“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.” – Abraham Maslow    Check Out These Highlights:  I was recently interviewed on a podcast, and the host asked me how I continue to grow after so many years in business.  This quote hits the nail on the head.   I feel like I must always be in growth mode because I am afraid most days.  The fear could be of not delivering for my clients, recording a...

“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion, or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or a gazelle – when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.” – Christopher McDougall. Holy smokes, I love this quote.  Every day is a new beginning, so whatever happened yesterday (good or bad), put it aside because today is a...

“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” – Jack Welch. Business growth doesn’t happen by accident.  I love this quote because it dials into the components that help an organization grow and scale using clear and passionate leadership with a measure of accountability.    YouTube: https://youtu.be/IRoOq2p3aDE   About Gui Costin: Gui is the Founder and CEO of Dakota, a powerhouse in the investment...

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill. I don’t know about you, but my life has been filled with twists and turns and even times when I felt upside down. Have you felt this way during your life? So, how do we remain optimistic and filled with passion and inspiration when life throws you a curve ball?  It’s not always easy to see the next step, let alone the next week or year.  So I ask you, how do you remain positive and...

"Grit is that ‘extra something’ that separates the most successful people from the rest.  It’s the passion, perseverance, and stamina that we must channel in order to stick with our dreams until they become a reality." – Travis Bradberry   YouTube: https://youtu.be/fgea2rqD5WI    Check Out These Highlights:  Twenty-five years ago, I set out on a journey to take control of my time and income to start my business, and I never looked back.  I was passionate and on a mission to teach sales...

“SEO doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Every situation offers a unique set of variables.” -  Chuck Price. In this episode, my guest and I will discuss key SEO topics, including what to look for when hiring an SEO agency, weighing the risks and benefits of SEO, and when to hire an in-house resource versus an agency. We will also explore effective local SEO strategies and break down E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), explaining what it is and how it impacts your...

"Strong leadership companies have the ability to create new jobs for the community and to improve human life.” - Millennial, China. “Companies where people look up to and (who) do what is right to serve the communities they are involved in have the strongest leadership." - Millennial, U.S.    My oldest son is on the cusp of Gen Y and Z, whereas my younger son is all Gen Z.  I am fascinated to hear their perspective on business, why they buy the products or services they do, and what their...

Great leaders are people who don’t seek power but take responsibility because they have the capability and empathy to help others.” - Theodora Lai   When I started my career in the early 1980s, I was discriminated against because I was a female. That forced me to become resilient and take charge of my career. Being held back was not an option for me, so I chose to seek new opportunities to challenge my skills and grow my career.  I knew I was always in control and never gave away my...

My motivational quote for today is by – Joshua J. Marine, “Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful” - Joshua J. Marine. I have learned that no one escapes tragedy or challenges in life.  There is no such thing as a perfect life or situation. That’s life, filled with ups and downs!    Getting up, dusting off, and moving forward is the only control or approach we need to grow, learn, and, yes, even be happy.  Life can’t be avoided unless you...

“Ego says, ‘I can do no wrong,’ whereas confidence says, ‘I can get this right.’ Confidence says, ‘I’m valuable,’ while ego says, ‘I’m invaluable.’” - Todd Henry   YouTube: https://youtu.be/NtI7h4pYTOM   Check Out These Highlights:    The Ego resides in the subconscious mind and creates identities. These identities help you get through challenging situations and keep you safe. They also keep you from being happy. The Subconscious, in turn, and the ego constitute 95% of how you autopilot...

Connie's motivational quotes for today is by – Renee Rouleau, “Be good to your skin. You'll wear it every day for the rest of your life." I turn 63 years old this November of 2024.  As I write my notes and see the #63 written out, I can’t help but pause and think about the aging process and what it means. They say 60 is the new 40 and I kind of agree with this notion.  For me being healthy on the inside is critical and yes, I will be honest and say I want to look good on the outside too. ...

My motivational quote for today is by – Roy T. Bennett “It's never too late to change your life for the better. You don't have to take huge steps to change your life. Making even the smallest changes to your daily routine can make a big difference to your life.”– Roy T. Bennett.   Are you at a crossroads and ready to unapologetically pursue what else is possible in your life? Are you eager to find a new or renewed sense of purpose and meaning? Whether you are facing an unexpected transition...

My motivational quote for today is by – Brian Tracy "Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, 'What's in it for me?'" – Brian Tracy. I love this quote; it helps set up today's show topic: Differentiation is the Key to Unlocking Sales. So, how can brands (and their sales teams) differentiate in a crowded marketplace to stand out and drive customer acquisition? The first step is to give first and provide value (not BS), which...

Connie's motivational quote for today is by Jeannette Rankin, “Men and women are like right and left hands; it doesn’t make sense not to use both’” You’ve heard the expressions, Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus and you can’t live with them, you can’t live without them!  Why have these phrases and classifications been given through the years?    Guys and Ladies would you be interested in learning how to gain insight and understanding into the dynamics and behaviors related to family,...

“Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create” – Jana Kingsford. I’m often asked how I have created balance while running and growing a business, especially when my kids were babies. The simple answer is that it wasn't easy. The better answer is that even though it wasn’t easy, it depended on how my husband and I managed our work and home lives.    It was a team effort for us. When I would go into heavy work mode and not come up for air, he’d come into my office, shut my...

“Mompreneur: A Superhero who raises her babies while building a business” – Waypoint Writing.  When I started my business, my boys were babies. I wanted to control my time and earning power on my terms. I began by working three days per week while they were young, allowing me to control my time as a business owner and mom until they entered school.     Then, I loosened the reins and grew the business by adding more effort and time each week. It was a juggling act, but then again, isn’t life...

“Governing is about making tough decisions, but it’s also about figuring out a better way to do things.” – Mike DeVine. So, I am mixing things up and doing a solo show! Recently my husband and I watched a movie produced by Ron Howard called Hillbilly Elegy, a very honest memoir about JD Vance. I promise this is not a political show, and it doesn’t matter which side of the aisle you sit in politics.     This movie is about living the American dream when all the odds are against you. It’s a...

“Customer-centricity should be about delivering value for customers that will eventually create value for the company” – Robert G. Thompson. The root of sustainable growth is having customers who buy and evangelize your company. However, surveying all visitors and customers does not show why the customers buy. To decipher this, you have to blend qualitative and quantitative research.     My guest today has helped companies, big and small, level up their understanding of how customers make...

 “Creativity involves breaking out of expected patterns in order to look at things in a different way”, Edward deBono.  As I reflect on my life and having a dad who was an engineer by trade, I was taught how to look at any situation, problem, or life event through a lens of logic. This is funny because I remember as a kid loving to draw and create pictures of landscapes with horses, colorful sunsets, a field of trees and flowers, and the list goes on.  I’m not sure what happened or why I...

“Many companies have forgotten they sell to actual people. Humans care about the entire experience, not just the marketing, sales, or service. To really win in the modern age, you must solve for humans.” — Dharmesh Shah. I truly enjoy having marketing experts on my show because sales and marketing are very different.  They are married and need each other but have very different skills.  Since I’m no expert in Marketing strategies, I always learn a tip or two or three from my guests on this...

“Focus on doing the right things instead of a bunch of things.” – Mike Krieger. Today, we are shifting gears and not discussing business and careers.  Instead, my guest and I will discuss what you need to know to navigate the college admissions process successfully.  As a parent who has been through the entire college process and experience, I wish I had known my guest a decade ago. I hope that my parents, who are constantly fighting with their kids to get the college admission process done...

“Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision, and change” – Richard Branson.  When I started this show over a decade ago, I asked a friend what they thought about me starting a podcast and if it would be worth the time and money to host a show.  Her response made so much sense because I could not see the forest from the trees.  She said, “Do you have an hour or two each week to host the show?  And will you be able to still pay your mortgage and put food on the table?”  Then...

“Our DNA is like a genie in a bottle, except they are genes in our body, connected to the unified field of the universe. They react to our thoughts to make our wishes a reality by attracting people, things, and experiences which we desire & think about most.” – Lacey Knight   One of my favorite studies on human memories and habits transmitted through our ancestral DNA is by Dias and Ressler.  Over several repetitions, they train mice to become afraid of the smell of cherry blossoms and...

“Of course, I’m a publicity hound.  Aren’t all crusaders?  How can you accomplish anything unless people know what you’re trying to do?” – Vivien Kellems. Publicity gets us noticed and helps us build an innovative brand that people learn to respect and trust. Strategies exist to help us grow our brand and be seen in our markets. Business Capital is one of those strategies. Business capital is Power! You can't do business without it.    YouTube: https://youtu.be/qINxnsBR38s   About Shannon...