The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

Josh Elledge of UpMyInfluence.com
The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

You’re gonna love this DAILY, commercial-free entrepreneur spotlight show. We feature CEOs and founders of 6-9 figure B2B companies. Agencies, coaches, consultants, and other leaders share not only their success stories - but their advice for business leaders focused on business growth. You’re going to hear real stories from real people all in 15-25 minutes time - perfect for your commute. On this podcast, your host, Josh Elledge encourages entrepreneurs to share not only their expertise but their stories and their hearts. We believe that every person has a unique message which can positively impact the world. Even YOU! If you’d like to be featured on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, apply here: https://UpMyInfluence.com/guest/

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    2092 – The Power of Psychometric Assessments in Recruitment with Aptive Index’s Jason P. Carroll

    Rethinking Recruitment: How Behavioral Assessments Improve Hiring and Team DynamicsIn a recent episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge explores the complexities of hiring and workforce management with Jason P. Carroll, CEO and founder of Aptive Index. The discussion highlights the limitations of traditional hiring methods and introduces innovative solutions that can transform recruitment and team dynamics. Josh sets the stage by sharing insights from his conversations with over 2,000 business leaders, emphasizing the importance of informed hiring decisions. Jason P. Carroll, with his extensive experience in leadership roles, including as president of Champion, brings valuable insights into the challenges of hiring. He critiques traditional practices like resumes and interviews, pointing out their flaws such as bias, misleading information, and overlooked talent. Jason introduces Aptiv Index, a tool that uses scientifically validated psychometric assessments to provide deeper insights into candidates' behaviors and potential fit for roles. This approach helps organizations make data-driven decisions, reduce bias, and identify hidden potential in candidates. The episode also touches on the role of AI in recruitment, with Jason discussing how AI can enhance the hiring process through data analysis and custom models. He shares success stories of Aptive Index's implementation across various organizations, highlighting its versatility and accessibility for companies of all sizes. As the episode concludes, listeners are encouraged to explore Aptiv Index further, with options to request a demo and experience the assessment firsthand. This conversation empowers organizations to embrace advanced tools like Aptiv Index to improve hiring processes, enhance team dynamics, and achieve greater success. About Jason P. Carroll: Jason P. Carroll is the founder and CEO of Aptive Index, a pioneering company dedicated to transforming hiring and leadership practices by integrating advanced psychometric assessments and strategic advisory services. Aptive Index is on a mission to redefine how organizations identify, develop, and retain top talent by providing data-driven insights that align leadership capabilities with organizational goals. Under Jason's leadership, the company has quickly become a trusted partner for businesses looking to enhance their decision-making processes and foster a culture of collaboration and resilience. About Aptive Index: Aptive Index is transforming the way companies approach talent acquisition through its cutting-edge psychometric assessments. By diving deep into individuals' unique strengths, values, and work styles, Aptive Index helps organizations align talent with roles where they can truly thrive, feel fulfilled, and make a meaningful impact. The company's mission is to bring integrity and actionable insight to the workplace, empowering leaders with a deeper understanding of what truly drives their teams. Going beyond traditional assessments, Aptive Index provides empathy-focused, data-driven insights that foster positive, collaborative cultures and guide organizations in making smarter, more informed decisions. With Aptive Index, businesses gain the unfair advantage of knowing their people on a profound level—ensuring both individual and organizational success. Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur: https://go.upmyinfluence.com/podcast-guest Links Mentioned in this Episode: Want to learn more? Check out Aptive Index website at https://aptiveindex.com/ Check out Aptive Index on LinkedIn at a...

    19 min
  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    2091 – Strategies for Sustainable Business Growth with Pinnacle Global Network’s Allison Maslan

    Scaling Your Business: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing LeadershipIn a recent episode of "The Thoughtful Entrepreneur," host Josh engages in a dynamic conversation with Allison Maslan, a seasoned entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Pinnacle Global Network. Allison, also the author of the insightful book "Scale or Fail: How to Build Your Dream Team, Explode Your Growth, and Let Your Business Soar," shares her extensive experience in entrepreneurship, emphasizing the critical elements of business growth and the necessity of cultivating a robust team. This blog post will break down the key insights from their discussion, providing actionable advice for entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses. Josh opens the episode by inviting listeners to explore opportunities for connecting with partners, investors, influencers, and clients. He shares his experience of having private conversations with over 2,000 leaders to uncover where their best business comes from. Josh offers a free video resource that outlines steps to achieve 100% inbound marketing in one’s industry over the next six to eight months, emphasizing a spam-free, ad-free, and sales-free approach. He encourages listeners to visit his website, Up My Influence, to access this valuable content. Following this introduction, Josh welcomes Allison Maslan to the show. He highlights her impressive background as an entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience and her role in helping more than 150,000 CEOs worldwide grow and scale their businesses through Pinnacle Global Network. Allison shares her passion for entrepreneurship, describing it as a powerful avenue for creativity and making a positive impact in the world. With a track record of building ten companies, she emphasizes the importance of recognizing and leveraging one’s unique gifts and talents. Drawing on insights from Gaye Hendrix, author of "The Big Leap," Allison discusses the concept of stepping into one’s genius and how aligning that genius with a business can amplify one’s purpose and impact. A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the necessity of building a strong team to support a founder’s vision. Josh and Allison discuss the transition from being a boss to becoming a leader who inspires others. Allison explains that empowering team members to take ownership of the company’s vision is crucial for creating a sustainable, scalable business model. She emphasizes that a successful business should be able to operate independently of its founder, allowing for growth and continuity even in the founder's absence. About Allison Maslan: Allison Maslan, CEO of Pinnacle Global Network, was recently named one of the “Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs to Watch” by Forbes Magazine. She is the Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author of Scale or Fail, which is endorsed by Daymond John and Barbara Corcoran of Shark Tank. Allison has built ten successful companies over the last 40 years. For the past 15 years, she and her team of business mentors have helped over 150,000 Founders scale their businesses, fast-track their success, and create a more meaningful life through her company, Pinnacle Global Network, one of the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing PrivateCompanies. Allison has shared the stage with noted business leaders such as Richard Branson and Magic Johnson, and has been featured in Inc., Success, Fortune, Fast Company, and Forbes Magazines, is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine and a featured expert on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and Fox across the US. She is also the host and producer of The SCALEit Method Podcast and the Women Who Own It Podcast brought to you by WBENC. About Pinnacle Global Network: Pinnacle Global Network, founded by Allison Maslan, is a global leader in helping businesses scale. The organization’s team of successful CEOs mentors business owners worldwide, providing

    23 min
  3. DEC 19

    2090 – Transform Hiring Strategy Through AI in Recruitment with Quintela’s Joel Quintela

    Enhancing Recruitment Efficiency with Structured Hiring and AIIn a recent episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, the host engages in a compelling conversation with Joel Quintela, the founder and CEO of Quintela, an HR technology company specializing in assessments for hiring processes. The discussion delves into the critical importance of structured hiring practices and the transformative role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in enhancing recruitment efficiency and decision-making. The host begins by inviting the audience to explore opportunities for introductions to partners, investors, influencers, and clients, sharing their extensive experience in the business world and promoting a free video resource available on their website. Joel Quintela is introduced, highlighting his background as a business psychologist and explaining that his company focuses on building HR technology for large organizations, particularly Fortune 500 companies. The conversation quickly shifts to the core of Quintela's work, which involves enhancing the hiring process through various assessments, including personality tests, role plays, and structured interviews. Joel emphasizes the significance of structured interviews in the hiring process, noting that informal interviews often yield unreliable results. He explains that hiring is fundamentally a probability game, and organizations can increase their chances of success by being deliberate about the skills and competencies required for each role. The discussion also touches on current trends in hiring, with Joel identifying significant movements such as the shift to skills-based hiring and the integration of AI in recruitment. AI is being utilized to streamline various repetitive tasks in the hiring process, enhancing candidate communication, managing scheduling, and assisting in the assessment process. Joel highlights the importance of candidate experience throughout the hiring process and explains how Quintela's platform operates, offering tailored solutions for different organizations. The episode concludes with the host encouraging listeners to explore Quintela's offerings further and thanking Joel for his insights. About Joel Quintela: Joel Quintela is the founder and CEO of Quintela Group LLC, a minority-owned business enterprise specializing in HR technology solutions. With over 25 years of experience in HR assessment technology and 15 years as an entrepreneur, Joel has worked with numerous Fortune 500 clients to improve their hiring processes. About Quintela: Quintela provides technology-based talent assessment solutions for organizations. Products are- Digital Interview Guide platform which is an interview builder tool that allows talent acquisition teams to create interview guides, competency models, and screening protocols for various positions at an organization, Assessment platform that integrates multiple assessment vendors, proprietary assessments, or competencies in a simple dashboard and provides assessment administering and reporting tools, and integration with ATS/HRMS systems for candidate/employee assessment, and Custom Performance Management System. Won Silver in the 2016 Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards in Technology. Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur: https://go.upmyinfluence.com/podcast-guest Links Mentioned in this Episode: Want to learn more? Check out Quintela website at https://quintela.io/ Check out Quintela on Facebook at a href="https://www.facebook.com/quintelagroup" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    20 min
  4. DEC 18

    2089 – Simplifying Strategies and Cultivating Team Happiness with The KCC’s Kaitlyn Cook

    Simplifying Business Strategies for Meaningful ImpactIn a recent episode of "The Thoughtful Entrepreneur," host Josh engages in a compelling conversation with Kaitlyn Cook, a business strategy specialist and executive coach. Kaitlyn, the founder of a consulting firm, shares her expertise in helping CEOs, particularly those generating 6 to 7 figures in revenue, transition to the 8-figure mark while making a meaningful impact in their industries. This blog post delves into the key themes and actionable insights from their discussion, providing valuable guidance for leaders aiming to simplify their business strategies and foster a positive work environment. Kaitlyn's mission is to assist CEOs in merging their business strategies with their core vision and purpose. She emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with the fundamental "why" behind their businesses. This involves clarifying the company's mission and vision, identifying strategic steps, and simplifying business operations to maintain focus on the essence of the business. With over a decade of experience in the business world and two decades in finance, Kaitlyn advocates for a streamlined approach that keeps the essence of the business at the forefront. She encourages CEOs to simplify their focus by asking critical questions about their business's purpose and target customers, offering one-on-one coaching, consulting, courses, and workshops to facilitate this process. Josh invites Kaitlyn to share actionable insights for leaders looking to alleviate pressure and foster a positive work environment. Kaitlyn highlights a profound realization: CEOs are not responsible for their team members' happiness. Instead, they are responsible for creating a safe and supportive work environment. She suggests practical tips for leaders, such as conducting regular self-check-ins, being open and vulnerable, and encouraging team autonomy. As the conversation progresses, Josh and Kaitlyn discuss the importance of planning for the upcoming year, with Kaitlyn suggesting that leaders engage in deep work, such as mind mapping, to visualize their goals for 2025. By focusing on both external metrics and internal growth, leaders can navigate the complexities of business with clarity and purpose. Kaitlyn Cook's insights provide valuable guidance for CEOs and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact in their industries. About Kaitlyn Cook: Kaitlyn Cook is a visionary business strategist and entrepreneur who has worked with over 10,000 businesses worldwide, helping them grow, thrive, and redefine success on their own terms. With a unique blend of business acumen and heart-centered strategy, Kaitlyn specializes in simplifying complex business challenges, merging passion with profit, and empowering business owners to unlock exponential growth while maintaining authenticity. Her journey from living on $7 a day in Bangkok to becoming a top 1% rated expert on Upwork exemplifies her belief in resilience, innovation, and the power of visionary thinking. Having successfully transformed businesses across industries—ranging from wellness to technology—Kaitlyn’s approach is driven by one simple question: What if? By helping entrepreneurs ask better questions and craft compelling visions for the future, she has facilitated dramatic revenue growth, operational excellence, and lasting impact for her clients. Her mission? To inspire business owners to succeed in ways that align with their values and vision—without burning out. Kaitlyn’s work is not just about increasing profit margins; it’s about fostering sustainable growth that empowers leaders to live the life they envision for themselves and their teams. About The KCC - Kaitlyn Cook Coaching: At KCC, the team empowers businesses on their journey to become industry leaders through a proven 6-step formula for success. Comprised of seasoned...

    16 min
  5. DEC 17

    2088 – Effective Copywriting Tips for Interior Designers with Content Vertical’s Masha Koyen

    Copy That Captivates: Engaging Your Audience in the Interior Design WorldIn a recent episode of "The Thoughtful Entrepreneur," host Josh engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Masha Koyen, a seasoned copywriter and messaging strategist, and the founder of Content Vertical. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for business owners, particularly those in the interior design industry, looking to refine their marketing strategies and enhance their messaging to attract ideal clients. Let's dive into the key takeaways and actionable advice shared by Masha Koyen. Masha Koyen specializes in helping interior designers connect with their ideal clients through tailored messaging strategies and impactful website copy. Her approach is deeply rooted in understanding the emotional and psychological needs of the target audience. She introduces her signature framework, "Reveal," which involves in-depth research and client interviews to uncover pain points, desires, and motivations. This foundational work enables Masha to create copy that not only informs but also emotionally engages potential clients. Masha acknowledges the growing presence of AI tools in the copywriting industry. While AI can streamline certain tasks, she emphasizes that it cannot replace the essential human element of emotional connection. Understanding an audience's needs and motivations requires a level of empathy and insight that AI cannot replicate. Masha highlights the importance of strategic marketing and resonant messaging, advising business owners to shift the focus from "we" to "you" in their messaging and to leverage storytelling to build trust and rapport. By implementing Masha's insights and practical tips, business owners can enhance their marketing efforts, attract their ideal clients, and ultimately achieve greater success in their ventures. About Masha Koyen: Masha Koyen is a copywriter, creative storyteller, published author, and the host of the Marketing for Designers Podcast. With nearly two decades of marketing experience at prestigious organizations like KPMG, Deloitte, Pearson, and OpenText, Masha has developed a deep expertise in the industry. After working with global and national brands, Masha chose to specialize in a field that truly sparks passion — copywriting for interior designers. Everyone has a zone of genius, and for Masha's clients, it's their design expertise. For Masha, it's the ability to uncover and articulate what others may not yet see in themselves, finding the perfect words to express it. Driven by a love of research and creative storytelling, Masha uses a signature REVEAL framework to identify the key differentiators that will emotionally resonate with clients’ ideal audiences. About Content Vertical: Content Vertical helps startups and established businesses market themselves effectively. Based in Toronto, Content Vertical serves clients worldwide but has a special focus on supporting business owners within the local Toronto area and surrounding regions. Specializing in content creation, Content Vertical develops and publishes a range of materials, from beautifully written websites and engaging blogs to captivating social media posts and attention-grabbing emails. The goal is clear: to help businesses attract new leads, nurture existing ones, and foster growth. Content Vertical positions itself as an on-demand marketer, copywriter, and brand ambassador, delivering tailored solutions that resonate with each client’s audience. In today’s fast-evolving business landscape, many business owners feel overwhelmed by the constant buzz around terms like SEO, content marketing, and copywriting. Not everyone is a marketer, and that’s okay. What business owners do need is an industry insider who can demystify these concepts and craft compelling,...

    19 min
4.9
out of 5
91 Ratings

About

You’re gonna love this DAILY, commercial-free entrepreneur spotlight show. We feature CEOs and founders of 6-9 figure B2B companies. Agencies, coaches, consultants, and other leaders share not only their success stories - but their advice for business leaders focused on business growth. You’re going to hear real stories from real people all in 15-25 minutes time - perfect for your commute. On this podcast, your host, Josh Elledge encourages entrepreneurs to share not only their expertise but their stories and their hearts. We believe that every person has a unique message which can positively impact the world. Even YOU! If you’d like to be featured on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, apply here: https://UpMyInfluence.com/guest/

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