Becoming Preferred

Michael Vickers
  • 5.0 (8)
  • 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. Danielle Hayden - Confessions of a Free Spender: Overcoming Your Financial Blind Spots

    1d ago

    Danielle Hayden - Confessions of a Free Spender: Overcoming Your Financial Blind Spots

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 33 Episode Overview: Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast designed to help you become the best version of you. Let’s be honest: most entrepreneurs start a business out of a deep passion for a craft, not a love for spreadsheets. But as your business scales, relying on gut instinct or simply checking your bank balance to see if you're successful becomes a dangerous game. If you’re only looking at your numbers once a year at tax time, you aren't driving your business—you’re just reacting to it. Our guest today is here to take the fear out of finance. Danielle Hayden went from working behind a salon chair to earning her CPA and stepping into the corporate boardroom as a CFO. Today, she is the founder of Kickstart Accounting Inc., where her team of nearly 50 professionals has helped thousands of small business owners transition from emotional guessing to data-driven confidence. Whether you are trying to price your services for true profit, looking to make your next big hire, or ready to step into your true power as a CEO, today’s conversation is an essential roadmap for turning financial clarity into a massive competitive advantage. Please join me for my conversation with Danielle Hayden Guest Bio: Danielle Hayden started her career behind the salon chair. Working as a hairdresser, she discovered she had a knack for using numbers to help herself and the people around her hit their goals. That instinct sent her back to school, through a CPA and a master’s in accounting, and into the corporate boardroom as a CFO. After more than a decade there, she left to build Kickstart Accounting Inc., where her team is nearly 50 now and has served thousands of small business owners through bookkeeping, CFO services, and tax preparation. Danielle’s approach starts with the foundation: clean books, the right systems, and a clear picture of cash and profit. From there, she teaches business owners to use their numbers every month, not just at tax time. For owners who have been avoiding their finances or running on gut instinct, she gives them the tools to lead with data. Resource Links: Website: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/Product Link: https://envisioncfo.org/ Insight Gold Timestamps: 02:38 I left high school with no interest in math or numbers or accounting 05:00 I keep on using the words tool in our toolbox, and I do that very intentionally 07:19 I think you call it 'tax time only accounting' 08:58 My mission is that every single business owner looks at their numbers every single month 10:42 A lot of the bad habits that we have in business, they're probably because we have bad habits personally 12:10 Four key performance indicators that you're looking at every single month 13:59 So I have a confession that I am guilty as well, okay? I am what I call a free spender 15:14 Answer these three questions: What just happened? Why did it happen, and what am I going to do about it? 23:10 Make sure that your bookkeeping is accurate first, and then go play in AI with those accurate financial statements instead of doing it the other direction 24:40 Do not go dump a product line just because it's not profitable 27:29 Why did you make the choices that you made? 29:58 We need to understand what we're spending and why, and then use that same data to properly price ourselves 31:33 Bookkeeping is looking backwards, and CFO is looking forward 34:50 The website is kickstartaccountinginc.com and from there you can get over to the envisioncfo.org. Connect Socially: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-hayden-kickstartaccounting/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kickstartaccountinginc/ X: https://x.com/kickstartacct CEO Numbers Network Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ceo-numbers-network-with-danielle-hayden/id1574515604 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kickstartaccounting/ Email: danielle@kickstartaccountinginc.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    37 min
  2. Dr. Nicholas Michels - Rich by Choice: Why True Wealth is an Immediate Decision, Not a Destination

    Jun 22

    Dr. Nicholas Michels - Rich by Choice: Why True Wealth is an Immediate Decision, Not a Destination

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 32 Episode Overview: Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where help you become the best version of you. If you are an entrepreneur or a business professional, you know that scaling a company often comes with a massive cost. Too many high-performers find themselves financially successful but time-poor, stress-ridden, and completely disconnected from the life they originally set out to build. Well, today’s guest is here to change that script. He is an elite wealth strategist, founder of Michels Family Financial, and author of the powerhouse new book, Rich by Choice. Nick has a fascinating story that spans from childhood financial hardship and working on a Texas golf course, to playing professional basketball overseas, and turning down a massive $8.1 million corporate signing bonus just to ensure his advice remained entirely independent, transparent, and focused on his clients' best interests. Today, we are discussing how to align your revenue with your deepest values, protect your hard-earned assets from advanced tax leaks, and use the 'Rocking Chair Test' to design a life of radical generosity and freedom. Get ready to take back control—please welcome to the show, Dr. Nicholas Michels! Guest Bio: Nick’s journey began in both abundance and hardship, an experience that taught him early on the profound influence money has on life and relationships. Outside his work, Nick is a devoted husband to his wife, Chelsea, and a proud father to their four children, Daegen, Kinsley, Brooks, and Everly. Together, Nick and Chelsea are deeply committed to giving back through the Michels Corporation, their charitable foundation that supports youth education, families in need, global missions and causes close to their hearts. Resource Links: Website: https://michelsfamilyfinancial.com/Product Link: https://richbychoicebook.com/ Insight Gold Timestamps: 03:05 Coming from humble beginnings, there was no college fund waiting for me 03:48 I encourage all kids to get internships, because you learn so much 05:50 One thing that I love about this work is because I get a backstage pass into people's lives 07:24 Your book is titled Rich by Choice 09:50 Most people are financially busy, but they're emotionally broke 11:50 It finally boiled down for me it was really about freedom 14:33 When you stop for a second and say, "Okay, where are things going?" 18:56 You talk about money first being a blessing and a curse 19:41 I had pretty quick success, and it had nothing to do with me 21:02 If you're an entrepreneur, you've got to understand who you're helping, how you are helping them, and how many times you can get in front of them and say, "Hey, I'm so and so. This is how I can benefit your life." 22:53 All my clients are wonderfully different 23:05 We have 6 key areas that we help people 25:14 You utilize this concept called the rocking chair test 28:03 What could be a great answer for you could be a terrible answer for someone else 29:15 I think this is so important, is who do you become? 32:22 I had a chance to play professional basketball in Europe 33:52 AI is not the issue, irrelevance is 34:56 Your goal is to be an expert in your field 37:57 I call it outwardly successful, inwardly stressed 39:25 I say the juice has to be worth the squeeze 40:30 Rich by Choice: Take Back Control, Master Your Money, and Design the Life of Your Dreams 42:31 There's so many areas where luck can come into play 43:49 Once you understand and have confidence and clarity on the direction you're going- that's when there's joy 45:49 If you don't have purpose, I believe the soul dies and we die pretty quickly Connect Socially: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/michelsfamilyfinancial Facebook: Michels Family Financial https://www.facebook.com/michelsfamilyfinancial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelsfamilyfinancial/ Email: nick@richbychoicebook.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    48 min
  3. David Fullmer - The Choice to Be Average: Why We Self-Sabotage and How to Stop

    Jun 15

    David Fullmer - The Choice to Be Average: Why We Self-Sabotage and How to Stop

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 31 Episode Overview: Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we help you level up your game and become the best version of you. Most people spend their lives reacting to the calendar, trapped in a grind that never seems to end. But what if you could rewire your internal rhythm to unlock your potential, not just in business, but in every dimension of your humanity? My guest today, David Fullmer, has moved beyond the "empire-building" phase of entrepreneurship to solve a much bigger problem: the human one. As the creator of Becoming Seven—or B7—David has cracked the code on a life cadence that aligns our modern existence with a 4,000-year-old psychological blueprint. He isn’t just teaching personal development; he’s leading a movement to transform millions of lives by helping ordinary people step into the extraordinary, authentic selves they were created to be. If you’ve been feeling maxed out, stuck in the daily grind, or wondering how to scale your business without sacrificing your life, your health, or your purpose—this episode is for you. Join me for my conversation with David Fullmer. Guest Bio: David Fullmer is a husband, father, businessman, author, public speaker, and superhuman problem solver. He operates multimillion dollar businesses from his location in Hawaii, with branches in 19 U.S. States in the commercial roofing side. He’s led a life of service in his community by putting on no less than two free roofs a year over the past five years for needy families. David is a cofounder of the nutrition company Ox Superfoods. He is also an avid investor, and entrepreneur consultant for many companies striving to reach new heights. He has trained thousands of sales professionals, and assisted thousands of individuals in the pursuit of their dreams. Additionally, David has spent years helping the youth of America set goals and strive for excellence. Recreationally, David is a surfer, motocross rider, and holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. Finally, David is the founder and developer of the B7 superhuman rhythm detailed in his new book, Becoming 7. It is a life cadence that changes the trajectory of every human being who practices it. David is committed to personally changing the course of the lives of over 5 million people by 2030. Resource Links: Website: https://www.becomingseven.com/Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX2ZGQ42 Insight Gold Timestamps: 03:31 I went to four different youth incarceration programs 06:05 Every time I was in a youth program, I excelled 08:05 When I was about 7 years old, 8 years old, I was listening to Jim Rohn tapes in my dad's cherry drop-top convertible sports car 10:32 As parents, we say things to our kids repetitively and we just think, "Oh, they're not getting it. They're not getting it." I'm telling you, they're getting it. 15:10 She (my mom) worked very, very hard and taught me principles of forgiveness, sacrifice, and love 18:55 Service is so universal and it doesn't matter what faith, what religion, it doesn't matter 19:36 I was 28 years old, and I was a millionaire, and I was racing motocross almost full time 21:26 One thing I've learned is that everyone wants to talk about their successes, and they don't talk about failures 22:53 Superhumans come to a point when they see a problem, they see an opportunity 24:40 This year I did a challenge, 100 days, 5:30 AM, for everyone on my socials 28:22 When I found out that more people had heart attacks on Monday morning from 8AM to noon than any other day, my brain just blew up 31:41 Our brains can't distinguish between what's fiction and what's real 33:10 the book again is called Becoming Seven: The Superhuman Rhythm by David Fullmer Connect Socially: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568176791201 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@becomingseven YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@becomesevenofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidfullmerofficial/ Email: becomeseven808@gmail.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    35 min
  4. Jay Sargeant - Unlocking SHIFT: The Gift of Reinvention

    Jun 8

    Jay Sargeant - Unlocking SHIFT: The Gift of Reinvention

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 30 Episode Overview: Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast that helps you become the best version of you. Throughout our careers, we often talk about the importance of business pivots, but we rarely discuss the profound skill of personal reinvention. Today’s guest is Coach Jay Sargeant—entrepreneur, teacher, reinvention coach, and author of SHIFT: The Gift of Reinvention. Across seven careers—from community organizer to tennis pro to business builder and coach—Jay has spent a lifetime studying how people transform themselves. At 78 years young, Jay is the creator of The Shift Project, and he believes that life’s second half can truly become your masterpiece. He helps high-achievers recognize the hidden patterns in their lives, proving that staying relevant isn't about the credentials on your wall—it’s about your hunger, your adaptability, and your willingness to begin again. Jay is here to show us that most major transformations change one conversation and one uncomfortable moment at a time. Please join me for my conversation with Coach Jay Sargeant. Guest Bio: Coach Jay is the author of Shift: The Gift of Reinvention and the creator of The Shift Project. Across 78 years and seven careers, he has learned that reinvention is not a one-time event-it is a skill developed through courage, adaptability, persistence and the willingness to begin again. Through his stories and insights, Coach Jay helps audiences recognize hidden patterns in their lives and understand that it is never too late to shift into a new chapter. Resource Links: Website: https://www.theshiftproject.academy/Product Link: https://www.theshiftproject.academy/thecohort Insight Gold Timestamps: 01:46 We're going to talk about your book 04:57 Got me in trouble all the time, but set me up for everything I have ever done in this lifetime 06:37 When I was 16, I went and bought a 1958 Oldsmobile, black, red leather seats and white convertible top 08:00 I didn't write the book for anybody to read other than my great-grandchildren 10:43 My mom and dad were serial entrepreneurs; they were dreamers 12:58 Credentials are overrated 18:22 I don't want to stay in franchising, I've already done it 19:43 The name of the book was Frogs Into Princes, the seminal work of Richard Bandler and John Grinder 20:37 I took the chance that I suggest entrepreneurs do, you've got to see the signs before they're vivid, before it's real 21:55 Confidence is often rented before it's owned 25:08 If you want someone to give a speech that gets people to do something, I am your man, and I can prove it 26:45 I start people off with, "What are your assets?" 29:22 You can't make your next fortune in your living room 34:35 It all began because I took a bad meeting, and I spoke up for myself 36:36 I understood it was about building a relationship 38:43 My mantra is: sell one thing to somebody tomorrow 42:51 My counsel is move, don't get stuck on credentials, move like crazy, and it is never, ever, ever too late 43:30 Take nothing for granted, find what you love, find what you're good at 45:38 The book is called Shift: The Gift of Reinvention by Jay Sargeant Connect: Email: TheShiftJay@gmail.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

    47 min
  5. Esther Stewart - Premium Clients Do Not Buy Hype; They Buy Certainty

    Jun 1

    Esther Stewart - Premium Clients Do Not Buy Hype; They Buy Certainty

    SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 29 Episode Overview: Welcome back to Becoming Preferred. The podcast designed to help you level up your game and become the best version of you. Our guest today built her career inside billion-dollar finance institutions before launching her own growth agency, Cottn Owl. Esther Stewart is a Business Growth Strategist who spent eight years as a Fortune 500 associate, training 7 and 8-figure executives in white-glove sales, client retention, and institutional-grade strategy. Today, she architects high-converting paid acquisition systems for businesses who want predictable revenue without diluting their positioning. Esther’s philosophy is simple: premium clients do not buy hype; they buy certainty. In this conversation, we’re diving into why most high-ticket marketing fails, how to attract premium clients without the gimmicks, and what it really takes to build scalable certainty in your business. Please join me for my conversation with Esther Stewart. Guest Bio: Esther Stewart is a Business Growth Strategist and founder of Cottn Owl, where she architects high-converting paid acquisition systems for founders selling premium offers. A former Fortune 500 finance associate, Esther spent eight years inside billion-dollar institutions training 7 and 8 figure executives in white-glove sales, client retention, and institutional-grade growth strategy. Today, she works with coaches, doctors, consultants, therapists, and high-level service providers who already have strong offers and want predictable, scalable client acquisition without diluting their positioning. After leaving a multiple six-figure corporate career in 2023, Esther built two multi five-figure per month businesses using one offer, one sales system, and disciplined infrastructure. Her philosophy is simple: premium clients do not buy hype, they buy certainty. Esther teaches founders how to build strategic sales systems, refine positioning, and scale through paid traffic in a way that protects brand equity and supports long-term growth. Resource Links: Website: https://cottnowlofficial.com/Product Link: https://cottnowlofficial.com/leaderscircle Insight Gold Timestamps: 05:32 In the midst of that realizing that while I love that, it was time for the next step 07:30 Premium clients don't buy hype, they buy certainty 09:28 You're selling you at the end of the day 11:02 You've got to be a product of the product 13:03 They want to jump straight to what the biggest names in the industry are doing without putting in the time 15:08 Concept called 'lead cow theory' 19:24 I was also willing to hear no 23:24 They are so reluctant to leverage advertising because there's this online bias with marketers 24:35 The value that you bring to your clients is the relationship 27:46 So, when I tell people that you don't have to spend a lot on ads to see success, you do not, because I'm living proof of that 29:07 I'm clear that none of this was easy, and it took me getting really uncomfortable to get good at what I was doing 33:09 The only difference between spending $10 a day in ads and $100 a day in ads on Meta is how many people you reach 36:02 When you expand how much you spend on meta ads, the exact same ad is now going to go to a much, much broader audience 39:10 When is a founder truly ready for paid acquisition? 40:58 I would argue that everyone should be running ads 43:14 The relationship is never going to be replaced by AI 46:16 It's cottnowlofficial.com Connect Socially: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherstewart/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cottn-Owl/100090193514131/ Podcast-The Shifting Road of Business: https://open.spotify.com/show/2teA8oeVPUUREUaJPWxRBO YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmEstherStewart Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cottnowlofficial/ Email: hello@cottnowl.com Sponsors: Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://calendar.summit-learning.com/widget/booking/JKItVP7WErmCBjU2cCIx Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

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

    May 25

    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
  7. 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
  8. 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/

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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