Becoming Preferred

Michael Vickers
  • 5.0 (7)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

In this informative and practical podcast, Michael and his guests share the latest strategies and tactics to help you become the preferred provider (the emotional favorite) in the markets you serve. The key insights and strategies discussed, come from Michael's experience working with many of the finest brands in business today and his guest interviews will inspire you, educate you, and give you the tools you need to be successful in today's turbulent and competitive marketplace.

  1. Park Howell - The Business of Story: Shifting Your Brand from "What You Make" to "What You Make Happen"

    1D AGO

    Park Howell - The Business of Story: Shifting Your Brand from "What You Make" to "What You Make Happen"

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 28 Episode Overview: Welcome to Becoming Preferred, the show where we level up your business and become the best version of you. Today we are tackling the one tool that separates iconic brands from the 'white noise' of the marketplace: Story. Our guest today is an Emmy Award-winning advertising veteran who has spent over forty years proving that story isn't just a creative exercise—it’s a growth engine. Park Howell is the founder of The Business of Story and the creator of the StoryCycle System™, a framework that has helped brands scale by as much as 600 percent. He’s the author of Brand Bewitchery and has just pioneered a way to merge human emotional intelligence with AI through his StoryCycle Genie™. If you’ve ever felt like your message is getting lost, or if you're struggling to explain your value with a 20-slide deck, this episode is for you. Park is going to show us how to use 'Artful Intelligence' to sharpen your positioning, reduce the cost of brand development, and ultimately, help you win the battle for the mind of your customer. Join me for my conversation with Park Howell. Guest Bio: Park Howell is the founder of The Business of Story and creator of the StoryCycle System™, a proven brand narrative framework that has grown purpose-driven brands by as much as 600 percent. An EMMY Award-winning advertising veteran with more than four decades in the industry, Park hosts the Business of Story podcast, authored Brand Bewitchery, and co-authored The Narrative Gym for Business. He recently co-created the StoryCycle Genie™, an AI-driven (Artful Intelligence), narrative-native platform designed to help agencies and consultants craft powerful brand strategies in minutes instead of months. Today, Park helps agency principals turn storytelling into a scalable growth engine. By combining emotional intelligence with AI, agencies can amplify impact, sharpen positioning, and dramatically reduce the time and cost of brand development. For firms looking to grow revenue without adding headcount, his frameworks and tools provide a practical path to smarter, faster, more profitable brand strategy. Resource Links: Website: https://businessofstory.com/Product Link: https://businessofstory.com/storytelling-resources/ Insight Gold Timestamps: 04:03 I knew I'd starve as a composer, but thought I could make it in the ad world 05:44 What is a brand? It's the story people tell about you when you are not in the room 06:52 Why is story so important, and why is it so effective 08:36 People buy first with emotion and back it up with logic,second 10:55 When I looked at the hero's journey, Michael, I said, "Oh my God, well, this is a customer journey." 14:04 What do you stand for in the world that makes you stand out 15:34 The AND, statement of agreement, is your setup. The BUT, statement of contradiction, is the problem, and the THEREFORE, statement of consequence, is your way forward or your call to action 17:45 You basically deliver or manifest what I call the three forces of trust-building 20:14 But people will buy into a story 23:18 The reason I bought it is not so much because it was a Rolex... 27:00 You are not the center of your story, your audience always is 30:25 Go and look at your bio, and rewrite it as an And/But/Therefore (LinkedIn) 32:57 You've talked about 400%, 600% 37:34 Yeah, we're all homo sapiens storytelling apes, aren't we? 42:26 So, it's a tool specifically to help you develop world-class branding and make you stand out in the world very, very quickly 45:03 You can go to storycyclegenie.ai 47:05 I've got my Business of Story podcast every Monday 47:14 Go test your brand's story, storycyclegenie.ai Connect Socially: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkhowell/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessOfStory/ X: https://x.com/ParkHowell YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Businessofstory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessofstory/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/business-of-story/id1012379862 Email: park@businessofstory.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    49 min
  2. Ghazenfer Mansoor - Beyond the Download: Engineering Trust and Long-Term User Retention

    MAY 18

    Ghazenfer Mansoor - Beyond the Download: Engineering Trust and Long-Term User Retention

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 27 Episode Overview: Welcome to another episode of Becoming Preferred, the show where we dive deep into the strategies that help you level up your game and stay relevant in an ever-shifting marketplace. I am happy to introduce our guest today, a man who sits at the intersection of high-level software innovation and human-centric design. Ghazenfer Mansoor is the CEO of Technology Rivers, a powerhouse firm known for building everything from HIPAA-compliant healthcare tech to cutting-edge AI solutions. But Ghazenfer doesn’t just build software; he understands the psychology of why we use it. He is the author of Beyond the Download, where he breaks down the alchemy of creating mobile apps that people actually love and share. Beyond his technical expertise, he’s a fellow storyteller as the host of the Lessons from the Leap podcast, uncovering the raw failures and bold breakthroughs that define the entrepreneurial journey. Whether you’re looking to scale your startup, automate your processes, or simply build a brand that resonates, you’re going to want to take notes. Join me for my conversation with Ghazenfer Mansoor! Guest Bio: Ghazenfer Mansoor is the CEO of Technology Rivers, a software development firm recognized in Washington, D.C. for creating AI-powered solutions, innovative SaaS products, and HIPAA-compliant healthcare technologies. He helps startups and service businesses scale faster, automate processes, and build technology that drives real-world impact. As the author of Beyond the Download: How to Build Mobile Apps That People Love, Use, and Share Every Day, he shares practical insights and proven strategies to help app developers and entrepreneurs build mobile apps that not only acquire users but keep them engaged and growing. In addition to being a thought leader and speaker, Ghazenfer hosts the Lessons from the Leap podcast, where he uncovers the bold decisions, failures, and breakthroughs that shape entrepreneurial success. Resource Links: Website: https://ghazenfer.com/Business Website: https://technologyrivers.com/Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Download-Build-Mobile-People/dp/B0GP9T86DZ/ Insight Gold Timestamps: 03:17 Technology's changing with amazing speed 04:58 To your point, it can be disruptive if we don't evolve 05:07 In your latest book, Beyond the Download... 08:03 How are you competing? Are you competing on people? Are you competing on pricing? 09:21 You want to look at what are the bottlenecks in your business? 13:44 I think security ought to be a feature, not a footnote 16:02 The focus has to be building the product the right way the first time, so that you can focus on growing your business 17:45 You build the foundation, you have the sketch, and then you gradually scale 21:00 It's not easy for existing users of other products to just switch to your product 22:56 So it's about what is missing in the industry 26:04 Everybody is trying to get into the AI race, which is exciting, but at the same time, some people are scared to take that leap 26:15 On our Lessons from the Leap (podcast) 28:11 So I think as a society, we have to evolve our EQ... 32:19 There's something called RAG, (Retrieval Augmented Generation) 34:20 It's ghazenfer.com and technologyrivers.com is your company 34:33 Beyond the Download: How to Build Mobile Apps that People Love, Use, and Share Every Day Connect Socially: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmansoor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/techrivers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@technologyrivers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techrivers/ Lessons from the Leap Podcast: https://ghazenfer.com/lessons-from-the-leap/ Email: GMansoor@TechnologyRivers.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    36 min
  3. Mark Coleman - Pragmatic Sustainability: The New Path to Prosperity

    MAY 11

    Mark Coleman - Pragmatic Sustainability: The New Path to Prosperity

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 26 Episode Overview: Welcome to another episode of Becoming Preferred, where we examine the traits, strategies, and mindsets that will help you become the best version of you. Today, we are looking into a topic that is often misunderstood: the intersection of high-stakes business growth and global responsibility. Our guest today is a master of navigating that nexus. Mark Coleman is an award-winning author, a strategic advisor with over 25 years of experience, and a leading voice in sustainable change management. Mark works at the front lines of the energy transition, helping organizations navigate a world that is becoming rapidly decarbonized, digital, and decentralized. His latest book, Planet Pragmatism: The New Path to Prosperity, challenges us to move beyond the rhetoric and build enterprises founded on dignity, trust, and accountability. Whether you are an entrepreneur looking for the next economic edge or a corporate leader managing complex environmental risks, Mark is here to show us how principled leadership is the ultimate competitive advantage. Join me for my conversation with Mark Coleman. Guest Bio: Mark C. Coleman is an award-winning author and recognized voice as a business and leadership advisor, entrepreneur, and educator on sustainable change management and enterprise development. He is inspiring the “now and next generations” to discover, develop, and deploy principled leadership through dignity, trust, and accountability. As a practitioner with more than 25 years’ experience, he has served as a strategic advisor to leading academic, industry, emerging enterprises, and government-based organizations on the convergence of societal change, environmental risk, and sustainable innovation. Mark currently serves as Director of Advisory and Innovation within TRC’s Advanced Energy (AE) business segment where he works with leaders across the organization and with partners and clients, to strategically advance best-in-class integrated solutions to complex energy challenges. Through intentional design and delivery of transdisciplinary teams, Mark works at the nexus of energy and environmental innovation and the emergent sustainable economy, marked by solutions which are decarbonized, digital, decentralized, and which also embody social impact, environmental justice, and economic equity at their foundation. Mark’s 4th book, Planet Pragmatism: The New Path to Prosperity, was published in July 2025. He also serves as an adjunct instructor of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprise at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University where he teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in Sustainable Enterprise. He resides in the Finger Lakes region of New York with his wife and two sons. Resource Links: Website: https://www.markcolemaninsights.com/Business Website: https://www.cmm-insights.com/Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Pragmatism-New-Path-Prosperity/dp/1958233439 Insight Gold Timestamps: 03:35 Probably like most graduating seniors, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life 06:30 I work hard, I think, to try to bring that sense of unbiased, independent perspective 07:21 Think about the lens by which they bring to the world 08:19 Your latest book is titled Planet Pragmatism 10:45 What's near and dear to the customer? 12:03 My premise of this book is that prosperity broadly is under assault 14:06 Right now people feel as if they don't have that high quality of life 15:19 It's not about compromise, it's about, as you say, realistic innovation 20:54 Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past 24:50 This idea that we need to have a Preventive, Predictive and Proactive Posture towards how we're living in the moment and how we're focused on the future 26:23 No business exists without some foundation and grounded principles in their why, as Simon Sinek would say it 28:31 I think that we have to lean into the humanity that exists within how we design, engineer, and bring enterprise together for the world 32:27 I think we're at a place where no idea necessarily is bad...conceivably 34:40 It also has to be the type of leadership that says, "That's a great idea. Go build it. Go take that on!" 35:24 The latest book is called Planet Pregnatism: The New Path to Prosperity by Mark C. Coleman 35:30 The website is markcolemaninsights.com Connect Socially: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcolemannow/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MarkColemanInsights/ Email: mark@cmm-insights.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    38 min
  4. Bruce McLeod - Building a Healthy Company Framework

    MAY 4

    Bruce McLeod - Building a Healthy Company Framework

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 25 Episode Overview: Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we help you level up your business and become the best version of you. We talk a lot on this show about how individuals can become the preferred choice in their industry. But what about the ecosystems we build? What happens when a company grows so fast that it starts to consume the very people who made it successful? Our guest today has seen the 'dark side' of rapid growth from the front row of corporate America. Bruce McLeod is the founder of Company Connections and the author of The Healthy Company Framework. Bruce has developed a revolutionary approach to business that doesn't start with the balance sheet or the C-suite's wealth—it starts with the health of the employee. Today, we’re going to discuss how to heal your organization, why 'people-first' is actually the ultimate growth hack, and how to build a legacy that lasts far beyond the next quarterly report. Join me for my conversation with Bruce McLeod. Guest Bio: Bruce McLeod is the author of The Healthy Company Framework and founder of Company Connections, a professional services organization designed to help companies and individuals who want to change their business and their life for the better. Bruce has spent over a dozen years in corporate America. In those years, he had a front-row seat to the negative effects rapid growth has on companies. From increased customer drops, high turnover and burnout of top talent, and the inability to solve new problems with new solutions, he developed and implemented an infinitely scalable framework that addresses these problems. And, unlike most approaches that focus on shareholder value or C-suite wealth, his solution starts with taking care of the people responsible for getting the work done: the employee. By healing the individual, companies are able to increase customer satisfaction, retain superstar employees, and leave a lasting legacy. Bruce is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and is happily married to his wife Emily. Resource Links: Website: https://www.company-connections.com/Product Link: https://a.co/d/8iLAMEO Insight Gold Timestamps: 02:57 I eventually realized that I'm most successful when I put all this stuff together 06:46 You can't have a healthy company without healthy employees 10:22 I do talk about boundaries a good bit 12:31 If I have people that really want to work here and are really connected to where I want to take this business, you end up at with a whole lot of wins 16:59 You call it healing the individual to save the company 20:43 That's the first principle, is having a good foundation 22:47 So, I think you've got two kinds of superstars 24:37 You have to know who hands me work and am I communicating with them in a way that makes sure they're equipping me well 28:25 What are we doing? Who is it for? How does it provide value? 32:41 A lot of companies and a lot of people are really good at reacting 34:19 Let's get everybody to think problems are solved two ways: reactionary and proactive 36:55 Let's talk about identifying the neglect early 38:48 How is your job impacting your life? 40:05 We've got company-connections.com 40:17 Look for the Healthy Company Framework Connect Socially: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbmcleod Email: rbruce.mcleod@gmail.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    43 min
  5. Returning Guest, Roderick Jefferson - Stroke of Success: Why Being Irreplaceable at Work is a Myth

    APR 27

    Returning Guest, Roderick Jefferson - Stroke of Success: Why Being Irreplaceable at Work is a Myth

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 24 Episode Overview: Welcome back to Becoming Preferred. The podcast to help you level up your game and become the best version of you. Today, we are joined by a returning guest who has reached the literal summits of the corporate world. He’s been a senior leader at Salesforce, PayPal, and Oracle, and he literally wrote the book on Sales Enablement. But today, we’re talking about a different kind of mastery. Imagine reaching the peak of your career, only to wake up surviving a stroke with a 2% chance of survival. Roderick Jefferson is back with us to discuss his powerful new book and movement, Stroke of Success™. This isn't just a survival story; it’s a strategic roadmap for every entrepreneur and executive who has ever traded their health for a headline or their peace for a paycheck. We’re going to talk about how to redefine resilience, why 'wholeness' is the ultimate KPI, and how to build a life that is as successful on the inside as it looks on the outside. Join me for my conversation with Roderick Jefferson. Guest Bio: Roderick Jefferson is a senior executive with over 25 years of experience in sales enablement leadership. He is also an acknowledged practitioner and a global keynote speaker. He understands how to create bridges between internal organizations to empower sales to exceed expectations. Recognized for his expertise, Roderick has earned numerous accolades, including being named among America’s Best Speakers by Selling Power Magazine, receiving the Sales Enablement Lifetime Achievement Award, and recognition as a Top Black Executive Leader. He is also a founding member of the Sales Enablement Society. He frequently presents at industry events and is the author of the Amazon #1 new release and bestselling books, Sales Enablement 3.0: The Blueprint to Sales Enablement Excellence™, The Sales Enablement 3.0 Companion Workbook™, and Stroke of Success™. Roderick has served on several Advisory Boards, including Autobound, Capella University, DemandFarm, Koridor, Leadoff.ai, National Speakers Association (NorCal), Sales for the Culture, Selleration Inc., and Walli Hr. Roderick has held roles in executive leadership, sales, sales enablement, operations, and customer service at 3PAR, AT&T, BusinessObjects, Magnit, Marketo, Oracle Marketing Cloud, NetApp, Netskope, PayPal, Roderick Jefferson & Associates, Salesforce, Siebel Systems, and Siteimprove. When he’s not working on consulting projects or onstage delivering a keynote, he can be found perfecting the art of barbecuing or playing bocce in his backyard with his family. Regarding my signature topic, keynote, and bestselling book, they have shifted from AI, sales, and the current state of selling to something I call “Stroke of Success™.” You can learn more here. Resource Links: Website: https://roderickjefferson.com/Stroke of Success Book: https://www.roderickjefferson.com/stroke-of-successSales 3.0 Book Link: https://roderickjefferson.com/bookSales 3.0 Companion Workbook: https://roderickjefferson.com/companion-workbookKeynote Speaker Highlight Reel: https://bit.ly/3zRVNJaSocial Media Channels: https://linktr.ee/roderickjefferson Insight Gold Timestamps: 06:52 I was at 22% heart function that gave me 2% chance to live 10:22 From the American Stroke Association, that one out of every four people, not just Americans, but people over the age of 25 in the world, will incur a stroke and you many not even know it 11:43 What was the first corporate habit you realized you had to permanently delete to protect your new life? 14:14 Literally I'm recharging my batteries every day rather than waiting until the weekend to recharge 17:30 Money just buys independence 18:25 Stop thinking that you're irreplaceable at work because you're not, and start acting like you're irreplaceable at home 20:17 I believe selfishness, if you do it right, it becomes self-care 22:35 If it's not something that you're putting out that's going to help others, then it's just marketing 26:35 I had to learn how to be present 29:48 Can you look in the mirror and say you like yourself, the person that's looking back at you? 34:19 Was I productive or was I just busy? 35:44 In your book you talk about relationships as being critical as achievement is 38:19 How well can you say you really knew the hopes, dreams, and experiences of your grandparents? 40:50 That's what I want my legacy to be, how I made people feel 41:27 Send folks to roderickjefferson.com because then you'll get a signed book and I can get that out to you Connect Socially: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roderickjefferson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Npxk-Ws48 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roderick_j_associates/ Roderick's Sales Enablement Spotify Podcast Playlist: https://tr.ee/tywJiGJxdg Sales Enablement Online Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/applying-the-art-and-science-of-sales-enablement/?referralCode=6CF22D97C842CCC0E07C Social Media Channels: https://linktr.ee/roderickjefferson Email: roderick@roderickjefferson.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    43 min
  6. Lisa Cole - The "Brand Gravity" Effect: How to Stop Chasing and Start Attracting

    APR 20

    Lisa Cole - The "Brand Gravity" Effect: How to Stop Chasing and Start Attracting

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 23 Episode Overview: Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we interview the brightest minds in business today to help you level up your game and become the best version of you. If you are an entrepreneur or a marketing leader, you’ve repeatedly heard the mantra 'do more with less'. But our guest today says that’s the wrong goal. She believes we shouldn't just be doing more; we should be redesigning the work itself. Lisa Cole is the Chief Product, Marketing, and AI Officer at 2X, where she heads their AI Center of Excellence. With over 20 years of experience and three major B2B transformations under her belt, Lisa has become the 'secret weapon' for CMOs looking to bridge the gap between human creativity and machine efficiency. She is the author of Brand Gravity, The Revenue RAMP, and her highly anticipated new book, The Limitless CMO. Today, we’re going to talk about how to move from being a 'cost center' to a 'revenue engine,' the reality of AI adoption , and how to build a brand that has enough 'gravity' to pull customers toward you without you having to chase them. Join me for my conversation with Lisa Cole. Guest Bio: Lisa Cole is Chief Product, Marketing & AI Officer and Head of the AI Center of Excellence at 2X. For more than 20 years, Lisa has helped B2B marketing leaders achieve more with less by redesigning how marketing work gets done through strategic outsourcing, AI adoption, and performance management. Lisa has led three major B2B marketing transformations, including award-recognized work, and she’s been a trusted advisor to CMOs for nearly 16 years. She’s also the author of Brand Gravity, The Revenue RAMP, and her newest book, The Limitless CMO. Resource Links: Website: www.lisacole.aiCompany Website: https://2x.marketing/ Insight Gold Timestamps: 03:31 I shifted and pivoted into marketing 06:13 I remember when I started the very first question a company would ask is, should I have a website? 08:36 The underlying principle there is still true, you actually have to ask them 11:07 By the time they've actually made that decision to engage with your brand directly... 12:43 Marketing is the one that makes sure that you are both findable, understood, and chosen 16:21 Could marketing do a better job of being proactive with that, with the sales department? 20:24 The premise behind brand gravity is... 23:33 No better time to be a founder or entrepreneur, if you're comfortable with just putting your point of views, and your secret sauce out in the world 25:52 Your superpower is going to be wherever is uniquely human 28:02 Are there some must haves that small businesses should have? 31:53 The most common piece of feedback I get is... 32:22 My measure of success here is engagement 34:27 You have to be okay with change 36:10 And you argue for redesigning how work gets done instead of just working harder 37:37 My favorite question to ask is, how long does it take for you to get a campaign from an idea into market? 40:02 You head the AI Center of Excellence at 2X 42:04 The new book's called The Limitless CMO Connect Socially: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisacole01 Twitter (X): https://x.com/CMOInnovator Company: https://www.youtube.com/@2xmarketing TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thelimitlesscmo Email: lisa.cole@2X.marketing Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    44 min
  7. Thomas Passalacqua - Overcoming the "Silent Killers": Doubt, Fear, and the Imposter Trap

    APR 13

    Thomas Passalacqua - Overcoming the "Silent Killers": Doubt, Fear, and the Imposter Trap

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 22 Episode Overview: Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast dedicated to the high-level strategies that transform professionals and level up performance. Today, we are exploring a truth that every professional eventually hits: Success isn't just about what you do; it’s about the clarity with which you lead. Many leaders reach a plateau not because they lack resources, but because they are navigating through the 'fog' of doubt, rapid growth, or shifting industries. Joining us is someone who has mastered the art of the pivot and the science of leadership. Thomas Passalacqua is a certified Executive Coach and the founder of Ascend Professional Pathways. From his early days as a founding teacher in New York City to driving high-stakes mergers and acquisitions and executive coaching, Thomas has seen firsthand how the right mindset can turn a 'good' professional into an 'elite' leader. In this episode, we’re going to help you identify your own blind spots, overcome the silent fears that stall growth, and learn how to align your daily decisions with your highest professional goals. Join me for my conversation with Thomas Passalacqua. Guest Bio: Thomas Passalacqua is a certified Executive Coach who specializes in customized professional & leadership development. With a master’s in education, Thomas started his career as a founding teacher in New York City. He then transitioned into dental manufacturing sales, where he was an award-winning consultant who trained and mentored other sales professionals. Transitioning again, Thomas was the director of business development for a growing dental group practice in the Northeast where he led sales and marketing for mergers & acquisitions. In his executive coaching and professional training platform, Ascend Professional Pathways LLC, he enables various industry leaders to gain clarity and improve their business leadership skills. Thomas' clients are empowered to reach the next level in their businesses and careers by overcoming doubts, fears, and uncertainty and making strategic decisions to better align with their goals. Resource Links: Website: https://ascendpropathways.com/Product Link: https://ascendpropathways.com/executive-coaching Insight Gold Timestamps: 02:44 I found myself being relevant to my fellow classmates and seeing them take my advice 06:41 The pathway reference really is a nod to the individual coach and because there are multiple directions 09:49 My main focus is, okay, what do we do moving forward? 12:01 What kinds of things do you see for obstacles that are common? 13:58 The 'why' behind it all is important 16:10 If you have a question, you can most likely find the answer to it in this day and age 18:31 I wanted to follow my own expectation and blaze my own path 22:35 If your default is an excuse, then that's a red flag to know that you're operating from a doubt or a state of fear 25:17 Vision work is huge 28:44 Let's talk about clarity and getting clarity, but also clarity as a competitive advantage 32:20 You've already proved to yourself that you can go from where you were to where you are... 38:36 In this day and age, there's more tools and resources and information 41:33 What's a good step that they can take? 42:18 You have resources, and you have the skills and capabilities already within you, you just have to uncover what's blocking you 42:38 My website ascendpropathways.com Connect Socially: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspassalacqua/ Email: thomas@ascendpropathways.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    45 min
  8. Lisa Woodruff - The Cost of Mental Clutter: Bridging Home Management and Professional Growth

    APR 6

    Lisa Woodruff - The Cost of Mental Clutter: Bridging Home Management and Professional Growth

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 21 Episode Overview: Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast for the professional who wants to level up their skillset and focus on continuous improvement. Today, we’re tackling the silent killer of professional peak performance: The Invisible Quicksand. We spend our lives optimizing our businesses, our processes, and our leadership teams. But what happens when you are being held back by a disorganized home? What is the cost of the 'mental clutter' that follows you from the kitchen table to the office? Our guest today is a powerhouse who transformed from a stay-at-home mom at forty to the CEO of a million dollar empire. Lisa Woodruff, the founder of Organize 365 and host of a podcast with over 24 million downloads, believes that organization isn't a personality trait—it’s a learnable, high-level business skill. She’s here to show us how to bridge the gap between household management and professional scaling, and to give us a sneak peek into her upcoming book, Escaping Quicksand. If you’ve ever felt like you’re winning at work but sinking at home, this conversation is your lifeline. Join me for my conversation with Lisa Woodruff. Guest Bio: Lisa Woodruff is the founder & CEO of Organize 365. Lisa and 87% of Americans believe organization is a learnable skill. Yet less than 18% of those same Americans feel they are organized. As the host of the top-rated Organize 365 Podcast, with 24 million downloads & counting, Lisa shares strategies for reducing the overwhelm, clearing the mental clutter, and living a productive and organized life. Resource Links: Website: http://organize365.com/Product Link: https://organize365.com/escapingquicksand/ Insight Gold Timestamps: 04:34 I started to really think back on, what was my story going to be 06:22 I realized I was a professional organizer 08:28 My PhD is on the invisible load and the cognitive load of organizing 10:11 I'm an educator and so I'm going to give you a lot of options 14:39 Organization is a learnable skill 16:31 In my opinion, your child's bedroom is their mini apartment 19:55 I had to grow those muscles of being a business owner and doing the work of the business 20:30 Let's talk about your upcoming book, Escaping Quicksand 26:54 It's not a department, it's a whole separate business, the household is the economic entity 28:12 My higher and best use is being strategic 30:34 I took all of my bank statements from Wells Fargo, dumped them into an AI tool (Claude) 31:55 Organization happens in analog, productivity happens in digital 34:58 What's the number one organizational lie that keeps people and entrepreneurs stuck in that gap? 39:48 I realized in hindsight, once I firmly went into excellence versus perfectionism, is not accepting others' judgment of myself 44:55 You have so much more control than you think you do...at home 46:10 Just really think through, is the improvement really the improvement you want? 48:11 Website is organize365.com 48:38 Get organized and you get your time back Connect Socially: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawoodruff/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2w8BMBq25cswE7mVRX1bDA Instagram: http://instagram.com/organize365 Lisa's Podcast: https://organize365.com/podcast-landing-page/ Email: Lisa@organize365.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    50 min
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out of 5
7 Ratings

About

In this informative and practical podcast, Michael and his guests share the latest strategies and tactics to help you become the preferred provider (the emotional favorite) in the markets you serve. The key insights and strategies discussed, come from Michael's experience working with many of the finest brands in business today and his guest interviews will inspire you, educate you, and give you the tools you need to be successful in today's turbulent and competitive marketplace.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Vickers
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Michael Vickers
  • Show Website
    Becoming Preferred

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