Today’s interview is a bit of an experiment as we met for a live interview that was streamed to LinkedIn and Facebook.

This was the first of a series of conversations I’m having with entrepreneurs who read my latest book, “Small List, Big Results: Launch a Successful Offer No Matter the Size of Your Email List” to find out how they’re implementing the strategies in the book to grow their business.

We dig into what mindset junk came up while reading, what aha! moments they experienced, and what steps they are now committed to taking.

My first guest in this series has had access to this material for longer than anyone else and her feedback along the way has helped me shape the book’s content and how it was marketed.

She has been supporting my business in a wide variety of ways since February 2020, which means she has had a front-row seat to the wild journey I’ve been on over the last 20 months.

Please join me in welcoming my assistant, Peya Robbins.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on Robbie’s new books and why she believes it’s a quick read that took her a long time to read.
• her very visceral responses to some of the contents of the book and how that fueled new ideas for her.
• the importance of having a support system when being an entrepreneur.
• the headtrash of being an entrepreneur.
• discovering that her network she needed to workshop ideas with already existed.
• why people do not ask for help or take advice.
• the behind the scenes on launching Robbie’s newest book.
• the real reason for an email list.
• the implementation of the Big Results Toolkit.
• her daily morning habit of asking herself “How will I complicate my day today?”

Today’s guest is a multi-passionate Renaissance woman with an incredible knack for shining the spotlight on the people and projects she cares about.

She runs a thought leadership consulting agency to help her clients leverage their online presence through engaging social media posts, getting invited to speak on TEDx stages, and being booked on podcasts.

She is the author of two books: “Social Your Book Launch” and “Spread Your Idea,” and hosts two podcasts: Coffee With Entrepreneurs and From The Wings. She has spoken on two TEDx stages and organized her own TEDx event.

As a creative professional, she has written and produced two plays, "A Very Queer Holiday" and "Two Anxious Bisexuals".

Please join me in welcoming Marie Incontrera.

In this episode we discuss:

• his/her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is how you show up in the world. We are all leaders whether we know it or not.”
• how Dorie Clark got her thinking about her band as a startup and that changed everything.
• how skipping the 8th grade forced her to grow up and really hone in on being a high achiever.
• how being offered a profession in music early in her career shaped her journey.
• how she thought about growing her team after leaving her career in music.
• learning the ins and outs of running her business to a team of 12.
• her commitment to diversity and inclusion when she hires new people on her team.
• the importance of putting our values out there for potential clients and referral partners.
• her plans for the future in her business.
• the organic growth of her business and how trying new things allowed her to be firmly established for new clients to reach out to her.
• how she nurtures and sustains her network and how getting to know her clients quickly in a short amount of time is an asset in relationship building.
• how her life and business changed due to the pandemic.

Today’s guest believes human beings just want to be appreciated.

He believes that appreciation is rocket fuel to create lifelong business relationships and has built his career around this single idea. To that end, he is an 8-Time TEDx speaker and the producer of a 55-year event series for entrepreneurs, called Thank U Live. The annual gratitude experience for entrepreneurs to look back on their year, celebrate their progress, and appreciate their people.

Because of his unique approach to appreciation he has been hired to deliver keynotes on over 1,000 stages and invited to work with companies like Lululemon, LinkedIn, and Microsoft.

Please join me in welcoming Blake Fly.

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is a willingness to speak to people in an impactful way.”
• how winning the heart award at graduation impacted him because it wasn’t linked to grades but more his character.
• how listening to a training presentation in his first part-time job sparked a love for being a keynote speaker.
• his detour after college before becoming a professional speaker.
• how he prepared for his valedictorian speech for high school and the lens of appreciation that came from prepping for that experience.
• his passion for transitional moments between high school and college.
• his takeaway during the global pandemic and his scoreboard theory.
• how he nurtures and sustains the outer layers of his network.
• the importance of appreciating others and the strategy he uses to practice appreciation in his life.
• the importance of taking thoughtful risks in your business.
  what he’s looking forward to in the next year.

Today’s guest is one of the best-connected people in the social good world.

She is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. She is the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact, providing storytelling, partnership creation, and visibility to corporations, NGOs, and social enterprises.

She has 25+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry conferences, and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and has received numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company, and Elle Magazine.

She is the author of “The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships” reminding readers that we should connect on a human level and build authentic relationships beyond securing a new job or a new investor for your next big idea.

Please join me in welcoming Susan McPherson.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leaders know your followers work with you and not for you.”
• how she bases her company on compassion and kindness.
  her natural inclination to want to be around people and organizing activities, even as a child.
• her strategy of supporting non-profit organizations to meet people while being socially conscious.
• her experience working for Ted Kennedy’s campaign and realizing she didn’t want to work in the government.
• her first job at USA Today and how much that influenced her current business.
• how she contacted all of her contacts via email when she started her company asking for referrals.
• her advice to entrepreneurs to hire people to do the things they are not good at or love doing.
• what inspired her book and the importance of making connections.
• how she nurtures and sustains the outer layers of her network.
• the joy she gets from showcasing others.
• what she would do if she had an extra five hours a week.