Small Business Answer Man Gary Wilbers: Certified Coach, Author, Keynote Speaker, Leadership Trainer

Ramon Ray is publisher of ZoneofGenius.com and brand strategist at CelebrityCEO.com - he's an in-demand motivational speaker, best-selling author, and serial entrepreneur. He's started 5 companies and has sold 3 of them.
What problem do you solve?
In today’s episode, Ramon will help us solve problems regarding the need for more attention and its impact on sales and trust for small business owners. 
Show Notes:
Ramon introduces the concept of being a “celebrity CEO,” emphasizing the importance of personal branding. He suggests that business owners should put themselves out there, become a recognizable face in their industry, and leverage their personal brand to gain trust and attract more customers.  Ramon stresses the importance of attention in building trust and making sales. In a crowded marketplace, getting noticed and standing out can be a critical factor for success.  Ramon highlights the value of podcasts as a medium for gaining visibility and showcasing expertise. This is a valuable tool for small business owners looking to share their knowledge and connect with their target audience. Regularly posting on social media is considered a great strategy to capture attention. It keeps your business in the minds of your audience and helps maintain an active online presence. Hosting local events or awards can showcase expertise and help gain recognition in your community. This is particularly relevant for businesses with a local focus. Ramon emphasizes the power of writing and promoting a book as a strategy for gaining attention. It positions the author as an expert in their field and can open up various opportunities. Ramon discusses the importance of tailoring your strategies based on the scope of your business, whether it’s local, national, or international. What works for one may not work for another, so customization is key. He emphasizes the importance of persistence and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Small business owners must be flexible and willing to make necessary changes to stay competitive. He shares insights from “The Like Switch” highlighting the gradual process of building trust. Trust is not something that happens overnight, and it requires consistent effort and positive experiences. Creating positive experiences for customers is vital for building loyalty. Satisfied customers are more likely to return and recommend your business to others. Ramon suggests various strategies, such as podcasting, social media, events, and books, to gain attention and proactively work on personal branding.  He advises business owners to add value to others, emphasizing the long-term benefits of this approach. Building strong relationships and providing value can lead to sustained success.  Ramon mentions a blueprint on his website derived from his book “Celebrity CEO,” which can guide businesses in personal branding. This resource may provide practical steps for small business owners. Ramon encourages listeners to share recent successes on social media as a form of self-promotion. Sharing achievements can help showcase expertise and build trust. Ramon Ray’s Best Small Business Tip:
Small business owners are urged to keep going, tweak, innovate, navigate challenges, learn from others, and not give up. Perseverance is key in the entrepreneurial journey.
Connect with Ramon Ray:
Website: http://www.celebrityceo.com/blueprint
Instagram
LinkedIn
Access the Celebrity CEO Personal Blueprint – www.CelebrityCEO.com/blueprint
Clarity Navigator Discovery Session – Sign Up HERE
Book a Mastermind Discovery Call With Gary HERE
Learn more about Gary’s Mastermind group at goascend.biz/the-mastermind-solution

Danielle Hayden is a reformed corporate CFO (chief financial officer) who is on a mission to help rule-breaking female entrepreneurs understand their numbers so they can gain the confidence needed to create sustainable profits. After spending 10+ years in the boardroom as a corporate finance officer, Danielle is now in her sweet spot as the CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc. where she helps business owners with bookkeeping, financial analysis, and education. She is the author of the Profit Planner book series. When Danielle isn't in her money mindset you can find her hiking or spending time with her family.
What problem do you solve? 
In this episode, Danielle Hayden, the CEO of Kickstart Accounting Inc.  With a mission to help entrepreneurs understand the importance of numbers for sustainable profits.
Show Notes:
The number one tip Danielle shared was about the significance of using numbers to manage a business throughout the year. She emphasized the importance of maintaining proper bookkeeping from day one. Danielle stresses the importance of regularly reviewing financial statements, including the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement, preferably monthly. She shares the top three numbers that every business owner needs to know: Gross Profit, Net Income or Loss, and Monthly Cash Output. She talks about the money mindset and discusses the impact of personal money stories and categorizes different types like free spender, keeper, balance seeker, and perfectionist. She shares some tools and strategies for changing one’s money mindset including applying gratitude lists to financials, taking clarity breaks, and using financial dashboards for a high-level overview. She says simplifying financials for CEOs involves focusing on high-level information, utilizing financial dashboards, and snapshots to avoid overwhelm. The concept of Atomic Habits and the power of making manageable adjustments by changing one thing by 1% at a time is discussed. Business owners are reminded to be leaders and visionaries rather than attempting to do everything themselves. Danielle Hayden’s Best Small Business Tip:
As a small business owner, you should not wait to find help, instead, you should avoid the superhero syndrome and ask for assistance to prevent burnout. 
Connect with Danielle
Website: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/
Danielle’s podcast: Entrepreneur Money Stories
Instagram
Clarity Navigator Discovery Session – Sign Up HERE
Book a Mastermind Discovery call With Gary at https://bookme.name/garywilbers/ascend-mastermind-discovery

William Vanderbloemen is the CEO and Founder of the top executive search firm Vanderbloemen Search Group and author of Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest (HarperCollins Leadership, November 14, 2023).
William Vanderbloemen is known for his expertise in executive search and leadership consulting, he has authored books and spoken at conferences on topics related to leadership, team building, and organizational culture. He is widely recognized for his insights into leadership and organizational development.
What problem do you solve? 
In this episode, William Vanderbloemen provides insights into the challenge of standing out in today’s crowded business world and amidst the constant social buzz.
Show Notes:
He talks about the key concepts and traits highlighted in his book, “Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest.” These include:
The book introduces twelve practical and rarely practiced behavioral habits that set individuals apart. William Vanderbloemen emphasizes the importance of responsiveness in customer engagement and how it can impact businesses positively. He further talks about sales strategies and discusses the critical role of response time in maintaining and enhancing customer communication. He talks about the skill of asking more questions than providing answers and highlights its role in building strong connections. He shares his insights regarding the significance of self-awareness during job interviews, enabling candidates to stand out. At the end of the podcast, William talks about a tool for self-assessment that allows individuals and teams to measure themselves against others, providing valuable insights into their strengths and areas for improvement. William’s advice for hiring managers is to focus on the question “What am I hiring for?” William Vanderbloemen’s Best Small Business Tip:
As a business owner, focusing on simplicity and the significance of delivering on promises is essential. Moreover, spending time on self-awareness will always come in use in the professional world.
About the Book: 
“Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest.” is recommended for graduates entering a volatile job market and appeals to Gen Z, as well as anyone preparing for interviews and facing career challenges. The book offers practical insights that can significantly impact one’s professional life.
Please visit https://www.vanderbloemen.com/be-the-unicorn  for helpful resources and the first free chapter of the book.
Amazon Link Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest.

Connect with William Vanderbloemen

https://www.vanderbloemen.com/be-the-unicorn

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Clarity Navigator Discovery Session – Sign Up HERE
Learn more about Gary’s Mastermind group at goascend.biz/the-mastermind-solution
 



 


 

Trevor Rosenthal is passionate about personal growth and learning new things. He recently completed a Crossover Into Business program at Harvard Business School, where he gained insights and skills on how to leverage his sports background in other domains. He is also a board member of the Baseball Assistance Team, a nonprofit organization that provides financial and medical assistance to former baseball players and their families. Trevor's mission is to make a positive impact not only on the baseball field but also in his sphere of influence. He is always looking for new opportunities to share his stories of overcoming adversity, building self-confidence, and the role sports have played in shaping him into the person he is today.

What problem do you solve? 
Today, Trevor will help us overcome difficulties in a world full of distractions, both positive and negative.

Show Notes:
Trevor begins with talking about his unique perspective as a professional athlete and his journey into business by sharing insights into his career as a Major League Baseball pitcher. He highlights the importance of the intense daily dedication, discipline, and preparation required for success in professional sports. He further talks about the challenges and obstacles he encountered during his career from minor league to major league.  Trevor emphasized the crucial role of supportive parents and the importance of creating a loving home enviornment for aspiring athletes. He advised parents to offer opportunities and resources without imposing undue expectations. Trevor share his experiences in managing the mental aspects of being a professional athlete including skills like resilience, focus, stress management and goal setting. He further talk about how it is crucial to focus and deal with one thing at a time. His keen interest in business led him to pursue education at Harvard, underlining the significance of lifelong learning, regardless of one’s career choice. He talks about the connection between business and sports, both being united by discipline, focus, and quick decision-making. He discusses the importance of steering clear of distractions and staying committed to what works best for your business. Furthermore, he discusses the significance of striking a balance between personal and professional life.
Trevor Rosenthal's Best Small Business Tip:
As a business owner, it is vital to stay committed to the tasks at hand, valuing the effort you put in, rather than being solely focused on the end result. 

Connect with Trevor Rosenthal:
Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

Clarity Navigator Discovery Session – Sign Up HERE

Learn more about Gary’s Mastermind group at goascend.biz/the-mastermind-solution

Cam Hall is a husband, father, educational leader, and entrepreneur. Cam believes that all Men are called to live Fit, Healthy, and Fulfilled lives, and that every man can make a positive impact on those around him. He is founder of the Fight the Dad Bod coaching program, host of the Dads Making A Difference Podcast, and Leader of The DMD Mastermind.
What problem do you solve?  Cam is going to solve effectiveness. He is going to help you be more effective by optimizing your health. Controlling your health will allow you to control your time and money. You will become effective and efficient in all you do.
Show Notes: Cam thinks business owners neglect their health because they don’t prioritize it. They aren’t being lazy but they might drift with all the activities that are happening in their lives.  The 4th quarter is the best time to prepare yourself for success in the new year. To prioritize our health we have to change or shift our mindset. Changing our health will optimize our business. We will be more effective and make more sales and make a bigger impact. When we think about food, we realize we enjoy food when we are with others. We do not enjoy it when we are not using it appropriately. A healthy relationship with food is when we realize it is fuel. When we fuel our body effectively we have a clear mind, we sleep better, we handle the stresses of life better, and we can build muscle better. We need to provide as a business owner but we also need to be present. Diet is a bad word. When we hear it we think depravation. You need to make a plan and follow it. Take 1 step and build on it. The foundation is to get more sleep. Then work on the food aspect. And third, implement more activity. When we think about sleep, we think about recharging our body. To figure out sleep, start with 7 and then move up in 15-minute increments. Set a bedtime and go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time. The next week, put 15 minutes on the beginning or end of your bedtime. Fuel the body: PFC every 3 = Protein, fats and carbohydrates every 3 hours. Within 1 hour of waking eat a breakfast. In 3 hours fuel your body again. The balance is 5 ounces of protein, 5 ounces of carbohydrates and 1-2 ounces of fat. This will help balance your blood sugar. For activity, start simple. Just do it! You can progress from there. We also need to build muscle to help burn calories. Start simple with bodyweight exercises.  7 steps to lose 7 pounds in 7 days at www.fightthedadbod.com. Cam Hall’s Best Small Business Tip: Take care of yourself. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t do the rest.
Connect with Cam Hall: Website: fightthedadbod.com
Facebook
Instagram
Clarity Navigator Discovery Session – Sign Up HERE
Learn more about Gary’s Mastermind group at goascend.biz/the-mastermind-solution

Miriam Schulman is an artist and founder of The Inspiration Place, where she helps other artists learn how to profit from their passion or become better artists. She’s helped thousands of artists around the world develop their skill sets and create more time and freedom to do what they love.
What problem do you solve?  Miriam is going to talk with us about pricing.
Show Notes: Miriam believes email marketing is better than social media marketing. Instagram engagement was 1% several years ago and now it has dropped to 0.6%. The engagement rate of influencers is 1.2% Open rate on email averages 24%. This means you have to have 4000 people on Instagram compared to 100 on email. Romance your buyers. Don’t just hand out your business cards. You need to gather their contact information and then stay in touch. When someone asks for your card, it is your opportunity to ask for their contact information to send them your freebie or lead magnet. Prestige pricing vs. charm pricing. Prestige pricing is usually used more with higher dollar, higher quality items or services. Passion to profit framework: Every business is producing something. Does what your producing make sense. If people aren’t valuing the product you may need to package it or present it differently. You also need to look at your pricing to make sure you are charging appropriately. People also enjoy spending money on something that is exclusive. It gives them a dopamine release. Miriam’s book is Artpreneur: How to Build a Creative Business Miriam Schulman’s Best Small Business Tip: Keep taking action. Keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Connect with Miriam Schulman: Website: schulmanart.com
Free chapter of Miriam’s book: SchulmanArt.com/believe
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Clarity Navigator Discovery Session – Sign Up HERE
Learn more about Gary’s Mastermind group at goascend.biz/the-mastermind-solution