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 6:36 Now I mean, maybe when I say better person, I'm more like healthy, more energised. I have a little bit more time for myself to think to reflect. I'm more efficient. So it's a more like that type of characteristics. But then of course, you also start Yeah, doing more sports and meeting with more people. I think all together, it just changes you in acid person then, of course some people say, Well, you don't know whether it's better or worse but in my eyes I think if you become more healthier, more happier, it is what I say about a person. David Ralph 7:24 And have you ever punched no person in the face when they're in the way you're running? And they don't they're not getting out of the way of you know, I haven't if you wanted to carry on, have you have you ever wanted to IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 7:39 you know, in Sweden, social social distancing is part of the culture. And before Khurana or, you know, people would normally cross on other side of the street. If you see someone coming your way so people avoid conflict. Pay interesting jumps. You don't need to punch anyone. No, but just David Ralph 8:04 jumping in there. So you've always social distance because we're in that phase at the moment because of the Coronavirus. That's something that is sort of natural in Sweden and isn't it? IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 8:14 Exactly, because I think the difference and that what, maybe a lot of people misunderstand when when when I read the global press what people say about Sweden, I didn't see them you get very high social responsibility. sense or feeling and yeah, and people just do it. So I think in the past if someone was sick, many people probably just stay at home and done, go to work anyway. Just so they don't, in fact, other colleagues and that's just a way of life. David Ralph 8:56 Now, I am run box net. Let's give an overview. For the listeners out there, so they're thinking, right, okay, I like to get to work. I'd like to get some fitness in, what kind of products could they get from you? First of all, that would instantly make them realise I'm coming back to this company, I'm going to buy some more stuff, what would be the first thing that I should go for? IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 9:18 I think what we are known for in our DNA is ROM commuting, and we probably have the best backpack in the world for running to work. And if you're running to work or running to gym or running as a means of transportation is something anyone interested to try? I would definitely recommend one of our products, which you don't even have to buy because they have a concept of renting the back but we have such a money back guarantee. So you can just try and see whether it worked for you or not. But then having Kadena in run commuting. Yeah, we realised that a lot of our costume where they're just active people and what we wanted was to go one step further and connect sport and fashion because it's a and when you run to work, you still use the same backpack later in your during the business, going out for a meeting at the office, and you don't want to look like a backpacker. So what we did, then we started building an hour around commuting story and created other backpacks for what our active people might need. So we have active commuting range, we have active every day with waterproof backpacks, and then we develop an active travel. At the same time now with all the COVID-19 situation. We wanted to support our customers around the world and we just launched a week ago active financial skeet where We redesigned the armband for runners, we created a shopping back where we took just a classic squarey recyclable shopping bag, but did it with fashion way and added straps. So the shopping experience is more convenient. And we launched a run mask, which is basically protection mask, which can be used both for running cycling in the city flying and again did it with style. So, there is quite a big range of products these days, which we and we have a vision to create products for for active people to inspire an active life and also try to embrace that change. Because David Ralph 11:53 what I love about these is you know, I've just turned 50 Yeah, I'm a half a century old and my lifestyle doesn't really fit in exercise because I have to go off and do exercise. But I love the fact that you're actually making exercise part of your day's routine. So it's not like if you come home and think, Oh, I gotta go off to the gym or I've got to do this. You're just naturally doing this. What's that? Um, the moment when you thought to yourself, hey, I've got a business idea what because that seems to me fundamentally, what your business is about making exercise convenient. IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 12:30 Yeah, exactly. Because that's, that's what's basically the same or not the same happening with me. But when I work within the corporate environment, I barely could find enough time to do trainings and then you always say yourself, alright, tomorrow, I come back home and then they go to the gym, or go for the jog. But then again, after a long working day, you get tired and you get your family, you get your friends and then you start thinking Alright, should I go out and Have a beer with a friend or should they go to the gym and say exactly, exactly. But then what happens if you stop integrating sport in your daily life? Which again, it doesn't have to be running to work like now it's an example this morning. Yeah. Before coming to my office just to get ready for for for a podcast, I just took my running backpack I went for four kilometres jog, I had to swim in the sea. And, and then I kept to the car and came to the office. So I'm sitting stealing my running clauses, but then again, I take a guard back, come home, and I'm basically done with my exercises. And the only extra time I spent was those 20 to 25 minutes for Iran, and I would anyway need to go outside to pick a car. Try not to make it a little bit more efficient. David Ralph 14:03 Yeah, brilliant. Yeah, I've just bought a bike actually, because I thought to myself, Okay, I'm gonna get a bit of energy now I can't be bothered to run. I don't think it's me walking. I could long good walk, but for bicycle riding, that's gonna be good. And of course, when you were a kid, I don't know like in Sweden when I was a kid, we all had bikes nowadays, it's not so sort of like, common place kids don't really use it. But I thought to myself, I just got a bike I could do that. Even the slightest slope has been killing my legs. Now, with your experience, how long do I have to go through this pain so that I can just whip up a hill like I used to, and not think I'm gonna have to get off and push this. IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 14:42 I think it's really a matter of consistency and maybe taking it slow, but it's not what you would neither with cycling or running. Start away doing daily. With a with a high mileage is because and don't you just gonna hurt yourself. So if you never run I would suggest starting with two three kilometres run couple of times a week David Ralph 15:08 starting starting with two or three that would kill me IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 15:12 that would kill me Then do one run one walk and cycling I think that again, it's just even if I don't run for months and then I would go for the first one two kilometres I would probably feel it in my lungs. So, again, it's probably it's all depends on the pace right because you can just start running a little bit faster than then you walk and it will be much better because the difference between again like experienced athlete and maybe less experienced on a distance is pace beat us. Boss can be extremely wasted. But if you experienced, you can probably do it much faster and for you to get tired, you really need to have a high pace. But then again, boss will get similarly tired. If, if you if you do the right patient treats here, David Ralph 16:18 I'm gonna, I'm gonna try my best I'm gonna try this, I'm gonna build up, I'm gonna, I'm gonna get rid of my car, which I've already decided and I'm gonna start cycling everywhere I can, because it's just, you know, as we say, it's about bringing fitness into your lifestyle and not making it something extra to do. You're having to do it to actually get somewhere. IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 16:39 Exactly. This is good stuff. David Ralph 16:41 Let's listen to Oprah. Oprah Winfrey 16:42 The way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself what is the next right move? not think about, Oh, I got all of this too. But what is the next right move? And then from that space, make the next right move and the next Right move and not to be overwhelmed by it because you know your life is bigger than that one moment. No, you're not defined by what somebody says is a failure for you because failure is just there to point you in a different direction. Now Oprah's David Ralph 17:14 talking about the next right move, but I'm interested with your first rights move. So you get this idea and this idea is probably going around in your head for quite a while thinking I've got to do something about this. Maybe I can go to the shops and buy some clothes that don't wrinkle. You go to the shops can't find any and so it comes down to you. What was your first right move? Looking back on Im run box. IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 17:41 I would say it's a first right move was actually to start and quit the day job because it's all about making a change. And the rest is doesn't really matter big Yes, we Started with wrinkle clauses and books. And right now we are full scale active lifestyle brand, and a backpack company. And so what I thought it would be at the beginning is much different from it is now. But I did David Ralph 18:18 a job instantly Did you sort of had this decision, I'm going to go for this and quit your job. IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 18:24 I would say first, again, I started as a hobby project. But then when I came into realisation that I don't want to have eight to five job and continue cooperate live and want to do something different. Then I took this decision and then actually when the company started being bored, boring and not when I just launched the first product because there is a big kind of mental shift you do. Kind of When when you do switch from corporate into actually becoming 100% on your own, you don't have a way back. David Ralph 19:12 Now I went through that as well. And I just got to that point when I thought I'm not happy, I just need to do this and get away from what I was doing. But were you happy with what you were doing? Because that's quite a quite a difficult one to sort of leave something that you're quite happy with, even if you've got a passion for something else. IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 19:34 Yeah, I was actually extremely happy. And I was lucky enough to work in a global company where you could basically work in any country in the world and you have so many different things you can do and I always did something, what I really loved, I think, but then what I didn't was ability to work when I work wherever Where I want and when I want, right so I don't mind working. But I also like spending commands in ops skiing during the winter and I like maybe taking a month somewhere in Southeast Asia. And that's what corporate life cannot do. Again now maybe with the COVID-19 situation, the way people work will change, but you're still talking to the company and someone telling you what to do. And that's what's what what is different. The intrapreneurship David Ralph 20:39 because I'm, I do something similar. I actually take off a month at a time and just sort of close down the business. I'm very fortunate. I've created a business that I can turn off. And then when I come back clients are waiting for me, so it's quite easy. But the amount of entrepreneurs I speak to bat, say, ah, can I speak to you and I said, I won't be back for another month. Well, can I not connect with you within that time can and they just can't understand that you can do that. But they seems to still be one leg in the corporate world that they work to the weekend, had the weekend off and then come back again. IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 21:17 Yeah, I would say for me, the way we structured the work that most of the things happens online, and a lot of work done through the video conferences and stuff like that. So you're not like really connected to any location. And then I seldomly turn off completely if I feel I need to, then of course I can, and I have a team who can back me up, but then when they take like more like longer months off, again, up to now, I think I didn't have really as this luxury to completely shut down. But I don't mind to take two three hours a day to make sure our business is growing and I support my stuff. David Ralph 22:03 So So why haven't you got that ability at the moment to just switch off because I speak to so many people, but I've actually said their business multiply 10 times when they stopped coming into the office when they went totally remote and big ideas just popped into their head because they were all relaxed and they were just focusing on on the sort of strategy without being within the business. IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 22:28 I think it's two things here. One is my personal ambition ambition I'm, I really want to create a global company and global business quite quick. So we are a lot into exponential growth with more or less like purple ink revenue every year and that, of course, requires everyone in the team to work hard. Yeah, but second, I would say if I would ask I know how complicated is to build a backpack company, probably do something else. There's actually a lot of work that needs to be done. And we are not there yet. David Ralph 23:12 But but that's the same with all businesses, isn't it? You know, you start off with overnight EBT in the world. And then as you proceed through, I still say to my wife, I know more about what I don't know now, after seven years of doing this, then then what I do know that there's always another level that you can go down but you just can't comprehend at the beginning. IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 23:38 Yeah, I guess it's, but but it's probably exactly as sad. But then, yeah, when you already have such an experience in the business within the corporate, then you exactly think that thing's gonna be easy. And then you have a plan that again to do something like within a year or two Then of course, you know it's gonna take longer. But yeah, I think it's, it's it's a mantle again, shift which you just need to go through that because everyone tells you by you still don't believe until you really do it. So that's why maybe when it comes to like money raising in fundraising, a lot of people within the equity market they look for a second or third time founders because then they know exactly what to expect. David Ralph 24:36 Because I speak to a lot of people career that come through to me and they want to start a business and I can show them how to start an online business that will operate and I've done it so many times now. But the hardest bit I find is that the people don't know what they're good at, or they don't know what they want to do. And they they kind of come with half baked ideas. with yours. It sounds like Like wrapped its arms around you it was part of your lifestyle and you knew that you were going to love this. That makes it so much easier doesn't it? IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 25:09 Well, I I thought I knew the direction which is basically I think the purpose from the beginning of the company wants to inspire an active life and actually try to change people through the active lifestyle so but and then I thought I would do it just making a box where you carry closes wrinkle free. Reality is again, it's not that sample and then we from the box, we went into the running backpack, then we went to other backpacks and then we realised we need to start has been the saturation range that that that that and that and that led us to where we are now. So I think doesn't really matter what your original idea is, as long as you Committed to do this. And then when you start spending 200% of your time thinking about it day and night, then your idea develops and then it might develops in to something completely different. But that's, I think, the most important. It's basically the full dedication and that you actually think about it, you build a team, and then you start building something together. David Ralph 26:31 And when you started off, it was just you it was just you sort of sitting there with the idea. Did you do the classic? Sit down with your mates in a pub and say to him, I've got this idea of about a business or did you keep it secret to yourself and start developing it behind closed doors. IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 26:49 And somehow I'm an open source guy, and I believe into transparency also When it comes to fashion and lifestyle, business, I think the most difficult is execution because it's not enough just to build a good product, you somehow need to make sure other people know about it and it's a lot about marketing, it's about the sales, then you have production supply chain customer service, a lot of elements and and that's that difficult and that requires spending time so that's not something what is easier to copy. And I was quite lucky that my wife supported me from the beginning and helped with a lot of like it, kind of the core of the company was a financial, operational parts and then we had an alignment on what and how we want to do so. At least I have the backing on the on the family side, then I also decided they took my NDA money and invest it into into the business, which gave me some startup capital. I took a bank, low loan to W DARPA. And then I started, basically, from day one when I worked full time. I already hired like, couple of students to help me out. So I got a team. But But then, of course, it was like, a year before that when I still worked within the corporate. And I basically had to do two jobs in one day, which was of course, grid complicated, David Ralph 28:39 is so important, isn't it to have your partner your spouse supporting you, more often than not, they don't understand why you want to do it. They don't understand because you know, life's all right. You've got a good job. You know, we're okay. What was it about the idea that she bought into was it just the way you looked at her with the pressure When you smoke, IAMRUNBOX Founder Kirill Noskov 29:04 I would say it was basically sharing the vision and one of the values we have in the company, which is freedom. Because if you want to achieve freedom, then corporate work is not something What? What you want to do and the only way is really to start something here on the one and that was more like a bigger idea what we thought you want to do because we bought like travelling, we don't mind working hard, but it might be we work at the evening or early in the morning or during the day and do something else in between. And again, having the flexibility to travel around the world and being in different places and do what you like. I think that something was inspired was a faff, and also what's up Because David Ralph 30:01 I was reading about Sir James Dyson, who's created the Dyson products global success, and he's the, the Britain's richest man at the moment. 13.2 billion he's been recorded. And he was talking about how he tried to create an electric car, but 500 million of his own money in and decided it was a failure. He couldn't do it. And they said to him, you know, were you scared? Were you scared of putting that kind of money? And he said, No, he said, When I started, and I ended up owning the bank, a million pound and I still hadn't really sold

Introducing Ben Krueger Ben Krueger is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He  is a man who joins a very select band of entrepreneurs and businessmen who have made more than one appearance on the show. First appearing on the show on the 17th July 2014, he spoke passionately about his love for podcasting and his deep dive into the medium. Joining up the dots, it all started when he was penned up in an office working the dreaded dead-end job, and had to find something that would help him alleviate that daily feeling of boredom and dread.  So he resorted to listening to marketing and business podcasts, and as he listened, he started researching, and learning more about podcasting as a personal interest. How The Dots Joined Up For Ben This quickly grew into voracious research trying to uncover what made certain podcasts wild successes, and others a flop. So obsessed was he that he first created Authority Engine, which helped people become legends through the power of their voice. This has now pivoted into helping people start a podcast, or get theirs edited through Cash Flow Podcasting. When we last spoke he was living in Thailand as was an entrepreneur with a passion for the outdoors, travel, adventure, business strategy and podcasting. So is he still wearing the baggy shorts, and the sunglasses or has he settled down and watched his efforts grow his business? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Ben Krueger Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Ben Krueger such as: Why a product that is too different even if its brilliant, more often than not wont get legs and gain traction. Ben shares a great story about a photography business in the UK, who niche down on every website they have online. We discuss how the clarity of a business is an evolution, and more often than not will become visible straight away. And lastly........... Why all business owners must focus on the value proposition of the perfect customer time and time again to truly find success. Ben Krueger Books How To Connect With Ben Krueger Website Linkedin Facebook Twitter Return To The Top Of Cash Flow Podcasting If you enjoyed this episode of Ben why not listen to some of our favourite podcast episodes such as Spike Ball Founder, Nick Ruiz,  Sarah Caltieri or the amazing Sam Bearfoot Or if you prefer just pop over to our podcast archive for thousands of amazing episodes to choose from. Full Transcription Of Ben Krueger Interview Intro 0:00 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK, David Ralph. David Ralph 0:26 Now, good morning to you. Good morning, everybody. everywhere across the world. Do you ever sit there laying in bed or maybe in the bath and think to yourself, that guy who was on episode 88 of Join Up Dots back in 2014? I wonder what happened to him. Do you ever do that? Well, I know I do. And I'm glad I'm going to actually find out because today's guest is a man who joins a very select band of entrepreneurs and businessmen who have made more than one appearance on the show now first appearing on the show on the 17th of July 2014. As I said he spoke passionately about Lots of podcasting and he's deep dive into the medium. joining up the dots. It all started when he was penned up in an office working the dreaded dead end job and had to find something that would help him alleviate that daily feeling of boredom and dread. So he resorted to listening to marketing and business podcasts. And as he listened he started researching and learning more about podcasting just as a personal interest. Now, this quickly grew into a voracious research trying to uncover what made certain podcasts wild successes, and others a flop. And so obsessed was he that he first created authority engine, which helped people become legends through the power of their voice. This is now pivoted into helping people start a podcast or get theirs edited easily through cash flow podcasting. Now when we last spoke, he was living in Thailand and was an entrepreneur with a passion for the outdoors, travel, adventure business strategy and podcasting. So the question is, Is he still wearing the baggy shorts and the sunglasses He's always he settled down and watch these efforts grow into a fully fledged business. And why do so many people fail at podcasting when it's such an amazing medium to connect with people, and people are listening more and more every day? Well, let's find out as we bring them to the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Ben Krueger. Ben Krueger 2:25 I'm doing great. David, thank you so much for having me back. It's, it's bringing it all back bringing it all back a couple years now. David Ralph 2:32 I know I haven't changed back and I'm still doing the same old routine that I've been doing for six years. And that actually leads into a good question. I wasn't going to ask you that question. But do you think we've podcast the ones that do really well is because there's a kind of familiarity kind of people know what they're going to get. I remember hearing the producer of police academy films. Do you remember the police academy films back in the day? And oh, yeah, they got up to like police academy nine He said, the real thing to make something successful is give people what they liked about the one before, but make it different. So they come back. So that familiarity. Do you think that's what makes a podcast successful? Ben Krueger 3:14 I mean, I think that's one of one of many routes because yeah, you you as a podcaster. No. And anybody out there like all the podcast is, is recorded audio. So at the end of the day, there's so many different things you can do with the medium. But I like that, you know, if you tapped into a vein, where people are really engaged, people are really connected. And you give them more of that. Just with different stories, different people's experiences, like your show is a perfect format that doesn't need to be changed every episode because it's about people's stories. It's about the dots in their in their experience that have linked up to create who they are and who they're becoming. So it's this It's this interesting format that, you know, if somebody tried to apply the same format to something that was a little bit more different, you know, it's like an evolving news or something like that you could use the same kind of rough format so that people again, like you said, know what to expect. But there's got to be, you know, there's got to be something new going on there to bring them back and keep them interested. So I think there's definitely two sides to that coin, but I like because with these types of format of shows, there is newness, but it's in the same format. So you get, you get the same value delivered over and over and over again. You get the same type of entertainment, but it's new and it's fresh, because it's new people, new stories and new and interesting things going on. So yes and no is my gloriously refined answer there. Well, I'm David Ralph 4:55 gonna throw it to another level now because I was listening while I was watching So Scott, and I've been talking about it for over lockdown that we're in at the moment. There's some good content that's being produced. And there's some bloody awful content. And the one that I do like is some good news sGn network by john Wright and I just like that he's 1625 minutes. And I was watching it today. And he had Oprah Winfrey on any air to Steven Spielberg. And obviously, he's got a good network, but he can sprinkle the Stardust across. But it's format. It's the news. And I thought to myself, it's interesting, actually, we like the way it's happening. Because it's how we know. We know that the news, as I used to do training courses many, many years ago, and I always said, Tell them what you're going to tell him, Ben, tell him and Ben, tell them what you told him. And that was basically how you summarise the training goals. But news is exactly the same. They tell you what's in the news. And then they give you a bit more about it and then a summary at the end. And once again, that's gone off like a rocket because it reads Is that Amelie ality You know, I'm really interested in this pain. I wasn't going to speak to you about this because I hadn't thought about it. But I wonder if products and services are more likely to find legs because they're similar to something out there more than somebody trying to create something brand new. Ben Krueger 6:19 Yeah, well, it's that classic, you know, the the innovators kind of dilemma where, what what has been shown time and time again with different products with different services with different things. If something's too different from what currently is, even if it's significantly better. It's too big of a leap of faith for people to take, because there is there wasn't that like stair step in between. Whereas if it's a little bit better or a little bit different or a little bit improved, and a little bit refined, that tends to be my much more More resonant product or service or show. And so I see that all the time with shows that are trying to be too creative. Like they kind of they're, they're too out there. So they don't even, they don't really connect with people because they people can't draw a connection between what they think of as a podcast and what this thing is that they're trying to listen to. And it doesn't really doesn't really Join Up Dots as it were. So it's an interesting dilemma, where it seems to be and I think it's a little bit of a human nature thing. We want to know what we're expecting, or we want to have some idea of what we're looking at and what it is. So if it's a little bit too far out there, it's too different. It's going to be hard for us to track and hard for us to really engage fully without having that judgement piece. I think that's a big part of it. David Ralph 7:57 So if we go back in time law He was with us you were talking about your business authority engine. And what I loved about that at the time, and I remember I was very new in the game. But I remember having some kind of deep connection to the fact of biscuit. I didn't just throw it out. But he became an expert. He did the work. He did the research and a poverty engine, I thought was going to be your legacy work. It just seemed to be fulfilling a need at that time, is now pivoted to cash flow podcasting. Why Why did you change it? Ben Krueger 8:33 Yeah, good question. We we found over time working with folks that our specialty really came in as working with established businesses that were trying to use podcasting as a way to engage their audience to build you know, their authority and their network in their industries, to uplift their industry and at the end of the day, as well to generate clients and And revenue for their business. So, you know, there's a tonne of ways people can use podcasting, there's a tonne of different types of podcasts and categories of podcasts. But we really found that was our sweet spot is helping businesses, you know whether coaching online services SAS, you know, financial advising all those kinds of businesses use podcasting as a way to transform their audience over time, through trusting relationships, through results in advance in educating through their content into folks who are really great prospects and really great clients for their brand. So that's kind of where that transition came in. And a lot of the core elements are still there. It really just came down to a refinement of who we can add the most value for in terms of clients because we could work with all types of different podcasts. We have really found that's our sweet spot. We talk about that time and time again on Join Up Dots about online business is simple. And I Keep on drumming this in because I want people to understand that is simple, you've got to have something that other people value, it's got to either solve a big problem or move them into an increased level of status or pleasure point. And then focus in on that one person and just do that. And it's almost better if you've got a great idea to have like nine different customer bases, but just speak to that one customer in each of the portals. So create a website just for that customer and then another one just for that customer. And I speak to people and I say oh, no, no, no, I just want one business like oh, yeah, one business is brilliant. Let's try to get one business but let's try to get one customer that really buys big. Learn what works from that and then sort of rinse and repeat because it is easy isn't a pain once you've done it's it's the it's the classic Like be a big fish in a small pond or the air of a small town versus, you know, trying to trying to swim with the sharks. You know, I one great example of this that I really like and I've heard a couple other people bring up over time is a it's a it's a photography company out of the UK that does product photography. So they have two websites that I'm aware of and they may have other ones but one is we shoot bottles so you know it's it's product photography of anything in a bottle and we shoot cans to totally different domains they don't refer to each other at all. But it's the same company they pretty much use the exact same setup because cans and bottles are pretty similar from a photography standpoint, but I love that it's so special. Each one is so specific. So if you've got you know a product that comes in a bottle and you find out about we shoe bottles, calm boy does that sound like the right fit or not. David Ralph 12:00 And so many people out there think that they're gonna miss out open don't they think if I go for everyone they're gonna miss out and you can go as niche as you want. And I remember people used to say the riches are in the niches and they you know it doesn't work over the UK because we say niche but I like that niche and rich and I used to think really really bad is true is so true you can go too wide but you can't go too deep. Ben Krueger 12:27 Yeah, it's that classic when you've heard the same advice too many times you almost don't trust it cuz it seems a little cliche, but it's absolutely true. And we've found for for podcasts, and particularly for ones that are are trying to you know, they're they're creating a podcast community around a brand around a product or a service. We have found this this idea of niching down as if you can with your content you saw One main problem for one core group of people. So a perfect example of this is like a gal. We work with Katrina Ebell, she's got a podcast called weight loss for busy physicians. I mean, it couldn't be more specific and more directed, she solves one problem for one group of people. And so with that, her podcast really, really resonates for those folks that that fit in that space. And there's more people in that space then she can actually work with, she's been sold out for a while. So it's that classic. You know, if you try to be everything to everybody, you're gonna have a hard time getting traction, whereas if you can be the mayor of that small town, everybody in that small town knows you they share. You know, they talk about you with their neighbours like that that whole town knows who you are and what you're about and how you can help them out. Now with your David Ralph 13:54 tagline, I suppose on their podcast services, the busy thought leaders, I was looking And earlier, and I'm very much into trying to explain a business in four to five words that really say what your service is podcast services for busy thought leaders. Ben Krueger 14:14 Well, the fun part is we're in the process of a complete upgrade and how we communicate our our services. So the the new thing that we're moving towards or the new way we're describing how we do what we do, is we make podcasting easy. Yeah, that's really it, isn't it? Yeah. And that's with the caveat that you know, someone is in in kind of the verticals that we can help the most, but at the core foundation of it. That's what it's all about. Because when when we first started this whole process of helping people, create, plan, create and launch podcasts for their business We're actually working with a gentleman, who at the time, I had only been doing podcast production, I had helped out on some launches. But I had a gentleman come to me and say, you know, I want to start a podcast for my brand. I've got an online paid community. I don't have the time. I don't know what I don't know. And I want to do it right. Help me out. So what does that look like? So we work together to figure out what is this process where he can just show up as the host. And we can have a process and a team that supports him in just doing that. So really, what it comes down to over time is we make podcasting easy. And, you know, I always like to add on the little, you know, because I can't just leave it as simple as possible. We make podcasting easy and effective because at the end of the day, if it's not working for a brand or if it's not working in contributing to the goals that the host wants it to do, then what are we? What are we even doing? So I'm a big fan of start with the end in mind and make it easy and as simple as possible. effectiveness does not have to be complicated. David Ralph 16:16 Yeah, I agree with you totally. And I love the word easy. If you go over to Join Up Dots, my tagline is we make getting your own successful online business easy. And I saw one the other day, which is lawn care made easy. You know, in four words, it says everything that it does, and but that ability to have that kind of clarity in your own business. Is that something that people should get right at the beginning, or should they grow into it because I come to it from two different sides. I can do it for other people, but I wonder whether the actual evolution is part of getting that simplicity and clarity Ben Krueger 17:00 Well, I can definitely say I would have loved to be able to start with that clarity. But I can definitely say from a personal standpoint, like our message has shifted and changed and evolved and refined and gotten more and more simple over time. But I know my personal tendency is to say 10 words when three words will do yeah, so that David Ralph 17:23 I know that problem. Ben Krueger 17:25 Exactly, exactly. I think I think all of us talkers tend to have that challenge. But I think you know, it depends on where you're at. And I think what it really comes down to is the simplicity of the messaging comes from a deeper understanding of, of the space and of either the problem you're solving or you know, the the benefit that you are sharing with folks because the more you understand that space, their needs, their psychographics why it's important to them, the More you can simply communicate it. So if you are, you know, let's say you work in, in a industry for 20 years as an employee, or you know, in part of a different company, and then you strike out on your own, you've had 20 years to figure out what that industry is all about what's important to people, you know, and so you can, I think it'd be much easier to start with some super clarity. Because you know, the space you understand what's going on. Whereas if you are just getting into an arena, into a vertical into an industry, there's gonna be some time as you kind of get grips on what's going on, and what's important to people. And, you know, just because it's important to one doesn't mean it's important to others. So you got to kind of find where those sweet spots are. So I think it's a natural evolution. But it comes with an understanding of what the pain points are, what the challenges are, what the outcomes are, what the hopes and dreams are of the folks in that space, David Ralph 19:01 let's hear from Oprah. And then we'll be back with Ben, Oprah Winfrey 19:03 the way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, what is the next right move? not think about, Oh, I got all of this stuff. What is the next right move? And then from that space, make the next right move, and the next right move, and not to be overwhelmed by it. Because you know, your life is bigger than that one moment, you know, you're not defined by what somebody says, is a failure for you. Because failure is just there to point you in a different direction. David Ralph 19:35 Now, have you had failuress? Because from my side of the fence, and I've connected with you a couple of times, and we've known each other for years, but we hardly know each other at all. But it's always seemed like you had persistence. You were somebody that was going to follow it through. And so have you actually had babies or have they just been sort of learning learning opportunities for you? Ben Krueger 19:59 Oh, I think Yeah, any anybody that says they haven't had failures, I think I think might be sweeping some things under the rug. And not that you can't take them and see them as learning experiences and step into the other side. But I've absolutely had some some failures. So one, one particularly tasty one is for a while, you know, I got into entrepreneurship with only having worked a few jobs and marketing all for a couple of months at a time. So I think I was I was an employee through I think I bounced around to four or five different companies over the course of about three years total. And then when I and then I went into starting my own business, but no, I didn't know what the heck I was doing. I had no idea how to manage a team or build a team or do it all myself or manage, you know, the finances of a company. So I think one of the one of the biggest learning opportunities for me, which at the time I definitely saw as a failure and really frustrated me was I did not know how to manage cash flow within a company, which is kind of funny seeing as we're now called cashflow podcasting, but this was also before the branding change. So essentially, we were we had a year where we just lost money because I was doing a lot of investing in growth in big ideas in shiny objects. And I was not paying attention to the bottom line I wasn't paying attention to like having stair step growth of just, you know, looking at the next piece and then the next piece as Oprah just, you know, so eloquently put it I was trying to skip steps and in doing so, Got the company into debt and not in a healthy way and I ended up having to let go of a key team member who and absolutely done an incredible job up until that point you know arguably better than me and it was it felt like a massive failing because I had I had not made decisions in the company that were intelligent around money in that I could could essentially keep employing him and so I had to essentially really tighten tighten about pulling the drawstrings relearn and understand like okay, how do I go from I'm losing money every single month to I need this to be profitable and not from some maniacal you know, laughing on top of my you know, pile of gold coins mixed, you know, Mix Scrooge type of thing. But for any venture to actually contribute and survive, it needs to be profitable. So that was a serious what felt like a huge failing at the time. And sometimes depending on how I'm feeling in the day, it can still feel like a giant failure. But it it was absolutely a learning curve and led me in a direction that now I feel like I've you know, got a really solid understanding for what needs to be in place financially for the company to do well. And I've put in systems in place so that when I'm when I start to you know, if things start to shift in a way that it's not supporting us and along in the long term financially, then I've got some early red flags and warning so I don't find myself in that position again. David Ralph 23:53 It's personally my biggest failing was obsession. I was obsessed and overwhelmed. And just I just grow, drove myself into knees and there's many different references of my journey on Join Up Dots that you can go back to. But my number one learning that I learned was it's better not to work on a business plan to work on a business. All my great ideas come up when I'm on vacation, or sitting in the garden, more than just being in front of a computer slogging away for hours on hours thinking that it's going to be genius. And a lot of stuff that I've done in the past. I look at it and I think it failed because there was a desperation in it. I there was a lack of clarity in it. I don't think I was totally believing in it. So it was just kind of a shadow of what it is now. Anybody that comes to me now, they get value. And I absolutely go to bed with you know, a clear conscience and I will sleep better than anybody. But in the early days, when I was trying to get it going. I think it was kind of half baked because I didn't have the journey, I think you've got to have the journey, which is why it's so important if somebody is starting a business to start with your current knowledge base, because then you've only got half the learning the entrepreneurial side is quite difficult to learn. But at least you start with something that you already know about. Ben Krueger 25:23 Yeah, and I think this is this reflects actually pretty accurately on on one of what I would consider my biggest failings as well as, for the longest time in business. Like I, when it comes down to it, I made it about me. I made it about what I wanted, like how I wanted the business to support my lifestyle, what I wanted to do and what I didn't want to do, it was it was very, you know, kind of, if a if a, you know, five year old was having a tantrum, and you know, it's about me, they don't get to have their nap time or you know, whatever. Yeah, it's It's a little bit of that, that going on. And it's not something I'm super proud to admit, but it's absolutely true and what I've, what the primary shift has been in, it's kind of the scarcity versus abundance mindset. Like if you're in a mindset where you you are doing okay, then you have the ability to give back. Whereas, if you feel like you are just scraping along and you're, you're in that hustle and grind, and you've got to get it's very, you know, get focused. So I think the big shift for me has been trying to and transition and stay in the place of contributing as much value as I can through our products and services through you know, all the content and things that we we create and at the same time, I think that that reflects our into how I interact with our team, how I interact with clients and customers, how I interact with referral partners and that kind of thing, because, you know, I'm not showing up to get in, in kind of on the flip side of that same coin when I'm showing up to figure out how can I highlight other people's genius and and partner with people in a way that's collaboratively expansive, as opposed to how can I do it myself to save a few bucks. And obviously, there's some realities here to where you need to, you need to be have the chequebook balance at the end of the month, but there's a lot of ways to partner with people and to contribute value without it necessarily being $1 and cents expense. So I think that's a big shift that you know, and to be honest, it's something that I have to work on. So just like any of these kind of things, it's Oftentimes not a snap your fingers and you were this yesterday and now you're this today. But I see it as like that's my area of continuous development and growth is how can I come from a place of giving of love of care and abundance? And the more I do that, the more the more things just seem to get easier and easier. David Ralph 28:26 We're talking to Ben Krueger from cash flow podcasting, and we'll be back with him after these words. Unknown Speaker 28:34 You ready to make a full time living online? Check out the amazing Join Up Dots business coaching. Hello, my name is Alan. And I've just completed the excellent eight week course with David before I started working with David Actually, I had no idea at all where to start. I had a lot of ideas about while I probably thought was going to be good business, David was able to help me through that though, to find that passion. Within literally minutes, we had, we had a business idea. And for the last seven weeks, we've been building on it and building on it. And the position I'm in now, I don't think I've ever got here Unknown Speaker 29:10 on my own because of the amount of information that David gives the structure. He's got the full package here and he explains it in a way that I can understand. His support is phenomenal. I feel like this is the way business is supposed to work. David helped me understand, okay, what David Ralph 29:26 were the next logical steps that I should do? How can I get this up and running? So I would really recommend this as an excellent course helping you if you have an idea if you have no idea, really teasing that out and some of the practicalities and steps to take to really launch your business whether as a full time job or as a side hustle. So it was really excellent. I recommend it for anybody thinking about setting up their own business, or both. It's an exaggeration to say David will totally save you years. Thank you, David for all your amazing help and support which keeps on going And we certainly couldn't be where we are today without you. So you're awesome. So if you would love to become my next success s

Todays episode of Join Up Dots is a question and answers session which touches on motivation once again. As you will hear on the show, one of the hardest things to conquer in your life is finding the motivation to keep moving forward. I know for sure that I struggle with this, especially when I have had a break from working on something, Then its like a real drag to get going again, But you have to get going and do the work or it will never get done. So what are you going to do to make it all come true for you?  

Stephen King is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He is a top executive at a Fortune 500 company. Bootstrapped CEO. Venture- backed tech startup founder. Non-profit fundraiser. It’s safe to say Stephen King is not your traditional CPA. Stephen is President and CEO of GrowthForce, one of the nation’s largest providers of outsourced bookkeeping and controller services. Regarded as an industry thought leader by AICPA and CPA.com, his ability to visualise the future of accounting has lead GrowthForce to become one of the fastest-growing companies in America. How The Dots Joined Up For Stephen His experience at the forefront of technology development and accounting system design spans nearly three decades. In 1995 he founded Virtual Growth, the nation’s first cloud-based accounting service, and quickly grew it into a market leader. After being acquired by Insperity, Stephen was brought on as president of Insperity’s Financial Management Services division, serving two years before leaving to build GrowthForce. He also spent seven years working at Amnesty International USA—first overseeing 300% growth as CFO, then raising over $20M a year as Director of Development. Stephen’s time at Amnesty reinforced his life-long commitment to giving back to the community. As a result, non-profits represent 35% of GrowthForce clients. So where does his true passion lie, in the quick moving startup world, or working for major corporations often with less than movable parts? And are we now at the start of the next industrial revolution, whereby we will see more and more people start their own businesses? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Stephen King Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Stephen King such as: Stephen shares how people are changing their systems everywhere to simplify their businesses due to the pandemic. Stephen talks openly how he started the first cloud account and the steps he took to make things happen from scratch. Why our next generation of children are under such a strain to achieve the same level of success as their parents. And lastly........... We hear the story of Stevens family origins and how his Father  changed his life with just $47 and a boat ticket.

Introducing Shift Financial Founder Spencer Sheinin Shift Financial founder Spencer Sheinin is our guest today joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He  is a man who is taking the stress, pain and quite frankly annoyance out of one of the worst things about being in biz. Yeah we all know that part of the year when we start getting letters through asking for the paperwork that you can't find. And then it asks "how much did you earn last year, and you realise you have to work out the expenses to then take it away from the income"...nightmare. As he says "If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you probably hate accounting. The information your bookkeepers and accountants bring isn’t at all understandable or helpful, and you know you’re not getting the information you need to run your business. You’re stressed, fed up, and even embarrassed about the state of your books. But you don’t know how to make things better. One thing is certain: you can’t afford to spend time learning accounting—nor would you want to. How The Dots Joined Up For Spencer Sheinin As founder and CEO of Shift Financial Insights, his company provides ridiculously simple accounting and insights for businesses on the rise. Spencer loves sharing his knowledge as an instructor at the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) and has spoken all over North America about why entrepreneurs shouldn’t fear their books. To be honest this is a man that looks like he doesn't fear anything as when he isn't knee deep in ledgers and spreadsheets, he is also an endurance sports enthusiast and has completed several ultra-marathons, IRON-MAN triathlons, and marathon swims. So when did he start to realise that instead of working for a major corporation it was time to go out on his own? And why do people struggle so much to keep things organised when running their online ventures? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Spencer Sheinin Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Spencer Sheinin such as: Why Spencer always gives the advice of outsourcing your accountancy issues as soon as possible when starting out in business. Why we should view having an accountant as going to the right Doctor for the right specialist advice. Choose the expert you need for the right task. Spencer reveals his "Why" for his business, and man has he knocked this out of the park on this one. Spine tingling stuff. And lastly........... Spence gives us a list of the big questions that we must all ask our accountants to make sure we get the gem.

Michael Cavallaro is today's guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast. Michael's 40 years of experience have culminated into the creating Human Cosmology™ a belief, behavioural & communication personal growth process. Human Cosmology™ is a unique and comprehensive life changing modality. This modality allows for deeper and permanent healing and life changes than traditional modalities. Human Cosmology™ allows an individual or group to access their own wisdom to move beyond their psychological and belief patterning, physical/emotional/mental limitations. This modality is life changing for anyone who has experienced stress, loss, anxiety, depression, insecurity, PTSD, ADHD abuse of any kind, struggles with communication or relationship issues. This process is superior for creating "real" teamwork environments in the work place, and creating healthy intimate relationships. How The Dots Joined Up For Michael Now of course with Join Up Dots we create content that no only speaks to the entrepreneur, but also the wannabe's. Those people who sit in a cubicle and are yearning to start their own business. So how do you start building a business that isn't just built on flippant throwaway concepts, but stuff that is rooted in scientific fact. And how has he managed to build a flourishing business when he has a large family, no doubt pulling him in so many different directions too. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Michael Cavallaro Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Michael Cavallaro such as: We share how the world has programmed us to operate in a different way from how we might just be operating if we were allowed to think for ourselves. Why being allowed to go for the easy route might just be the perfect thing for all of us to do in our lives, if we just trust. Michael shares the early days of hustling to create his business from scratch, which wasn't easy for sure.  And lastly…….. Why it is so important to squirrel away some nuts in the winter when you are building your business. Make it easier for yourself in the lean times.

Introducing Spikeball Creator Chris Ruder Chris Ruder is the CEO and Founder of Spikeball Inc a new and fun sport that looks like its going to be big everywhere. The Jonas Brothers, Drake, Julianne Hough, Ryan Seacrest, 21 Pilots, Casey Neistat, and numerous pro sport teams and players have expressed their love for Spikeball. Spikeball’s appearance on Shark Tank was voted as one of the best episodes of all time. ESPN went as far as to say Spikeball is mainstream. Now our guest today started the business 2008 and ran it as a night job for 5 years while keeping his day job as an Advertising Executive. 5 years after its founding, Spike ball hit $1 million in annual sales with zero full-time employees. How The Dots Joined Up For Spike Ball At that time, Chris quit his day job and went full-time. That was one of the best days of his life and Spikeball’s mission is to the create the next great global sport, with tournaments appearing on ESPN whilst taking place all over the world. Chris lives in Chicago with his 3 great kids and fantastic wife. He is on the board of I Grow Chicago and the company has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help address gun violence, the environment and education.  So did he need to spend those five years as a side hustle business, or was it simply a leap into the unknown that scared him. And how do you know that you have a great product on your hands before you ever invest your own money into the business? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Chris Ruder Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Chris Ruder such as: Chris shares how Spikeball wasn't his idea at first, but he took an original product that in many ways had failed and made it much better. Why it is such an amazing idea to provide free parts for life to customers as they become your marketing department for free. Chris allows us a glimpse into the starting process of getting his customers to fall in love with SpikeBall. And lastly........... The Spikeball founder talks openly about his appearance on Dragons Den, and what the show truly brings a new business.

Todays guest on the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast is Andrew Phelps. He is the Creative Director of User10, a boutique studio focused on SaaS product strategy and design. He leads design teams at small startups as well as enterprise brands. An expert in product strategy and design, he was named one of the Arizona Republic's 35 under 35. He shares his knowledge of strategy, design, and entrepreneurship at ASU, SEEDSPOT, and The CleanTech Open. But the main reason that i wanted him to be on the show today was this piece of wisdom, taken from his website. "We believe that design and technology should serve humanity and that anything worth doing is worth doing beautifully. Challenges can be big and complex, but the best solutions are elegantly simple. How The Dots Joined Up For Andrew The best part is the process is no secret. Building high quality applications and websites is as much about great communication as it is about good design and code. Isn't that what I say on Join Up Dots all the time? The first stage of business is to find something that people want, then let them see it, and open up communication to chat. So did he fall into the traps of making things more complex than they should be - but extremely pleasing on the eye? And of course when people dont know who there customers are, how do they know how to speak to them directly? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Andrew Phelps Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Andrew Phelps such as: How Apple might have just fallen from the wayside of the magic years driven through the  Andrew shares the steps that he took to where he is today....and it certainly wasn't where he thought he would end up. Andrew remembers meeting his first mentor and being amazed that a fifty year old was so happy with what he was doing. And lastly…….. Why it's so important to start saying NO in a business, so that you can service a smaller and more

Today's podcast has been inspired after receiving a lovely email from a listener of the show.As most of you are aware unless you have been trapped in a cave somewhere, but the world is in lock-down.. Which for many people is a complete nightmare and a never ending day after day of boredom. However, for many other people it's a world of positivity where things are occurring on a daily basis which are a complete 360 for where we were before. It might be a simple case of enjoying a longer meal with your family, or a more relaxed morning routine, instead of rush, rush. So where are you finding your positivity in a world of disruption?

Introducing Rob And Kennedy Email marketing experts Rob and Kennedy join us on today's Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. These guys arent just experts at email marketing, but they are the most unlikely entrepreneurs you'll ever meet. Sporting hairstyles that look like comic-book characters and backgrounds in psychology, hypnosis, and show-business – it's hard to believe they're serial entrepreneurs with an uncanny knack for building businesses with riotous email marketing. But that is just a bit of what they are..... They are the founders of ResponseSuite, where they show businesses across the world how to truly make email marketing a thing of beauty. They are also a mind-reader and a hypnotist too...which I i guess will come up in the show. But one thing for sure is they are the kings at making their customer emails get the results they want by doing things differently. With their business, they have created a drag and drop system which can explode your marketing by making your emails irresistible. Bringing feedback into your world, by using surveys and other "Tell me what you think of us" strategies. And now with their podcast "3 Marketers walk into a Podcast" where they chat to a marketing expert each week and take a deep dive into one specific strategy that's working for them right now they are bringing more and more to the world. As they say "There are so many ways of driving traffic, increasing conversions and running ads - so rather than guess at it and get overwhelmed, wey are asking the experts so you can duplicate them in your online marketing." If you work in digital marketing or have your own online business, you're going to love this podcast.  So why did they start a digital marketing business when they could simply hypnotise the world to crave their products. And is email marketing still a winner, or has it fallen down the ranks of everything else that is needed nowadays? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Rob and Kennedy. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Rob and Kennedy such as: Why it is so important to embrace your own authenticity in everything you do..... Rob and Kennedy share the massive tip of gaining emailsaddresses and that is down to setting the expectation of the customer right at the very start. The guys share their email marketing advice of sending out stuff every single day. Break down your life into short content driven stories to inspire. and lastly...... The reasons why "All they do is want to be less crap than they were the day before." Great and simple advice.

Introducing Make Time Founder John Zeratsky Make Time founder John Zeratsky is today's guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast. He is the author and founder of Make Time: How to Focus on what Matters Every Day a productivity company showing the way to more profit and productivity. For nearly 15 years, John was a designer for technology companies. At Google Ventures, he helped develop the Design Sprint and worked with startups like Uber, 23andMe, Flatiron Health, Blue Bottle Coffee, and Nest. Previously, John was a designer​ at YouTube, Google, and FeedBurner, which Google acquired in 2007. John studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin and graduated from the UW School of Human Ecology, where he’s now an advisor to the Dean and faculty. However this just shows that this guy was once mega-busy. Probably running from meeting to meeting, desperate crisis chats and everything else we get sucked into whilst in the corporate world. How The Dots Joined Up For John Now things are very different...he might be just as busy, but now its busy doing the things he wants to do. For example he spent 18 months travelling in Central America aboard their sailboat Pineapple before moving to Milwaukee in 2019.  Now he is a keynote speaker, and the bestselling author of Sprint and Make Time. He helps leaders, entrepreneurs, and professional teams make better use of their time (opens in a new tab)">better use of their time at work and become happier, more engaged humans. So why do people need his help, when we all know how to do it by and large? And what is the quickest way that we can increase our happiness in our lives? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only John Zeratsky Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with John Zeratsky such as: John shares why time is our most valuable commodity and the steps that we should take everyday to use it wisely. Why so many struggle with controlling their time due to companies restrictions placed on them everyday. John shares his fledgling steps into entrepreneurship and the reasons why he took these steps into the unknown. And lastly…….. Why we should all focus in on the present moment, as this is the time that truly makes the difference in our day. John Zeratsky Books How To Connect With John Zeratsky Website Twitter LinkedIn Return To The Top Of Make Time With John Zeratsky If you enjoyed this episode with John Zeratsky, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy Full Transcription Of Make Time Founder Interview Outro 0:00 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. John Zeratsky 0:25 Yes, hello. Good morning, everybody. Good morning and welcome to Join Up Dots. Yes, it's that podcast again. And today is not gonna be a solo show. It's got we've got we've got a guest we got a guest on the other end of the line, who for nearly 15 years was a designer for technological companies at Google Ventures. He helped develop the design sprint and work with startups like Uber 23andme, flatiron health, Blue Bottle coffee and a nest. Now previously, he was a designer at YouTube, Google and Feedburner, which Google Of course acquired in 2007. Now before that he studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin and graduated from UW School of Human Ecology, where he's now an advisor to the dean and the faculty. However, this just shows that this guy was once mega busy, probably running from meeting to meeting desperate crisis chats and everything else we get sucked into. Whilst in the corporate world now things are very different. Now he might be just as busy, but now he's busy doing the things that he wants to do in a way he wants to do it. For example, He spent 18 months travelling in Central America aboard a sailboat pineapple with his wife. But before moving to Milwaukee in 2019. He's a keynote speaker and a best selling author of sprint and make time and he helps leaders, entrepreneurs and professional teams make better use of their time at work and become happier and more engaged humans. So So why do people actually need his help? And we all know how to do it by and large Get away from the computers, connect with real life people and try to limit what we do every day. But what is the quickest way that we can increase our happiness in our lives? If we're doing all that? Well, let's find out as we bring them to the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. John Zeratsky. Morning John, how are you? Good morning, David. How are you doing? David Ralph 2:25 I'm always doing well, john. Don't do it. All right. Yeah. As we were talking. Yeah, I've got no Corona virus. I've got nothing I've got. I've got a slight pain in my shoulder. But I think that sitting at a computer all the time, other than that job, pretty damn good. Now let's get into it and cut to the chase because we've you it's all about time and making time. Now, can you really make time or can you just make the most of your time John Zeratsky 2:52 you're on to me, it's impossible to make time and that's what makes it such an important thing to focus on. To think about because time is our only finite resource, you know, if we, we lose our money, we can make it back. Again, if we gain weight, we can we can shut it off. If we're weak, we can become strong. If we're sick, we can become well, but we can never make more time, we only get so much. And we don't know how much we get until it's gone. So it's a really important really precious resource. But like you mentioned, so many of us just kind of let it slip by we live in a crazy world with all sorts of default settings, settings in our technology products and in our cultures and workplaces and the norms and the beliefs that we accept. And we just sort of react to those defaults. Most of our time is spent by default. And so while it's not in a in a in a medic metaphysical sense, it's not possible to create more time, we can effectively Make time by resetting those defaults and choosing to spend our time on the things that really matter. Instead of just reacting to what's in front of us. David Ralph 4:10 I agree with this. I agree with this totally. And I also agree, and I'm going to point this in into the conversation, because sometimes just wasting time is perfect. It's right. I'll give you an example. I just come back from Iceland. And we had one day we had beautiful weather. It was freezing cold, but beautiful weather and one day you went out and it literally was scraping the skin off your face. It was so cold. And so me and my wife, we just sat in a bar drinking Icelandic beer, buying drinks for Americans, it was always the Americans I always rolled up and and we said what a wonderful day it was and it was such a waste of time, but it just felt good to do that. John Zeratsky 4:51 Absolutely. Well you experienced in that, in that wasted time you experienced a number of benefits that we You know, sometimes if we're lucky, or if we're intentional about it, we find ourselves enjoying, you got to spend time face to face with other humans. So that's something that we we evolved to to need and to thrive on. You experienced the relative quiet or calm of not having a million new bits of information popping into your feed or onto your phone. You experienced the feeling of generosity of giving something to those thirsty Americans David Ralph 5:36 a one time back, those Americans weren't very good at buying rounds back I promise you. And happily I mean, cleared off. John Zeratsky 5:44 Perhaps they have a few things to learn from you. But But yeah, that that it's absolutely true that that sometimes wasting time or things that that don't look very productive are actually the best uses of our time and in particular, Things like what you just mentioned, are great because they pack so many benefits together. Another one of my favourites is, is cooking dinner at home. So, you know sure if you're mister you know, ultra productive optimised, you know, outsource your life use every last second to maximise your your income or whatever. Sure, you're not going to cook your own dinner, that's nuts, you're gonna have somebody cook it for you, you're gonna have it delivered, you're gonna have pre made meals, whatever. But I love cooking dinner because it tends to be more affordable and healthier than going to a restaurant or ordering in. It forces me to get up from the computer and do something with my hands. And it creates a little bit of space very much like you just sitting in that bar disconnected from all the feeds and and sources of information in our world cooking requires you to be a bit different. connected. And I also like how it marks the end of the day. It's a natural transition between the daytime which for me is usually focused on some project that I'm excited about and the nighttime which is a time to tell our body it's, you know, it's, it's time to wind down, it's time to relax so that we can sleep well and be prepared for another great day tomorrow. David Ralph 7:22 Now let's spin it into sort of entrepreneurial venture because I'm this is gonna, you may not notice, john, but my listeners will go Oh my God, he's mentioning again, but I think it's important. I think it's important. And I don't have a mobile phone. I don't have a mobile phone or a tablet or anything. So when once I leave my office, Fassett is gone. I don't have any sort of connectivity. But in the early days of starting my business, I found myself sucked into my office a lot. Because there's always something to do and yet no matter how big businesses or how successful it is, there's still something that is sitting half and done. Now what I had to do was I actually had to say, no, that office is closed. I'm not just sneaking up there for 10 minutes. I'm not because my family kept on laughing. Yeah, we know it's gonna be 10 minutes. We'll see you in three hours. I now do that. And I say, right. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, I don't go up to my office at all. And then Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, I jam everything in to give myself that breathing space again. Is that something that I am lucky to be able to do? Or can most people do that being kind of legit mentally flexible with that time? John Zeratsky 8:39 I think probably a bit of both. I think that I think that I would be I wouldn't be completely honest. If I were to say that any bit. Anybody out there could choose to, you know to jam all their work into three days a week because Most people are not as lucky or as privileged as we are. And so they, they have normal jobs. And they don't necessarily have the same kind of control. But on the other hand, there's a lot of, there's a lot of space to work with. There's a lot of room for flexibility. And when I work with people who feel like they don't have enough time for the things that matter to them, one of the first things we do is we talk about where their time goes now. And more often than not a good chunk of that time goes into what my co author Jake and I call infinity pools. So these are apps like Facebook and Twitter and even the breaking news and games and Netflix streaming things where there's always more content there. There's always more water in the pool, you can dive back in at any time. And the data on this stuff shows that at least in the United States. The average American spends about four hours a day on their phone and four hours a day watching TV. So In a very real sense of distraction is a full time job. And so we usually start there and we say, well, let's, let's figure out which of those things really are important to you, which matter because they connect you to other people, or they allow you to do something that's helping you learn or grow or helping you build something. And which parts are just really waste of time, which parts feel, you know, don't make you feel good. They feel like you're sort of being mindlessly pulled through instead of intentionally choosing to dive in. And so we start by cutting those off and then the next thing we do is exactly what you suggested, which is we compartmentalise that time. So instead of doing, you know, basically checking email throughout the day, or having a bunch of little meetings with these little scraps of time in between them. I help people kind of structure their calendars so that when they're doing something, they're doing that one thing. They're completely focused on it. They're doing it Great job at it. And then when they're done, they move on to the next thing. And this works amazingly well, even for something as seemingly innocuous as email, it turns out, there's actually research on this, it turns out that if email, David Ralph 11:14 there's always research, there's always reasons why people doing research on these kind of things. John Zeratsky 11:19 Well, because it matters because, like we we talked about it at the intro time is our only finite resource. And so this stuff matters. These are important questions, you know, these are not just sort of trivial matters. these are these are really at the heart of what it means to be human, what it means to be alive. And so I think these are important research questions and and research on email shows that people who are in an experiment forced to check email fewer times during the course of the day, actually become measurably better at doing email so they become faster, they become more efficient at it, and they feel less stressed so they feel better about themself. And so it's the exact opposite of what you'd expect. You know, if you want to be Mr. productivity and you want to be ultra efficient, you think, Oh, well, I need to be on top of my email at all times. But it's actually, the opposite is true. And so that's I think that speaks to the power of compartmentalization, which is really just kind of a long and complicated word for doing one thing at a time. David Ralph 12:20 Well, I'm gonna throw it back at ya. I agree with you everything you're saying. But I'm going to throw I'm going to tell you how I operate. Now that there's three laws, there's two laws that are like very, very much one. One is Parkinson's Law, which I'm sure you know all about Parkinson's Law, john. Yeah. John Zeratsky 12:37 That's about work expanding. You're very good. David Ralph 12:41 Yeah, you're very good. And so if you give yourself 20 minutes to deal with all your emails you're doing in 20 minutes. If you give yourself three hours, you'll get three hours. And so I do everything based on time. So with my emails, I log on first thing in the morning, and I give myself 15 minutes to deal with them all. Anything that comes in I get a load of emails is ridiculous, but I make sure I only read them once. So I read them make a decision and deal with it, delete it, respond or whatever. Because once you leave it half done, it then builds up into some big monstrous inbox that you can't deal with. And so yeah, literally every day my inbox is totally clean. I batch everything. So like today is my podcasting day. So the only thing I do is podcasting. And I do about three Thursdays in the month and nothing else gets involved in there. And biggest thing but I think so many people miss out on and I'm going to, you know, ask your point of view and this is the 8020 looking at everything that you do and things actually what part is bringing value back into your business. If it's Facebook when brilliant if it's not get rid of it. If it's Pinterest, get rid of it. Just look at all the stuff and I realised for myself business, but nothing was making a difference in my business other than podcasting, and then personally connecting with people, listeners. So when they come through to me, and then we chat, and then sometimes they become clients, sometimes they don't. And I realised I was wasting so much time doing everything else I thought I had to do. Well, the bottom line was connection, you make the right connections. John Zeratsky 14:27 That's fantastic. Yeah. And I think that that's, that that is a really important way of looking at everything we do, not just the work that we're doing. So certainly, you know, the 8020 rule is very important in the context of your work, you want to be focused on the things that actually produce the desired results. But I think just in general, when we think about our time we we would be wise to apply that rule. It's funny people are used to being very analytical and critical about their work. You know, they're used to doing it. Post mortems and retrospectives and you know, big reports on things but, but most people don't have a habit of looking analytically at their own time. And so that's very much the approach that we take when it comes to the use of technology in particular. So like you like you mentioned, if something like Facebook works for your business, and that's an important part of your work, then by all means, use that as a tool use that for its desired purpose. But give it a time give it a space. We've actually heard from some folks who, if they need to use something like like Facebook or Twitter or a really kind of addictive infinity pool app if they need to use that for their business, they will even set up a separate device so they'll have a separate phone and this is actually really important for for Instagram because Instagram is one of the few if not the only of these, these apps were talking about that really is mobile only, like you can't really meaningfully use Instagram on a computer. And so if you know if if that's a big part of your business, then then we've actually heard from people who will set up a dedicated device so that for their 30 minutes a day, or their their one hour a day, or their two hours a week, or whatever the right allocation of time is, they can get out that device, they can power it up, they can do what they need to do, and then they can put it away. And I think it's when we, when we allow everything to just be on and be there and be in front of us by default. And we allow the notifications to be on we allow apps to check in the background. That's when we develop the sense that we're we're not in control of how we're spending our time. And that's when we develop the feeling that we're not spending our time on things that matter because we're not because we're just reacting to what what shows up in front of us instead of what we have. So So wisely and intelligently as you decided is important to us. David Ralph 17:01 One of the things that I did as well john, and I've got it in my hand at the moment was I bought a book called The disciplined pursuit of less essentialism by Greg McKeown. Yeah. Great book, brilliant book. It's a brilliant book. There's only two books, but I will always recommend and one was the four hour workweek by Tim Ferriss that really launched me into entrepreneurship, and this book, and I read it, and I read it three times back to back, because it made me realise, you know, leading on from what we're talking about, but so much of the stuff that I was spending my time wasn't really important and wasn't things that I really wanted to do anyway. You know, I, I used to sit with my wife watching TV in the evenings because she used to like to sit there watching TV with me. And then we came to a discussion I said, I don't really like your programmes anyway. You know, I don't care. It's all CSI, this CSI VAT and murders and God knows Well, you know, I'd rather not do that. I hope we like watching TV. No, you like watching TV and I sit next to you. So what we've done now we've got a point where on a Sunday evening, we watch a film together, and we sit and watch a film together. And the other time, she can just dip into that box set, she can do what she wants, and I can do what I want. And we made that conscious decision. It was essential to her but not essential to me. Now, when you look at that, that book, there's one title and I'm going to ask you about it. Not that you're going to remember this from the book, but it's very, very important. And it's the the unimportance of practically everything. John Zeratsky 18:40 Now, remember that David Ralph 18:41 that's a powerful statement, I kept on coming back to thinking to myself, you know, I always say to the kids, you can always find time to do what you want. You know, when when I say to him, oh, you ain't clean your bedroom? I haven't had time. Yeah, but you've told him to do everything else you want to do. It's always that kind of stuff. Everything else is unimportant. Really. Sure, John Zeratsky 19:01 yeah, there's there's a similar sentiment that comes from the world of personal finance, which is that you can afford anything but not everything. And there's actually a great podcast that sort of takes its title from that, that line which is called afford anything that hosted by Paula pant. And, yeah, I completely, I completely subscribe to that philosophy. But I will admit that it's something that I am not always great at applying and I, I somewhat recently have become an entrepreneur myself I, after many years of helping other people build their businesses, as a partner at a venture capital firm and as sort of an advisor and an author and things like that. I have. I have recently started my own business and I find myself overwhelmed by all the possibilities and all the opportunities. And, and well I know all the things that you're saying and I agree with them. It's a, I'm constantly reminded that, that these things are simple, but they're not easy. And that we are all struggling. We're all going through this process. We're all on this journey of trying to figure things out of trying to focus our time on what matters. And we're we're pushing up against some pretty powerful forces. And so I'm glad that you brought it up because it's yet another reminder to me that I need to perhaps use some of the some of the blank spaces in my calendar coming up in the future to re revisit those things. And the reason I mentioned blank spaces is that at the time we're recording this, a lot of events are being cancelled or postponed because of the The outbreak of the corona virus and so I'm finding myself with some unexpected free time and rather than rather than let that time just sort of be eaten up by by unimportant things or reactive things I ought to use it to, to kind of reassess and reevaluate some of the bigger decisions about how I'm spending my time. David Ralph 21:21 We're talking to john as a rat ski about time and we will be back after these words. Unknown Speaker 21:29 Are you ready to make a full time living online? Unknown Speaker 21:31 Check out the amazing Join Up Dots business coaching. Unknown Speaker 21:34 Hello, my name is Alan. And I've just completed the excellent eight week course with David before I started working with David Actually, I had no idea at all Unknown Speaker 21:42 where to start. Unknown Speaker 21:44 I had a lot of ideas about what I probably bought was going to be good business. David was able to help me through that though, to find that passion. Within literally minutes. We had we had a business idea and for the last seven weeks, we'll be Building on and building on and the position I'm in now, but I've got an Unknown Speaker 22:03 ever got here Unknown Speaker 22:04 on my own because of the amount of information that David gives the structure. He's got the full package here, and he explains it in a way that I can understand. His support is is phenomenal. I feel like this is the way business is supposed to work. David Unknown Speaker 22:19 helped me understand, okay, what were the next logical steps that I should do? How can I get this up and running? So I would really recommend this as an excellent course helping you if you have an idea if you have no idea, really teasing that out and at some of the practicalities and steps to take to really launch your business, whether as a full time job or as a side hustle. So it was really excellent. I recommend it for anybody thinking about setting up their own business. But both it's Unknown Speaker 22:45 an exaggeration to say David will totally save you years. Unknown Speaker 22:49 Thank you, David for all your amazing help and support which keeps on going and we certainly couldn't be where we are today without you. So you're awesome. David Ralph 23:00 If you would love to become my next success story and have your own life changing online business following my step by step system, fine tuned over many years to take away the effort and expense that others struggle with, and come across to Join Up dots.com and book a free call with myself. Let's get you living the easy life, as it says waiting for you to get it that is Join Up dots.com business coaching. Now, he leading on from that kind of advert, but tying into time as well. What I have found through doing Join Up Dots is the amount of people that waste time doing stuff that doesn't bring any rewards where they aren't doing Facebook, were doing some kind of marketing. And when I say to them, you know, how's it going for you by can't really justify that. Now with yourself as a fledgling entrepreneur. How did you begin to get clients to come to you, john, how did you save it as good The worst thing is, you know, I'll give you an example. We had a time management person come into our company many, many years ago. And we were there at nine o'clock. And he didn't turn up because he didn't realise it was that time and he was late. And we thought, What a stupid time management person you are. So how do you manage to look Zen like, but appeals to people without, you know, burning yourself out in the process? John Zeratsky 24:25 Sure. Well, I don't try to look Zen like I have. It's actually an important part of my philosophy and the philosophy that I write about and teach about that. That perfection and ultra regimented structure and optimised use of time is not a realistic or sustainable goal for any of us. So I try to be I try to be honest about it. I try to be very authentic about the fact that that this is a real challenge for me. One and that that includes me and that I'm struggling with it as well. But the the thing that I think is, is unique about my perspective is that I worked for nearly 15 years as a designer in the tech industry. And so, as a part of that experience, I, I gained two unique perspectives. One is sort of inside perspective on understanding how and why technology products are designed and configured in the ways that they are. And, and that allows me to help people sort of understand the role of defaults in shaping how they use their time and then help them reconfigure those technology products, or perhaps choose not to use certain technology products because of how it will affect their their time. But the other perspective is that technology companies are very eager adopters of new technology products in and I worked At Google, and Google is sort of famous or infamous, one or the other for having tonnes of internal products. So special tools for communicating or collaborating or organising projects that were developed internally, by engineers for internal use. And so Google in particular, and I'm sure you know, other companies are similar but but my experience at Google was that while there were amazingly brilliant people working on incredibly interesting opportunities, doing doing great work, we also we we were just inundated by email and meetings and, and information and tasks and administrative work that we needed to stay on top of, and the people around me, they, they all struggled to spend their time on the work that really mattered to them, not to mention the stuff that they wanted to do outside of work and so, as a as a person in that environment, I sort of You know, I wondered, what about me, you know, how can I create space and time for myself in this world and so that's the thing that has allowed me to sort of develop a unique, unique perspective on this and and to get a bit more tactical. My approach for reaching customers has really always been through telling stories, specifically writing and sharing very concrete, very practical tips and suggestions on how to do things. And hopefully, you know, wrapping those concrete suggestions in a, in a forgiving, flexible approach or framework that makes people feel like you know, it's that it's okay to, to not be perfect because there is no such thing as perfection but that if people can be empowered with sort of a process for experimenting with themselves and and and have a daily frame Work for are continuing to, to make tweaks and make things a little bit better for themselves that eventually they will get to a point where they feel like their time is their own and that they're free to focus on the things that matter to them. David Ralph 28:13 Now I've pondered many, many times recently that Join Up Dots has become so successful for me because I haven't deviated I've just kept him doing it, but seven years. But through that process, I've had burnout. I've had loads and loads of issues due to overwork. And I've often pondered whether your business is the right business for me. I have learned so much about reclaiming my personal energy and freeing myself from distractions and reconnecting with nature, and travelling and all the kinds of things th

Instagram Growth Service Founder Zach Benson Zach Benson is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. A TEDx speaker, social-media trainer for international brands like The Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, and ViceRoy, and past participant on “So You Think You Can Dance,” He doesn't just manage his own Instagram network of millions; he's also the founder of Assistagram, where he's guiding other influencers and Fortune 500 companies into social-media success. You might be wondering why Instagram is so powerful to personal branding, well here are some stats: Instagram is the platform with the fastest growing audience. Instagram has over 1 billion users with 500 million being active users. Statics show that 75% of people will click buy on your landing page after seeing an Instagram ad on a real influencer’s page, which is why influencers across the internet are fighting for his services. But now his success is gaining momentum, we have to stop and reflect on where he has come from to start this remarkable journey. How The Dots Joined Up For Zach At only 4 months old, Benson, who was born in South Korea, was adopted by his parents in the States, where he was taken home to Des Moines, Iowa. Benson was one of the very few Asian kids in his school, and so was bullied and abused by his peers in school due to his ethnicity. As he says “I remember at soccer games, kids were using racial slurs, or at elementary school kids called me China boy,” Benson said. On top of looking different, he sounded different too. Benson was diagnosed with a speech impediment and was placed in speech therapy classes for an inability to say his "R"'s With this type of background and behaviour, many people would assume that these were the characteristics of somebody who was headed down a dark road. Many of us have never had to face daily battles against racism, learning impairments, or even the inability to talk properly, but a combination of all three seems unthinkable. Like anything, though, change is a series of small steps, starting with one foot in front of the other. So why are people scared of dipping their foot into the waters of Instagram, or make such a terrible mess of things. And does he look at the things he has endured in his life, as the obstacles he had to go through or the things that he needed to get to where he is today? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Zach Benson Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Zach Benson such as: Zach share the benefits of IGTV and why it is so powerful Influences shout outs are such an amazing way of growing your followers on Instagram, by getting  We discuss the darkness that overcame Zach when he found out that he was never going to be a dancer again. And lastly……… Life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes its a rollercoaster, but should never be  

Introducing Chris Meade Chris Meade is today's guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast. He is a man who along with two of his closest friends took something we see all the time and created something new altogether He is the owner of CROSSNET, a new version of beach volleyball which is now taking the world by storm. As we say time and time again on Join Up Dots, it's all about the pivot. If you can create something new from something that is already selling more often than not you are on your way. As he says " It’s not every day that a new sport is created - but that’s exactly what happened when three friends from a small town in Connecticut combined an old game called four square and volleyball. Growing up together in the “Quiet Corner” of Connecticut, brothers Greg and Chris Meade constantly sought new sports and activities to keep them busy with their childhood friend Mike Delpapa.  How The Dots Joined Up For CROSSNET And Chris One night in May 2017, Chris, now 26, got together with his brother, Greg, 25, and Mike, 25, got to reunite. Reminiscing on recess days playing four square, the three friends struck an idea for a four-way volleyball game that merged traditional volleyball with the four square. By dividing the court into four quadrants, rather than in half, they envisioned a new game that incorporated the nostalgic feel of recess. After creating a prototype, inviting their friends to come play and not being able to turn them away they knew we were onto something! Since that moment over 2 years ago, the trio has made it their mission to spread the game of CROSSNET throughout the world.   Since then they have surpassed 2 million dollars in revenue, have a seven figure business, got their product in 25 plus mainstream offline and online retail chains, and have presence in 2500 plus schools already. So when the idea came to them, how did they speed past the "Why would anyone buy that" comments that derail many a brilliant idea? And what has been the hardest part of the journey, getting it going, or scaling to where they are today? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Chris Meade. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects about CROSSNET with Chris Meade such as: Chris shares the steps that they took to get the whole CROSSNET concept to market. And it started by loving the idea themselves. The risk that they took to get their idea off the ground by taking all the money that they had to build their first protptypes. Chris shares how they have three strong pillars that they work within every single day as they develop their business. And lastly........... Why they had to prove to the teachers the safety aspect of all products to start tapping into a new avenue of sales.

Introducing Some Good News Welcome to the latest episode of Join Up Dots, which today brings some good news from across the world. Yes, it hast been a surprise but due to the constant bombardment with a never ending supply of rubbish stuff hitting our eyes, the world is on the look out for a difference. That is coming in the form of a wave of positivity, helpfulness and kindness from every corner of the globe. People want some good news in these dark times, and at Join Up Dots we are exactly the same. So in this episode we set about bringing you messages and encouragement from a series of listeners of the show. All of them are in the process of either growing their business or starting their online business, and are hustling their way forward. So Where Is Some Good News Coming From Well as evidenced the other day, Hollywood actor John Krazinski has started a YouTube channel focusing in on just that "Some Good News". I dont have to tell you what its called, but it certainly leaves nothing to the imagination as to what its all about.# Every week he shares short news-stories and praises the actions of others, all in a lighthearted and less than polished manner. Which is exactly the appeal of the show, and why so many other people have thought "Great idea, lets shares some good news of our own" Which of course is.....great news!!! You can head down the page for a link directly to the Some Good News channel We also share news from our own listeners across the globe, such as John from Side Hustle Junkies who is spending his time in lock-down providing value for others. Isn't that the best way to build a business? John is creating landing pages that can be downloaded for free directly from his website. That is certainly some good news for so many people who struggle with getting their websites looking tip top so well done John. Even More Good News From Across The World Several years ago an amazing guy from the USA called Steve Reza, hired me to be his podcasting coach, and now he has two on the go. Yes, he has the Knife Making Mastery podcast, and now the Prevail Beyond podcast and was looking for a guest to kick it off. Some good news for you all, he didn't look very hard and invited me to join him and his co-host Dave on the show. Well he was amazing, and is delivering content of such high quality that i'm sure that the show will become a hit across the globe. The same can be said for another guy from Jersey in the United Kingdom called Ross who is doing the same. He has started his own audio production company complimented by a brand new podcast too. So well done to him and here's to a huge success for him as he deserves it Things Mentioned On The Show Some Good News YouTube Channel Go For The Green Website SideHustleJunkie Prevail Beyond Podcast Return To The Top Of Some Good News If you enjoyed this episode Some Good News, why not listen to some of our favourite podcast episodes such as Dr Joe Vitale,  Dan Lok or the amazing Geoff Thompson Or if you prefer just pop over to our podcast archive for thousands of amazing episodes to choose from.

Introducing Ryan Kulp Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast, is an expert on StartUps and a founder of many of them too. He's the founder of fomo.com, along with over a dozen other startups (he's a serial entrepreneur and developer/ hacker). He is now publishing his latest book "Fitness for Hackers" which shows his story from a bit flabby to a lean mean fighting machine As he says "After years of struggling with my weight, I finally cracked the code to achieving a high level of personal fitness - and it had nothing to do with science, working out every day, or cardio. In this book, told through the lens of a software developer’s approach to health, you’ll learn simple strategies that build the habits required to look great, without giving up. How The Dots Joined Up For Ryan He's a prolific (and successful by all measurable accounts) marketer and entrepreneur, and  can say a thing or two about business, marketing, entrepreneurship, side-hustling, startups, bootstrapping a biz, and of course health. But even more interesting for me, is that he if a full time traveller, and has since 2019  launched courses, started teaching himself to speak Korean, wrote a book, and travelled to ~15 countries, in 2020 he is travelling full-time, surfing, and investing in real estate. So what with the current corona virus pandemic tearing through the world, how does this make a full time traveller achieve his aim? And looking back at everything he now does, was it a given? A series of well formed dots, or a totally different story altogether? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the only and only Ryan Kulp Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Ryan Kulp such as: Ryan shares how he never plays up the flexibility of being an online nomad, due to the mass of restrictions that come everyday. We discuss how the concept of lifework balance does not truly exist in life, and why Ryan has a contra view to most Why racking up skills that other people dont have is so important to build a future, but you don't necessarily. and lastly........ Ryan shares his steps to a fit life,  that works with your own environment and lifestyle and shouldn't be a major hardship.

Introducing Corona Virus and Self Isolation Welcome to today's episode of the Join Up Dots podcast. As you will be aware unless you live on Mars or you haven't climbed out of your bed yet, the world is dealing with a horrific situation. The corona virus is raging across the world, ripping apart families, leaving many many deaths in its wake, and changing the way we live altogether. There is no getting away with the fact that for most of us, we have never seen anything like this before. But what can we do to help ourselves, and make the self isolation and enjoyable period of our lives? The time when we focus or energies on breaking free from the rat race, and simply "start smelling the roses" Well in todays epsisode of Join Up Dots, your host David Ralph shares his rules for getting through the corona virus pandemic. He also invites the world to connect with him and share how life is in your home, and the good news that you have found to inspire us all. Thanks for listening as always Return To The Top Of Corona virus If you enjoyed this episode with Coronavirus, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here– enjoy Full Transcription Of Corona Virus Episode Intro 0:00 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:25 Yes, hello there. Good morning world. Good morning and welcome to Join Up Dots. This is David Ralph. This is David Ralph. The host. Some people say the sexy host. To be honest, most of the time it's me but says but but i i believe i believe it. I'm going to be 50 I'm gonna be 50 this month, sometime this month. I'm gonna be 50 years old, and Casa coronavirus. We're in lockdown. And so me and my wife. We're doing that kind of thing where we're starting to get out and walk together and I keep on meeting people. From the other side of the road, because you can't get too close at the moment, you got to do your social distancing. And so you see people and you're walking along and you think, Oh my god, there's somebody on the same side of the road as me, what should I do? And then you think I go to the other side of the road, but of course, I had that same thought as well. And so you get this moment of thinking, do it. Do I just sprint past? Do I, what do I do? What do I do? Well, I've spent most of my time saying to my wife, I think I went to school with that person. Because, you know, walking around the streets of my town, most people grew up in the same place. And he was he was in my class, my God. Oh, my God, look at him. Look at him compared to me, you know, you're lucky lady. You're lucky and she says, Yeah, Oh, I know. You're so much younger looking men here. Margot. Look Merck. I've got ABS I've got I haven't really, I haven't got it. But anyway, so coronavirus. It has been it's been a rough time, isn't it? And it's really it's been the strangest time that I've ever known. Certainly, we hear stories about June war when although we weren't always in the war and stuff, and most of us can't even comprehend it. But I think this is the closest. And hopefully all of you out there are safe and healthy, and just sort of getting home with life. And once again, I'd like to say to people, so many thank yous for dropping me a line still, because it's about my mom, my mom mom has had a stroke back at February and we're still in the situation now she's um, I bring you up to speed and I do apologise if my voice cracks because it's very, very well. But um, she got discharged out of hospital she shouldn't have done but they're freeing up Bates, because of the corona situation. And so she's at home now and we can't really get round bear to be with him. I am going round bear because my dad is struggling, because it's just him and his her. And as anyone knows when some loved one has been a or when not themselves, and certain bodily functions and stuff is not under control and just her her mindset. She's She's become really, really Moody, really miserable and so emotional and I spent the day with her the other day to give my dad a break. And I've never seen anyone cry in such a primitive way. Well, you know, most people will cry and get over it. This This was like, ripping her apart. And I held her hand and she she was just saying, I want to die. I want to die. I'm letting everybody down and stuff. It was it was dreadful. It was dreadful. And so, yeah, so thank you to everybody. We're getting through it. Little by little, I try to say to her, look, you're not going to get better. You are not going to get better. If you've got that mindset. You know. You got to get your head into the game, ma'am. And she'll say to me, yeah, but it's easy for you to say and I say yeah, is easy for me to say. But I can give you a list of 1000 people but at least Really, you know, no arms, no legs, they they're just an air and they're dragging themselves up the top of Kingdom and Java. It's all mindset. It's all mindset and its focus. And so hopefully, the penny will drop and share realise about you when you're in a game and you're when you're out again. So that's where we are at the moment. But I'm rough all times in the Ralph household. By way from that way from that one of the things that people are talking about all the time is zoom, and zoom is video meeting. I mean, it's brilliant. I use it for my business all the time. Anyone who's connected with me will know that we connect on zoom, I can see you You can see us and video calling is great, but I want it to just talk about something but add on to zoom, which is really important. And my mom and dad by are in our 80s and I thought right what I do, I get them set up on zoom, so that they can just look at it and click on it and then connect with people around the world that they love. And it was 200 For them to use. So I decided that I would do Facebook Messenger really, really simple. And people can type a message they can see it. But even that was too difficult. And I'd say, well, I've set it up on the link at the top in the toolbar, all you got to do dad is turn on your computer, and click on that link, and then find the person that you want to speak to. Okay, so all I do is I click on that link, and then how do I find somebody right? You go into that little box there, and you just type the name and all the lists are coming up. Now you would think that that was really easy, but because of the situation they're going through, and, and their sort of mindset as well, it was, it's too much for them. So I'm really riemeck recommend people googling Chrome Remote Desktop, which is a Chrome app, which means that you can gain authority to log on to your parents, or your loved ones PCs. So now I can say to them Don't worry, I'll log on to your machine, just turn it on. And I can do that I can plug it in and turn it on. And then I will link it up and I will connect with you, I will make a call from your system to mine, or vice versa. And we found that's a great win. So if you are struggling to keeping connection with people, there is a thing step by step, Chrome Remote Desktop. You can go over there you can look at it. There are a simple steps that you can go through with your loved ones. My dad managed it so most people can as he always says, How would a normal person do this? How would a normal person that sees big thing, but it means now that we've got that ability even if they turn the computer off of I haven't got the right browser up whatever. We can then connect with them and it's been a game changer. So I thought to myself I thought to myself on this episode, I would just not talk about the bad times of Corona because I think a lot of blue Just coming out of service, I think people are becoming more grateful for their freedom. I think they're becoming more grateful for the personal connections that I had. And we were probably taking for granted, where we would send a text message and think that's good enough. I think people are realising that there's a new way of operating and I think it's the welds reset button. I think what we're going through at the moment, is the ability for us to come out at the other end and say, there's a different way of operating, the pollution is going down and down and down, which is brilliant. work life balance. It's got to be better after this, where companies have realised but even vo employee asked for this for years and years and years, can I work from home on a Friday can No, you're gonna be at your desk, but there is a different way of operating. So I think there's gonna be so many positives that come out of this. It's going to be brilliant. But these are my little rules, these little rules. And these are the things that I've been doing to keep motivated because I must admit, podcasting is the least of my interest at the moment where this is a rarity, but I'm doing a solo show. I've been doing guest shows because people are booked in and I've got to kind of force myself to do it. But your motivation does go. And especially when you've got things going on in your life, which seemed more important than your business, then it's very easy to can't be bothered, I can't be bothered. So this is what I'm doing. And I thought it might be useful for some people out there. I set my clock every morning. I'm getting up at half past six. My wife thinks I'm mad because she's getting up about one o'clock in the afternoon by kids are sleeping through tonight for God knows what time they go to bed. I don't know, I just leave them. I say we're not kids and they're on their tablets, or they're watching YouTube or whatever. But their body clocks are shifting around. Now. I don't think that's the right way of doing it. I think you've got to keep some kind of normality, even though you don't have Get up out of bed, get up out of bed. That's one of the things that I do. So, Harper six every morning I get up, I've had a shower by seven o'clock, and then I'm out in my garden. And even though it's cold, I wrap up warm because I can get some fresh air and I hate gardening. I really do hate coffee, I will do the bare minimum. But I've used it as motivation to get a bit of exercise and pressure. So I've been out there, planting flowers, moving things around sorting out my rocker and all the kind of things that you think to yourself I should do can't be asked. I've been doing that. And so that's been my morning, fresh air burst. And so I have my shower, I go out there and i i do over work and stuff and it's kind of quiet work. And I count the times I've taken my Alexa out and I plugged it in, and I played things like Johann Sebastian Bach, classical music that just kind of fits into the mood as I'm getting going. And now I'm looking out there I'm thinking it's never looked Good, it really does look brilliant. One of the things that I think somebody should invent is fence panels with flowers painted on it. So about you look up your garden and it looks like it's lovely. He probably is out there already. But I've suddenly thought to myself instead of just having fences, why don't we have painted flowery fences? vago that's a business for you? The next bit of balls is try not to read the news all the time. I like reading the BBC website because I think it's factually accurate. And it keeps me up with the news. I've realised that I became a bit obsessed by everything's going on. And it's the same time and time again, it's just more depth. It's more hospitals, it's more testing and stuff. So I'm trying to limit myself on that. Because it's not good for you. It makes you think that the world is crap. Now talking about that on YouTube, my son showed me there's the actor guy who's married to Emily Blunt, who was in the American office. Did jack Ryan on Amazon John's some video up I can't remember what his name is. And he's created this very loose podcast video show called. So good news. I think he's sGn. And all he's doing is bringing the good stuff to the world. So it's just positive. And he had Steve Carell the other day, and they were both on the zoo. And they were both making the show. And it's, it's good. It's nice little things that people are doing that keep you entertained. And a lot of the pop stars are doing concerts and, and Chris Martin and john legend did one which was very, very good. And there's an English comedian called Jimmy Carr. And he's doing the tiny little lockdown quiz, where six o'clock every day a video comes on YouTube. And then eight o'clock, the answers are there, and you can go on and you can test yourself. It's quite a hard quiz, but there's a lot of good stuff going on, people are making an effort. And once again, I think that the corporations will realise but they don't need this mass production. It's the, it's the vibe is the emotion that gets you and makes you want to see these things. So yeah, try not to read the news all the time, because that just brings you down and look for good stuff. And there was a guy on the BBC the other day, and he was somewhere in America. And him and his girlfriend, they look very fit and I think he was like a YouTube vlog or something because he said I all I'm doing is sitting indoors making YouTube videos. And because the bandwidth of the internet is so low at the moment, it's very difficult to get it online, so it's taken twice as long. Anyhow, he's girlfriend said, I'm going to go off and do some work and what she did, they moved into this block of flats, this apartment block and I hadn't met anyone, and the coronavirus has hit so they're sort of locked in. And so she went around writing these notes Putting them under the door of people to say, at seven o'clock, my boyfriend will be leaning out of this window, will you sing happy birthday to me? And so she took him out. And he said, you know, why are you filming this? What are we doing? Where are we going? You know, like men men like to be in control. And he lent out this window and 76 strangers, but he's never met before lent out the window, and they sang Happy Birthday to him, didn't know who he was. But it's just kindness. And we did a similar thing in the United Kingdom, where at eight o'clock last birthday, we all stood on our doorsteps and cheered our national health service, because of all the people that are helping us and supporting us and putting our own lives at risk to make lives better and get us through this situation. And there's loads of good stuff out there. If you look for it, you can get hung up on the bad stuff, but the good stuff, it really does make your heart swell and I I think the world is a great place anyway I do. I think 98% of people, or 97% of people are really good, and they just get on with their lives. And I try to not cause any issues to people. And then I think 2% of backers, and then 1% of serial killers, I think that's about it. And so if you can keep away from the 3%, you're gonna have a really good life. And so, look for good news. Good news is out there. And if anybody finds anything really sort of good, just send it to me at Join Up dots@gmail.com I love to receive good news. It helps me breeze through the life that we're in at the moment, and I really appreciate it. Now, the last thing or the last two things is get your exercise. Now, it's very easy to just slump on the sofa. And in the first couple of days, I was busy in the morning, then I'd go in for lunch. And then I go to fancy watching a film and once you put your bomb on the sofa, you're there all afternoon. And so now we're Leaving the films to the evening, and I'm getting out with my wife and we're doing a brisk walk. And we're walking to places that we don't even need to walk to. In the old days. If we had to go to the bank, we just jumped in the car. But now we're saying how would we leave the car and we would walk down there, it's, it's the exercise. So we're building exercise into our normal lives. And whether it's gardening, whether it's running up the stairs, or jumping on the spot, or using your wave bit, everything that sticks to the self isolating roles. That means, of course, you are getting some air into your lungs and your blood pumping. It's really, really useful. And the last thing the last thing guys is keep your mind in the game. I've struggled with this. I really have this has been without doubt, the worst period of my life for many different reasons. Although I've got grandchild on the way at the moment, it's probably popping out today. A kid called the Genoa yes Don't mention the name. I'm not sure about the name. But anyhow, she won't listen to this podcast. But it's going to be called Genoa because the husband is called Josie. And they like the name Noah. So stick together. Yeah. Okay, that's what I've decided to do. And he's gonna be popping into the world property today. My daughter has probably got her legs fall apart at the moment, and she's screaming, screaming at whoever's in there. So that's happening. So that's good. That's good. And I will tell you, if that pops into the well, I will do what about it and thing is we can't go and see it. So it's Another drawback. It'd be about 15 by the time we get there, it'd be smoking weed free tattoos and its own car. But I that is what life's about. But you've got to keep your mind in the game. You got to look for positives. You got to keep yourself in a routine because once the routine goes, a lot of your life is just a bit. So if anyone is out there listening to this podcast episode, I'd really love I'd really Any love for you to tell me how you're keeping the routine going what you're doing, because we can share it with the world that I'm sure people have got great ideas of what they're doing. And I'm totally up to sharing it. So just drop us an email, Join Up dots@gmail.com and just tell us or you can send us a video or whatever format you want to do. Just tell us how you keeping the routine going, what are you doing on a daily basis? How are you paying the bills, all the kinds of stuff and I will record podcast episodes and share it will be a good news podcast for this period of time. So you can be part of the game you can be part of helping me you can be part of helping the world through Join Up Dots. So Join Up dots@gmail.com just send me your your life at the moment. Any format you want, and I will share it with the world. Bye guys. This is one of those times when we will look back on it and we're Say, yeah, it was tough. But this was a reset this is when the world decided that it should operate in a different way. And if we suddenly go back to, you know, just jumping in our car and creating mass pollution, and not talking to people and just being isolated on the internet. Oh, that's not the case. I really don't. But until next time, thank you so much for listening to us. Thank you, for everybody that's listening to Join Up Dots. I don't know if it's because of the situation. But the audience figures are rapidly shooting up. So I imagine that people out there thinking what can I do to pass the time, and they're finding my level to show and giving it a go. So I appreciate you being here as well. And until next time, I look forward to all the emails that come through. Let's get going. Let's share the positivity and the good stuff that's going on in all our lives. And even if it's an idea to pass a couple of hours, please let me know Join Up Dots at gmail. Don't come. And I will share that with the world. Until next time, thank you so much. And I'll see you again. Bye bye. Outro 19:07 David doesn't want you to become a faded version of the brilliant self you or wants to become. So he's put together an amazing guide for you called the eight pieces of advice that every successful entrepreneur practices, including the two that changed his life. Head over to Join Up dots.com to download this amazing guide for free and we'll see you tomorrow on Join Up Dots.

Introducing Amit Raj Todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast, is Amit Raj, an expert in Link building. Those pesky little things that Google loves our websites to have as it build trust and authority in their eyes.  Based in Scotland he is focused on helping clients across the world to gain more traffic, more referrals and of course cash into their businesses. As he says "I have an agency that specialises in SEO & more specifically link building. So I'm sure I could provide some unique insight on SEO, and some super useful advice/concepts for your audience for this slightly misunderstood topic. As some background: I was originally a pharmacist, did a Masters degree in the UK in Pharmacy, did this for years and got disillusioned with it. I found I was good at building my own sites, driving traffic to them and found a great mentor to delve into link building - the rest is history! Now if that sounds interesting lets add more oomph to the mix. He  is also helping Ja Rule's team at ICONN with their online PR behind the scenes (if you're familiar with Fyre Festival you'll know the significance of this!) So why is link building so important when developing an online business? And why do people still think that its a numbers game, when nowadays quality outranks everything? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the only and only Amit Raj Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Amit Raj such as: Why in the 90's and 20's, it was all about manipulating Google into giving great traffic....which it wont We share why so many people target the hardest keywords online and struggle to get the traffic - big mistake. Amit shares the top five tips to a quality link building programme that we can all follow. and lastly........ We talk about the power of Google and why it is so important to focus in on them and what they are asking.

Introducing Neil Pasricha Todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast, is Neil Pasricha. He is a Canadian author, entrepreneur, podcaster, and public speaker characterized by his advocacy of positivity and simple pleasures. He is best known for his The Book of Awesome series, and "The Happiness Equation" which are international bestsellers As he says "I think, write, and speak about living intentionally. All of my current work focuses under the themes of gratitude, happiness, failure, resilience, and trust. I’m the the author of six books including: The Book of Awesome, a spinning rolodex of simple pleasures based on my 100-million-hit, award-winning blog 1000 Awesome Things, The Happiness Equation, originally written as a 300-page love letter to my unborn son on how to live a happy life, Awesome Is Everywhere, an interactive introduction to guided meditation for children, and You Are Awesome, a nine-step guide to building resilience told through stories and research. My books are New York Times and #1 international bestsellers and have sold millions of copies across dozens of languages. I also give over 50 speeches a year at places like TED, SXSW, and Google. My first TED talk “The 3 A’s of Awesome” is ranked one of the 10 Most Inspiring of all time and my second is called “How do you maximize your tiny, short life?”, an artistic side-project called the world’s first TED Listen, composed entirely of questions. I also host an Apple “Best of 2018” podcast called 3 Books where I am on a 15-year-long mission to uncover and discuss the 1000 most formative books in the world.  So when he is as busy as he is, how does he take the time to live intentionally? And most importantly how do you find gratitude when most of us get trapped into "well this just normal...what's there to be grateful about?" Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the only and only Neil Pasricha Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Neil Pasricha such as: Neil shares the breakdown of happiness and you might be surprised how little we can do to make this happen in our lives. Why it is so difficult for someone to express happiness and enjoyment in a corporate environment and the steps to make it happen. and lastly........ The steps Neil took to create a life-changing blog which allowed him take more and more risks to get greater success in his life.

Introducing Erin Corn Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business podcast is an  expert in navigating the micro nuances that make social media so effective, whilst dodging the pitfalls that trap so many people. As she says "Social media advertising has become increasingly complex. Using my knowledge gained from her 14 years of experience at companies including, Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon, I specialize in performance marketing to deliver a higher return for businesses.​ ​While at Facebook, I partnered with startups to Fortune 500 companies to implement marketing solutions and serve as an expert consultant. ​ At Instagram, I led Product Marketing Communications for the Instagram Ads global rollout and developed their first-ever digital marketing campaign.  ​Most recently, I managed the Client Services team at Amazon overseeing Entertainment advertisers.   Over the course of her career, Erin has worked with brands such as Zillow, Disney, Liberty Mutual, PepsiCo, bareMinerals,  USAA, Warner Bros., and ABC. So why do so many people make a complete mess of building an effective social media strategy no matter how large their budget? And where should people start today when launching their own online success, twitter, Tik Tok, Snapchat? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Erin Corn. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Erin Corn such as: Erin shares why social media is so powerful, simply as your customers are on there so go and talk to them....they're are waiting for you. The reasons why Twitter has not hit the ground running, and is in Erin's opinion a pale version of what it could have become. Erin openly discusses the addiction that social media has on us all, and the steps that we can take to control it.. And lastly….. Erin remembers the humbling days of beginning her fledgling business, and why her backstory just gave her a foot in the door and nothing else. How To Connect With Erin Corn Website LinkedIn Return To The Top Of Erin Corn If you enjoyed this episode with Erin Corn, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy Full Transcription Of Erin Corn Interview David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time, there was a guy with a dream, a dream to quit his job to support himself online and have a kickoff live. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt, until he found the magic ingredient and no struggles became a thing of the past. I of course, was that person. And now My dream is to make things happen for you. Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:27 When we're young that we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be, but somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:52 Yes, good morning. Well, good morning and thank you for being here with Join Up Dots really appreciate you is as always And I appreciate today's guest who we've had a few technical issues but she overcame like a monster. And now she's sitting there ready to be grilled, thrown left thrown right and try to convince me that social media is the way forward because she is an expert in navigating the micro nuances that make social media so effective, was dodging the pitfalls that trap so many people that actually says social media advertising has become increasingly complex. Using my knowledge gained from 14 years of experience at companies including Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon. I specialise in performance marketing to deliver a higher return for businesses. Now while at Facebook, I partnered with startups to fortune 500 companies to implement marketing solutions and serve as an expert consultant. And now it's Instagram I lead Product Marketing Communications, but the Instagram ads global rollout and develop their first ever digital marketing campaign. Now, most Recently I managed the Client Services team at Amazon overseeing entertainment advertisers. Over the course of her career. She's worked with brands such as Zillow, Disney Liberty Mutual, PepsiCo, Bare Minerals, Warner boss and many others. So why do so many people make a complete mess of building an effective social media strategy, no matter how large their budget and where should people start today when launching their own online success, Twitter, tick tock Snapchat. Well, let's find out as we bring them to the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Erin Corn. Good morning, everyone. How are you? Erin Corn 2:39 Good morning. Good. How are you? David Ralph 2:40 I'm very well I'm very well indeed. Yes. I feel like I've come through a dark time in my life every now and now the light is shining on me. And it feels like summers around the corner. Probably not as summary as it does being in Orange County, California at the moment area. Erin Corn 2:59 That's true. I was in shorts yesterday at the pool. So I'm sorry to rub that in. But it's a very beautiful day here in Orange County. How do David Ralph 3:06 you get any work done? I always ask this because it makes me wonder how people shouldn't move to Alaska if they want to create an online based business because what do not go outside all the time why, you know, last thing you want to do is sit here recording a podcast episode. Erin Corn 3:25 You know, it does take time. I'm originally from the Boston area. And if you know anything about Boston, it's extremely cold. And so it did take time for me to realise this weather stays here in California. So it's a little bit of trading yourself that you do have to keep your head down. And it is tempting to be outside. Oh, I will. I won't deny that. David Ralph 3:43 So when you first moved down there every day, he was, Oh, it's an amazing day that's go out. Unknown Speaker 3:47 Yes, I have to do something. It's not going to last forever and winter is around the corner. And so that's just kind of what happens when you live in the weather that I'm sure you're accustomed to. You just don't think it will last and so even being out in California 70 years later, I still kind of have that East Coast mentality. They think you need to appreciate the weather more, you know, not like some of the people have grown up here. They don't know how rough it can be for you with polar vortexes and, and all types of weather coming out. You David Ralph 4:12 know, today I've had since I've been looking out my window, I've had rain, I've had snow, and now it's beautiful, clear blue sky, but a bit windy. So we were we're very much four seasons in one day, but you're not here to talk about whether or not you're here to talk about social media. So it's a complete waste of time. Aaron, do you agree? Erin Corn 4:32 And that's something that I've battled against on since joining Facebook in 2012. When it was not the behemoth of the advertising platform it is now and to this day with smaller business owners. It's something that comes up quite a bit. And my answer to that the short answer is the platform is where your audience is. And I'll use Facebook as an example. There are 1 billion people on the platform today Tick Tock there as of 2018 800 millionaires users. So social media is where your customer base is, regardless of the type of industry you're in, or the type of customer that you're trying to attract. And so it's not so much about social media, but it's about reaching people where they are. And that's where they're spending their time. So that's really, you know, the way I look at it, and whether it's Facebook, tick tock snap or the next social media platform that we haven't even heard about yet. I really do think that you need to go where your customers are David Ralph 5:24 doing the same cutting edge and trendy area. Erin Corn 5:27 Yes, yes, absolutely. I'm being in a podcast, I think is very trendy, and you have been at it for about seven years. As you've mentioned, I think podcasts are in many ways underrated, but they're becoming more and more a way that people are getting their names out. And I think of podcasts in many ways as a form of social media. People are connecting on their digital devices. They're sharing about it on LinkedIn, and in an extension of people's brand. And so I do think in that way, you're actually on social media, whether you like to admit it or not. David Ralph 5:56 I was expecting just a yes, but that was a very formal answer, which is great. On a podcast, but I don't I feel like I'm trendy. I feel like I'm counting age. But I don't understand so many platforms. I don't understand Tick Tock. My daughter's always on Tick Tock. And it just seems to be that she dances and records herself. And she showed me somebody on there and this woman had like 2 million followers. And all she does is dance and records herself. I don't get it. Erin Corn 6:27 I you know, I think it's these different apps. They definitely attract a certain demographic and i think it's it's very true to say that Tick Tock users are definitely ageing on the younger end, but it kind of follows that the trend that we're seeing on snap before tik tok, and even on Facebook that people are engaging with video short form video, and tick tock does a really great job of that they're in an age that your daughter, for example, are in an age where they have kind of a short attention span. They're looking for the next best thing fast moving So it's a social network but it also allows you to engage in a quick and engaging way and also with a lot of influencers that are on the platform it makes it easier to kind of follow along with a lot of the influencers that this age demographic really interested in. So I think Tick Tock has done a wonderful job at realising the trends and getting ahead of them and many way creating a trend with musically which then became tik tok. David Ralph 7:23 Now, you sound lovely, you sound knowledgeable, you've got 14 years of social media experience. Are there platforms that you look at and go, I don't get it. I just don't understand it. Erin Corn 7:33 Well, this is gonna not come across in the best way to send me your users. But Twitter to me is something that I understand that it's a necessary evil, but to me, it's never grown into the platform that I feel like it could have. And it's still around. It's still a very viable platform. But I feel that Twitter has been kind of a mess in terms of the social network platforms. And the engagement isn't there people login sporadically. And for me as an individual, it's just not Somewhere where I spend much of my time and so, you know, that may be something that people on your podcast may not agree with, but it just hasn't really reached. Its full. It hasn't reached to the point of some of the other platforms that we see out there. But, you know, unfortunately, Donald Trump has made it still a household name always David Ralph 8:16 good on that isn't a I must admit. Yeah, I read hardly any tweets at all. But I was talking to my daughter the other day, I was amazed that Jim Carrey has 18.5 million followers, and Tom Cruise has about 6.7 and I thought, how does that go? Why is somebody as good as Tom Cruise and I love Jim Carrey. I think Jim Carrey is brilliant. But what what is it that makes people sort of go migrate towards certain profiles and not others? Erin Corn 8:48 Yeah, I think it's really about the form that you're using on Jim Carrey. In this example, Jim Carrey versus Tom Cruise. Jim Carrey is a comedian. He is just always producing great content, whether it's on Twitter or other platforms and so I think it's really about your engagement on the platforms not just putting content out but engaging with other people, other comedians and having a reciprocal relationship. And so I think for someone like Jim Carrey, it's really just a way that he can practice some of his jokes, practice some of his act and, and put that out to his audience in a really easy way. And you know, the same with some of these other platforms like Tick Tock or Instagram, they're really short form. Now having the ability to post stories that disappear within 24 hours, it gives people the ability to test a little bit more and not have as much risk because they know that that won't necessarily live on like it previously had with just having the option to post on your Facebook feed and you're a little bit more precious about what you put out there. So you know, the Jim Carrey example I think, just the fact that that is his medium, his comedy and putting out content in one liners, it makes sense that you would have a big following. David Ralph 9:55 He's not Tom Cruise is a Tom Cruise can do no, Tom Cruise is about too and looks exactly the same as he did four years ago. I don't know what he's doing. He really does a must be the American way of life. That's what we should do. We should all move to America. So with yourself, Aaron, when did you decide? Obviously, this is an entrepreneurial programme? And when did you decide actually, to leave working for people and actually create your own company? And why is it called shore bird? Erin Corn 10:25 Yeah, so it's always been, which I'm sure is the case. For many entrepreneurs. It's always been this nagging voice in my head that you should go out on your own. You like to have more ownership of your schedule for your kind of destiny as I would put it on. And really the impetus for me just finally ripping off the band aid and doing it was a year and a half ago, when I was at Amazon. I had an incredible experience there. But I had been at these larger tech companies, one tech company after another and I felt like nothing was changing in terms of the impact that was making whether I was on a small team or a large team, and I felt a bit of frustration that I wanted To feel more ownership over my future and and what kind of clients I worked with. And so it really pushed me to have some hard conversations with myself about what's the next five to 10 years look like? And also in terms of work life balance, what do I want for my future as a grow my family. And so finally I started schwarber media. And about a year and a half ago, as I mentioned, as I was on my way out of Amazon, I kind of made that decision that it was time for me to move on, with incredible support from Amazon. And I picked shorebirds because I've always lived on the coast. I've always lived, whether it was the East Coast or the west coast and I feel like it was a name that really rang true to me because I kind of am a shortbread. I'm always living by the water. I don't like to be landlocked, and I think it kind of has a lightness to the name and so that's why I picked it and I've gotten a lot of compliments and it kind of makes people think twice rather than it just be another digital, you know name or something about technology. It's a little bit more open ended, which I also appreciate it now. David Ralph 11:57 So like to say start up business but you're you you're a family lady, you're a mom. You're a mother. That that's it. That's a juggle isn't it, you know, even as a dad, and I think that's a different from moms, dads can just go, I've got work to do and go off to do the work. But moms have to juggle all the other stuff. And I don't know why it works like that. But it always did with me. I always took work as priority and it was kind of accepted where my mom and my wife has to sort of deal with everything else. How do you deal with that? What's a normal day in your life? Erin Corn 12:31 Yeah, I'm very lucky. I have extremely supportive husband. But you know, I think that dynamic is true even if your husband is trying to carry as much of the load as he can. My morning start with my you know, my son wakes up and we spend some time together but he does go to a little school right down the road. And so I have the ability to have time that I can really focus on on work and have him half time where he can spend time with friends. And then when we are together I feel like I don't have the distraction of always trying My email and wondering what's coming in, because I've put that time in, when he's at school where I can really try to cut out that time just focus on my career. And it is a juggling act. I'm going to Social Media Marketing World next week based here in San Diego. And just the preparation to go away for a few days you kind of realise, or my husband might be realising how he takes for granted when he has a workshop, he'll just tell me he's going away for work. And that's that but you know, with me going away, there's a little bit more preparation in the background about you know, that writing out the schedule, putting together the lunches, and so it is kind of a good, good balance, though for me to get away as well just so he can kind of understand what's involved. David Ralph 13:41 Now I see a lot of women walking along and I had to go to a post office about Christmas and a parcel tried to be delivered to us and it wouldn't go through our letterbox I had to go and collect it. And the room was full of women with their babies and their kids jumping up and saying Mom, Mom, mom, and they were just scrolling up and down their phones, they were just oblivious. Now with yourself, bear in mind, I imagine that you are dealing with other people's campaigns and the effectiveness of their campaigns. How do you detach yourself from that? And being the mom, holding the kid with one hand looking at the phone or the other, and not really sort of engaging with life? Erin Corn 14:23 Yeah, I think it's really about balance. And again, I started working at Facebook in 2012. And so when I first started, it's very easy to get pulled into work and Facebook and social networking. 24 seven, it's just the nature of these platforms, unique it very addictive, but I've had to kind of as I've built out my own career and have to create some boundaries for myself, and I'm not perfect at it and there's days where I kind of feel like they've blended together but really managing my calendar making sure that when I am with my son, if you know there's a day that he's not at school, for whatever reason, I block it out. I don't take meetings, making sure that I I have a support team under me that's able to manage the campaigns or some of the tactical pieces, or the design work. So I know that it's in good hands, and I don't have to micromanage everything. So I think it's really about delegating, and also making sure you own your schedule, because it's very easy as an entrepreneur for that to kind of bleed into your everyday life. But there still are those late nights and early mornings, that I think that's just part of being an entrepreneur, but it's something that I enjoy, and I wouldn't change it all. David Ralph 15:26 Yes, listen to Oprah Winfrey. And then we'll be back with Aaron, Oprah Winfrey 15:29 the way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, what is the next right moving? not think about, Oh, I got all of this stuff. What is the next right move? And then from that space, make the next right move, and the next right move and not to be overwhelmed by it because you know, your life is bigger than that one moment. You know, you're not defined by what somebody says, is a failure for you because failure is just there to point you in different direction. David Ralph 16:00 So you're sitting at Facebook or you're sitting at Instagram and you're looking around and you're thinking I should be doing this myself, you know, I don't need these people I can go and create sure bird and things will be just easy. How easy was it? Was it harder than you imagined? Erin Corn 16:19 It was definitely harder than I imagined. And to be completely honest, you know, the people I worked with that Facebook, Instagram and Amazon are some of the smartest people I've ever had the opportunity to work with. And so I think that's something that I took for granted as well being on your own, especially as social people like yourself and I are, it is a shift in many ways. I think having that camaraderie around you when you are working at these larger companies and the resources available to you is something that especially having been in it for 14 plus years you become accustomed to and you take for granted. And I would also say I definitely was humbled in the early days of going out and reaching out to new people. clients or potential new clients, because previously, who wouldn't want to talk to Facebook? Who wouldn't want to talk to Amazon, I had the backing of these large tech companies. But now I really had to prove myself outside of those companies. Well, what have you done lately on your own? Where are the case studies? And so well, my resume and my background, maybe got me a foot in the door, I think it was really focusing on building out those early success stories. So I can be taken seriously as a business owner separate from these companies. So to answer your question, it was harder, I think, than I expected. And as people often say, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. And I think that's very much the case. David Ralph 17:37 I don't know if it is the case, because I think even if it was easy, there's more lazy people than anyone. It's really struck me how many just people that expect it on a plate, they expect to click a few buttons and get it I expect it to occur within two or three weeks. I think it's the persistence But the laziness, and I'll explain this because this is my new theme that really works in building a business. I think that once you become lazy and you become focused on doing the right things at the right time, like Oprah says, that's when your business really scales and that's when life becomes easier for you. But at the beginning, you can't see that What's up, Erin Corn 18:22 I absolutely agree with that. And someone had said to me, you'll look back at you know, the early days of starting this business, it will be completely different the way you operate and what you do. And that's a positive thing. I think it's a growing experience and, and being able to kind of cut out some of the clutter like you mentioned, and focus on the things that are really impactful and will help you grow. And for me, you know, it may be obvious but when you're in the middle of it for me, it was really taking a lot of the tactical pieces off my plate and focusing on business development being the face of my business and, and making that time to speak with clients rather than being in the weeds of my existing business because that's not a way that I can scalar grow. And so I agree with you kind of having those very clear goals, how many new clients will I reach out to where am I spending my time and making them very clear and actionable steps so that way I can see growth year over year. David Ralph 19:12 Now, when I started Join Up Dots many, many years ago, there was a guy and he stood around called Pat Flynn. And he had Smart Passive income. And I think he's, he's based in San Diego, so you're probably bump into your net, net network. And he used to say, be everywhere. That was his big thing be everywhere, you know, whatever platform you can be on, just be on. I'm not sure if that's right anymore, because I think people are more strategic. And I want to circle back to what you said or join up the dots of what you said that your customers are on the platforms. Is it as simple as saying to the people out there who get caught up with overwhelm in social media, don't be everywhere, but just be exactly where your customers are. Erin Corn 20:00 Yes, and and i think that that's a trap that a lot of people fall into, especially, you know, as business owners or marketers have larger businesses, they feel like they have to be on the next shiny object or they have to be everywhere. But really, if you're everywhere, you're not doing it well. And so when I especially when I talk to new clients, they asked me, well, where should I start? What platform should I be on? And it's really, what can you do very well, and what can you do consistently, I'd rather that than have you on seven different platforms where you kind of had one foot out the door. And so I think just you know, whether you're on multiple platforms right now, or you're just starting small and testing out a Facebook or a tik tok to start, it's really having a concerted effort in one area, and then seeing what works and then scaling that, you know, I do see that there is a benefit to potentially being on Twitter, and Instagram and tik tok to reach different audiences. But you have to figure out what is it that's working for you first, what type of content what type of message because at the end of the day, your content doesn't change its discipline. For me what you're delivering it, whether it's through print, or it's a video, or it's a podcast. And so I'm an agreement that it can be a bit frenetic. If you feel like you have to be on every single platform at once. It's just as an entrepreneur, it's very difficult to do until you grab a team to help you with that. David Ralph 21:16 And also is the thing I think that people struggle with. And I certainly am speaking from my own experience, have, you turn the microphone on, and I can give you content for eight hours a day, I can just keep on going. It just seems a natural fit. When I look at Facebook, and I just think, you know, what are you really posting I because every time I go out for a meal with my wife, she has to put her drinks together, and then post it and I look at it. Why does anybody want to even see that? But she does that all the time? Where am I going wrong? Erin Corn 21:52 No, I think that you have to be true and authentic to what works for you. And if podcasts and speaking works well. I think that that It makes sense. But think about how that can be transformed to Facebook or Instagram or some of these other platforms like LinkedIn, you're already doing a podcast, why not turn on your camera and have it be a live conversation between you and your guests? Or have some kind of show? Oh, you know, people watch anything, David. I mean, you see Gary Vaynerchuk in you know, he's not the most handsome model, but he is extremely, extremely engaging. And I think if you have the message there, and you're comfortable speaking, why not? And David Ralph 22:30 I love the fact that you didn't come straight back with no, I don't believe that's true. But you came back with people will watch anything. Unknown Speaker 22:39 Well, I you know, I'm just to say that I think you're very handsome. David Ralph 22:44 Thank you, me. Thank you and I'll edit that up a bit. But no, that is that is something that people struggle with, isn't it? Yeah. How they look and you know, it's a hair done well and stuff. Erin Corn 22:55 Yeah. And and I think that you have to if you at the end of the day, truly feel uncomfortable. Being in front of a camera, and you just it takes so much for you to really make that happen. It's not something you're going to stick with, it's not going to be authentic. And so like you mentioned, if that's just something that's just not for you think of other ways that you can promote what you're already doing. So promoting your podcast with, you know, great imagery or videos, and rather than just having it be you or promote the videos of your guests, but I think that since you're already doing a podcast and you have the audio and you have the reach, there's ways that you can bring that to life on platforms like Facebook and Instagram that are more visual, and there's ways to do it to capture attention that might not just be a talking head there's there's a lot of different ways that you can kind of engage people with images or video that might not just be us speaking. David Ralph 23:43 Now, as you said, you will you alluded to that you are more strategic now and so you have got people working for you that do all this kind of stuff, and that the changing of a podcast into images and images into because otherwise you'd go mental Erin Corn 24:00 Absolutely, I think where, you know, it's a simple exercise, but it took some time to let go of the reins is looking at my day, my week, my month and figuring out where I was spending my time and, and where that you know what type of value that was adding. And a lot of my time, you know, as it was at Facebook and these other companies was the tactical pieces. And so in the same exercise I would have done at these companies looking at where I can take some of these things off my plate that weren't value add. And I do have a team that oversees some of the campaign setup and management. But at the end of the day, my value that I bring to clients is that my background and my experiences in this field and so I don't have a team that does it without my oversight. I'm the person that speaks with my clients at the end of the day, because having that hands on experiences is very important to me, but there is no way that you can grow a business unless you have a team to help kind of take on some of that extra work. Or you'll drive yourself crazy. Unknown Speaker 24:54 We're speaking to Evan Cohen and we'll be back after these words. Are you ready to make a full time time living online, check out the amazing Join Up Dots business coaching. Unknown Speaker 25:04 Hello, my name is Alan. And I've just completed the excellent eight week course with David. Unknown Speaker 25:09 Before I started working with David Actually, I had no idea at all where to start. Unknown Speaker 25:14 I

Introducing Festival Pass Founder Ed Vincent Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is Ed Vincent founder of Festival Pass. He is an entrepreneur with over twenty years of business, technology, and management experience having founded and exited several companies in that time including helping to launch film festivals in multiple locations and creating the concept for a Maxim branded hotel in the Caribbean. Most recently, he led a data platform and consultancy in the entertainment space with clients including A&E Networks, AMC Networks, Screenvision, MovieTickets.com and was brought into MoviePass as an interim head of data. These experiences gave him the insight needed to make festivalPass a reality. As he says "Hi, I’m Ed, founder of the world’s first festival and live events subscription service providing access to music, film, food and wine, and tech and innovation — Festival Pass. Enjoy hundreds of festivals locally and globally for one monthly fee. FestivalPass is a story about community and creating experiences that changes you. We as humans need connection; it’s in our DNA — as strong as the need for food, water, and warmth. How The Dots Joined Up For Ed We are bringing our members the only place to make accessing, discovering, and attending festivals spanning industries the most user-friendly, frictionless, and affordable member experience possible. We strive every day to secure new event partners and think about what our customers want from a mobile app that complements their lived experiences. I have learned what works and what doesn’t work in this space and look forward to inspiring people to lead active and engaging lives every day by participating in live community events both locally and globally. Great stuff, but its ok to think "this is a good idea" and another to make it happen, so how did it happen? How did he create a network of festivals who believed in him, before he had actually anything to offer them? And where have been the struggles that has made Leisurepass a reality? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Ed Vincent. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Ed Vincent such as: Ed shares how there are 1,000's of festivals across the world and how his team seek out the events every week. We discuss the early stages of building his business before he even had a business - similarly to Airbnb's business model and lastly...... Why its such a value driven idea as there is no additional transaction fee for attending events....a true win win for all of us 

Introducing Matt Sweetwood Todays guest on the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast is Matt Sweetwood. He is the CEO of Luxnow, and also a successful serial entrepreneur, business consultant, award-winning marketer, social media influencer, personal branding expert, and photography instructor. Matt was the U.S. CEO of beBee, Inc., a professional social network that helps people build successful personal brands. He served as President of Unique Photo®, NJ’s premiere camera store for 28 years. Nationally known in the photography industry as an innovator, he has helped acquire over fifty U.S. and International Trademarks for both language and design, and he founded and ran the Ozzie Award winning publication Photo Insider®. Matt has been credited with the reinvention of the modern camera store, as well as the country’s largest in-store education program, the Unique University®. Unique Photo was named 2008 and “2013 Dealer of the Year” by Digital Imaging Reporter magazine. Matt was named the Photo Industry’s, “2016 Person of the Year” by the PMDA. Matt’s past charitable endeavours include having served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at both The Aish Center, a spiritual/educational non-profit and The Josephine Herrick Project, a nonprofit that uses photography to enhance the lives of the under-served. Matt was honored by The Aish Center with its 2014 Continuity Award. So did he fall into the traps of making things more complex than they should be in the beginning of starting his business? And how has he managed to reinvent his businesses so successfully? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Matt Sweetwood. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Matt Sweetwood such as: Matt remembers the constant frustration and effort that it took his parents to build a living. Why being an entrepreneur is so intoxicating as you see the fruits of you labours start to come real. Matt shares how gaining custody of his five kids was the scariest thing in his life.  And lastly…….. Matt reveals how he keeps extremely organised by structuring his day to be task driven.

Introducing "Does Marketing Work" Today's podcast episode is a questions ans answer sessions based loosely around the concept of marketing online. One of the listeners, as you will hear on question one feels that the only way to grow a business is by amazing marketing. Focusing your budget in many different directions to gain customers...bringing them into your funnel to maxmise sales. And we say "Yes" we totally agree with you...however we do feel that there is a better way to do it. Enjoy the show Question One Dear David and everybody at Join Up Dots, I have been listening to your show on and off for the last couple of years, and often hear you droning on about how marketing doesn't work. As someone with a marketing degree i would be keen to see what your real views are on this subject as I think marketing is the only way to build a successful business. Conner Mivelle Question Two Hi David, i heard you say that you get a lot of people send you shitty emails and I cant understand why. I think the show is the best out of there. So dont listen to them nasty people. Now for a quick question if you would be so kind to answer. I have been thinking of starting my own business teaching people how to pass the driving theory test easily. I have helped a few friends over the last year and they say my memory methods have helped. Do you think that this is something worth pursuing. Clarissa Martella, St Albans, UK Question Three Hi David.....if you could go back in time and do things differently what would it be. John Duke.,Massachusetts Question Four Hi David, thank yo so much for sending me the video response. It has gone into my celebrity folder. Where do you get all the ideas that you use to make things swing for you? Jenny Baxter, Rochester

Introducing Stephen Pacinelli Todays guest is the founder of BombBomb video a new and engaging way to turn your boring emails into almost live interactions. Think about your inbox and the amount of time you spend reading boring text, when really you want someone to simply tell you face to face. Well that is where Stephens new business and book comes in. As he says "Do you struggle for replies and responses? Do your text messages get misread or misunderstood? It’s time to stop relying on faceless digital communication and get face to face again.   How The Dots Joined Up For Stephen Pacinelli Rehumanize Your Business is a hands‑on guide to adding simple webcam and smartphone videos into your communication mix in order to build trust, save time, and truly connect with people. Now what I love about this, is once again it simplifies the core function of every businesses sales funnel. Its build trust and loyalty and personal connection. People buy from people they trust and like...end of story So why is there such difficulty in today's world, to market our products and services correctly? And why do people simply forget to build their personal interaction strategy into everything that they do throughout their business? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Stephen Pacinelli Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Stephen Pacinelli such as: Stephen shares his belief why relationships shouldn't be automated when in business. Its the human touch all the way. What the difference is between relationship videos and marketing videos. and why we should balance both. How he transitioned from a monotonous role into the sexy confident individual that he is today all though taking a chance. And lastly……… Stephen shares the big mistakes that BombBomb made back in 2006, and why it was such a slow growing success.

Introducing John Ferris John Ferris is todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business podcast, who is the CEO and innovation of Growth Strategist of InVision Edge. His company is focused on helping companies everywhere to innovate and grow by working with a three part strategy. His three-part Innovation and Growth Framework helps to 1. Create a radically clear strategy while obsessing on execution 2. Launch an innovation system that shows you and your teams how to turn big ideas into reality to create value 3. Engage leaders to lead in an innovative culture who are inspired to get things done As he says "Working with many of Canada's leading mid to large organizations, we know that you want results. Now. We focus on the quick hits that deliver fast ROI, while building longer-term innovation and growth capabilities that create ongoing results.  But of course throughout Join Up Dots we deliver content based on giving you guys the information to take the leap and build freedom and success. So how had today's guest done just that, and started his own business which gives him the lifestyle he wants too? And where do companies make their biggest mistakes, that we can all learn from in our own day to day adventures? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only John Ferris Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty topics with John Ferris such as: Why its so powerful to be upfront and honest when attracting your first customer when you start building your business. John shares how he always wanted to do his own thing, and simply used an in-house business strategy The reason that John calls middle management the "Concrete in the middle" and why they aren't connected to the businesses "Why" And lastly….. John discusses openly why and when he decided to scale and grow his own business to more than himself. A decision that was brave but has given him so much.

Introducing Aren Deu Aren Deu is today's guest on the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast. He is a man who is on a mission, whilst still working a full-time job as a property investor for wealth & cash-flow. He says "My goal is to empower people by helping them find their voice & improve their overall health. I am on the journey of achieving this through either mentally via my Podcast: Find Your Voice, & physically through my health & fitness knowledge through tips, tricks, blogs, diet & fitness plans! Helping people has been a part of my life ever since I can recall. How The Dots Joined Up For Aren Deu From personal training, to support work, to being part of a family who foster children, to then going on to become a social worker. I have always found happiness & fulfilment via serving others. Realising the larger impact I can have on the world by giving up the corporate world and pursuing my own entrepreneurial journey and starting my own self-help Podcast I have started to finally Find My Voice. So now he is hustling to appear on podcasts, grow his fitness business and do everything else that an online entrepreneur needs to do everyday. So how does he maintain the motivation to keep on working on his dream after a busy week working the 9 to 5? And with so many elements to his business, where does he see his key offering? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Aren Deu Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Aren Deu such as: Why its so important to find the space in your business to really enjoy the majority of what needs to be done, whilst accepting the crap as part of the game. Aren remembers working in a job that although amazing money wasn't good enough for him, and reveals the steps he took to truly find his thing. Aren shares how he always starts his day with journalling which allows him to focus his thoughts and his energies on what needs to be tackled head on.  And lastly……… Why its so important to share the honest and sometimes dark moments in your business with everyone. Don't hold back from the truth...we can handle it!

Introducing John Bertino Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is the owner of TAG, a new an innovative agency based in Philadelphia USA. As he says "Let's be honest, anyone can call themselves a marketing "expert" and anyone can open a "marketing agency". The result: Unqualified marketing providers are everywhere causing many brands to get burned and precious company resources to get squandered. This is not the case with today's guest, as  John’s professional background stems from over a decade in the agency space where he consulted with clients on SEO and inbound marketing campaigns. During that time, John watched sales people and marketing agencies fight tirelessly to one-up each other and impress prospective clients with industry jargon, flashy proposals, and agency bluster. How The Dots Joined Up For John Perhaps most concerning – a remarkable amount of the strategic recommendations agencies give their clients is predicated on what’s convenient for them – not the client’s situation. Enter TAG; arguably the world’s first true marketing consultancy, 100% focused on providing brands unbiased direction, education and vetted agency recommendations. These days, John and his team at TAG consult with brands of all sizes on just about every area of marketing. He personally teaches several courses on the subject at the University of San Diego, Drexel University, SCORE and other accredited educational institutions. John also organizes large events for marketers and entrepreneurs through his group the SoCal Marketing Club, one of the west coast’s largest digital marketing clubs. So why do people still focus on a splash everywhere method of marketing, instead of knowing where the vein of gold is? And is marketing still a winner, or has it fallen down the ranks of everything else that is needed nowadays? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr John Bertino Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with John Bertino such as: Why there is such a problem in the industry involving quick start marketing experts claiming to be something that they aren't. John reveals how Tim Ferris's The Four Hour Work Week was the catalyst for going out on his own. Why the keys to entrepreneurship are playing into your strengths and delegating everything else that keeps you from doing your best work. and lastly...... Why John believes in the anti-scale method that we believe 100% about in Join Up Dots, and the steps that he took to make that happen. How To Connect With John Bertino Website Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Return To The Top Of John Bertino If you enjoyed this episode with John Bertino, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy Full Transcription Of John Bertino Intro 0:00 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. John Bertino 0:25 Yes, hello, a good morning, everybody. Good morning and welcome to Join Up Dots. Thank you so much for being here. As always, Well, today's guest who's joining us on the show is the owner of take a new and innovative agency based in Philadelphia, US Ray as he says, let's be honest, he says he's he doesn't say in an English accent, but it's the best I can do. Let's be honest, anyone can call themselves a marketing expert and anyone can open a marketing agency The result? unqualified marketing providers are everywhere, causing many brands to get burned and precious company resources to get Wonder now, this is not the case with today's guest as his professional background stems from over a decade in the agency space where he consulted with clients on SEO and inbound marketing campaigns and during that time, he watched salespeople and marketing agencies fight tirelessly to one up each other and impress prospective clients with industry jargon, flashy proposals and agency bluster. Now, perhaps the most concerning and it's concerning to me, a remarkable amount of the strategic recommendations agencies give their clients is predicted on what's convenient for them, not the client situation boo boo you marketing companies. Enter take arguably the world's first true marketing consultancy 100% focused on providing brands and buyers direction education and vetted agency recommendations these days. him and his team at tag consult with brands of all sizes on just about every area of marketing and he personally teaches several courses On the subject at the University of San Diego Drexel University score and our accredited educational institutions. He also if a citizen enough organises large events for marketers and entrepreneurs through his group, the so cow marketing club, one on the West Coast largest digital marketing clubs. So why do people still focus on a kind of splash everywhere method of marketing, instead of really knowing where the vein of gold is and targeting that? And is marketing still a winner? Or is it folding down the ranks of everything else that is needed nowadays when I start finding out when we bring it to the show to start Join Up Dots with the one and only Mr. John Bertino. Good morning, john. How are you? I'm Fantastic. Thank you, David. Fantastic intro. Thank you. David Ralph 2:50 It's lovely to have you here. And you know, do you know how stupid I am john. All week. I knew you were coming on the show. And I've been thinking, why is it called tag Why is it called tag It's just don't do me, the agency guy as simple as that. How stupid am I? John Bertino 3:06 not stupid at all that we like going by tag, we lead out with that a lot. But that's right. It's an acronym for the agency guy. And quick clarification, and you'll find it central to our business model. We are anything but an agency, really, we're, we're a consultancy that represents a multitude of agencies. And I'm sure we'll dive into that in more detail. David Ralph 3:28 I'm sure we probably will, unless I get bored with the conversation and go in a totally different direction. That's what we do. So what is an agency then for people out there that hear the word but now they're not in that sort of environment? Actually, what would your definition of an agency be? John Bertino 3:45 Sure. Well, I think to some extent, that's part of the problem, right? agency has become this loosely defined term that we associate with anybody, at least in the marketing space that is providing marketing services. So Sometimes people will call themselves an agency when they're one one person. But I would argue that as soon as you're more than one, you're two or more than you could technically call yourself an agency. And you know, you can call yourself an agency with little to no credentials, experience, accolades, case studies. There's there's no formal agency certification team. And those are a few of the reasons why there's a bit of a problem in the marketplace. David Ralph 4:25 Yeah, but there's a problem everywhere. And if you've listened to multiple episodes of Join Up Dots, I do repeat myself because there's certain things that get out my nose, but I get pitched by a lot of people that are experts, but they've only been doing it since last Tuesday. And you know, it drives me mental and the first thing I do I go over to their LinkedIn profile, and when I see that there's hardly anything on there, or that they was working for a bank in Philadelphia and now they're an expert in marketing, whatever. How do we overcome this, john? How do we overcome this, this dive in And I'm brand brand ourselves because I accept people have to get going. And I accept that you become an expert by doing more of and learning. I accept all that. But how can we sort of overcome this and actually protect the people out there that are buying into these marketing people? John Bertino 5:18 Sure, well, I don't think the problem is going where anywhere anytime soon, right, the barriers to entry to become or call yourself an agency or marketing consultant, or next to nothing. And not only that, but the lifestyle that can potentially come with being a small nimble agency is quite appealing. And there's information all over the web that can help people get started. So the low barriers to entry the lack of necessary credentials or qualifications, and again, the lifestyle benefits are resulting in a multitude of people flooding in and saying, I'm a marketer, I'm a marketing expert and wanting to charge you for it. And that's great for them. That's great for entrepreneurship. And I support those who give a real effort into becoming a refined expert in the field, but many don't. And that's created a real problem for brands that want to go out and find reliable marketing talent marketing support, and that's why we created tag David Ralph 6:19 now talking about it around but problem one of the things is so many of these companies charge but actually don't guarantee the results and people like Facebook adverts and and Google ads and they they charge for their services, but the results don't come back in. Once again. How do you deal with battery issue so that you can say to people that if you're going to pay for us to do work, you're actually going to get it or is that not possible? John Bertino 6:51 Sure. So let me mention our model and and backdoor into your question. So what we do at tag is essentially empower brands to hire the perfect marketing partners, and also to invest in the ideal or proper marketing strategies. Right. So we're a consultancy, but we represent about 200 different agencies and consultants. And when we meet with brands, we do so in an objective, unbiased way, and say, Look, if we were in your shoes, essentially, if we were cmo for a day, if you will, or cmo for the week or the month, if we were in your shoes, how would we approach these problems? What marketing channels will we invest in? Why would we invest in them? We set expectations to your question about results, we set expectations around what proper results actually look and feel like and then when we're all aligned on what we want to do and why we want to do it. That's when we essentially matchmake them with one of our vetted marketing agency partners or service providers. So we represent about as a A 200 or so different teams, which is quite a few, but at the same time, a manageable number. And that depth of a roster allows us to essentially married the perfect marketing partner solution to the ideal brand need. And in doing so we take out all the time, headaches, and uncertainty that go with trying to find a good marketing partner. Well, I might go well, David Ralph 8:23 I'm gonna jump in with another question just so how do we know that? You know, john, how do we know about tag Mo's, we've always different industries, they've obviously got all different marketing needs. How is your experience so of all covering? Sure, John Bertino 8:41 well, the short answer would be if you give us a call, I think that experience will immediately come through each one of the consultants on my team has at least a decade or more of experience. And generally speaking, you can tell pretty quickly when you're talking with someone that's really specialised in these various channels for a while, but Beyond that, I think if if you dive into tag and look at the different different members on our team, you'll see ridiculous amounts of credentials, accolades, social proof. We're all essentially teachers, speakers contributors, teaching it, major universities are contributing to major publications. We even have a team member that speaks literally for Google. She's on Google's payroll as a as a speaker and a mentor. So all the credentials are there. But again, I think honestly, just with the conversation, usually that comes through pretty immediately. And I should mention, we actually don't charge for any of the consulting we do not typically anyway, the idea is that provide free, unbiased, objective seasoned expertise at no cost to earn that trust. And then we make a recommendation on who we think you should work with. David Ralph 9:47 Right? Okay. So I want to spin away from what you do to where you started, because you're on Join Up Dots is very much about how people actually overcome the struggles of growing a business and teething troubles all the way through. He's just different troubles you have to deal with. Now you're sitting there, Mr. JOHN bertino. And you're in your bedroom, in your lucky underpants, I always think this and you come up with this idea of you're going to go your, your own way and do your own thing. It's all white to think that and as I say, everything is built twice, once in your brain. And once actually, in real life, and in real life one is a lot harder than building in your brain. What was the first steps that you took to actually create something that was your own income producing? Empire suppose? John Bertino 10:38 Sure, I love this topic. And by the way, how did you know about my lucky underpants? We both got lucky on my parents, john, David Ralph 10:44 we've all got lucky underpants until we get married, and then those lucky underpants disappear. John Bertino 10:50 Fantastic. Well, so let's see. I love this topic. By the way, it's really what I'm passionate about you and I have that in common is I don't know if it was a linear thing for most people, it's probably not. But I know I realised fairly early in my professional career probably 5678 years in that. I guess I was a leader not necessarily a leader of of men per se, although I'd like to think I've grown into that. But just I needed to kind of do my own thing. It's really who I was. I didn't know at the time that I necessarily needed to be self employed, but I knew I kind of had to do it my own way. And then I came across Tim Ferriss, his book, I'm sure it's been mentioned on the show, if not thousands of times, but you know, I came across it more or less when it right came out. I believe the books a good 20 years older, so at this point, and he had talked about, and I'm paraphrasing here, because it's been, as I said, probably 1015 years since I read it, but if he had said something to the effect of, would you rather make money million dollars a year and work for someone else and have no time to yourself and not be able to make your own decisions? Or would you rather make a quarter a half or a quarter of that and be completely empowered to do what you want with your time. And for me the choice was clear, it was it was definitely the latter, right. And so between just recognising the way I was functioning in the corporate environment, and coming across material and content like that, that which was starting to become the norm, I just knew that I had to slowly but surely work my way into working for myself. David Ralph 12:32 I've actually got that book in my hand at the moment, the four hour workweek, and I haven't read it for years, to be honest. But I pick it up and I wonder every now and again, whether I should go back and actually read it, whether it's covenant whether the logic behind it is still relevant now, I don't know. What do you think is was it obvious time or, or should we still promote it as the go to book? John Bertino 12:59 Yeah, it's A little bit of both. I don't know if I would promote it as the go to book per se, but it's certainly kind of the one of the foundational books of entrepreneurship in its modern form. It's a great read. For anyone that's aspiring to go out on their own, just go into it, knowing that some of it will definitely be dated. I David Ralph 13:21 was the poster boy for that book. And I actually did literally everything he said in there. And it worked. It worked like a dream. The only problem that I had was, once I freed myself up from work by, as he says, asking for a Friday off and been asking for Thursday off and then building up a portfolio of work because I had this extra free time. It all worked until somebody didn't want it to work. And when a new manager came in and didn't like the fact it all failed like a pack of cards and that literally was the catalyst for me saying, sod this I'm going to go out and start my own thing. Little did I know where I was going to head but the passion was very Because you can't go back, can you once you've had control of your time and your income, and as I always say to people, the fact that you pay your own taxes so you think about it in a way because when you in corporate land I used to just get my paid. I never, it never concerned me that they were actually paying the right tax It Was this something that was taken out of my bank account. Once you actually had that control, you're never coming back on a job. John Bertino 14:26 Now, it's, it's really true, or at least you'll find out very early on in the journey, whether or not this is for you. And if you stick with it for a while, I don't know even a year or two there's I'd say there's no going back from that point. And you know, it's interesting, I had the exact same experience that you reference where there was a point where I had some flexibility I was making. I had some good clout within the company I was working for the ownership really respected me at the time and gave me a lot of leeway and flexibility with my schedule and Through that I started to put some pieces in place to, to, I guess move out on my own eventually I wasn't in a rush at the time. And then he brought in a new manager and all that came crashing down. But in some ways that was kind of the catalyst I needed to, to take it to the next step. David Ralph 15:15 Now, when you take that step, because one of the things that people struggle with, and I struggled with it myself, so a lot of the questions are very much leading. I wasn't earning enough. So people were saying delegate delegate out, but I couldn't earn enough to delegate out because I didn't have enough to pay the bills. Anyway. Do you remember that time when you literally were trying to grow and you were doing everything yourself John Bertino? John Bertino 15:42 I sure do. Yeah, I mean, I mean, absolutely. But you have to find some tasks that you can delegate and they don't even necessarily need to be core to your offering. So a good example on us would be would be something like bookkeeping or in invoicing and stuff like that. Maybe there's some simple administrative tasks that you can take off your plate to let you focus on the actual service. you're offering little changes, little micro delegations can really start to add up and give you the momentum you need. David Ralph 16:17 Yeah, but only if you've got a certain amount of income to pay for people, because otherwise you're you're taking it from where you haven't got it anyway. And if there's somebody out there, who is wanting to take the corporate leap, and they've got a mortgage to pay, and they've got all the kind of bills that I need to pay, the fault of hiring someone when they haven't got enough to cover what they need to cover anyway is difficult. John Bertino 16:41 Yes, but I would, I would counter that. You can outsource but honestly, it can be little things even around the house, right? And we're talking to that aspiring entrepreneur that's really feeling locked in their job. They're starting a side hustle, but they're kept on their time. And they're saying, well, gee, I would love to outsource things, but I don't have I don't have the money for it right and i would counter Well, you can outsource mowing the lawn, so you don't have to do it. And you can have an extra hour for your side hustle. You can outsource ideated ideas for a blog post by writing out a blueprint, finding someone on Upwork or an intern at a local college and giving them $20 to go out and help you ideate what your next 10 blog posts will be. You can outsource cleaning the house so that you don't have to do it and like the lawn you can focus on your business. Even little things like that can really add up and every hour counts. David Ralph 17:38 So when did you get to the point? Actually, I'm going to ask that question. I'm going to come back to it. Let's listen to Jim Carrey. Jim Carrey 17:44 My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had to do whatever we could survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don't want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love. So when David Ralph 18:11 did you get jumping back to my my brilliantly posed question interrupted by Jim. But you actually loved doing what you're doing because we see it time and I remember speaking to so many guests on the show. But say, they went from a corporate gig to creating an income, some of them creating millions and absolutely hated every second of it. It just wasn't the right business for them. This seems to be the right business for us. So when did you actually tap into the love and think yeah, this this is my thing. And it's not just a stepping stone to someone new. John Bertino 18:46 Yeah, I love that question. And it was, it was never a conscious effort to Well, let me back up. I had come across multiple books or teachers or mentors, you know, just through the internet podcasts, book recommendations, things like this, that it said one of the keys to entrepreneurship was to play into your strengths. And kind of to our prior discussion or prior question, try to outsource or delegate the rest. The more you can focus on your strengths and delegate the things that aren't your strengths, the more likely you are to succeed. So from day one, before I even had the business idea, I was coming at it from that mentality. And so I was always focused on Well, what are my strengths? And this is such a great question for me because I literally built tag around what I knew I was good at. So what what does tag essentially do not to not to get on tag again, but this plays right into your question. we consult, which means I needed to know marketing, and we do business development. I mean, really, we are a marketing team that does business development for agencies, right. So I knew That I was good with people. And you know, I've never fancied myself to be honest, as much of a salesperson I really really never have. Although I was told by so many people you're great at sales or I was always in sales roles didn't really see myself as sales. I saw myself as a consultative I guess a consultative business development person, but it really was about developing relationships. It was always about business development and the relationships for me and I knew I liked doing that. So I, I leaned into that over and over and over again, and to this day, that's I try to focus on just those two things. That is being really good at my marketing Aquaman. So I can provide great advice to brands and then the selling just happens naturally, the business development becomes easy. And to your prior question again, I looked at Delhi, everything else. David Ralph 20:53 Now, that is just super talent. Obviously. We have every super talent there is the kryptonite. will bring you down. And as we see in business time and time again, most people are brilliant at seeing what's wrong with other people's businesses but actually can't see what's wrong with their own. It's like blinkered, for some reason, what would be your your kryptonite around your neck that you knew in early days that you actually had to get help with? Unknown Speaker 21:24 Well, I think to some extent, we I still work on that kryptonite every day. And that would be that our model is structured and your questions are so nicely laid out, because one really is leading leading right into the other. Our model as I just described, it is not especially scalable, but I'm of the belief that one of the best ways to kind of carve out a unique value proposition and provide unique value is to, in a sense, do something that's that's hard to scale, right? Because once you're really good at something that can't be replaced by machines, you Then kind of own that, and then you can kind of figure out the micro improvements you can make to scale it. So the kryptonite to your question is that our model is not especially scalable. Now I have surrounded myself by other people just like me. But even still, it's hard to scale human capital. And so, whereas there are store sites online that attempt to match people with the right agency, but they're algorithmic, they're not consultative, they don't really get to know you your time, your company, your brand. And so they will always struggle to provide that bespoke hand holding approach that we provide. We've come at it from the opposite side, we've got that part dialled in, and we're kind of to some extent slowly working our way into how do we make this more scalable and so and so that's the kryptonite but I'm aware of it. Right. I think that's the key being self aware, being honest with yourself about where the weak points are not getting intimidated and running from them, owning them and slowly chiselling away at them. David Ralph 23:00 Okay, so that's the business kryptonite. What about yourself personally, john, what was the things that you look at and you go, really is not mapping at all. Unknown Speaker 23:11 Outside of business? Well, that's, that's interesting. I think, if I'm honest about it right, again, in the spirit of honesty, when you are entrepreneurial, many of us, if not all of us, have a real tendency to be a bit scattered. Because once you get a taste of the good life air quotes, as we talked about it earlier, because there's plenty of struggles with the good life, right? Once you get a taste of it, you start to some extent being led into well, oh, here's an interesting idea. And maybe I'm quite smart. And I can turn this into a business too. And there's definitely a tendency for us to get scattered and overconfident. And so just constantly raining myself in staying focused and only diving into other product projects that are jacent to what I'm currently working on and succeeding with is key. And so I certainly have to challenge myself there. David Ralph 24:07 It's interesting, isn't it? Because I always people say to me, you know, what's the success? How do you create a successful podcast? And I say to him, do it for seven years, you know, and it's a kind of flippant response, but it's true. There's the persistence, there's the consistency, there's the repetition, all those things that sort of build into it. Now, when I look at what I do on Join Up Dots, I think I've got more success from this show than anything else I've done. Just because I've kept at it. Were a lot of things I look back a while I used to do, could have gone somewhere, but I kind of didn't think about the financial shoots were coming up quick enough, where I could have wanted those financial shoes because as soon as you get some money, it proves that there's money there. When you look at yourself, is that something that you're aware of, in not just your own business, but other people's businesses, but they pivot too quickly instead of just getting their head down and doing the work. Unknown Speaker 25:05 Yes, there's there's some of that, I think, right to our prior discussion about being a bit too scattered and not focusing. But, you know, another I'm going to actually look at that from the opposite end of the spectrum. I think a more common problem I see is people doubling tripling quadrupling down on on an idea that that might not be good. And that's a conversation no one's no one wants to have and, and it's, you know, people being polite often don't want to tell you, but I think I would challenge every entrepreneur to be really honest about whether or not they're solving a problem that people have or whether or not they're trying to create something. That's just what what they want to do whether or not it's actually helping people in the process. David Ralph 25:47 Is it Oh, as simple as that, because we talk about this all the time solving problems, is that really what business is all about? Or is that just a strap willing but kind of works? Unknown Speaker 26:00 No, I really think that's what business is all about. I think the data has proved that out. And if you look at some of the most successful startups over the last decade, you'll see what they're focused on is making pivots and iterations that lean into where the problems actually are and taking focus away from things they were doing, because it was convenient for them. So I absolutely think that's one of the fundamental keys to success. David Ralph 26:25 Because somebody like the iPod, for example, you can have 1000 songs, you can have your entire record collection in your back pocket. That really wasn't a pain point. I think, up to that point. Nobody was walking around going, I really need to drag my entire record collection with me. But then he comes along, and it's a global success. So is it as sort of a pivot between pain and pleasure, and although we say problems, there's also solutions. Is that what takes somebody like Elon Musk or Steve Jobs or Richard Branson into into the stratosphere? In, but they can pivot between the two between pain and pleasure. Unknown Speaker 27:06

On today's Business advice Friday podcast we focus in on several questions that have been posed to us by listeners across the world. We get many sent to us at the show, and most we respond directly, whilst others we like to answer on the show. Lets start with todays three emails. and remember you can hear all the answers on the podcast live. Business Coaching Friday Question One Hi David, i think  you are the man to give me the answer i need. I started building my online business last year selling baseball cards online. Its going well so far (not enough to make a living) but enough to start paying off my big expenses each month. The thing is I am a bit bored with doing it now. After a squilliuon years of doing Join Up Dots how do you keep the motivation and keep inspired. I need help?  Gemma Chase, Montana, USA Business Coaching Friday Question Two Hi David, from somebody who is late to the game for podcasts I would love to start my own and build a next little business from the back of my garden like you. I dont have a garden at the moment, but hey,i dont have a business either. My issue is I cant think of what to build my business on, and secondly I am a bit scared, as I am long time sufferer of depression. I have been diagnosed as bi polar and although I have in under control there are times that i cant even get out of bed. Do I sound like someone that can light up the airwaves like you do everyday. Vince Plus,  Business Coaching Friday Question Three Hi everybody at Join Up Dots...whats up?  I am a 52 year gay man from Miami. Gay and proud of it. I want to create a gay business that celebrates everything well...gay. My friends say this is a bad idea, as no matter how much improvement there has been with acceptance there will always be some people that get upset by our lifestyles...What do you think? I want to call it Gay Days Where Gays Stay and Play Marcus, Miami

Introducing Brian Weaver Todays guest Brian serves as CEO of Torch.AI and has more than 20 years of experience leading mission driven, high growth, technology-focused companies. Torch.AI helps leading organizations leverage artificial intelligence in a unique way via a proprietary enterprise data management software solution. Today, Torch.AI supports clients like H&R Block with fraud detection and mitigation, and the U.S. Department of Defence with machine learning enabled background investigations for all federal employees, supporting the determination of an individual’s trustworthiness and security credentialing. Prior to Torch.AI, Brian launched or acquired several companies all focused on technology enabled services and data connectivity. His companies serve nearly 1,300 clients and have been recognized as Small Business of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Brian has been featured in Forbes magazine for concepts around data encapsulation using blockchain technologies. How The Dots Joined Up For Brian An avid endurance sports athlete, Brian has ranked among the top amateur Ironman athletes in the world, has achieved "All World Gold" athlete status five times, USAT All-American six times, Ironman XC's 2011 and 2012 Athlete of the Year for the 70.3 distance and in 2011 for the 140.6 distance taking class wins at both the Ironman 70.3 World Championship and Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii and has qualified for and raced the Boston Marathon.  He lives in Kansas City with his wife of 20 years and two teenage daughters. So what is it about launching and buying businesses that he loves so much, and of course where do people go wrong? And does the endurance stuff actually make him a better businessman due to the commitment to the cause? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Brian Weaver Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with Brian Weaver such as: Brian shared how he struggles with doing the same thing time and time again and the steps he took to overcome it. Why it is so important to embrace your pioneer nature and complement by running a team that allow you to flourish. Why so many people need all the data before starting to move out of your comfort zone and build their own future. And lastly....... The reason that is so much easier to fascinate a customer into working with you instead of encouraging them to sign up.

Introducing Riggs Eckelberry: Today's guest is the founder and CEO of the innovative water technology company, OriginClear, which is delivering water solutions for industrial customers worldwide. OriginClear has developed and licensed an invention that treats industrial and agricultural waste water with very little energy, and no chemicals. And now, industrial users can treat their water right where they use it, using prepackaged “point of use” water treatment systems that have an amazing life cycle of up to 100 years or more.  Let's get things straight as Riggs Eckelberry doesn’t look like a bomb-thrower. And yet, he’s driving the disruption of a trillion-dollar industry that has fallen behind the times and is affecting the health of millions. That industry is Big Water. Simply, those billion-dollar centralized water systems aren’t coping with demand, and water quality is getting worse. The answer? Instant InfrastructureTM. How The Dots Joined For Riggs Businesses are doing their own water treatment, using modular, prefabricated systems that are trucked right on site. They get better water quality, lower rates through recycling, and even improved environmental grades! Ten years after launching public company OriginClear, Riggs and his team are offering those truck-in-place modular systems in the USA, while licensees are building products internationally using OriginClear’s low-energy, chemical-free innovation. Riggs Eckelberry is uniquely qualified to ride the huge wave of do-it-yourself water treatment that is transforming an industry, having learned management in the nonprofit space, captained oceangoing ships, and achieved several tech successes during the dot-com boom. So does he look back and think wow I have tackled something bigger than I could have possibly dreamt off? And would he recommend people following suit and start their own business? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Riggs Eckelberry. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Riggs Eckelberry such as: How he has managed to overcome the impostor syndrome that so many people struggling with time and time again. Riggs shares his belief that one of his talents is seeing the obvious and looking for the simplest way through any problem. We discuss the series of things that need to occur to truly get momentum in a business and life. These things take to build, so let it happen without stress. And lastly....... Why it is so important to build a team that can make the difference to your  business potential. You can't do it on your own. 

On today's Business advice Friday podcast we focus in on several questions that have been posed to us by listeners across the world. We get many sent to us at the show, and most we respond directly, whilst others we like to answer on the show. Lets start with todays three emails. and remember you can hear all the answers on the podcasat live. Question One Dear David, I am a listener from Mexico and I'm very much enjoying your conversations. In one of your recent shows i was intrigued as to what you meant when you said "People dont buy what you are selling. My English is not totally amazing, so could you reconfirm Dennis, Mexico CIty Question Two Hi David, John from Albuquerque USA. I wrote to you a few months ago regarding my idea of "Garage Clearance Assistance" Although I was unsure, you lit the fire under me with your enthusiasm and positivity to the idea. I now have a business up and running making a couple of grand a month. I yet to have a website, social media or anything going, and started simply by getting leaflets printed and dropping them through doors with my email address. I just wanted to say thank you for helping me and my family transition to a better life. Sometimes you just need a GO FOR IT from someone, somewhere, and you were the man Beers are on me John Question Three Dear David, From a long term listener of the show, and a lady ready to go for it, i have an idea but need your help. I can see a need for people in my City (Dallas, Texas) to have their dogs looked after whilst they are at work. There are a lot of very wealthy people in this area, and so I know that they would be willing to pay. However, Im not sure how I can scale this business to give me freetime too. I dont want to be spending all my time looking after peoples dogs, even though I think this would be fun. Any ideas would be great. Amanda Knox, Dallas

Introducing Matt Johnson Matt Johnson is a marketer, entrepreneur, podcast expert, and musician who joins us on the Join Up Dots podcast. Matt runs a podcast PR & production agency based in San Diego, an international team that helps business coaches and consultants break in and dominate their niche through podcasting. Matt currently hosts niche business podcasts and recently launched the Podcast Pitch Assistant program to help experts get pitched to podcasts consistently without doing any of the backend work themselves. He is a frequent podcast guest and event speaker to audiences around the US, Canada, and Australia. But that is just a bit of what he does as he says "Right now, there is a group of people running the business of their dreams. Building an audience, working with clients they love, and serving them profitably. How The Dots Joined Up For Matt They are thought leaders in their field. Are they famous? Depends on who you ask. They aren’t signing autographs at the grocery store. They aren’t taking selfies every five minutes. They aren’t trying to be everywhere on social media. Yet when they show up at industry events and conferences, they are recognized and sought after. What’s their secret? They have become famously influential to the right people. And so can you. My mission through the MicroFamous podcast, upcoming book and our podcast agency is to launch new thought leaders into the world. MicroFamous gives you a new strategy to attract an audience, build influence and create ideal clients - systematically. So you can teach, train and lead people without being locked into a business you hate. So what does it take to be micro-famous online in today's over saturated world? And where do people go wrong, focusing in on quantity or quality? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Matt Johnson Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Matt Johnson such as: Why it is so important to find a deep niche and go with a subject that isn't saturated or main stream. The riches are in the niches. Matt shares why he is reluctant to travel the world and attend conferences preferring to be famous in his own tight community. Why there is a ground swell of people now who are dropping away from using social media and focusing on the smallest crowd possible. And lastly……… We wax lyrical at the bad advice that people are receiving when it comes launch a podcast, and what we would do to make it different.

Peter Montoya is a #1 Best-Selling Author of The Brand Called you and his newest book The 10 Secrets of Leadership Power. He’s also a sought-after Keynote Speaker and Leadership Development Strategist with expertise in developing High-Performance Teams.  But for over two decades our guest was the financial industry’s go-to guru on marketing & branding, now he’s the CEO of ThriveUnion. ThriveUnion is the company of human well-being.  Through intentional community-building and research-backed education, we’re shaping a world in which people feel empowered to progress from meaningless isolation to purposeful belonging.  In our search for a life well lived – one of personal fulfilment and a desire to impact humanity’s greater good – we let reason be our guide, compassion our inspiration, and experience our teacher.  Now like most guests who appear on the Join Up Dots podcast our guest hasn't always been the go to guy. Our guest has a young man struggled through school with undiagnosed ADHD, he was admitted to and graduated from the University of California Irvine in Political Science. How The Dots Joined Up For Peter Post-college he became a travelling speaker and salesman, chalking up over 3000 presentations and living in over 22 major cities. Peter went on to found a successful advertising agency and software platform, dedicated to financial service professionals. He quickly became the industry guru, writing numerous books, including one of his best selling works “The Brand Called You”. Peter is a truly fascinating and multi-faceted guy, with decades of experience in speaking to audiences about his business knowledge, inspirational journey, and human behavioural insight. He now pursues his passion for empowerment and community building, shedding light on society’s growing loneliness epidemic through his visionary organization ThriveUnion. So how how did he take this early life lessons and transform his life to where it is today? And if he could give one big piece of advice to every listener of Join Up Dots what would it be? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Peter Montoya Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with Peter Montoya such as: Peter shares how he used to feel such negative emotions in his life, which he can see now did nothing more than hold him back, We discuss why gratitude always comes before happiness (360 from what most people consider to be true)  Peter reveals the stats that up to 25% of entrepreneurs might well be suffering from ADHD which can actually be an amazing superpower. And lastly................. During the chat we found out that having wonderful relationships are the number one benefit to a long and healthy life.

When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David, Ralph. David Ralph 0:27 morning to you good morning to you. And thank you so much for being here with me on Join Up Dots wherever you listen, live as soon as I broadcast this to the world, or whether you listen at a time that's convenient to you sometime in the future, in the midst of time when I'm getting older, and my socks are getting saggy. Why is that? When I was a kid, I don't remember having baggy socks all the time. But now I'm always pulling my socks up. I say my socks are annoying me. What's up so annoying me. My wife says "Go buy new socks! I shouldn't need to buy new songs. How about that? Long enough anyway, I wasn't gonna talk about socks, but I'm glad I've got that off my chest. What I wanted to do first of all of this is entitled life is crap, part two, and it's a kind of follow on to last week's episode. Last week's episode was a very personal welcome me. Well, I highlighted incidents and situations that were going in my life at that time with my mother, having a major stroke and basically turning our life upside down. And I would like to say to so many people out there, thank you, everybody who's dropped me a line to tell me about, you know, they're sending prayers to my family and my my mom, and also telling me stories about what's occurred in their lives and how they've overcome it. And it's not something you know, as you get older vein, it's something that's naturally going to occur, not necessarily a stroke, but some kind of issue. So we're all going to deal with that and to a man A woman I'd like to thank you for getting my head straight and making me realise that I'm not alone. And other people are dealing with a lot worse than I am. And stop feeling sorry for myself because I was I was feeling a little bit overwhelmed last week. Now actually listen back to that episode. And it really I don't say, you know that much on a podcast, but it was just, you know, you know, I obviously wasn't engaged with what I was saying. I was just speaking from the heart. And I listened back and I thought, God, how many times did I say, you know, in that podcast, but it touched a nerve, as I say, and people have reached out to say very nice things. As we are at the moment, there's no sort of progress really, my mom's still in bed. She's still sitting there, her eating has become a little bit better. But everything else is pretty much the same. And I think it's going to be the same for mums. We're clinging to a little Yeah. Oh, I just saw your finger. I just saw that. I don't know whether it's just in our mind or not. Now, what I wanted to do Today's episode is just follow on from bad. Thank you to everybody. And hopefully I did respond to every single person. I've been trying to keep up with the emails coming through, either sending emails or personal responses by video, or recording my voice or whatever as I do, because I'm a podcaster. And if anybody hasn't received one, then there's a mistake is, I don't know why you haven't because I feel like I've covered all bases on that one. Now, I did receive an email from a lovely lady. She's lovely. She's gorgeous, called carlina Mendoza. And what a beautiful name carlina Mendoza. I imagine sort of a Hispanic kind of exotic dancing. I don't know why that is. But she may not be exotic and she may not be Spanish at all, but she's equally lovely. Whoever she is Catalina Mendoza and she said hi. I listened to your recent show about your mother and I just want to send my prayers to you. I had a similar thing occur in my life where my husband suddenly had a brain seizure, not quite a stroke, but enough to change our life forever. As a longtime listener of your show, I was wondering what your next steps will be as I totally spiralled out of control, and can link many of today's issues back to my husband's illness and love and light to you. carlina Mendoza, and I thought to myself, yeah, that's that's a good point. What am I going to do moving forward? Well, what I did last week, I spent the first few days I ever wanting to burst into tears, or punch people in the face. And I didn't do either of them. But that's the kind of where I was. And so I knew that I had to I had to create a new way of operating within my business. And at a time when I recorded that podcast episode, I said, you know, I'm going to keep the business going. I'm going to keep everything as it is. And when I push myself now, why am I doing this? You know, it's my business, I can make a decision. So the coaching clients that I've got, I kept to, and it was good for my mind to be focused on them and helping them build their businesses. And we moved through many good stages. Because I really got into it, I really focus because it was a departure from where I was. But other stuff, I thought to myself now I'm going to clear the decks. I'm just going to free myself and get my brain in order. And so I connected with everyone who wasn't, as I say, urgent or required or hadn't paid for my services, and said, Look, I need a bit of a breather here. I need to step away. And as I stepped away, it made me think about that speech. But Oprah says, and I play a lot of my show, but I don't often really reflect on it. I suppose. It's something that I play because I think it's important and the three big speeches I play Jim Carrey, Oprah and Steve, I think they are a conduit to everything the put the three together. That's why Keep on playing them time and time again. And so many people say to me, you know, it's I've just said, you know, Wfc, I'm focused on it now. So many people say to me, it's now hit home. On one day, there was a situation wherever, but both speeches hit home. That's why I play him all the time. But this was the one that I play. And this is the one I've been really thinking about this week from Oprah, Oprah Winfrey 6:21 the way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, what is the next right move? not think about, Oh, I got all of this. What is the next right move? And then from that space, make the next right move, and the next right move and not to be overwhelmed by it because you know, your life is bigger than that one moment. You know, you're not defined by what somebody says, is a failure for you because failure is just there to point you in a different direction. David Ralph 6:53 So I reflected on that and I thought what I need to do is become quiet and just do what needs to be done. So over the last year or so I'm not a big social media person, but you get sucked into it. And I mentioned this a lot, but I don't do a lot of social media, but I am on it. And I thought to myself, this is the time to make a break from it really get clear, really get focused on just what I'm doing. And so I went through to a lots of people, but I've been keeping these virtual reality, relationships going. And I sent messages to him. I think I mentioned this in the show last week, and to say, you know, I'm not going to be part of your life anymore. I'm going to move on. And I did that. And the majority of people didn't even respond back or didn't ask, you know, what's the matter or anything like that, and I thought well back, but there's a sign there. But I'm putting my energies into the wrong places where people don't really want it anyway. And so I closed off everything and from when was it last Wednesday. I haven't looked at anything on Facebook on Twitter, and I don't do a lot of scrolling up and down the feeds, but you do get sucked into it. And I've started to feel happier about myself, because it's just me. I'm not thinking about what needs to be done in comparison to where other people are. I'm just thinking about what needs to be done. In my own business, I've become quiet. And I've got a clarity. But I didn't have now I found this article online, and I'm going to read it out to you. It's not something that I'm going to make out. But I've got this information in my brain. But I think it's really, really important. And it's called how social media is killing your oxytocin levels, and keeping you from being your happiest self. So with the dark cloud last week, I needed to do something I needed to become happy again, and I would say I'm 80%. Now, I think there's about 20% sort of little cloud hanging over me, but I've accepted where I am now. So this is an article by Lady called Whitney of Virginia Morgan. It's a few years ago, she released this, but I think it's really, really interesting. And if you are not feeling happy in your life, then you can do something about it. And one of the things you can do is focus in on yourself, and just be aware of your own emotions and your own feelings and the way that you feel. So this is in response. Currently now men dosa and this is the steps I've taken to get myself back on track. Now, how social media is killing your oxytocin levels and keeping you from being your happiest self is the title of this post. People are slowly and surely replacing face to face human interactions with the cheap thrills and immediate satisfaction of social media interaction. I'm guilty as well. The lady says I have an account and I check it often. But what if you knew the dark side to this seemingly homeless social prevalence? I bet you don't think as you Sitting there browsing your Facebook feed. I'm damaging my oxytocin levels right now. Now, I'm going to keep this in layman's terms and not bore you with an overabundance of medical jargon and information, which is good because I would lose it here. So here goes. First, let's take a brief look at what we're talking about here and the brain and the feel good chemicals we need, but a lot to wait deep inside of it. Now, the first one is dopamine. Now we've all heard that but do we really know what that is? Well, this is a new low transmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centres. Open mean also helps regulate movement and emotional response. And it enables us to not only see rewards, but to take action to move towards them. Okay. Now, that was from psychology today. So if you think about all the sort of sexy times and the good things are happening in your life, more often than not, you feel really great and you move towards that. Pleasure because of the dopamine hit that it gives you, it makes you feel good. And orgasm is one of those ones that is full of dopamine and you go, you go crazy. And and, well, we'll leave it like that. But any kids listening you can ask your mom or your dad or your brother or your sister back there, added more than your mom and dad, seven tonin This is a neuro transmitter that is bound in the brain. It is responsible for maintaining mood balance and the deficit of it leads to depression. So we're kind of on an even keel when we've got an even amount of serotonin going through, it's not going to be peaks and troughs. It just kind of keeps you happy and and balanced, which is good. Now oxytocin, this is where it gets interesting, is a powerful hormone that acts as a neuro transmitter in the brain, and it regulates social interaction, and also sexual reproduction playing a role in behaviours from maternal infant bonding and milk release to mothers to empathy, generosity and the big overed again, which I said a little while ago, when we hug or kiss a loved one oxytocin levels increase. Hence, oxytocin is often called the love hormone. In fact, the hormone plays a huge role in all bonding. The hormone is greatly since stimulated during sex birth and breastfeeding. And oxytocin is the hormone that underlies trust is also an antidote to depressive feelings. Right? Okay. So then the three things okay, now is the powerful trio of the all good feelings but we need to have in our life all the time and we can create this naturally. We don't need outside stimulations although it began again, a little bit of sexy time, go for it. That's my role. The creators of happiness, some might even say, are these free, they're all good feelings. Now, this is where it gets into the interesting thing with social media. oxytocin is arguably the most powerful of the phrase So for the sake of brevity, we're going to call it well, we're going to be mostly focusing in on it here. And it's often called the cuddle hormone or the bonding hormone. And also, the trust hormone is super powerful. It's the reason you want to cry all night in bed after a super hard breakup. You just lost your oxytocin supply literally, your body is responding to stress, and it knows it needs oxytocin to feel good. So last week with my Mum, I must have lost that because I just wanted a blob all the time. And I did. I kind of kept it in. In one I look like a girl you know, but and there's nothing wrong with it. There's nothing wrong with it before I get emails of a sexist nature. Now, evolutionarily speaking, our ancestors relied on oxytocin to fortify and create close knit relationships with each other, procreate and build survival based communities, as well as bond strong romantic partnerships is what we need. It's the bonding it connects us with real life. oxytocin is served as well in times of old and it serves us today too, but as a twist to it now, unfortunately, the future chop shop of the 21st century digital age is causing many of our ancient evolutionary biological systems to short circuit. We're getting counterfeit oxytocin via social media. It's not the pure stop now that that's interesting. We just stop it there. Okay. So we're making ourselves feel good by going on to social media, but it's not actually but good about we need is a kind of fake version. We can create it ourselves by doing the stuff that our bodies are actually saying you deserve. But we're not. We're bypassing that and going for the cheap thrill, but actually is ultimately taking it away from us and making us feel more miserable. All too often social media and other modern day factors are reducing face to face social connectedness and Giving us feelings of perceived social isolation or being an outsider who is unworthy of love and belonging. In other words, chatting with your mate on Facebook is not going to boost your oxytocin levels the same way chatting with them face to face word. That's why it's important to not let your online relationships replace your real time ones. Okay? That now not finding that balance can be dangerous to your mental health. And that is something we often don't think about when going online. It's social acceptability. And subtleness in essence is what makes it dangerous. Like a submarines missile lurching forth underwater aiming straight for our brains, you're not going to see it coming, and the destruction happens slowly over a long period of time. To break it down more precisely, there are three ways social media inhibits the healthy flow of oxytocin. Now, hopefully you haven't switched off of this because I think this is really, really important. Number one, it displaces more authentic social experiences because the more time a person's Online, the last time they had real world interactions, I'd realised that I've realised I was thinking I was being with friends, but actually I wasn't. And the other night, I went out with a lovely guy called Dan, who's near me, he was a client through the show, I had a brilliant time really enjoyed it. And Dan, hopefully, we will do it again. And I realised now that my focus is going to be less online and more in real world interactions. And that's with you guys as well. You guys, if you need me, I will speak to you but I will only speak to you face to face. Now that can be food zoo, that can be through Skype, whatever. But it's not going to be just an email back and forth. I'm going to try to limit that and try to find a way that I can actually connect with you guys in real world interactions. Now number two, certain characteristics of social media facilitate feelings are being excluded, such as when one sees botos of friends having fun at an event to which we're not invited. It. Now I've realised this as well that I used to flick up and down every now and again and see some old friends and I'd always be in a pub, they'd always be having a good time. And so I didn't invite me then didn't invite the old Ralph Meister. But of course, I only felt that way because I'd seen the photo if I hadn't seen the photo, I wouldn't have known they've gone anyway, so it wouldn't bother me. So the fear of missing out is a FOMO is a cold it is increased because we're going online, so we feel isolated even more because we're seeing things that we we couldn't have got to Anyway, you know, we see these pictures and we go, Oh, you should have invited us. I've been doing something else that day. You just can't know but you get that feeling of, I'm not part of the crowd. And also, its exposure to highly idolise representations of peers lives on social media may elicit feelings of envy and the distorted belief that others lead happier and more successful lives. Okay, so then the three things so first of all, Being online all the time, it stops the real world interactions. And we've got to get out and be part of life as we've always done it. Also, it makes us feel that we're excluded to beings we're actually we're not. If we didn't know that it was happening, it wouldn't bother us anyway. And the last type thing is that we look at people are having a wonderful time and all I'm doing is just a sort of day to day life. Okay. So, there's a tonne that we can do, okay, there's a tonne that we can do. And you do have control over your own oxytocin levels, and there's real social factors, ie Facebook and other social media outlets like that acquit. Quite literally hurting your feel good chemicals. So what should we do okay, should we delete all our social media accounts and go back to being nomads living in a cave? Well, baby, but that would be unrealistic. Now. What we say is just get balanced. Don't spend eight hours on Facebook. It's not good for your brain or your social development. Make time for Family, make time for friends. Make time for lovers. Seriously, your happiness quite literally depends on it. You are priceless and take care of your brain take charge of your mental health and your life. You only get one grand shot before it's lights out. So that there's a lot of information there. But I've already felt this this week, but I feel happier. Because I don't know what's happening. I go on the BBC website and read the news. That's fine. But I haven't looked at anyone's beads. I don't know what's happening. I become more productive because I'm just doing what I think needs to be done on my business. I've spoken to more people. I've developed more income streams into my business just in this last week of isolating myself from social media. Now I have to emphasise time and time again. I am here for you guys. I'm here to help you develop your businesses. I'm here to help you. You know create a podcast if you want I've been doing this for years and I know what works, okay? But I'm also here for you just to support. I'm here for the guys that are struggling. I'm here for the guys and the ladies but just need a little bit of assistance, okay? It's gonna be for the right people. And it's got to be done in a way that develops that live feeling. It makes you feel that you're connected to real people. So this week, I got off all that I've been walking around the pub, not the pub down to the pubs and man the gardens and stuff in our way because it hasn't been bad weather in the United Kingdom. I spent more time with my mom and I've done for the last 25 years. She don't really want to spend four hours a day with your mom when she's in her 80s but that's what I've been doing. And it's been difficult because you kind of run out of things to talk about because she's just lying in bed. You know, what the hell do you talk about and she doesn't really talk much back anyway. I've been doing a lot of that. And I can now see that it's a good thing for me personally, it's made me assess where life is and what I need to do to really take everything I'm doing to perfect scenario where it's highly profitable base highly profitable in a personal way, but it gives me ultimate free time, ultimate travel time ultimate enjoyment, and it gives me ability to meet you guys face to face and say, you know, let's make this thing work. So for carlina Mendoza, thank you very much for dropping me their email and thank you for everybody else's dropped me emails. She's doing a lot. I'm long journey ahead. I think I'm doing a lot as well. I'm in a much better place because of it. And I can't emphasise enough I know I'm running home but I can already realise that social media is bad. I'm going to say that it's more than bad. It's It's terrible. Okay, limit your time on it, get on, get off and focus in what's happening in in the real world. And I guarantee you'll start to feel better. I feel better already after a week. And I was a very small term time user of social media. Really, really important. Thank you so much, everybody, for listening to Join Up Dots, got loads of interviews coming through, we're really got a load in the can so you're not going to be missing out on stuff. One of the things I'm doing at the moment I've decided that I'm going to create an online course totally free to show you how you can make 1000 pounds a month really easily. And believe me once you do this, you're up in money. So I'm going to be giving that out for free once I've got that sorted, and I've got a load of other stuff as well to help you guys. Create your dream life or start paying off debts and stuff and being happy and going, you know, without Join Up Dots. I wouldn't be where I am today. Until next time, we see you know, coffee sales. Love you. Bye Outro 23:00 Bessie and China you heard the conversation. Now when it's time for you to start taking massive action. Create your life easy only life. Will be back again real soon. Join Up Dots Join Up Dots Join Up Dots. Jolene, Jolene Return To The Top Of Stephen Pacinelli If you enjoyed this episode with Stephen Pacinelli, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy

Introducing Mike Volkin Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots show is Mr Mike Volkin, who is big on freelancing and making this approach work for others. As he says "I have built and sold 4 companies and wrote 5 books (one-best seller). I recently launched Freelancer Masterclass to empower all those who side-hustle who want to make real income (that will replace their full-time job..) But he wasn't always as focused on this as you might expect. Leaving the Stephen F Austin State University with a master of science, environmental science and biology in 2000, he moved through several marketing positions within the corporate world for nearly twenty years. But as we see time and time again, an idea was brewing until it couldn't be denied anymore and he gave birth to that idea and made it real. That was Freelancer Masterclass in April 2019, which is a 9 step course that is 100% online. The courses contain video content, homework and quizzes. Along with the courses are interactive student chat boards and live bi-weekly classes so you can continue your education and interact with students and instructors. The instructors at Freelancer Masterclass are the best...of the best....of the best. These are freelancers who have proven themselves to be a master in their field. So was this idea one that once launched was perfect from the beginning or did it grow over a period of time? And why did it take so long for this action taking to truly start in earnest? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Mike Volkin Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Mike Volkin such as: Mike shares how he used to try to function on less than four hours sleep per night and how it made him reassess. Mike reveals how he once spent over $40,000 on a website before ever checking to see that it was market fit. Big mistake How 30% of the worlds population are now freelancing across the world, a figure that is expanding every year. And lastly................. Mike shares how his passion has changed dramatically when the entrepreneurial bug really beat into him and the steps that he took. How To Connect With Mike Volkin Website Facebook Twitter Linkedin Return To The Top Of Mike Volkin If you enjoyed this episode with Mike Volkin, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here– enjoy Interview Transcription For Mike Volkin Interview David Ralph 0:00 Once upon a time, there was a guy with a dream, a dream to quit his job support himself online and have a kick ass life. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt, until he found the magic ingredient and no struggles became a thing of the past. I of course, was that person. And now My dream is to make things happen for you. Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:27 When we're young that we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be, but somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling in Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:52 Yes. Hello, man. Good morning, everybody. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning and welcome to another power fueled inspirational moment. combinational conversational episode of Join Up Dots. As you would expect if you've been listening to Join Up Dots over the last six years. That's what we deliver and we're going to deliver it again to you. But today's guest joining us on the show is big on freelancing and making this approach work for others. As he says, I've built and sold four companies and wrote five books one bestseller, and I recently launched Freelancer masterclass to empower all those who side hustle who want to make real income that will replace their full time job. But it wasn't always as focused on this, as you might expect, leaving the Stephen F. Austin State University with a Master's of Science, environmental science and biology in 2000. He moved through several marketing positions within the corporate world for nearly 20 years. But I guess as we see time and time again, an idea was brewing until it couldn't be denied anymore, and he gave birth to that idea and made it real. Now that was Freelancer masterclass in April 2019. Which is a nine step course that is 100%. Online. The course contains video content, homework and quizzes. Along with the courses are interactive student chat boards and lively bi weekly classes. So you can continue your education and interact with students and instructors. Instructors at Freelancer master class are the best of the best of the best. These are freelancers who have proven themselves to be a master in their field. So what's this idea one that once launch was perfect from the beginning? Or did it kind of come out a bit ugly and grow over a period of time? And why did it take so long for this action truly to start taking shape? Right now as we bring on to the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Mike Volkin. Good morning Mike. How are you? Mike Volkin 2:50 That was quite the introduction. I'm doing great. Thanks for having me on a longtime fan. David Ralph 2:54 I've we picked you up because when we first connected you was all floaty and all relaxed and you said you've just you just been Busy meditating, I don't think you can be busy meditating. But you'd certainly sounded like you'd got the benefits of it. Mike Volkin 3:07 Yeah, I'm really into meditating now, because I'm just getting to the point where I'm good enough that it's making a positive impact and on my stress and my time management, so I try to do it before guest podcasts like this and other other live events. So it's, it really helps me out. David Ralph 3:24 Now, I'm going to jump straight into this because my listeners will have heard me mentioned this, I can't do it. I can't do it. I, I kind of expect to be floating three feet off the off the floor. And then somebody the other day said to me know, as long as you're sitting there relaxed, then that's meditation as well. It doesn't have to be rolling white eyeballs, and sort of weird things happening. What do you do? How do you get into it? Is it just sort of just relaxing and then just thinking about things? Mike Volkin 3:54 Yeah, the best part about meditation is you really can't do it wrong. You just got to stick with it. It's kind of like going to the gym the first few times. You go it kind of feels weird and uncomfortable and different. You know, first time I meditated, I'm like, What am I doing in this empty room by myself, it kind of felt weird. But then, uh, you know, you stick with it. And after three weeks and four weeks, it's kind of you feel a little bit of some of the benefits. And then you just like going to the gym after a couple months, you start to see some noticeable changes. So really, what I do is I just, I sit in a room, I actually use an app called headspace. There's lots of apps out there, there's one called clear that's very positive, that's very unpopular. But really, I just let the guided meditation, meditation and voice just do its thing for 10 to 15 minutes, I just sit there, I make sure I don't lay down a lot of people make that mistake is they just they lay down, they get to relax. But with meditation, you want to be up and alert, I sit in a chair, and I just let my thoughts and my brain go with the flow and take it where it may and at the end of 10 minutes I just feel a lot more relaxed, a lot more focus, which is the big thing. And I really think now it's getting to a point where it's it's almost an investment on my time. If I don't do it, I kind of feel unproductive. David Ralph 5:02 Yeah, now I agree with you. I went through a big phase of Hustle, Hustle, Hustle, Hustle, Hustle and got into some terrible condition. Now my thing is sleep, I get as much sleep as I can humanly squeeze into me. And you know, I just don't see it as a waste of time. I used to, I used to. So were you ever that kind of entrepreneurial idiot, but so many of us are where we go, I only need three hours sleep a month, and I can still function where you've ever that kind of guy. Mike Volkin 5:33 Yeah, you know, I mentioned I was a fan of the show, and I know I'm going to be doing a sermon on the mic. So that's one of the things I was mentioning is one of the big mistakes, or actually that's one of the things I will mention. During that sermon on the mic segment is one of the big mistakes I made when I was a serial entrepreneur still am but when I was really trying to build and sell companies fast, I was just working nonstop and I would lose sleep. I at best get four hours of sleep, trying to bring a product or service to market as fast possible. I know now, the real way to do it correctly is the exact opposite of Oh, hey, I did it. David Ralph 6:05 Now, what do we buy into that then Mike, why? Why does everybody either go through that? Is it to prove that they've actually committed? Because I kind of feel that that's the answer. We all kind of think, well, we can't say that women entrepreneur, we can't say we're starting a business unless we put any effort in. So let's really put the effort in. Mike Volkin 6:25 Yeah, it's almost like inspiration, you know, you get this inspiration, like you want to quit your job or you want to build a business or whatever is inspiring you and motivating you. And it's human nature, just to go all in 100% and really go after it, especially for someone who's entrepreneurial minded. But the real thing to do is pace yourself, you know, I'm a big tennis player, I, I play competitively. And, you know, what I want to do is I want to swing as fast as I can at every ball and hit the ball as hard as heck. But the real way to get the most control and most power out of the ball is to is to control your arm. It's kind of the same way with an entrepreneur. You don't go all in and Go fast, like like a sprint. You want to pace yourself and be smart about it. David Ralph 7:05 Now, let's get you into the freelancer world because that's why I invited you on the show because I, I like the idea of freelancing as a step towards entrepreneurship. I now after going through it, I think a lot of people could really do with being in the freelancer world for a couple of years as a tester to actually going out on their own. Would you agree? Mike Volkin 7:31 Absolutely. There's a term, you know, side hustlers. As you can imagine, it's a very popular gig economy. It's just getting so popular. It's I think, I saw a stat was an infographic by upwork.com, which is the largest Freelancer platform in the world, they, they had said that over 30% of people worldwide who have full time jobs, do some kind of side hustle. So it's getting super popular and now, companies are starting to be more in tune to hiring freelancers, as opposed to two full time employees. So who knows What the next 10 or even 20 years will bring for the gig economy. Now, David Ralph 8:04 one of the reasons I like the freelancer world is it helps people develop their skills without having to try to get customers because that is the fundamental difference between having a business and really having a business people will sit there in a pub going, yes, what I'm going to do is do this and do that. And they kind of think of it as a kind of visual sense of, yes, I'm going to get a website, I'm going to get some business cards, but they don't really grasp the fact of how difficult it is in the early days to get customers. So we've freelancing sites like Upwork and all the other ones. A lot of that is taken away from them, isn't it and a lot of it naturally comes from Mike Volkin 8:45 Yeah, I mean, it's, it's easy and it's also hard to be a freelancer. I mean, the more you do it, the more you'll find it easy but getting started is the hardest part. It's you know, I referenced going to the gym, getting started is the hardest part right is actually making a commitment. You know, the way I got started With a certain skill set that makes me a good amount of money as a freelancer is I just read a couple books, you know, I mean, I was a marketer for a while. And I wanted to get into the technical side of search engine optimization. So I just started reading all the best books I could find on search engine optimization. And then I got a couple clients that way, just just from the knowledge I got from books, and that was several years ago. Now there's great sites out there like EU to me, and you know, those sites with courses even, you know, my own site. And, you know, there's ways that you can learn online from, from the best people in the world that will bring you video instruction step by step courses. I mean, there's so many research sources out there that you just really have to pick what you really are passionate about, and go with it and not just pick something because it's popular because someone else told you you should get into it. I David Ralph 9:46 mean, a simple way to actually pay for it. Now. I think, you know, I know YouTube's out there. I know YouTube's good, but I do think laser focused content developed, kept up to date, which is a key thing as well is worth paying for and there's a company out there I can't think what they're called you're gonna know who visa Mike I'm sure we've got like Gordon Ramsay doing a cookery class for you and Steve Martin Mike Volkin 10:11 doing classes David Ralph 10:12 master class of a year ago. And you look at that and you think, Well, why wouldn't you pay for that? Why wouldn't you have Mr. Ramsey teaching you something? You're not going to get that kind of knowledge elsewhere? Well, yeah. Mike Volkin 10:24 Yeah, I mean, there's there's YouTube obviously, we can go and you can see scattered information, you can type in a keyword, you'll get a video or two on the topic here and there. But the reason why I did masterclass is because it's a step by step course progression with actual resources spreadsheets that I use in my everyday business, you know, homework assignments and quizzes to track your progress. You just not going to get that on, on sites where you're watching a video or two on a particular topic, every now and then. So what's really popular is these masterclass style of courses where it's just leading the, the viewer through one specific step at a time and then by the end, you're Kind of progressive this whole course. And now you're just, you know, a rock star whatever you're doing with with my masterclass Freelancer masterclass, it's a nine step course. So you finish one you don't start on Step three, you start in step one for a reason. And then you go on to two, three and four that way. David Ralph 11:15 Now one of the things of course, we are going to be talking about that, but one of the things that interests me about you is I do my homework, and I go and I delve around, and I could see that you you left University in 2000, and being your LinkedIn profile starts about 2010. And I'm intrigued by that 10 year what what were you doing? Well, you were you flew in around California getting drunk and surfing, what were you doing? Mike Volkin 11:42 That was last week. So I was I graduated and I played the corporate game for a while, you know, my father was a scientist and I kind of liked science in high school. So I figured what the heck I'll study science, environmental science and college, got a couple degrees, got a dual bachelor's degree and then I got a master's degree. Then I went out and I spent time doing some environmental consulting, and I freaking hated it. I mean, I liked the work. It wasn't that bad, but it wasn't my passion. I mean, I was just living the weeks living the months that year by year went by, and I just, I just wasn't, it wasn't doing it for me, you know? So David Ralph 12:17 it wasn't a mic looking back on it now, why wasn't it because, you know, okay, you can float through, you get paid, you get a Christmas bonus or whatever. Why wasn't it doing it for you? Mike Volkin 12:27 You know, it was more along the lines of people telling me when I could go on vacation when I needed to go to work when I could leave. But really, the big thing was my life's purpose. You know, I started thinking about when people look down on my grave at my funeral, what what am I going to be known for? Is it for the bed, I worked for 20 years for this company. I mean, what I was doing, honestly, as a scientist, especially as an environmental scientist, and I would I would travel all over the country, and I would write reports for comfort corporations and factories to tell them how much they can pollute within the law. And, you know, that wasn't my whole purpose. This one was to tell companies how much they could literally pollute within the law of their of their state or the federal government. And I would help clean up certain sites, what's called Superfund sites. But, you know, ultimately, I mean, my passion just changed. I went from wanting to, you know, help the earth and being a lab and do measurements and studies to get that entrepreneurial bug that once once that hits you that hits your heart and hasn't let go sense David Ralph 13:25 because I remember when the bug hits me. And it was just the fact that I started looking around. And I think for many years, and I've referenced this a lot when I started work, I'm an older man when you Mike, but when I started in 1986, there was no internet. There was no email, there was nothing. So you basically were quite content. Looking back on it. There was no mobile phone. You just went to work. The old way of a big pile of paper, and then at the end of it, it was like just go home. But once you start looking around and seeing what other people are doing and what other people are sharing claim to fame, why not me? And it's the big part of my life that I think, why do other people not feel like that? You know, why is that person just beeping things through beep beep at the supermarket? Why are they just content to sit there? Why Why haven't they got that spoke? Mike Volkin 14:20 Yeah, you know, some people, the vast majority of people are like that, you know, I mean, my wife is one of those people who loves her job. She likes going in at eight she loves you know, getting off at five and she likes her off time and she likes her vacation time. There's no fault to you know, people who liked that. But there are a lot of us millions and millions of us who just get that sense of, you know, what would it be like if I put this product to market I've always had this idea in my head for a book I've, I wonder if my extra knowledge I have on I don't know, football coaching could make me some money and then once you get a taste, in my experience once you get a taste of being your own boss and working your own hours and work Wherever you want in the world, I mean, there's just no comparison to corporate life. You can give me all the vacation time and salary you want. There's, there's no no going back for me to corporate life. No, I David Ralph 15:10 agree 100% just the fact that I don't have to book holiday, I just kind of go and we can use don't really mean anything to me. They just have a blend into one. And there are restrictions, you know, we're not getting to get away from the fact that it's just a walk in the park because he's not. And we're going to come back to that shortly. Here's Oprah. Oprah Winfrey 15:30 The way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, what is the next right move? not think about, Oh, I got all of this stuff. What is the next right move? And then from that space, make the next right move, and the next right move and not to be overwhelmed by it because you know, your life is bigger than that one moment. You know, you're not defined by what somebody says is a failure for you because failure is just there to point You in a different direction. David Ralph 16:01 Now I remember walking around in the early days thinking, oh my god, everything's going to go terrible. Nobody's going to buy this, nobody's gonna buy that. And by weren't they weren't buying anything in the early days and I think it was kind of there was a desperation to me. There wasn't that Tom aim of bedding in an understanding actually what your value is you're just trying to pay bills. But I also look back on it, Mike. And this is where I'm leading with this question that even though I walked around thinking, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god never turned up. I always found a way through. I always manage to do something to pay that month's bills or find it from some other source. Do you look back at those kind of fledgling days when you fall? It was all a pack of cards and actually think I think it was a lot more stable than I imagined. Mike Volkin 16:53 He Yeah, that's a really good example. And I love that quote from Oprah. It's um, it's all about goals. You know? It's amazing what you can accomplish even if you think something isn't going to happen. And that's, you know, one of the things I talked about meditation, but I'm also into self talk positive self talk that helps as well. You know, somebody approaching a task, or even a goal as something you can't do. It's amazing what your brain is capable of. And, you know, there's a goal a right way to do goals in a wrong way. When I tell my Freelancer students to make goals, they usually just come back with a yearly revenue number. And I'm like, no, that's not a goal. You can't evaluate a goal after a full year, you have to break them up into smaller chunks. So just like what Oprah was saying, you know, don't just look at the big picture, look at what it's going to take to chunk that out into smaller pieces of goals. So one goal should be 10 or even 20 separate goals that are very attainable, but still challenging. That's the true way to make progress. David Ralph 17:48 episode eight of Join Up Dots. Six years ago, this was before I launched was a lady called Pamela slim. Now I'd never heard of Pamela slim and once I got her on the show a lot of people said to me Oh, how did you get her on the show and in those days I was just sending emails out willy nilly to people but they always remembers that she said but what she does with all her clients who are stuck is break down everything into those tiny little dots you know those tiny little chunks so it's not like right create a website and do this and do that too big. First of all it is you know, get a comfortable chair get your pens and paper you know tiny little tiny micro steps but lead you along that garden path and then you can quite easily build up build up progress because I think with what you've done and what so many people do, it frightens other people because they see the end sexy product and they don't see the ugly beginning Mike Volkin 18:46 Yeah, I mean look at any social media influencer with 5 million followers, making making their hundred thousand dollars a year on YouTube that you look at that and it's intimidating, but it took lots of milestones to get to that point and lots of individual goals. So, you know, it's, it's about making those goals but making them attainable. I had a client, a student who wanted to write a book and said, you know, Mike, how did you write five books? And I said, What is your book going to be about? And he told me and I didn't quite understand. So I said, you know, what, can you do me a favour and just write the Table of Contents as if you know, you'd be explaining it to me just write out the main chapters. And then he came back to me, he's like, okay, here's the table of contents. You know what I did, I actually wrote out the first first chapter as well, because I started getting into it. Once I wrote the table of contents and things started getting very clear. In my mind, I'm like, see, that's, that's how you do it. You were thinking about writing a book as it being a huge task. But all I did was I asked you to write the Table of Contents out, and now it's starting to form a book on its own. So you can take that analogy and form it to any tasks that you might have in your plate. Now, anybody listening, if there's something that you've always wanted to do that you're kind of always put there's always something that seems to be a priority over it, but it's something that you've been thinking about for years. You know, it's time just to take the smallest possible chunk and just just start doing it. Our goal this week to do something towards that, that chunk to get that started and you'll be surprised that it will be like a, like a rolling snowball downhill. It takes a little bit of effort to get that snowball forms. But once it starts going downhill, it's going to pick up steam on its own. David Ralph 20:12 Because I'm always blown away, Mike, I teach people how to build rocking and rolling online businesses that sort of change their lives. And I would say 95% of them turn up and they say, Oh, I bought URL already. I bought a domain name already. And I go well, what have you done now because you haven't defined your avatar you haven't defined your your goals, you haven't defined your offer. And I guarantee that's going to change as you proceed through. And I suppose what it is it's that enthusiasm to let's get going. But most of them won't give up that URL over. You know, it's about $9 and even though I say to them, Look, there's a bad one out there we can really get some traffic we can really get a brand going. They still want cling to that. That's strange, don't you think? I don't actually understand why I've never asked them but they seem strange to me. Mike Volkin 21:07 Yeah, that's where the experience of being an entrepreneur comes in. I mean, you got a growth hack that kind of stuff, why build out a website and, and I made those mistakes before I spent $40,000 building a business once before I even took it to market and then I realised once I started getting some customers that it wasn't the, the exact product market fit that they were looking for. But you know, it's just a matter of prioritising what needs to be done website very rarely comes first and like you said avatar, Product Market Fit competitive research that kind of stuff needs to be done but you know, that's sexy is to get a website and get a domain and now you feel official. And if that's okay, if it's something cheap and quick like getting a website, at least a domain, that's fine, but I wouldn't I would avoid building out a full website before you have all that other all your other ducks in a row, David Ralph 21:52 because only become fascinated recently about IP addresses. Now it just sounds boring, but I'm fascinated by Every single person has now got the ability to get different search results from Google because Google is so focused on local search, because that's the power. And I'm, I'm obsessed with this concept that every town is a market in itself, every street, and you start with looking at the people next door to you, more than you look across the globe. You know, I just find it fascinating. When I'm driving around my town thinking there's a market, there's a market and every single person has got the ability to dominate. Now, if we save that, why is it then that a lot of people think that it's more difficult than it is because it's not they're the only ones really living in that area? But you've got the the lion's share right at the very beginning? Is it knowledge, or is it belief, Mike? Mike Volkin 22:52 I think it's a combination of both but isn't it amazing? You're talking about, you know, in the at starting businesses in the 90s and I was starting in the Early 2000s it's like, I would have never imagined that I could run a Facebook or a Google ad that would target a specific neighbourhood in, you know, anywhere in my town or anywhere across the United States. I can get super specific if I wanted to target. You know, a freelancer who is specifically in California who makes is a side hustler in she does writing like, I could target that exact person for an exact course that I have. I mean, it's, it's just amazing the opportunities that are available now and where it's going in the future is even more amazing. I mean, with all this mobile technology, what cars have Wi Fi now, I mean, who knows where advertising is going to be five or 10 years from now, but it's certainly a lot different than just opening up the Yellow Pages, what we did a few decades ago, and that was literally your marketing department is where you are listed in the yellow pages. David Ralph 23:45 So we take you back to the freelancer route. Are we now saying that the freelancers I've got even more opportunity because of what we've just discussed, or have a better to, to go across the world and a better become global and I better to join up work and all these different sites but their network reach. Mike Volkin 24:07 Yeah, I know a lot of freelancers who just work in their area locally, there's something to be said about that. I live in Sonoma County in California. And there's a big wine region here, we produce a lot of the world's wine. And I know freelancers who are specific to working, just the wineries, and they are not interested in anything else other than outside of Sonoma County and Napa County out here that produces the fantastic wine. But then there's people like me, I've worked with clients in over 20 countries, and I love it. I think that's great. I'm working with a website right now. And Saudi Arabia is a women's clothing company of all companies. And it's just fascinating the cultural differences and the mar

Introducing Mort Fertel Today's guest is the Mort Fertel is a leading authority on the psychology of relationships with a global reputation for saving marriages. He’s the creator of Marriage Fitness, a new methodology to marital healing (a proven alternative to marriage counselling). This breakthrough relationship renewal system was born out of Mort’s own marital crisis, as he and his wife worked together to pick up the pieces of their marriage after the tragic loss of three children. Marriage Fitness, which instructs couples to set aside their problems and make positive choices going forward (instead of fixing their broken past), has saved millions of couples from marital crisis. How The Dots Joined For Mort Mort has been a featured expert on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and the FOX News Network; he’s also a frequent guest on talk radio programs. The Marriage Fitness program has appeared in numerous media publications, including The New York Times, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, USA Today, and many more. Mort is a former marathon runner who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania before serving as the CEO of an international nonprofit organization. When he’s not helping others build strong relationships, Mort loves spending time with his wife and five children at their home in Baltimore, Maryland. So does he look back and think wow I have tackled something bigger than I could have possibly dreamt off? And would he recommend people following suit and start their own business? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mort Fertel. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Mort Fertel such as: We discuss the difference between pain and torture and discover that pain always has a purpose. Use the pain to find solutions for better relationships. Why a couple does not have to be compatible to be truly connected and build an amazing relationship that lasts. Mort and his wife actually didn't want to start a business, but they had the passion to create a mission to help the world. And lastly....... Why it is so important to identify and resolve the problems in your life to change the dynamics of your marriage. How To Connect With Mort Fertel Website Facebook Linkedin Twitter Return To The Top Of  Mort Fertel If you enjoyed this episode with Mort Fertel, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy Interview Transcription Of Mort Fertel Interview David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time, there was a guy with a dream, a dream to quit his job to support himself online and have a kick ass life. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout, I'm dead, until you found the magic ingredient and no struggles became a thing of the past, of course, was that person. And now My dream is to make things happen for you. Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:27 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:52 Yes, hello. Good morning to you. Good morning to you one and all. Thank you so much for being here on the Join Up Dots podcast show Giving you the inspiration and the motivation to go out and create your own business, get your own dream lives and basically have a bloody good time in the process. Well, today's guest on the show, he is a leading authority on the psychology of relationships with a global reputation for saving marriages. He's the creator of marriage fitness, a new methodology to marital healing, a proven alternative to marriage counselling. Now this breakthrough relationship renewal system was born out of his own marital crisis as he and his wife worked together to pick up the pieces of their marriage after the tragic loss of three children. Now marriage fitness which instructs couples to set aside their problems and make positive choices going forward. Instead of fixing their broken past as a the millions of couples from marital crisis. He's been featured expert on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and the Fox News Network and he's also a frequent guest on talk radio programmes. Now the marriage fitness programme has appeared Numerous media publications, including the New York Times, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, and many more, and he's a former marathon runner who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania before serving as the CEO of an international nonprofit organisation. Now, that's all busy stuff, but when he's not helping others build strong relationship, he loves spending time with his wife and five children at their home in Baltimore, Maryland. So does he look back and think, Wow, I've tackled something bigger than I could have possibly dreamt up starting this. And what do you recommend people following suit and starting in their own similar business? Well, let's find out as we bring on the show to start joining up doors with the one and only Mr. Mort Fertel Mort Fertel 2:47 Good morning, David. I'm doing great. Thank you so much. David Ralph 2:50 It's lovely to have you here. I need to start right from the start big you know, I can't think how terrible it is to lose preaching. Children so you know, let's let's get away from it but bad times have led to good times would you say in Join Up Dots sort of formula? Mort Fertel 3:11 Yeah, we, you know, we we really responded in the end, we responded very well to a tragic situation and take away from the pain of the tragedy and the difficulty of the time, but at least we're able to look back and see that it did have a purpose. It did have a meaning. You know, somebody wants shared with me the difference between, you know, sort of pain and torture. torture is when your pain has no purpose, but pain itself. If you can find meaning and purpose in it, it's tolerable and in the end to the book, sometimes be a blessing. David Ralph 3:57 Well off the 2000 plus shows of Join Up Dots. Literally every man and woman will say that the darkest times in their life were actually the lightest times when they look back on it, it was the moment that they either got the strength or the clarity, or the motivation and enthusiasm to make things better not only for themselves, but for other people. And that's how a business is born. So, as I say, big credit to you to turn that into a positive and let's make it a whole show. A positive. Now, you've got something here that is the marriage fitness and you say it's a new methodology to marital healing, a proven alternative to marriage counselling now, I've never been to either. I've got a rock solid marriage, hopefully Fingers crossed. But what actually is the difference in between marital healing and marriage counselling. Mort Fertel 4:52 You mean diversity, marriage, fitness and marriage counselling? Marriage fitness is the name of the methodology that I created. It's An alternative to marriage counselling. And the differences in short, marriage fitness is not about fixing what's wrong. It's about making new things, right. And what I came to realise was that in a relationship when you make new things, right, it creates a connection between the husband and wife. And it's that lack of connection. It really is ultimately, at the core, the problem of every relationship, in marriage counselling in marriage therapy, typically, of course, it all depends on the therapist. So there are certainly exceptions. But typically, they start with the question of what's wrong. And you get launched into a whole discussion about your problems and your issues, and you try to sort of resolve conflict. But those problems that issues that are, are the answer to that question those problems and issues that you might identify as the problem in the relationship. Really just a symptom, it's not really the problem, even though it's what would come to mind and what bothers you. Really, the problem at the at the core is a lack of connection between a husband and wife. And when a husband and wife reconnect, when those problems just sort of disappear. I'll give you an example. You know, typically in marriage counselling and therapy, they'll work on communication techniques, right? And you know, he'll learn about Mars and children learn about Venus, and they'll practice all these different communication techniques. And they'll repeat after me that I understand what you said. And the irony is, this is after 510 15 years of marriage and really knowing each other upside down and inside out, and we can't seem to see two words to each other and communicate well, without using all these fancy communication techniques. And even then it doesn't work. But if you think back to early in your relationship before you really knew each other, you could communicate with the Wink of enough and you finish each other's sentences. And he didn't know the difference between Mars and Venus and you had practised any communication techniques. How could that be? Because at the beginning, you were connected, and 10 510 15 years down the line, that connection got broken. And so communication techniques don't lead to a deep connection between a husband and wife. It's the other way around. A deep connection between a husband and wife leads to easy communication. And so, in typically, in marriage, counselling and therapy will go backwards into the past the problems and the issues and try to resolve them. The marriage fitness approach is completely different. We're not about trying to fix what's wrong. We're about trying to make new things right. Because at the end of the day, it's by doing that you really do end up fixing what's wrong. It's one of my own students said I can't take credit for this line, although it's perfect. He said I get it what you said the problems don't actually get resolved, they just dissolve. And that's perfectly said. David Ralph 8:08 Now, I don't understand why marriages go wrong. As I say, you know, I think that it is a lack of communication. Me and my wife had nothing in common at all other than the love of ourselves and each other, and the love of our family and our kids. And if she wants to, you know, do something, I am the polar opposite, but we just find that common ground. And we always know that. It's even when it's at its worst, it's still the best thing around. I don't understand why people stop talking to each other. Where as you say, when you first meet, you literally sit talking for hours and you're on the phone or you're in restaurants or whatever, and you just can't get enough of each other. Why do people stop talking? Mort Fertel 8:56 So before I answer that, if you don't mind, I just want to say you just have on something. It's fascinating and brilliant. And I want to just underscore it for your audience. What you just said about your marriage was that you and your wife have almost nothing in common. And yet you have a great marriage and are deeply in love. And in a in a very personal way, you just addressed one of the biggest myths about relationships, which is that a successful relationship has to include people who are quote, compatible. I call this the compatibility. It says if liking the same music and wanting to go to the same sporting events and liking the same food and liking the same climate tastes and furniture and who knows what else people think is like makes me compatible with the other is what makes for a successful relationship. And that is a total lie. Compatibility has nothing to do with a successful relationship. There are plenty of couples like yourself, who might not consider themselves quote compatible, but in working connected, they feel close, they feel they feel in love. And that's not because they share the same interests. It's because they share the same life. And compatibility is something that's very vulnerable. It could be when you first meet and fall in love, it could be that you do that you are compatible, that you do have a shared interests, for example. But if it's those shared interests that are the the cornerstone of the relationship, then the relationship is very vulnerable. Because interests can change, tastes and music can change decisions about what kind of job you want, and where you want to live can change. But when you have a deep core connection, like you just described, that you have with your wife, that's not vulnerable to these outside compatibilities and therefore, the relationship is not horrible. So I know that didn't answer your question, but I hope you don't mind. Just taking a moment, it was fascinating what you said. And it just gave me an opportunity to bring out to your audience a really important point. That's often. Yeah. So an answer to your question, why do people stop talking? Look at the risk of being repetitive. Why? Let's talk about why people talk. People talk because they feel close. People talk because they want to share their life. People talk because they feel connected. They feel intimate. And so people stop talking. People distance themselves from their spouse, when they start to feel disconnected. When they feel don't when they feel not close, when they feel like this person is no longer integrated into my like, the inner part of my life. And so then I have nothing to talk about. And the things that I really want to say that are really all my mind that in my heart, I don't feel comfortable sharing anymore. Because I don't feel that closeness and intimacy. David Ralph 12:07 I'm going to jump in there mo because I know that my wife has 100 million conversations going on with people in 100 million different ways. All of them more than you know, a few words here, a few words there. And I say to her, you know, why don't you phone them up and just talk to him? Oh, I don't want to talk to them. And she's just having all these like bite size all of them conversations with people on messenger and, and WhatsApp and all that kind of stuff. Has that, in your view changed the way that relationships occur? Because, you know, if you go back 100 years ago, you know, before electricity when it went dark, you probably made up your own entertainment. And most of it was about being with each other. Mort Fertel 12:49 So this question, this could be an entire podcast itself. This is a big topic, which I have a lot to say on and you know, you'll you'll you The interview and you tell me our deep you want to go into the slave David Ralph 13:03 you? I will, sir. Mort Fertel 13:06 Okay. But just to start, I think I think that one of the ways in which he has a big impact on relationships is that technology digital communication allows us to experience what I call counterfeit connection. In other words, this this poor connection that I was describing, which is the essence of love, and the heart soul of a good relationship between a husband and wife, person get sort of a calc, a sort of Kwazii counterfeit experience of that collection through digital communication. But the problem is that that connection that we have through digital communication, with government with maybe sometimes dozens or hundreds or even thousands of people It's a very wide connection. The net is cast very wide. I can touch and reach and share my photos and my life with a lots of people. But the connection, it's wide, but it's very shallow. But the real richness of life, the real fulfilment in life comes not from a wide, wide connection that is shallow. It comes from narrow connections that are very deep, but I say narrow, I mean, with a small group of people and if you think about in your life, who's really important to you, what, what relationships really bring your life fulfilment, satisfaction, and enrichment. It's usually just a few relationships. And if you're not experiencing this, if you don't relate to what I just said, it's probably because you've been seduced into this wide net of shallow relationships at the cost of the expense of the real fulfilment, that comes from a few relationships that go really quite deep. So this digital communication that allows us to connect widely what's at risk our marriages, and the whole secret of a, a small number of relationships. And this is a, you know, a wide net discussion a little bit. Isn't it fascinating that we are in the most abundant times in the history of the world. We have the ability to communicate and have relationships with more people. We have more comforts or conveniences, higher standard of living, greater ability to communicate, travel, to get well with we're sick access to medicine. I mean, standard of life is, is just off the charts. If you look at World History, at the same time, that we have advanced in that way, the rate of depression, suicide, loneliness, adoption, adultery, alcoholism, drug addiction, and the list goes on has skyrocketed. Unknown Speaker 16:27 How could that be? David Ralph 16:28 Well, we all know why that is done way. We all know why that is. Mort Fertel 16:32 Right. And I think the reason is exactly what we're speaking about here. Because many of these things, and these are the shallowness of these things, and of our relationships are coming at the expense of the things that really matter most. David Ralph 16:52 know if we spin this on our own its head and take it into the more entrepreneurial view. of the business that you've built. Do you need to have lived this to be able to teach this? So if somebody is out there, and they're listening to this conversation, and they're thinking, Oh, marriage support, I'd never thought of doing that. Do you need to have a crappy marriage to be able to teach people? You know how to do this? Mort Fertel 17:21 I don't know if you need to, but it's hard for me to imagine otherwise. I can't see you need some because I don't feel comfortable saying that. But let's put it this way. I can't imagine it otherwise, I can tell you that the feedback I get from the people that I have worked with, in my programme, is that the programme works, they succeed, because they know I've been where they're at. And I can show them firsthand how to get from where they are to where they want to be. Yeah. And it's not something that I learned in a classroom. It's not an intellectual Ever. It's based on not only my own personal experience, but it's based on the professional experience I've had working with thousands and thousands and thousands of couples that have taken them through this path. So, you know, I think that one of the, just to tie it back to previous piece of our discussion, I think that one of the problems or failures with marriage counselling and marriage therapy is sometimes the marriage counsellor, and the marriage therapist. In other words, I don't think, for me to really succeed and for you to really learn how to turn your marriage on, I have to be a live wire. You have to be able to feel in the what I'm teaching and what I'm sharing. It can't just be some intellectual endeavour. And I think in many cases, I mean, look, let's be honest, you know, to get a licence to be a marriage counsellor. You don't even have to be married. No less have a good marriage. Yeah. Right. I mean, it's it is a academic endeavour, which is kind of silly if you think about it, because what in the world is academic about trying to transform a marriage? I mean, this is typical of man, I'm going to make a commentary outside of marriage camp. This is typical of the entire mental health industry, right? Entire mental health industry wants people to think that it is a science, not an art, they want to be able to assign diagnostic codes. They want to be able to relate to the science of mind. And by the way, they want to be able to get paid by insurance companies. And in order to get paid by insurance companies, you have to assign a diagnostic code and in order to have a diagnosis, so you have to make this like sort of scientific, what we're talking about the heart, we're talking about. Soul, we're talking about the mind. And it's not scientific, you know, it is a bit of an art. And it has a lot to do with character development. And so, you know, the entire mental health industry, not just marriage counsellors and therapists have really, you know, tried to try and try to sort of transform this into something sort of scientific. And it's much more of a personal. And if you haven't been there and haven't experienced it, how can you possibly give somebody something that you don't have? You know, the analogy that I sometimes like to use is, let's say you wanted to know about the moon. You could go in one of two directions. We could go to Harvard, and speak to some Professor on astronomy. And I imagine he could share with us a lot of interesting data about the moon. There's somebody else we could talk to, though that I think would be much more excited. Unknown Speaker 21:01 Neil Armstrong David Ralph 21:04 Yeah, but he wouldn't talk to you when he he never want to talk about the moon at all. I would Neil Armstrong with a get the point. I get the point I get the point. Well, let's listen to these words now. And then we're going to be back with more detail. Steve Jobs 21:24 You ready to make a full time living online? Check out the amazing Join Up Dots business coaching. Hello, my name is Alan. And I've just completed the excellent eight week course with David before I started working with David Actually, I had no idea where to where to start. I had a lot of ideas about what I probably thought was going to be good in business. David was out to help me through that guy to find that passion. Within literally minutes. We had we had a business idea. And for the last seven weeks, we've been building on it and building on that and the position I'm in now but if you've got an element Here on my own, because of the amount of information that David gives the structure, he's got the full package here. And he explains it in a way that I can understand. His support is is phenomenal. I feel like this is the way business is supposed to work, maybe help me understand what would the logical steps that I should do? How, how can I get this up and running? So I would really recommend this is an excellent course helping you if you have an idea, you have no idea, really teasing that out and some of the practicalities and steps to take to really launch your business whether as a full time job was a side hustle. So it was really excellent. I recommend it for anybody thinking about setting up their own business, or both. It's an exaggeration to say David will totally save you, us. Thank you, David for your amazing help and support which keeps on going. And we certainly couldn't be where we are today without you. So your author David Ralph 22:55 job you would love to become my next success story and have your own life changing. Business following my step by step system, fine tuned over many years to take away the effort and expense that others struggle with, and come across to Join Up dots.com and book a free call with myself. Let's get you living easy life, as it's there waiting for you to get it. That is Join Up dots.com business coaching. So, mort, let's take you back to the early days of your business, you've gone through difficulties in your marriage, you then decide to actually transition and build this business now. What you doing similar stuff beforehand, was this a natural transition? Or was this a total right term? Mort Fertel 23:43 It was a total return. And I think that it's important for people that are interested in starting a business to the most important thing, I think, is passion. And that's why You know what one thing I think that people can learn from my experience from a business point of view is that it came from a very personal place. I mean, my I really wasn't interested in starting a business. I was interested in starting a mission. My wife and I really felt after we discovered sort of this methodology for reconciling marriages, and at the same time realised how pathetic that the help that was available to people out there that were in similar situations, we really felt like we had a responsibility to sort of share this with the world kind of codify it and articulate it in a way that other people could utilise it. And it wasn't it wasn't like, it wasn't coming from a business place. It was coming from a place of being useful, a place of being helpful, a place of wanting to, you know, to contribute to two people into the world and asleep. Freaking away. And, and that translates into passion. And that kind of energy behind a quote, business is so crucial to its success. It's crucial to its success for a couple of reasons. First of all, it's incredibly motivating to the people behind the business. I mean, if you're just motivated to build the business, because you why because you want to make money because you want to drive a fancy car because, like, why there, it's just that that motivation is going to work very quickly and very easily unless there's something else behind it that's really driving you. David Ralph 25:41 But I'm just going to stop you there because what you're saying is absolutely right. And that's why so many businesses fail because they're basically screaming, bye, bye bye. And they're not thinking about Help, Help Help. But with your mission, did you have income coming in that allowed that mission to growing in the beginning, Mort Fertel 26:02 I didn't, but I was 30 I was in my late 30s when I first you know, created the marriage fitness methodology. So, so I already had a whole career before that I had, I had actually multiple careers before that. And so I had some we had some money to live on. I didn't, I didn't have to be working I was I was I had the luxury of being able to develop marriage fitness, without having to draw an income from it for a while, David Ralph 26:38 was have a plan to monetize it because what I want to say is well, more moving through the sort of business coaching world is people leave that final sale on the table for too long by build something based on a mission and then they feel almost guilty about saying, although I've been doing this for free Although I've been building this to help you, actually, I deserve some payment for it. Did you find that was a bridge too difficult to cross yourself? Mort Fertel 27:09 That's a great question. I had no problem with that. And the reason I had no problem with that is because I always had in mind even though it was driven, very mission driven, I always had in mind that I always knew that I wanted it to be profitable. And I wanted to profitable not only because I need to support my family, and I'm not a, you know, I'm not embarrassed to say I wanted to make money I needed I needed to make money. But I wanted it to be profitable, because in order for it to be successful, it had to be profitable. I can't do what I do, unless I'm able to support my family and do it at the same time. So in order for me to make the contribution that I wanted to make in order for me to have the impact that I wanted to have, the way I was going about this had to be profitable. So then why are you always always had that in mind and I hit No problem with, you know, the two piece right purpose and profit, or the two M's margin and mission. And I don't think they're in conflict with each other. I think they actually go hand in hand, because the profit drives the purpose, the margin drives the mission. And I also think that that we the profitability is an indication or a measurement of the contribution that you're making. I mean, if people aren't willing to pay you for what you're doing, then maybe it doesn't have any value. Now, I'm not saying that that is always the case. There are. I don't mean to disparage nonprofits. There are plenty of nonprofits who are doing very, very good work. And there is no business model that could never fund them. They need to rely on contributions and I'm not disparaging that It's fun. But, but in my mind, also, you know, the fact that people are willing to pay you for your product or your service is an indication of the value that it's bringing them. David Ralph 29:12 Well, it's not just the value, though is it is the value, and it's the transformation. And that's the thing that I think people struggle with, they sell a product, but they don't actually think how is this going to transform somebody, and it's either from pain to pleasure, from broke to financial or whatever, they just give a product that sort of sits in the middle somehow, and it doesn't take them from one side of the bridge to the other. Do you see that a lot, because it seems obvious to me when I see a product I think it's never gonna sell because you're not actually giving them the rest of the bridge. You're just getting them halfway across. Mort Fertel 29:50 So do I see a lot I mean, I'm not really, you know, I'm in a different kind of gal or I'm not a business guy. I'm not. I don't, I don't usually look at things like so much from a business perspective. So when I see products or services that I don't know, I'm more I look at them, I think more from a consumer point of view than a business point of view. David Ralph 30:17 Now, how does your wife fit in to the business as well? Is it something that you total down to a little office in your house and sort of deal with customers and clients well, or is she part of it is, is the marriage fitness actually a marriage concern? Mort Fertel 30:35 The most important way that she's a part of it and this is, you know, I think an i

Introducing Life Is Crap Life is crap for sure. We get up everyday and try our best hopefully...making decisions that will bring us closer to happiness and our dreams. That of course is what we all want, but more often than not life has other plans for us. Life can be so hard and cruel it's untrue, and that has certainly been the case this week for myself and my family. This podcast episode breaks down what has been happening in my life this week. This life is crap episode goes behind the scenes of a major stroke that my mother has had this week. I talk about how it has of course affected her, but also how it has affected the whole family in negative ways. Not least by changing mindsets to life is crap mode, instead of focusing in on what an amazing gift even having a stroke is. Why Life Is Crap And Why It Shouldn't Be The world is full of the graves of people that would love to be moaning and groaning, but arent around anymore. Cancer victims, war heros, unfortunate souls that just were in the wrong place at the wrong time. People who would love one more day on earth. One more hug from their loved ones. Or simply one more breath. But alas, they were not given the chance as life is crap for them. For some reason their fate was sealed by forces out of their control..and why, well you know already Life is crap. But lets take another look at things and this time put a positive spin on them instead. My mum has had a major stroke and now is sitting in a hospital bed unable to move. She has a decision to make as she lays their with dark thoughts running around her mind. She can either think "well at least i am still here, surrounded by people that love and care for me" or "why the hell has this happened to me...i dont deserve it" She is still breathing, she is still eating, she is still watching Netflix. She isnt in a box six feet under the ground becoming lunch for worms. She is sitting up telling the world that life is crap, life is crap...oh my god how crap it is. Hopefully soon she will see what a gift that is. Transcription Of Life Is Crap Episode Intro 0:00 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:26 Yeah, how do they have good morning? Well, good morning, and thank you for being here with me on Join Up Dots. Now, this is a show I haven't planned. I haven't planned at all. I'm just turning on the mic. And I'm just going to start talking. And if my voice cracks a little bit, I'm very emotional at the moment. One of one of the things I wanted to do with Join Up Dots right at the very beginning was give you guys the inspiration to follow my journey and see that it's possible and not just being Oh yeah, he's this person that Barry's got a team of 1000 people and he's making it seem really, really easy. But it's not. It's just me. It's just me and I do you know, everything through Join Up Dots. And I've started it right from the very beginning, when it was just a dream in my head, and I've grown it to, you know where it is now seven years now coming down the line. And it's been hard. It's been really, really hard. And but it's been brilliant as well. And it's been sort of exciting, and I've connected with people across the world. But this week, it's been a bit of a difficult week for me personally. Last Saturday, my mom had a major stroke, and we didn't know excuse me, we didn't know anything about it. If you know anything about strokes, there's there's a very short window of time when you can reverse a stroke the blood clot goes to the brain and bacon sort of put chemicals in or something I don't know too much. about it To be honest, because I haven't read too much about it because when I have started reading it, it's upset me. So I'm not reading that. And I've sort of put it away. But there's a short window. And last Saturday, I was working here, my mom and dad live, probably about 10 minutes, five to 10 minutes across the town. And so I can get there very, very easily. And my dad went out for the morning on Saturday. And just after he left, my mom got up and had this massive stroke. And apparently she got out of bed. And she just sort of walked across to one side of the room, the opposite room to the phone, ironically, and suddenly fall, I don't feel very well and Ben she caught herself in the mirror and she said I could feel that one side of my face was going and that was it. She's all blacked out. Now when she came to she was trapped down beside the bed and her dressing table. And as it turns out, she fractured her ankle in two places as well. So she she basically laid there My dad came home about six hours later. And he came in and thought this is strange, you know, a cup of tea is downstairs, He always makes bourbon, certain things hadn't been done. And so he sort of walked upstairs now, but that's it too. And my mom's it should be it very, very shortly. And now it's fit as a fiddle. You know, they really are. There's been no issues at all, but anything. And he goes upstairs and he finds my mom trapped. And so he phones my wife, because that's the sort of emergency contact and she phoned me and I was just happening to go into a football match with my son. So she phoned him and I don't have a phone. I've never had a phone in my life. And this is the first time that I thought, shit, I should shut up a phone. Really, you know, what, what happens if something happens, you know, people always say what about emergency and I was saying emergencies don't really happen. They don't. And, you know, I still covered it because my son was with me, but you You know, we we turned around, we didn't go into the football match and we raced across the town. And we got there and it was evident. As soon as I got there that mom had had a stroke. And she was in a bad way she'd laid on the floor for about six hours. And with the emergency situation here, you have a four hour window. And so if she had managed to phone as soon as it happened, she would have already been in hospital but because she'd gone past that they didn't class her was as serious because there wasn't as much that they could do. And so effectively, we had to wait another seven hours for the ambulance to turn up. And it was about 12 and a half hour window for her to have this stroke to where she is now in in hospital. And she's lost her speech. She's lost her right arm and she's lost her right leg and got no sensation. Now fortunately, the speech is coming back. That's that's a positive and in many ways, I've been there every single day going there. hospital, she, she almost looks like mom now she she's sitting in bed, and she's moaning about certain things. And I bought a tablet with Alexa on it, so that she can speak to it. And it can turn on Netflix and do different things because you know, you're just sitting there in bed all the time. So it's been, it's been a rough, rough, rough, old week. And I've learned so much in this week. And that's kind of what I want to share about. I've realised that you know, we all say that life is fragile. And we always say, you know, you've got to make the most of every day but to be honest, we don't do we need no matter how positive and I'm one of the most positive people. We don't we don't focus in on, you know, every morning waking up and going, you know, this is another day, you know, I've been given a gift, I can do whatever I want. And when that gets taken away from you, and now my mom is sort of sitting there in bed, so I don't know why this has happened to me, you know, I don't deserve this, you know, I've done nothing wrong. It's quite difficult to say the least I'm listening to her talk and staying positive and motivated and trying to encourage everybody just to go out and do their best life. And it's, it's affected me Because now, you know, and you don't want to be hypochondriac but you start thinking Christ, what would happen if this happens to me because I earn my living by talking basically. And so if I suddenly couldn't talk and that was taken away from me, you know, what would I do and our whole family would be turned upside down. Our whole family has been turned upside down anyway, because daddy's rushing up to the hospital. I'm trying to get up every single day as much as possible. And one of the things I've realised is because I've got an entrepreneurial business people kind of feel Oh, it's not a business, you can just do what you want. Now, there are certain controls that I have in place, certainly. But I can't just you know, up and go at any time of the day because I've got people that I've organised, I've got bookings in, you know, it's my business is my income being produced. And it's made me realise this week that people don't see an entrepreneur job as a proper job. They see it as a bit of a jolly, you know, I don't really know what you're doing. You're, you're you're just up in your office and you know, that baby can do this baby could do that. So I've been pulled from pillar to post, trying to run Join Up Dots, deal with my coaching clients, get up to see my mum over time, support my family and haven't really supported myself. One of the things I've realised big time this week is, even though as I'm talking now, I can feel, I would love to really just sub sub sub, I can feel it in me, I can't let go, I can't let go. It's that I know that people look at me to be the rock. And I think I've trained myself to be like that all the way through my life. You know, my mom doesn't show much emotion at all. And my dad doesn't matter. It's almost like it hasn't happened. He just sort of like living his life in a normal way, sort of doing some bizarre jobs just to keep himself busy and stuff. But you gotta let that emotion out. And I know that, but I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to actually unplug myself to perceive that because, you know, my daughter's 14, she's crying all the time, you know, and she's just like, I can't stop, I can't stop. And my wife said a little blob. And I think everybody has except for me, I just can't do it. But you've got to allow that emotion to come through because it's is not good. And I know that I know that. So it's it's not going to be a long episode this one. And I'm not going to try to weave it into some shoes, the motivational you know, seize the moment, get out there and do your thing because you don't know how how long you're going to be on this planet bore, I course we should do surely we should do we should wake up and not just being Oh, I'm going to sit down, watch a box set of whatever, you know, try to make a difference in your life try to make a difference that is sustainable as well as the thing I've realised I realised that a lot of Join Up Dots would be taken away from me instantly. And so I've got to look at it at the level of creating more passive income that can be maintained even if I'm not part of it. You know, I've always felt that the big power is if somebody buys one of my products or my coaching that I'm there, you I'm supporting them. But maybe that isn't the wise thing to do going forward. You know how you guys I don't know, I don't know what to say in this episode, and I don't know what to do. But I just thought it was right for me to tell you and tell you that life is real, you know, Join Up Dots is real. You know, you can listen to other podcasts. And I listened to them. And a lot of time. I think they're talking crap. I really do. I think they're, they're selling a dream. But is it best to give, you know, because they had investment at the beginning, or they have a team behind them, even some of the ones but but I know. And there you go. Yeah, you've done so well. You've done so well. Yeah, I have. But from the moment I started, I had three or four people working for them and that's that's totally different. That is totally different. That's not how most people can start. Most people are a side hustle. So, back back develops into something. Most people will have that dream and start building something in their lunchtimes and in their evenings. And they can afford to invest in people that can afford to invest in PhDs and virtual assistants and all that kind of stuff. So it's a dream built on lies, I think, because it's not what most people can get. And so I just didn't want you to be out there. thinking, you know, and listening to Join Up Dots and hopefully listening to Join Up Dots and thinking but, you know, this is, this isn't real, because it is and it's a real person behind the scenes, talking through a microphone, building a business as I go, trying to inspire you guys and trying to help you guys and support you guys. But it's a real person that has real issues, and has a life going on. That sometimes is out of control and sometimes isn't what you want to be. So yeah, so we're one week week into it really, it happened on Saturday. This is now Thursday as I'm recording today. I've got four podcast episodes to be done later on. To be honest, I don't feel like doing them, I could have cancelled them quite easily have just cancelled them. But that's not right. You know, these people have set up their schedules to appear on the show and stuff. Just because I've got issues doesn't mean that my issue should be passed on to other people. You do what you do. You try to find a way through the solution or the situation and you you are bad for the people that matter most, which which leads me actually on to a realisation that I have been nurturing relationships on line with people that quite frankly, don't deserve it. And it's always me but messages BAM and sort of make sure they're all right and it's always me. I rarely get a message back from anyone at all. And I've realised this week, but that's not gonna happen anymore. I'm gonna, I'm stopping that. I'm not spending any time on people that, quite frankly, don't deserve it. No matter how many sob stories I get, no matter how many leads that I get, and I do get a lot of people that, you know, they come to me every three months, and I've spent time with them every three months, you know, trying to support them, and then the next time they're exactly the same position. I'm cutting it off, because that's not good for me, that's not good for you guys and the ones out there that are willing to really make a difference. And now effectively the people that have come through my coaching, so, Tom that I'm teaching at the moment, Glenn, Ben, David, everyone, I apologise if you know I haven't got your name at the moment, but you guys will get emails from me, you guys will get follow ups to say, Are you okay? Do you need any more help, because you are the guys that are actually making a difference you've invested into yourself. And so you will not get bombarded but I'm going to try to keep up with you guys all the the coaching clients because you're the guys that deserve it and the other people across the world that are just time energy suckers. I'm not giving that up anymore. It's just not worth it. You're only on this planet once and you've got to make the most of each day and you've got to channel your energies into the right people. So Join Up Dots that was a cheery little episode was it really was but um, it's real. Life is crap. It's honest. I want you to know about what's happening. And I'm sure loads of you have had the same situation with parents and loved ones and stuff and so my heart goes out to you because I know how it all feels. From beside, but until next time, I will see you again and I promise you it will be a lot more perky. David next time I'll try and get my head back into the game. Okay, see you later. Unknown Speaker 15:16 Bye bye. That's the end of China. Outro 15:20 You heard the conversation. Now when it's time for you to start taking massive action. Create Your life is he only live he will be back again real soon. Join Up Dots Join Up Dots Join Up Dots. Unknown Speaker 15:43 Jolene, Jolene

Introducing Udo Erasmus Today's guest on the Join Up Dots show is a legendary health and wellness pioneer, acclaimed author and extensive educator. He developed the machinery to create FLAX OIL and started the Healthy Fats Movement. He is the Co-Founder of Udo’s Choice, a global leader in cutting edge health products having sold tens of millions of bottles of healthy oils, probiotics and digestive enzymes. He has incredible knowledge on a range of subjects such as Digestion, Nutrition, Mental Health, Presence, Consciousness, Emotional Awareness and Natural Living. He has extensive education in Biochemistry and Biology, a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology. Udo has impacted over 5,000,000+ lives by passionately conducting 5,000+ live presentations, 3,000+ media interviews, 1,500 staff training's and is a teacher at Tony Robbin’s and Deepak Chopra's events. How The Dots Joined Up For Udo As a war immigrant Udo had an extremely challenging childhood. After being poisoned by pesticides and being unable to find any help Udo began what would become a life long study of health. Udo considers all of the elements of whole health. So how do we get to peak fitness if we are short of money and time in today's ever busy world? And is the mental aspect of health more important than the body or does it not matter? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Udo Erasmus Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with Udo Erasmus such as: How a failed marriage caused him to want to get a job that allowed him to go and kill stuff...which almost ended up killing him. We discuss how 95% of people live in a world of scarcity and are terrified of missing out on stuff they actually dont even want. Udo shares the steps for us to take to find the riches inside of us. This is the true wealth. And lastly................. Udo Erasmus shares a story of naked mud wrestling on a beach  with a bunch of men....this wasn't expected!!

Introducing Jeremy Slate Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast, is Jeremy Slate, the founder of the Create Your Own Life Podcast, which studies the highest performers in the world.  He studied literature at Oxford University, specializes in using podcasting and new media to create celebrity and was ranked #1 in iTunes New and #78 in the iTunes top 100. He was named the #1 Podcast to Listen to by INC Magazine in 2019, as well as being named a Top Influencer by Forbes. After his success in podcasting, Jeremy Slate and his wife founded Command Your Brand to help entrepreneurs get their message out by appearing as guests on podcasts. But as we see with Join Up Dots time and time again these are the highlights. These are the things that get shown to the world as they are hard earned success that deserve to be shown in the brightest light possible. How The Dots Joined Up For Jeremy As there is no doubt that success does not show itself to anyone who is unwilling to do the hard work. Self development is key, and one of Jeremy’s biggest successes was when he failed at his first podcast. This made him realize he wasn’t an expert and needed to be willing to learn. He needed to understand what is needed to bring all the pieces together and make the engine of success work? So how did he find the thing that made him focus his energies in one direction? And where does he see so many people go wrong nowadays - not choosing wisely or just going the route of most congestion? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Jeremy Slate. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Jeremy Slate such as: Why the majority of people want to get into the podcasting space to become famous although they haven't truly defined what they are going to offer. Jeremy shares the transition that he went through to the find his success in life after the shock illness of his mother rocked his world. Why so many people are wanting to be passionate out of the gate instead of getting their head down and simply digging deep to find the passion. and lastly........ We discuss why it's so important to get your spider senses up and really focus on who you are building relationships with.

What Does Fall Forward Mean? Fall forward they say. Fall forward and you cant ever fail. But of course what does this really mean? What does Fall Forward actually mean in real life when you are busy living life and simply trying to get by each day? Through Join Up Dots journey to where it is today, there has been many many times when we could have stopped running the show. We weren't getting the listeners, or the income, or simply the effort was too much. At those times we had a choice to make....do we keep on moving forward or just fall back into how life was before? That my friends is a big decision to make and one that we can answer without doubt - We were never going to go backwards, it was fall forwards all the way. How To Fall Forward With Ease I think the easiest way to fall forward is to be flexible as to what you want to achieve in life. You see if you only give yourself one or two options, and these dont go the way that you would like them to go then its going to be hard. You will look at your situation and think "I need to go backwards or at least change direction" However, if you are only look at the wider picture, and for example you want to be an actor instead of being James Bond then choose again - fall forward. I think that is sensible advice and one that can make the road to success so much enjoyable to take. Transcription Of Fall Forward With Denzel Washington David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time, there was a guy with a dream a dream with his jobs for himself online and have a kick ass life working when he wanted him where he wanted across the world. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt, until he found the magic ingredient. And those struggles became a thing of the past. Oh man, of course, was bad person. And now My dream is to make things happen to you. Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:31 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be but somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:57 Yes, hello. Good morning here. Good morning, and welcome. Come to a Join Up Dots. Yes, rolling into it feels like some have done it. It feels like summer. I'm looking at my window at the moment. I'm in a pair of shorts, a T shirt. And it looks like I could go running around the world, waving my manly body at people and I would be fine. But yeah, probably still cold outside, but it certainly feels like summer is on its way and it makes you feel good, doesn't it? It makes you feel good to feel that way. Well, today's episode is gonna be a very, very short one. But it's from a guy. It's from a guy called Scott who dropped me and he's he's dropped me a couple of emails recently giving me some advice about you know, content for the show. And I love that. I love that Scott. So thank you so much for dropping me alive. Because he does he knows I'm sitting here sometimes thinking bleeding Oh am I gonna do today because there's a lot of content to fill up. So if any of you guys are out there and you see something that's inspiring that you think you could share with the world. Drop it through At Join Up dots@gmail.com I'm just like Scott did. So Scott had sent me a video and he says, Mr. Ralph, you sexy man. As a longest term listener, I'm inspired by the value you give to people. Despite not being an entrepreneur, I'm a teacher, with a love of motivation and feel but below clip and these attached this clip could add relevance to your listeners. The clip offers two important pieces, which I believe are linked to your wider message number one, full forward of Yes, fall forward. I thought I said fail forward, my eyes are going fall forward, pull forward. When you fail, don't go back into the safety of previous living like you file but push on and work hard. Right? Okay. So that's the first great bit that we're going to hear. So there's all these things I see a lot of times when people will connect with me and say, Hey, I'm thinking of doing is doing XYZ and I actually had a message from lovely lady called Amy and Amy is hugely talented. As a sort of lounge singer, she's got this wonderful voice where she can, you know, sing, and it sounds like an old person's voice, but she's young and she's beautiful. So it's like the sort of 1950s or 1920s and I saw a video she gave me a video the other day of her doing gangster's Paradise by Coolio. And I like this. I didn't realise it was gangster's paradise until I got to the chorus, because it was such a different vibe, but she can do anything she wants. And now she has quit her job in a bank. And now she's transitioning to becoming a full time musician. And she connected with me and she said, I'm not sure if I've done the right thing. It feels so wrong at the moment. And I said, No, it's right. It's right because you were in comfort zone. You were in that that anchor but was rooting you to the spot. So do something if it doesn't feel right then do something else but just keep on moving forward. until you get to the dream because so many people, as Scott is referencing in this email will do something and go, Oh, don't like this and then go back. And I used to see that I used to work in insurance and banking. And people would sort of quit. And they would Well first of all, they would quit like, Oh, I I'm not happy here anymore. I want to go off and do my own thing. So they would leave an insurance company and go and work for an insurance company. It's the same thing, or other people will quit. And then you see him come back, and I go, No, don't as I say to people, you can't reheat a souffle, and I don't know where that phrase comes from. But basically, once you made a souffle, that's it. You can't ever make it. Do what he needs to do again. So don't go back. Don't go back. And the second point to this is give your ideas and potential a chance to flourish. Don't keep them locked away. Now the clip he sent me is a condensed version of a Denzel Washington speech. She will hear then We say Denzel over here but he says Denzel base that sounds a bit pompous. He didn't point to his originally by Les Brown. However, Denzel gets the point across concise and accurate. If you feel any of the clip has relevance and you'd like to add it to your sound clip repertoire, feel free to not only am I gonna do that, I'm gonna play the whole speech. So this is Denzel, a commencement speech speaking, like Steve Jobs does to a load of students. And he gives some great advice here is Denzel for forward. Fall Forward With Denzel Washington 5:34 This is what I mean. Reggie Jackson struck out 2600 times in his career the most in the history of baseball, but you don't hear about the strikeouts people remember the home runs Unknown Speaker 5:48 for forward. Fall Forward With Denzel Washington 5:50 Thomas Edison conducted 1000 failed experiments. Did you know that I didn't know that because the 1000 and first was the light bulb. Unknown Speaker 6:01 fall forward. Fall Forward With Denzel Washington 6:04 Every failed experiment is one step closer to success. You've got to take risks. And I'm sure you've probably heard that before. But I want to talk to you about why that's so important. I got three reasons and you can pick up your accident. Unknown Speaker 6:20 First, Fall Forward With Denzel Washington 6:23 you will fail at some point in your life accepted, you will lose, you will embarrass yourself, you will suck at something. There's no doubt about it. And I know that's probably not a traditional message for a graduation ceremony. But hey, I'm telling you embrace it, because it's inevitable. And I should know, in the acting business, you fail all the time early on in my career. I audition for a part in a Broadway musical. Perfect role for me I thought, except for the fact that I can't sing. So I'm in I'm about to go on stage. But the guy in front of me he's singing like, like, like Pavarotti just wrong. Just going on and on and on. And I'm just shrinking I'm getting smaller and smaller. So they say oh, thank you very much. Thank you very much and and you will you'll be hearing from us. So I come out with my little sheet music and it was it was a just my imagination by the temptations. That's what I came up with handed to the the accompanist and she looks at it and looks at me and looks at it the director and he's like, Alright, so I started, you know, I'm saying I'm coming away with me, and I'm not saying anything, so I'm thinking I'm getting better as I started to start getting into it. running this. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Washington. Thank you. So I assumed I didn't get the job. But the next part of the audition, he called me back. The next part of the audition is the acting part of the audition. No, I'm like, hey, okay, maybe I can't sing, but I know I can act. So they pair me with this guy. And again, I didn't know about musical theatre. And musical theatre is big, so they can reach everyone all the way in the back of the stadium. And I'm more from a realistic naturalistic kind of acting where you, you know, you actually talked to the person next to me. So I don't know what my line was. My line was will hand me the cut. And his line was, well, I will hand you the cup, my dad, the cup will be there to be handed to you. Unknown Speaker 8:55 Okay. Fall Forward With Denzel Washington 8:58 Well Should I give you Come back. Oh, yes, give it back to me because you know, that is my cup, and it should be given back to me. I didn't get the job. But here's the thing. I didn't quit. I didn't fall back. I walked out of there to prepare for the next audition and the next audition and the next one is I prayed. I prayed. And I prayed. But I continue to fail and fail and fail, but it didn't matter because you know what? There's an old saying, You hang around the barbershop long enough, sooner or later you're going to get a haircut. So you will catch a break and I did catch a break. Last year I did a play called fences on Broadway. Someone talked about it won the Tony Award. I didn't have to sing by the way. But here's the kicker. It was at the Court Theatre. It was at the same theatre, that I failed that first audition 30 years prior. The point is, and I'll pick up the pace. The point is, every graduate here today has the training and the talent to succeed. But do you have the guts to fail? Is my second point about failure? If you don't fail? You're not even trying. I'll say it again. If you don't fail, you're not even trying. My wife told me this great expression. To get something you never had. You have to do something you never did. Les Brown's a motivational speaker. You made another analogy about this says, imagine you're on your deathbed. And standing around your deathbed are the ghosts representing your unfulfilled potential. The ghosts of the ideas you never acted on, the ghosts of the talents you didn't use, and they're standing around your bed, angry, disappointed and upset. They say we came to you, because you could have brought us to life they say. And now we have to go to the grave together. So I asked you today how many ghosts are going to be around your bed when your time comes? David Ralph 11:34 Isn't that powerful in that powerful that he just kept on going forward and bored. And as I was watching that I was referencing Join Up Dots because I've been doing it nearly seven years now six years of shows but seven years of preparation before I went live, and I have done so many things wrong. So many things. It's untrue. But just this week, I decided that I wasn't going to be on Facebook anymore. Personally, I found myself getting sucked into Facebook land. And so you can go over and you can hump for me. And I've deleted everything that I've ever done on Facebook in a personal manner. And as I was going through it, I kept on seeing all these names. And I think they were all over it. They were all over in the early stages, they were doing their own thing. They were hustling, and I don't see any of them. They've all given up, they've all moved on to other things. They just, they've changed direction or whatever, but that their face isn't visible in my world anymore. But I'm still going and I'm still moving. And I'm still standing as elton john said, and it's just getting better and better. And there's not a plan. Yes, I know so much. Now, there's so much I know about business. I'm teaching Tom and Glenn, one to one at the moment. they've signed up for my one to one business course and they are going to Life's changed because of what I've learned in the last seven years. But there was no blueprint for it. I just kept on trying things and moving forward and keep on going. And little by little things, find its shape and you find the success that you want. And it may not necessarily be the success you wanted in first place. Certainly, I had totally different dreams and, and ideals. When I started I wanted global domination I wanted to be famous, really, I suppose. And with podcasting, I don't think that's the right angle to go some people get that but it takes its toll on you. And now my goal is trying to get people to create their dream lives and move forward and learn online business and, and really give them the experience that I've I've gained, but there was no blueprint. I just kept on falling forward constantly every single day. Seven years even longer than that 15 years plus, some of my stuff has been online. And through that process, you get to where you want to be. So Scott, thank you so much for dropping us that line really, really appreciated it. What's that a couple of times I saw it about I don't know, a few years ago. And for some reason, I never brought it into the show. So powerful, powerful stuff. And really appreciate you taking the time, sir. And also for the other emails you've been sending through as well. So as I say, if anybody out there is watching YouTube or, or TV or wherever, and you see something, that's good, that's good. Send it through to us. And we will add it onto the show. And we'll give you a name check. And you can be famous in your own world, or just feel good, but you're actually helping other people. you're sharing the inspiration to get people to get their dream lives. And their little economists say I'm so inspired. Until next time, thank you so much for being here. Thank you so much for listening to Join Up Dots. Thank you so much for Denzel. And Scott, we'll see you again soon. Bye bye. You ready to make a full time living online? Check out the amazing Join Up Dots business coaching. Outro 15:10 Hello, my name is Alan. And I've just completed the excellent eight week course with David. Before I started working with David Actually, I had no idea at all, where to start. I had a lot of ideas about what I probably thought was going to be good in business. David was out to help me through that though, to find that passion. Within literally minutes. We had we had a business idea. And for the last seven weeks, we've been building on it and building on it and the position I'm in now, I don't think I've ever got here on my own Unknown Speaker 15:42 because of the amount of information that David gives the structure. He's got the full package here and he explains it in a way that I can understand. His support is is phenomenal. I feel like this is the way business is supposed to Unknown Speaker 15:56 work. David helped me understand Okay, what were the next logical steps that I shouldn't Do How can I get this up and running? So I would really recommend this as an excellent course helping you. If you have an idea if you have no idea, really teasing that out and at some of the practicalities and steps to take to really launch your business, whether as a full time job was a side hustle. So it was really excellent. I recommend it for anybody thinking about setting up their own business. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say David will totally save you, us. Thank you, David for all your amazing help and support which keeps on going. And we certainly couldn't be where we are today without you so your author, David Ralph 16:36 so if you would love to become my next success story and have your own life changing online business following my step by step system, buying tuned over many years to take away the effort and expense that others struggle with. Then come across to Join Up dots.com and book a free call with myself. Let's get you living the easy life as it's there waiting for you to get it. That is Join Up dots.com Nice coaching

Introducing Denny From The Flat River Band Today's guest joining us on the Denny from the American up and coming Flat River Band. One thing is apparent when you listen to The Flat River Band. The trio, comprised of siblings Andy, Dennijo, and Chad Sitze, love to have fun when they are playing music – and it shows. This bond has carried the success of the band throughout the years as the trio has opened for the Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, TG Sheppard, among others.  The brothers have also charted #1 hits on the bluegrass gospel charts as well as have had their songs featured in the 2018 movie “The Least of These — A Christmas Story” featuring Duane Allen (Oak Ridge Boys), Deborah Allen, and Tayla Lynn (Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter).  That unabandoned joy and love of music comes to the forefront when you listen to the band’s new album, Every Dog Has Its Day. The trio’s fifth effort is one that the band is very excited to bring to the attention of its fans. The Dots Join Up For Flat River Band Aaron McDaris who plays with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage was brought into play banjo, and much to the brothers’ surprise, he brought with him his 1934 Gibson RB-3 that was owned by Sonny Osborne who recorded the University of Tennessee’s theme song “Rocky Top” with that same banjo in 1967. One of Dennijo’s guitar superheroes, Johnny Hiland who is legally blind was brought in to play the electric guitar, while Stuart Duncan played fiddle. Those all-star names only add to the first—rate musicianship that fans have expected from The Flat River Band over the years. Again, Denny chalks that up to the undeniable bond between the three brothers that grew through a dozen years performing at Branson’s Silver Dollar City and five at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge. So how do you make a noise that gets heard in today's world of American Idol and instant gratification that actually builds a career? And is their path fixed and determined or simply understanding that somewhere down the line the dots join up to show the true story? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show the one and only Denny from the Flat River Band Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Denny from Flat River Band such as: How they toured as children with their parents, an unconventional childhood but one full of life lessons Denny shared how he had to learn not to press the hot buttons of his family even when he felt a desire to do so.. Why he and his brothers have vowed never to play the Broadway in Nashville again...although it teaches you so much in the process. Why no artist is better than the team that surrounds it, even if some members of that team turn out not to be the right ones. and lastly........ The magic of Dolly Parton who has remained firmly rooted to her humble beginnings no matter how big her star.

Introducing Rental Income From Property with Eric Bowlin Rental Income From Property with Eric BowlinToday’s guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast, is Eric Bowlin, a 33 year old and have over 480 doors of rental property. I’ve travelled to over 14 countries and love to experience new cultures, food, beer, exercising, and improving myself. I’m focused on creating long-term wealth for my family. I sometimes will work for two weeks straight – waking up early and staying up late to get something done. Sometimes I take a month or two vacation for no reason other than to have a new experience. I’m free to travel or live anywhere I may want to go whenever I may want to go. That’s the great part about independence, I am free to do what I want. But how did this all start? How did he find the passion to create an income and lifestyle that other people would simply die for? How Eric Started Earning Rental Income From Property Well as he says “It was an accident that I even got into real estate. While studying for my Ph.D. in Economics at Clark University in Worcester, MA, I wanted to buy a home. I almost made the classic blunder of buying a huge liability, but fortunately, I ended up buying a small multifamily property and the rest is history. So is this something that takes a huge amount of investment to get going? And is this something that needs a team to monitor rental, clients, and perhaps the bad clients that people fear? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the only and only Eric Bowlin. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Eric Bowlin such as: Why he has moved to Puerto Rico for the tax benefits and how it has made him be able to work less but achieve more. Eric shared how he stumbled into rental simply because he didn’t hit the criteria to get a single apartment. We discuss the crisis point when life becomes too easy for someone, after they gain the financial success. What do they aim for then? and lastly…….. Why it so important to surround yourself with the same kind of people that are doing what you are doing. Find your people as quickly as possible. How To Connect With Eric Bowlin Website Facebook Twitter Linkedin Return To The Top Of Rental From Property Expert Eric Bowlin If you enjoyed this episode with rental from property expert Eric Bowlin, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here– enjoy

Introducing When Your Dream Job Disappoints When your dream job disappoints is an issue that can cause great distress in your life. You go for the dream that you think is going to make your own life wonderful and after awhile it seems less than great. But what causes this to happen after you put in so much effort to get to where you are. Well when your dream job disappoints it's more often than not that it either doesn't match up to what you thought it would be about. Or it just becomes normal, and as we all know normal stuff doesn't seem sexy and glamorous. It is just normal stuff that we have to do to go and pay the bills. We lose track of the reasons why we wanted to do it in the first place, and that is when your dream job disappoints. So lets start by looking at email that we received that made us look at this subject in today's podcast episode Dear David, i saw a link you put on Linkedin talking about why do people go for the dream job anymore...would you mind expanding on this? You encouraged me to start my own nursery child minding job and i love every second. I am slightly surprised that you are now changing direction Claire Morgan So now let's look at the Linkedin post: Being honest you see a load of inspiration on Linkedin that in my view misses the point totally. Everyone talks about getting "The Dream Job" all the time, and find your passion and you never work again. But does anyone really want a dream job at all? Doesn't everyone simply want a life that they can do what they want when they want and forget the job? Why is everyone so hung up on finding the dream job? Do what you have to do to earn the cash and then LIVE the dream instead. In the todays podcast episode When Your Dream Job Disappoints - we of course break down the subject in the only way we know. Honesty all the way. So what do you think about the subject When Your Dream Job Disappoints? Should we care at all, or just be glad that we are in a job? Drop us a line at joinupdots@gmail.com and tell us Return To The When Your Dream Job Disappoints If you enjoyed this episode with when your dream job disappoints, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy Interview Transcription Of When Your Dream Job Disappoints David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time, there was a guy with a dream, a dream to quit his job support himself online and have a kick ass life. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt, until he found the magic ingredient and no struggles became a thing of the past. I of course, was that person. And now My dream is to make things happen for you. Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:27 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling in Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:52 Yes, hello there. Good morning, everybody. Good morning and welcome to a Join Up Dots is a Join Up Dots hit Halfway through January, the sun is shining. And, and to be honest, I would do anything rather than this at the moment. It's one of those things, and this is what I'm going to talk about. Because it's when you create a job that looks sexy for a certain point of time, after a while, it stops becoming sexy. And you, you, you change, and you realise that the motivation to do something isn't quite as strong as it was previously. And I'm going to explain about that. Because I think so many of us go into jobs, and we are brilliant. They've got this new job. It's fantastic. Yeah, and I'm really inspired. And then after a while, you kind of hit or, you know, it's not as good as I thought it was, and then afterwards, and that's called normalcy that is no more see where it becomes normal. And then when you're normal is a lot sexier than other people's, it stops being sexy. So you see these people all the time, you know, living these amazing lives and when you speak to them, they seem really sort of bored. with it because it's just become their normal. And so today, today, my young friends, yeah, I could be doing anything other than this, but I'm doing it because I it's my job. And that's what we have to do. And it's gonna lead into a link that I put on to a post I put onto LinkedIn. Let's get it straight David. And a response that I had from a lovely lady that I knew a couple of years ago, Claire Morgan, Claire Morgan, and so it's all going to come together. But before we start before we start I just want to say thank you to pre guys I spent all weekend with and why we're Ben David and Pete Pete from Sutton Coldfield. Ben from I think it was was door glass door somewhere. And David was all the way down in Adelaide, Australia and they connected with me for my two day podcast course and we sat there tend to form really tend to to both days going through what makes a podcast Six Figure event. And I think I think they were blown away. To be honest, when I spent all my time saying to people, the success of a podcast is nothing to do with the recording and the microphone, and people still don't get back. But I sat with David and Pete and Ben. And hopefully guys, hopefully, we're going to see some big profits coming into your life because it's better for you. And now you know how to do it. You go ahead. So that was brilliant. Really enjoyed that. Also, I'd like to say thank you to Dan, who actually visited the Join Up Dots, HQ, yes. He's come up into the office on Monday evening. And he was a guy that I trained on online businesses, probably about six months, eight months here ago, whatever. And he's still getting ideas coming to him all the time thinking should I do this? Should I do that? So I sat with him and I said to him, let you know how to do it. Up to you, you know exactly how to do it. And I sketch this stuff out on a bit of paper for him. And you could see a penny dropped, a penny dropped. And he suddenly realised that making a living online isn't hard. It's really, really easy. And I'm going to say it again. Because I say all the time and fingers crossed, people are going to get this. You find the value that other people want. And then you give it to them. You make them see that value, and then they pay for it. And it's really, really easy and everyone who sort of come through my coaching, they get that they get that and if I haven't quite got it, there comes a moment when they can see it. And then I go oh my god, yeah, there's opportunities everywhere. So Dan visited Join Up Dots Hq and he met my my silane my daughter and he came in my house. I mean, he went down to the pub and met my wife. I gave them the Join Up Dots tour. And proven night I could just see he wasn't quite with me. He was We've made but he's brain had already switched because I think he's now got it. He can now see how easy it is to make money online. So Dan, I salute you, sir. You are not only a sexy individual, but you are now Yo Yo Mama, I will be absolutely honest. You're my mate. And I want to see you do as well as possible. Okay, so let's get on to today's podcast episode. And this, this was an email, I was thinking to myself, what should I talk about? And then I received an email this morning, and if that makes sense. So this was the email database, I saw a link you put on LinkedIn talking about why do people go for the dream job anymore? Would you mind expanding on this? You encouraged me to start my own nursery childminding job and I love every second I'm slightly surprised that you are now changing direction Claire Morgan. And so the list expand on my my thinking I speak to so many people, okay. And they are hung up on the, I want to do something amazing, I want to do something sexy, I want to go for the dream. And I understand but I really do understand that. But over the last few years of talking to literally hundreds of you, and now realising that very few actually then go for the dream. It's because it's too big. Now, I've started thinking over a period of time, but and this is comes with the motivation of doing Join Up Dots as well because because I do so well financially, there's a part of me that things I don't really want to do anything else, you know, I'm quite happy to float around, especially when it gets sunny. Find other things to do. Van do my dream job and I'm doing business with my fingers my dream job because people always say to me, oh, it must be amazing and it is. It really is amazing. But I can find out the things to do. And I've started to wonder and I'd love you to drop me a line or come over to Join Up Dots, whatever. And tell me your point of view on this, because I'm starting to think that the dream job isn't important. But it is having the dream life. You know, does anybody really want a job? A job is something that you have to do to pay the bills. But if you can pay the bills easily, then why would you worry about the dream job, you'd fill your time up with doing things that you want to do? You know, I love getting in the car driving along with the music on exploring places going for a pub lunch, just sort of just wandering around, really, you know, I just love that a little bit of adventure every now and again. And this month, we're going away for a couple of nights with some friends. And then next month, I'm going to Iceland for about a week. And then on in April, we got something else and I just spend all my time planning to do things away from the job because I now can and I'm just thinking about it all the time. So I put this post up on LinkedIn, and it said, Would love to know your comments being honest, you see a load of inspiration on LinkedIn that in my view misses the point totally. Everyone talks about getting the dream job all the time and find your passion, then you never work again, find your passion. But does anyone really want a dream job at all? Doesn't everyone simply want a life but they can do what they want, when they want, and actually get the job? Why is everyone so hung up on finding the dream job, do what you have to do to earn a cash and then live the dream instead? And so, I keep on talking to people and I say to them, Look, it doesn't matter about the big sexy being let's do a few small things. Let's be pragmatic on it, to pay your bills, get your debts down and give you the free time to then go and do other stuff. And once you start learning income streams, you can just do more and more and more, you know, I could literally do 100 A week really, and I don't because you get to a point, you know, when you do get lazy and you think to yourself, I can't really be bothered. But then people come along to me and they go, why aren't you doing more with this? I go, I'm doing. Ready. I can't be bothered, really. But there is so many opportunities out there. Why don't we just learn how to make money online? Simple as that. And so when you think to yourself, or I need to pay my mortgage off, just being like, okay, let's create the value for paying the mortgage off. And it's quite easy. I say the word easy again, because if you think to yourself, Well, I make 30 pounds a day. Now 30 pounds a day, 600 pounds a month, 900 pounds a month. Okay? So you are literally biting into quite a hefty chunk of a mortgage. Now, I think in the United Kingdom, most most mortgages around sort of 900 1200 pounds or whatever. But if you suddenly I'm making 30 pounds, which isn't life changing, but it is constant every single De Vayne you pay your mortgage up really, really quickly, you've been suddenly got 1000 pounds a month or 900 pounds a month, but you didn't have which you can then pay off our debts. So you only need to get that small pragmatically built, income stream coming through. And what I like doing is creating leads for other people's businesses. So when you drive down the high street, when you drive anywhere on Earth, you will see businesses that are reliant on other people's customers. So when you know how to do online traffic generation, all you've got to do is actually pass that traffic to them and say, if 10% of our 10 pound for every lead or whatever, and monitor it. And once you get it going, you don't even have to monitor it yourself. And I'm going to keep on banging on about this. I really am because you don't actually have to be doing the work. You build the thing. Then once he starts flowing, you then build another one and you move on, you know, I am doing, I've got five or six things at the moment, operating, and some of them are barely very small and they only pay me back maybe, you know, 80 pounds a month, whatever. But 80 pounds a month suddenly means but, you know, my phone is paid for, or my mobile phones or my kids have or whatever, you know, it's somebody else's money that comes in, which means I've been got an extra 80 quid to Ben spend on something else. And that's how it builds, you end up paying for all your debts based on other people's money. Yeah, it's not your money. You just look at it and think, okay, I want 600 pounds a month extra? How do I get this? Right? What I need to do is get 20 pounds a day. How do I do that? And I think the quickest way, as I say is to drive leads into other people's businesses, and there's hundreds of them, you know, 7.8 billion people on the planet and you can just keep on doing it. Doing it doing, it's what I teach. It's what Do and everybody out there who's been for my coaching will now know, they get that Penny drop moment, but I realised that opportunities are everywhere. So yeah, I put that post on. Why is everybody so hung up on finding the dream? Because I now think, is it the dream job that you want? Or do you want the dream life? You know, if somebody said to you, there's 3000 pounds a month, don't do anything. would you go? Oh, no, no, I still need to get the dream job. I don't think you would. And so there's so many posts on LinkedIn, so many posts on Facebook and stuff, and I just looking at them and I'm thinking, I think they're missing the point. I think people I think that ultimately, we're all lazy. You know, even the ones that are hard working and I work harder than most people. I think we still push comes to shove. We would love to do something that we want to do it in our own time and create like maybe a dream hobby. That takes out tonight. We're not forced on monetizing it, but it gives us the engine Women and we wake up each morning and do it, you know, Join Up Dots. When I'm doing it, I love it. But Join Up Dots is the lead generation Join Up Dots and I speak people across the world connect with me, I've been speak to them. Some of them I never see again, some of them. I was talking to this person during the week. I won't say any names, I won't say any genders. But I gave him an hour. So of my time they came through by email, and then I sent a nice email back and I said, you know, if you ever need to talk, you know, just drop me a line. And I had nothing to do that time. So they did. And so I connected in zoom, and they were across the world. And I gave him about an hour of my time. And it was all thank you so much, David, thank you so much for you know, your help and your assistance. I said no problem at all. You know, that's what I do. That's what I do. You know, that's I'm here. And I said, I'd really like to get onto one of your courses. Could you send me the invoice and I'll sign up for it. And then finally, if that's what you want, so anyhow, send the invoice down. And then about two days later, I get the most horrible email Back from this person, just you know, just, I won't say the words, but if you imagine the worst words that you can think of directed at me, and I just went back to him and said, well, thank you for your understanding. And we're obviously not a fit, you know, but you get that sometimes she gets some people talk about, but the majority of people that come through, I am about Penny drop moment when you see them go, yes. Okay, I can see what you're saying. This is how we do it. So for all of you out there, oh, I've had a response actually, about this LinkedIn post. And I've just seen this. This is Robert load or low day, and he's a gentleman in I think, Berlin, in Germany, but I was connected to God. He says two years ago, I'd be surprised if it was two years ago. And he says, David, in regards to your post here, I remember that you gave me the last push I needed for starting my coaching business two years ago. So I followed my dream and so far, it is still my dream job. I can help people and do what I'm good at, and all that without getting totally stressed out. So thanks again for your support. So that's great. So Robert, you know, he has found a dream job. And he's been doing it for two years. But I think there will come a time where but but it's not the dream anymore. And that's because you've grown, you've, you've moved into bigger things, and your vision is different. And you realise that what interests you, you know, when I was five years old, you know, I used to want to dress up like naughty and do jigsaw puzzles all the time. Now, I like to do jigsaw puzzles, but don't often dress up like naughty, we change we move. And if we were the same people, as when we first met, and when you see people split up and I go, Oh, you've changed and you've been a cause of bloody change. You know, I've been with you for 30 years. You've got to change. You've got to move on and you've got to reassess what you're doing in life. And I'm just in that stage at the moment of reassessing what I'm doing because I think I'm here to make a difference from you guys. And if we're aiming for the bar to be too high, but you can Can't see the dream because you don't know yourself well enough. Why don't we just get you earning some money and then, you know, walk around on a beach on a Tuesday morning? Yeah, do it that way and they maybe the dream will come later. You've taken that pressure off and you can move into into pasties new huh. I wonder, I wonder if this is the right direction I feel like it is and that's why I say these things on the podcast to get people thinking and stuff. But um, yeah, so you know, if anybody wants to connect with me or drop me an email or whatever, you're listening to these podcasts and you're thinking, Oh, you know, I'd like to do this or maybe I don't want to do bass or you want to do you know, learn how to podcast or whatever you want to do or just say hello, just drop me a line. Join Up dots@gmail.com or you can book a time and I'll speak to you one to one and we'll see each other and we'll try and reach out and touch until you become like Dan, when you can come into my office. And he said to me people say it's a shade. This isn't a shade. I said no Dan, I know is not a shade. I know it's not a shirt. And when he bought me a lovely pint and we sat there, and yeah, he's my mate, he's my mate. Until next time everybody. Think about your life think about is to dream too big. Should you just be earning some money? Would you prefer to have more time just be yourself just floating around just enjoying stuff. Whatever you want to do is up to you to make it happen. But it always comes down to the offer and providing value to someone. If you're not providing value, you are not going to make money and money unfortunately, makes the world go round. Until next time, I will see you again look after yourself. Cheers. Bye. When your dream job disappoints.Are you ready to start your own podcast and really make it work for you bringing customers and profits into your life and your business in the easiest way possible? Or perhaps you've already launched and aren't getting the results you want? If so, I'm going to teach you the information that you need that makes all the difference to your success. Now, don't be fooled into believing what others are teaching you when it comes to what matters. your podcast, get those results. podcasting success is not about the podcast. It has nothing to do with a recording or equipment. It has everything to do with understanding your market and making those customers come to you time and time again. This is raw 100% live behind the scenes podcasting mastery, not shown anywhere else. If that's of interest, head over to Join Up Dots and book a time to speak with me to make sure that you're a fit for our next course. This is podcasting mastery live at Join Up dots.com. When your dream job disappoints that's the end of China. Unknown Speaker 18:39 You heard the conversation. Now when it's time for you to start taking massive action. Create Your life is the only life you will be back again real soon. Join Up Dots Join Up Dots Unknown Speaker 19:02 Jolly Jolly

Introducing Jono Bacon Jono Bacon is today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is a community and collaboration strategy consultant, author, advisor, and speaker. He was born in Northallerton, North Yorkshire in England. He lived in Bedfordshire and the West Midlands before relocating to California in 2008 to live with his wife, Erica. While he has always had an interest in technology, the seed change happened in 1998 when Jono’s older brother, Simon, introduced him to Open Source. Jono was captivated by the notion of people around the world working together to produce technology that they all shared and benefited from. This created a lifelong passion to understand every nuance of how to build productive, engaging communities where a network of minds, experience, and time can produce value together. Just imagine what is possible if we can crack the code for doing this well?  He started dipping his toes into various technology communities, writing extensively for magazines and online outlets, and then joining a new government initiative called OpenAdvantage that provided Open Source training and consulting. His career then took him to XPRIZE where he helped launch incentive competitions that solve major challenges (such as the $15million dollar Global Learning XPRIZE to build technology that teaches kids literacy without a teach) and then he went to lead community strategy at GitHub where most of the world’s technology is created. How The Dots Joined Up For Jono At this point in his career, Jono wanted to apply the power of building communities to broader range of industries and challenges and he started consulting for a variety range of organizations about community and collaboration strategy. This includes industries such as financial services, entertainment, professional services, non-profits, consumer products, security, and beyond. His clients have included Deutsche Bank, The Executive Centre, Google, Mattermost, Glorious Games, Santander, and more. Which is the perfect starting point to today's episode. So growing up in Yorkshire, his path could have been very much like the majority of his colleagues - did he always think he was going to be different? And where do people go wrong with making communities really work for them? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Jono Bacon Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Jono Bacon such as: Why we all have different definitions of what is a community for us.....but you have to understand your audience big  Jono shares his rocking chair moment and why he now has a huge pull to his Northern past. Jono breaks down the first five steps that we all have to take to build a community that truly works. and lastly...... We cover the big failing point of all new communities due to the founder focusing in on what they get and not the group.

In todays episode of Join Up Dots we all talk about the big mistake that people make when starting an online business. They fail to understand that its all about the offer. What we mean by this is, you dont create a business and then tell people what you are selling. You define your product based around what people are actually wanting from you, and pivot to make it only available from yourself. You see this was inspired by the following email received at the Join Up Dots headquarters. Its About All The Offer Email Dear David. thanks for your show great stuff. I was listening to you the other day on my boring commute to my boring job and you said "Its all about the offer...unless you get the offer right then everything else is hard" or something like that. I'm sorry i listen to a lot of your shows, but this bit jumped out at me. What does that actually mean, can you explain more? Kind regards and i have left an ITunes review for you Mike Conting Hemel Hemsptead Listen to today's episode to hear David Ralph explain more about this important aspect of online business success, and the simple steps that you can take to make your online dreams come true. As always make sure you book a time to speak to us as we help you get your dreams off the ground too.

Introducing Keri Murphy Keri Murphy is the CEO and founder of Inspired Living, where she and her team help entrepreneurs become go-to experts in their field and build influential brands through on-camera training, business strategy, media, and marketing planning. As an international speaker,media expert,and business mentor,Keri is committed to helping others to create and thrive at a business they love and teaches them how to authentically convert their ideal clients using video in particular. Keri always knew she had an affinity for the entertainment industry. As a young girl she attended modelling and acting school and was represented by a local agency. At 27, Keri purchased that same talent agency she went through in Portland,Oregon, and quickly built it to one of the most respected agencies in the Northwest—Murphy Talent Group. The agency had grown over 400%, but after the recession hit in 2008, Keri was forced to close her business and completely start over. How The Dots Joined For Keri She moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of being on-air talent,landing a gig on E! and red carpet premieres. Since founding Inspired Living in 2011, Keri has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs and visionaries helping them become industry influencers - choosing the types of videos to use, and how to leverage their message on-camera so they can make a big income and an even bigger difference. She has been on camera and an entrepreneur for 20+years, and is a television veteran with appearances on MTV, E!, FOX and NBC. When not inspiring others, she can be found spending time with friends and family, playing piano,or relaxing by the sea with her daughter, Lauren. So when she looks back at her life does it seem a blink or years and years of hardened knocks, success and of course crushing disappointments? And do people truly need the backstory to achieve the level of success that they want? Well lets find out as we bring her onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Keri Murphy Show Highlights We discuss how to get past yourself on screen by loving yourself and all your imperfections no matter what. How so many of us have to turn up our dimmer switch and truly become the person the world wants us to be. Why Keri shares her belief that anyone starting today is ahead of the curve when it comes to video marketing and audio production. We discuss the power of the backstory and why its so important to weave it into your business whenever possible. And lastly.........  Keri shares her story of crushing disappointment and hurt, which has turned out to be the best thing possible

Introducing Chad Peterson Chad Peterson is today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots show. He is an expert business broker and the founder of Peterson Acquisitions, an award- winning M&A firm. Chad’s firm handles transactions in $1 million to $25 million range, with some deals exceeding $25 million. He works with companies all over the United States and has completed international deals as well. Peterson Acquisitions was recently named by one publication as the #1 ranked business broker in the United States. What sets Chad apart from all other business brokers is his aggressive style, work ethic and tenacity that are rooted in his humble beginnings. Chad is a self-made entrepreneur that has been in the trenches. How The Dots Joined Up For Chad He has started, built and sold 6 of his own businesses. Chad wrote the book “From Blue to White: A Working Man’s Guide to Self-Employment”. He also wrote the book “Swinging Doors: A Guide to Selling Your Company” and is the host of the podcast: Business Brokers: Buying, Selling & Growing Businesses. As he says " Peterson Acquisitions is unlike any business broker you will ever meet. We are tough, we are full of grit and drive. We are serious about selling businesses. We are not for everyone. Our clients are those who are just as serious about selling their business as we are. We come on strong, we keep our foot on the gas, and we don’t stop working until we get the job done. If that sounds like the kind of business broker you need fighting in your corner, schedule a confidential, no obligation discovery call right now." So was this bold and brazen approach born from the very beginning or did it grow over a period of time? And where do people go wrong most, not starting a business or keeping hold of it for too long? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Chad Peterson. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Chad Peterson such as: Chad discuses the love of work, and why he is very happy working seven days per week instead of looking for the balance. Why its so important to disconnect from your business and get your juices flowing to build huge growth in to your business. Failure can strike at anytime so why put all your success and income in the hands of someone else. We discuss how the school system is dangerous and can often beat the inspiration out of the mind of our kinds. And lastly................. The reason why you have to make a clear decision as to what your brand stands for and hammer that message home every single day.

Todays podcast episode is built around an amazing email that we recieved from a listener in the UK. The guy is called David Campos, and originally from Chile he now resides in the UK with his lovely wife from France. As you will hear in todays show David has found himself a little bit lost as he struggled to transition the skills that he had in his hometown to something that will provide him with a living in the UK. This shouldnt be a problem, as he simply needs to connect with the right people who need him more than ever. And that is what we are going to show the simple starting steps that he needs to take to bring the rewards into his life.

Introducing Ryan Baker Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast has had a very interesting story to where he is today. Since late 2017, our guests business Kingly Consulting has helped over 12 Digital Marketing Agency owners find peace of mind around their PPC Services. From helping to design their teams and train their staff to overhauling processes and making sure the train stays on the tracks, he knows there is always something to improve. Kingly Consulting's clients have become Google Partners, raised their rates 500%, increased their setup rates by $2,500, taken 3 weeks off in a single month for the first time in years, and saved many client relationships that were on the brink of collapse. As he says "Kingly Consulting was founded to help SEO Focused Digital Marketing Agencies improve their PPC services. I've had the privilege of working with a lot of agencies and I love the energy and the people in that world. As a Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP), I bring a unique approach to the SEM side of digital marketing. How The Dots Joined For Ryan I love helping to shift the focus of agencies and their clients from the shorter term numbers games to the long term human-centric approach. I enjoy long-standing relationships with my clients and thrive on under-promising and over-delivering. Outside of work, I have a beautiful wife and two adorable daughters. We enjoy spending time with our church family, travelling and exploring, drinking coffee, playing music, and board games. If you have an Agency that rocks at SEO, but you can't get the same level of client satisfaction from PPC, it's time to reach out and turn thing around. So like most businesses was there a time when he was struggling to get the same level of satisfaction in his own business? And why do people make it so difficult for themselves targeting the wrong people or simply not getting enough interest in their services? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Ryan Baker. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Ryan Baker such as: Why it is so important to stay true to personal beliefs in business as the more you can make people happy the more money you will earn. We discuss SEO against PPC especially when building it into the early stages of online business success. Why local search is so important to your business and should be looked at before ever attempting to go global. and lastly…… Ryan shares that moment when he saw behind the curtain of a successful company and realised their pain was his win.

Introducing Zach Thomas Today's guest first joining us on the Join Up Dots show is Zach Thomas, he is an entrepreneur, published author, coach and speaker. He was Eagle Scout of the Nation in 1995, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served his country as an Airborne Ranger Infantry Officer. He has started multiple companies and been featured in Newsweek Magazine and on Good Morning America. He married his high school sweetheart and they home school their seven children on their family farm where he grew up. His varied interests include studying leadership and entrepreneurship, farming, riding his Harley, working on old cars with his sons and dad, camping and spending time with his family. Today, he is the owner/operator of a Chick-fil-A franchise in Rockmart, Georgia. His Leader Farming strategy - Growing Leaders to Grow your Business - has resulted in top 20% performance metrics and the development of multiple Chick-fil-A franchisees from his restaurant. As a Lean 6 Ninja, he has cultivated a culture of continuous improvement in his organization. How The Dots Joined For Zach His pioneering efforts have led him to serve on the Lean Operator panel for Chick-fil-A, Inc. and co-create the Lean365 program that helps other franchisees build a culture of empowerment, engagement, and excellence. He’s been featured in Newsweek and on Good Morning America, and is here today to share what he’s learned along his journey. As he says "As a lifelong student of leadership and entrepreneurship, I consider my Chick-fil-A franchise with over 90 team members a laboratory for innovation and cultivating next generation leaders. My company, Locum Restitution LLC, Latin for “a place of restoration” is a leadership development company that just happens to sell chicken!” So is this a business model that leads to a healthy work life balance, or tips it all into the work zone? And where would he go if he was to take his learnings and implement them into a new business? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Zach Thomas Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with Zach Thomas such as: Zach shares how he loves to bring an entrepreneurship schooling for his children, to create a mindset that they wouldn't get a school. We talk about the movie "The Founder" and how Ray Kroc went about redefining what his business is all about. Zach discusses how he found his leadership style by hearing his team pondering "What Zach are we going to get today?"  and not liking that discussion. And lastly................. Zach reveals the time when a good day for him was making a person cry out for his mother. Very different from today.

Today's show is based around several emails that we have received over the last few weeks at Join Up Dots. We love receiving emails from people, as it shows us that you are ready to take action. You are starting to think things through, and that is where the real fun starts to occur Question Number One This message has been percolating in the back of my head for several weeks so I decided to send it off as an early Christmas present to myself. I shall try to be brief but want to explain where we are and how we got there ... I listen to , learn from and am motivated by your podcast, usually once or twice each week. My business partner (and husband) and I did what you advised against: started by creating a product we felt would be useful to an audience. The product has evolved from an online skills quiz game (failed), through a Flash phase (technology advanced) to its current state - an online product to help anyone involved in sales to close more deals as well as coaching. We have been working on getting this to the right market for several years (yes, years). To be honest, we have worked diligently and at times less diligently ... when our resolve weakened. Starting fall 2018, we resolved to correct our product's flaws (outdated website, Flash-filled content). Getting that all corrected took until this fall 2019. We focused on LinkedIn and, secondarily, YouTube to generate interest and get viewers to our site. It hasn't worked yet and we're now trying to figure out how to get to our unique bit of the market. LinkedIn has change quite a bit from what it used to be and no longer seems as business oriented as it did. Its business focus is what made it our choice, given that we are not fans of social media. Final information: we are considerably older than you so online needs to be our methodology. Now that I've blathered on, not sure if you can help. Guess I was hoping for some outside thoughts from you ... as well as finally connecting with you personally so you know I'm a fan. Our site is mygoforthegreen.com. We transitioned from instructor led custom business skills seminars to our online product once we were no longer marketable. If you can offer any suggestions, terrific. If not, at least we've had a chat, albeit a rather one sided one, and that's fine, too. Regardless, have a wonderful Christmas and a successful, enjoyable 2020, whether you're in the back of your garden or travelling!! Best wishes, Linda Question Number Two Dear David, just wanted to drop you a line to say i'm loving that little extra story you share at the beginning of the show. It really shows the journey that you've been on, which i guess is why you have done it. Can i ask how different is your life now compared to when you worked in a corporate job? I guess the reason that I am asking is whether it is truly worth going after in the long term. Thank you for the honest answer I know that you will give me Art from Seattle Question Number Three Hi David, what social media platform would be best for my new business. I am aiming to start selling tennis equipment across the world and so many choices out there - JK from Brighton, America Question Number Four Hi David, I am a long term listener of the show and I want to say something that I have realised recently. I believe in you and what you tell me. I think in my heart of heart although i listened to your show religiously I felt that you were selling a dream that wasn't for me. Something clicked in one of your previous episodes when the guest said "it doesn't have to be right, it just has to be something moving you forward". That stopped me in my tracks, and made me realise the genius of your dots branding. I wish that i could go back in time and listen to all the shows now to see if I feel differently and grasp what you have been telling us for years. I still dont know what I am wanting to do, but I do now believe. That is my starter gun. Thank you so so much for what you do Gerald Banks, Dayton Ohio

Happy New Year everybody, and thanks for listening to Join Up Dots. So 2019 has come and gone, and now the new decade is rolling into place. Is it going to be a good one, or is it simply going to be more of the same for you? Well. i can promise you that for me, the passion has never been higher to make a difference in your lives. You have been listening to Join Up Dots for six years now, and many of you have started your own businesses and are living very different lives because of us. But not enough for my liking. In fact i would say that this has been the biggest disappointment to what I have achieved through the show. Yes, my life is amazing and stress-free, but I haven't quite got you guys to see how easy it is to start building online income and create your dream-life. I think at its core, people cant see the opportunities that are all around them. They cant see that they dont actually have to create a huge business that seems daunting from the outset. But i believe now (and i didn't for many years) on creating a business that is the smallest possible, whilst providing the most the value and income back to you. I call it "Anti-scale" - having the ability to make the most of the customers you already have in your life, and all around you. How do you make them come to you in every increasing numbers in the easiest way possible? How do you make a business that doesnt drive you into the ground due to effort that it takes to make that money? Does that sound good for you? Well it should do, as there isn't any better way to get that work life balance that people want. So lets make this the best New Year you have possibly had and will ever have.... Until next year which will be even better again. Thanks for listening to the show and all the best David Ralph Join Up Dots 

Introducing Daniel Tolson Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots show is Daniel Tolson, a business expert from Australia who has learnt the power of selling. He is Australia’s No. 1 business coach and has helped thousands of clients manage their time more effectively, remove self-limiting beliefs and make a lot more money. Daniel’s goal is to show you how to make more sales and a lot more money. As he says "There is nothing worse than worrying about where your next customer is coming from and wondering if you are going to make enough money to survive and with my proven techniques I will help you to stop worrying about where your next sale is coming from. You’ll experience less rejection to your offer, customers will be wanting to buy from you immediately and then they’ll refer you to their family and friends! Now this wasn't something that of course occurred like magic right at the very start. This was something built through the life of hard knocks. As he says "A few years before my birth, my parents lost their farm. The drought hit, the crops died, the markets collapsed and they had nothing to trade. They walked off the land with nothing. After the following years of night shifts packing shelves at the local supermarket and driving buses and taxis, they knew that making a wage would never lead to financial independence. Soon they found themselves in construction. Yet the backbreaking 16-hour days quickly took their toll. How The Dots Joined Up For Daniel At age 9, I started my sales career as a paperboy. My uncle gave me the 3-step sales training; “Here are your newspapers, there’s the door, go make sales!” On the very first sales call, I got my first ‘no’ and the rejection hit me hard. I took it personally and thought there was something wrong with me. I heard ‘yes’ a few times but the pain of the ‘no’ was so bad that I began to self-sabotage and procrastinate.  In the early 1990’s when the construction industry changed, my parents reinvented themselves and as a family, we opened up a pawn shop. We became the local Pawn Stars! For the first 9 years in business, we were amateurs- a regular, uneducated family doing the best we could. With no training, we were just in there giving it a go and we didn’t know any different.  What you need to know about pawnbroking is that it’s one of the most profitable business models in all of history. It works like this: you lend your own money against an item of value for a short period of time and you get a 20% return on your money every 30 days. If the customer doesn’t come back, you keep their goods and sell them. All profit. Zero risks!" So how how did he take this early tuition in business and transform his life to where it is today? And if he could give one big piece of advice to every listener of Join Up Dots what would it be? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Daniel Tolson Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with Daniel Tolson such as: Daniel shares the "When Harry Met Sally" method of business....I'll have what she's having. Daniel talks about why he "acts as if now", instead of "fake it until you make it" like so many others. We share the power of the words of Brian Tracey who advises to grow where you are planted. Daniel reveals the reasons why most businesses have to change a minimum of four times before they get the good results. And lastly................. Why it is so powerful and important to get clear on who your customer is an understand what they want right from the very start. 

Introducing Phillip Stutts Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast is the author of FIRE THEM NOW. He is one of the masterminds behind the curtain of political marketing. With more than 20 years of political and marketing experience, Stutts has worked with multiple Fortune 200 companies and has over two decades of experience working on campaigns with billions of dollars in political ad spend and contributed to over 1,000 election victories, including hundreds of U.S. House campaigns, dozens of U.S. Senate campaigns and even three Presidential victories. He founded Go BIG Media in 2015 and has won more than 30 prestigious awards for their work with US Senators, Governors, and Presidential Candidates, including a Pollie Award for Best Digital/Internet Independent Expenditure Presidential Campaign and the Goldie Award for Digital Video Excellence in a Presidential Campaign. Now if that doesn't sound like he has a lot on his plate, then lets tell you he is fighting a rare, incurable disease.  Diagnosed in 2012 with the esophageal disease, Achalasia, he spent five years ignoring it. Frankly, he put his head in the sand, taking medications that did more harm than good, and waiting for the inevitable. Then he woke up and said no more. His mission today is to find a cure and pursue a life of constant growth and giving. And he’s making progress. Stutts has been featured in Inc. and has made more than 200 national TV appearances including Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN. He has been lauded as a “marketing genius” by Fox Business and “the political guru” by ESPN. So what makes a man with so much going on, seemingly crank out even more work, when most people would take a breather and focus on themselves? And where does he see people go wrong in the business world, when it comes to marketing. Speaking the wrong message, or simply directing it at the wrong people. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Phillip Stutts Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Phillip Stutts such as: We discuss why there is a point that so many businesses go for scale for the sake of it. Is this an ego metric, or pure business requirement? Whether there is a firm reason to only choose to work with people that you personally share the same beliefs with. Phillip shares his personal belief that social media will be crashing in the next five years. and the reasons behind that belief. and lastly...... The reason that marketing should be based around one key concept, and why most businesses fail to see this themselves. How To Connect With Phillip Stutts Website Twitter LinkedIn Return To The Top Of Phillip Stutts If you enjoyed this episode with Phillip Stutts, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy Audio Transcription Of Phillip Stutts Interview Intro 0:00 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling in Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host, live from the back of his garden in the UK, David Ralph. David Ralph 0:25 Yes. Good morning to you. Good morning to you and welcome to Join Up Dots. Thank you so much for being here. It's great to have you because I don't like to be on my own. I really don't. But unfortunately, we've got we've got a guy at the other end. And what we've been trying to do in Join Up Dots recently is to vary the kind of content that you really don't know what you're going to get. And so it might be a deep dive on one of the movers and shakers, the billionaires have come and gone in this world. Or it might be somebody doing things that quite frankly, just interest me. And today's guest certainly falls into the latter camp. He's joining us on and Join Up Dots is the author of fire them now. And he's one of the masterminds behind the curtain. Yes, the curtain or political marketing. With more than 20 years of political marketing experience. He's worked with multiple fortune 200 companies and has over two decades of experience working on campaigns with billions of dollars in political ad spend and contributed to over 1000 election and victories. Yes, he's to blame, including hundreds of US House campaigns, dozens of US Senate campaigns and even pre presidential victories. Now he founded go big media in 2015. And as one more than 30 prestigious awards for their work with US senators, governors and presidential candidates. Now it doesn't sound like he's got a lot on his plate. But let's tell you he's also fighting a rare NQ incurable disease diagnosed in 2012 with a software called FZ. Accolades Yeah, he spent five years ignoring it. Now for Petty's head in the sand, taking medications that did more harm than good, and waiting for the inevitable when he woke up and said no more. And his mission today is to find a cure and pursue a life of constant growth and giving and he's making progress. He's been featured on 200 national TV appearances you get the drill is good. Now what makes this man we have so much going on seemingly crank out even more work. But most people would take a breather and focus on themselves perhaps and where does he see people go wrong in the business world when it comes to marketing, speaking the wrong message, or simply directing that message at the wrong people? I think that's pretty good. But let's find out as we bring on to the show to start Join Up Dots with the one and only Phillip Stutts. Good morning. How are you sir? Phillip Stutts 2:48 I am great ever had a crushed it this morning. But studying and reading and I'm ready to go? David Ralph 2:56 Well, as soon as I connected with you, you sounded like a guy that was really ready to go I get some guests, but sort of roll up. And I imagine that they via just rolled up because they're so chilled. Or they're wearing their pyjamas or their you know, you seem like somebody that really wakes up each morning, puts these feet on the floor and goes, let's make this day a day worth living. Phillip Stutts 3:19 I'm Thank you, I appreciate that, I would tell you that I do feel that way I listen. In my business this in the last two weeks, we've had massive challenges. I get super pumped and excited. But roadblocks and challenges. And my what I get excited about is I get to deep dive and solve those problems. So this is kind of your you're catching me in one of these. I'm really excited moments because I'm getting to solve problems. So I know I'm David Ralph 3:48 writing that way. But I use somebody because what I see also on the show is when people are really, really pumped, it's because they're on that wave. And they might have been paddling in the deep for a while sort of biding their time and then suddenly that wave gets him and the momentum builds and bear they are sort of flying towards me. Are you sort of on the top at the moment surfing the cube? I think they say the kids, I think Phillip Stutts 4:13 it's a little bit more complicated. I love you know, people that are listening to this. You hear a lot of guests and they come in and they tell their their victory storeys. Right. Mine is a different storey mine is. In my business, I have pretty much eaten doo doo for the last year and a half. And in trying to build and grow a corporate marketing division, we have a political marketing company that's completely separate from my corporate marketing division. In the last six months, we've it is exploded, we've grown by about 10 times from what we did last year. The problems that I'm seeking to solve are when you scale at that number, when you know how do you scale it that number, I have a model. I've done it before with my political marketing agency where we went from one employee in 2015, we have 27. Now we burned 22,000%. And then I I left the data and running the day to day operations of the political marketing from the open a corporate marketing agency. And we're sort of in the similar path. I like solving the problems of building the team it to me, David, it's all about the team, I if I build a great team, we will serve our clients, we will grow businesses, all those types of things. And so I like I'm in this moment where we're in a transition and we went from startup to you know, we have to optimise and grow with our clients. And so that's the challenge. It took a lot of dirt in my face over the last few months of eating dirt. But it's really going well right now. And now the challenge is how do you grow it and sustain it and sure the clients have had incredible success, and that there's no drop off. David Ralph 6:05 Now I'm going to put a different opposing view towards you only because I'm it's something that I'm interested in at the moment. Vat non the scale, the scale sake, everybody's looking for bigger metrics, and more downloads and more and more fat. And I'm going through a process where I'm thinking to myself, do I need that. And that process is a book that I've been reading called a company of one by Paul Jarvis, where he says one issue, you have pressured once you need to have a lovely life, but also pay all the bills, and vain. Do you need more than that? Would that be a view that you could understand? Or is that a view that is so contrary to the way you operate? You think No, I just want more and more and more. Phillip Stutts 6:52 So I was that person for 10 years, from 2005 to 2015. I was a one man, police consultant didn't own any marketing agencies, advised political candidates, nonprofit, some corporate clients. And what I realised there was a point is great by a great question, because I've never been asked this and I think it's just outstanding. So I i've you know basic was a one man shop at one point I had seven clients, I was making close to seven figures a year, I was I was just incredibly happy and excited and loving life. And then one day for or two of my political clients decided that they didn't want to actually run anymore, or raise money to pay the bills. Two of my nonprofit clients lost their funding. And, and within like, literally one week, I'd gone from seven clients and seven figures, to basically three clients and barely making six figures. And I went that that is a scary situation when it's all on you. And I did a soul searching I mean, I went through years and years of soul searching. And ultimately I found that deep down what's in the fibre of my body is two very important things is that it actually ends up being the values of the of our company. And it is given grow, give more than you take and always be growing. I don't have long vision statements. And I need you know, something mounted on the wall that people see and forget. And three seconds Nope, it's given growth. And for me, that's not I wasn't, I would never in my life, I wasn't always that I'm striving to be that I'm trying to give more than I take, I'm striving to always be growing. But once I understood that that was what drove every fibre in my body, then I put I put all my chips in and said it growth like I've got to be growing I've got it doesn't mean like the company has to 10 x every year and all that stuff. I don't necessarily mean that. But I have to be growing, I have to get smarter, I have to be getting adapting and in taking change. You know, I know you. You love to ask like a great quote, I think Tony Robbins has this great quote, and I would tell you is the quote that sort of defines my life. And it's the quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably tolerate. And man Does that ring for me because I when when I was a one man shop, I always put myself in comfortable situations trying to maintain my certainty. And when I put myself out there when I took chances, and when I decided I needed to be living more uncertain life and not live as comfortably. That's when massive growth happened in my life. By the way, I fail all the time. Like literally every day, there's a some kind of failure some way. It is not like failure is feedback to me. So like, I'm excited right now because I I'm learning from all of my failures all the time. And when you see yourself, take yourself from a failing position, to growth, to success to overcoming that grit side of things, is like you get so much confidence out of it, you know, you can do anything. So for me personally go back to your question is just not ultimately I was I did that it wasn't a fit. For me. It's a fit for other people. And I love that. But that for me is not not how I think about things. David Ralph 10:24 I've only spoken to you for about the last five or 10 minutes, but you seem to be a man who knows his stuff, you know who you are, and you know what you bring to the table. Now one of the things that interests me with you feel it is the fact being in the political arena, and being a political marketing genius, as they say, there must be an awful lot of business that you don't agree with you can't believe go along with all their political agendas. How do you balance that in your own mind that you're bringing messages to the world that actually go against what your personal beliefs? So Phillip Stutts 11:00 So do you let me ask you this? Do you represent clients? You do consulting things like that? Right? David Ralph 11:05 Yeah, a bit bit here very I try not to. Phillip Stutts 11:08 So with that, in particular, do you? The the companies or the business owners that you've consulted in the past? Do you believe everything they believe? David Ralph 11:18 I don't buy believe it? They're a good person or not? Phillip Stutts 11:22 Man, you just nailed it. And we go from me. So for me, it's easy to have a stereotype and stereotypes are called stereotypes, because they're mostly true. But for me, I've I've been lucky enough to work with people that I truly believe in and want to fight for. Are there people that may not meet everything that I believe in? or want? Absolutely 100%? But do they represent the kind of change that I want to be seen? I don't want to seem to be made. Absolutely. And so I have no friends problem whatsoever. And I'll never apologise for it. David Ralph 12:03 Because if you see these kind of political courtroom dramas, when somebody's standing up defending someone, and I always think to myself, I couldn't do that if I if I knew he was guilty, even if it was my job. I couldn't do that there's no Phillip Stutts 12:18 one could do that formation of America's democracy is that, you know, people have the right, both sides of every argument had the right be made. Who are those people that are going to do that? Listen, I don't think I've ever gone out and defended something I truly thought was immoral or unethical. But at the same time, look, their defence attorneys are people are accused of crimes. If they didn't have defence attorneys, then a lot of innocent people would be in jail right now. So sometimes, the way a scandal in politics is portrayed in the media is is maybe half right, maybe 25%. Right? I believe that politician has every right to defend themselves and get their side of the storey out? Well, David Ralph 13:01 well, let's take away from that into your political journey and your personal political journey. Because I'm always interested in that bit. When the intro is being read. It sounds like all the dots have joined up perfectly. And from the moment that you sort of you came out of the womb, you had a little suit on and a little briefcase, and and off you went a big part of the storey where most people are making it up as they go along. I remember reading Barack Obama's biography and he spent my whole summer getting stoned and drinking beer because he just didn't know what he wanted to be. And you think it's quite obvious, you're gonna be Barack Obama. Have you had those moments in your life when you've been going through college, whatever, and you're really doubting that you're on the right path. Phillip Stutts 13:51 Now? Well, first of all, I didn't even know what my path was until I was 23. I'm sitting here right now, in a T shirt and flip flops. You know, again, still tights, David, you're putting stereotypes on I wear a hat a hat every day, I live on the beach in Florida. And, you know, the last thing I am is probably the stereotype of what you would think of somebody that works in politics is when I was 20, sorry, when I was 22 years old, I had the opportunity to go work on a presidential campaign. And literally as a gopher, and found it to be, always say, working on political campaigns. It's like smoking crack. So stick with me, Okay, I'm ready. Okay. All right, good. Because here's the deal. You go in to a political campaign, and you work 24, seven, there was a three year window in my career where I had 22, total days off, I was, you know, you there is no balance in your life, you are going 1000 miles an hour, 16 hours a day, seven days a week. And All you think about is, I've got to, I've got to get off of this, that I cannot do this, the rest of my life is going to kill me if I continue down this path of working in politics or political campaigns. And then Election Day happens. And then the day after election day, you it's like, you go off the pipe, you fall asleep, you go, Oh, my God, it's over. I'm never doing this again. Thank God Almighty. And then about a week later, you start twitching. And you go, man, I gotta get back on a political campaign because you realise that you'll never feel as passionate about anything in your entire life, as you do in a job where you're fighting to change the way the country they out, you know, outcome or out the direction of the country that you live in. And so for me, you know, it is, you know, every time I always say every time I try to try to get out, they pulled me back in. Because ultimately, I think you need to be in the fight. I think there are a lot of people out there in the world today, that all they do is bitch and moan. And all they do is say how horrible this person is, and that person does. And then you ask, Well, what are you doing to change the system? And you know, the answer is I'm tweeting. Yeah, that is total BS to me. So if you're going to complain to do something about it, well, I'm going to do something about it. I've been doing something about it for 23 plus years now. And I believe that you got to be in the fight if you're going to have if you're gonna have strong opinions. Otherwise, you're a poser. David Ralph 16:27 Yeah, but what you're battling with all the time, and I will reference I don't really use Facebook at all, but I put a post on it the other day, just because something was niggling away. And this is exactly why. Why is it on social media that someone says something offensive, political, racial, and the world sits up and takes notice and thousands of comments and likes come forth. But when someone is doing something great for someone, the community charity the world and need help by gaining shares, likes, it's barely a whisper by get, I hope that we aren't creating a world where the sensational outscores the positive every single time. But I bet we are. Now with you being so passionate, you're obviously thinking that you are doing great stuff. But we all know in the political arena, a lot of that great stuff never comes to fruition. It just kind of gets caught up in red tape. How do you balance Vatican right, your efforts are going into a black hole, but actually are going to get suppressed further down the line. Phillip Stutts 17:27 But let me answer the the Facebook post that you had. I just wrote a piece. I have a subscriber list. And I wrote a piece two weeks ago about the looming social media market crash, I believe that the exact post that you had is the reason social media is going to have a market crash sometime in the next five years. I believe that when everybody is trying to beat their chests and show how important they are, you know, people will say like, literally I know people that live early post I'm against rate, because they want people to clap and bet pat him on the back. And like, Who's for rate? David? Like, I don't understand these things like, yeah, no one's for that. The only reason people posted something like that is that they want people to like them more. And I think it's a, it's the Doom of society, one of the reasons I admire you is that you've kind of sworn off some of that stuff. I'm the same way I post on social, but by the way, I never get on it. I mean, I rarely get on it, because it's so toxic. And when it's so toxic, and I know this these companies, because they've tried to bow to all the censorship calls, that ultimately there is going to be a massive market correction for social and it's coming. The second part is how do you tap into that emotion in a positive way? You know, so one of the ways that we've done it, one of the ways I do it in marketing, and look at me, I'm transitioning. I, one of the ways we've done this is you've seen maybe it's on the American side, maybe it's over on your side of the pond, but you've seen political ads that are negative ads, correct? Yeah, absolutely. Great. Here's what we've done to sort of reverse engineer those. So I've done negative political ads, I've made them I've won awards for them. I've personally, I kind of like them. But when we're working with corporate clients, if you take that principle, and apply it to a company that runs and add a comparison ad, right, we can call it going negative, but it's a comparison at but the comparison at a thins no one and builds stronger and deeper Connexions to the company that is producing the ad by the customer, that is a win all the way around. So it's taking a negative and turning it positive. I'll give you an example. We work for a dietary country dietary food company, they are an eight figure company, this is on the corporate side. Ever, we are I fancy our corporate marketing agency is actually a marketing intelligence and data company because we use data to make all the decisions. And so we went into this, this dietary food company, and we we overlaid their customer base on with, you know, to overlaid all their decisions. And we follow those people for a month. And you can say you did and I'm like, Yeah, everybody does in the data world. But we followed everything I did. And we came back after 30 days, and we had a complete and psychological understanding of their entire customer base. their customer base was 50% vegetarian or vegan, the customer base hated and we found this in the data, they did not like they hated soda. seems obvious. But until you look at the data, and you follow them around, you'd never know. And so we ended up creating ads. And the ads said, you know, don't you know what it was like a crush soda can and it said something to the effect of, you know, don't succumb to the soda industry by these clean unhealthy foods, right? That's a comparison ad. What did that ad do? Well, we also tested it against some positive ads against the top rank positive ad that we tested against it had it at a two x click through rate, and it 20% conversion rate where the customer bought a product based on the comparative ad. Now, no one in that customer base is offended that we went after soda, because everybody in this company's customer base hates soda. So what we did was we use the negative turned it into a positive built a deeper connexion. And we see this over and over and over again, comparative ads on the corporate side, or if done effectively, are the most successful ads, you can absolutely run in this day and age. And that's because you were tapping into the very thing you wrote about in that Facebook ad, but in a different way. And you reorganise it in a different way, and you use it for a positive effect. David Ralph 22:12 Well, okay, we're gonna play some words now, then we're gonna come back to back because I think this is a nice segue into the business element of Join Up Dots is Oprah. Oprah Winfrey 22:22 The way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, what is the next right move? not think about, Oh, I got all of this. What is the next right move? And then from that space, make the next right move, and the next right move, and not to be overwhelmed by it. Because you know, your life is bigger than that one moment, you know, you're not defined by what somebody says, is a failure for you. Because failure is just there to point you in a different direction. David Ralph 22:53 Why? So taking those words and what you said about the data and the marketing, somebody listening service, they run a small pet shop in Nebraska, we say, and we're thinking I need to know more about my customers, I need to appeal to the right customers. I've tried Facebook ads never got anywhere, is this is something that you know, vape can jump on and take your learnings and transition into their own business, or is this something that literally, you've got to have not the one person shop, but a whole business to have? Phillip Stutts 23:30 So, listen, I think, pursuant to what Oprah was just saying, it is one step at a time, and 90% of times that business owners that comes in, and then talk to me and say we need you to do your marketing, they try to go for the get rich, quick pill. It never works. David, I've heard you say this before you hate marketers, or you hate marketing 95% of business owners hate marketers, or marketing. They look at it as a cost. They look at it as an expense, not an investment. Done, right 90% of your business should be marketing. But because there are so many nefarious characters out there. And there's so many people that see, oh, my God, this guy ran a Facebook page ad I should run a Facebook ad. And I wrote my book called fire them now because I wanted to point out the unethical behaviour of marketers in the industry. What the step by step approach that Oprah talks about in there. For me, it's very simple. Anybody that works with us, any company, they have to undertake this, this, this, we call it the undefeated marketing system, we're going to trade marketing it right now. And it will probably be my next book. But the reason it is because it works, every client that has come in and done this particular step by step process has grown their bottom line, every single one. Now I've had plenty of clients that start the process, and then go, I don't want this, I just want to get rich quick pill, I don't have that they fall off. But the way you do it is you and you must have deep understanding of customer data or your ideal target market, you must get that you must understand what the data says about the way they think they feel, what the top values in life are, how they're motivated, what platforms are on the chronological order of the platforms they visit. And from that, and so you know, whether it be politics with voters, or whether it be you know, corporate marketing with customers, or clients, I've done over 3000 campaigns. And all I've ever done is looked at data and been able to read between the lines to say this is what this means. This is what that means in your data. From that you've got to build a strategic plan, not on a bunch of guesses, but on what the data tells you. So that's step two, then you have to rebrand your company in the way that the customer wants to listen and hear from you. Not in what you just want to say. But what the customer wants to hear. Does that make sense? Not? Yeah, yes. And we know that from the data. Then step four is you go out and you test all the data, all the messages that the data gave us, like the the case study I just told you about, about going negative with the supplement and dietary company. Once we figure out the after we test all these concepts and these messages that the data tell us will work. We've always found what works, what we find in the testing processes, the 10 concepts we test, they all work, but two or three, go crush, I mean, they go through the roof, then you go to the business owner and you go, let's make a real investment in your marketing. Now. The point is, is that marketers have should absolutely should take the risk off the table for the business owner, the business owner should win before the marketer wins. And unfortunately, the way the rule the unwritten rule is now as the marketer gets paid, whether the business owner grows their business or not. And what I'm trying to tell you is the process I just laid out is to how you win back, that game of marketing. In addition, one of the lies I taught so the I talked about the seven lies Digital Marketer selling my book, I'll give you one. And it's counter counterintuitive to what you're probably thinking. But it is this if you are a business owner, and you hire a marketing agency, and that marketing agency says you have to sign a six month, three month 12 month contract. That is unethical behaviour, in my opinion. And 23 plus years of marketing, every contract I've ever signed in the history of my career has been month to month. Why? Because that mark that business, that politician can fire me anytime, if I'm not producing for them. Now, the reason that's important is every month My ass is on the line. And either I'm producing results, or I'm gone. How much faster do I move? And how quickly do I innovate every single day for my clients that that's my mindset. And unfortunately, that is not the mindset of the majority of marketers out there in the world today. David Ralph 28:22 What you're saying makes so much sense to me. But there's also a fear, there's a fear that most peo

Introducing Ellie Dailey Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is a lady who is taking the boring old CV and turning it on its head. She is the founder and CEO of an innovative online recruiting platform— Intro30.com. The platform allows job seekers to record an online video introduction as part of a shareable profile including a resume. It breaks down the first stage of demonstrating enthusiasm, personal care, professionalism live, before they ever get in-front of the recruiting team.  So there's not that shock to the system when instead of a well groomed business professional entering the interview room, you get someone who looks like they have just rolled out of bed. Candidates can then submit these profiles to companies, add them to their resumes and have direct access to the jobs and companies on Intro30. On the demand side, Intro30 will enable companies to view a candidate’s 30-second elevator pitch, search the database by keyword, location or skill set and reach out to learn more about them. Companies can also list their jobs, market them and share them with QR codes, and attract candidates directly. Now this isnt an idea that has just popped into her head, but was probably bubbling around for many years, as she has been a recruiter all over the world, from the UK to the Middle East, to Asia and now Silicon Valley for nearly 20 years. As he says "This has allowed me to gain expertise in a variety of recruiting environments, including banking, sovereign wealth funds, tech, and finance." So was this an idea that many said "This wont work or it would have been done before by someone." And where do people get hung up most in starting their own business, on the doing or the wanting to do it? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Ellie Dailey Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Ellie Dailey such as: We discuss how people are so much more informal in today's much to chagrin to both Ellie and David.  Ellie reveals how the idea first came into her mind, and the early steps that it took to get it off the ground. Ellie talks about Tim Ferris and the Four Hour Work Week, which is the bible for so many people. and lastly…… We reveal how and why an entrepreneur needs to be so skilled at understanding your own talents.

Today's guest first joining us on the Join Up Dots show, helps executives navigate the waters of what to do, in the right order, to help them harness the power of vulnerability and authenticity to build a better, more relatable and more profitable brand. He knows that the key to building connections and ultimate profitability is allowing clients to see behind the curtain of perfection. Let's tell you about him.... He grew up in Huntington Beach, California. As he says "I was the freckle-faced kid at school who got made fun of, not only because of my freckles and sun-bleached hair but I think my favorite my red suspenders flagged me as a “nerd”. To make matters worse, both of my parents were principals. Thankfully not at my school, otherwise live would have even more miserable. But, I still felt like an outcast and struggled with fitting in. I was an eager student, which was great for teachers, but not so great for making friends. My neighbor hated me so much that he kicked me and bit me on many occasions. It was terribly painful! I was always the outlier, the easy-target, the kid who never got picked for sports teams. My mom felt so bad for me that she bought me a basketball of my own, but it didn’t change the fact that I had no one to play with. He knows that you have to use your failure, mistakes, and vulnerabilities to fund your success. He speaks across the globe, inspiring everyone that he meets by stories of screw-ups and reality. His book, co-authored by Leonard Kim, is called Ditch the Act: Reveal the Surprising Power of the Real You for Greater Success. It takes a strategic approach to this little-known secret to help you build an authentic, long-lasting personal brand. He explains why exposure is important and how it helps cultivate more durable connections than any polished persona can, and how to use stories of failure and weakness in ways that build trust and loyalty from large audiences. It is a proven guide to building a powerful personal brand through the fearless admission of just being human. The problem: People are getting weary of—and, frankly, seeing right through—the oversized egos dominating the business world today. The solution: By building a personal brand that is honest and authentic and that reveals personal struggles, you can build stronger, longer-lasting relationships—and achieve greater success. My Market: Business professionals who are finding it harder and harder to break through the noise, who want to gain more respect and more followers by being their natural, flawed self instead of pretending to be perfect. Love this... So why do people still keep on posting pictures of Learjet's and selfies in front of photo shopped thousands? And why does he keep on drawing stick people and posting everywhere. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Ryan Foland

Introducing Thomas Young Thomas Young is today’s guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast is the co-founder & VP Marketing at Rocket Dollar. Rocket Dollar is a self-directed investing company, which if you are like me you might be asking “Well what is self directed investing?” Self-Directed investing allows investors to make all investment decisions from a tax-advantaged retirement account. This includes choosing assets, vetting deals, and writing checks. A Self-Directed account holder can invest in any asset class allowed by the IRS. Om. its still not that clear, but what is clear is the co-founder who is on the show, has shown serious hustle and commitment growing this company from humble beginnings to over 13 staff and counting. Thomas Young is a marketing professional with years of experience in the start-up community. He started his career at AngelSpan, Inc., before founding a marketing agency catering to financial professionals. How The Dots Joined Up For Thomas His experiences with clients led him to the self-directed space, where he quickly realised that people are yearning for more control and that there was a need for a company to make it safe, secure, and fast for people to invest their retirement savings in the assets of their choice. Young’s close contact with many self-directed investors led him to identify a strong need for a platform combining the best attributes of a self-directed account while leveraging the best technology of the day to make it easy to operate these accounts. He currently lives in Austin, after attending the University Of Texas at Austin, although he is originally from Mexico City, although a When he isn’t working on is business he enjoys running around town lake when he’s not thinking of ways to share the Rocket Dollar story. So why did he go into an area that in so many ways is restricted by regulations and financial ombudsman? And looking back, does he see where the time was used up most as he got the business of the ground? Well let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Thomas Young Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Thomas Young such as: Thomas shares the story of how he first started to scale his business by making an equity split to gain his founding partners. We discuss the pride that Thomas has with the future that he has built himself over the last few years, and the control he has in his life.. Why it is so important to understand what the customer really needs before ever starting to build multiple products for a market that doesn’t exist. and lastly…… Thomas reveals why it doesn’t matter what you are selling. the mechanics are pretty much the same. Learn the process and then go out and conquer.

Introducing Tristan Wright Today's guest shows that it is possible to combine a passion in sports and and create something amazing. He is the founder of evolve to grow where he now shows business owners across the world how to create a business that doesn't end up running them. And he did this himself by turning a sporting passion into a global operation turning over seven figures while providing the kind of personal and professional flexibility many people dream of? Is this possible for most of us to do? Well as he says "I’m here to tell you that yes, it’s possible for your business, too (with the right approach and plenty of passion and determination, of course!). When I started my first business – cycling clothing company Seight – I was entering an incredibly tough retail environment. Many of my competitors were major players and were already well established in the marketplace, so achieving cut-through and a profitable market share were just some of the many challenges I faced. How The Dots Joined Up For Tristan And yet just a few short years later my business was turning over more than $300,000, and all while I was yet to give up my previous day job. Fast forward another couple of years and my business had hit the magical seven-figure turnover mark and was running almost on autopilot, allowing me to work on what I wanted To combine a business and a passion and grow them into a profitable enterprise with a major following both locally and internationally is something I’m immensely proud of. Now I’m proud to say I’m helping other small business owners to do all this and more. Some have taken their business ideas from seed to fruition and are now running highly profitable operations, while others have grown their business and processes to a point that has enabled them to take extended holidays while their business runs itself. It seems to me that this man has the same logic and viewpoint as myself and Join Up Dots. Whats the point of creating a business that doesn't then give you the freedom to escape and live the life you want? So does he look back and think that it was obvious the way that he went about it, or simply a series of lucky breaks? And where do most people go wrong when they start their own business? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Tristan Wright  Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Tristan Wright such as: Why it is so important to find a market that you have the most knowledge on before you ever try to do something new. We discuss why affiliate marketing is such a hard thing to make a living from due to the amount of traffic you need to gain those important clicks. Tristan shares why the first thing that people should do is start building a community, and the nurture those pain points. And lastly....... We both share our route to business burnout and why Tristan now tells his clients to book time off each 90 days. 

In today's podcast episode we hear from several listeners of the show who are rocking and rolling and doing amazing things. Not least getting the brain juices going to create online success for themselves. We hear from several people bursting with ideas, and one listener who shares her own tip for success as she builds her own coaching business. Dear David loving the show big-time. You certainly have got me buzzing and I am going to make 2020 my big year. What would be the value bomb that you can give me as a xmas gift to make sure this occurs?   Kind regards James Whittaker ps.....left a review on iTunes as I know you love getting them. Hi David....i have started a coaching business and have found clients very easy to get, so I thought i would let you know what I am doing. Everyday I go into A Starbucks or coffee house near me, and sit with my laptop. There are literally thousands of people that come in and sit down for a drink over eight hours. All I do is catch their eye and ask if I can sit with them and then start up a conversation. I'll be honest the idea frightened me, but I heard one of your guests talking about how they simply stood in a road and handed out business cards for an event they were running. So my mind thought out the process. Where are people always coming to? Where do people often sit and kill a bit of time? Where do people do this during work time? I hope that will help someone out there and thank you so much for starting your show as I wouldn't be where I am today without you....big love and kisses Jennifer Millward, Ohio, USA Hi David, quick question for you. Do you think that a business showing people how to clear their garages is a great idea? I keep on driving past open garages full of boxes and nobody can park their cars in them? This has been a light-bulb moment for me, and seems too simple that someone else hasn't done it already. Colin Baxter, Jacksonville, Florida. Mr Ralph, can I ask a question please. How do you know what to do each day in your business. You seem to have everything sorted, but i waste so much time just doing nothing worth while when I get a chance to work on my business. I guess you will say "write a list" or prioritise but I was interested if you do something differently. You are the best  Becky, New York City USA

Todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is a lady who has niched down and is working with a client base with a huge problem. While healthcare professionals may be excellent at helping people heal from injuries and sickness, help patients make choices that will lead to healthier lives, and provide the comfort and security we all need when health scares arise, they're (admittedly!) often not great at the day to day business of providing that healthcare. Luckily, that's where Sylvie McCracken steps in to help and enables health care professionals to heal their own businesses from the administrative gulag that hounds them. Since most healthcare providers' income is directly tied to the number of patients they see and a near endless stream of appointments, it's the personal freedom, family, and often their own health that pays the price for financial wellness. How The Dots Joined Up For Sylvie Through identifying passive income opportunities and helping entrepreneurs to execute and sustain those initiatives, Sylvie helps doctors, dentists, pathologists, nutritionists, and more take care of the bottom line so they can better take care of themselves, their families, and their patients. She loves passive income as believes its essential for every entrepreneur (going without it is like driving a car without insurance). Creating passive income with ebooks,  outsourcing, delegating and managing your online dream team (‘cause you didn’t ditch the day job to have your business run you) and  building her clients biz while working a full time “day job” (like I did!) So how did she juggle everything to get into the position to step out on her own And was her business like it is now from the very beginning or a very different version of what we now see? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Sylvie McCracken Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with Sylvie McCracken such as: We share the hardship of entrepreneurship, and the manner of somehow being out of your control but still living it. Why Sylvie's personality can often repel clients from her life, but thats ok as the great clients stick around. Sylvie reveals that although she loves working in her business she truly loves being on her own and often needs that space to function. And lastly................. We talk about the moment when "The dream job" that everyone thought she was crazy to leave, left a whole in her happiness. How To Connect With Sylvie McCracken Website Facebook Twitter Linkedin Return To The Top Of  Sylvie McCracken If you enjoyed this interview with Sylvie McCracken why not check out other inspiring interviews like Clint Arthur, Lunden DeLeon and Jack Canfield Or of course you can check out thousands of podcast interviews in our archives here Interview Transcription For Sylvie McCracken Interview David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time there was a guy with a dream a dream. He's Jobs for himself online and have a kick ass life working when he wanted him where he wanted across the world. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt. Until he found the magic ingredient and knows drunk was became a thing of the past, of course, was bad person. And now My dream is to make things happen. BU Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:31 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be but somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:56 Yes, hello there, everybody. Hello there and welcome to Join Up Dots. I'll tell you why I love having an online business. You won't believe how many issues go on behind the scenes to make it seem like we are professionals and we know what we're doing. But I think we're there. I think we're there and we're going to bring a good show to you because today's guest joining us on the show is a lady who is niche down and he's working with a client base with a huge problem. While health care professionals may be excellent at helping people heal from injuries and sickness, help patients make choices that will lead to healthier lives and provide the comfort and security we all need. When health scares arise. They're often not that great at a day to day business of providing that health care. Luckily, that's where our guest comes in, and she enables healthcare professionals to heal their own businesses from the administrative gulag, but hands room now since most healthcare providers income is directly tied to the number of patients they see, and a near endless stream of appointments, it's the personal freedom, family and often their own health that pays the price for financial wellness through IN can't even say I'm so excited through identifying passive income opportunities and helping entrepreneurs to execute and sustain those initiatives. Our guest helps doctors, dentists, pathologist, nutritionist, and everyone else care for the bottom line so they can better take care of themselves, their families and their patients. Now she loves passive income and she believes it's essential for every entrepreneur going without it is like driving a car without insurance. She says creating passive income with ebooks outsourcing, delegating and managing your online Dream Team, because yet didn't ditch your day job to have your business run you she says and building her clients business while working a full time day job like she did can take its toll. So how did you juggle everything to get into the position to step out on their own and was her business like it is now from the very beginning? Or a very different version of what we now see. Well, that's why now as we bring on to the show to start Join Up Dots with the one and only Sylvie MacCracken. Good morning, Sylvie. How are you? Sylvie McCracken 3:01 Oh, my goodness. Good morning, David. Thank you for that great introduction. So happy to be here. I'm happy you're David Ralph 3:06 here as well, because we had a few issues, didn't we? But we, we just relaxed and I stress from this and did I sound like I was stressing? Sylvie McCracken 3:15 No, not at all. You kept your cool. So yeah, we figured out the technology. Sometimes the tech Gremlins are upon us that you figured it all out. Here we are. David Ralph 3:22 I think it is a metaphor for entrepreneurial life. Because I remember the very beginning if something happened, that meant that I couldn't record a show. I used to think oh my god, I'm letting the person down. Now. I just sit there and being okay with you and not the time we're so around the issue where we breeze around, is that something that becomes more and more evident that there's always a way around the obstacle? Sylvie McCracken 3:49 Oh, for sure. I mean, you know, it's it's one of those things where you just become adapt, I think at handling the fact that there's going to be hurdles and if you can't, you know, overcome those words. Then maybe entrepreneurship isn't for you. Because the reality is that that's the only guarantee. David Ralph 4:04 And how do you think entrepreneurship is because I eSports? Because I used to think it was for everyone. And then I used to think it was not nobody. And when I sort of lurch between the two, is it for somebody that is just purely bloody minded and determined, or is it somebody creative? Because you see, great entrepreneurs go under, and you see other people that are quite frankly, they seem like idiots. Rubbish, right, rather well, Sylvie McCracken 4:33 right? Yeah, you know, I mean, I think I agree with you. In the beginning, I was the event the entrepreneur evangelist, right, where everyone, you know, grab random strangers in an elevator and a Lyft, as you guys call them, and just, you know, try and convince them and the reality is, like you said, you know, it's not for everybody, and people that are completely comfortable in their nine to five and in their day job and receiving that salary. As long as they have a pulse. Then, you know, great, that's great. You know, who might have saved that's not A great life. But I think entrepreneurship is for those that are you know that that that sounds like death that working a nine to five working for someone else, you know, is something that they're absolutely not willing to do that they have this passion or this, you know, idea or this thing that they want to do they want to control their own schedule. And I think this is the big and and the big sort of requirement is and they're willing to take the risk and they're willing to deal with it's not an overnight success. And it's not get rich quick, and it's not easy sometimes. And it's definitely not easy in the beginning. So there is that sort of cost of entry, which is you've got to really go through that, you know, that that those hurdles in the beginning where you're working for zero dollars an hour, and it's hard and you're making mistakes, and you're getting told no. And that's kind of the barrier to entry to entrepreneurship, if you don't make it in that first year or three years or whatever it may be. Then, you know, and that's when a lot of people quit and say, You know what, actually my job is not as bad as I thought it was. David Ralph 5:59 Well, I'm gonna Jump back on something you said were working the zero hours because I'm a member. When I started, I was earning less than zero hours because I had costs costs that were going out. But I wasn't. Yeah. And I look back on it now. And I can't actually remember how I survived. But I did. I survived. And I scraped around and I sorted things out. And I had a couple of lucky tax breaks, which brought some money in which allowed us to do one or two things and stuff. But yeah, it was amazing at the time, where I was only seeing money go one way, and it wasn't going into my bank account at all. Sylvie McCracken 6:35 Yeah, right. It was going back. Oh, yeah. I totally agree. And I think that that really speaks to well, how bad do you want it then? David Ralph 6:42 How bad do you want it now compared to when? At the beginning because when you when you get to a certain point, and I'm going to preempt guys, and laziness comes in, where you lose track of who you was, I used to be Hustle, Hustle, Hustle, Hustle. Then once you started going well, it was like a weight off, I can relax. And the more I relaxed, the more I realise I didn't actually want to do what I was doing anyway. Right. And I kind of lost myself for a while. What about yourself? Sylvie McCracken 7:12 Yeah, yeah, no saying Absolutely. And I think it's part of it is you go into autopilot mode, which is, for me, at least what I've operated on a good part of my life. And so of course, that's kind of a hardwired pattern that I have to, you know, kind of sometimes wake myself up out of and say, Oh, wait, what are we doing? Again? What's the big picture? Because I'll get into the minutia of a certain day and what we're doing that day, and I'll forget the big picture, and then I'll find myself, you know, carrying out a project I don't even really want to finish. So I think, you know, that's a really great question. And it's actually something I talked to my clients about recently. That was, you know, really because I was asking them like, you know, especially in the early in the first year, how bad do you want it? What are you willing to sacrifice? What are you willing to give up? Are you willing to give up your evening and weekend for a while around your day job? Are you willing to shut down Netflix and you know, really give up your free time and do this Because that's kind of what's required. And but the interesting thing is I said, but just so you know, like, what I'm willing to do today is I'm not willing to sacrifice almost anything. And so that's, you know, the interesting thing and the, I guess the good part of that is I no longer have to write so right, you know, at today 2019 2020. I have, you know, a business that I'm able to fit around my lifestyle and not the other way around. But I'm very, very clear that those early years it was hustle, and it was evenings and weekends around a day job, and it definitely was sacrifice and that was what was required to sort of buy into entrepreneurship. And nowadays, I really don't care about, you know, going for the next revenue hurdle, right? We did that. We chased that for a while. Once we hit seven figures, I was like, Okay, I got the T shirt, and now I don't really care about it anymore. It's one of those things where I'm like, well, what's the profit? What's the how many hours? How little hours Can I get away with to run this business? There's other metrics that I'm focused on now. And am I able to, you know, put everything aside and go to a salsa Dancing festival if I want to for a long weekend, am I able to take my daughter to a doctor's appointment at one o'clock? Because I want to be there, you know? So those are the metrics I look at nowadays. David Ralph 9:10 Ryan. Okay. I agree with everything he was saying. And I also agree that the majority of people out there haven't got it. I've now answered my question. When we said at the beginning, who is entrepreneurship for? I think it's almost like, it's for somebody that hasn't got a choice anymore. It's for somebody who's in too much pain, you know, I had a boss from hell. And I just got to the point where I can't do this anymore. I just cannot spend one day more. Now. In fact, Boss wasn't there. And I had a nice boss, who knows I might have still been there. But it was the pain point that pushed me out. And so when people speak to me, and I said, David, David, I'd really like to start my own business. They don't seem to be in pain enough to really Want to push through? Yeah, Sylvie McCracken 10:01 yeah, it's a nice to have not a must have, it has to be a must have. It has to because a nice to have, you're not really willing to do that much for a nice to have you know and I and my health care professional clients deal with this a lot to where sometimes they're helping people where now they've gotten a diagnosis of Hey, you either turn around your health or your end up in a wheelchair, and now they're willing to listen now they're willing to change their diet, but when it was, Hey, you know, you need to lose 20 pounds. Okay, well, whatever, you know, so it's the same with with just about everything I think. David Ralph 10:31 Now the interesting thing about you, Sylvia, and this is gonna sound like an insult, but I'm going to say hello, I Unknown Speaker 10:36 can't wait. It's a David Ralph 10:38 bit of an insult, but it's gonna lead into a lovely compliment. Now, before you came through, I get pitched people and I have a name and the name gets given to me now in the United Kingdom. Sylvie is like a 70 year old nanny, basically. It's like, I never knew that there is an old lady's name and so So I wasn't expecting but glamorous and vibrant you see I've built it up into a compliment person. And when I went over to the website I thought this is interesting because first of all, it moves it there's a video alone and a lot of it is very kind of like Meghan Trainor, you know, making train this video's very bright and very cheerful. And your whole website is very different from most that I get to look at through the show. And it should be by surprise. Was that kind of bright leather jacket is driving around, was that part of the master plan? Or did that just sort of naturally occur over a period of time? Sylvie McCracken 11:44 You know, I usually I defer to my team who they're all so much smarter than I am. And in that particular case, that was the work of Sarah and como Ashman years ago now, I think that website went up either 2015 or 2016, probably 16. And it was all her creative direction. It was all her ideas. Very little input from me or every time I put some input, she'd be like, you know, we're doing it this way. And so she directed the whole thing starlet Fortunato did all of the photography. And it was, you know, at the time we weren't serving healthcare professionals, that's the hilarious part. So, you know, but we were doing I mean, my, my vision has always been the same as far as what I bring to the table, which is this efficiency piece. And so she really wanted to tie it to fuel efficiency, and you know, and that car theme, and so she did a lot of got just just the creative direction around that and the branding. That's David Ralph 12:34 what you said, Man was the key point. I think that was the question in my mind. I was expecting some old lady walking out of a doctor's surgery where, you know, being very focused on the health care professionals. And when I got over there, I thought, My God, this isn't this. There's a sort of juxtaposition of what I was expecting, but actually was more engaging because I realised that I was tapping into who you were, and not what somebody wanted me to see. And, you know, I look at so many websites that they bought me, they bought me stupid, you know? It doesn't come across with you, and how does that work with the healthcare professionals? Did they come across and go? Be speaks to me or actually, this isn't what I was expecting. Sylvie McCracken 13:23 Right. You know, I think that's a really good question. I mean, obviously, there are a lot of people that don't resonate with me. And the reason for that David, and we chatted a little bit before we started recording is I have a little bit of an irreverent style. So there are people that will watch our webinar and will literally will send emails into my team saying, Oh my god, she's so unprofessional. She calls us dude. And I'm like, Yeah, I do because that's what I feel like saying so if you don't buy but then no problem but then keep going because this is what I do. I'm a big fan of, you know, I sort of want to normalise doctors as other humans. Everybody poops and You know, there's no there's no title ism, there's no The doctor is better than the nutritionist or the nurse or anything like that in my world. So if you come into my world and you become a client, you basically acknowledge and accept to be treated just like everybody else with respect, but I'm going to say, Hey, girl, and I'm going to say, Hey, dude, because that's my style. And if you don't like it, that's totally cool. But that's how I roll So, so there's that and then there's, you know, I mean, I use I use rap lyrics as quotes. And, you know, my clients, the ones that do make it past all of those different filters that we've got, basically, they find it hilarious half the time, they don't know who I'm quoting. But you know, that's just kind of what I bring to the table. I'm a little bit a typical I grew up in Argentina and in the US back and forth, so I speak both languages fluently. You wouldn't think I'm Latina, based on the last name McCracken but there you have it. And so you know, I'll do weird things like that. I'll bring in lyrics that from all over the world or references and I'll actually make them into my materials. We've got literally You know, rap lyrics put into our workbooks. So that's just kind of what you got when you're in my world and for whoever it fits awesome. And for whoever doesn't fit, that's fine too, David Ralph 15:09 because I'm slightly pivoted because through Join Up Dots. If you go back maybe two years ago, I used to do a lot of singing on the show and just sort of city stuff, which entertains me, entertain me. And a lot of people would come through to me saying, you know, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't quite what I expected from a business podcast. And I thought that's that's the point. That is exactly the point. Yeah, yeah, I've pivoted slightly because I realised, once I started dropping off the overtly me things. My bank account flourished. You know, it was almost like, people couldn't accept that somebody could do that and be bad at the same time. They couldn't accept but I can show them how to create an online business that literally only takes a few hours a week to operate, you can do it anywhere you want, you know, if I was singing Bon Jovi songs on the show, but I still, I still can't break free from knowing that ultimately, I will come back to that, ultimately, there comes a tipping point where you realise that you can actually be whoever you want to be, and the world goes, and that's what we want you to be. Sylvie McCracken 16:26 Yeah, well, I just feel like you know, I mean, I, you know, I feel like in a traditional environment, you have to morph yourself into whatever is allowed, right? And, and my employees have told me this multiple times as well of like, you know, Oh, I'm so glad that you don't care that I have blue hair or that I have this piercing or whatever it is, of course, I don't care and they're on, you know, our team photos and whatever with whatever hair they have or don't have. And, you know, and I hate that there's, there's these you know, sort of weird rules you have to conform to in these traditional investors. I created a business so I could do whatever the heck I want. So I really, I don't know I stand by this idea of I am who I am and it will resonate with those it's meant to resonate with and it will repel those. It's not meant to resonate with but I don't want to have to put on the suit and act a certain way while I'm working in my business and then go back to being myself after five o'clock I'd rather be myself the whole time and even if that means it will repel a certain crowd, it's probably meant to so you know, if I showed you right now, the Facebook group of our year long clients where there's several MDS and DS nutritionist licenced marriage and family therapist, you'll see GIFs you know, we use GIFs a lot of times to communicate, you know, will will, you know, put GIFs in the Facebook group and they'll join in as well right we kind of keep it funny and light and, and that's just, you know, that's just how we do it. Whether we're having they're having a hard day and something happened or whether they're celebrating an incredible win. Why not keep it funny and light and fun. David Ralph 17:59 I agree. Yeah, I agree with you 100%. And I'm going to play some words from a man or Sheila believes that as well. He's Jim Carrey, Jim Carrey 18:06 my father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don't want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love. David Ralph 18:32 Now, do you think those words are correct? Because I used to, and now I love between how do you know the love unless you try anything? Sylvie McCracken 18:44 Yeah, and I think you know, here's the thing to David is the older I get, the more I realised what I don't know. You know, so I agree. Like there's things I sought out to you know, at 20 or 25, or whatever, thinking this is it, this is the right thing and the reality is I agree you don't really know whether you love it, hate it or whatever else until you try it on for size. And then also, you can reserve the right to change your mind. So I'm David Ralph 19:09 going to jump down, I'm going to jump straight in now, because I'm talking about this a lot, my and I want to get your point of view from your clients, where people say to me, I don't like doing this, I want to do what I love. And I say to them, let's just try and learn in the process. Let's let's learn how that occurs, you know, don't say how to get to somewhere, but you don't know that there's a car available, there's a pass available. Let's just try stuff, and then see the process. But I get a lot of people that want to go from I hate this to sexy and I go there's a bit of a journey between it. Sylvie McCracken 19:48 Totally. And the reality is, you know, for example, choosing what business model fits you. You know, it just depends. I mean, for some people, they want to work with a lot of people, they're really extroverted. They want to be around people all day every day and there's other people People that are more introverted and would love to be by themselves in their yoga pants with their laptop and seeing one human a week. And you know, sometimes they don't even I mean, you think that'd be a basic knowing about yourself, but the reality is sometimes you build a business model and you're like, Oh, actually, is this what my week is going to look like? I hate this. And that's okay. I mean, you know, you'll figure a lot of that out, unfortunately, in by trial and error. David Ralph 20:20 I used to have horrible days when I would look at it and think to myself, I might want to stay at work. But that boss, that boss wasn't actually as bad as I think I made. Yeah, she was she. Yeah, she was terrible. But I used to convince myself I actually, I'd made a mistake in my dog, my dark mind state of mind. If somebody came along goes, how's it going? I'd go, Oh, it's brilliant. I love it. It's the best thing I ever did. And then I'd sort of like slink back into my shell again, thinking, Oh, I haven't seen anyone for six weeks and nobody speaks to me. And now I'm very aware as we're recording here, it's November and I'm very aware when November comes my wife who still works for companies, she's doing a Christmas do every night. And every night there's a Christmas party, and she gets invited to it. And basically, she's pretty pissed from now till January, literally literally every single night. Now, as an entrepreneur as myself, I don't get invited to anything. And I wonder, does that something that you find liberating but you don't have that in your life now? Do you have to create Christmas cheer? How does it fit, really great manifested? Sylvie McCracken 21:34 So you know, it's interesting because you wouldn't think so. But I am a little bit more I kind of test on the cusp of introvert extrovert but I am a little bit more introverted, so I love my alone time. So even though we have an office for the team here, downtown, which is about I don't know, six blocks away from my house. I choose to most of the time work from home on my own. I love being on my own and I get a lot of interaction. You know, by doing client calls once a week that I do, I batch all of my calls So I do all my group calls with my clients. And I have meetings with my teams and whatnot. So all that's virtual. Now as far as physical face to face interaction, I do what's called driven dinners. And so I kind of drag out entrepreneurs and we do these kind of networking dinners. So I create those myself. And then the other very social thing for me is I like to dance salsa and bachata And so that has a lot of sort of active things in the evenings and weekends and festivals and congresses and all of that jazz that's very social and very, you know, just just that's a lot that's what a lot of my energy goes these days. So I don't know if that answers and as far as holidays go you know, it's funny because yeah, there's like the the dancing group gets together for a holiday thing. And you know, then our team is very virtual. So we usually will do like a champagne party on zoom. Because we have people all over the US we have someone in the UK, we have someone in Spain, we have someone in the Philippines, you know all over the place. So we'll do that but they basically we send them all about a bottle of champagne, and we Do that we do a toast in December. And you know, that's about it. And for me, that's plenty. But I'm not the type of person that wants to be out every night. I am a person that loves being in my pyjama pants as early in the evening as possible with a cup of tea. David Ralph 23:14 It's interesting you say that because it is prevalent with the people I speak to. And it's certainly in a case of myself, that I have to be on my own a lot. And I actually don't want to see people. But then when I do see people, I really kind of burst into life, and I enjoy it. And then I come back, and I always call it my Batman and my Bruce Wayne. And my Bruce Wayne kind of just sits there not doing anything, and they send out the bat signal and I go off and I do stuff and I sort of enjoy. Now, I see that time and time again with people I speak to so do you think that could be one of the who's perfect for an entrepreneur, somebody that actually is quite good being on their own, so they can actually Work through things themselves. Sylvie McCracken 24:02 I mean, you know, I don't you know, I, I guess nowadays, I would say not necessarily, I would say any type of personality would work. It's just depending on what type of business you build. So for example, for me, I find it hard I found it really hard as my team started to grow from just a handful of people to more like a dozen people because now I found Oh my God, I've got a relationship with a dozen different people who each have families and children. And I found that really difficult because usually my circle my tight circle is very small. I like to go deep vs wide with relationships. And now I found, you know, that had this new family had created of a dozen people and and growing. And so I found that to be a little bit more challenging. I think that you know, you just need to kind of, you know, it just depends on, you know, what you like so, for example, if you're a person that likes to work with other people, you more so than I

Introducing Rylee Meek Rylee Meek is the founder and CEO of the Social Dynamic Selling System, which turns dinner seminar marketing into a science. After responding to a small ad on Craigslist in 2009, Rylee was introduced to a new concept of selling, one in which radically changed his life forever. Having just $673 in his bank account, but more importantly a burning desire for more, Rylee went on to produce over $80 million in sales over the past 8 years. Now that he has perfected his model, through continual trial and error, he is sharing this learned wisdom, and is on a mission to help other entrepreneurs and business owners achieve the revenue goals they have to live the lifestyle they desire. Everything he teaches is tried, tested, refined, and proven to create a predictable, sustainable, and scalable selling system. As he says "Our mission is to help you create predictable, sustainable and scalable business, so you can generate leads on demand, have people showing up to appointments and closing those leads into sales without spending a dime on advertising online." Sounds pretty dam fine to me. So what was it about that small ad on Craig's list that grabbed his attention so much? And when you think that people buy from people they trust, why do so few people actually attempt to meet and discuss over dinner? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Rylee Meek Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Rylee Meek such as: Rylee shares how the world has lost the ability to truly sit down and build a level of trust with the people they want to go into business with. Why it is so important to grab an opportunity when you see it (although so many people fail to move on past that first look) We discuss Rylee's journey from first selling products that he didn't care about, to truly wanting to make a difference. and lastly...... Why the world is missing a huge piece of the pie, by ignoring local search and attempting to find a g

In today's episode of Join Up Dots we discuss an issue that so many people have in today online world. They are struggling online to make sales, and get the right customers into their lives. You see most people it seems, start with a dream and after a very short time change their direction into something else. Just when they are getting a few pounds into their bank accounts they feel its not enough so class it as "Not working" However as you will hear this is total rubbish, as if you can make a few dollars come your way there is no reason you can't make a lot more. You simply have to learn more about what is working and what isn't. If you become obsessed with earning as much as you can then you will have no problem about it all. I promise you.... So lets start with the email that I received recently from a listener of Join Up Dots, who is struggling online to make a difference for themselves.  Struggling Online Email Dear Mr Ralph, I am a long term listener of Join Up Dots podcast and also a long term dream builder. If I can share a bit about myself, I was born in a small town almost smack in the middle of the United States Of America. Growing up there wasn't much to do, and I longed for the time that I could say goodbye to my past and head off into a bright new future. So when I was 19, I packed my bags and started backpacking through Thailand, Malaysia and then a three year coast to coast adventure through Australia. I loved it, and would often spend time with people earning money online and supporting themselves without it seemed a care in the world. That is what i wanted more than anything. I wanted the ability to live stress free, and simply. Not worrying about mortgages and the restraints of modern living in any shape or form. So I set off to start earning online and living my dream...I am now 30 and no nearer to that dream. I have ended back in the town of my childhood and work in a local store to earn a living. I hate it and feel that the dream is not for me anymore. Do you have any suggestions as I have tried everything and nothing works, no matter what i do. Kind regards, Rosendo Pawnee Rock Kansas

Introducing Victoria Prince Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is a woman who is the classic model of the side hustle entrepreneur that has truly got the ball rolling. As she says "First and foremost, I'm a Marketing Consultant for businesses who have big ambitions; whether you're a start-up or a large FMCG brand, I have extensive experience in both arenas. My current side hustle however as an Entrepreneur is Energy Ball Recipe Kits. I design and make recipe kits for customers (on subscription) to make fresh energy balls at home. I launched the Kits on Kickstarter in July 2018 and within 12 months I had my first order from Selfridges. Of course that seems easy, and a side hustle isn't for sure and that success had a four year build up since  March 2014: Victoria Prince Energy Ball Founder, started to make energy balls. Over time, if she had run out of an ingredient, she would substitute it for something else, and before she knew it, she was making recipes up as she went along. How The Dots Led To Energy Balls January 2017: Vic decided to start publishing the recipes she made onto this website, for no other purpose than to share what she had made so others could try them out. December 2017: She wondered why there isn’t a regular subscription kit for snacks like there are for mealtimes. So she built a great team of people around her and developed an Energy Ball Recipe Kit. 23rd March 2018: At an Enterprise Nation Wellness event in London, Victoria took her prototype ‘Energy Ball Recipe Kit’ and talked to lots of industry people about her ambitions. 29th July 2018: The Recipe Kit launched on Kickstarter and smashed the target, with over £2700 in pre-sales of Energy Ball Recipe Kits, which were posted around the globe. 22nd July 2019: Selfridges placed their first order. They will be selling 3 ‘unique’ energy ball recipe kits via their website. LAUNCHING VERY SOON. In her spare time (ha!) I'm a Mentor at the Nottingham Trent University Business School, and I carry out public speaking engagements for business networking/wellness events. So how did she overcome the impostor syndrome that seems to stop most side hustles from occurring even before they get any movement? And as most people say to me, "I wish Id started earlier" would she say the same to her younger-self if she ever got the chance? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Energy Balls herself, Victoria Prince Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with Victoria Prince such as: Victoria shares the initial starting point of her desire to create her fledgling business due to her own health issues. We delve into why building a business that already has competitors is actually a very wise thing to do. The reason that you should never reveal your dreams to your close friends and colleagues right at the beginning when the are most fragile. And lastly................. Why starting a business can not only be great for your bank balance but also amazing for your own personal health. How To Connect With Victoria Prince Website Facebook Twitter Return To The Top Of Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince If you enjoyed this interview with Victoria Prince why not check out other inspiring interviews like Clint Arthur, Lunden DeLeon and Jack Canfield Or of course you can check out thousands of podcast interviews in our archives here Interview Transcription For Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince Interview David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time there was a guy with a dream a dream. He's Jobs for himself online and have a kick ass life working when he wanted him where he wanted across the world. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt. Until he found the magic ingredient and knows drunk was became a thing of the past, of course, was bad person. And now My dream is to make things happen. for you Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:31 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK, David Ralph. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 0:54 Good morning, everybody. Good morning and welcome to the 800 million episode. Join Up Dots I've got no idea what we're at now base a lot is a lot. And if you want to spend some time going back over the back catalogue, feel free because you want to hear, not only will our guests have been on the journey, I've been on the journey as well, and it's a journey that you can all do. Well, today's guest who is on the other end of the line is a woman who is the classic model of the side hustle entrepreneur but has truly got the ball rolling. See what I did that way it won't make sense at the moment, but it will do later. As she says first and foremost, I'm a marketing consultant for businesses who had big ambitions, whether you're a startup or large, FMCG brand, I have extensive experience in both arenas. Now. My current side hustle however, as an entrepreneur is energy ball recipe kits, I designed to make recipe kits for customers on subscription to make fresh energy balls at home. Now I launched the kits on Kickstarter in July 2018. And within 12 months, I had my first order from self produce. Of course, that seems easy, and a side hustle isn't for sure. And that success had a four year build up since March 2014. She started to make energy balls. And over that time, she ran out of ingredients. So she would substitute it for something else. And before she knew it, she was making recipes up as she went along. Now jump forward to 2017. So she's already been doing it for three years, she decided to start publishing the recipes she made onto a website, but no other purpose meant to share what she had made so others could try them out. And then and then she wondered why there isn't a regular subscription kit for snacks like that, for mealtimes. So she built one and she built a great team of people around her and developed energy bought recipe kit. Well, we're going to jump on a bit but it's all really doing very well. And we've sell produce now selling her stuff, and they're going to be selling three unique energy ball recipe kits via the website too. She's doing very well for herself. Now in her spare time. She says I'm a mentor at the Nottingham Trent University business school, and I carry out public speaking engagements for business networking wellness events. So she's a busy lady. How did she overcome the imposter syndrome? That seems to stop most side hustle from occurring even before they get any movement? And as most people say to me, I wish I'd started earlier would she say the same to her younger self if she ever got the chance? Well, let's find out as we bring on to the show to start joining up dance with the one and only energy balls founder herself Victoria Prince. Good morning, Victoria. How are you? I'm really good. Thank you. Introduction. David Ralph 3:35 It was good. It was good. Tell you Well, I need about six energy balls to get over that one. I'm gonna be ramming them in my mouth. Left right and centre. So So I've got to come straight clean, but because this has been bothering me, Victoria, okay. Okay. Yeah, I love what you're doing First of all, okay, and I was watching your video, and you've got the most beautiful sparkly face when you were talking about energy balls and everything you said it was like I love this I love this product and your your your eyes lit up. I almost wanted to watch the video twice because you were so you were so engaging. But about three weeks leading up to this I've kept on going over to your website. I've seen the main green ones. And I've been thinking if they were in my fridge, I would have loved them out. they they they don't look very attractive. The green ones is that is that something that holds it back? Is that something that holds it back because now I'm on there and I'm flicking around? And there's all these other ones they all look gorgeous but the green ones are horrible. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 4:40 now that's that's that's a fair comment and and one of the things that I say to people so if we are at an event and we're giving away free tasters people to see what the bulls taste like, what I generally say with the main green ones is that your eyes tell you something different than than your total. So when you actually looking at it, you're saying Oh, this looks disgusting. It's green actually. This isn't something I'm supposed to eat. But actually, as you're eating it, it's like people's eyes light up and then surprise like, Oh, it's actually quite sweet and it's you can taste it with peanut butter in there and you know, you get these different flavours so it's it's very different to what to what it looks like so I think once you've eaten one you definitely went through that phase David Ralph 5:19 the rest away Do you think so? I would be converted do you think? Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 5:22 Yeah, definitely. David Ralph 5:24 Yeah, I'd be going over green ones right. So I've got that out of my system now. And and it was it was a brain based app ready to burst. I had to share it. So let's go back in time, okay. You are busy. You're a lady and being just just being a ladies busy enough because I know how much effort it takes my daughters to get out the house each morning. So that's difficult. Your business is going to take up your time. Why did you want to do this side hustle? Why did you want to add something more one to you. So take us back in time through that thought process Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 5:59 started with a diagnosis of polycystic ovaries which one of those one of the symptoms is weight gain? And when I was looking online on, you know what, when you try to Google things to work out, what am I going to do to try and combat symptoms, and one of the things was to reduce my sugar. And I was looking for non sugary snacks. And bearing in mind when I finished my degree I had my first job in marketing was for Thornton's chocolate company. And so therefore, when I when I was there, I would literally eat chocolate on the way to the printer and a chocolate on the way back, which meant that I was constantly printing things because like, this is chocolates open all the time in the offices. It's lovely. But so I was I was serious chocoholic, so in order to try and kind of change my attitude to what I was eating. I need to start eating a bit cleaner. And you really reducing my sugar I mean, I don't think anybody can reduce it fully unless someone a serious plans but and I just want to be really wary of what I was putting into my body. So it really was born out of out of a health condition that that I wanted to cater for. And that there wasn't anything out there that apart from recipes online, I already made energy balls, of course, that there wasn't anything where I could literally have all the ingredients ready to make the eligible special at home and really conveniently and unhealthy, like less food ways and lots of benefits that come off the back of that being a you know, straight to the door with all the ingredients. And so it it just really kind of evolved itself. It wasn't I set out to say, I'm going to launch this product on Kickstarter, and I'm going to sell for just website and I'm going to, you know, send all around the world to Olympians and it that was never something that I wanted to that wasn't my aim. It was just that I wanted to eat healthier. And actually this all came about as a result David Ralph 7:50 of it. And what that have scared you, you know if somebody joined up your future in the saying, right, you've got to speak to sales bridges and you've got to do business. You got to speak to Libyans, would you pay? can't be bothered. All I wanted to do is eat a few of these not not all this Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 8:10 I don't know. I don't know. I don't think I've been scared. I don't think. I don't think he can. I definitely shouldn't be scared in business. I think it's you've just got to jump in because what's the worst that can happen? People say no. So even if somebody said, I'm going to, you know, speak to Selfridges then like I guess, just think, okay, let's just do it, you know, like, like this call with you. It's just Okay, let's do it. It is, but I think people should ever be. If they're scared of doing what their business is, then they're not passionate about it. And they're not they're not in the right industry. I would, I would come on I don't know. Unknown Speaker 8:47 Well, I because David Ralph 8:47 I I wonder myself because I saw this post on Facebook the other day, I don't go to baseball very often but and it said that basically, entrepreneurs have 10 times as much mental health Problems 1020 times as much energy issues and there was a big list of terrible stuff and it said so they're already going through so much support them, support them and try to help them out. And I thought yeah, that's fair enough. Now, none of us know that's going to be the case when we start until we actually get deep into it and realised that we've created a monster for ourselves and certainly with Join Up Dots I had a terrible time because naive Lee bouncing into it I bought it was GS you turn the microphone on? You have a chat and you know, you make lots of money, but there was there's a bit more to it when the scenes. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 9:40 Yeah, no, I get that. But going back to your point, just before you said about entrepreneurs have the biggest amount like 10 times might have mentioned I had depression and like inviting everything when I was employed. So and now I don't So I think I kind of put the trend on that, I would say. So I wouldn't necessarily say that if you're an entrepreneur, you're going to have mental health problems. I think, I think mental health problems can happen for anybody at any point in the life anytime, for any reason. David Ralph 10:15 I agree. I agree totally. But Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 10:16 just to book the trend on that one, yeah. David Ralph 10:19 No, I think you're going to be somebody who's bucking a lot of trends through this conversation. Yeah, I already sent that with you, Victoria. I've got I've got to tread carefully. So you get these little things, and you start making them into balls. And why balls? Why not like triangles? Why not squares? Why not? Because I got told by somebody that the worst shape is a tin because you lose all the space around it. If I made baked beans in square cans, they'd be able to store more on shelves. And so I've always looked at round products and think there's a lot of wasted space there. Square One would just like blinking Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 11:07 genius isn't it? So I I like that I like the round 10 on the shelf because obviously that is something that is taking up space and I know where you're coming from with that. But I think then when it's something that's in your fridge, it's not costing expert pounds x, x pounds per centimetre of space in your fridge is it? It's not it's not a rental. Unless you're Unknown Speaker 11:30 working on that basis. David Ralph 11:32 One blows Do you remember? Unknown Speaker 11:36 Do you remember right? David Ralph 11:40 O Victoria. Victoria. You're too young. You've just made me feel like a decrepit old man. Everywhere used to have a run blows and you could go in you could tie your TV show. Unknown Speaker 11:53 Yeah, yeah, yeah, David Ralph 11:54 yeah, yeah. And I 2010 on a Saturday afternoon, there was always loads of men looking out. Standing outside watching a football results come in. Yeah. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 12:04 I was thinking about a product you just talking about like this the baked beans on the tongue I thinking oh okay like I was imagining like a waggon wheel off. I could treat David Ralph 12:14 my waggon Unknown Speaker 12:16 tree Unknown Speaker 12:18 sounds like a tree David Ralph 12:18 but do you think waggon wheels have got smaller or have you got bigger? I know this is a bizarre thing to ask because I argued the point the other day that when I was a kid, I used to be able to take a curly Worley remember them and I used to be able to lean it up on my house and climb up it like a ladder they were that big. And now but tiny little thing I noticed said is because I've got bigger but I swear for a waggon will has got smaller Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 12:44 they do have products like that do tend to go small over time and it's all about marginal gains the retailer isn't it they just they just make an extra bit of profit on the tiny tiny tiny little bit of extra profit on everything is settled obviously them built David Ralph 13:01 That's it. That's it, I'm gonna hit this is this is why Join Up Dots is such a great programme. And I'm going to say that myself, because if I open a bag of crisps nowadays, and for people in America, potato chips, you open it up, there's about four in there that there's like nothing in there. Now, if I'm going to open it up, it's jam packed. I'm going to go back. So the consumer is actually shooting themselves in the foot by screwing us over on the size of things. Give us bigger ones, and we're going to buy more. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 13:32 Well, I don't know. All I know is that over time when you look at anything, like any kind of product file that they do tend to get smaller and like when you buy a multi pack, they're always smaller. Now if you notice, if I bought a pack of Chris, safe, they're like 30 grammes was a normal bag. You're like 28 in a multi pack. So you think you're getting a good deal, but David Ralph 13:53 has anybody ever come up to you and said the word I want pick a bowls, and Victoria? Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 13:59 Yeah, something Say, ask me how big bowl should be or they'll say I only made four balls out the whole kit. And so when it makes 30. So when you mentioned balls that kind of size of a golf ball, generally, David Ralph 14:12 but I'm a large fan of people that say this to you, Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 14:16 not necessarily sports people. Yeah. Anybody? David Ralph 14:21 Because I would have thought, you know, if you've got one large bowl, you're used to eating large quantities. And so that that's what you would be doing. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 14:30 Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't advise it, which is why we say you need 30 and the idea is you have a wonderful snack a day is something to keep in your fridge ladies got into healthy snack. David Ralph 14:40 Okay, well, I'm going to delve into a couple more questions that are in my head and then we're going to get more into the business side. But how much energy would I get from one of these things? Because, you know, I remember drinking a can of red ball once and I couldn't sleep for six days. I would like mad. I went mad on it. So it was Would you do the same thing? Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 15:02 know, if you're having one a day, they generally range from around 60 calories 205. So, and if you haven't one day, it's just like having a normal snack anyway, I mean, a bar chocolate or practices around now. So it's not, it's not about energy as in ridiculous amount of energy. In order for someone to be high energy, it just needs to be over a certain amount of kilocalories per hundred grammes. So it's more about the factors where they're known as energy balls and they do give energy because like any any food gives energy because it's putting into your system. And but it's not necessarily going to make you bounce off the walls like people to think. David Ralph 15:49 I thought that was going to be the case I'd be sitting here slumped, and I'd rather Bry my mouth and then be like, be like a superhero. Yeah, bursting out. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 16:00 Well, you can try it. I mean, everybody's different. Everybody's bodies react differently. You know, David Ralph 16:05 I'm worried, I'm worried. I'm worried that my bouncy energy would be too much. And then suddenly it be like that the mask Jimmy Jim Carrey, when he turned into the mask, and he would be bouncing. Now, let's take you back into the actual process of it. So what I find a lot is people come up with an idea. And then they think, oh, it must be out there already. Somebody's already done this. Did you have that same kind of thing where you're, you know, what's the point? Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 16:35 Yeah, I mean, that shouldn't necessarily be a reason not to do it. Because say if there was somebody already out there doing this, which I don't believe there is I'm not seeing anybody. I'm not come across anybody that does this already. worldwide. And so I've got friends in different countries, new people are like, oh, I've not seen this in my country. And why do you think that if this is somebody already they're doing it they Kind of paved the path and created the kind of Unknown Speaker 17:07 what's the word? desire? Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 17:09 Kind of? Yeah, well, the desire and, and the, the ability to know that it's there, you know, like they've done the marketing and they've kind of already got it out there. So the customers issue, the customer is aware that this product exist. Whereas the kind of positive and negative to be in a brand new brand to to the market but a brand new product and the market is that you kind of have to spend more money for people to understand what you do, and it's harder for them to kind of just get it through to me and go, Okay, yeah, I'm signing up, or I'm going to buy a kit or whatever. Because I need to feel like they've seen it before and they've to spend it a bit more money to in order to get customers on board. And so what was that so I said there's a positive and negative so that's the negative but the positive is that you don't really have a direct competitor. So you know, Having to compete against somebody who is spending as much or more, you know, Facebook advertising or you know, PR efforts or whatever it is that they're doing, you know, having to like match and constantly look over your shoulder, like what are they doing now? How they what Christmas campaign, they got, what, what January complete, you know, what, you know, it's this kind of positives and negatives to to be in something that is new and unique. But yeah, but but David Ralph 18:26 the key thing to this is, and I really want to emphasise it to the listeners, you can do the same thing. Every episode of Join Up Dots has got somebody doing a business. And if you want to replicate that business, it will make no difference on the rewards but that person's getting it The world is too big is too abundant. And so you know, I let you into secret. There's other podcasters it's not just me, and Victoria is creating energy bowls, and you could be somewhere else and you could create energy, triangle or energy squares. We've even proved that energy squares are better because you started Yeah. And you could do a multicolor one. So it looks like a Rubik's Cube you could do you know? Good idea. Yeah. These ideas I don't, I don't follow through with these ideas. They just pop out of my mind and we go, but it blows my mind though that no one else has done this because the years My mom has been hanging out fat balls, the birds in the garden. Yeah, and that's exactly the same thing but just for the crazy. Unknown Speaker 19:35 Yeah, yeah. David Ralph 19:36 Pretty much. So does that not blow your mind but somebody didn't look out the window with their cup of tea in the morning and thing. The birds are enjoying that maybe I would enjoy it as well. Unknown Speaker 19:50 Does that blew my mind? Yeah. David Ralph 19:59 Your mind But not one person on this planet. I stood and looked out the window at some birds rubbishing a platform. I thought to themselves, there must be something in it. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 20:11 Or do you know what people have done that because they're already made energy balls out there, there's already like them in the supermarket some unhealthy chops ready to just prep and go. And there's different brands, different sizes, like tiny ones, big ones. And, you know, I mean, so I guess there are people that have looked at that not necessarily looked at the fat balls in the garden, I don't know they might have done maybe need to interview them and ask them David Ralph 20:34 don't interest me in the same way. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 20:37 Yeah, so So somebody has made them they're like ready to go. It's just a make them so it's, it's a step before where you've got a bit of work to do. David Ralph 20:45 You know, it's suddenly dawned on me. I've been watching you for about two weeks, it suddenly dawned on me that you're absolutely right. But the thing that you're selling is actually the family involvement that the parents can make them with their kids, and they can You know, be a bit creative and they can make things for their friends that there's love involved in what you're giving, which just get in a bag of Old Energy balls, it wouldn't be the same. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 21:11 Know you I and I like to say to this like families or if somebody poorly or not feeling well, it's nice to send them something so that they've got a little something to make that, you know, all the time was saying to people who are in hospital like sending them chocolates and stuff. But actually, by I'm not saying like before in hospital. I'm saying this wrong. What I'm trying to say is, when people call it, it can sometimes be easier to send them something healthy Unknown Speaker 21:38 chocolates innovations David Ralph 21:41 in hospital, don't send them the green ones that will know that will push them over the edge. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 21:47 That the idea would be that if somebody was in hospital, you'd have to probably make the kit for them and take it in because they wouldn't be different facilities. a food processor Unknown Speaker 22:00 Why I went off a tangent that David Ralph 22:03 I can imagine kids to make glittery ones do you do both? Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 22:07 Yeah, that's I had a glittery one last year so we had a Christmas Christmas baubles It was called and the photo that I took was like a spray upon spray with a double glitter that you can put on. And so the seven suggestion actually said it's great to put on the Christmas buffet table so you just pile them up like forever Russia would be and all these little balls on the plate and then you spray this silver or gold and little spray and then you put them on to the buffet table Christmas and TAD Yeah you did right. And there's things like hundreds of thousands that you can mould them into the decal my birthday presents and you know just a bit more fun. Literally, the world's your oyster really can do you can put it in and whatever you want. If you make it from scratch, not using a kit either you want and you can enrol them in what if you want to give it like a David Ralph 22:57 particular finish? And what about what about things like hen parties, but making them in different shapes so they're not just just I'm not gonna say anything in case kids are listening, but I know Victoria, you're know what I'm talking about. Would that be something that you go? No, actually I want my balls to remain pristine and sacred. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 23:23 Oh, no, I mean everybody just what they want to do with them really, I mean, like, just going off on a tangent so that I can go into ways on this. So one of them is that you asked earlier about do they need the ball so they can be put into like so you make the mixture up but then you put it into a container and you'd like squish it all down to it nice and flat. And then you could get some dark chocolate, heat that up in the microwave memory until it becomes a liquid and you can put that on and then put some notes into a pass the water and then crumble them onto the Top and pop freedom feasible that that sets and then when you take it out you can put them into squares. So that's another different way of doing the same thing but you different David Ralph 24:11 containers with that word. Yeah, Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 24:12 totally. Yeah, I mean like you wanted them square so this is just perfect for you, isn't it? I think you need to test these out. I think I need to send you a min Mean Green kit and you need to test out this ice cube Ice Cube theory. David Ralph 24:25 Yeah, I'm going to be chasing the kids round with little green balls. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 24:29 But the other thing I was going to say was so you said about important stuff up a lot of interest now from football teams, and and Olympic teams, but I'm going in and doing like team building. So it works. levels. So like you said, how David Ralph 24:49 do you do this? You know, I By this time, I should have played some motivational clip. This is more interesting to me. How do you do sort of team building with tiny little green balls. Energy Balls Founder Victoria Prince 25:02 So imagine and let me give you the example of Plymouth Argyle. So they are they playing the green kit, basic policy okay with us. And so what we're going to do is set the team up into different groups so that they all have different recipes, different ingredients available. But with spirulina being green as one of t

Introducing Womens Careers Expert Bettina Arnafjall Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is a huge delight for me, as once again she was a listener of the show who was inspired to take action. So inspired was she that we worked together through the Join Up Dots business programme,  to find the business that she wanted to bring forward to the world. Bettina Arnafjall is the founder of the womenscareerlift, where she helps ladies (and a few men) to really give themselves a huge lift in their career. You see it's not just a catchy name, but says exactly what she does through women’s career coaching,  Resume review and writing, Cover letter review and writing, job interview preparation and  salary negotiation preparation As she says "I don't have a typical career path. I studied translation science for French, Italian and English but never actually worked as a translator. After only two years of work experience as a team assistant and customer support agent, I was promoted to be a team manager. I managed several teams of three to as many as thirty employees with vastly different cultural and educational backgrounds. Now the time has come for me to share my many years of experience and help you with your applications. But I noticed there are a lot of women around me who feel like that they are not being given the same opportunities as men because they are women. Whether this is the reality or just their perception, I couldn't say. In any case, I have noticed things that women could do to improve their chances and I want to share my experience to help women with the next step of their careers. I did have several eye opening experiences however with regards to differences in salary expectations and negotiations between men and women. During my many interviews I observed that men usually ask for a much higher salary than women. I actually almost made this mistake myself at some point in my career. Luckily I asked some men for advice and then went into the negotiations with a higher sum than I would have asked for. Guess what: it worked! So now with this amazing insight to what works in the recruitment process, she had the skills to make things happen but how did she do it? And where has been the biggest obstacle to overcome as she brought her dream to the world? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Bettina Arnafjall Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Bettina Arnafjall such as: We share the steps that Bettina first took to get her business off the ground by understanding what she really had to offer the world. Why it's so important to potentially talk to your current employees when you first start your own business to check they are ok with you doing it. Bettina reveals why for her business, referrals are so important for continued growth. Dont forget about word of mouth. and lastly...... Why Google Classroom is such a brilliant resource to get an online course up and running for free. How To Connect With Bettina Arnafjall Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Return To The Top Of Bettina Arnafjall If you enjoyed this episode with Bettina, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy Interview Transcription Of Bettina Arnafjall Interview David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time there was a guy with a dream a dream. He's Jobs for himself online and have a kick ass life working when he wanted him where he wanted across the world. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt. Until he found the magic ingredient and knows drunk was became a thing of the past, of course, was bad person. And now My dream is to make things happen. for you. Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:31 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be but somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:56 Yes, hello there. Good morning to you. Good morning to you. Good morning. Hello and welcome to Join Up Dots. Thank you so much for being here. I am all excited today because but me, this is a special show. This is one of those shows where well you'll find out as we proceed through somebody Listen, somebody took action, and he's now rocking and rolling across the world now, our guest joining us on the podcast is, as I say a huge delight for me as she was a listener of the show, who was inspired to take action. So I'm inspired was she that we work together through the Join Up Dots business programme, to find the business that she wanted to bring forward to the world. She's the founder of the women's career Lyft where she helps ladies and a few men she says she's not a man hater, but I'm not sure do really give themselves a huge lift in their career. You say it's not just a catchy name, but says exactly what she does through women's career coaching resume resume early in the morning, resume review and writing cover letter review and writing, job interview preparation And salary negotiation preparation. And she says I don't have a typical career path. I studied translation science for French, Italian and English, but never actually worked as a translator after only two years of work experience. As a team assistant and customer support agent. I was promoted to be a team manager and I manage several teams of three to as many as 30 employees with vastly different cultural and educational backgrounds. Now, the time has come for me to share my many years of experience and help you yes with your job applications. But she noticed that there were a lot of women out there who felt like they weren't being given the same opportunities as men, because they're women. Now, whether this is reality or just the perception she couldn't say, and in any case, she's noticed things that women could do to improve their chances, and she now wants to share the experience to help women with the next step of their careers. She says, I did have several eye opening experiences However, with regards to different is in salary expectations and negotiations between men and women. During my many interviews, I observed that men usually ask for a much higher salary than women. I actually almost made this mistake myself at some point in my career. Luckily, I asked some men for advice and then went into the negotiations with a higher some, but I would have asked for and guess what it worked. So now with this amazing insight to what works in the recruitment process, she's got the skills to make things happen, because how did she do it? How did she build her business? And where has been the biggest obstacles to overcome as she brings her dream to the world? Well, that's why now as we bring on to the show, to stop Join Up Dots with the one and only Bettina. Morning Bettina, how are you? Womens Careers Expert 3:49 I'm good. Good morning, David. That was good with it. You managed David Ralph 3:57 it that is that is honestly Is that 99%? Right? 100% right 200% right because your surname looks nothing like I've got you my thing. I've been going ostrich feathers yet, Is that good? Womens Careers Expert 4:15 I would say 99%. My surname is from the Faroe Islands. My husband is from the Faroe Islands and you actually put a little bit more of air on the pronunciation since David Ralph 4:28 I can't do that. I can't do that. I'm just gonna call you Bettina for the rest of it. It's a delight to have you on the show because yes, we work together through the process and I want to go back right to the very early stages because Miss I have to say to the listeners, this is a moment I never thought would happen because when Bettina first connected with me, she was so secret squirrel, she was so Oh, my boss is gonna find out all the HR teams gonna find out. You were at totally different person, you would never have come onto a podcast and really put yourself out there, would you? Womens Careers Expert 5:05 Yeah, well, it's because we have a company policy. And I mean, I'm still in a full time job. And the company policy says that you need to get approval for any side business. So I needed to figure out what I wanted to do and then get the approval. And once I had the approval, I could go full, full steam. David Ralph 5:24 Now, of course, you going full steam, which is great, but for the listeners out there, is this something that they've got to be aware of up because I would have just gone? I'll just do it, do it and don't tell anyone. It's fine. You know, they don't care about you outside the office. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe more companies nowadays do care about what you're doing outside the office? Womens Careers Expert 5:45 Well, I guess it depends. I mean, in our company, it just is written in the word contract that you actually have to tell them if you want to do a side business and then they give you a little letter, it says you're allowed to do that. And then you're fine. David Ralph 5:58 Yeah, but who reads contract No one reads it. So how are you gonna know I say, anything that comes in front of me, because you don't want them to go up to the HR people and bingo, you know, oh, I'm starting this new business and red flags and warning signs flush out when they could have just done it because they weren't aware how how's the way that they can tiptoe around this? Womens Careers Expert 6:21 I guess most companies won't really care. I know that in in my company, it is like that, because people who work that could do something that is competing with the actual business, and then it would be an issue. So I mean, just if there's nothing in the contract, and nobody ever talks about things like that, I mean, just go and do it. In my case, I had read my contract contract, so I need to make sure that everything was in order before I got started. And I mean, if you really want to promote your business and promote it on like LinkedIn and Facebook and Instagram and all over the place, there are chances that people will find out So be open and honest from the start, right? David Ralph 7:03 I think so be open and honest. It's not the way I operate. But I think he's good advice. I remember when I started Join Up Dots, right, the very beginning, I was so embarrassed by it. It was literally and I've said this in a few podcast, but it would have been easier for me to say that I was a pornography addict, you know that that would that would have been understandable. But it opened up so many questions up, you know, why are you doing that? What was wrong with the last bit earlier and I just saw that secretly tiptoed around, even though I had this voice I was putting out into the world. It's strange, isn't it? Because online business is so powerful. And even now I talked to guys and ladies who have created big businesses, but they're not visible in it at all. They're absolutely hidden because they don't feel comfortable enough to put themselves in there. Womens Careers Expert 7:56 Yeah, I guess this a big step to take in. I mean, knows it took me a little bit to get there but it took you a long while David Ralph 8:03 just by Unknown Speaker 8:08 year David Ralph 8:09 365 days of tiptoeing around you know how many episodes i'd released by that time before you finally did it. So so let's get into that moment though. Because what was what's wrong with your job? Why do so many people now want to start side hustlers but don't do anything about it? You know what, what's the difference between you, myself and so many people but they actually do because I speak to so many people that go Yeah, I really love this. This is really what I want and I don't do the first thing about it. What was different about you? Womens Careers Expert 8:46 I guess it's not really that is something you know, wrong with my job and I don't like my job because my job is cool, and I like it. But I just felt this need to do more and I felt this need to help Women in some way and I figured out that in my job, I cannot really do it to the extent that I want to do it. So, I started thinking about what I can do I also move from my team manager role then into more like project manager role because it could have been a conflict of interest, you know, me being a team manager and then coaching people with job applications and so on. so on. So, yeah, when I had done that, I started focusing on you know, what can I do for other ladies, I discussed it with friends. I helped them a little bit was there Java applications turned out that it really worked well. And then I did a little test run and yeah, figured out that can also work with strangers. So then I thought, now we can get started. David Ralph 9:50 with that. I love the fact that you tested you pre test DG before you even got websites and profiles and URLs. You already stepped into helping other people to confirm your talent, your skill your superpower. Did it surprise you how rubbish people actually are at the things that you can do naturally? Well? Womens Careers Expert 10:16 Oh, it always surprises me. I mean, I have I don't want to sound arrogant, but I have many things that I'm good at. So when I look around, and this is both now, you know, with the job applications, but also sometimes I'm in the day job. I'm surprised how hard some people find it to do certain things when they come really easily to me. I guess it's just because I figured out what my strengths are. And now I'm focusing on my strengths and building on them and not really, you know, trying to push through walls where, yeah, it doesn't make any sense. David Ralph 10:51 I remember back in the day, I was very good at helping people do their resumes in SC bees, and they would come to me and say, how baby could you go through it? I'll go Yeah. And I changed things. And I've moved this bit here and move up it and increase certain things. Yeah, not lying, not lying, but just kind of, you know, emphasising certain points, and they would go off and get these amazing jobs. And when it was me, I couldn't do it myself. I couldn't do that sort of beat myself up CV writing even though I could do it for other people. And it's a kind of it's a mindset that I think most people have a have a problem in of actually boosting their own career prospects don't like Womens Careers Expert 11:35 Yeah, because we don't like talking about ourselves. Then we feel like we're, I know you do. David Ralph 11:41 Yeah, I do. I love it. I love the business out of it, you know? Womens Careers Expert 11:47 Yeah, but most people don't. So you know, they they feel kind of embarrassed to talk about their achievements and their strengths and what they do well, so then they will stick to very formal resume and cover letter and formal way of presenting themselves where they hide between and behind a lot of jargon and phrases and will not really put their personality and their skills out there. David Ralph 12:14 And so with that, because obviously we're going to talk about, you know, how you actually started the business and stuff like this is interesting to me. So, can you bring humour into a CV and resume? Can you make it sparkle? Because Yeah, most of them I actually worked in recruitment for about six weeks, I worked for a recruitment company in London. I won't say their name, but they're still there. I hated it. I hated it with a passion because people would come in looking for work, and these guys would go, yeah, I tell you what, I don't want to just get you any job. Give it to me three weeks and we will get you the right job and literally take this CBS and then put them in the bin. As I walked out, it was a real commodities based business, and I just naturally want to help people. So is this something But you know, they can help themselves by sprinkling human personality and putting pictures on it, or does it have to be formal? Womens Careers Expert 13:09 Well, I guess I mean, humour is probably a bit difficult, but especially in the cover letter, you can put a lot of your personality and I noticed this, particularly when I was managing a very international team, and I was getting applications from people from all over the world. And I noticed that German applicants used to write like, very formal, boring, standardised job application. I haven't sorry, but that's just how it is. And then I noticed that, you know, like, other nationalities, but particularly like English speaking ones, they were all over, you know, I am good at this. And I love doing that. And this is my passion. And I was like, Hey, you know, this reads much better. From a manager perspective, I will much rather invite somebody tells me about what they really like and what they enjoy, rather than somebody who's just saying, I have this experience. And I have done this before. And basically, it's just a repetition of what is already on your resume. David Ralph 14:13 When I used to interview people, and I was very, very good at interviewing people, because I never went really with their skills. It was more about how they made me feel. And one of the first questions I used to ask people, it was always one that I didn't expect, because I'd come in, ready for the professional. And I remember saying to this girl as the first one, what makes you laugh? And she said, when people hurt themselves, and I thought, brilliant, that's for me, that's for me, because I laugh at the same thing. And she was like a Terminator, but work she was absolutely brilliant. And so is this something you know, before we spin it around again, into your career path? Is this something that companies should focus in on more about the personality and how they make them feel because they're going to teach the person how to work in their office isn't it is not that they're just gonna put them on a desk and away they go they're gonna have some kind of training and development period is about all the feelings. Womens Careers Expert 15:10 Yeah, it's a lot about you know, getting to know the person really Who are you and, you know, how do you pick? Because it's I mean experience is one thing experience you can have or you can gain I mean you can learn so much I learned a lot that I had not studied for just on the job, but the important thing is really to find the person with the right mindset. So what I learned and that really made a change in my hiring as well is to ask behavioural based interview questions because there you can really see how people reacted based on a concrete example and you can get real feeling of what kind of person they are and how they will pay for One day on the job. David Ralph 16:02 Now, let's take you back in time then because you was a listener of Join Up Dots and then we connected and you signed up for my, in those days. It was a four week course we went twice a week for four weeks. Now we do it over eight weeks to get people breathing space in between. How did you find that process? Was it something bad actually, because certain people say to me, I overload on certain things. Other people say, you know, it was just right. Did you find it a pressurised or weeks? Womens Careers Expert 16:35 No, not at all. And the only issue was that I was actually sick with the flu for about a week so I could not think straight, but luckily I could rewatch the video so all good. David Ralph 16:45 So with the process that we went through, it was basically an hour half hour, so an hour and a half to two hours of me twice a week, and then videos to submit that information. Now I remember when you first came to me one day Things that I always say to people is, let's try to get traffic from every source. Let's try to flood your business with traffic and you came up with women's career Lyft. And I said, I hate it. I hate it because no one is going to type in women's career Lyft let's find a name. And you went against me. And you said, No, this is it. It's what I want is my branding. Now I look at it, and I like it, because I can understand it. But why were you so passionate to say, David, I don't agree with what you're saying. And I'm going to do my own thing. Womens Careers Expert 17:35 Well, a I had been thinking about a name for the business because as you already saw my name, my own name is a bit hard to pronounce and to remember so I wanted to something that easy, David Ralph 17:49 easy to say. Easy. Womens Careers Expert 17:57 I wanted something that people can remember you know, and also So that they can understand both in English and in German, and gives them an idea of where the business is going. And also, I had already purchased the URL when we did the course. So I didn't really want to switch. David Ralph 18:15 You didn't want to waste 10 pounds or whatever it is to take my advice and move it forward. But what you've done, which is very clever, is it's it's a branding, you know, it's a branding, but when you look at it, it makes sense. Now, a lot of people come to me and I had these really esoteric sort of names, I suppose Join Up Dots is one of those ones. Now I look at it and in many ways, it makes perfect sense for so many avenues of my business, but for Wow, it was just the Steve Jobs speech. And if you hadn't listened to that, it didn't make any sense. Now, with that, having those three words women's career live, does that make it been easier to bring your content and your branding and your your profile. does everything for lot from that easy. Is that something that people need to think about? How do those three words cascade down through everything that I'm doing? Womens Careers Expert 19:15 Yeah, I mean, I think it makes it clear, you know, who is the big target group, let's say so I don't get too many people coming to my website and then figuring out only after reading through see three or four pages that it's not they are not really right for me or I'm not really right for them. David Ralph 19:38 What Well, I'm amazed with you as well. And I'm amazed every as I'm doing that little IoT business with my fingers. Every phone that I speak to, is how brilliant you are at English. And I it just blows my mind. You know, I'm possibly English. I've been studying it for many, many years. But every other language no I can say hello, goodbye. And that's about it. Now, when you decided you decided quite strongly that you wanted to focus in on German speaking women. Was that a market that was prudent to go into now you're in but have you found it difficult to crack that code? Womens Careers Expert 20:22 Well, actually, because we did the course together in English, I started my website and all my online presence in English and I still have not launched a German website. So all my German speaking clients have just come through recommendations. David Ralph 20:40 Now this this is brilliant, man. Okay, so let's talk about this. So you because so many people think I got to grow a huge audience, I've got to grow a tonne of traffic, but I'm really fascinated. In joining up the dots. You see what I did there, finding the very small pockets of traffic, but actually kept K through, I would much rather have one customer a month that pays me thousands of dollars more than 100,000 customers that don't really pay me anything and take so much time to manage now with yourself, those referrals, bear in mind that you were and you still are full time employed. Was that something that was an open gift? Did you look at? Obviously brilliant, this is fantastic, or did you think to yourself, hang on, hang on? I'm not quite there yet. I haven't quite got the website done. I haven't quite got the the Twitter feed going and all the other stuff that we think we have to have. Did you embrace it easily? Womens Careers Expert 21:39 Oh, I was ready to go. I mean, I was really really happy and I still am really, really happy every time somebody refer someone to me. I also noticed that you know, when people come in via referral, they will never discuss with you about price or whatever, because they know already what they will get. Whereas you know, I found a couple of customers A via Facebook or online and they will always try to negotiate, which makes sense because they don't know me yet. And they don't know if they can trust me and if I really can provide the value that they are looking for. David Ralph 22:13 So So do you think that you actually don't need any online presence? Can somebody get a business up and running just by doing stuff for somebody and saying, Tell your mates about me. Womens Careers Expert 22:27 I think you need, at least in my case, an online presence because even though my friends talk about my services, they don't know somebody or they don't meet somebody everyday who wants to change their jobs. So I mean, the target group is not so big in amongst my friends and family. So, of course, I need an online presence, but I also now do some local networking and meeting people and just getting the word out there about what I'm doing. I think this is a Also very important, because only online is not enough, I think, especially here in Austria, and also in Germany, I would say, there's still a lot of mistrust about everything to do with online and this new technologies and so on. And people trust their neighbours and their friends and whoever they know. And, yeah, their word of mouth is really, really important. David Ralph 23:26 I'm going to play some words pain, and then we're going to delve back into what Bettina is saying, his Oprah, Oprah Winfrey 23:32 the way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, what is the next right move? not think about, Oh, I got all of this. What is the next right move? And then from that space, make the next right move, and the next right move and not to be overwhelmed by it because, you know, your life is bigger than that one moment. You know, you're not defined by what somebody says is a failure for you. Because failure is just there to point you in a different direction. David Ralph 24:03 Now let's get back into the Ripper or because something that is is really prevalent in my life at the moment, is how powerful local search is. It operates in such a high level in Google, Google now will know where you're based. You can do Google My Business, you can start getting traffic, even without a website. Google will give you a free website. You just have to post on it and and connect your cell phone, your mobile phone and all those kind of bits of details. I find Oprah Tina, what you're saying makes total sense because you're networking. You're getting out there in your local community. So you become the expert in that local community. You find the people that are there's a lady just down the road who does bad. Why don't you speak to her people trust locally, but I speak to once again so many people that think that they've got to get a client in new York before they can get their next door neighbour to sign up, it's a mistake, isn't it? Womens Careers Expert 25:06 I mean, if you find the client in New York more easily than your next door neighbour, why not? But I guess you know locally because people know you it's easier to find the first clients and from Derek pendants snowball. David Ralph 25:22 snowball in Austria is quite easy to get right imagine. Womens Careers Expert 25:26 But right now it is. Yeah, it started snowing about two weeks ago. So now in the mountains, there's already a lot of snow. David Ralph 25:34 Now what point do the Austrians and the Germans been mistrust online work? I don't understand that. And it's the first time any guest has mentioned anything like that nowadays. I I push people to say online and offline aren't separate. They're the same thing. You've just got to, you know, find your traffic in both sources. Why do you think the Austrians and Germans are new Point of View mistrust it Womens Careers Expert 26:03 it's all about privacy. It's they're all afraid that their data will be leaked to I don't know which company who will do I don't know what with it and you know, they are very private people. And this was also one of the challenges I had to overcome was really to put my real name out there and because there is nobody else in the world with this name, so it's just me and also to put my real address because in Austria and Germany, you have to actually put your real address on your webpage otherwise you get a problem. So that was that was really one of the main challenges because I know the fan you know of, yeah, having all this information out there and and maybe just people showing up at my doorstep or something like that. You never know what can happen. David Ralph 26:52 It's not gonna happen, though. Is it me? It's not Womens Careers Expert 26:54 gonna happen. I know. But these are the things you think about, right? David Ralph 26:58 Yeah, I can. I'm just it because I did a similar thing when I started off at Join Up Dots, I gave a fake address. And because I thought to myself, you know, what happens is somebody comes along, and Nick's my microphone and you know, it's stupid really thinking about it because I just buy another microphone. You know, it's not a game changer, but they were the kind of fears in my head. And most of the fears with business is about what's in your head, isn't it? It's very much you when the inner game to win the outer game. Have you struggled with that? Have you struggled with the who's gonna trust me? Who's gonna hire me? Who's going to base who's gonna be back? Womens Careers Expert 27:38 Well, a bit.

Todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is a man who I am truly delighted to get to speak to. When you start a show like Join Up Dots, you hope with all your heart that the words, and advice will make a difference to someone, somewhere across the world. Someone will listen and think just like I did many years ago, "I think I can do this and make a go of it" Well todays guest did that and after leaving the following review on iTunes I looked to get him on the show to start joining up the dots of his life. As he says "Listening to this podcast week in, week out has given me the confidence to take the plunge and set up my own business. My only regret.. I wish I  had done it sooner! The guidance, tips and advice offered by David has been invaluable and I can only attribute the success I've had with my business to the valuable wisdom provided in these podcasts." But how has he done it? After leaving the university of Birmingham with a bachelors of science, he began for a period of six years working for a series of financial advising companies around the Bristol area of the UK As he says "After leaving University I decided on a change of direction. I completed a financial planning graduate programme with one of the UK’s largest financial advice networks and have worked in the financial services profession ever since. Then I worked in several financial advisory firms, big and small, learning what works and what doesn’t. My areas of expertise include working with small business owners, self-employed consultants & contractors, as well as professionals such as lawyers, solicitors and accountants." And now with his own company and his expanding team of colleagues he is really starting to see what I say in every episode. So what was the moment when he thought "Ok, its time to get going and do my own thing?" And what was the hardest part...getting his mindset going himself, or convincing his colleagues to start working with him and his fledgling enterprise? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only James Mackay Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with James Mackay such as: James shares how he loves creating the goals of financial freedom for his guests, not simply advising on what to do with their money. We talk about the process of deciding on what the business is going to be for the founders. Why create a business that becomes a nightmare. James reveals how he was willing to put the effort into his business at the beginning, but knew that he had to hold himself back from burnout. And lastly................. Why James and his partner believe that you should only do what you truly love doing and outsource the rest. How To Connect With James Mackay Website Facebook Twitter Linkedin Return To The Top Of James Mackay If you enjoyed this interview with James Mackay why not check out other inspiring interviews like Clint Arthur, Lunden DeLeon and Jack Canfield Or of course you can check out thousands of podcast interviews in our archives here Interview Transcription For James Mackay Interview David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time, there was a guy with a dream a dream, which is Jobs himself online and have a kick ass life working when he wanted him where he wanted across the world. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt. Until he found the magic ingredient and knows drunk was became a thing of the past, of course, was bad person. And now My dream is to make things happen. BU Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:31 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be but somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK, David Ralph. David Ralph 0:56 Yes, I love it. Good morning, everybody. Good morning, and welcome to Join Up Dots welcome to a very special episode because this guy is a guy who kind of connected through the world of virtual life. And I tried to hunt him down by making a play on an episode. And Ben he just sort of walked out of the woodwork and and he was there anyway. So um, he's on the show and he's a guest joining us on the podcast, as he is a man who has, as I say, I'm truly delighted to get to speak to when you start a show like Join Up Dots you hope with all your heart, but the words and advice will make a difference to someone somewhere across the world. Someone will listen and think just like I did many years ago, I think I can do this. I think I could make a go of it. Well, today's guest did that. And after leaving the following review on iTunes, I looked to get him on the show to start joining up the dots of his life. As he said, listening to this podcast week in week out has given me the confidence to take the plunge and set up my own business My only regret. I wish I had done it sooner. The guidance tips and advice offered by David has been invaluable and I can only attribute the success I've had With my business Ted a valuable wisdom provided in these podcast me, but how has he done it? After leaving the University of Birmingham with a Bachelor's of Science he began for a period of six years working for a series of financial advising companies around the Bristol area of the UK and as he says, After leaving university, I decided on a change of direction I completed a financial planning Graduate Programme with one of the UK is largest financial advice network and have worked in the financial services profession ever since. Then, I worked in several financial advisory firms big and small, learning what works and what doesn't. And my areas of expertise include working with small business owners, self employed consultants and contractors as well as professionals, such as lawyers, solicitors, and accountants, and now with his own company, and he's expanding team of colleagues. He's really starting to see and do what I say in every episode. So what was the moment when you thought okay, okay, it's time to get going and do my own thing and What was the hardest part? getting his mindset going himself or convincing his colleagues to start working with him and he's fledgling enterprise? Well, let's find out as we bring on to the show to start joining up with the one and only James McCown. James Mackay 3:15 Good morning James. How are you? Unknown Speaker 3:18 Morning David and I'm really well thank you and what one introduction that was so thank you very much and as well, David Ralph 3:25 yeah, no, you are somebody is rocking and rolling because you've decided but you can do it and you can go out and you've gone into with big one aid. excitable eyes, although when I first spoke to you, you was less than excitable. He was Good morning, David. How are you? And I said, you know, let's perk it up, James that Yeah. James Mackay 3:49 I'm bouncing now. So this is a dreary, dreary, November morning in in Bristol, so maybe that was that's the excuse anyway, that I've got no very really pleased to be on the show. And yeah, thank you for doing what you do. Listen to most episodes, and I've kind of tracked you for, for quite a while. And yeah, it's been fascinating. Wow, David Ralph 4:13 thank you so much. And that's the end of me that let's move on to you. Because one of the things I want you to understand James is about those clouds. It's not dreary. And if you increase your altitude, Ben, it's always happy. Somebody said this to me once and I say a lot on the show because it's true. But jet pilots only have sunny days, because they're higher up. And so if we raise our sort of expertise and our standards, it's always going to be sunny in our life. Isn't it always a naive point of view as you are ploughing into growing your new business? James Mackay 4:48 No, absolutely. I think I think you're right. It's all in the mind, isn't it at the end of the day. I'm not really miserable, even though I think I maybe just had too much of a late night but yes, absolutely ready figure. David Ralph 5:02 Right? So let's talk about you because this this is fascinating. And as I say, I wanted you on the show and I set out my network to find you and then you just kind of bumbled into my life anyway. So it was it was brilliantly easy. So you were, are you interested? This is the key point to me, because I would be bored, stupid doing what you're doing, because I just haven't got regulation in my blood. I like to cut corners. I like to make things happen. And I know with the FSA as it used to be in whatever it is now. There's restrictions all the way around, does working in financial industries excite you and interest you or is it a job? James Mackay 5:45 Well, some people think financial advice can be boring. Yes, I understand that. But I mean, if I flip it in terms of you know your analogy a minute ago in terms of mindset, I mean, the things that we concentrate on Suppose the outcomes that we deliver for people and I don't think those are boring. So for you know, for example, you know, helping people build wealth faster to hit financial freedom or retirement sooner or giving people peace of mind that they know if anything happens to them, you know, their family will be taken care of. So, you know, if we really drill down on what we do, as much as you know, the legislation, the regulation, tax, all these kind of things, they can't they can be boring, yeah. But putting everything together and, and delivering those things. And, you know, most human beings want security, they want freedom, and and we kind of help them achieve that in in one way or another another So, so no, I don't find it that boring actually. I quite enjoy it. You know, you learn a huge amount about various different People who learn about their storeys that businesses what they want to get out of life and, and if you can be a small part of of helping them along their journey. I think it's, you know, it's a great profession personally, but I can see why I was boring. David Ralph 7:17 Yeah, no, but I agree with everything you said there. Because you know, in in that regard we're no different because I hopefully inspire people to do it. I'm actually I changed 360 recently and for the first three or four years of Join Up Dots, it was all about global domination, it was all about growth. And now I'm I'm fascinated with anti scale and I was on a podcast episode yesterday being interviewed. And I'm fascinated about how can you make the smallest business possible so that when you open your email, you've only got interested customers, you haven't got all the rubbish by blasting it out. Now we've yourself, obviously you've got to start getting customers. And as I say, constantly on Join Up Dots. Most people start a business because they think, Oh, I'm good at this thing, but then they suddenly realise there's a lot of other things that I need to be good at, or at least possible at the start getting the ball rolling, that one thing is just not enough. How did you do it? How did you go from saying, let's start this business to getting the first customer through the door? James Mackay 8:28 Good question. Actually, we, we spent a long time planning that this is I should also say, I've got a co co director, Chris. And also I better give a shout out to him. So we've kind of planned it together. But we, we we started off the business really with an idea of what we didn't want to be, I suppose. So I think a lot of people, rightly in many cases, think of advisors This kind of middle aged men in shiny suits that that talk, you know, talk a load of jargon filled language and the world of finance can be made simple, or it can be made extremely complex. And I think it's over complicated in a lot of areas and we wanted to simplify everything. So we have a bit of a saying sort of, you know, do it in crayon, where people can, you know, really understand, you know, concepts, whether it's you have to do with investments or whatever it is. So we kind of that was that was that was one that was one of the reasons we kind of the idea was was was born about I think also financial services, broadly. isn't the most highly trusted profession. I think we're probably somewhere between, I don't know, estate agents and car salesman with with respective professions. And yeah, exactly. And so we want and so we wanted we were really wanted to be a business that was the highest of honesty and integrity. And that was a, you know, a non negotiable. So, you know, we we think of that as having sort of the family test, you know, is the advice that we give to each of our clients the advice that we would give to a member of our family. And those big firms and banks can't can't say that they do that I don't think, David Ralph 10:24 well, I used to work for NatWest bank, I'm going to give him a name check, because they're not really around anymore in that West Bank. And we used to just sell stuff because we could sell it. Well, there wasn't any sort of qualms about it the customer needed or anything back in the 80s. It was just a tick box culture of Yeah, there's a few sales get down the pub in the afternoon and that was it, you know, you just did it. So it is brilliant, how it has become regulated as well. But one of the things that I was interested in, what you were saying is how you and your partner decided on what type of business you wanted. Become It can become a nightmare. So many people plough into it, they go into the scale by go for the financial rewards but then realised by never leaving their office. They're working incredibly long hours. And to be honest, they might as well have stayed at work, working for somebody else leaving at five o'clock. I mean, going back to it the next day. Did you have those kind of discussions about Yes, we want it to be like this. We want to provide the freedom for ourselves and not just our customers. James Mackay 11:29 Exactly that I mean, you hit the nail on the head, you know, we spend our time, our time helping people live, you know, live their lives by design. And it would be a bit hypocritical if we weren't to do the same. So we had an idea of what we wanted to build we we don't want our business to to scale to some dizzying heights and take on the world. We want to remain pretty small, pretty nimble. Look after people really well and and specialise in what we do as well, I think that's important. So for any business to actually find your, your target market and and and, you know, go deep on that rather than be all things to all people. David Ralph 12:17 Yeah if you go niche you get rich and I spend a lot of time now, as I say working with people because we we've got a business coaching platform going deeper and deeper. And when I started doing it, I thought I was going deep. But now every time I train somebody, we go even deeper and we find the rewards greater because quite simply, there's less competition. Now with yourself James, being the sexy individual you are. Are you the kind of person that can seduce people into your office because it's still you? You didn't answer it really James, you didn't answer it. So I'm going to come at it from a different way. Yeah, how did you get that first customer to go? Yes, this company's only been around two minutes but I'm gonna trust them How did you do that? James Mackay 13:11 Really it was first first customer was a family member in all honesty but I'll but I'll wipe that aside is getting out there oh no why David Ralph 13:21 why would you want that? Because that is that is a customer you know you are targeting people that need your help and I think so many people make the mistake of thinking, Okay, I'm in London I need clients from you know New York but actually you need the next door neighbour you need to personally in the next room. James Mackay 13:39 Oh, yeah, exactly. I was gonna open so cuz I didn't answer your question. But really, for me, it's getting out there and meet meeting people. And I think when you get out there and meet people in your local area, let your local community whether it's networking, I still I still attempt to play rugby although my body's trying to stop me, and, and and, you know, meeting people and if you know if they kind of learn a little bit about you learn a little bit about your business, understand what we do differently, then a lot of people are quite interested, and whether that's luck or judgement, I'm not sure that we've had a really David Ralph 14:22 so where's the difference in James? where's where's the difference? Well, what would you do that is different because that is what, you know, benefits and services aren't sexy. But the difference is what makes a difference in what you do, how you create the vision of what somebody is going to get how their life is going to change. How do you express that difference to them? James Mackay 14:46 Yeah, well, expressing it is one thing really, we've tried to show them so we try and put we try and put their numbers into into pictures really. Which sounds like a strange concept. We can show them using a few different tools that we have financial planning software and all these kinds of things. And really we can put in someone's you know, financial life understand what they want their future to look like. And we can show them whether they're online on track to achieve it or not, and if not what they have to do to course correct. What are the things that they can do today to achieve what they want to do, whether it's, you know, becoming financially independent and retiring at 5560 whether it's travelling the world, whether it's, can they afford to spend more now and not put so much weight for the future. So, really, we we focus much more on the big picture of our clients financial lives, because people don't really have financial goals in my experience. They have they have life goals with financial implications, and so we focus on far more about their life. Well, they're trying to achieve and answering, you know, the, the big picture questions that they have. And I think we take away a lot of people walk around with sort of a burden of, you know, uncertainty and worry about the future. And I think we help, you know, we take that off their shoulders to some extent, by doing what we do. So, we do we do to, you know, things quite different from the norm of, you know, just catching up having a cup of tea and chatting about what the investment markets has done recently, and I think that's, that's one of the biggest things that we found our clients have really sold on Well, that's different. We really want to do that. So yeah. David Ralph 16:44 Yeah, because that sexy time isn't it? The vision is sexy time I had a guest on the show. I lady can't remember the name but like me, but she was a financial person in America. And she basically said to people, it's not about having lots of money in the bank account is about having experiences, what do you what do you want most from and let's try and bring that into your life. And I think but yes, I want to support my kids, but I don't want to support my kids, if it means that I'm not having a good life, you know, basically, I want to go out travelling when I want, I want to go your way with a wife when I want. And then when I die, I say to the kids, look, there's there's a bit of money for you. But I've had a bloody good time. And it was all my effort. That's where I think it is. And that's what I think a lot of people fail miserably in your industry, but they're talking about, you know, high interest savings accounts and switching ditch and all the kinds of stuff all important. James Mackay 17:44 Yeah, but it is not boring. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I couldn't agree more. And understanding what you want to do. Some people some people know that like you know yourself you want to sort of you know, you're only here once you want to live depending on the beliefs that You know, most people only only here once and want to make the most of it. And, and I think, you know, having the knowledge of what that means, you know what you really want to do what you we often we often ask a question to, to two people to stay if they're struggling to really, you know, if they're just Well, I want to retire at this sort of age. We say, Well, you know, if you were, if you were struggling, health wise, if you didn't have that long to go, what would you regret not doing? And that is it's a difficult question to ask and it's an even more difficult question to answer. But often that you know, asking yourself that can really help you understand some of the some of the things that you would really love to do. You know, I think I think you know, you know, we don't we don't often give ourselves time. to really think about the future, think about what we're trying to get out of life. And, and, and really sitting down and having a think about those sorts of things. Like you may or may not have done, but by the sounds that you've kind of, you know, you have a good idea in terms of what you want to what you want to get out of life. And that's the first that's the first part of what we do. I think. David Ralph 19:21 I know my biggest regret in life will be, but I haven't seen every part of this world. You know, when I go on road trips, and when I go travelling, and you get a bit tired people always say to me, oh, why don't you have a keep in the back? You know, and I always think to myself, no, because I'm going to miss out on seeing, you know, it's something that I will never see again and I want to absorb this planet, because I think that ability to, to, you know, wonder the world with freedom. That's the thing that excites me so much, but actually, when I die, I think I haven't seen Greenland. I haven't seen this. I haven't Same bat. I think that is where the experiences of what you're talking about, come into my life big time, how do I channel my money, and my time and we're going to come to that straight after these words, we're going to talk about money in time. He's, Jim Carrey 20:14 my father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don't want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love. David Ralph 20:41 Now, one of the things he says in there is do anything you can basically to get it going. Now I speak to so many people, James, and I'd literally want to shake them because I know they're not willing to do the hard work and everything that is great in life takes time. takes time. It takes effort. It takes sleepless nights it takes investment. Did you know in your heart of hearts that you had that effort that you were really going to make a go for it go with it? James Mackay 21:14 short answer is yes. Yeah. I, I've always wanted to run a business. I've always been really interested in business. And I've always kind of I probably, if anything, I've kind of overworked rather than underworked, and sometimes I like patients, which is which is often a sign that you know, you're you know, you're ambitious and you came to came to do different things in life and achieve different things in life. So, yes, I'm certainly one of those people. I don't know whether it's always a good thing. As a matter of fact, that you're always focusing on, you know, the next the next thing to achieve. I think sometimes you need to appreciate just Kind of where you are what you've got. But yeah, that's me in a nutshell. David Ralph 22:04 I was laying in bed this morning and the alarm went off and me and my wife always have a little cuddle. And it annoys me actually this cuddle and I'm gonna, I'm gonna air it to the world for the podcast. She doesn't listen to me in the house, so you're not going to listen to this. But I like that the alarm goes off. I look at the alarm and I get out of bed because they know I've had my full quota of sleep. But my wife likes to keep on snoozing it so I had to look at the clock but like half hour until she's ready to get up out of bed. She says it's a cuddle but I find it is an inconvenience. Anyway, I've Ed. Why do women not just want to sleep until I can wake up and Ben just jump straight out of bed. James, what's up? James Mackay 22:47 I've got no idea that one that's not my domain. David Ralph 22:53 It's just madness. It's madness. Yeah. But anyhow, I was laying in bed and she bought me a cup of tea this morning. She said what you got on to And I said, Oh, it's best best guys at 10 o'clock in the morning. And then I got about six more later on. And I was saying to you know, it's funny why I constantly look at what needs to be done, because what I've already done is enough. And, you know, this is where my mindset at the moment is on empty scale on knowing that pushing, pushing, pushing doesn't do anything in the long term other than where you are. Now. It does do it to a certain point, you know, you've got to put push an effort in at the beginning, but there's got to be somebody that says to you, which I didn't with me, James, you're looking knackered me You need to have a break. You need to go off on vacation you need to leave this behind. It will be back when you get back. Have you got anyone in there in your life that is your sort of anchor that pulls you back when the James hustle muscle is going too far. James Mackay 24:00 Yes, I do and, and, and sometimes I think that's the best thing that you know, whether it's your other half whether it's your business partner can say to you is is, is, you know, look, you know, you stop and, and chill out whether it's you know, going on a holiday or just having a, you know, an afternoon off or an early night or whatever it is, I think these days as well I think gradually we're, we're moving away from the typical, you know, nine to five work week, you know, with with technology and and, and the gig economy growing and all that kind of thing. And I think I think humans actually work best if we if we kind of works, you know, Sprint work, if that makes sense. And then you know, and then take long periods of long periods of rest, I think, I think the, you know, the slugging it You know, a 1012 plus hours a day. I think that's a bit of a relic of the industrial age and and when you're, you know, trying to be creative or using using your mind i think i think it's probably not that good for you either and you don't you don't do your best work. just slowly trying to battle through and slogan. So the way David Ralph 25:22 I you know I mentioned this because it's so important, it really is important, but when I started Join Up Dots, I know it only sounds like a podcast, you know, and people today, just think that I can launch one and make a success of it. But I was doing literally 20 hours a day, I really was I was working till midnight, and being going to bed, but I couldn't get to sleep. And then I'll probably get to sleep about two o'clock and then I was waking up at six again and going and I look back at pictures of myself now. I look terrible. I look really really terrible and everything was just going to pieces My life, but not one person really said to me, David, there's a different way. They said to me, You should stop. And I was saying, well, I can't stop because I've got to build it, I've got to get it going. But nobody actually said to me, there's a better way. And the better way is walking away, giving yourself two or three days off, and allowing that obstacle that you're pushing against, to come up with a solution. And I play an Oprah Winfrey speech when she says, you know, be quiet, don't think about what you've got to do. Just think about the next right thing. Is your next right being obvious or do you get lost in the process as well? Have you got a plan what you're going to be doing this week or next week? Or do you literally juggle plates as soon as you walk through the door James? James Mackay 26:49 I'm somewhere in the middle. So excuse me, you know, we have a long our long term plan for business personal life and and you know, set some goals but In terms of actually trying to, you know, not be splits spinning too many places you say I do something called a well bit of a morning routine where I plan each day I don't plan a week because things change too quickly so I kind of set you know on a Sunday night I kind of set everything that I want to do this week block out the you know, whether the meetings and then each day I know how much free time I've got and I can I can plan and block out the things I want to achieve in that time. So I think a great book on on this I think is atomic habits by by James clearer than if you've read it. No. You haven't heard of it. It's no no, it's, it's, it's brilliant. And he actually is an American guy. fascinating, fascinating from what you Said I think he'd be really interested in his work. And he, he talks about you know, having it's all it's all well and good having all of these big goals in the future. But really we're a product of our kind of daily habits and sets about how you should use your time most of most efficiently and, and set up your kind of, you know, the big things each day that are going to, you know, help you achieve those goals rather than just saying, you know, I've got to get to x revenue, if you're in a business and running around, chasing your tail, trying to just reach that big goal. He talks about breaking it down, putting it into

Todays guest coming onto the show brings over two decades of branding and digital marketing experience with her everywhere she goes She is the author of the book What's Working Now? YOU-centric Marketing, and also the founder of  Think Media. She has been featured in Yahoo Finance, The Ecommerce Times, The New Food Economy, and Brand Experience Magazine, just to name a few, as a branding expert. She has personally worked with brands such as Kellogg's, Visa, Marriott, and Apple so she knows what goes into advancing a great brand. She’s overseen multimedia divisions ranging from a few million to over $300 million in revenue. Now when she isnt spending time in her Denver home, with her husband, two kids and dog, she leads a team of talented digital marketing experts. From strategy, to creation and production, to execution, they know what it takes to deliver the performance and customer experience outcomes that your brand desires. As she says "Work doesn’t feel like work when you’re passionate about helping customers grow. We want to help your business succeed. We want your customers to think about your brand first when making purchasing decisions." And this focus can help with low brand awareness, a huge problem if you are in a pool of huge competition, or reaching new customers. To stimulating those comments, re-shares and customer engagement on Social media. So why do we see time and time again, companies and individuals fall into the trap of being boring with their branding, instead of insightful and uniqiue? And what are the things that any newbie can pay attention to when trying to get their branding right? Well lets find out as we start joining up dots with the one and only Shahla Hebets Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Shahla Hebets such as: We share how every entrepreneur struggles at the beginning and fall into a miserable world of "where did i go wrong?" but this is perfectly ok.. Why great branding is sharing a vision that insights and inspires the customer to see themselves in a different way Shahla discusses the myth of the overnight success and why the world is more and more looking for the lazy way to success. And lastly...... We talk openly about the "scare" factor of putting yourself out there, but its the key to getting the success that you want. How To Connect With Shahla Hebets  Website Twitter Facebook Linkedin Return To The Top Of Shahla Hebets  If you enjoyed this episode with Shahla Hebets, why not check out other inspirational chat with Clayton Morris, Dorie Clark, and the amazing Niall Doherty You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy Audio Transcription Of Shahla Hebets Interview David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time there was a guy with a dream a dream. He's Jobs for himself online and have a kick ass life working when he wanted him where he wanted across the world. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt. Until he found the magic ingredient and knows drunk was became a thing of the past, of course, was bad person. And now My dream is to make things happen. BU Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:31 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:56 Yes, hello there. Good morning, everybody. Good morning. And welcome. Welcome to Join Up Dots. Yes, the podcast that is rolling into its sixth year, rolling out to about 2000 episodes. And still people come along and say I just stumbled across here. So if you have just stumbled across this, thank you so much for being here. And of course, thank you so much to today's guest who has rolled out of bed at six o'clock in the morning. She's probably looking out at darkened windows and thinking what the hell am I doing? Well, we're going to find out what she's doing because she is a guest coming onto the show with over two decades of branding and digital marketing experience. And she takes that with her everywhere she goes She's the author of the book what's working now you centric marketing and also the founder of think media. She's been featured in Yahoo Finance, e commerce times, but new food economy and brand experience magazine just to name a few as a branding expert, of course. Now, if that's not good enough, that's quite sexy on it is she's personally worked with brands such as Kellogg's, Visa, Marissa and apple. So she knows what goes into advancing a great brand. So it's not just creating one is actually pushing one on to bigger and bigger results. She's overseen multimedia divisions ranging from a few million to over 300 million in revenue. And now when she isn't spending her time in a Denver home being dragged out of bed by an excitable podcaster from the United Kingdom, that's me, that's me. Spending time with her husband, two kids and adults. She leads a team of talented digital marketing experts from strategy to creation and production to execution. They know what it takes to deliver the performance and customer experience outcomes. But a great brand desires as she says, work doesn't feel like work when you're passionate about helping customers grow. We want to help your business succeed. We want your customers to think about your brand first when making purchases decisions. And this focus can help with low brand awareness a huge problem if you're in a pulled up huge competition or reaching new customers. Just stimulating those comments and those we shares and customer engagement on social media. So why do we see time and time again, companies and individuals bought into the trap of being boring with their branding, instead of insightful, unique and helpful? And what are the things that any newbie can pay attention to when trying to get a branding? Right? Well, let's find out as we start Join Up Dots with the one and only Charlotte habit. Good morning, Shahla, how are you? Shahla Hebets 3:29 Good morning. I am wonderful. How are you? David Ralph 3:32 I'm always wonderful I am. I reflected on that the other day. And as I talk a lot on Join Up Dots. I know, hey, it's my show. So I talk about myself a lot. But when you start anything, you go into it with all the enthusiasm in the world, but it's going to be easy and we've been about six weeks, you're gonna have the dream life. And for more of us, it becomes a bit of a nightmare until it becomes really good. And now I'm in a really good phase where I'm clinging to the miserable Stage, I want to remember that because I don't want to get so far away from it. But my advice to my listeners becomes inaccurate because I can't quite remember. Do you remember the dark days? Charlotte? Do you look back on it and think when THiNK Media wasn't thinking at all, it was just something that was occurring? Steve Jobs 4:20 Oh, absolutely right. We've all had that pain of growth. And the struggles that come with it. David Ralph 4:28 You can give us a bit more than that. Charlotte is a podcast. It's a podcast. That's what we do. We I asked a question, and then you answer, and then I asked extra questions because I'm interested about your answer. Steve Jobs 4:39 Okay, perfect. Yeah, you know, I mean, to elaborate. I mean, I think it's exactly what you said, right? You start out with these aspirations, these visions of how you're going to go out, you're going to change the world and you're going to, you know, really connect with companies and they're going to understand everything that you're saying and then, you know, you get in there and you're having a couple And you realise, oh my gosh, you know what I said? Just one, you know, didn't connect with them at all, and they don't get it and, and is anybody going to get it? And how will I modify this such that, you know, it makes sense and, and I've certainly experienced that, you know, many, many times, not only in the beginning of starting my business, but you know, even today I have those conversations where I get off the phone and I think what just happened? You know, but it's, it's more about, you know, I think finding the right audience and realising that your message isn't necessarily going to connect with everybody. But when it does, that's when you really can move your business forward and their business David Ralph 5:43 is interested enough. Hey, that was a great answer. And I don't I don't want that sarcasm afterwards. Show that you see. This relationships going bad already. I don't know what's happening here. Now one of the things that I realised early in the day was bad, a lot of my marketing that I was doing and my conversations that I was having with people, even though I knew the stuff inside out, was falling flat, and I couldn't understand it. And people were like listening. And over again, that's wonderful. Thank you so much for that information. And then I realised, but actually, I wasn't painting a vision of where they will be because of what I know in my head and what I can share. I was very much giving them the technical aspects, I was teaching them how to drive a car, but not saying because of this information, you're going to be whizzing over that mountain, you're gonna have sexy people all around you, you're going to have the wind in your hair, is that we're sort of branding falls down because I look at some people's websites. And to be honest, it's just boring. I look at it and I think it's just about them. And it's not about the customer and it's not about the promise of what the customer is going to get by working with you. It doesn't excite me at all. Steve Jobs 7:00 Exactly, I think that's exactly what it is, you know, it's so funny, we, I always refer to that as sort of brand speak, you know, a corporate speak, it's, you know, we have a tendency, and I understand it. But we have a tendency to sort of fall in love with our company, you know, and sort of say, Oh, it's so obvious, right? so obvious that what we do is going to change your life is going to change your world. So I'm just going to use a lot of, you know, jargon and a lot of, you know, terms that I think, you know, resonate with me my brand and all our benefits and everything that we bring to the table. And the truth is, that's just noise. And it is boring. And it isn't something that incites anything outside of let me move on. And I think sometimes we just fall in love with the brand and we we do that with the right intention, right? Of course you fall in love with your brand and your brand. But what we tend to find is that the customers thinking about themselves, know the customer is thinking about why does this matter to me How's it going to move me forward? What educational value do I have? Does it motivate me? Does it inspire me? And that's why I think so many brands fall into this trap of, you know, me, me, me, me, me and the customers and I wanted actually to be about, about what's happening in my life. Yeah, yeah. How I can grow. David Ralph 8:19 And is that something that comes across on because I tell you, once again, I'm going to talk about myself, but my business really took off really took off when I had burnout. And when I had corporate burnout, and I really struggled and about giving everything up. It sounds like you're making a coffee. Are you making this? Is that the first morning coffee? I can hear clinking away? Unknown Speaker 8:43 Yeah, it is. I'm sorry. That's good. That's good. David Ralph 8:47 We like we like to feel like we're in your life. And I imagine you sitting there in a nightie now I'm not gonna go that far. But anyway, so so you're drinking your coffee and most people out there when they are looking at bear that sort of branding right at the very start, they failed to actually get that insight into the person's life. And so when I get that corporate brand brand burnout, I realised but from that point on, I had to share more about that and I had to share but I found a better way of operating because of that. I had to go through that. Now. You sitting there with your cup of coffee and your you know, and your pyjamas, my pyjamas, that's better. And the fact that you can connect with customers all around the world. Fat is great branding material, isn't it? But there's people out there thinking that's what I want. I want to be drinking coffee. I want to be talking to that sexy guy. And I want to be in my pyjamas at six o'clock. No, maybe not six o'clock in the morning. But everything else sounds great. Why do people not throw that out? Why do we not show behind the curtain? Steve Jobs 9:53 You know, I think it's vulnerability maybe you know, it's it's I don't want to come out and show you sort of the reality of my life. And, you know, the all of the things that I have gone through and, and my storey, right. It's really my storey when it's all said and done, it's also the brand storey and, and I think sometimes people say like, Oh, you know that that part isn't important. That part isn't sexy at that part makes me look like I, you know, I didn't wake up out of bed and become instantly successful. I don't want to talk about that. And and the truth is, is that what works with branding is the emotional connection. And so if I can connect with somebody over my cup of coffee and my jams, you know, then, and I can tell them really this is, this is the reality of who I am. This is my storey, you're going to find people who are going to say that's my storey. That's my storey, too. And that actually breaks through the noise more than anything is that sort of heart centric, you know, we've all been there. Let's do this. Let's let me share the growth that I've had so that you can have the same experience or at least you can perhaps get a bit of inspiration out of it. David Ralph 11:00 is I have had an epiphany recently, but it's one of those epiphanies that I'd realised all the way through my life, but it suddenly struck home that the world is full of lazy people. And they basically want the maximum results with the minimum effort. Unknown Speaker 11:19 And David Ralph 11:20 I've been speaking to people time and time again and I've been saying to them yeah, I will work with you, they come through to me and we have this discussion and I, you know, we we talk about things and even though that I can show them exactly how to create, you know, in a microsite, a multiple six figure business, its work involved in it now Vax the stumbling block master bit when they go, there's work involved in it. Oh, I thought I could just click a few buttons and stuff. And so through there, I've been delving deeper and deeper and deeper to try to find a business that I can share with people, but they can literally do whatever they want in the world. Whenever they want to do it. I don't need a lot of investment. And I've got one, I've got one, but I'm playing around with at the moment, and it is sexy times. It's sexy time. But I know still that when I promote it and market it to people, people still want easier that they want easier. Now, that's wrong, isn't it? I'm I thinking that life is about work and is not about play, or is it more about play and not work? What do you think? Steve Jobs 12:29 I mean, everything requires work, you know, everything requires adjustment. I mean, businesses is no different than life. Right? If I find that amazing because I think you're, you know, you're spot on in terms of, there's this notion that and maybe it's social media, social media, but you know, maybe it's this notion that oh, you know, you you just arrive and everything just is easy and everybody knows your your storey and everybody knows what you're trying to do, and then they get it and you just want around this, you know, sort of perpetual bliss. And, and the truth is, is that, you know, there are everything that you do is going to require learning and adjusting and modifying. And that's work. And you know, if you sit down and you say, Hey, I'm going to build out this business, and then you, you get out into the marketplace and you think you're rolling out this wonderful idea. It's sexy, and it's exciting. And everybody goes, huh. I don't really get it. You know, then you're, you're you're starting a new you're figuring out how do you communicate it in a different way? And I think that's a, that happens a lot. You know, we see that with people who will say, Well, I just want to skip the brand awareness. I just want to get the results. David Ralph 13:42 Why Why? Why would they say that? Let's let's delve into that. Because Surely, brand awareness is the absolute foundation that everything is built on is that understanding that customers will remember you and even if they don't buy at that time you stick in their mind, you know, we all remember you know, I'm loving it McDonald's now I bloody hate McDonald's. I think it's disgusting food. But I still remember the little tune in my head. And although that is what brand awareness really is, you shouldn't skip back should you Steve Jobs 14:16 never and you know, and I think the reason is, is that they don't want to go back in and champion to their box at Hey, you know what it might be a little while before we really see these efforts pay off that it might take a little bit for us to really get exposure in the marketplace, it might be a while where we just sort of pound this, you know, these storeys into the minds of our consumer base or client base. And I think they don't want to have that discussion. They don't want to, you know, really paint the picture of what it actually what actually goes into building a strong brand and it absolutely is brand awareness and it is being able to, you know, remember the catchy tune from the channels. And that takes work and that takes time. But you know, I think that we've been sold on This notion of well, it's, you know, just get the lead and get the sale and, and make it happen immediately because we only have a short period of time before we can get this thing rolling. And it's like, you know, it doesn't tend to work that way. And if you're gonna, you know, you're either going to earn it through brand awareness that you're going to pay for, or you're going to earn it through trying to skip the process and paying through the nose. Because you don't have brand awareness. Well, David Ralph 15:27 yeah, let's just talk about that. Because I've got listeners out there won't grasp what you just said. But effectively, by skipping brand awareness and building stuff, you're effectively leaving 98% of your money on the table. Customers are going to come across No matter how much marketing you do, they're going to land on your website and they're just going to bounce off. Now we can talk about having funnels, we can talk about having retargeting, we can have all the sexy marketing stuff around behind the scenes, but still be memorable and making somebody smile and feel inspired is the key to making a success, isn't it? Steve Jobs 16:09 Exactly. That's exactly what it is. And you know that the thought behind it in terms of you know, hey, making it memorable making people will connect with you making somebody smile. Of course, that's going to be the sauce, right, the secret sauce to success, but we have this, I think we tend to fall into this thought process that, you know, I, my product is so great. My service is so amazing. And again, you know, there's something wrong with that. But the truth is, is if the customer doesn't get it, then the customer doesn't get it. And we are in a very crowded space, right? We're in a very crowded space every every market is crowded, right? And it's not like there's just as you know, perhaps every once in a while there's a really novel idea and a novel product that is so unusual that it Sort of captures your attention. But that is almost never normally it requires that you're, you're putting that messaging out there, you're connecting with the customer, you're doing it again. And again and again. Because the customers thinking, well, you are just very similar my eyes to everybody else's out there. And so I always liken it to, you know, in the health and wellness space, you know, a lot of times we work with people in the health and wellness space. And you know, they'll say, but our product is organic. You know, our product is fair trade. Well, those are wonderful, fair trade and organic is lovely, and important. But there are 50, organic and fair trade products, you know, on the market and the customers looking at us saying I don't know which one's different. The brand, the brand awareness is the thing that gets the customer to go, Oh, no, I like this brand. Yes, it's organic. It's fair trade, and I'm so happy for those attributes, but what I really have about is how this brand makes me feel how my identity is wrapped into this brand, how this brand is a reflection of me. And that takes time it takes earning it. And it takes repetition. And it takes, you know, some business for you to actually break through the noise so that when somebody is looking at 50 products that seemed awfully similar. They remember you. Yeah. And your brand. David Ralph 18:24 Yeah, I also, I'm going to play some words now. And we're going to delve back into this because it's key. But here's Oprah. Oprah Winfrey 18:30 The way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, what is the next right move? not think about, Oh, I got all of this stuff. What is the next right move? And then from that space, make the next right move and the next right move and not to be overwhelmed by it because you know, your life is bigger than that one moment. You know, you're not defined by what somebody says is a failure for you. Because failure is just there to point you in a different direction. David Ralph 19:02 Now if we take those words and we we reflect on the fact that she says Just be quiet and think most people will come to me with a snappy Logan logo or a slogan and say that's my business. And I say to them fats, not chia business bad. It's just a slogan, that's a business card. And I say, what is the promise? What is the promise that you are delivering? What is the thing that somebody can't get anywhere else? And how do you emphasise that through every part of your material? Now if we I'm going to do a quiz? I'm going to do a quiz with you. Okay, so I'm going to give you some slogans. Okay, being being Mrs. Branding expert out there and see how you do with this. Okay, so who said because you're worth it Unknown Speaker 19:57 I don't know actually. David Ralph 19:58 Move. Yeah. Hair hair product. Right? Okay. Okay, and if you could move slightly closer to the microphone you've just gone slightly, slightly dipped. Okay. Oh, sorry. What about think different? Apple? Apple? Brilliant. Okay, what about melts in your mouth? Not in your hands. Unknown Speaker 20:17 Lars? David Ralph 20:19 Mas OM m&ms. Yeah, somebody? Yeah. Okay, what about finger licking? Good. Steve Jobs 20:28 Good KFC, David Ralph 20:29 KFC. So all of those not only do they have something that's memorable, but they have something that is right for the customer. It's it's finger licking good. You're going to enjoy it so much but you you've got to get every single part of your your fingers you don't want to just leave it in the box, you know, and L'Oreal because you're worth it. Yeah, you're going to use the shampoo and you're going to feel great. Those words are worth billions aren't by because it just those four words you translate what the Bible Business is offering what your promises. I sound like I know what I'm talking about, don't I? Steve Jobs 21:07 really do. David Ralph 21:10 Just for that moment I hold real well there. Okay. So, so when somebody starts, they're businessmen and they come to you, do you how do you start it? What's a good way for a newbie? Is it better to grow the business and then start thinking about actually, their, their key proposition that they can develop into? Or is it a case of finding that first and then building the business around it? Steve Jobs 21:36 No, I think it's really it's exactly what you said it's finding it first and then building it around it. You know, I think that that that notion of exactly you know, finger looking good, I mean, great example, or Apple, I'm a huge Apple fan. But you know, that notion that, hey, if I if you want to connect with somebody in a way that is actually going to move the needle for your business, then you've got a start in the fundamental And you've got to figure out what is it from the very beginning stages that are going to make you feel very human in your approach and very connected and relevant. And so you have to really start from the ground up. And you've got to really challenge that. And I think, you know, the, the quote that you've said from Oprah is exactly it. You've got to get still, you've got to, you've got to think about what am I trying to accomplish here? What am I? What am I? What do I want to be known for? What is going to make me resonate with my audience in a way that feels like I get them? And it's also, you know, it's not only that piece, but it's also really understanding your customer. You know, so often I see brands that maybe they have already a great slogan, maybe they already have a great promise, but it's more that they they have a miss on the customer. You know, they think, Oh, this is going to resonate with this person. And this person, you know, we worked with a company at one point, that, you know, they were convinced that their product was You know, completely connected to bodybuilders, you know, and male bodybuilders and what they found out through a lot of sort of pain was that actually, it was a female that likes to have a tasty, you know, energy bar when she was going for a hike. Yeah, she was active, but she wasn't in there, you know, she wasn't in there just, you know, going crazy in the gym, that wasn't their target audience. And I think what happens is that we get this notion of, Okay, this is where it is, this is how it's going to resonate. This is the customer that I'm going to connect with. And what ends up ultimately happening is that your customer can be very, very, very different than you think they are. And that's the piece that you work at, right. That's the piece that you're constantly fine tuning because as you're doing more with your messaging, as you're doing more with your branding, you're learning a lot more about your customer and who that customer truly is and what really moves the needle and what is really going to make your brand storey Now for them David Ralph 24:01 is I realised through the process of running my business for the last six years, there was a point when I thought people wanted the money, Show me the money. And they were, they were desperate for that. And through the process, I realised that people actually don't want the money. They want the freedom, they want the stress free. And now let's see everyone that I talked to, who actually come through my coaching programmes, but they always say to me, David, if I can just pay my bills, that would be a great way, that would be a great way if I could pay my bills and have four days off each week, even better, and they're willing to do the work, you know, because they sign up and they start learning the structure, but it's not the money. And I always thought it was because I thought if you get the money, you know, that's, that's happy days. But then I look back at myself and I realised that actually, I used to be into telephone numbers. I used to think Yeah, you know, each month had to be better financially. When the before, but now, I'm just happy to live a happy life. And I think once again, when the words are coming out of your mouth and you're living those words, your branding just kind of starts to take shape somehow it it becomes congruent with your personal beliefs. And that comes out for your company. Would you agree? Steve Jobs 25:21 I absolutely agree. Yeah, you know, this need for just basic, you know, that everybody has this need for an enjoyable life and enjoyment. It's, it's, I always think of it in terms of financial freedom isn't necessarily just, it isn't how much money you have in the bank. It's, can you do what you want to do when you want to do it? Yeah. And I think that's a you know, it's a huge piece of, you know, sort of the fulfilment and the more that you feel, it's like anything else, it's like the energy that you put out, right, but the more that you that you live, and you you Read that reality and you, you come from that place, the more your customers feel it. David Ralph 26:06 And, and the amazing thing is to emphasise what you said there is, when you can do what you want to do when you want to do it. More often than not, it's so cheap, you know, you don't actually need the money. You know, I'm taking my wife to Venice for four days. And it's a return flight, which is about $22 or something like that, you know, which is nothing. And because we can do it whenever we want, I just looked at the cheapest day to go out and the chief cheapest day to go return and you know, that's it. Now, if I was working in the time where I'm restricted by kids holidays, for example, because I don't know if they're like that in America, but over here, the company screw you over as soon as you have kids, by you know when the school holidays are and everything becomes three times as pricey after bat because of fat and because of having worked with restrictions literally that would have cost me 250 pounds might be free or hundred dollars you kno

Introducing David Bain Today's guest is a man who is at the forefront of digital marketing in the UK and has been since way back in the early 2000's Starting his career by gaining an MBA in business from Napier University, he worked for a series of digital marketing agencies specialising in SEO, PPC and Social. He then moved away from the UK to Sydney Australia when offered the chance to head up the growth of the SEO department for MEC Australia. These were all the fledgling steps into the world of entrepreneurship, helping marketers to stay up-to-date with the latest tools, tactics and technologies through his books, podcasts and digital services, helping them to cut through the noise and focus on what shifts the needle. Nowadays you can be working for someone on a Monday and change your title on Linkedin To Expert on a Tuesday, but our guest has done his time getting to where he is. A digital marketing pioneer, podcast host and producer, he started his first online business back in the year 2000 and his first podcast in 2006. Since then he’s worked with several global organisations including Google, Nespresso, PA Consulting and Farfetch, delivered dozens of digital marketing training sessions and hosted hundreds of podcasts, webinars and online summits. David, his wife and son are based in London, UK. So today the world is screaming "Buy from me, look at me, grab my course and book" but certainly not when he started, so why the interest back then? And where does he see the mistakes that people make when entering into the world of online work with such eagerness today. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. David Bain. Show Highlights During today's show we discussed such weighty subjects with David Bain Why blending the offline and online world to get your customers attention, is such a powerful way to really boost the effectiveness of your content. David shares why we have such little time to make an informed decision that getting noticed has become a big issue. We discuss the process of getting a book from the content of a podcast to the real thing, and the effort involved.  and lastly....... Why its so important to focus on servicing people who are closely linked to you and your passions. Become your own avatar.

In today's episode of Join UP Dots we tackle the questions that come to us through the listeners of Join Up Dots. Everyday our email inbox gets full of requests for information from our listeners, which we often respond to directly. However in today's episode we save them up and answer them all in one go.... Ranging from depression to waiting too long, to how to find that spark to work on. Whatever you want from your life it is there for you, you just have to go after it and make it happen Enjoy Question One Dear David, can't get enough of our show...yes I say our show as I feel you are speaking directly to me everyday. I am now ready to roll but what can I do? I know the fire is burning but I just dont have a clue where to head....lost from New south Wales, Australia Question Two Hi Join UP Dots i was listening to one of your earlier episodes when you were speaking about hanging around in your job for a few years too long. Do you think this held you back, as I would love to be free from the hell that I am enduring due to my f**wit boss but just cant see how I can do it as quick as I would like.... Penai Chitzo, Argentina Question Three Good day to you from Bolivia. Please excuse my written English as your language is not my natural form of communication. I listen to your podcast as I am improving my Engish speaking. I do not understand everything you speak about as it is very fast speed. I enjoy it very much and long to meet you one day and say "Hello"  Do you have a favourite episode out of the ones you have delivered lovingly to us...Adirana  Question Four David Ralph, you sexy man, you god of the microphone, you pumping piston of positivity (did I get your attention yet?) What would be the number one mistake that you made creating your online platform. I would like to do the same so would like to know what you would change.... Victor Benji, St Louis, America Question Five Hi Mr Ralph, do you regret anything in your life. You seem to be always happy and full of life. I suffer from very dark periods of depression which come from nowhere like a perfect storm. I can only imagine that things go wrong for you, so how do you deal with them. The reason I ask, is i would very much like to create my own income and make a go of it, but I dont know if I would be able to handle the issues that you make very clear will come along sometimes  Claire Merchance, St Ives, UK

Maria Pesin is todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is a senior apparel industry executive. with an outstanding history of achievement and over 25 years of field experience. She has developed brands from the ground up and taken well-known names to new heights of excellence. Her proven leadership ability has led her to spearhead marketing operations. She has constructed and implemented business plans for New York apparel giants like Fleet Street and GIII Apparel Group, building multi-million dollar brands. Maria has established herself as an expert in everything from merchandising and sales to product development and budgeting. Maria is passionate about the apparel industry and dedicated to working with up-and-coming enterprises that are as devoted to the trade as she is. Establishing new businesses, growing existing businesses and bringing new fashion trends into the marketplace is what she enjoys most about her job. With her consulting business vibe she specializes in helping companies start new divisions, turn around existing ones, or bringing companies to the next level. As she says "Our specialties are sales and marketing, merchandising, organizational efficiencies, and managing Profit/Loss." So is it rare that a consulting company caters for so many different specialisms?  And has this just happened or was it part of the master plan? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Maria Pesin Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Maria Pesin such as: Maria shares her key focus of sales and marketing and why this is such a vital component to all businesses. If you arent getting the sales or the customers you will fail.  We talk about the need to find a differing position to your business landscape if you ever want to gain traction against your competitors. Why the story of spanx has become a driving force behind so many businesses around the world who know the key to perseverance. and lastly...... Why it's so important to focus in on all aspects of time management especially Parkinsons Law. Dont let that time spread into your life.

Introducing James Mulvany Todays guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is a man on a mission. To not only change the world of podcasting but also commercial radio. Coming from the UK, this is one of those classic stories as you will hear when a passion matches a need and success occurs in rather quickly compared to mist. He is the founder of Radio.co and Podcast.co, where he provides the infrastructure to broadcast your words to the world. However, this is very different from what you would be getting from a show like Join Up Dots. His software allows for multiple radio hosts scheduled around the world, going live at their regular times, building their own followings, just like you would get when you tune in your own radio and hear your favourite morning show. All from the back of the garden, or your bedroom if that suits better. How The Dots Joined Up For James As he says "I was quite a geeky, introverted kid and definitely not the most outgoing kid in the world. It was good for me going to university because that gave me a bit of a social life and got me out there in the real world. That was really useful from a personal perspective but also from a business perspective as well. There is only so much you can achieve, when you’re sat behind your computer. I’ve never had a job, I started very young about 16 and was interested in radio and being a presenter. I was also into making websites and was teaching myself that. I decided not to pursue a career in radio but in the process of doing a bit of work experience in radio I learnt how to setup online radio and set up a stream to the internet. At the time there were a few companies offering this service and it seemed like a way to make a few quid. So in 2004 I set up a website called Wavestreaming. I didn’t really know what I was doing so I got the help of a guy in Australia who helped me set up the servers and stuff. I went to university and had a nice income on the side, I think that first year we turned over about £18,000. I did Interactive Multimedia at Uni and spent a lot of that time working on the business. At this time we were still selling streaming services to radio stations. I graduated Uni and hired some staff and managed to grow the business to the point where we got a very big deal with AOL, this was about 2011. And the rest is history. So it seems like a life with no worries and dark nights of the soul, but was this actually the case? And where does he see the world of home broadcasting going in the future....more of the same, or something quite different? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only James Mulvany Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with James Mulvany such as: James shared his first dream of getting £1,000 into his bank account and when he achieved it how good it felt. We talk about the drawbacks of running a team and how it can frighten so many people from actually scaling their own business. Why fundamentally being an entrepreneur is solving problems for as many people as possible. And lastly................. Why its so important to make a difference to your customers by truly listening and talking to them as much as possible. How To Connect With James Mulvany Website Facebook Linkedin Instagram Return To The Top Of James Mulvany If you enjoyed this interview with James Mulvany why not check out other inspiring interviews like Clint Arthur, Lunden DeLeon and Jack Canfield Or of course you can check out thousands of podcast interviews in our archives here Interview Transcription For James Mulvany Interview David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time, there was a guy with a dream a dream, which is Jobs himself online and have a kick ass life working when he wanted him where he wanted across the world. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt. Until he found the magic ingredient and knows drunk was became a thing of the past, of course, was bad person. And now My dream is to make things happen. BU Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:31 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. Unknown Speaker 0:55 Yes. David Ralph 0:56 Good morning. Good morning to you and welcome to Join Up Dots. Thank you for giving You're is giving me a buddies and everything in between. Now today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is a man on a mission to not only change the world of podcasting but also commercial radio. Coming from the UK This is one of those classic storeys that you hear when a passion matches a need and success, I suppose occurs in rather quickly come compared to most out there. He's the founder of radio CO and podcast CO, where he provides the infrastructure to broadcast his words to the world and for everybody out there. Now it's very different from what you will be getting from a show like Join Up Dots he software allows for multiple radio hosts or podcast is scheduled around the world going live at their regular times building their own followings, just like you would get when you tune into your own radio and hear your favourite Morning Show, all from the back of the garden or your bedroom about suits better. Now, as he says I was quite a geeky introverted kid, and definitely not the most outgoing kid in the world. It was good for me going to university Because that gave me a bit of a social life and got me out there in the real world was really useful from a personal perspective, but also from a business one as well. There's only so much you can achieve when you're sat behind your computer CKUKV listeners, I've never had a job. I started very young about 16 and was interested in radio and being a presenter, I was also into making websites and was teaching myself fat. I decided not to pursue a career in radio. But in the process of doing a bit of work experience in radio, I learned how to set up online radio and set up a stream to the internet. And at a time, there were a few companies offering this service and it seemed like a way to make a few quid Now roll on 2004 I set up a website called wage streaming. I didn't really know what I was doing. So I got the help of a guy in Australia who helped me set up the service and stuff and I went to university and had a nice income on the side. I think that first year, we turned over 18 grain, great part to start the show. So it seems like a life with no one Dark Nights of the soul. But was this actually the case? And where does he see the world of home broadcasting going in the future? More of the same or something quite different? Well, let's find out as we bring on to the show to start Join Up Dots with the one and only James Mulvany. James Mulvany 3:17 Morning, James, how are you sir? I'm, I'm brilliant. You know what an intro David, I can't believe the granularity you went to there. I feel like we actually don't need to record the podcast because you've just summarise everything I was gonna say anyway. David Ralph 3:30 Well, can I tell you why I do that? James? Should I tell you? I was on about Episode Five of Join Up Dots. And it was right in the early days and I realised that most people come with their keynote storey but I like yeah, time and time again. So I just bought like m&m. in that film. I'm going to share the storey before they get to it and then we can go in any direction we want. James Mulvany 3:54 That's a good idea, to be honest. I mean, I've got lots of I can elaborate on that storey as well. There's bits that you missed out there. So David Ralph 4:00 We can go anywhere we want. So Mr. James Mulvany, thank you so much for being here and Join Up Dots because I am a fan and I want to get straight into radio.co. First of all, because this is a platform that I have looked at numerous times, and just recently down heart FM in the United Kingdom, got rid of their breakfast show hosts and they sort of amazing sort of centralised one. And the Essex guy who has been the unplug the radio host for about 25 years, came round to the back of the garden, Join Up Dots, I sat with him for an afternoon. And to be honest, I spent most of the time trying to promote radio.co saying, Look at this, you can do this yourself. You can get all the ex hosts have been sacked by heart, create your own radio show. This is brilliant. He wasn't as excited as I was. Now. Do you find that you find that podcasters look at it and go wow, this is such an opportunity. James Mulvany 4:59 I think They are, there's obviously some crossover between podcasting and radio, a lot of radio stations will run a podcast, not every podcaster wants a radio station. And one thing I can tell you is, we have a huge chunk of customers at Radio co who are ex jocks or ex presenters or whatever you want to call them. And they've decided that they want to leave the industry and start their own business and run their own online radio station, which can sometimes be you know, super focused around a specific topic or it can be super focused on a specific genre of music. And you know, they have a great time. And the great thing about that the platform is entirely cloud based. So you don't have to have a fancy studio. And also you don't have to be located in the same place as your DJ, your other DJ. So you can have people come and broadcast on your station from anywhere in the world. And you know, do it from the comfort of their own home or some people have like a home studio like you do the back of the garden or in their bedroom or whatever. And it just, you know, it kind of encourages creativity and collaboration, I think. David Ralph 5:58 Now, I listened to Chris happens the Breakfast Show guy in the United Kingdom he stole James Mulvany 6:03 you from radio to to virgin did he did David Ralph 6:05 he did yeah I know he's and he stole me was is exactly the same show there's no difference it's just like he's old show has been moved across but he was doing it all from Portugal on a laptop and even though I the same thing I was thinking my god it people out there aren't grasping the fact that nowadays they don't have to go to an office they could set up a tree and build a business. We've never got them we've never got them Join Up Dots is a failure it me and Chris Evans haven't shown them a new way. That's excellent you James but at its core business is about creating the lifestyle with the businesses second place, James Mulvany 6:45 I think. Yeah, to begin with, you know, like back in the day when I first started out, it was me on my own. And, you know, I was the sales guy, the support guy that you know, software guy, I did everything I want many hats, a bit of jack of all trades, master of none. But what it did give me his ability to sort of understand each area. And, you know, when I started hiring staff, you know, he allowed me to, for example, talking to developers, I have a good understanding of how it all links together and, and how code works. Don't write any code anymore. But I think to begin with, and having that creativity and that freedom, and it was really like a lifestyle business back then, look, I think you mentioned in your introduction, I remember being in sixth form, start a website, I might go back then was like, Can I get my bank balance to 1000 pounds like this almost unachievable, you know, goal that was kind of and then I did it probably within the space of, I don't know, five, six months. And I remember hitting that goal and thinking this is amazing, you know, and, and as you said, I think first year 16 years old, we turned over about 18 grand, which were 16 old kids not bad. And but you know, obviously then as time progresses and things grow, you know, it becomes more of a you know, more of a commercial entity I guess, you know, the we've got about 30 of us on the team now. So, you know, things are a bit different now than then. But I kind of still always have a, you know, like kind of fond memory those early days when it was just me and I was kind of, you know, I had that sort of opportunity ahead of me thinking I can just do anything I can take over the world with this. And it really gave me a lot of excitement. Because, you know, I think as you said in the introduction, my original plan was to go into radio as a broadcaster as a DJ, and sort of did a little bit of that. And then I kind of thought, Well, you know, I'm going to go off to university and sort of I studied interactive multimedia, which is basically web design and stuff like that. And you know, that that would kind of gave me the building blocks to sort of start growing the business a bit more. David Ralph 8:45 The amount of radio hosts that I have spoken to over the last two or three years and but majority of them say it's so restrictive in radio, they spend most of these days doing maps and working out if I play a disagreement Song how long till the top of the hour and all that it's just like mass mass mass and I can't say anything. Now with Join Up Dots, I literally open my mouth and whatever comes out goes into people's ears. And I can't understand with the the growth and the explosion, why more people aren't going that way? Why do people still want to get a job when you can create your own job, James? James Mulvany 9:24 I think it's the security isn't it? And it's the fear of the unknown. If you're a DJ and you've got that talent, you've got that, you know, core communication built within you that you can kind of get people on your side, you can, you know, that can be translated to so many different areas of running a business, you know, if you're a good presenter, you can be a really good salesperson, you can be really good marketer, you know, you've got that ability to present a camera concepts and ideas, record videos, and I've really, especially in the early days, I really saw drew upon that, that talent, those skills, to launch the business and actually get kind of get one Over on the competition, because a lot of the competition were for focusing really on the technical aspects of everything, but actually, they weren't good at sales. They, they were too scared. And I still see this today, they're too scared to appear in front of a camera or too scared to actually go in front of a mic and actually start selling their products and speak to people. So I think, you know, as a creative person, if you're in broadcasting for your podcasting, you know, you can take those skills and you can easily turn it into a business because so much of being a business relies on being a good communicator, a good communicator. David Ralph 10:30 I agree with you totally. And what I really picked up on there is how so many people try to sell based around the technical aspects. Yeah, but majority of people don't give a monkey's about the technical aspect. They they just want to know the end product. It's the knowledge gap that you've got to cross it, sir. Yeah, we can show you how to live a life like this. We can show you how you sit in your underpants and create a business. We want to show you five. And these are the tools that get there. Now when I looked@radio.com. And obviously, we're going Talk about podcast co as well. I looked at that, and I thought to myself, this is so sexy, but I could create my own show. Once I finished, somebody else goes live. And we can broadcast to the world, we could get a load of podcasters, together, boarding. And then I looked at it and thought, No, actually, I just like doing my own thing. I don't want to be responsible for sort of other people. Is that a stumbling block as well? Do you see it where people look at and go, I love this, but actually, who's going to manage it? I don't. But the talent doesn't want to be the studio manager. James Mulvany 11:32 I mean, yeah, it's interesting. You mentioned this, and I think radio.co platform does make that process very straightforward. I've got to start off by saying the reality of managing people can sometimes be difficult. I ran a radio station here in Manchester called MCI live for two years. And unfortunately, we had to call it a day at the start of this year, mainly for commercial reasons. We were trying to pick up sponsorship. And we you know, we did, we did some small deals, but we ultimately we didn't get that big headline sponsor, but we had a lot of fun in running it and it was a good guinea pig for the business. And we had a studio which was really cool. It was actually based above a convenience store which is kind of like a hipster cool convenience store and with there we have this sort of mezzanine level we thought let's put a studio up there. So it was really good. But you know what managing day we had sort of lots of electronic music DJ presenters coming in and and organising that we probably had about 50 people at any one time. And obviously, the people came and went over the couple years, we ran it, but you know, coordinating 50 people was a big task we needed to have, you know, I had what, two three full time people working on that project. Just to kind of coordinate that. And also obviously handle things like the marketing Instagram, etc. But it was, you know, it was a big ask. David Ralph 12:50 And it was the time I used to run sales teams and insurance teams and at 10 to eight the phone rang. You realised it was somebody I can't get mean I've got flu, and baby, but the next day they were in and there was so much hassle about trying to cover cover this. What would be your response? If somebody says to you, James, do I create a company with loads of employees? Or do I just create something very, very small, but provides me with a lifestyle. I may not be a millionaire, but I earn 100 pounds more of and I need each month to pay all my bills, have lovely holidays, have pub lunches and all kinds of little luxuries. So I'm nice. What would you say? James Mulvany 13:36 I think it depends on the individual. You know, by nature, I'm very ambitious. I'm now you know, pretty successful. But to begin with, I was I was just sort of earning a good living and then it kind of went from making a good living to having staff and obviously then it gets to the point where, you know, you're making significant profit. I think that depends on what you want. You need to And also to begin with, when I was at university, I wasn't I didn't have any kind of ambition to have a company, which was turning over, you know, multiple million amounts. I wanted us to make a few quid on the side. But then obviously things change over time. And, you know, you kind of your business grows and then obviously you kind of get bit more hungry you think, well, let's, let's try and push ourselves further. So I think to start off with a lot of people, you know, who are perhaps working in a job, or they're just starting out, they just finished school or college, and they may be looking into going to sort of university or whatever, there's no harm and just running something as a lifestyle business. That's what I did for probably five or six years before things started really taking off. David Ralph 14:45 And when when did it take off to a point that you realise because no matter how we sort of frame it, there's a hassle running a business. They go serious? Yeah. When you get to that point when you actually think yourself, hang on, are we growing Fast Should I scale back? We all have those decisions in our heads where we think the flexibility that I did have when it was all fun and exciting, and we were coming in each day and everybody loved working with each other. It's lost a bit of that. Do you remember that? James Mulvany 15:14 Yeah, I mean, you know, you have just like any job, you have good days and bad days, you know, you'll have periods where you've got a But fundamentally, being an entrepreneur is about problem solving. Right? So, if I have, if I have, you know, stumbling things along the way, which Every business has, you know, your job as a, as a founder or entrepreneur is to find solutions to those problems. And yeah, of course, you have your ups and downs not every day you go in and you thinking, yeah, this is brilliant, but then there obviously there are highs or lows. It's just that's the kind of storey I think that's the journey going as an entrepreneur, but I think the more experience you get, you know, you you mentally more equipped to deal with the downfalls and the pitfalls and the problems along the way and they don't affect you as much you kind of take them on the chin a bit more to begin with, you know, I certainly found myself kind of quite erratic, you know, I had this big dear things really took off for us in about 2011 2012 struck a big deal with AOL who owned a product called outcast and that was the core sort of engine of our system. So things took off very quickly for us that was had a business good wave stream then I knew the deal wasn't going to be there forever and I knew that it will might last five years or so. So but but it but it went as quickly as it came it went so I think it lasted about two and a half years that contract and you know, it was very it was good for us. We made a lot of money as a business. But then when it when it went away, you know, that really hit me hard for a year I was sort of, you know, in my own head, struggling and thinking God What am I going to do? I've got all these staff and everything's going to come crashing down around me and everything I've worked for him you know, and kind of looking at all these extremes in my own head but actually reality was it did that didn't happen, you know, and but it what it did do is forced me to kind of get my head together and figure out what what's next? How can we do better? And how can we kind of go one over on this? David Ralph 17:05 And who supported you at that time when mentally but demons are in your head thinking, yeah, God, who was the one that you went to James Mulvany 17:12 need to speak to? You know, you speak to your friends, your family, and half the time, they're just like, Yeah, he's just whinging about this again. But, but then I think, you know, actually, ultimately, you've got to help yourself, you know, no one's going to give you a magic solution to a problem. And especially in business, when you're when you've got the reins, you know, it's down to you to actually figure out right, am I going to keep going on this path? Are we going to choose a new direction to go in and how we going to solve this problem? David Ralph 17:38 Let's play some words and then come back to James he is Oprah. Oprah Winfrey 17:42 The way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, what is the next right move? not think about, Oh, I got all of this stuff. What is the next right move? And then from that space, make the next right move and the next right move? Not to be overwhelmed by it because you know, your life is bigger than that one moment, you know, you're not defined by what somebody says, is a failure for you, because failure is just there to point you in a different direction. David Ralph 18:13 Now I created Join Up Dots back in 2004, based out 2014, based around the words that Steve Jobs will say later on, and it's been a mantra of mine, but I didn't really understand it until recently. And just recently, James or about couple years ago, I went through a really bad sort of health phase, big wobble, everything went skew with and tix up, as we say over here, and I really struggle. Now through that speech by Oprah and fruit, a speech from Steve Jobs and the fact that I'm still talking in the best microphone now. I've got a totally different mindset. I now think to myself, if it goes bad, I will deal with it. If it goes bad in the future, I will deal with it. If it goes I just say That everything that's thrown at me now. It just means me being quiet, looking at it and thinking, How do I get past this? And the fact that I'm now 50 years old or coming up 50 years old? And that's the time James, you say, No, I don't believe it. I don't believe it. But I'm coming up 50 years old, and I have made a billion decisions, right decisions, wrong decisions. I have led me to this point. I totally think that what's going to stop those decisions still occurring going forward, you know, until I get run over or die. Literally, I don't think that anything can go wrong. I just think that if it does go wrong, I deal with it what you think? James Mulvany 19:38 I think you're right. And I think one of the things I've learned about myself as well as you can, you can kind of go through periods where you become a bit complacent, right? If you don't make any changes, everything's going sweet. And, you know, you just sort of kind of get used to doing it and then almost go into a bit routine, which I think is fine. And you can do that for to a certain extent. Because ultimately, you know, when you're launching a business And, as I said, I've launched today, probably something like six different companies over the years, couple of them have worked out, couple of them haven't, some of them have sold on various different things. But you know, you go through each time you launch your business, you go for that intense period of hard work hard graft, not knowing if it's actually going to pay off. And, you know, sometimes it's, you know, it's really got to be, you've got to throw your life into it for a year or so. But, you know, then, you know, once you've, you've sort of started reaching a certain level of success, you can actually take a step back and enjoy it. And I don't think there's anything wrong in doing that, you know, have a couple of years, we think, actually, you know, we've got systems in place to deal with most of the stuff now, you know, my job as a founder, you know, can kind of just be to keep everything ticking over for a couple of years. Until then you decide, either start another business or, you know, in my case, sometimes it's got a right what can we do next? We got to start shaking things up now. And it's interesting because, you know, just launched podcast co so that's been, you know, radios very successful now. And, you know, we're still pushing boundaries and still innovating. But it has been in terms of development wise, what we've been doing is quite been quite quiet for the last year because it is quite a mature platform now. But now I'm starting to think, right, we've had a kind of year off radio.co, almost not not a literally a year off, but you see what I mean? In terms of mean, I'm sort of putting my mindset into it. But now I'm thinking right, I need to go back in and focus on it again, for probably like a six month period and go kind of a bit more intense on it. Because, you know, we've, we've grown the team, so we could work on two businesses, which is important, I think, you know, it's important to have, that you don't don't lose momentum in your existing business if you start a new one. But then, ultimately, is there's only so much bandwidth a thing as an entrepreneur that you've got. So, you know, sometimes you need to give it your own one projects and sort of scale that what you're thinking about on another project for a period of time, but then, you know, readjust that balance at some point. David Ralph 21:58 I now say to people Van Bashir, I've been retired. And I mean that I've been doing bad for 58. He's not bad at all. But I've been doing stuff and I've been, you know, working on things. But it hasn't been the room that I had a couple of years ago where it was all I have to get this going, I have to get this but some Oh, this is Yeah, this year has been very much about myself, looking at what I want, and I can now see what I want. And it's not what I wanted at the beginning. Have you seen that with yourself that the original dream actually was just just starting dream is not the real dream? James Mulvany 22:37 Yeah, I think things change over time. Of course they do. And, you know, and also, I think, for me, I found, you know, what was caught I'll bring this up, bring this up in a sermon, actually. But, you know, I think you, you kind of get you're aware of your abilities and you know, once you've a certain level of achievement that you kind of, you know, I don't think you should ever sort of stop you keep need to keep learning need to keep that hunger for more, I think but you can kind of think he actually, you know what, I kind of know what I'm doing a bit now. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, when I, when I was at university, I really didn't know what I was doing. I was just winging it. And I kind of was just trying all these different ideas. And, you know, some things worked and some things didn't. But you know, nowadays, I kind of got a bit of a better understanding of what my capabilities are where my sort of expertise lies, which I think is, you know, a good thing. But then I'm say, I'm not I'm not suggesting you should ever think, right, I'm done. Now, you know, because I think there's always room to move forward. There's always room to learn new skills of find out about new things. David Ralph 23:38 But isn't that key to growing a business where probably 90% of the effort is learning about what you don't know? Yeah, completely self developing and upscaling and I come back from the my wife says, you know, what you've been doing? Have you been recording podcasts? I say, No, no, I haven't been doing it. I've just been reading stuff and looking at stopping and you have to be careful and this is a question You're actually, when you realise that there are knowledge gap

So many people want to start their own podcast and have the hopes and dreams of making a huge success of their efforts. But unfortunately nowadays 85% of new podcasts fail to make the mark that they want as they dont understand the whole picture. You see when you want to start a podcast you have to understand how the podcast fits into everything else in your business. You have to understand that the podcast is nothing more than a vitally important component to the marketing funnel. What you say ?? A Marketing funnel....what's a marketing funnel? Well my young podcasting padawans, the marketing funnel is the key component that brings it all together. Without one of these then the podcast wont do anything at all. Ready to understand more?? What Is The Key To Start Your Own Podcast Ok lets look at it as a whole. A podcast is simply free content that people listen to. You cant make any money from a podcast on its own. You have to add something to the podcasts value where others will then add their own value to it and pay you. So if you get a huge audience then companies will want to sponsor your podcast and you have found that value. You have an audience of people, that someone else wants to get in front of  KERCHING. That is the Start Your Own Podcast strategy that most people aim for at the beginning, but believe me this is the wrong way to go. You are giving away massive real estate and equity in your podcast. Why would you get £20 per listener, instead of finding out what those listeners really want and get £500 from each.  Well we wouldn't, its a stupid route to go. Instead we want to provide products that we can sell on our own. We want to make sure that every person who hits Join Up Dots becomes a potential customer. And that leads us onto the next piece of the Start Your Own Podcast puzzle. Why Is My Podcast Not Delivering The Cash A podcast can fall between two rocks quite easily, and that is not a good thing as I will explain. A podcast can either be fall of brilliant information that people listen to and go "Yay that was great...thank you" Or it can be really entertaining that people listen and go "Yay that was fun...thank you" If you are doing either of these then you are doing something wrong, and will struggle to get the cash you deserve. In my view a podcast is about bringing the potential problems to people that they haven't thought about. You release your podcast episode and talk about how much you know about a subject, wanting them to be as good as you. Think about a chef on the tv, that is cooking some amazing meal right in front of your eyes. Do you simply watch and then run to the kitchen and make what you have seen? No of course you dont, as you saw and thought "Wow", but also thought "I'll never be able to do this on my own" So what do you do? You get onto Amazon and buy the book that the chef has out at that time that shows you the recipe they have just presented to you. They know that you cant just watch and copy, they know they will be selling a lot more books, so they show the best meal that they can to wow you. They are showing off in-front of you. They are saying to you "Look I am great at this, and you can be too.....with my help" They are making money as they have presented the problem to you, and made you realise your knowledge gap.

Today's guest first joined us on Join Up Dots back on episode 721, when he shared his steps to transformation. Not only in his own life, but in the lifes of people across the globe. As he heard on the show this is a man who overcame adversity, lost nearly 100 pounds, ran a marathon, dramatically changed his diet and created an approach to help others live a better life, every day. He called it the Do a Day method and through his book which is still flying off the shelves of Amazon and other good book stores, and his thriving online business he now shows us the steps to doing this. Changing our lives by small, doable steps, leading to overcoming the impossible, instead of tackling huge challenges head on which just wear us out. How The Dots Joined Up For Bryan The key thing to this episode is the last time he was on the show he was still working a full-time job. He was struggling the spinning of the plates that so many people find too hard and give up on. But he did things differently, and in today's show we will delve into the things he did to find the time, the energy and the passion to make it happen for himself. So was taking the leap a great thing to do, or simply has lead to him realising how little he knew about creating his dream-life? And what would he do today, if he could go back and change a few of the dots around in his past? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Bryan Falchuk Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weight subjects with Bryan Falchuk such as: Why we tiptoe around issues nowadays as we are too frightened to share our true views on life due to the fear of upsetting anyone. How the world is losing the ability to focus and truly listen to each other on a daily basis. How Bryan realised that building a winning path was not about the fight but actually the need to find common ground. And lastly................. Bryan shares how he transitioned from a full-time corporate guy, by first entering the world of startup. A great idea to smooth the way. Interview Transcription For Bryan Falchuk Interview David Ralph 0:01 Once upon a time, there was a guy with a dream a dream. He's Jobs for himself online and have a kick ass life working when he wanted him where he wanted across the world. Little did he know that dream would lead him into a world of struggle, burnout and debt, until he found the magic ingredient and nose struggles became a thing of the past. Of course, what's bad person? And now My dream is to make things happen. BU Welcome to Join Up Dots. Intro 0:31 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be but somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:56 Yes, I'm still live from the back of the garden. I'm still We're in the same old place that I have been recording for over six years now. And I'm glad to have you here. I'm glad to have you here every single time. And I'm particularly glad to have today's guest. Because as you would have heard on Join Up Dots over the last year or so we've been connecting the dots again. And as I always say the show, please come back again when you have more dots to join up. Well, today's guest has got more dots to join up. And so he's back with us. Now. He was first with us on episode seven to about 1000 episodes ago, when he shared his steps to transformation not only in his own life, but in the lives of people across the globe. As we heard on the show, this is a man who overcame adversity lost nearly 100 pounds ran a marathon dramatically changed his diet and created an approach to help others live a better life every day. He called it but do a day method and through his book, which is still flying off the shelves of Amazon and other good bookstores is thriving online business batty now has started to show the way He wasn't at that point, changing our lives by small doable steps leading to overcoming the impossible instead of tackling huge challenges head on, which just wears out was his mantra. Now the key thing to this episode is the last time he was on the show, as I say, he was still working a full time job. He was struggling, the spinning of the place that so many people find too hard and give up on but he did things differently. And in today's show, were delve into the things he did to find the time the energy and the passion to make it happen for himself. So was taking the leap a great thing to do, or simply has it led him to realise how little he actually knew about creating his dream life. And what would he do today if he could go back and change a few of the dots around in his past? Well, let's find out as we bring on to the show to start Join Up Dots one more time with the one and only Mr. Bryan Falchuk. Good morning, Bryan. How are you man? Bryan Falchuk 2:56 Hey, David. I'm really well thanks for having me back on David Ralph 2:58 is great to have you on It's funny, I look back on certain shows, and there's certain shows where I don't remember much. But I, I talked about, you know, we have a lot of conversations. And the two when I was thinking about you coming back on was the fact that you was working for an insurance company that I used to work for, and that you had a mental breakdown about a donut. And I remember that storey really saw and that sort of gets people to go back to Episode 721. And what why did he add this? His breakdown about a donut? It was a strange story that one Bryan Falchuk 3:35 yeah. And so when I had you on my show, you called me out for it. And I was like, have no idea what you're talking about. And we had the same guy. It was a hot dog. Oh, was he a hot dog? David Ralph 3:44 Yeah, not. Bryan Falchuk 3:45 No, no, a donut would have made a lot more sense. It wasn't even my hot dog. I think that's what makes it even worse. It was my son's because I don't need hot dogs. But yeah, either way like it that doesn't make it a better storey or worse storey. It's still running. But yeah, I kind of had this a little bit of a public meltdown in a in a restaurant and was all worked out but yeah, not embarrassing it all works out nicely. David Ralph 4:10 But don't you look back on these things I look back at my my failings in my business the things that I've done so stupid the things that cost me so much money and I came to smile and they've become my storeys and I sit with people and I said oh, I tell you what I did this was that bloody stupid thing I did you know what at the time it was the worst thing in the world it stranger as far as you move away. Your worst times become entertainment. Bryan Falchuk 4:40 Yeah, you know, what's, what's interesting? Are we talking about I mean, the show specifically, that was one of the dots in YM back on the show. And I don't remember that storey generally you bring it back to mind. But yeah, now I see like that is a difficult human interaction, a difficult relationship. And that's ultimately what my Current focus with with my new book is about and that's, it's kind of funny, I wasn't even thinking about that example. But that's 100% on the, you know, the the idea that I'm focused on right now. So that is a David Ralph 5:12 professional and I professional and I sucked you in. So go on why you're here why you're plugging. Tell us about your new book. Bryan Falchuk 5:19 Yeah, so it's all about. So I mean, to put it in context, do a day was about your relationship with yourself. So how do you understand yourself? How do you grow from that and point that understanding towards the things you really wish you were doing in your life, the things you wish you could achieve and overcoming those barriers that we faced this next book with a slightly less catchy title, but it means something it's the 5075 100 solution, build better relationships is all about instead of our relationship with ourselves, now we're ready to work on our relationship with others. And so it's it's seeing the ownership we have in that relationship, whether it's a bad one, you know, a tough one or one that is But maybe you can still be better. I think everyone universally will agree like, we own our half even if that's hard, right? You know, it's like I can own me but I can't control you I can't influence you I don't have power over you. And that's the bit we get struck we get struck by we get stuck on and where it becomes painful and we start placing blame is said while you know, I'm fine have worked on me I, I can do better, but they're just they're terrible. They don't appreciate me they're doing all these things to me. Well, the point in this approach is to move beyond just seeing your half but understanding how you can influence the other person's half. And it starts to give you a sense of power is probably the wrong word. Because it's not about having power over them. It's about having power to influence a different mindset in them to move the whole relationship to better and that's, you know, I, I basically was forced to have a wake up call like I did with do a day and as I worked through that, I started to study started to learn and grow and I was like, you know, this is another one of these things that I have to share with other people and So that's where the book was born is interesting. David Ralph 7:03 Is it maturity where, you know, when you're younger, I was talking to a guy the other day and I said to him, I find it very difficult not to agree with people now, even if I know their room, I can, I can always find some common ground where when I was younger, it would be black and white, I'd absolutely be apt to argue that talks about anything. And it's a song called Shades of Grey by Billy Joe. And he says, you know, what the lyrics are some things were perfectly clear seen with the vision, vision of you know, doubts and nothing to fear. I claim the corner on truth. Now, these days, it's hard to say I know what I'm fighting for. My faith is falling away. I'm not sure that sure anymore. And what he means by that is, you know, everything's great nowadays, you know, that that person's got a point, even though it would have been in ETFs. Now, I was reflecting on the fact of RV idiots or If we become soft, should we be arguing more than we used to be? Is it now the case it was so frightened of upsetting people that everybody just kind of tiptoes around everything? Bryan Falchuk 8:12 That's a I think that's really interesting and astute and be I think that is not the path to making things. Okay. And that's, that's unfortunately, where I was at with tougher relationships where it was like, if I just kind of hold my tongue, then it'll be fine. I'll just, you know, I'll let them go off. I won't say anything. I won't share my opinion. That's just the way they're going to be. And if I say anything, it's just going to make it worse. So I'm just going to be quiet. That doesn't work. And even if it works in the sense of, you know, well, then we're not fighting. That's no way to live. Like eating your emotions, eating your thoughts and your feelings, invalidating your own position is not a sustainable, thriving way to go forward. It's how you burn yourself out. It's how you upset yourself. It's how you just add to this darkness that weighs you down and I think a lot of us end up doing that. So yeah, it works. It's a it's a strategy. But as you know, to the same extent that a band aid works for gunshot wound, it's a strategy. It will, you know, it'll contain some of that injury. But ultimately, you're going to have to do more for it. David Ralph 9:15 Now, there's a movement going on over here. And I'm not going to put my point of view on this because it would be wrong to express my point of view, I'm just going to say what it is. And people are deciding that they don't want to be classed as a woman or a man. And they said, there's 100 different ways, but you can actually be classed as what your agenda and a guy called Piers Morgan, who's over here, and he was in America for a while, he argued, but Okay, that's fair enough, but I want to be called a two spirited penguin. And they had a big argument and he said, Why am I supposed to accept 100 of your ideas, but you won't accept one of mine? You know, why a space and It was it was a really good argument. But it makes me wonder because Sam Smith, the singer, has said he doesn't want to be called male or female. And so the Music Awards over here have gone Oh, we can't offend anyone. We will stop having female artists and male artists and have you know, a combined it's everything's losing its identity, I struggle with understanding where this way of thinking of not being able to say to somebody you're wrong, or I don't agree with you actually is heading Bryan Falchuk 10:35 huh? Yeah. So I think that that is a really thorny subject. I agree with you. I'm not I'm not going to push my view one way or the other. And I'm not sure I've totally sorted out exactly how I feel about it or thought through what the implications are aren't for me or for someone who doesn't necessarily identify with a particular gender or number of Spirits Within a penguin I, but I think losing the debate, and the discussion is a cost we should be careful about. The problem right now is often when we have these discussions, they're really nasty. And that's the way politics is now. It's, there's nothing around what your actual views are. It's around how terrible someone else's. And if someone accuses you of you know, you did this thing, the answer is never Oh, yeah, I did. And that was a mistake. And here's how I've grown and I'm sorry for the cost of that. It's Yeah, but look at that. And they did Morse. And that's not serving us. So you know, if I killed there's a lot of like, gunshot and murder and my storeys today, but if I killed six people and you killed seven, if you call me a murderer, that doesn't mean I'm not just because you killed more. It just means we both did. You just happen to do more, but I still need to be responsible for my piece of that. And that's, I think there's a general theme and how we're going about discourse and debate. That's its kind The two extremes. It's either like, Oh, we can't offend anyone, we can't talk about it. So everyone just be quiet and accept without challenging. And on the flip side is we're going to challenge everything, but not actually challenge it just kind of rag on each other. And that's neither of those is going to move us forward. Because we're never going to come to actual understanding, we may outwardly agree in the first case. But inside people are quite divided and just not speaking about it. So we haven't actually moved anything forward. No one is any more accepting. They're just not talking about it. And in the other case, we haven't grown, we haven't corrected, we haven't gotten better. We've actually just gotten a lot worse by attacking each other as our response to any mistakes we make. David Ralph 12:38 And that's not serving us either. Is I was in a pub the other day and I was having a conversation with a guy and I actually said to him, Look, I'm never going to agree with you here. I just know we're so opposite in our viewpoints. But that's all right. You know, you tell me your viewpoint and I will listen to it. And maybe you can knock a bit off maybe at the moment. I'm 100%. And I might go down to 95%. But I still I'm not going to agree with you. And he said, Well, there's no point in discussing it. And I said, that's the point of discussing. You know, you're putting your point of view across and I'm putting my point of view across, and we listen. Now, I think one of the problems in the world today is the fact that and I imagine it ties up to your book as well, is we don't listen to the other person. We don't listen to how they're feeling. We don't listen. And it's a it's a problem in relationships. I know where so many people are sitting at home on their mobile phones picking up and down half listening, not really connecting and stuff. And we're surrounded by politicians. You know, you've got a guy in power at the moment, but if anybody says anything he doesn't agree with. It's either fake news or you're wrong, you know? Bryan Falchuk 13:50 Yeah, and you're wrong and terrible. David Ralph 13:52 Yeah, I just think why don't you just once go, Okay, I hadn't seen that point of view. Okay. Yeah, it's not my point. interview but it's a new one on me. Did you see that as well tying into your book again applying to play a plug, Brian. We need to listen better. Bryan Falchuk 14:11 Yeah, I mean completely, that the the distracted missing conversations actually just wrote a draught of a blog post last night about the Apple Watch conversations, where I'm finding this more and more and it's not meant to hit on Apple, but you're having a conversation with someone. And as if there's nothing disruptive or rude or distracting about it, they just look down and click away and notification. And, you know, you have it in actually quite intimate conversations or in business settings where, like, someone came in to sell something to us, and they were doing that and it's like, he doesn't care about being here is looking and yeah, he's just flicking it away. But still, it's like, clearly that was important enough to him. You wouldn't see someone do that, hopefully, pulling out their phone in the middle of the meeting to do that that would be far more disruptive, but for some reason me looking down and paying attention to something else mid sentence is acceptable actually saw speaker on stage do it in the middle of a talk. And and What I don't know is and this is the second piece that's really important is understanding each other. I don't know what they're going through. I don't know if they have you know, a child was just in a car accident or you know their parent is sick some major situation going on that actually. David Ralph 15:24 Yeah, but everyone does it that being being professional, even if I had a kid who is in some kind of, you know, terrible situation. I would either have cancelled that appearance, or let you can't do anything while you want to study. Yeah, you should see that. Bryan Falchuk 15:40 Fair enough. Yeah, my point just being for their situation, they may have made a priority call and and i don't know what those calls are. And it's not my priority call to make. So it's not just blindly saying oh, you know, it was a Instagram notifications. I don't I don't know what it was about. I don't know whether it was important enough. So it's not a beta It doesn't matter. David Ralph 16:01 On this situation, I think that we be perfectly in our right to cast judgement, to say that that person is in front of us on stage, no matter what their personal situation is, they have put themselves in that position. You know, I don't sit here doing a podcast episode, we're halfway through, I disappear to make myself a cup of coffee. You know, I'm here, and I could be having a really bad day, I could be having a really bad time in my life. And as we were talking about beforehand, I've had some terrible times in my life. But I still got up and I did the podcast episode, because I knew that you deserved it. My listeners deserved it. And it was my business. Bryan Falchuk 16:41 Yeah. And so I mean, that's where the article ends up going as if you're with someone, be with them. And if you can't be Don't be and be upfront about it. So my position if I was going on stage, and you know, something happened, I would just be up front with people. I would cancel or if it was too late to Kenya, maybe it happened right before going on stage. If there was no way around it, I would at least share that openly with people. And I just had that in a meeting this morning where we've got a family situation going on last night, I just said, you know, hey, I may get a call during the meeting, here's why this is what's going on, I may need to step out and never want to respect that because I told them up front. But what I didn't do is sit there staring at my phone waiting for a call. David Ralph 17:18 Yeah. Because if I'm not, if I'm not going to attend to that thing that I've asked for permission to attend to, and I'm going to attend to you and give you that respect. And helps it would have been right, you're sitting in the audience. The guy comes on and says before I start, you know, yeah, I'm having this crap, this situation going on. I'm going to focus on you, but I have to let you know into the dark times. Every single person in the audience would go wow, credits. Yeah, Bryan Falchuk 17:48 yeah. And instant connection. Yeah, so can connect. I mean, there's a there's a point to all this. And actually, it goes back to that guy in the pub. And something you said earlier about just making space To understand each other and hear each other, and that's, that's where you move from just being in your half to sort of move the whole thing to better. What it takes is understanding, you know, for him, you're never going to see his point of view. So there's no point to the conversation. Well, maybe seeing his point of view isn't actually what he wants. And maybe he's not in touch with that. And maybe what both of you need to do is think about what does happiness look like? So I talked about these three principles. And the first one is happiness seeking and trying to understand our own definition of happiness and what the other person's may be. And you may have no clue in the world, you may not be able to guess it, you may just need to ask and elicit and try to get it out of them. Oftentimes, we end up arguing, because our goals are misaligned. But we're not even in touch with what those goals are. So I shared this example in the book and I did a TED talk and the idea of a book of the book last year and I showed the same example there because it's a powerful one. At that same company that we both interacted with, worked at. I had a panel who suddenly went from being a friend to confidant support, you know, in equal that we would turn to to someone trying to get me fired. And on the surface, it was just that she wanted to get me fired. And that's what I was initially reacting to internally. But what I realised is, there's something else going on here. I just seem to be in the way or I'm a threat to her she perceives need to be I don't know why or what that's about. But that's why she wants me out. It's not because she just suddenly decided like, Yeah, I don't care for him. And it's fun. Why don't I try to get him fired? Even though it may feel that way, you know, someone's yelling at us, or hurting us. It's not like they just woke up that morning said, Yeah, just for funds ease, I'm going to start being mean to him, there's something that they want, and they may not be in touch with what that is, but there's something they want, that you seem to be in the way of or represent the opposite of. and a less mature way of going about that is to just be mean and difficult and attacking, and what's beholden to us if we want that relationship to be better less of a threat more productive, more positive, whatever the, the outcome is that you ultimately want from it is to try to recognise what they're getting to or what they wish they were getting to and see if there's a way you can both have what you're looking for. So what I ended up finding out is she had screwed up pretty significantly, and was trying to cover it up because she was afraid for herself getting fired. And so anyone I didn't know this, I had sort of stumbled upon exposing it. Just in the course of my work, I had started to unearth some irregularities and problems. And as I was bringing attention to that, she went into defence mode. And her defence mode is to try to get rid of anyone who might expose her before she gets a chance to try to fix things. And you know, I didn't realise this at the time. But instead of reacting to her when she would send these scathing emails to myself and our CEO about all the terrible things about me and how wrong I am and all these facts of how I'm screwing up that by the way, are not facts. You just making them up. I'm not one for Fake News, but it was like, you know, she says Brian did three and it's like, No, I didn't, I did too. And here's the evidence of it, or you know, whatever the numbers are actions where I could just try to refute every point and do the whole thing and email and just fight with her. But actually, it's not about the fight. And that's what I started to realise is rather than responding back, she's obviously going to have some come back, or she's going to argue with me or try to you know, she's making up information right now who's to say she won't make up worse information. So that's not a winning path. Instead, what I need to do is get a meeting with all of us, the CEO myself, her we brought the CFO into get her to try to illustrate what it is she's actually looking for. Because to have her sitting here rattling off all these terrible things about me, it's not serving anyone. I need to get to what's actually driving all this because it really just seemed to come out of the blue. And so David Ralph 21:52 it just jumping into that was very interesting is I agree with everything you're saying. But Unless you're like a therapist, it's quite difficult to dig around and find the reason isn't it? I know you did it because you found an audit route of failure. But a lot of people would. That's not how I did it though. How did you do it? No. Bryan Falchuk 22:14 Yeah, no. No, no, no. So when when she saw it Friday night, of course she she sends this email out with like 12 bullet points of all these numbers of all the evidence of how bad I am. And so the the normal response I would have it First of all, fuming mad and now it's like my weekends ruined David Ralph 22:34 worse than the hot dog. Bryan Falchuk 22:36 Oh, God, yeah. Or the donut did it like either of them this I mean this because because my employments at risk now it's like how much time and energy when we have actual emergencies going on? How much time and energy Do I need to put into this nonsense? And And the thing is, I had seen her do it to a couple of our other peers. We were all in the C suite and the leadership team and I saw her do this to one in particular And, you know, I didn't know the facts on either side. Now I know why she was doing it. But she's she's a former litigator. So she's really good at doing this. And I mean, she just went after him. And I was just like, Oh, god, I'm not. This is not what I need right now. So it just, you know, weighing on me and I had all the facts, I had all the evidence. So I'm like, I'm going to punch back and I said, hang on a second. That never goes well with her. So that's not what I'm going to do. And it's going to make me look like an ass in front of the CEO. So instead, I'm going to this is, this is weird. I thanked her. I just said I have a different view on the situation. But rather than debating it, why don't we all get together and talk about it? And you know, over email, it was nice because you can see how Maroon My face was. You can see the steam coming off of me, but I sent that out and left it and I scheduled time for all of us. We got into the meeting and it was basically it starts off with her acting just like the email you know, she's rattling off All these facts and I had my evidence laid out so I had all of my counterpoints, so I could have refuted all them. But again, I was like that's not the path to success here because she's just going to yell over me. And she's a really good argument and she's brilliant and well respected and so those women are like most women are she's I don't know that I'm going to win by trying to fight you know, point for point with her. So that's not the path. And the reality is there's going to be something under the surface that actually is fair and accurate and worth fighting for that striving her and this other stuff. She's just confused about it. So I'm not going to go head to head with her about that. So I thanked her again, which is not the response she's expecting so you could see her step back. We're on video she literally like went back in her chair kind of shocked because she was ready for a fight. She had a stack of papers with her so she had like, you know, she'd prepped slides to argue with how terrible am and I just said, You know, I said this in the email. I have a very different view of the situation, I've pulled the information from the system so that you know the numbers that I'm seeing don't align to yours. But rather than us go through each one of these and figure out whose data is right or not. What I'd like to understand is what is your concern? What is it ultimately, you're trying to achieve? And again, she wasn't ready for that. So she was a little bit dumbfounded. And she was like, Well, I'm worried about this happening to the business. And it was a pretty rational thing. So I was like, Yeah, me too. And so, you know, we're all sort of like, you can't argue with that. And that was her ultimate goal. Like, she wasn't gonna say, Well, I just want to get you fired. I knew she wouldn't say that, because that would make her look pretty stupid. And if she did, then I you know, I come out the victor, because that would be like, holy crap. You know, what is this about you? That's ridiculous. You need to go Brian, you're fine. Let's see your data. But you know, it would work out well for me, but I didn't expect her to say that. But when she voiced her concern about the impact on the business, that's really feminine. rational. And with what I was

Introducing Steve D Sims Today's guest is a man who screams loud and proud "If there's no passion there's no point!" He is the visionary founder of Bluefish: the world’s first luxury concierge that delivers the highest level of personalized travel, transportation, and cutting-edge entertainment services to corporate executives, celebrities, professional athletes, and other discerning individuals interested in living life to it's fullest. So what does that mean in real terms? Well.... He closed a museum in Florence for a private dinner party for 6 at the feet of Michelangelo’s David and had Andrea Bocelli come in and serenade the guests He can get you to see the Titanic from a submarine. Becoming James Bond for a weekend in Monte Carlo Hanging out and jamming with celebrity recording artists, such as Guns & Roses drummer Matt Sorum and playing guitar with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons What makes this all the more remarkable is he started a world away from rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous of the world. Born in 1966 he grew up as a bricklayer from London, before in n 1980, he started a stockbroker job in London, where he worked for about 6 months. Eventually, he was transferred to Hong Kong where he was fired in 1 days. How The Dots Joined Up For Steve After losing his stockbroking job, Steve D Sims stayed in Hong Kong where he worked as a Doorman for a Night Club in the area, where he went to parties and met their attendees, forming the network that would initially support Bluefish. As he says "It's not what you know, it's who you know" This is not your typical entrepreneur wearing flash suits and standing by the side of Lear Jets saying look at me. This is a man who does things his way, wears his own style and makes things happen by being himself As Elton John Said "Steve Sims defines what it means to be your authentic self" So was there a time that he felt you had to do what others are doing to make the life for yourself? And what would he wish for, if he became a client of Bluefish himself for a day? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Steve D Sims. Show Highlights During today's show we discussed such weighty subjects with Steve D Sims Steve shares his hatred of being called authentic but instead loving being transparent. Slight difference in how we look at things, but it makes such a difference. We talk about the turmoil that most entrepreneurs that go through your life fighting to the "Ignorant to the potential of failing" has been the framework of what has made Steve who he is today. Can you say honestly that you have the same mindset? and lastly....... Steve shares how he found the truth of mentorship in his earlier life. If someone can show you the way to a better life, quicker then why wouldnt you seek out a mentor?

Introducing Dan Chan Today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast has had a very interesting story to where he is today. He grew up in San Francisco, CA, and as a young child has to go through the heartbreak of seeing his parents divorce. Times were not easy for him and he was picked on a lot while growing up. As he says "Looking back on the pictures I was a bit of a goofy looking kid. It didn’t help that I was a pretty nerdy Asian kid who acted goofy as well. In Middle School I really didn’t want to be known as just the nerdy little Asian kid so I started lifting weights. I was probably the most buff kid in high school. I also started dabbling around with magic and juggling for fun because no matter how hard I tried fitting in “with the crowd”, my inquisitive nerdy side never quite went away." And so his interest in magic started taking shape, but how do then go from that interest / hobby to one that pays. How The Dots Joined For Dan Chan Well our guest did just that thanks to some very attractive ladies and am expert in the profession he was interested in. As he says again"Well one season there was a convention going on one weekend where there was a lot of entertainment including a magician and a lot of Playboy Bunnies. As awesome as it was to be a college student surrounded by all these really beautiful women, I was absolutely fascinated by the effects the magician was doing! I ended up following the magician around all weekend trying to pick his brain and figure out his effects. This guy had the ultimate dream job — fooling people, crashing parties, travelling, meeting girls…and getting paid to do it? Sign me up. After winter break was over, I ended up going to the magic shop and picking up a ton of stuff to practice on friends at school and found out I was pretty good. I did my first gig after college while I was working at PayPal. It was for a birthday party and I got really great feedback and people actually recommended me to other friends. When I started getting gigs pretty consistently to the point where I was calling in sick at my “real job”, I started thinking…” hum, maybe I got something going on here”. So that's the perfect place to start today's episode of Join Up Dots. So when something that at the beginning seems great, starts to become just a job, how do you keep the motivation going. And how do you scale, to gain the time back after performing gigs to gain your cash? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Dan Chan Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Dan Chan such as: Dan shares how the grand illusions of David Copperfield are as much about growing their name as they are about the trick or illusion themselves. We discuss the reasons why so many magicians rarely get laid even when they get good at magic. Why it so important to pre-qualify  your clients before committing to them to ensure you get the best value from them and for yourself. and lastly…… Dan reveals how he is planning his exit strategy from his magician career. If you dont plan for things to happen sometimes they simply dont occur. How To Connect With Dan Chan Website Facebook Linkedin Twitter Return To The Top Of  Dan Chan If you enjoyed this episode of Join Up Dots then why not listen to some of our favourite podcast episodes such as Dan Martell,  Dan Lok or the amazing Noah Kagan Or if you prefer just pop over to our podcast archive for thousands of amazing episodes to choose from. Audio Transcription Of Dan Chan Interview  Intro 0:00 When we're young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here's your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph. David Ralph 0:25 Yes, hello, a good morning to my listeners. Good morning. Thank you very much for sticking around and being here with another episode of Join Up Dots. Yes, the show that can go in literally any direction. And it normally does. Well, today's guest that's joining us on the show. He's had a very interesting storey to where he is today. He grew up in San Francisco in California. And as a young child had to go through the heartbreak of seeing his parents divorce. Now times were not easy for him. And he was picked on a lot while growing up. Now. As he says looking back on the pictures, I was a bit of a goofy looking Katie didn't help out. I was a pretty nerdy Asian kid who acted goofy as well. Now in middle school, I really didn't want to be known as just the nerdy little Asian kid. So I started lifting weights. I was probably the most bath kid in high school. I also started dabbling around with magic and juggling for fun because no matter how hard I tried fitting in with the crowd, my inquisitive nerdy side, never quite went away. So he's interested in magic started taking shape. But how do you then go from that interest hobby to one that actually pays you were our guest digitas bad thanks to some very attractive ladies and an expert in the profession he was interested in. As he says again, well, one season there was a convention going on. And it was a lot of entertainment, including a magician and a lot of Playboy bunnies. as awesome as it was to be a college student surrounded by all these really beautiful women. I was absolutely fascinated by the effects the magician was doing. I ended up following the magician around all weekend trying to pick his brain fake him out he's effects and this guy had the ultimate dream job fooling people, crashing parties, travelling meeting girls, and getting paid to do it. Sign me up, he said. Now after winter break was over, he ended up going to the magic shop and picking up a tonne of stuff to practice on friends at school. And he found out he was pretty good. And he did his first gig after college whilst he was working at PayPal. Now finally, it was for a birthday party. But he got really great feedback. And people actually started recommending him to other friends. And so when he started getting gigs pretty consistently, he started coding in sick at his real job. And he started thinking, maybe I've got something going on here. So that's the perfect place to start today's episode of Join Up Dots. So when something that at the beginning seems great starts to become just a job. How do you keep the motivation going and keep it fun and entertaining for you? And how do you scale the to gain the time back after performing games to gain your cash right at the very beginning? Well, let's find out as we bring on to the show to start Join Up Dots with the one and only Dan Chan. Good morning, guys. How are you sir? Dan Chan 3:13 Good morning, David. Ralph is 5am over here. David Ralph 3:16 Hey, okay, Dan Chan. You don't have to call me David. Ralph. You can just call me David. We're friends now. Where we're buddies. I've dragged you out of bed at 5am. And that's why you've got a slightly Whispery voice because I imagine there's people in the house asleep at the moment. Dan Chan 3:30 Yes, they are. David Ralph 3:31 Okay, well, we will whisper together because I'm starting to lose my voice first cold of the winter, little bits naughty, but we will fight for. So I gave you the big build up down because it was quite fascinating as I was reading your backstory, because so many people in school, want to have something that connects them with people. And it could be the case, but they get picked on. So they want to make them laugh. And so they become comedians. It could be case they want to sort of fit inside become a sportsman. You went with a magic? Was it really a natural fit? Or was there a lot of persistence involved? Dan Chan 4:10 There was actually a lot of persistence. I had to do a lot of research and go to lectures and conventions because started off at the bottom with a kid shows I sucked after 4000 shows. I'm pretty good. And after 5000, I started performing for the billionaires. David Ralph 4:28 Now, if we go back to the sucking stage, when you're out there and you're you're doing your card trick or you you pull a rabbit out of a hat. I was actually talking to my son about you last night I was saying that you were going to be on the show. And he said, why is it that you don't see people pulling rabbits out of hats anymore? Is that an old thing? Because as a magician, that's that's what I've got in my head. But you never see the rabbit anymore. What's that meant to the rabbit? Dan Chan 4:53 I believe it was started off by a comics and drawings. But people have done them. It's just very difficult to do. But people are fed more visually than anything. So I think that's exactly where it came from. David Ralph 5:09 So it's more a case of you put a rabbit out of a hat and you kind of feel like you've seen it already. So now you've got to put out an elephant or something bigger and bolder to keep people's attention. Dan Chan 5:20 Yeah, doves are a lot easier. Back in the day you saw a lot of doves like just because it's Channing Pollock, Lance Burton. But there were magicians in the past who did a lot of rabbits out of hats. But because of the technical setup, once you get good. Everyone ditches the doves and rabbits and things like that. I can still do doves and rabbits. But it's a lot easier to do close up magic, wherever where I believe everything is now going towards. David Ralph 5:48 Yeah, I can't pull a rabbit out of half I can pull a hair out my ear does that does that make the site Dan Chan 5:55 you're on your way to becoming a magician. And bam, David Ralph 5:58 I'm halfway there. Now, the the fascinating thing with magicians as well. And I suppose it's with everything really is, as we said, the amount of practice that it takes before you can actually do anything, you know. And most people nowadays really want to press a few buttons watch a YouTube video and they think they're so you know, David Copperfield, whatever. When was the first trick that you actually thought, wow, this isn't just good. This is really good. This is something that I can really show people Dan Chan 6:29 on the same special that David Copperfield walk through the Great Wall of China, and perform something that most magicians now do, which is called crazy man's handcuff. And that was popularised by Michael Mr. But out VHS tape on how to do it. But it was with two rubber bands penetrating through each other. And that was pretty much for a lot of people. One of the first tricks that they made their foray into magic David Ralph 6:57 because that that walking through a wall, I remember back when he walked through the Great Wall of China, that that to me, that wasn't a magic trick. That was some kind of camera angle stuff. Do you? Did you feel the same? I don't buy into his stuff. As much as I would somebody doing a card trick right in front of me. Dan Chan 7:15 Yeah, those are grand illusions. And that's how you make your media presence in your height. For me now, it's just jumping on podcast, because it has a very global reach. I've performed on Shanghai, Germany and Las Vegas. But that's how you kind of hype what you're doing. And the trick that I'm referencing was on that same special, it was two rubber bands. And that's when I started realising, hey, if that guy who doesn't mix millions of dollars, can do a trick that involves two rubber bands on TV. I can do that same trick. Maybe I can get in this. Yeah, David Ralph 7:54 but I agree with you. I agree with you. But I don't watch that. I don't remember that. But I do remember him pushing himself through the Great Wall of China. Dan Chan 8:02 Yeah. We don't have them as magicians, we don't have a budget to do what David Copperfield does. But if we could do even one thing that he can do that starts realising, hey, I'm a magician, or that guy, that guy's famous, he does that trick. And you start connecting the dots. Have you ever David Ralph 8:20 met a magician that's actually well rounded sort of emotionally? No, I was a bit surprised when I went over to your page, you've got your family involved, your son James is very much involved in and I believe your wife is now starting to be part of it. But when I look at sort of a lot of the magicians, certainly the ones that have been on TV in the United Kingdom and stuff, they all seem to be a bit of a loner, they seem to be a little bit strange, you know, headed by David Blaine, David Blaine seems to be the weird is one out of all of them. Are you sort of unusual that you've got quite a good ground, you got very good grounding and family life. Dan Chan 8:58 Yeah, that was a very good motivated effort. And that's why a lot of times when you do, you're successful in your home life, you're probably not as successful in other things. But I feel like there's a real healthy balance. And a lot of times I go to these magic conventions, and I'll be honest, a lot of them are magic geeks, they can do the magic, they can flip the cards, or they can just shoot something on Instagram, but they have a hard time connecting. So there's so many talented magicians that show up. But they don't know how to connect or work or sell or have the soft skills necessary to integrate yourself to go in and out of conversations in a cocktail hour, you can be really talented and I see a tonne of people who are so talented, I post up things on my Facebook feed for I've got a gig for $500. And people are telling me, I'd be perfect for this gig. And I would tell myself, you might be technically the perfect magician. But socially or the way you dress you just don't fit in. David Ralph 10:02 So what you're saying without magic, these guys would never be getting laid. Is that what you're saying? Dan Chan 10:07 No. Even with magic as good as they are, they would not be getting laid. David Ralph 10:14 They keep their wand firmly away from everybody. Unknown Speaker 10:19 Yep, you just don't pop that one out. David Ralph 10:21 Especially not in children's parties. There's there's rules about all that kind of stuff. Okay, so let's talk about away from the magic because I could talk about magic all the time. It really does fascinate me. Well, Brent, blending that into a business, especially a business that from the outside looks like it's great. And it's fun. It never is. There's always a lot of hard work going into it as well. The marketing side and the branding yourself is as important as your skills and growing anything online needs vo skills as much as the sort of the magician ship that you've got. How did you start learning that? How did you start getting your name out into the marketplace? You know, that's a perfect question. Dan Chan 11:04 My name is Dan, Daniel Chan. And Dan Chan. The Magic Man kind of has a catch jacket. And I have people singing my name. After my show. I when I first started, I did a lot of kid shows. And I had the kids chanting My names. I would just say say the magic words stanchion, the measurement, everyone hate that. But I even had my friend, a very famous magician in the Bay Area, when I was starting off, said my daughter chanted your name all the way home, I can a bitch slap you house like Those were his words. And I was like, I did a great job that was perfect. And then I rebranded to dance and master magician, maybe several years ago. And now I'm Dan Chan, the billionaires magician, because I've performed for quite a few billionaires in yesterday, I just met a billionaire, David Ralph 11:53 I find that a lot actually, I speak to a lot of people and they, they have to grow in competence to be at helping to change their title. And at the beginning, they very much market themselves with the surroundings. So if I are in a certain peer group, they are that peer group. Now you're working with millionaires and billionaires, does that actually make it easier to attract business? Are you in a more rarefied environment? So you don't need as much business? Because you get paid more for the actual work? Dan Chan 12:26 It is that is absolutely a case that for the right time asking the last couple of I told myself and stop kids parties, but I've been given some offers. Where I performed the 11th, employee of Twitter, I had to say yes to it, his kids seventh birthday party. He, he's a 11th, employee of Google. And now at twitter. I've also performed for Evan Williams and Biz Stone, and some of the other founders is Twitter just most recently, so they pay a lot more than what I could get anywhere else. So I'm focusing a lot less on volume. And now I have my head toward making a documentary on my son again, which we've already done in myself, we went we thought it was very interesting dynamic of what we're doing with my son juggling five balls, three flaming torches and even picking pockets. I'm just really moving towards doing less getting paid a lot more but being very, very intentional and present in the moment with my performances. David Ralph 13:30 Now, let's really delve into this because I think this is gold, as I say on the show is entrepreneurship go. Now, when you start, I think everybody scrambles around for clients, and we take rubbish clients and we take clients that will pay us $50. And I want a billion pounds worth of, of volume and an effort back. And as we move through little by little our competence grows. So we actually believe in ourselves. At that point, the world starts to believe in us back. Can you remember when you actually thought to yourself, I've stepped forward? I've moved into the next group. I'm leaving behind Bowser, rubbish clients that wanted 1000 pounds worth of stuff for $50? Dan Chan 14:17 Yeah, sometimes it's when you get screwed over. When you I've had this client, he called me and I put the storey up on Quora. He tells me I have a party in Mountain View. When I google his name, you immediately something pops up about him and this epic house where he throws parties. I'm like, why doesn't this guy throw his party's over there? Because his name's associated with it. I'm like, Dude, this doesn't make sense. The day I show up that the day before he tells me I moved the party to Los Los Altos Hills or Los Altos. I'm like, what, oh, by the way, it's at this house at the address that I was already looked up, he didn't have that sense to use a fake name. And unlike I could have charged a lot more to be honest, I wouldn't a price gouging I'm really straightforward shooter. But he thought that magicians would look up the zip code or that area of the city and then charge him to three x. And I was just like, this is going to be an epic party. I knew that the house was one of the, you know, imagine what a $45 million house looks like. And it's historic, it's beautiful. And he thought he was going to get screwed over. And I probably should have charged him a lot more to be honest with you. But you know, when you end up at houses, and they show they're driving Porsches and Mercedes Benz is and they're sitting there on a budget. Yeah, they they've committed themselves to either paying for that or being so cheap that they don't respect you as an artist. And that's when you start getting a little bit pissed off when they when they abuse that fact. And they say, you know, hey, I am on a budget. So I have strategies now to really deal with that. David Ralph 16:01 Tell us about them. Tell us Don't leave us hanging there, Dan Chan Magic Man, tell us about your strategies. Dan Chan 16:07 Well, if they truly are on a budget, I asked a lot of questions first, asking them where it's going to be the exact location. Because if it's at the SET ON OFF Sand Hill Road, you know, they're going to have a little bit of budget. So you offer them a lower end package a medium and high. But you, you can always upgrade them a little bit. I see if you want to pick pocketing, and you want the iPhone tricks, and the very high end sleight of hand, you must hire me. But if your events on a little bit of a lower budget, you can hire any one of my teammates. That means that I have the option. You know, when you have stocks, there's options to buy? Well, at a certain price point, I have the option to pass those and off. If I do not want to do the event. That means that if my kids want to go to Disneyland, I go to Disney anyone. If there's a bigger event, and a billionaire caused me last minute, I take the billionaire and I find you someone else, even if it means paying the difference. It's not like I'm going to send you up a crummy magician, I sometimes will pay the difference to send someone else, just because when I already have one in the bag, I'm going to 2.5 exit or 3.5 exit and that helps my guys on my team that helps them. When I choose them. I say hey, can you cover me on this event? This is what the clients paying. But I'm going to pay you a little bit more. David Ralph 17:32 Now. This is interesting. So so you pre qualify your clients First of all, so you don't just say yeah, I'm available Wednesday afternoon, let's do it. And it didn't come across on your website and your business but you actually are franchising out your name. For people to actually work on your behalf. You've got a team of, of wizards. You're here like, like Harry Potter, and they're all running around California doing gigs on your behalf when you can't do it. Dan Chan 18:01 Yeah, I don't try to do it too often, because I like protecting my brand. But whenever I realised there's lots of demand, I'm going to do it. I don't want to wipe out the entire market. And I just feel like people don't like you. If you're dominating. It's like Microsoft or Facebook, they feel like you're killing the competition. And sometimes people speak because I'm posting stuff on there and I'm not choosing them. They're kind of like getting resents resentful, you know, like, hey, Pick me Pick me and there's only so much out there. David Ralph 18:35 And that's always going to happen down in there. People are people are always going to resent you. You know, no matter what you do, if you put your head above the parapet, you are going to have people slagging you off being critical of you or saying that you're dominating, but it doesn't mean that you're doing anything wrong. It's just their point of view on it. And in fact, I would say, sir, it's a badge of honour that people think that way. Dan Chan 18:59 Yeah. And, you know, those guys who helped me all the way up to the top, they're getting back some gigs in there, those guys are really helping, but there's some guys who are, you know, calling me and still talking to me and are like, pick me, but they've never even sent me a gig on my way up or helped me that much some of them that, you know, like, I I've been asking for, hey, pick me. And the tables are switched. But everything just comes in waves. But yeah, I picked people that fit my style. They people are always asked me, What does it take to get on your team? Dan, I get so many messages. And I, I did this as a social experiment just to blow up on Facebook, my Facebook feed to see who would react. So I just, I have this thing on Facebook that they call me a conversation starter? Because I've been thinking what would get the most amount of engagement in terms of traction, what would make my post show up and other people's feeds? So I started asking, and one of those in those social experiments was posting, I have a gig in you know, San Francisco, I have a gig in here and just putting up there, and then you just see that, that chain of replies off, off that feed really sure. David Ralph 20:10 And then do you do magic tricks on social media. So people see the trick and it kind of, because they would share it with their mates with my boy, imagine, Dan Chan 20:20 I'm like Dan Chan magic on Instagram. I'm still figuring out the social media stuff. I've my son's on there making the Statue of Liberty disappear on a card, we have some things that I've been playing around with. But I've been cleaning up my feed. We're recording on clean feed, but I am deleting what I'm putting up there. I'm just putting it out there. And then putting it away, kind of documenting it because I don't want anyone first of all doing it. So they have to be following to see all my stream because there's also something else about my Instagram that I use an Instagram based trick. So is that Instagram, the trick is pushed down in the feed. I don't archive everything. When I'm doing that trick. It actually takes a lot of time for that trick to load up. Right. So it's kind of interesting how I'm incorporating Instagram, I had a semi viral video, I got 14,000 views in about three days. BuzzFeed mini Silicon Valley's favourite magician. I still I snuck the reporter into a party as my sound guy for a high profile party. And he ended up he ended up writing a full feature article I just said, you want to see what it's like to be at Silicon Valley's epic holiday parties. And I've been to parties with live tigers in the backyard. And penguins and lemurs and leopards and alligators. And the alligator I think was either alligator or crocodile David Ralph 21:48 I think it was in a zoo. Dan Chan 21:50 I think that's where you went. You went to a zoo? No, I did not go to a zoo. They brought the zoo to the guys health well and I David Ralph 21:55 broke that they were the penguins wearing bow ties and the monkeys wearing bow ties with it little waiters. Dan Chan 22:00 No they weren't they were just like in they brought like a mini pools for them. They did not have bow ties. But I have pictures. I only posted a little bit of the pictures on my Facebook page. David Ralph 22:13 I love the fact that you are Dan Chan the magician man and you have to snuck a man into a party. Can you just like pulled him out of a hat halfway through or or just done some kind of big illusion on that? Dan Chan 22:27 Yeah, David, I can't afford my own right you can you say expensive? David Ralph 22:31 Because I I love the word snuck. I don't use the word snuck but I'm gonna up again can be smoking for the rest of the day, I'm sure. Well, let's play some words. Now we're going to come back to Adana Chen, he's Jim Carrey, Jim Carrey 22:44 my father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had to do whatever we could to serve. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don't want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love. David Ralph 23:11 Now, the question with you, Dan, is Do you love it? Because after a while, as I said in in two direction, a lot of Jobs become a job, even though I look sexy from the outside. Do you still love it? Dan Chan 23:23 Yes. But I'm already planning my exit strategy. Yeah, I mean, yesterday at the event that I was TechCrunch Disrupt, which was, which is something that you might not hear where you're at. But if you know the series Silicon Valley, yeah, you probably seen them at TechCrunch Disrupt. So to be a part of TechCrunch Disrupt, I think I've been there for years. And I sent a guy that years at last year, I couldn't be there because I was performing in Germany. But I'm waiting to open up a new magic club. And I'm want to hit up these billionaires that I've performed for because one of the billionaires gave a billion dollars to a hospital or school. And they've, they've committed a billion and they've already given 100 million away. So I am trying to create a social media presence by being both here on podcasts and other places by making strategic as a multiplier effect. Because when I do get bored of it, I want customers to come to me and I've come to that traction point where I can still do some of these events. But some of them I could say pass on. When I'm done with event. I'm like, I should have spent my time working on something for TV or for my venue or in venue design. So I'm already thinking about what I'm going to do when I want to get out of performing for these epic parties and celebrities. David Ralph 24:42 And when you do that, please just climb into a box and then the box opens up and you've gone Can you an exit strategy Viva. Dan Chan 24:49 I have a thing that is absolutely amazing is my friend Carrey Pollock built this thing called that the materialisation chamber and it looks like it looks like a star trek illusion, it looks like you fade out. And that's what I'm going to bring to this venue. I'm going to try to maybe run a me funder or Kickstarter, pre sell tickets, but I'm going to be one of the few venues in the US I just found out there was another venue that got one of these. But I'm going to be the second one probably or the third one with this illusion. And it's not going to be a box. It's going to be D materialisation chamber. And when we get off the podcast, I'm going to send you a link to it and you're going to see that illusion and it looks it's in store the David Ralph 25:35 LPA it's more than that you're getting me excited. I think we just stopped the show. Now we stop the show now. And then we dive straight into it. Who cares about the listeners when we've got this kind of stuff going on? So um, when when you do magic, does he ruin you when you go and see other magicians, where when you're looking at it has the magic gun and you're just looking at it as a sort of a practical sort of examination in front of your palate done it. Dan Chan 26:01 Yeah, it's really hard to enjoy the moment because I'm always thinking of how it works. I'm a lot some of